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”.

Whitefish

“Found out this AM that my son never did send pictures to you.

Here is a typical size whitefish caught by Andy - we caught several whitefish during that first week of June 2011.” Mike

Catching multiple species of fish is an attraction on Irene Lake. These lake whitefish fight very hard and taste good too.

There is always a story…

“Larry S is holding a lake trout caught minutes after arrival from in front of Irene 2. He was the first person to get a pole ready and the trout was caught from shore on the second cast.”

Not a bad way to start a trip but I think it would require a lot of effort to maintain top dog status.  I wouldn’t want the pressure.

Irene Lake bass attack

Irene Lake may be a fair haul from Eastern Tennessee, but when the boys get together, it is the smallmouth bass attack that keeps them busy.

An oxymoron

How can a smallie be big?  On Irene Lake… that’s how.

With controlled enthusiasm I believe I am fairly accurate making a safe bet that Irene Lake is the only choice for big smallies. Some guys will catch these fish with casual formality as though it was old news while forming a new tradition with Ignace Outposts. Recent history proves that the non-stop flight to Irene Lake can be an instant classic. I am hopelessly optimistic that catching fish in a random order does not result in any fictional truths. The picture tells the story.

 

I was almost surprised that this bass was a little big.  

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.

First fishing trip to Canada

“Brad / Karen,

    I was part of the group at Lake Irene  last month and wanted to share a few pics with you.” 

    “We had a wonderful time during our visit (our first to Canada) and look for to our return next year.”

-Larry Kinder-

Arriving at the lake

The vacation really begins when you get to the lake.  Before the plane takes off and leaves you alone for a few days, the pilots are often a great source of local knowledge.  Randy (in the middle) gives a little last minute advice and kicks the dirt a little when the guys thank him for the safe flight.

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

Nice Fish 2010

Irene Lake is known as “Extra Large Walleye Lake” for a reason.  We don’t see lots of Walleye on Irene Lake but the ones you do get are extra large. 

Nice fish, nice scenery but I’m not sure sure about the rest of the photo.  Thanks for the picture Joe.  See you again soon.

Thinking of summer

As the weather hints of spring, the days get longer, and snow piles retreat we begin to think of summer.  Summer brings open water and fly- in fishing.  At Ignace Outposts we get excited at the thought of feisty walleye, lunker northern, heavy trout and  fighting bass.

I am learning we are not the only ones thinking of these things.

This note came this morning.  It just adds to the anticipation.

“Hi Karen, Brad.

Looking forward to coming back up to your place in Aug. The other guys are excited too.

While looking through some older pic’s from previous trips to Irene lake, I came across a couple of photos that might look good in the photo gallery on  your website. What do you think?  Thx,

-Mike M”

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.

Lunch and a fight

Irene Lake is one of these lakes that feature multiple species.  Of course walleye are great for shore lunch while nothing fights like a small mouth.

Smallies

Irene Lake has small mouth bass.  The drive from Arkansas may seem long for these fellows but it is well worth it when on the rod end of a fight with feisty small mouth.

Sunsets

Rather than write a few thousand words to describe Irene Lake’s beauty, I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Thanks from Tennessee

“Brad and Karen,
We really enjoyed our trip and are planning on returning next year. We are expecting a few others to join us as well. Thanks for being such kind people and showing us a unique part of the world. Your friendliness and people skills are what drive us to return back next year.
Thanks,
Daniel Arnett”

Irene Lake 2009

Irene Lake northern pike

Irene Lake northern fight hard and are worthy of a little extra time on the water.

Irene Lake smallies

Irene Lake is a unique lake around here in that it has walleye, northern, lake trout, whitefish and small mouth bass.   When the walleye are slow, you can target bass.  When the bass are slow you can target trout, when the trout are slow you can target northern… and the list goes on. 

Last week 5 fellows from Tennessee visited us for the first time and stayed at our Irene Lake camp.  The smallies where hitting. 

Walleye or trout…

Tough decision which to invite for supper. They are both mighty tasty in the frying pan.

One of the great things about Irene lake is that you do have choices to make.

Turkey Vultures

Wildlife viewing is one of those added features of an Ignace Outpost vacation.  Our guests regularly see moose, bear, eagles, otters, beaver (not the airplanes), deer, caribou, loons… the list goes on.

If there is decaying animal matter around, turkey vultures are often seen.  Last week on the river south of Irene Lake our guests found a moose carcass, likely from a moose which fell through the ice.

Having a free lunch were turkey vultures. 

These ugly birds work diligently to help clean up the forest.