Electronics and toys

We all like toys and guys are by nature are sometimes “gadget guys”.

To help simplify the ever changing and sophisticated  array of electronics made for fishermen keep in mind, that fishermen like fish sometimes fall for the flashiest and most enticing bait.

All of our lakes offer many multiple reef structures, deep holes and drop offs. A portable depth finder is advisable for each boat and will enhance your experience at Ignace Outposts. These devices are handy but not necessarily necessary as our lakes are easy to fish and sometimes the challenge of reading shorelines and searching for holes is fun without electronic help. If you do succumb to the need to have a depth finder to please note that lead-acid batteries are restricted items when transported by air.

We suggest you use 12 volt dry cell batteries (with capped ends) for your portable finder. Other toys such as color finders, PH gauges and temperature gauges are not really necessary.  Keeping under 100 lbs becomes a challenge when the toys begin to pile up.  You do need food and maybe a beverage to two and that must also fit into the 100 lb weight limit.

GPSs are fun toys and certainly will help you navigate around the lake, but don’t rely solely on them to keep track of your location. Batteries in the GPS may die, but the batteries in your map will last all week. Know how to read it too.  North is “up” following the lines.  If you are heading south, east is on your left.

Minneapolis Sport Show

This week we are in Minneapolis for the Northwest Sport Show. Stop by and see us in Booth 1002. We can set up your 2011 fly in fishing trip to the Canadian Wilderness.

Walleye, Northern, Lake trout, and Small Mouth Bass.

Just a 9 hour drive from Minneapolis, we offer outpost camps on big lakes and small lakes, boats, motors and gas are included in the price. Try an untethered vacation away from cell phones and emails. If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience and Ignace Outposts fly in trip now is a great time. This type of quality fishing makes a great vacation for couples. Guys, get your wives hooked on Canadian Fly in Fishing. ps. there is no shopping at the lake.

We hope to see you at the “show”. The show runs from Wed Mar 30 to Sun Apr 3 at the Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis.

This is not just a fishing trip for men. All women groups are becoming more popular too. Ladies, get your group together and try a fly in vacation that you will talk about for years.

We are running a show special for all-women groups so come down to the show and check us out.

Book a trip and win

'Book a Trip and Win' Contest
To help encourage attendees to book their vacations at the show, the Northwest Sport Show is bringing back the 'Book a Trip and Win' contest. Attendees who book a trip at the show between Wednesday-Saturday will have a chance to win a $500 shopping spree at the Northwest Sportshow. Book your trip with us and then visit the Show Office to register for the shopping spree. You must bring proof of  your trip reservation and be able to return to the Northwest Sportshow on Sunday, April 3rd to shop.

Ignace Outposts   We’ll be at the show all week in booth 1002

Our cabins are set up comfortably for men AND women - hot showers, solar lights and double beds...

March Madness

For college basketball fans, March means only one thing... March Madness!

Fishermen however think of March Madness a little differently. Here are the top 10 March Madness words and their meanings to fishermen:

1) NCAA - No Complainers Allowed Anytime.

2) March Madness - A fisherman's state of mind after having been big city bound all winter long.

3) Free throw - Putting back a trophy northern.

4) Point spread - The difference between your reading of the fish measure and your buddy’s reading of the same measure.

5) Guard – protecting your share of a shore lunch.

6) Rebound - Regaining your sanity by the anticipated relaxing, restoring, and rejuvenating of your mental well-being by booking an Ignace Outpost vacation.

7) 3 point play – Landing a 44 inch plus northern, a 26 inch plus walleye and a 19 inch plus smallie all in the same day.

8) Foul – A good word to describe the smell in the cabin after a feast of walleye and beans.

9) Slam Dunk – Establishing your fishing prowess by winning the first fish, biggest fish and most fish pools

10) Tip Off - Telling all your friends about Ignace Outposts so they can enjoy a great fishing vacation too.

March is almost over and summer fishing season will be here soon.  Our last sport show is in Minneapolis MN March 30 to April 3.  If you live in the Twin Cities area stop by and see us to set up your 2011 fishing trip.  If you live elsewhere and need to get that trip booked to “rebound”, get in touch with us by email or phone.  

Eau Claire Sport Show

I returned from Eau Claire WI on Monday where we did another sport show.  I was fortunate to have my dad with me to help out while Karen is in Vancouver visiting our grandkids.  

At the show we met Dave Robinson, former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and winner of Super Bowl 1 and 2.  Dave is a real gentleman and first class guy.

Dave lent me his Super Bowl 1 Ring – for a short (very short) period.  Here it is on our counter with a picture of our Otter.

We will be in Minneapolis in a week or so (March 30 to April 3) at the Northwest Sport Show.  If you are in the Minneapolis area and even if you don’t have a Super Bowl ring, feel free to stop by and get your 2011 fly in fishing adventure set up.

Flying with Ignace Airways

On a fly in fishing trip with Ignace Outposts, you will really be flying with our sister company Ignace Airways.

Your pilot will be a seasoned professional who must meet stringent Transport Canada requirements in order to work for us. It might even be me.  Before you board the aircraft, it will be your responsibility to help the pilot (especially if it is me) load your gear and to ensure all your stuff is out of the vehicles. Once aboard the aircraft your adventure begins. The pilot will brief you on emergency procedures aboard the aircraft. Please be sure you understand what he is saying.  He may not speak more than one language, but he can definitely speak slower. The pilot is there to help you enjoy your vacation so feel free to ask questions but please do not disturb him while preparing for takeoff, during takeoff or landing. He may not have all the answers but he can usually make up a convincing story pretty quickly.  Usually, if you ask  and if conditions are conducive, the pilot will be able to show you the lake from the air as you arrive. Very often the pilot will point out a moose or bear from the air.  We won’t “buzz” them so don’t ask.  Even if you do think you see them,  it really is tough to point out walleye or small mouth bass from 1500 feet – northern pike, medium sized ones and larger, maybe.  

Your flight will last from 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on your chosen lake and whether we have to stop for directions.  You will fly over virgin forest, cutovers, lakes and otherwise fantastic scenery.

Every seat is a good one. Someone will be able to sit in the cockpit with the pilot. If you do sit “up front” be careful as you enter and exit that you don’t bump any switches or pull any handles or cords. The pilot will appreciate this. The front seat is not “reserved” for the biggest guy. Usually, it is best if an agile member of the group gets up front with the pilot.

A little more on first aid

Our fly in camps are remote.  I am surprised sometimes how fishermen forget they booked a remote fly in and somehow imagine, there is a pharmacy just around the next bend in the lake.  There maybe some nice walleye and northern hanging out around the corner but there certainly isn’t a drug store.

With this in mind, please ensure everyone in the group brings and keeps with them their own personal medication including things like antacid, aspirin and especially prescription medicines. Leaving them in the car doesn’t help much either.   Extra medicine is also advisable in case there is a delay in getting out of the bush. In the event someone in the group has a particular condition such as diabetes or a heart condition, another person in the group should be instructed in the proper method of administrating medication, in the event the person becomes incapacitated.

Another thought; sometimes it takes more than one aircraft to move a group in or out of the bush.  Please be sure everyone has any medications or required personal items with them on board the aircraft.

We really do want to bring as many people out of the bush as we bring in.

What time is it really?

Every once and awhile I get philosophical. 

This weekend we made the leap forward to Daylight Savings Time.  I am sure walleye and bass could care less.  As a matter of fact neither could I.  Too bad we couldn’t bi annually change the length of an inch while we are at it.  A slight change of measurement certainly could help in measuring a trophy northern pike - at least in the summer. 

I  don’t think anybody at their last moment in time, will be wishing they had worked one more hour or squirreled away 1 more dollar.  Why not spend more time with friends and family doing something like fishing.  

We all have only an allotted amount of time so playing hour games in the spring and fall won’t make a difference.  There is still time however to book your Ignace Outposts fly in fishing trip for 2011.

More trip hints

There is not much dangerous in the woods except perhaps some inebriated partners.  Precaution and simple common sense must be taken however when on a fly in trip since help may be a long way off.  We often see fingers and other body parts impaled with fish hooks; fingers and other body parts cut with knives, the odd burn or bug bite reaction and of course some plain lousy cooking that does necessitate use of first aid.

A good First Aid Kit is something every fishing group should have with them when at camp.

Here are some ideas for a personal/group kit.

1. Hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds

2. Sterile Gauze and sterile ointment and a little tape

3. Steri-strips to use in lieu of stitches

4. An eye cup, sterile rinse and ointment for eye related injuries

5. Pain Killers

6. Antacid for stomach disorders

7.  Laxative and antidiarreal  (you never know)

8. Antihistamine, in case someone reacts to food or an insect bite

9. Toothache gel

10. Tweezers and scissors and plyers (quality ones)

11. First aid manual

12. Suntan lotion

13. Solarcaine or similar for sunburn

14. Anti-itch cream

15. rubber gloves

Pack these items in a tackle box or something similar. Assign someone in the group to be responsible for the kit and that every one knows where it is. Tape a contents list on the inside of the lid. You may want to indicate what some items are used for. The best situation is to ensure someone in the group has a current first aid certificate.

And to fill what ever space remains in your first aid box, it helps if everybody brings as much common sense as possible to actually avoid using up items in the box before they are really needed.  My personal experience is that bandaged fingers have a tougher time reeling in lunker northern or walleye than healthy fingers.

Catch and Consume Policy:

 

At Ignace Outposts we are leaders in conservation practices. We insist our guests kill only those fish they are going to eat and limit eating fish to the smaller tastier ones. It is our policy to live release ALL large fish. Walleye over 22”, northern over 27”, bass over 18” and trout over 24” must be released. We ask that you don’t take fish home but if you choose to do so, please take only the smaller ones and return all trophies to the lake. We encourage you to pinch down the barbs on your hooks and handle the fish you release as little as possible. To safely release trophy fish, it is best not to remove the fish from the water and pop out the hook with pliers or just cut your line. Try replacing the treble hooks on spinners, spoons and plugs with single hooks and it will make releasing your fish much easier. We wholeheartedly support shore lunch as a tradition on fly-in trips. We hope to maintain a World Class fishery on our lakes and trust that you will do your part in preserving trophy fish. Bring your camera to capture your trophy for posterity and let the fish live to fight another day. Graphite mounts are available from most taxidermists and can provide a wall mount without killing the fish. The taxidermist requires length and girth measurements as well as a picture of the fish to create a replica mount.

Trip hints

We have a great little guest handbook on our web site. This handbook was developed over the years from having many of the same questions asked over and while helping our guests prepare for an Ignace Outposts walleye fishing adventure.

Here is a little snippet from our handbook geared to our American guests regarding travel plans to Ignace.

Trip hints:

1. confirm your dates and times and balance owing before you leave home

2. note your travel time, planned route and sights of interest along the way

3. leave a copy of your itinerary at home

4. leave a list of party members and phone numbers with someone at home

5. leave our phone number and names with someone at home

6. be sure to have a valid driver’s licence, vehicle registration and insurance

7. have some Canadian money (cash) for incidentals along the way

8. persons 18 and under not accompanied by an adult should have a letter from a parent, or guardian giving them permission to enter Canada

9. be sure to declare all items being brought into Canada

10. be polite and truthful to the custom officers (this will help expedite your border crossing)

11. AAA is a good investment when traveling in a foreign country

12. use of headlights while driving (even in the day) is recommended

13. Canadian speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour (kph) not miles per hour

14. Canadian stamps must be used when mailing from Canada

2011 opener

11 weeks today is opener for walleye fishing.  The count down begins.   Still time to get your Ignace Outposts adventure set up.    If you haven’t booked your 2011 trip yet, give us a call.  We’ll get you set up for a flyin fishing trip you’ll tell your grandkids about.

807-934-2273