Congrats to both teams!

The Canada/USA 2010 gold medal hockey game will go down as one of the greatest hockey games ever.  It will be remembered like Canada/Russia ‘72 and the US gold in ‘80. 

The game couldn’t have ended in a more exciting way.  Over time – it sure beats a shootout.  A special congratulations to the three players from our area playing for Canada – Mike Richards, Chris Pronger and Eric Staal.

Now let’s get back to thinking fishing. 

“Nothing makes a Metionga northern bigger than almost being caught.” BG

Ignace Outposts in 2010!

Still friends

Well you'll have to take my word for it.  The video I linked into my blog on Monday was a great video.  Unfortunately it has been taken off You Tube by NBC.  Regardless whether we have this video or not, our counties and their people are and will be friends…     except for about 3 hours on Sunday.

There is one thing in Canada more important than a fishing trip – at least for day.

Go Canada!

After the game, it will be business as usual.  During the game… well what would you expect. 

And please don’t ask “What game?”

Great neighbours (yes that is how we spell it)

During the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, NBC broadcast a short feature about the relationship between Canada and the USA. Karen and I were mostly watching the Canadian network coverage but just happened to be checking what the US networks were broadcasting when we saw this. It took a while to find it on line. Here it is for our guests – both Canadian and American – a great look our great two countries.

Now if we could only get rid of some pesky border issues…

Be sure to get your Ignace Outposts 2010 fishing vacation booked soon.

BEAR SCARES BARE OR BARE SCARES BEAR!!

I must admit this is a novel way to scare bears (bares). Bear with me, every word is true; then you can decide if you wish to also bare with me.

One of the privileges of vacationing at a remote outpost is the ability to wear as much or as little clothing as your companions will tolerate. Without naming names, gender or location one of our guests took advantage of the opportunity to take a bare walk from the cabin to the sauna. This bare guest stepped on to the deck and when the door slammed shut encountered an uncommon visitor in the guise of a very curious and bare black bear. Without taking time for introductions, the bare guest left the vicinity of the bear guest and tried valiantly to create another entrance to the cabin through the wall. The bare’s cohorts, who were also preparing for the sauna, could barely keep straight faces as bare 1 babbled about bear 2. Meanwhile and barely containing his laughter, the bare black bear left the scene, presumably to tell his fellow bears about his bare encounter.

Eventually, with a few “high fives” and likely a little liquid fortification the human bares gathered enough courage to venture uneventfully and bare past the bear spot to the sauna.

The moral of this story is, when exercising the privilege of remoteness regarding attire, feel free, but remember your friends, bare or not, may barely remember their experience of your fishing prowess but will forever have vivid visualizations of the seldom seen bare-bear-bare dance.

Barely able to control his laughter.

I’m sorry I have not posted a picture of the other bare but then again, maybe I’d have to apologize to you if I did.

A change in the regs

Ontario has re-organized its fishing regulation areas from divisions to zones.  Metionga Lake falls within Zone 6.  It is the only one of our lakes to be in this new Zone.  The regulations for this zone have changed regarding Northern Pike.  The new regulation has done away with the slot size restriction.  The no-keep between 27 inches and 36 inches is no longer in effect.  The rule now is that anglers are allowed one northern over 70 cms.  For those who might be metrically changed, that is one over 27.6 inches.   So regardless whether one has a conservation or sportsman’s license, the limit is one northern over 70 cms.  Those who fish with us, know that our own camp policy regarding fish keeping is no trophies (northerns over 27 inches or walleye over 22 inches) are to be killed.  Therefore this is not a big change for us.  Please check out our Guest Planning Handbook , available on our web site, for details of our trophy fish catch and consume policy.

We have been leaders in our industry regarding service, equipment, facilities and conservation for many years.  Our theory on this is that we must either lead, follow or get out of the way.  We choose to lead.   Consider an Ignace Outposts fishing vacation for 2010.

We may not be the cheapest, but we are not the most expensive either.   And we do strive to give you the absolute best value for your dollar – whether is be a Canadian or US dollar. 

Please note, that as of now, none of the other zones we have camps in have changed any regulations.

“Tip the guide”

I just got back from the Minneapolis All Canada Sport Show.

I brought my dad with me to help out in the booth and provide a little company.  Besides Karen and me, I don’t think there is anyone as passionate about our business as my dad. Maybe it’s because I’m his son, maybe it’s because he loves fishing, and maybe it’s because he is a born salesman.  I think it might be all three.  

We spent several hours travelling to and from the show, ate meals together and sat side by side in the show booth for 3 days.  Overall we just had a great time.  That is worth more to me than booking fishing trips. 

I highly recommend spending a little father and son time. If it includes an Ignace Outposts fishing trip, all the better.  Many don’t have the opportunity to “tip the guide”.  Do it while you can.

“Back in the day” it was Bud who encouraged me to follow my dream and he is the same one who taught me to fish.  I still marvel that I can do both in one career. 

Some of the details regarding this fishing adventure are foggy.  I do believe I was following instructions… perhaps the equipment was a little unorthodox,  but it is results that matter…right?

Winter Job

Last week some one said to me “What a job you have, fish and fly in the summer and take take winter off.”

Let me set the record straight.  Last night Karen and I returned from our first run of sport shows.  We left home on Jan 11.  Over the course of the last 21 days we drove over 3700 kilometers (2300 miles),  rode almost 43 hours in the vehicle, spent 18 days doing shows in 4 cities often driving between shows the same day shows started or ended.  We stayed in 7 different hotels, ate in countless restaurants, had to wash our clothes in hotel laundries, and tried to keep up on phone messages and emails. Somehow we still found time to visit with colleagues and guests along the way.

Our personal life still goes on so we skyped and emailed with parents, kids and grandkids, and worked on responsibilities for various committees and commitments aside of work.  Today we open 3 weeks worth of mail, catch up on office matters, start our year end, do more laundry and play with the dog.  On Thursday, at day break, I am back on the road for another sport show.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining, I wouldn’t trade my job for anything.  A wise man once said, “If you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”