Many folks think walleye fishing isn’t good in July. I know a few who would disagree. Steve and his group have been coming to Seseganaga lake every July -mid July - for many years.
Walleye fishing is consistent in these cold waters all summer. In my opinion, fishing in nice weather beats fishing in lousy weather. July is usually very stable weather wise and nice days out number lousy days.
Every group should have some kind of leader. This applies to groups a small as 2 right on up to the size of a country. Determining a group leader can be as simple as marrying one, enduring a drawn out election every four years or as may happen when no one is happy , instigating a revolt. How a group is lead is up the the group, but I do suggest the leader of the pack looks back once in a while to see if anyone is still behind him.
In camp, assigning jobs is vital to the moral and happiness of the group. Having everyone standing around wondering who is going to do what usually ends up in some things not getting done and more than a few pointing fingers and blame to spare.
One of the the jobs that needs “a volunteer assigned” is fish offal disposal. In the event you haven’t heard that term before, offal is a nice way of saying fish guts. Once fish are filleted, it is good camp practise as well as smart critter control (read bear avoidance) to empty the fish offal bucket across the bay or lake for the animals to consume away from camp. Smelly fish remains can attract a host of undesirable visitors.
Putting the offal up on shore ensure that nature’s garbage cleaners have a good chance at removing every trace. Burying it or dumping it in the lake produces many unwanted consequences.
Beer seems to be a staple for many groups on a fly in trip. Cold beer is best in my humble opinion.
Much like your fridge at home, if you fill a fridge with warm beer and then open and close the door 30 times an hour, the beer will never get cold and your food will not be cool either. Putting your beer in a cooler with ice insures cold beer very quickly and frees up fridge space for the food. It doesn’t take much ice and the ice lasts a long time.
We do have fridges in our cabins but they can not cool beer when 6 guys keep opening the door for a little liquid refreshment. But if you prefer warm beer and warm food just jam the fridges full and keep opening the door.
Something else to ponder, ice is ice and there is no advantage to throwing out ice to make room for more.
It may not be a Michelin rated dining establishment, but you’d be hard pressed to beat a traditional shore lunch on the shore (hence the name) of a northern Canadian Lake.
Cooking in the bush will likely insure that no matter how delectable the fare is, bugs, pine needles and a little wood ash should be considered condiments rather than a source of complaint. Finding a new master chef may prove more difficult than complementing the one you have.
Reservations for lunch not required. Reservations with Ignace Outposts are required.
Bring your friends and catch your own shore lunch.
This walleye made a valiant effort, which apparently paid off for him, to return to the water. It looks as though the only thing this walleye needs is a cape.
Never underestimate the effort walleye make in these northern waters to stay in our northern waters.
A northern pike invites a walleye for lunch.
This happens so often around here that I have no sympathy for someone who has his rod yanked out of his hands when he is not paying attention to the task at hand. I’ll admit catching a hundred or so walleye in a day can cause you to let your guard down, but “who knows what lurks below”
You never know what you might see if you pay attention while fishing in our area. We certainly were not the first folks on these lakes. This pictograph is several centuries old. I am not sure if it is a moose or caribou, but it does tell us that others before us lived here off the land. They preserved the wilderness and its bountiful harvest for us.
We also have taken responsibility to preserve our natural abundance for future generations. Our camp policy is to only kill those fish you plan to eat like the smaller tastier ones. All others are returned to the lake – this means all trophies go back. Hanging a fish on the wall can be done with graphite replicas which allow the big fish to go back and continue supplying good genetics to the waters.
It has been my experience that no matter how impressive a fish mount is, it can still be measured to prove or disprove a little exaggeration. A photo however can gracefully increase in size as the stories is embellished over time.
Please practise CPR (catch, photo, release) and then let the embellishment begin.
“… Attached are some of the pictures I took on our fly-in trip July 7 to 12th. The trip to Lake Metionga Lake was a most excellent and enjoyable experience.
A week away from the everyday hustle and bustle of the rest of the world in the wilderness was awesome.
The fishing was exceptional,the weather was great, and we ate too much.
The group thoroughly enjoyed the trip. As you told us, Joey was very helpful and knowledgeable about good fishing spots throughout our stay.
The trip leaves us with many memories.
Thank you.” Bill B
It is always good to hear reports from first time Ignace Outposts fishermen. Bill and his buddies had never done a fly in together and from the photos and smiling faces had a time to remember.
Outpost camp fishing is appealing for many reasons, one of which is the opportunity to “do it yourself”.
We make the trip as comfortable and hassle free as possible but carrying your own gear, baiting your own hook and cooking your own food is what most want to get away to. No fancy service with us. If you want someone to butter your toast and wash your dishes you better bring “the new guy”. There is a lot to be said for being a veteran. Now if the whole group are veterans, I guess pulling straws works the best.
We call an Ignace Outposts fishing trip a “soft wilderness” vacation. This means we put a good roof over your head, offer more amenities than you expect and provide quality equipment to get you to the fishing holes. If you want hard wilderness – try some of our competitors and if you want mushy wilderness go to some of the lodges where they do everything but brush your teeth.
Nick brought up another big walleye on Metionga Lake. His dad has been bringing Nick on an annual trip for many years. I suspect it won’t be long and he’ll be bringing his dad.
Seeing 28 inch walleye caught and released certainly makes a father proud. Sharing time in a boat away from the distractions of our busy lives is better yet, creating memories that will last a life time. It is times like this that will be the memories talked about for many years.
Remember when…? How big was that walleye again…? That’s what it is all about.
I real life Dar is usually the boss. On Metionga Lake, he takes the front seat and lets someone else drive. It gives him more time to kick back and reel in the big ones.
Sure beats working eh Dar!
Sam fishes with her dad and brother Cole (yesterday’s post). She holds her own, not only as the only girl in a group of fathers and sons (often up to 20 of them) but also in the fishing department.
This is not her first rodeo and definitely not her last.
Cole may be young in age but he is well experienced in the the finer points of outpost camp fishing. Cole and his dad (and sister) have been going to Metionga Lake in search of a walleye and northern for several years. Cole is no slouch in the fishing department often out fishing most in the group.
Some days you just want to go fishing. When the urge comes, there is no better place than a fly in outpost… eh Joe? Early July is still a good time to get away!
Irene Lake is a lake close to Ignace so the cost is reasonable. The lake offers 5 species and an amazing place to relax and unwind. Joe has been to all our cabins over the years and returns time and time again to learn new things about lakes he has fished before.
We have two facilities on Irene Lake which both offer seclusion as well as beautiful views. Sometimes the walleye are fast and furious (good size too) and other times the smallies are the prey of choice. lake trout, northern pike and whitefish also challenge the angler.
We like to say that there is so much more to a fly in fishing trip than just the catching of fish. That is a big part no doubt, but experiencing the peace and quiet of nature along with good friends without the distraction of cellphones, computers, TV, etc is a good reason by itself to try it.
Brad and Karen:
“This was the best year as to quality and quantity.
I got a 28 and 27 inch walleye with many over 24…the northern went from my largest at 40 ½ with 38s, 35s,34s and so on…thanks for your hospitality.”
Leigh
Leigh and his crew from Indiana have been fishing with us as long as anyone. They were regular guests when Karen and I arrived in Ignace almost 27 hears ago. They have not missed a year in our tenure. For Leigh to write that this year at Flindt Lake was “the best year” is saying a lot.
This year they had a lot of rain and some very high waters to deal with, but as usual, they rebooked for 2013. If you are thinking of a 2013 fishing trip, get in touch with us and we will “get you set up”.
Catching a walleye offers a little excitement. Having a northern pike latch on to your walleye for a tug-of-war for who gets lunch is a thrill.
This happens quite often in our lakes. It is always wise to hold on to the rod, even when the walleye is giving up the battle. You never know what lurks just below the surface!
Dave and Dee have been fishing with us at Metionga Lake for many years. Every year Dee manages to out fish Dave and catch the big one for the week. This year Dave caught the big one.
It is a long drive from Colorado to Ignace but the fishing and little get away is well worth the drive.
Today is Canada Day. We Canadians celebrate on July 1 and our American friends celebrate their independence on July 4.
Our countries are friendly neighbours and are very similar in customs and people. One big difference between us however is that our American friends won independence with their Revolutionary War. Canada won independence by just asking nicely.
