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.
We see many fathers bring their sons fishing. We also see fathers bring their daughters. In fact we also see sons and daughters bring their fathers.
Last week on Metionga Lake Rick and his daughter Marie enjoyed some quality time together. Rick has been fishing with us for many years and this year the group expanded to 8 with Marie filling in as one of the guys. I venture to guess she may have out fished some of the old “pros”, but it looks like dad held his own.
Ice has been out for two weeks already. The earliest ever. We still have another 5 weeks or so until our first fishermen begin to show up. I am already looking forward to the first plate of fresh walleye in mid May.
Fishing walleye in the spring seems like it can be easy but in reality is challenging as well as exciting. Inlets and outlets are primary places to look for spring walleye. Flowing water warms quickly and attract walleye. Normally right after spawning, walleye get back to feeding to rebuild body reserves lost due to their physical efforts to reproduce. Areas with abundant feeding opportunities such as in flowing water and shallow dark muddy bays will attract walleye as they search out their favourite foods. Where the food is, the walleye will be also.
Jigs and minnows as well as shallow running crankbaits will trigger aggression in feeding walleye in the spring. Walleyes will move searching for food and where they are plentiful and aggressive one day, they may not be the next. This can be challenging, but searching out habitat for bait fish and feeding areas makes spring walleye an adventure. If the fish are in a productive area they will bite. If they are not there (the action is slow), you may have to move.
Happy and Prosperous New Year to All
During the holidays, with the kids scattered about the country, I have lots of time to play in the kitchen.
Today Karen had the brilliant idea to have walleye for supper so in honour of a new year, I thought I’d invent a new recipe – something other than fried fish. For lack of a better name I call it Fiesta Walleye.
Thankfully I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions. This is not exactly diet food but it sure gets the juices flowing for another season of fishing at Ignace Outposts.
Here is Fiesta Walleye:
Ingredients:
Walleye (about 1 lb of fillets – 2 fish) I suspect any white fish will do if your next fresh walleye won’t be until next summer at one of our fly ins.
2 cups of mushrooms sliced and diced (not too small)
2 large cloves of garlic – mashed
1/4 cup of dark rum – be sure to keep the rest of the bottle for a imbibing
1/2 cup of whipping cream – yes the real stuff
3 – 4 Tbsp butter – not margarine or any other facsimile
1/4 cup diced (small) red peppers
1/2 cup of salsa
1/4 cup grated fresh/real Parmesan cheese
S+P to taste
Instructions:
You have to do two things at once so don’t start the rum drinking until things are under control.
In one pan, sauté the mushrooms and red peppers with some butter and the garlic. Careful with the S+P since the cheese at the end will be salty. Add the rum and reduce to a glaze at low simmer stirring often. Add cream and salsa and simmer on low to reduce about half and the mixture is thick. Add another dab of butter and stir in.
In the other pan, fry the walleye fillets in batches with a little S+P. Carefully remove the cooked fish to avoid breaking and place in an oven proof dish. I used a 9x9 clear cake pan.
Cover the fish with the mushroom sauce and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
In the oven put top rack about 8 to 10 inches from top of oven. Turn on broiler to high to heat up. Broil until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
Serve beside steamed veggies – we should all have something healthy once in a while.
ENJOY - we did!
ps. We let the dog lick our plates (Karen wouldn’t let me do it). He tried to lick off the color.
Metionga Lake offers some successful catching as well as great fishing. Yes there is a difference.
Yesterday I posted about Jeff’s 50 inch northern pike at Metionga Lake.
They caught lots of walleye too!
The weather wasn’t too shabby either.
Jeff wrote on his facebook page
“1 of about 600 walleyes caught by me and my dad in six days. No exaggeration.”
No wonder they rebooked same week same lake, same cabin as soon as they returned to Ignace.
From Indiana, the trip to Ignace Outposts may seem like a lengthy drive. To Leigh and the crew, the annual trip flies by as fishing stories are rehashed and anticipation grows.
Leigh had a great trip on Seseganaga Lake with more than one fish that would make a trip. Great to see the pictures and even better knowing that the fish were live released to fish another day.
Dee and Dave have been fishing with us for years on Metionga Lake.
It seems from the pictures and reports, Dee consistently out fishes Dave. Either it is pure skill, or Dave is smart enough to know how to make this an annual trip. I am just speculating, but either way, it is always great to see you Dave and Dee, and we look forward to seeing you again in2012.
A little portrait photography from Pete E. The guys came from “down south” for a little R&R. Metionga Lake didn’t disappoint.
Bill sent some photos of his brother's activities on Seseganaga Lake last week.
Catching 3 species in a week is pretty much a grand slam but 4 is “out of the park”
Looks like the Lake Trout made it for supper and the Walleye, Northern and Whitefish are back in the lake waiting for another invite.
I’d say you were rather “busy” on vacation Ed. Kept your brother busy too with the camera.
At Ignace Outposts we are leaders in conservation practices. We insist our guests kill only those fish they are going to eat and limit eating fish to the smaller tastier ones. It is our policy to live release ALL large fish. Walleye over 22”, northern over 27”, bass over 18” and trout over 24” must be released. We ask that you don’t take fish home but if you choose to do so, please take only the smaller ones and return all trophies to the lake. We encourage you to pinch down the barbs on your hooks and handle the fish you release as little as possible. To safely release trophy fish, it is best not to remove the fish from the water and pop out the hook with pliers or just cut your line. Try replacing the treble hooks on spinners, spoons and plugs with single hooks and it will make releasing your fish much easier. We wholeheartedly support shore lunch as a tradition on fly-in trips. We hope to maintain a World Class fishery on our lakes and trust that you will do your part in preserving trophy fish. Bring your camera to capture your trophy for posterity and let the fish live to fight another day. Graphite mounts are available from most taxidermists and can provide a wall mount without killing the fish. The taxidermist requires length and girth measurements as well as a picture of the fish to create a replica mount.
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
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.
“Brad,
Attached are three pictures I told you I would send. Wanted to let you know I had a great time and am looking forward to next year. Hope you and Karen have a happy and successful year. Jack S.”
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”
Our fishing parties are officially over for the season. This is unfortunate since the fishing is nothing but exceptional right now.
We have a few archery moose hunting parities out now. The rifle hunters arrive in a week or so. Besides moose hunting they can partake in some great walleye fishing. The northern are hitting too.
It is hard to believe these photos were taken in mid Sept at Seseganaga Lake. Fall fishing is definitely worth the trip. Sometimes the weather is really this good. I don’t think the past June had weather this nice. It sure beats the snow we had yesterday.
It is time to start thinking about 2010. Give us a call or check out our web site and plan your 2010 trip now.
Last weekend, Sept 18 to 20 saw some of the best weather of the summer. The fishing was absolutely amazing. I was at Seseganaga Lake to paint some floors and do some other odd jobs (digging outhouse holes) but couldn’t help myself from getting out on the lake too. Literally, the jig couldn’t hit the bottom before a walleye was “on”!
Double headers were regular. The camaraderie was excellent and the food beyond compare. Nothing beats fresh walleye, good friends and a little hard work.
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.
Paul Loth has been fishing with us for many years. I think the reasons for a return trip if evident when we see some of this summer’s catch and release.
