New look and new link

Our website has a new look! Here's a preview of what you should see when you go to ignaceoutposts.com. 

Our blog has been moved to this location ignaceoutposts.com/blog, so please head on over there and bookmark this new blog address. This bookmark will no longer be updated.  All 835 posts from our very first one published on February 21, 2008 are archived at the new location. Check it out. Makes for some great rainy, snowy evening reading while you plan for your next trip to Ignace Outposts.

Aug desktop

Karen has posted her Aug desktop calendar. 

Find the link here.

Canada Day – Brrr..

Canada Day was July 1.  Normally we wear summer attire, battle mosquitos, host BBQs, view fireworks and sit around camp fires.  Yesterday we donned jackets, couldn’t find a mosquito, wished for a warm bowl of soup, cancelled fireworks and lit the wood stove in the house.  By supper time temperatures were a nasty 6 C (42 F) and dropping - many areas of our southern neighbour don’t get that cold on January 1. Hearty as we are, we went for a walk after supper and the dog was alarmed to see his own breath.

A southern neighbour asked if Canada Day is the celebration of when we defeated England.  To set the record straight, we just asked nicely.  And we probably prefaced the request with “We are sorry to bring this up, but…” 

Close but not quite

On June 5, I posted a picture of Tom’s northern from 2013 on Seseganaga Lake and his mission to catch another 50 incher.  He tried his best but came up a few inches short this year.  Tom had to settle for a 46 incher this year. 

A valiant effort and the best part is the fish went back to the water unharmed after its little photo op. 

I guess there is always next year but in my humble opinion a 50 incher is hard to beat…  just don’t tell Tom so he keeps coming back to try.

Come prepared

This season has already been one for the record books.  It began exceptionally late with water levels as high as we’ve ever seen.  Docks are underwater and rivers are flowing fast.  We seemed to go from winter to summer without spring and now the last few days we’ve seen more April weather with frost yesterday morning in some areas. 

With the cool temps and lots of standing water, we have perfect conditions for mosquito breeding. The mosquito population is thriving or should I say horrendous. I can honestly say I don’t recall seeing them as bad as they are right now.  

I suggest you bring lots of bug spray and perhaps mosquito head nets or bug jackets.  Of course, mosquito coils or other methods of eliminating those that follow you into the cabin is advisable.  Our cabins do have window screens, screen porches and we have screened in fish cleaning houses.  But those pesky biting machines will ride in with you so be prepared. 

One group I checked on last week were even wearing their bug nets in the boat.  The mosquitos are bad.  Be prepared.  There is no requirement to catch and release mosquitos so feel free, while you are here, to take home as many as you can carry.  I hear that with a little batter and deep fried they are very tasty.

On the bright side, fishing is awesome and yesterday one boat on Seseganaga Lake landed a 31 inch walleye as well  as a 43 inch northern.  Both were live released back to the water. 

Trying again

Tom and his buddies are flying into Seseganaga Lake tomorrow to try and beat the Northern pike Tom caught there last June. 

Good luck Tom.  50 inchers is hard to beat anywhere.

Let the fun begin

Getting camps ready is always a lot of work.  When we get behind, we end up recruiting outside help.  Pete and Pam are no strangers to our camps since Pete worked for us many moons ago, and over the years, he has brought Pam with him on several camp cleaning trips. 

Of course, after the work, I guy has gotta provide for his wonderful wife (that is his story and I’m sticking to it) and what better way than to harvest some of the bounty of the lake.  As Pete concentrated on eating sized walleye, Pam practiced reeling in the lunkers.   She has a habit of getting the biggest of her life.  See the post of her biggest northern in 2008 here.  She gleefully told me that this walleye was the biggest of her life.  

She returned this breeder to the lake as they did all the larger walleye.  Pete worked on catching supper and did manage to hook onto a nice Northern pike which after this photo op was returned to the lake.  Of course along with these pictures there are stories about even larger fish on Pete’s line but there is no photographic proof… hmmm 

on the other line…

Today is the opening of Walleye season.  This year, we have been “iced out” so our start is just a little late.  BUT… since it is walleye season… I just may be out walleye fishing anytime between now and October.   I may not get to fish often, but when I do it will be with Ignace outposts and I will not be answering the phone – I may be on another line.

Spring ritual

Every year before the props can turn, the pilots have to be re-trained in aircraft operations, government regulations and other various items of particular interest to pilots and the safe air transportation of our guests.  Even though between them they have almost 3/4 of a century in aviation, Randy and Brad have been burning the oil so to speak.  Karen says not only can she smell their winter dormant brain cells being pushed to their max, she also thinks they  look intelligent pouring over the books.  The later is a skill Brad mastered in University. 

Many may think the life of a bush pilot is one of “just get in and drive!”.  In actuality, any professional pilot is required to  move a lot of paper.  This annual training takes days.  The goal is to be as safe and up to snuff as possible.  Even old timers can learn a thing or two now and then. 

As they wait for ice out they will be ready for the actual recurrent flight training which will be done in a day or so once the aircraft are in the water.   They have to be sharp behind the controls too.  Book smarts is only part of the equation. 

Popcorn Walleye

One week today, May 16 is equivalent to Christmas Eve to an Ontario angler.  Walleye season opens on May 17 this year and even though we are not sure ice will be out, we can always be optimistic.  Analogous to kids in late December, anglers in this area will go to sleep on Friday with visions of lunkers and shore lunch dancing in their heads.  My job is to make those dreams come true.  In the mean time to facilitate those dreams, as a teaser, here is a photo of one of my recent fish cooking experiments.

I call it popcorn walleye.  I will admit, I didn’t invent this – I don’t think – but Karen, my most honest critic, is sure I perfected it.  In spite of the name, I wouldn’t even think of tossing back a few of these out of a bowl in the living room on “movie night” or while watching a playoff hockey game.  These walleye nuggets are great however as an appy or as a prime ingredient in walleye tacos.  My advice is do not leave a bowl like this unattended while cooking.  They will never reach the plate with the abundance of “quality control inspectors” who will materialize near your cooking station.   Personally, I guard this culinary product aggressively and usually with a weapon. 

Cut the walleye into tiny bite size pieces and coat with your favorite fish coating.  They fry up quickly and do not require a lot of oil.  Enjoy!

Ignace Outposts

Sign of spring

A long winter does really funny things to people.  Seseganaga Joe who rarely likes to venture to a population center larger than Ignace had enough of winter this year and drove 4000 km to visit to other end of our province.  I think the whole trip was an excuse to see new faces – some of the faces around here have gotten a little old.   Joe somehow managed to arrive at the only Bass Pro in Ontario (near Toronto) and managed to do a little pre season preparation. 

I think Joe threw this fish back in anticipation of fresh walleye on Seseganaga Lake in just a few weeks.  I understand he bought the fishing rod however to add to his arsenal. 

Snow is melting

The snow is melting quickly now.  I finally figured out why I haven’t seen Randy for the last few months.

We are still hopeful for iceout soon.  Now that we’ve found Randy, and the walleye are hungry and the northern pike are well trained, we are ready for opener.

Location, location, location

Last week I was in Toronto to attend a couple of days of meetings.  I sit on a volunteer advisory committee.  As I sat in an office building in downtown Toronto, I couldn’t help but notice the irony.  Our committee is focused on promoting tourism in Northern Ontario, yet here we were in Toronto. 

Compare the view from this office…  I sometimes don’t fly this high…

and my office…

It is no wonder, the powers-that-be bring a few of us “northerners” in for a little advice. 

Where would you rather be? 

Make time

Sometimes we have to just sit down and figure out why we are so busy.  If making a living becomes more important than having a life, I think we have to adjust some priorities.   I doubt that at the end of it all our last thoughts will be “I wish I had worked a few more days”.

Congratulations Jo and Dean

This weekend, Karen and I traveled to Niagara Falls to celebrate with Jo (our youngest) and Dean.  

They were married on Sunday.

The Bright Side

This has been a brutally cold and long winter.  The media has in their zeal of naming winter storms, now come up with something to call the weather when it is not a storm.  They have invented the term “polar vortex”.  I guess it sound ominous enough to have more viewers tune in but to those of us who live in the midst of this seasonal cold, we call it “winter”.  Always have and always will.  This time of year sends many, who are tired of complaining, running south to bask in the sand and surf or to even somehow enjoy the desert.  

It is cold and snowy this time of year.  And such is life in Northwestern Ontario.  Our chief pilot Randy tells me there is a bright side however.  He says he hasn’t seen a mosquito for weeks now. 

March Desktop Calendar

Karen has posted her March desktop calendar.

Find the size for your desktop here.

The words of work

I'm a bush pilot and remote tourist outfitter. Originally I wanted to work in an orange juice factory, but I would have been canned because I can’t concentrate. Then I wanted to work as a lumber jack, but I figured I wouldn’t be able to hack it and that they would give me the axe. After that, I thought about being a tailor, but I was just not suited for it, mainly because it is only a so-so (sew-sew) job. So next I pondered working in a muffler factory, but that would be too exhausting for me. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally applied for a job as a historian, but I realized there was no future in it. Then before I finally settled on flying, I considered working at Starbucks but I had to rethink because it would just be the same old grind.

That in a one succinct paragraph answers “How I got to do what I do?”

Really?

Some of our guests have put considerable thought into making their loads lighter this year.  Tom S and his crew sent me their plan.

“Some ideas for reducing weight:
Take only lite beer - Bud, Miller ...
For further reduction take Mich Ultra Lite
If you’re desperate, take Coors Lite empty cans.  When in camp, you can fill with water and no one will know the difference.”

Giving it up

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.
I took out my wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked,"If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied.
"Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" I asked.
"No, I don't waste time fishing," the homeless man said.."I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive."
"Will you spend this on hunting equipment?" I asked.
"Nope!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't gone hunting in 20 years!"
"Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you money. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a shower and a terrific dinner cooked by my wife."
The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that?
I replied, "Don't worry about that. It's important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up drinking, fishing and hunting."

Making the process easy

In my effort to help make it easy, I have developed a flow chart to track the decision process required to make your Ignace Outposts fishing adventure a reality.

It’s Feb already!

It is only 4 and 1/2 month until walleye opener.  You would never know it by looking out my window but since winter comes annually around here, we can wait and get ready.  How about you?  Have you booked your 2014 Ignace Outposts fishing adventure yet?

To enjoy while you wait for spring, Karen has posted her Feb Desktop calendar so you can get it here.

See you this summer!

Create Memories

I can't help but think that sometimes we encourage the wrong things in our kids and grandkids. They will not remember the best score on a video game nor the best day they had watching TV. But take them fishing...

It may be cold now, but summer is coming. Time to think fishing.

Ignace Outposts

We have an app for that!

Given that more than 50% of webpage viewing is now done on tablets and smart phones, we have developed an app to help our guests and friends to stay in touch.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone and download our Ignace Outposts’ app. 

Alternatively you can use your smart phone or tablet browser and go to http://GreatCanadian.mobapp.at

Or if you have an Apple device, go to the Apple app store and search under “fish Canada”.  If you have an android device, search Google Play under “Ignace Outposts” or “fish Canada”. 

The app is free and will make it easy to stay in touch with the happenings around Ignace Outposts.

Be sure to allow notifications to stay up dated.

January Desktop Calendar

Karen has posted her January desktop Calendar.  Find it here.

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year and all the best to our friends and guests.  We are looking forward to another great year providing memorable and high quality Ignace Outposts fly in fishing trips in 2014.

2014 began in Ignace with a little coolness.  This is what we woke up to this morning.  I suppose temps can only go up from here. 

For those unfamiliar with C and F temperature scales, –40 C is the same as –40 F.  It is time to light the fireplace and pour a cup of tea.