What to do over the holidays? Well, hockey is a good option. We had some friends over for a little “road hockey”. Just like when we were kids. The only real difference was being in our own yard we did not need to yell “CAR!” to let passing vehicles by.
I am the goalie at the very back.
To all our friends HAVE A BLESSED AND SAFE NEW YEAR!
Happy Holidays from Ignace Outposts
Wishing you and your family the Christmas season's joys and wonders. from a snowy Ignace. Have a Happy Holiday and Blessed New Year.
Enjoy the holiday.
We look forward to seeing you in 2011.
Tight lines,
Brad and Karen
Ignace Outposts
Here is a list of our sport shows for 2011.
If there is a sport show in your area, we would be pleased to have you stop by. While we are on the show circuit, you can contact us by leaving a voice mail on our office number and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can (usually within a day). Or you can email us. We will retrieve emails regularly and will get back to you via email if you prefer. Our phone and email address is on our website.
Please check the show websites for hours and other details.
ALL CANADA SHOWS
St. Louis, MO
January 7-9, 2011 (Fri–Sun.)
St. Charles Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN
January 10-12, 2011 (Mon. – Wed.)
Ritz Charles Carmel
Chicago, IL
January 13-16, 2011 (Thurs. – Sun.)
Pheasant Run Mega Center
Milwaukee, WI
January 20-23, 2011 (Thurs. – Sun.)
Milwaukee County Sports Complex
Madison, WI
January 24-26, 2011 (Mon. - Wed.)
Marriott Madison West
AMERICA’S OUTDOOR SHOW
Chicago, IL
January 26-30, 2011 (Wed. - Sun)
Stephens Convention Center
NORTHWEST SPORTSHOW
Minneapolis MN
Mar 30 – Apr 3, 2011 (Wed. - Sun)
Minneapolis Convention Center
Our 2010 newsletter is now on line in pdf format. Check it out on our website.
A few months ago, a guest of Ignace Airways from the 60’s sent us a copy of a brochure of Metionga Lake dated 1968.
Check out the rates. $99.00 for 5 days. Notice the weight restrictions even then. We allow 100 lbs now and have considerably more in our cabins.
What did other things cost in 1968?
All things considered the rates are better today! What a great deal! And the fishing is even better with our catch and consume policies. As the brochure says, “NO BETTER FISHING ANYWHERE”
Last week we left Ignace for a week of what we call research and development – really. We have to experience tourism hospitality elsewhere to fine tune our product here in Ignace. As we basked… I mean researched in the sun somewhere near salt water and sand - there really is a correlation to remote fly in fishing – our winter arrived with vigour in Ignace. I am not sorry I missed the arrival.
Last week when we left Ignace the lake was frozen but the snow had not really set in yet.
When we returned last night the drifts had piled up and snow banks were set in position for the next 6 months or so. Joe had to plow snow in our yard 3 times in three days.
This week we will be getting our annual newsletter up on line. We do not mail it out anymore so if you want to receive the notice of our newsletter posting be sure to sign up for our e-mail list on our website. Ignace Outposts
We are in the office for a few weeks now so if your 2011 fly in fishing adventure with Ignace Outposts is not set up yet, give us a call. We are happy to help plan your trip.
In case you were wondering, yes I did see some fish (on my plate) and I did think about work a little while researching and developing.
Now that the season is over, not only am I lax in updating my blog, we have been able to take a little time to get “out of Ignace”. We just retuned from a family wedding in Niagara Falls ON. We also had a little time to visit our youngest daughter, Jo, in the big city -Toronto.
We had a great time “down south”. While in Toronto I hooked up with an old college buddy. Many of my college classmates are airline captains, chief pilots and operations managers. I have to remind my self that I am not only an aircarrier President but also the chief outhouse hole digger. Funny how career paths suite the one taking the journey. Back to meeting Pete. My classmate Pete is now Senior Training Captain on the Airbus for Air Canada. He brought Karen and me into the Air Canada training center and let me fly the Airbus 320 simulator.
At first glance, it looks simpler than a Beaver but full motion and visuals makes it a very realistic and demanding experience. Notice the joy stick in my left hand to control the aircraft. That is all it is.
The Airbus is a very sophisticated aircraft. In fact it has all the latest technology. It is fly by wire and has a glass cockpit. Unlike in the Beaver you are more a systems manager than a stick and rudder pilot.
Karen performed admirably as my co-pilot. She handled the auto-pilot, landing gear and flaps. The Beaver has no auto-pilot, the landing gear is always down and secure, and the flaps are rather simple so I have no need for a co-pilot… most of the time.
Three landings didn’t make make me re-consider my career path. It was a lot of fun even if the Airbus doesn’t land as smoothly as the Beaver. But then 30 years landing the same aircraft can not be compared to a couple of “impressive” first attempts.
My regular office.
Our 2010 fishing and hunting season has ended. All our guests have safely retuned from the camps, water lines are drained, motors have been flown out and we have a few days to do our fall chores shutting down and cleaning up.
Motors are flown out for winter service. This involves a little heavy lifting.
Moving almost 90 outboards in and out each year gets old real fast. There is plenty of behind the scenes work that makes Ignace Outposts one of Canada’s premier fly in fishing and hunting destinations.
We are already thinking about 2011. How about you?
Join us in 2011.
We are at the beginning of our rifle hunting season. Some archers were up last week and sent me this note and pictures of their trip.
Hello Brad and Karen,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note and thank you for a wonderful moose hunt on Seseganaga Lake. You run a great operation. All the equipment worked great. The country is second to none. Your advice on how and where to find the moose was right on. I know that my Dad is all set to come back next year, and I definitely want to give it another try in the future.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Jeff C
Our segment of the resource based tourism industry relies heavily on remoteness. One fact of living in this part of the country is that the resources of the land must be shared. The logging industry is as important to the area as our tourism industry. In order for our two industries to thrive on the same land base, we must work together on some issues. Protecting the remoteness of fly in tourism is one of those issues. Working with us is the Ministry of Natural Resources in protecting the interests of the Province and the people of Ontario. Ontario has recognized that some areas of the province should remain remote; that logging should also occur, but not at the expense of our industry.
In some areas, when logging does occur, the government enforces road closures to allow fibre extraction and at the same time protect tourism.
Last week I rode with the MNR to verify the effectiveness of road closures near one of our outposts. Once logging in the area is complete, and the roads are decommissioned, it does not take long before the area returns to a wilderness setting. Then the need for these signs is diminished as the area returns to a similar level of remoteness as there was before logging occurred.
These past few weeks work has been down on our street to repave. They crews are just by our hangar now. We can not access the highway our normal way but have to journey down Lakeshore Dr. to West Street and then to the highway.
I am not sure what exactly is being done, but the job requires digging out about 3 feet of the road and replacing 3 feet of road. I didn’t know gravel had an expiry date but apparently there is a good reason for this.
Flying so often I sometimes take the enjoyment of the flight for granted. It is quite an experience to fly over the Canadian wilderness on the way to and from an Ignace Outposts camp.
The weather may not always cooperate but fall fishing can be as rewarding as summer fishing.
Dress a little warmer by adding a few layers.
I think Neil has every on that he brought except a smile. It’s still better than working however.
The Beaver and Otter aircraft were designed with pilots in mind. They were designed for the bush and the job they do. Part of the design of the aircraft is being able to fuel the plane without climbing up on the wing. Part of preparing for every day of flying is ensuring engine oil and fuel are sufficient for the flight. Floats are pumped of excess water and a good walk around the aircraft is performed. The pilot does this himself. The pilot also loads his own aircraft. Many guest only see the fuelling, loading and flying part but there is more to being a bush pilot than meets the eye. This is not a job for guys with white shirts and soft hands.
Our aircraft perform well and when operated as per the manufacturers specifications can not be beat for the job they do. A primary goal of our company is to provide safe transportation to and from the fly in camps we operate. To keep every one honest and the aircraft within its operating limits loads are weighed before flight. Everything including the “carry-ons” is weighed. If you bring too much stuff, don’t blame me when loads are adjusted and you can’t get all your must have items on board with you.
I guess the alternative, if the load is to heavy, is to fly the important gear and leave a passenger or two behind.
Just a friendly reminder, the aircraft or I don’t care that it all went last year or that the “other” operator managed it, the aircraft can only carry so much.
And please don’t tell me that old joke about getting 100 yards further than last year again.
At Hilltop Lake earlier this month, I witnessed one of the most beautiful rainbows I’ve ever seen. I don’t think these photos do the rainbow justice but it was indeed a sight to behold.
Calling out a big bull moose gets the adrenalin pumping no matter how many times you do it.
Sometimes they come out unannounced, sometimes they sound like a freight train. There is always something to learn about these animals. As soon as you think you have them figured out they come up with something new about their behaviour that humbles even the best hunter.
We are just getting our first moose hunters out this weekend. From the air I’ve seen bulls squaring off for a little manly moose jousting and some bulls have already been seen with cows. I called a nice bull out in 40 minutes just a few miles from Ignace. It is that time of year. Moose love is in the air.
A friend, and much better moose portrait photographer than me, took these pictures in the last few days near his home. Thanks Rob.
A weekend ago we flew into Hilltop to tackle some “little jobs”. The work went well and we were actually looking for more things to do while we were there.
New steps were added to the sauna, the sauna roof was repaired after windstorm damage, a new walk way was built from the cabin to the outhouse, a dead tree leaning over the cabin was removed and added to the wood pile, the floating boat slips are floating again, general clean up was done, and the cabin was levelled.
Even tho’ we didn’t use Kawaweogama lake this season, we still are doing our maintenance. We built a new deck and steps to the cabin at the front and rear doors. We will be back this fall yet to finish the steps and deck to the sauna too.
Can’t you just imagine fishing on a lake like this? Get away from the hustle and bustle and fish bays or reefs that have seldom seen a line and hook. Ignace Outposts offers some of the finest fly in remote angling opportunities in the country.
Give us a shout and we’ll help you plan a trip of a life time.
Our 2010 fishing season is rapidly coming to an end. 2011 is approaching quickly and is shaping up to be a great year already. Don’t miss out on your preferred dates and lake.
Keeping your camera ready when at Ignace Outposts can produce some amazing images. Seeing a bull caribou swimming in his natural habitat can rank up there with the awesome fishing.
I have heard that many “wildlife” photographers get their best shots at the zoo. Seseganaga Lake has these majestic animals posing for pictures without fences or cages around them.
