That time of year

We are into our archery moose hunt already.

Cool calm mornings are perfect for calling an amorous bull into the area.  A little fog rising from the water and the quiet of early morning makes a moose call an eerie sound across the bay.

He may be a good pilot…

Randy spent a little time last week working on his angling skills.  If he had to rely on those skills for sustenance, I think he would starve. 

Fall fishing on Hilltop Lake

Joe will fish in the sun, he’ll fish in the rain, he will fish in May and he will fish in Sept. 

Last week on Hilltop Lake the walleyes did not disappoint.  Joe told me the average was about this size with lots of good action.  A little searching was required on occasion with the changing weather, but that is what makes fishing a sport. 

If you want a guarantee of fish, I am sure a local meat market or grocer carries walleye.  If you want a little adventure and a little peace and quiet with great fishing too, go to Ignace Outposts. 

Now is a good time to start thinkning about 2012. 

Busy beach

Last week we had some guys at Hilltop Lake.  One morning they woke to moose tracks in the sand in front of the cabin and the next morning bear tracks.  They were fishing so they had to settle for that very thin “track Soup”. 

The hand prints were added by the photographers – likely to show the size of the tracks.

Makes you wonder how busy those animals are at night and how close they can come without us seeing them. 

More Sept walleye on Hilltop Lake

Paul caught and released this walleye, just around the point from the camp on Hilltop Lake.    Not really one for the record books, but certainly something to remember and add to the stories once home and recounting the trip with family and friends. 

Dress for success

Over the years I have seen just about every fishing outfit there is.  Some folks are rather minimalist in their attire while in the bush (in season of course) and others have all the latest Gortex, Thinsalate, water proof and hook proof gear they can pack. 

I don’t think the fish mind what you wear or don’t wear.  Dressing for success at Ignace Outposts in Sept may require a few layers - or not.

Release the trophies and keep the eaters

The big ones go back, the small tasty ones are invited for dinner.

Ignace Outposts fishing at its finest!

Fishing in Sept.. Oh yeah!

Ok so the weather wasn’t as balmy as July, but Paul (one of St Paul MN’s finest) takes his vacation when he can get it.  Paul and his partners like Metionga and Metionga Lake likes them back. 

Can’t argue with success.  In Sept, Walleye and Northern Pike tend to hit well bulking up for winter.  When you are on the lake in the fall weather can be unpredictable but the prize at the end of your line rewarding. 

The walleye was caught in site of the cabin at the rapids!

Are we having fun…

A little snow and sleet doesn't slow down an avid fisherman.  Last week we had snow and sleet here in Ignace but I was seconded securely in my office.  The guys at Metionga Lake decided fishing was OK in the cool weather if they were properly dressed. 

Yes they had fun.

Anticipation

Those who follow this blog know that we operate our camps with a great emphasis on the experience over the filling of a limit.  We highly encourage Catch, Photo and Release (CPR) and you will seldom see fish on a stringer on this blog. 

These walleye make the anticipation of lunch look so good that I had to include it. 

The walleye were invited to lunch and where headed to the frying pan.  We do enjoy fresh walleye ourselves.  Our policy is to only kill the fish you are going to eat.  Enjoy the resource but do have respect for the abundance of our fisheries. 

Lynn (above) enjoyed Bob`s cooking so much that not only is she inviting him back on her next trip, but he has no excuses at home anymore either.  Sorry Bob, but I guess one of the dangers of these trips is that some secret abilities are revealed. 

Keep your eyes open

This “perfect” beaver hut is in the bay just north of the camp, where the large bull moose was also hanging around.  Bob

Many guests at Seseganaga Lake saw the bull hanging around near this beaver dam.  Caribou were seen near the spot too.  Now you know approximately where to look.  Get up to Ses and keep your eyes open.

Why not make it a date?

Bob took his wife Lynn on a date to Seseganaga Lake a couple of weeks ago.   Bob is a veteran with us and Lynn was the newbie.  Not anymore.  From what we hear, it is something they will be doing again.

Bob’s comments:  “Walleye Lynn out fished me the first hour… working on dates and group size for next year—will let you know.”

Take your wife fishing.  It opens a whole new world of things to do together.

We’ve equipped our cabins perfectly for couples - indoor showers, double beds, multiple bedrooms, and a fully equipped kitchens so you can show her how you can cook as good as you can guide.

2012 is approaching quickly.  Give us a call or contact us via email and we will set up an adventure you will both enjoy.  Ignace Outposts

Hot to cold

On Saturday records fell across NW Ontario as we saw temperatures in the 30 + C range (high 80’s F) and yesterday morning we had snow flurries with overnight temps below freezing. 

If you don’t like the weather in our area, stick around a bit.  It will change.

It appears fall has arrived and with it the moose hunt.  Our first archery hunters fly in on Sunday morning. 

Joe’s office

Even at Seseganaga Lake our camp manager Joe has a little office.  We call it the phone booth and I know for a fact he spends very little time there.  Everyday about 7 AM, I get a “Everything’s OK” check in call and unless Joe has a list if things needed at camp, the conversation is over quickly.  Joe is a man of few words and lots to do.  I think he’d rather talk fishing with our guests than weather with me. 

It is handy having phone communication from two of our camps (Seseganaga Lake and Metionga Lake) for emergency, camp servicing, guest requests and piece of mind.

Smart move

It is not wimpy to leave the water when something like this storm is approaching.  Safety on the lake demands a little common sense.   Most of us are blessed with a bit of this and really should use it. 

Lightening and graphite rods seem to attract one another.  It is the guy who waves one around while casting that can shockingly find this out.  Also, high winds, rolling waves and poor visibility can hamper navigation if being too bold lets the storm overtake you.

Be smart and be safe. 

Two Lake

Two Lake is a small portage lake just behind our cabin on Hilltop Lake.  It holds walleye, and northern pike.  We have also seen some nice perch in the lake. 

If the winds on Hilltop Lake are high or you just want to explore, Two Lake is a nice option.  There are no cabins on Two and we have the only boats there.  It is only a 3 minute walk right from the cabin.  We keep the boats and motors there for you. The boats are 12 footers but they do the job on a small lake.   You only have to carry your gear and maybe some gas from Hilltop.  We have a wheel barrow there help make that easy too.

No need to pout

After I released my umpteenth (that’s a big number I made up) walleye and Dave lost his umpteenth jig to another “steam dog” (a term of endearment for a northern pike which takes your lure and runs), Dave took time out to pout.

Hey Dave, it still beats being at work - wouldn’t you say.

Typical fall fishing on Hilltop Lake

One day can be short pants

The next is thermal pants and a warm jacket.  Joe also had on blue long johns which we thought was just a little over kill since we did get a high of 40F that day.

Labour Day Labour

Most folks get Labour Day off. Not in the outfitting business! And yes that is how it is spelt in Canada.

I have no shortage of “buddies” who are willing to help me with my camp work. Of course, they do take a moment or two to catch supper, but generally they are good workers. Since I am rather discerning about who I will spend time with in the bush, the real go-to guys are the same ones I have been hanging around with since high school and in one case well before. This allows for some familiarity, and great afterhours banter. We all seem to have different recollections, not only from foggy decades old memories but even from previous tellings of the stories.

I tried finding gremlins to manage this part of my business but they all seem to be busy working at my mom’s. It is not just spring cleaning that keeps our camps ready to go. Somebody actually does do these jobs. During the summer it is hard to find a break to get in to do this but now I can work it into my schedule.

All the pots and pans have been removed from the cupboard and washed, the cupboards washed and then pots returned.

Peter cleans up the bathroom.

We also bucked up a cord or so of firewood, cut down several trees that were threatening to fall on our cabin and managed a bunch of those little jobs that just seem to get put off during the busy season. Hilltop lake is now ready for fall fishing as well as a moose hunt.

Hilltop Lake Blueberries

Fishing is just one of the attractions of our Hilltop Lake camp.  Of course it is the big attraction since it is nothing short of fantastic.  But when the arms get tired or the desire of doing something else overtakes you there are other things to do. 

Wild life viewing, exploring and, in season, blueberry picking are wonderful options.  

There is no limit on blueberries and a gallon can be picked in short order within sight of the cabin.  Blue berries have a boat load of antioxidants and wild blue berries can not be beat for taste.  Blueberry pancakes, blueberries on cereal, blueberries in yogurt or have an Iron Chef blueberry challenge - we did last week and the result was amazing. 

Hilltop Lake on Labor Day

Dave and I have been having adventures since we needed a step-stool to pick blueberries. If Dave got as many in his jar as he tried to get in his mouth, he would have had the gallon picked in half the time.

  (click the picture to see what I am talking about.)

Once again…

Brad & Karen,
Once again, the fishing on SES was spectacular!  We didn't catch any real monsters, but the quantity of fish we caught more than made up for that.  Our group of 12 caught somewhere between 1,400 and 1,800 walleye in the 4.5 days we fished (and didn't kill ourselves doing it)!  I'd estimate the average size to be around 19 inches.  Attached is a picture of the northern I caught while jigging with my ultralight.  As you know, I'd rather catch fish than waste time taking picture.  Luckily Rod had an "old" disposable camera in his tackle box, it was the only evidence we had for our fishing contest as the fish was released.
Take care,
Todd     

Thanks for the note Todd.  It is always great to see you guys.  See you in 2012!

Walleye

Now that’s what it’s all about!

Busy Beaver

Left to their own devices Beavers can be very successful architects.

And we thought Joe stayed busy at Seseganaga Lake. As our camp attendant there he keeps things in fine shape. I wonder if our cabins would look like this if he used only mud and sticks.

 

This is our shed at Ses just for the tools and equipment needed to keep things in tip top shape.

On Vacation

Looks like a good way to spend a vacation.  Seseganaga Lake in August can provide R&R as well as some good eats!

Ghost of the north

It seems photos I can use on my blog come in spurts. Since I am not at the lake with my guests (some say that’s what make our trips so appealing) I must often rely on guest photos to enhance my blog.

The Wagner party retuned from Seseganaga Lake last week and gave us some great shots of a Bull Caribou they watched on the bay north of our cabin on Ses.

Seeing these magnificent and relatively rare in our area animals is an opportunity everyone should have but not many do. The caribou in the Seseganga Lake area are some of the most southern natural herd of woodland caribou on the continent. Unlike the barren land caribou these animals do not travel in herds of 1000’s or more. They prefer solitude and are often referred to as the “ghosts” of the forest. They are often seen momentarily and then when you look again they are gone… like a ghost.