Worth the battle

It may take a few minutes to bring in a northern pike like this, but it is worth the battle. In fact it is worth the drive from Wisconsin as well as the year long wait for the annual “boys” Canada get-a-way.

I am not being sexist; we do get all female groups too. If you’re of the fairer sex, or know someone who is, an Ignace Outposts fly in is fun for all.

Not long ago we had a group of women whose husbands had been coming to our place for many years call and book a trip just so they could see what it was that made their men so determined to return year after year. These women had never even been invited to go fishing before. They managed very well and if stories are true, out fished their men on their ladies only trip.

Why not try something different this year.

Not an unusual occurrence

Bringing in a walleye and having a large northern pike attempt to relieve you of your supper to have his supper is always a thrill. It pays to pay attention and keep a good grip on your fishing rod even if you think it is “just another little walleye”.

I think that when you hook a walleye, it gives out a fish style distress signal and a fish in distress is like a ringing dinner bell for an opportunistic predator like a Northern Pike.

Winter coat

In the summer, moose will develop a dark almost black coat. They look regal in their summer finest. In the spring however the winter fur moults and the moose looks pretty ragged and shaggy for a while. This cow on Metionga Lake looks like she is in that motley stage. In a few months she will replace that old fur with a rich dark coat that is attractive to fall suitors.

When at an Ignace Outposts fly in camp keep your camera ready. You never know what image you will capture.

more from opening week

“Brad,
Attached are three pictures I told you I would send. Wanted to let you know I had a great time and am looking forward to next year. Hope you and Karen have a happy and successful year. Jack S.”

Toll Booth

Many of our guests from the USA travel through International Falls and Fort Frances.  Recently a toll booth has been set up on Highway 11 east of Fort Frances by protesting First Nations.  The toll is $1.00.

If you are driving to Ignace from Wisconsin or through Wisconsin it is just as fast (maybe even shorter) to go through Pigeon River Border Crossing by Thunder Bay on Highway 61.  Going this way will also avoid any inconvenience from the toll booth. 

I copied this from the Dryden News website

OPP Will Remain at Protest Site
Posted by Mike Ebbeling on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 am 10:14:06 AM
OPP say they have no immediate plans to end a toll booth set up on Couchiching First Nation.
The band has been asking for a $1 fee from motorists entering and leaving the community in protest over grievances with both the provincial and federal governments.
Police have issued notices to those manning the toll to “discontinue their interference with traffic" but OPP Inspector John Kendrick says no arrests have been made.
Police say protesters have been peaceful and no major problems have occurred.
CKDR listeners report that traffic is moving smoothly on Highway 11 and protesters have been quite polite to motorists.
OPP remain on scene.

Snowbirds

The Canadian Armed Forced Snowbirds Jet Demonstration team were in Dryden for an air show last weekend. Yesterday, on their way to Thunder Bay for another show, they had to pass right by Ignace.

The precision flying demonstrated by these pilots is world class. I never tire of seeing them.

They performed a “little fly by” over our base. Having them buzz Ignace was a real treat.

My question “I wonder how they would do on floats?”

The real reason

Need I say more?  Except the fact that this was taken opening week. 

What’s your preference?

Walleye or Northern, what a dilemma.  They both taste great, they are both plentiful and they will both make your day.  A few hundred walleye, a few battle tested northern, I know I would not scoff at either.  The first week at Ignace Outposts has been a lot more consistent than I’ve heard from other lakes in the area.   Our catch and consume policy ensures the breeders and trophies go back in the lake to fight another day. 

Why go further?

It is pretty handy being able to fish for walleye like these in sight of your cabin. No great navigation skills are required.

At Metionga Lake the river comes into the lake right in sight of the cabins. Of course every avid walleye fisherman knows walleye like following water.

Our first groups for 2010 are all ready on their way home after a fantastic vacation catching fish, relaxing and enhanced story telling. So far every group off the lakes has rebooked for 2011. It will be a long 365 days till next year’s opener on May 21, 2011.

Pilot’s eye view

I bought a “point of view” video camera to try and capture a different perspective of what happens around here. I am posting a first attempt at being creative with this new technology.

The following video is my view of a takeoff from Agimak Lake on Thurs morning. The lines in the video are the result of the refresh rate of the camera picking up the rotating prop. The reduction of power and prop RPM causes more lines to appear after take off.

It is a short you tube video and is also posted on our you tube site. I will work on my video proficiency and hopefully get more of these type of videos up soon.

I guess we are almost there

Ready or not, our season is under way.  I think we have our ducks in a row now.

Now the trick is keeping them all lined up.  Mr Murphy and his law works over time around here so our job doesn’t really end. 

Check out Ignace Outposts for your 2010 fishing vacation. 

A “little” teaser from last summer

Who ever said fishing is slow in mid summer?  As we are beginning our 2010 season, I received this picture and note from a guest who visited Metionga Lake last July.

“Just wanted to pass along a picture of the 45" Northern I caught in July 2009 on Lake Metionga. We had a great week of fishing in spite of the cold and rainy weather. … Also the walleye fishing was great throughout the week. Thanks for the great time, and I cant wait to
try and make it up there again!
Sincerely,
Matt Z”

First reports

Walleye season opened on Saturday.  This year has been peculiar in the early ice out, low water and warm spring temperatures.  We were not sure what to expect for opener of walleye.  Word about town(other drive in resorts and local anglers)  is that fishing is really slow.  But… this is not from Ignace Outposts…

I was at Irene Lake yesterday and the 4 guys in there reported few walleye, but fantastic lake trout and bass fishing.  These fellows have fished Irene Lake in the spring before and said this was the best lake trout fishing ever.  They just couldn’t keep them off their hooks regardless of the bait they tried.  The few walleye they caught  were much too large to keep.  Irene Lake is not known for numbers of walleye but instead for very large walleye.  The walleye they caught were all just at dark.  They reported great bass fishing on virtually every reef they tried.  It is early for the bass to be heading to the reefs but ice out was 4 weeks early this year.

The Metionga Lake reports are mixed.  As usual, walleye and northern are being caught.  As John reports 50 to 70 per day is not bad but not like the numbers we see some springs.  The fish are hitting extremely light.   On fisherman likened the light hits to “feels almost like your jig is just running through some very light weeds.”  Without careful attention to the hit, the fish would be missed.  The good news is that more minnows had to brought in already after only 2 days.  The walleye sizes were  mostly either very small or too large to keep.  Of course there are plenty of eaters but just not the numbers we normally see this time of year. Northern are still around the river.  One guy’s first fish of the year was a 38 inch northern at the rapids moments after dropping his jig.  Gets the blood flowing doing that.

John said some walleye were caught in 3 to 4 feet of water and when they tried 30 to 35 feet they caught walleye there too. It may be a week or two before the fish stabilize in their summer patterns.

When our groups switch over later in the week I will try to acquire some photos. I really wish I could be on the lakes getting first hand reports and photos all summer – there’s just too much to do getting things ready.   We will be checking on Hilltop lake later in the week and Flindt Lake will have folks in tomorrow.  I’ll find out from Joe how Ses is doing as well.  He did drop a few hints this morning by telling me his new fillet knife does an admirable job.

Stay tuned.  We are expecting a great summer of fishing at Ignace Outposts.  I hope you plan to join us. 

Betula alleghaniensis

Within a few miles of our home a stand of yellow birch trees has been found.  Apparently, these sneaky trees have been hiding out in the area since before Beethoven presented his famous Ninth Symphony.  To many in the mid west or southern Ontario, these trees are no big deal.  Around here they are.  The wood of the white birch is extensively used for flooring, cabinetry and toothpicks. Most wood sold as birch in North America is from this tree.  In fact it is listed as one of the 100 most common trees in North America but the stand this far north is quite an anomaly.

This map shows the natural habitat of Yellow Birch in North America.  

I sit on our Local Citizens Advisory Committee to the MNR and we recently did a field trip to this stand of Yellow Birch. 

A very old tree

A mid aged tree.

This particular stand of  Betula alleghaniensis is special because it has all age classes.  One tree (not the oldest) was sampled at 186 years old.  There were saplings in the area too.

Even back in 1824, I can not imagine the fishing around here was any better than we have today.  Check out Ignace Outposts and get your 2010 fly in fishing trip booked.  We look forward to seeing you,

Brad

It has begun

The weather here is unpredictable except when it comes to our opening.  While our weather forecasters try to tell us that temperatures will be 1 degree warmer in 50 years, they have a dismal record of predicting 24 hours in advance. 

I can forecast however with remarkable accuracy that our first day of the season will be lousy weather.  Our first groups arrived today to fly out.  And here we sit waiting for weather.  Yesterday the forecast was for good weather by morning.  Ha ha. 

As we wait for weather to clear so we can fly, I have time to post a picture of our first group weighing their load before loading the aircraft.

Now the aircraft are loaded, we wait…

So begins our 25th season doing the best job in the world.  Check out Ignace Outposts for more info on our packages.

“I dare you”

One of my buddies was returning home from Ignace to Thunder Bay and saw a bear feasting on  a moose carcass.  The moose was obviously long dead, probably victim of a highway drive by.  Many moose meet a terminal fate when they try to share the road with vehicles. 

The rule of the wild is that nothing goes to waste.  Black bears are very opportunistic eaters and will eat whatever is presented.  They will also guard their meal.  This bruin seems to be saying “you talking to me?”  I doubt his table manners are very hospitable since he seems to be daring someone to try and join him in this meal.

I think whoever joins him at this feast will simply become the next feast.

Low down on potatoes

So, finally our government has come to the conclusion that potatoes are not really a threat to Canada’s National security.

I have been notified by NOTO (our Tourist Outfitters’ Association) that this summer our American guests will not have to leave their potatoes at the border nor register them when they come to fish in Canada. 

Here are the conditions by which potatoes may cross our border: (you know that if government is involved there will be conditions)

NOTO has confirmed that US guests CAN bring potatoes across the border this year.  There are a couple of stipulations.
* Guests can only bring 4kg (10 lbs) or less per person
* Potatoes must be commercially packaged (in the original package from the store) and the potatoes should be US grade No. 1.  
The certification of state of origin is no longer required nor do other import documentation requirements apply.
We have confirmed this through discussions with the Fort Frances border crossing (Canadian Border Services Agency CBSA) as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Leeching

Early last week, I was chatting with my buddy Donnie about his job.  Donnie used to own Castle Baits in Ignace and many of our long time guests know him and have purchased minnows from him in the past.  Donnie no longer retails bait but he still wholesales to other retailers. Amazingly minnows and leeches don’t just appear in those tanks at the minnow shop.   Bait harvesters have been working for weeks already getting ready for opening weekend.   In our conversation, I somehow invited myself along to harvest leeches.   How hard could it be?

On Friday last, Donnie picked me up shortly after day break. In the dark I managed to make some coffee but hadn’t managed to consume it.  So, I tried to drink my coffee while bouncing along on a bush road and pretending it was a normal thing as Donnie did the same without a lid on his cup.

The next series of events magnified my appreciation of flying into the wilderness as a means of transport. 

After a spine jostling tour through the back country we parked the truck and unloaded the quad.  I was surprised it managed to remain in the back of the truck since I had a hard time remaining in the cab.  The quad is a one man vehicle, so I was relegated to walking and trying to keep the quad in sight as we left what could be barely called a road for what could be barely called a trail.  By the time I managed to catch up to Donnie he had loaded the smallest canoe (dare I call it that) I have ever seen with his buckets and good supply of raw beef kidney for leech bait.  

He informed me that I was paddling and he was leeching.  We only had 70 traps to pick up.  He purposely took me to a small lake since it was my first time. In retrospect I really appreciate that small tidbit of sensitivity on his part.  I stopped my panting and tried not to whimper.   I secured my life jacket as though I was a band member on the Titanic.   I wasn’t sure I trusted the canoe with even one leech as a passenger once Donnie and I ensured there was no more than a half inch of freeboard. I paddled and he picked up leeches and reset the traps.  We managed a good harvest.  To me it was about as many leeches I ever cared to see… ever.  Donnie told me it was only about 7 lbs.  As good of friends as we are, I came to the conclusion that if we capsized, Donnie would rescue his leeches and come back for me when he got a chance. 

We managed to finish the lake, and as we returned to our start point, I realized I hadn’t felt my legs or my fingers for about an hour.  Did I mention it was cold?  Even after ice out, the water is cold in early May and when I can see my breath, I really shouldn’t be sitting in a canoe shorter than me retrieving leeches at an hour most sane people, like me on a normal day, are just rolling out of bed.

We managed to get out of the canoe with the grace of two logs rolling down a hill.  That’s probably what it looked like but since we were in the middle of nowhere, who cares.  Donnie put his leeches on his quad and headed back up the hill to the truck.  Somehow, while slogging to the lake, I managed to miss the fact the the lake was downhill… way downhill from the truck.  By the time I managed to hike back to the truck Donnie had loaded the quad and was beginning to warm his hands on a cup of coffee. 

I poured myself a coffee from my thermos and struggled through the same gymnastics of drinking coffee on a bush road as the ride in,  but this time with stumps as hands.  Having frozen fingers creates a new dynamic in this effort. 

Donnie dropped me back at my office, just in time to start MY work day.  I vowed I would never again complain about the price of leeches.  I can imagine the job not being cold in the summer, but then the bugs would be out and I’m not sure that would make it any better. 

I have a whole new respect for another aspect of our industry serving the angler.  I have a team working with me to make a great experience for our guests, but bait harvesters work alone in a rather harsh environment providing the leeches and minnows which make walleye fishing so fantastic.

I did try to take pictures, but the aim and operation of my new camera was drastically affected by frozen fingers that couldn’t be easily pried from the paddle or gunnels of the “canoe”.   I also had a sincere desire not to rock the boat in any way.   Sorry.

Sure sign of the season start

In the spring we look forward to signs which indicate our season is about to begin. 

Ice out, the return of squawking seagulls, the lonely cry of the loon, long work days, aircraft at the dock and the list goes on.  The surest sign we are about to venture into another season is the return of John and his sidekick Herc to Metionga Lake.  That was Saturday’s project.  John has been our camp attendant on Metionga Lake since 1991.  I suspect no one knows the lake like John. 

unloading John’s quad from the Otter.

Joey and Darren are outside the aircraft while Randy and Brad are inside.  We have to take off the rear wheels and rack and do a lot of wrestling with that beast (the quad, not John) to get it in and out of the airplane.

This season is our 25th running Ignace Outposts and every year seems to be more fun than the last.  Even though the work somehow seems harder (those dang motors seem to gain weight every year) we strive to get everything ready for opener this next weekend.

If you haven’t already done so, give some thought to getting up to Metionga Lake with Ignace Outposts and see if John knows his stuff about the fishing on one of the best lakes in Northwestern Ontario for Walleye and Northern pike.

Now that John is safely on the job, we will work on getting Joe into Seseganaga Lake early in the week.

Networking

Society has a funny way of thinking.

We consider sitting at a computer, often anonymously, typing away to folks we wouldn't invite to our homes for dinner - networking. Or we call  having  hundreds of `friends` most of whom we wouldn't know if we met on the street, networking.   We also use the term for wearing our thumbs out on a small phone making numerous short texts when one simple phone call could do the same.  It is as if we don`t really want to talk to anyone face to face anymore. 

I think of Networking as helping your partner land that lunker Northern pike or feisty Walleye. It takes a little skill, lots of personal type communication and a little cooperation.

Afterwards you can actually sit in the same room, and laugh about networking expertise or lack thereof in a face to face situation.  My experience is that this form of networking will be fondly remembered as opposed to having a beep beep or other notification that there apparently is something more important at the moment than the person you are actually with at the time.

Ignace Outposts is a great place to really network. 

Do your part

It seems that the eco friendly thing to do these days is to be a friend of the environment.  Even though I do eat the occasional granola myself and I have seen more than a few rugged individuals grab a tree while sliding down a wet slope to the lake, I really don’t have much use for tree hugging granola eating environmentalists.  I do however believe there are little things we can do to diminish some of the waste we tend to accumulate.

 

Particularly, I would like to encourage you to re-consider the amount of bottled water brought into the bush with your gear.  Only a few years ago, we never, and mean never saw any bottled water flown into our lakes.  Now we see bottled water by the pallet load showing up.  Not only does it waste a lot of gas flying water into one of the most pristine areas in North America, but all the plastic garbage is flown out and ends up in land fill.  I would suggest that you bring refillable water bottles and then just boil lake water, let it cool and drink all you want.  The supply is then endless. 

Thanks,

The only thing on line…

In about 10 days we’ll see our first guests arrive to fly into the wilderness for some unbeatable Canadian fishing.  I wish I had a trip booked for myself, but alas, I toil providing memorable trips for those who might really need them.  I do live here and don’t have to fight with traffic, constant noise, and no real solitude.  Even more importantly, I am not tethered to any electronic device.  I do check my emails, when I get a chance and I do answer the phone if it is handy but I am not constrained by a virtual cable to anyone.  Karen made me get a cell phone but only she and the kids have my number and more often than  not they are disappointed (I think) because I either don’t have it with me or it is in my pocket saving energy by not being turned on.

I know many folks have a difficult time being untethered,  but isn’t that what a vacation is about.  I challenge you to take a break and actually turn off the blackberry and leave the emails unanswered for a few days while you enjoy the Canadian Wilderness at Ignace Outposts.  See if the world can function and run well without you for a week or so.

We still have some great July and August dates available for booking.  Give us a call or send an email.  I will get back to you, I promise, but just don’t stare at your smart phone in anticipation.  You know what happens to a fish once it is “on line”.  There is  not much else he can think about until he is off line. 

At Ignace Outposts the only thing we keep online are the fish.