Moose On

Our fishing parties are officially over for the season. This is unfortunate since the fishing is nothing but exceptional right now.

We have a few archery moose hunting parities out now. The rifle hunters arrive in a week or so. Besides moose hunting they can partake in some great walleye fishing. The northern are hitting too.

It is hard to believe these photos were taken in mid Sept at Seseganaga Lake. Fall fishing is definitely worth the trip. Sometimes the weather is really this good. I don’t think the past June had weather this nice. It sure beats the snow we had yesterday.

It is time to start thinking about 2010. Give us a call or check out our web site and plan your 2010 trip now.

Summer over?

Last week, basically the last several weeks since the beginning of Sept, we've had beautiful weather. That ended yesterday. We had a large low pressure system go by which caused high winds and lots of rain.
A cold front has followed. The temperatures have dropped to freezing and at the moment we are waiting for the ice to melt off the wings and the snow to stop. Yes it is snowing!
The joys of life in the north. We love snow in the winter, as a matter of fact we love having 4 distinct seasons, but the transition of seasons is always interesting.

September Walleye

The amazing thing about fishing in our area is that not only is the fishing great but the catching is awesome too. 

 

 

Neil and I managed a few hours on the lake between fall close-up jobs.  No sense in being on one of the best walleye lakes in the country and not inviting a few walleye for supper.  Most of these Seseganaga Lake walleye (probably over 100) were released except for one each for dinner. 

Mid Sept double header

Last weekend, Sept 18 to 20 saw some of the best weather of the summer.  The fishing was absolutely amazing.  I was at Seseganaga Lake to paint some floors and do some other odd jobs (digging outhouse holes) but couldn’t help myself from getting out on the lake too.  Literally, the jig couldn’t hit the bottom before a walleye was “on”!

Double headers were regular.  The camaraderie was excellent and the food beyond compare.  Nothing beats fresh walleye, good friends and a little hard work.

Early Sept morning

Early morning flights when the air is cool and the water is warm produce some amazing vistas. 

Sometimes I almost have to pinch myself and remind myself that I do this for a living.

More than just fish

As great as fresh fish is to eat,  The options while at an Ignace Outpost camp are varied.  Why not a little tenderloin? 

 

 

We have BBQs at all our camps for just an occasion.  Maybe open a bottle wine or other beverage to go with it.  How about walleye appetizers? 

It leaves a fancy restaurant lacking when great foods, good friends and fresh air combine for an awesome meal. Just keep in mind you must bring your own waiter and dish washer to an outpost camp.  There is always a job for the “new guy”.

This just in

Brad and Karen,

     Thanks again for another spectacular late season vacation. Look forward to next year. Sent some of the pictures we took on the trip. You guys are very accommodating in all aspects of making sure we had a great fishing experience. Randy was a great guide on the trip to Metionga. First time we have seen a bear and a moose on the same flight.

Thanks much

MS

Cards are arriving

Some guests have been contacting us about receiving their Ontario Outdoors cars in the mail… finally.  These are not credit cards but new government cards which should (theoretically) make issuing a fishing license easier and more painless – no more squinting to fill out microscopic forms in the early morning hours while half awake and anxious to go fishing. 

Now that the cards have been mailed out, they will replace the pink temporary card/paper you received when you bought the license. 

These cards are part of what you purchased with your fishing licenses this summer while in Ontario.  The cards are good for 3 years so be sure to hang on to them.  If you have a Canada/Ignace box of stuff ready to go at a moments notice on a fly in trip with Ignace Outposts you might want to put it in there. If not, besides getting such a box, find a spot to keep your outdoors card where you won’t forget it on your next trip to fish in our fine province.  If you do forget your card next summer, you will need to purchase a new one and fill out another microscopic form, likely early in the morning.

Watch their faces

When you take your kids (or grandkids) fishing, watch their faces – not the fish.

Ignace Outposts

She baits her own hook too!

We are seeing more and more couples on fly in vacations.  It seems that the women love the fishing just as much as the men. 

At Hilltop Lake we caught and released many nice walleye.  Karen has been very good at baiting her own hook (with minnows) and  releasing her own fish.  She has even progressed to baiting her own hook with leeches.  That was a big step.  Now we are working on night crawlers. 

Something’s wrong with this

Karen and I were out with my brother and his wife.  As Blair and I tended to the work, the girls tended to relaxing.

Oh, the joys of an outpost vacation.

Releasing the big one

Jon Loth has the right idea.  The big walleye are better off in the lake.  The smaller ones provide a tasty meal and the larger walleye can be turned to the lake to breed more feisty, tasty little ones. 

Our camp policy is that all walleye over 22 inches are retuned to the lake.  We’ve seen an increase in walleye productivity over the years by this conservation method.

The toughest landing

When conditions are like this, landing a seaplane is tough.  Glassy water requires precise technique and skill. 

Landing on a lake with no wind is like landing on a mirror because there is no depth perception.  The pilot must have a proper rate of descent and use visual reference to shorelines, islands or rocks since he cannot see the surface of the water.   Peripheral vision must be acute.

When done properly, it is very difficult to determine the moment of landing.  No big clunks like on a jet liner.

Something else to do

On an Ignace Outposts fly-in vacation, fishing is often the primary objective. 

There are other things to do too.

A little exploration adds some variety to just catching 100’s of fish.

Great trip

Paul Loth has been fishing with us for many years.  I think the reasons for a return trip if evident when we see some of this summer’s catch and release. 

Nature’s Vacuum Cleaners

It doesn't take long for a few seagulls to make short work of a pile of fish offal.  At all our camps we have a designated spot for dumping fish guts – and only fish guts.  Seagulls, eagles, martin, mink, turkey vultures, and who knows what else will feast until the remains no longer remain.

Letting the animals finish off the guts as opposed to dumping them off the dock into the water is a much more efficient and permanent fix.