Sunrise at Metionga Lake

Sunrise on Metionga Lake. Not only some of the best fishing in Canada but absolutely gorgeous.

If you are looking for a fly in fishing vacation which you'll remember fondly for many years, contact us at Ignace Outposts. Check us out, we would love to help you plan your trip to one of our many remote lakes.

A pro at Work

There are not many Otter pilots in the country with the experience of our chief pilot Randy Winters. He has over 30 years flying float planes. Almost 20 of those years with us.

Here is a sped up video ( it actually took 4 minutes) of Randy sailing the Otter to the dock last weekend. When the winds are high it is often not possible to turn the aircraft on the water because it wants to act as a wind vane and point into the wind. Randy is one of the best. Here he brings in into the dock backwards and sideways. This skill is only developed with experience. Books just can't teach it. Those of our guests that have flown with Randy can attest to the fact that he can handle the Otter.

Head to head on Metionga

I guess the jury is still out. They both claim 26 inchers on Metionga Lake last week.

They didn't ask me for a ruling but I will give one anyway.

The only way to settle this is to return again next year and try again. Tom brings his crew twice a year anyway but since they are all now retired, an extra "grudge "match may be required.

Nothing like a little head to head competition.



Bruce B with a 26 incher



Tom S with a 26 incher.

Nice walleye to say the least. Thanks for putting them back guys. Returning these breeders to the lake is one of the main reasons we see groups catching 1000 plus walleye in a week.

Low and Over

These birds have to be one of the most majestic in the sky. Considering they were once endangered, we do see plenty of eagles these days. One of our Metionga Lake guests from last week emailed these photos of an eagle cleaning up some fish offal.

In nature everything is part of a cycle. Any fish remains are quickly returned to the food chain.

This is why we ask our guests to depose of their fish remains on a rock rather than in the water.




This eagle does a "low and over" while picking up his supper for the night. With those talons he barely slows down and grabs a good handful for his next meal.



There is so much more to a fly in trip than filling a stinger with walleye.

Don't forget your camera, and don't forget to send me a photo or two.

A New Chapter

Over the years our guests have become familiar with a smiling face in the aircraft, in the hangar or just around the yard. Marcel, our chief maintenance engineer for the aircraft, camp fixer-upper and pilot has been with our company since he was in high school. After many years with us Marcel is turning the page to a new chapter and moving his family to Manitoba next week. On Monday evening we had a little staff gathering to say our good byes. It was hard to be happy for Marcel and his family at the same time being sad he is leaving.




There certainly isn't much Marcel couldn't fix. We even made his name a verb by coining the phrase, "He Marced it".

On behalf of the entire Ignace Outposts and Airways organization we would like to thank Marcel for his many contributions to our business as a pilot and maintenance manager over nearly 20 years. Since his days on the dock and continuing through his time spent in our aircraft and hangar, Marcel was a committed member of our team and community.

This is an opportunity that Marcel could not pass up and we are in full support of his decision to advance his career. We wish him, his wife Wendi and their family the best of luck in the future."

All the BEST Marcel on your new venture!

A visit from the Fed's

Transport Canada is the regulating body which oversees the aviation side of our business. They sometimes drive in to see us, sometimes fly and some times copter in. It is not often we have choppers land on our break wall so when it happens it becomes a news worthy event.




The Transport Canada Helicopter from Thunder Bay approaching to land.





The chopper down on our break wall.

This visit was just a little "hi how are you, we're still around" visit from the systems safety officer. He pops in once in a while to remind us that safety is a priority with them and we assure him it is with us too.

Nederlander Lake Trout

Another variation on a theme has resulted in a new master piece.

I call this Nederlander Lake Trout. For the few who are not sure, Nederland is what the people who live in Holland call Holland. This recipe is easy and produces a very nice tasty meal without all the breading and oil normally associated with a meal of fresh fish at an outpost.

It can get great reviews at home too!

One of our regular Wisconsin guests just happens to be a Master Cheese Maker. He brought us some of his creation - Gouda Cheese. Fortunately, he was here just before Karen and I flew to Irene Lake for a little "research and development" trip. We have to know our product and keep it refined to be industry leaders - right.

To make Nederlander Lake Trout:

Catch a few Irene Lake Trout. Fillet them so they are bone free (I'll have a video blog doing this soon). Cut the fillets into thirds. Open a bottle of white wine. Have a glass.

On a sheet of foil or a cookie sheet, spread butter to cover and add minced garlic liberally - you can never have enough garlic.

Have another glass of wine and then lay the fillets on the butter and garlic. Salt and pepper to taste, add your favorite spice mix (I use roasted garlic and red pepper which goes well with fish).
Thinly slice the Gouda cheese ( I have used a mild Swiss as well) and lay cheese on each piece of fish. A real Dutch cheese slicer (the hand tool not the guy) works best.

Put the fish either on the BBQ (med high heat) or in the oven 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the fish is cooked and the cheese is melted.

While the fish is in the oven enjoy a little more wine while your partners prepare some beans and salads.


All this R&D is tough work, but somebody's got to do it.

Book your next fishing adventure with Ignace Outposts. We are working hard to provide a service we would enjoy ourselves.

Irene Lake August 08

Irene Lake is one of those few lakes where when walleye is slow (and yes it happens on every lake) you can switch modes and fish trout. Or you can cast for northern pike, or you can tackle some hungry small mouth bass.






Last weekend saw slower than normal walleye action, but then again effort is directly proportional to results -right guys. But the trout were absolutely veracious. Many think that summer trout fishing difficult but fishing Irene Lake for lake trout is rather fun and definitely successful. And fresh trout taste great!

Little helper

It has to be interesting for a kid to see an aircraft being worked on.



Our grand son Zach is quite interested in the goings on in the hangar.



Marcel takes a little time to explain in simple kid language, an aircraft engine.



Sure beats watching TV.

Rescue Mission

From the "I thought I'd seen everything" file.

Last weekend at Irene Lake, a seagull came right to the boat and grabbed a hook set being rigged for lake trout. The seagull flew off with a good length of fishing line and a hook and minnow in its mouth. Perhaps sensing this was not a good situation to be in, the seagull flew across the lake to our cabin where Karen and a few others happened to be. Karen grabbed the camera so I wouldn't have to draw pictures again, and Brad Cowan grabbed the fishing line and pulled the bird to himself. He took hold of the bird, released the hook and let him go. Catch and release birding I guess. The seagull seemed none the worse for wear and flew off to harass another boat.

All in a day at an outpost.

More from Seseganaga Lake

"thought you might like these for your website. We had a blast. thanks" Mike












Seseganaga Lake Comes through again!

more wildlife

Bringing your camera on a fly in trip is good for more than taking pictures of your fishing partners in their underwear. Our part of the country is blessed with many types of wild life just aching to be photographed. All these pictures were taken with in days of each other in early August. The moose and loons were on Hilltop and the caribou and bear were on Seseganaga Lakes.
It is interesting how all these animals are comfortable in and around the water.






Adult and juvenile loon (I would call it a baby but Karen insists it is juvenile)













Young bull moose practicing his disappearing act before hunting season.













Loon dancing on the Hilltop creek.














Black bear moving between berry patches.













Mother and calf caribou trolling on Seseganaga Lake.

A day in the life

Those who've fly out of our place over the last few days have seen a new little guy around. Our daughter Krista is visiting for a few weeks with her two boys. Jonas is only 2 months old so he doesn't follow me around yet, but Zachary is 3 1/2 so he is like my shadow.

It must be a little boys paradise around here with airplanes and other things to ride. He even got to sit on my knee as I taxed the aircraft to the dock.

Moon party makes August trip... again

Seseganaga Lake is well known for the "chef's pleasure" (walleye, northern and lake trout)


It is possible to catch all three species in one day on this lake.











Vernice Moon has caught many walleye in his day and still gets a thrill from landing fish like the old days.














Roger Breitsprecher catches his share of trout but also latches on to a northern or two.

Take your wife fishing

August is a great time to fish. Weather is stable and the fishing is incomparable.




Taking your wife on a fly in trip with Ignace Outposts makes a great vacation. Get away from the phones and emails for a little quality time together.



Kathy and Eric spent an extra long weekend with their good friends on Hilltop Lake.



Fishing feisty walleye a current in only 6 feet of water is a good way to introduce someone to our northern fishing.

Seseganaga August fishing

A week on Seseganaga Lake in August can produce some nice results. We've dealt with high water, bad weather and bugs this summer but it has been worth it when the fishing has been "on".



Craig Sherven added several more photos to his bragging wall with some of these fish. One of these fish would make a trip but to have such a variety, either he is on a great lake or rather lucky. He tells me it has something to do with skill but my thoughts are location, location, location.



Walleye were not bad at all.



Lake trout in 70 to 80 feet, right on the bottom with a white jig and white plastic tail.



Northern pike this chunky fight like a turbo charged bass.

Burbot

We don't see many of these fresh water fish but they are actually rather plentiful. The burbot is also known as a ling, an eelpout and a lawyer. These fish dwell on the bottom of cold lakes and are often caught while lake trout fishing. Although they are rather ugly to look at, they make a fine meal. The meat is similar in texture to lobster or scallop. Boiled with salt and dipped in melted butter they make a mighty fine appetizer.

Apparently their livers are prized for their oils and vitamins.

Last week this ling was caught on Seseganaga Lake.

"Bigger than my brother!"

Lane Krenzen returned from a fly in trip with a huge smile bragging of a fish "Bigger than my brother!" An inch or two more and it would have been bigger than Lane too.

The northern was 42 inches long and put up quite a battle. Maybe next time he will hold it himself. The rule around here is you bait your own hook and hold your own fish... right Lane.

Lane's brother Nolan looks on with mom. His turn will come too. Big fish are more a function of time and effort with a great deal of luck thrown in. Rest assured the lakes in this area have big fish. Our conservation policies on fly in lakes make sure the trophies are returned to the water to spawn more fish and to fight another day.

A long time coming

At the first sport show I attended 24 years ago, one of the first guests ever I booked was Craig Johnson. I was a rookie outfitter with big dreams and Craig was a rookie fisherman with dreams of big fish. It seems both our dreams have come true.

Since then Craig has made many many trips to our place, usually 2 to 3 times per year. He has brought over 100 different people to Ignace Outposts, many of whom have spawned into their own groups.



Last week Craig brought his wife (and favorite fishing partner) along with another couple to Hilltop Lake.











Craig told me that during his many trips to Ignace Outposts, he has caught more than a lifetime's worth of fish (big, small and everything in between). And he still enjoys it!
Fishing last week near the inlet on Hilltop Lake produced countless walleyes in 6 feet of water and less.









Not to be outdone, Craig's wife went fish for fish with Craig in landing old marble eyes. Double headers were common with it becoming almost a contest who could get the fish in quicker only to release it and land another.

An Un-tethered Vacation

People are so stressed out and overworked these days. They know they should be taking time off for vacations, yet keep coming up with excuses not to getaway.

Check out this article on enjoying a wireless vacation away from the tether of laptops, blackberries, and cell phones.

A vacation Challenge to Ad People: Unwire!

I especially like these suggestions:

"Head to a destination where connectivity is not even an option (sacre bleu!)."

"Don't bring any wireless devices with you -- for any reason."

Of course your vacation will be enjoyed even more if you are at an Ignace Outposts Camp. Our camps are cellphone and laptop free zones. No wireless here. Take that little break and get away from the tethers of the instant information world.

It is sad, we hear all the time from guests who tell us this is their first vacation in "x" number of years because they are too busy at work.

Life is to be enjoyed. When you sit and daydream, I doubt you dream of more work that needs to be done. Instead if you are like me, you think of fun times in your life like your next Ignace Outpost vacation.