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. 

Why sit at home?

In the US it is Memorial Day weekend.  In Canada our May holiday weekend was last weekend.  It is officially called Victoria Day in Canada celebrating the Queen’s birthday, I understand, but since falls on the third weekend in May and that usually is near May 24 and there are 24 beer in a case… it is now somehow referred to as May 2-4 weekend.  Any ways, I digress. 

This weekend, being Memorial Day weekend which was first recognized to memorialize the fallen in the American Civil War, brings many anglers to Canada.  Many stay home. 

I on the other hand, am working hard getting camps ready for soon to arrive anglers. 

With an airplane load to unload at the destination, and other staff doing other jobs, I am sometimes left to recruit new blood to help out.  Vern, a friend in Ignace, “volunteered” to assist.  Somehow our fishing rods got mixed up with the load on board.  I learned over the years, it is only right if the owner of the outposts occasionally fishes the outposts, if for no other reason than to know what he is talking about when describing fishing that most can not imagine.

Less than 30 seconds after dropping our lines Vern reeled in a nice walleye.  

Many many walleye later and with a few walleye in the boat for supper, Vern had to make one more catch.   As you can see in the picture, we never left sight of the cabin.  Both these fish were returned unharmed to the lake.  Total time to test the waters; about 1 hour. 

A few 15 – 16 inch walleye are now ready for the frying pan. 

Why sit at home?  Book your Ignace Outposts trip now for a later summer date with a few walleye and northern pike.

Reel ‘em in

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!

Walleyes?

Even though we don’t push Irene Lake as a walleye lake, it does produce nice walleye. 

These trophies are normal for Irene Lake but you just don’t catch a lot of walleye.  It is a clear water lake with trout and bass as well as northern pike.  The walleye are there but can be fussy sometimes.  The catching of one of these is rewarding. 

Book it for the northern, bass and trout fishing and if you are determined and moderately lucky, you can boat a trophy walleye too.  Just be sure to let the big hogs or hogettes go to keep breeding more ‘eaters”.

Big smallies

SETSER PARTY JUNE 2011        IRENE LAKE

WE HAD A FABULOUS TRIP! THIS WAS THE BEST FISHING FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS AND BIG PIKE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN OUR 8 YEARS FLYING IN WITH BRAD AND KAREN GREAVES.

DEAN

The guys drive from Arkansas to fish the smallies on Irene Lake.   Getting reports like this makes our job very rewarding.

…Barbie…????

Takes a real man to hold this rod and then have it published on a fishing blog.

I guess spending $100s on gear isn’t really that necessary.  I understand next year he will break in his “Spiderman” gear.

August on Seseganaga Lake

The Wagner crew from Wisc have been going to Seseganaga Lake in August for almost 20 years. 

Here are two of the reasons why.

More from Irene Lake

I am always looking for more photos to post on my blog but it seems only Irene Lake guys carry their cameras. 

Here are some more from Irene Lake

September Walleye

The amazing thing about fishing in our area is that not only is the fishing great but the catching is awesome too. 

 

 

Neil and I managed a few hours on the lake between fall close-up jobs.  No sense in being on one of the best walleye lakes in the country and not inviting a few walleye for supper.  Most of these Seseganaga Lake walleye (probably over 100) were released except for one each for dinner. 

This just in

Brad and Karen,

     Thanks again for another spectacular late season vacation. Look forward to next year. Sent some of the pictures we took on the trip. You guys are very accommodating in all aspects of making sure we had a great fishing experience. Randy was a great guide on the trip to Metionga. First time we have seen a bear and a moose on the same flight.

Thanks much

MS

She baits her own hook too!

We are seeing more and more couples on fly in vacations.  It seems that the women love the fishing just as much as the men. 

At Hilltop Lake we caught and released many nice walleye.  Karen has been very good at baiting her own hook (with minnows) and  releasing her own fish.  She has even progressed to baiting her own hook with leeches.  That was a big step.  Now we are working on night crawlers. 

Releasing the big one

Jon Loth has the right idea.  The big walleye are better off in the lake.  The smaller ones provide a tasty meal and the larger walleye can be turned to the lake to breed more feisty, tasty little ones. 

Our camp policy is that all walleye over 22 inches are retuned to the lake.  We’ve seen an increase in walleye productivity over the years by this conservation method.

Whopper

Metionga Lake keeps offering up these whopper walleye.  The numbers of walleye are nothing to ignore either.  Of course big fish like these are put back and smaller ones are kept to eat.

Adrian Brusky will attest to the walleye fishing on Metionga Lake.    Try it yourself.

Another great trip

“Good afternoon Brad.

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this past week at your Sesaganaga outpost.  As always this lake produces big numbers and big fish.  One goal I have for every trip is to catch a 20+lb Northern and I am happy to report again this year I achieved my goal (although in the best interest of the fish, I did not take an exact measurement this year but believe it was ~45”).  Year after year there is this one particular bay that continues to produce big fish.  Two years ago I caught a 45” on my first cast into this bay but this year it was the last cast produced the results.  Over the past few years we have caught and released 5 fish all 44” or larger out of this same bay.  I hope that our catch and release tactics have something to do with this.  Of course the Walleye fishing was very strong with numerous fish in the 22” to 25.5” range.

I also want to extend my appreciation for how accommodating, knowledgeable and helpful Joe was throughout the trip.  Many times he went above and beyond to help us out.  He certainly adds to the experience!  Please pass along our gratitude to Joe.

Oh and the blood on the fish is mine not his.

You guys run a top notch camp and I hope to see you again next year.”

-Tom

 

One of the first

Many year ago, in the late 80’s we began a program of “Catch and Consume” in regard to our fisheries.  Our goal then was to preserve the fisheries under our stewardship for generations to come.  We were one of the first outfitters to implement such a program of only killing fish we would eat and returning all trophies to the water unharmed. 

Beginning in 1990 and for several years afterward, we rewarded our guests with a patch for their part in helping our conservation efforts.

A long time guest sent this photo and a note indicating how he has seen the fisheries improve on our outpost lakes over the years. We appreciate the efforts of our guests and are pleased to do our part in conservation of our precious natural resources. 

Conservation is the future of our industry.

More Seseganaga Lake fishing reports

Phil and Andy sent the following note.

“We caught several 25” walleyes this year.  Not extreme monsters but always a nice tussle on the end of your line.”

Having the odd large northern latch on to your line makes a good fight too.  I think their smiles say it all.  They spent a week on Seseganaga Lake in June. 

Fish Report

Brad and Karen: Here is the 29 inch walleye I caught on Metionga Lake. Thanks so much for another wonderful vacation!

Bob Donnelly

Bob and his crew have made yearly trips to Ignace Outposts since the late 80’s. They have fished most of our lakes and seen our business develop since our earliest years in Ignace. They do keep coming back for more. 2010 is already set up for these guys.

It is not too early to pin your dates down for next summer. Send us an email or give us a call (807-934-2273).

See you next summer!

Great week

Brad/Karen,

Had a great week with the Snapp group again this year...wanted to include a photo of the 44 inch northern pike I snagged on my ultra light spinning reel with 6 pound test line...great fight up on Flindt!!!!  Thanks again for some great fishing.

              DJ

              Bedford, Indiana

Dave returned from Flindt Lake on Friday and sent this photo and note as soon as he got home.  It is fish like this that makes an Ignace Outposts vacation so memorable.  Besides the food and the company you keep, good fishing makes the trip.

Extra Large Walleye Lake

My dad has a way of finding the big ones.

 

Big walleye seems to be the order of the day on Irene Lake.  It is a deep clear water lake so we don’t see as many walleye on Irene as we do on our north lakes, but they are well worth the effort. 

Even a few walleye like this will make your trip. If you want numbers of fish, try Seseganaga Lake, Metionga Lake or Hilltop Lake.  If size is your goal, along with bass, northern, lake trout and white fish, Irene Lake is the one.

Not like Australia

Paul moved to Canada from Australia and finds a little R&R on Flindt Lake is like nothing at home. 

Even during the “rainy season” which incidentally has been most of this summer, the walleye like to entertain.  G’day mate!  Cricky, another too big for the barby.