More trip hints

There is not much dangerous in the woods except perhaps some inebriated partners.  Precaution and simple common sense must be taken however when on a fly in trip since help may be a long way off.  We often see fingers and other body parts impaled with fish hooks; fingers and other body parts cut with knives, the odd burn or bug bite reaction and of course some plain lousy cooking that does necessitate use of first aid.

A good First Aid Kit is something every fishing group should have with them when at camp.

Here are some ideas for a personal/group kit.

1. Hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds

2. Sterile Gauze and sterile ointment and a little tape

3. Steri-strips to use in lieu of stitches

4. An eye cup, sterile rinse and ointment for eye related injuries

5. Pain Killers

6. Antacid for stomach disorders

7.  Laxative and antidiarreal  (you never know)

8. Antihistamine, in case someone reacts to food or an insect bite

9. Toothache gel

10. Tweezers and scissors and plyers (quality ones)

11. First aid manual

12. Suntan lotion

13. Solarcaine or similar for sunburn

14. Anti-itch cream

15. rubber gloves

Pack these items in a tackle box or something similar. Assign someone in the group to be responsible for the kit and that every one knows where it is. Tape a contents list on the inside of the lid. You may want to indicate what some items are used for. The best situation is to ensure someone in the group has a current first aid certificate.

And to fill what ever space remains in your first aid box, it helps if everybody brings as much common sense as possible to actually avoid using up items in the box before they are really needed.  My personal experience is that bandaged fingers have a tougher time reeling in lunker northern or walleye than healthy fingers.

Catch and Consume Policy:

 

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.

Trip hints

We have a great little guest handbook on our web site. This handbook was developed over the years from having many of the same questions asked over and while helping our guests prepare for an Ignace Outposts walleye fishing adventure.

Here is a little snippet from our handbook geared to our American guests regarding travel plans to Ignace.

Trip hints:

1. confirm your dates and times and balance owing before you leave home

2. note your travel time, planned route and sights of interest along the way

3. leave a copy of your itinerary at home

4. leave a list of party members and phone numbers with someone at home

5. leave our phone number and names with someone at home

6. be sure to have a valid driver’s licence, vehicle registration and insurance

7. have some Canadian money (cash) for incidentals along the way

8. persons 18 and under not accompanied by an adult should have a letter from a parent, or guardian giving them permission to enter Canada

9. be sure to declare all items being brought into Canada

10. be polite and truthful to the custom officers (this will help expedite your border crossing)

11. AAA is a good investment when traveling in a foreign country

12. use of headlights while driving (even in the day) is recommended

13. Canadian speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour (kph) not miles per hour

14. Canadian stamps must be used when mailing from Canada

2011 opener

11 weeks today is opener for walleye fishing.  The count down begins.   Still time to get your Ignace Outposts adventure set up.    If you haven’t booked your 2011 trip yet, give us a call.  We’ll get you set up for a flyin fishing trip you’ll tell your grandkids about.

807-934-2273

10 ways you know you are an Ignace Outpost Fisherman

1. The people who take your order by phone at Cabelas ask how the wife and kids are doing.

2. You don't know your wife's measurements, her clothes size, your kid’s birthdates, ages, anniversary dates, important phone numbers, or any other assorted numbers-related things in life....but you do know the details of every trophy fish you’ve ever caught.

3. You've ever used the words "Metionga, Seseganaga , big walleye and gut pail," in the same sentence.

4. You can fillet a walleye faster than you can change a baby.

5. You've cleverly scheduled all your kids' birthdays to occur before or after fishing season.

6. You've ever had to have stitches in your butt because you sat on a treble hook;

7. Your three children are named Garcia, Shimano, and Berkley.

8. The local taxidermist calls you for advice.

9. Your wife and kids use the terms "trophy class", lunker and monster instead of BIG Fish!

10. You have picked your teeth with a fillet knife.

Part of the job

Karen and I just returned from a marathon sport show circuit. 

It’s hard to believe this picture was taken at our last show in Chicago. 

Twenty five of the last 28 days we’ve been in a booth like this promoting one of the best fly in fishing opportunities in the country… at least in our opinion.  St Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago a second time, provided a month’s worth of entertainment for us.  On top of these 6 sport shows, we spent over 60 hours in the car and drove 5,025 kms (for the metrically challenged, that is 3015 miles). Thank goodness for audio books.  Even having been married for as long as we have, it would be hard to come up with conversation for the whole trip.  We stayed in 9 different hotels and met with many friends and introduced ourselves to new guests.

It is just part of the job.  We do however, prefer to be here in Ignace flying folks into and out of our Ignace Outposts camps. 

If you missed us at the shows, and want to book your 2011 fly in adventure, give us a call.  We’d love to see you with us this summer.

Just winter in Ignace

As we prepared to head off to sport shows, we looked at the snow load on the hangar roof and figured it better be relieved a bit.

We called for help and soon the hangar was breathing easier (so was I) and the the snow was on the ground where it should be. 

We’ve easily had more snow already this winter than we’ve had in many many years.  I am sure this job will be done again before we see ice out.

On the road again

The suburban is packed and on the road.  We are off to sport shows and I have to ponder how I can go for a month with all our gear, clothes, office equipment and 2 sport show booths and still have less “stuff” than the average guy brings on a 7 day fly in fishing trip.

Note the back seat is still up and all available space has not been used.  In fact it its not my measure of enough to just be able to close the door. 

Just a little food for thought when packing for your next trip.  Your loads will be weighed and likely not all your stuff will make the trip on your flight.  Please pack wisely and work as a group to plan your trip to avoid bringing stuff because you are thinking the others may not have it so you’ll be the quartermaster store.