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Had the pleasure of guiding a lovely couple on Wabigoon, they had never been to Canada and they LOVED IT! Really fun day with these guys.

Got stopped yesterday in parry sound by the MNR. was an awkward one because I had literally just caught a 4lb smallie and they came racing up on me. Sure enough I didn’t have my physical card on me, but I always keep my license summary on my phone…so I thought turns out I only had photos of the front and back of my physical license and my license summary was of my older license that’s since expired. The CO was really good about it though. I think sometimes you get a little bit of the benefit of the doubt If you look like you at least know what you are doing out there a bit. was good to finally confirm with a CO though that a pdf of your license summary saved to your phone is considered to be valid. I always have such a hard time keeping track of my physical license because between fishing rivers, ice fishing, fishing in my boat and others, it’s much easier to just have it on my phone. They checked my live wells which were empty, and seeing me release that bass, we didn’t seem suspicious. Clearly a couple guys with 15 rods out all over the boat catching and releasing bass. the co couldn’t have been much over 35 years old, good to see some young guys joining the force. Talk about an awesome job, working this management zone, driving boats around parry sound all day I’m a little jealous, I’m not going to lie.

Another trip to Nakina and specifically a return to Whiteclay Lake with our wonderful hosts Jay & Sue of Boreal Forest Outfitter. We arrived late Friday night June 2nd as we were heavily delayed in Kapuskasing on the drive up due to a serious accident and road closure. Up at 4am and at the Nakina Air dock at 4:15am, yes 4:15! We met up with Sue our host whom was also our pilot for the flight in. After a brief chat we were weighed up, said hello to Tracy and Greg and we were on the Otter and heading into Whiteclay. We landed on Whiteclay at 5:45 and the outbound crew was on the dock swatting mosquito’s as we taxied in. Soon the Otter was taking off, we were unpacking gear and getting some breakfast and coffee going. A beautiful sunny day ahead we were soon on the lake, the earliest ever on our arrival day! Lots of Pike and several Walleye visited our boats on Saturday. Sunday proved to be another nice day with a brief shower thrown in to keep the dust down. Very productive day as I caught a 43” Pike and my partner dragged in a 40” both at the mouth of the Raymond River. Monday was a cool day, mostly overcast and we headed to the west end of the lake for the day. The 20hp motors were great for these long hikes and allowed us to visit spots we previously probably wouldn’t have. Great day at the west end with 2- 40”, 39”, 36” and bunch of smaller Pike caught, several Walleye including a nice chunky 24”. Tuesday cool & overcast again to start, clearly up later in the day. This was Walleye day and all kinds boated at the little falls at the end of the Raymond River. Our other boat caught and released a 41” Pike near the mouth of the river and also lots of Walleye. Wednesday started around 5 degrees Celsius and we headed East to the Gorge, a beautiful scenic trip with several Walleye and Pike caught on the troll. Thursday was a little overcast but nice, spent time at the falls and the Raymond River as well as around the island directly in front of the camp and the long back bay behind the camp. A good productive day with all kinds of Pike ranging from 24” to 34” caught and released. Another nice supper of fresh Walleye to end the day. Friday, our last day. One of the guys wanted to visit a sand bar he spotted at the NW end of the lake so off we went. Immediate upon arriving at this outcropping we trolled back in towards the bay and got into Pike one after another. Most were in the 25-30” range with Walleye mixed in. Trolling up through a narrows I caught a 41” Pike and after releasing him and resuming our troll, I hooked into a 38” Pike just minutes later. A great last day for sure with our new found hotspot with both of our boats catching lots of Pike and Walleye. Alex arrived about 9:30am Saturday June 10th and provided a beautiful flight out and after chatting with Sue in Nakina we were once again heading home from another week of great fishing, great friends and good times. Cheers Rob & the Walleye Wanderers

Time again for the annual fishing trip. One problem, one of the OG members moved to New Brunswick. He was going to fly out and ride up. Then he got a new job and he was out. Then he was back in again, said boss was cool with it. 2 weeks out we all get the message he can't make it. What to do... I have a few maniac fishing buddies who may be able to drop what they are doing and leave for a 10 day trip at a week's notice so I start calling. The first one I called was a strike out but provided a promising lead. Chuckenwind from the board here. We had camped and fished once previous for a few days for some lost Aurora trout in a snowstorm , he seemed possibly just crazy enough. I Sent him a message explaining the trip and his reply was " crossing Nipigon in a 14 ft boat sounds like an adventure, I'm in " *I in no way reccomend doing this* Almost died on the way up, came over a knoll in the road and big dumb Moose was standing in the road. Put the binders on as hard as i could and steered off the road and arround him at 50kmh close enough to hear his hoves on the ashphalt. Not so much fun loaded down with gear and a 20 ft boat attached to the bumper. Fishing was tougher than years prior for Brookies and Pike for us but 10 lb lakers in 10 -20 fow were in unlimited supply as usual and a blast on light tackle . Had a great trip with Some old friends and my Dad. Was weird with no campfires allot less whisky was drank but did have to do a beer run mid week with the warmer weather we were all thirsty. Enough talking here's some of the better fish and scenery. Till next year!

Right. I tend to stay home on real windy days. And in moderate winds, I put the motor on spot lock so I can cover an area. But I catch your drift, and thanks for that. Doug

This is the entire debate right now with televised fishing…especially in 2023 with forward facing sonar its just becoming less and less entertaining. You aren’t going to see many tournaments won throwing a frog or buzz bait. Up north it’s a heck of a lot of using floggers with hair jigs and drop shots. down south it’s become a lot of throwing baits into brush piles using your forward facing sonar. It doesn’t make for great tv. gussy’s win at the classic basically gave everyone an aneurism, cap that with how decimated the fisheries in the south are becoming with every increasing tournament pressure and bed raping the fisheries, plus mix in a little herbicide spraying (I still can’t believe this stuff goes on” things are getting really ugly.

Regardless of the conservation or science aspect....as a consumer/viewer/fan, I just don't find it entertaining. You could throw virtually anything at a bedding Bass and it'll get bit...and then they do it to the same fish again and again. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think the sponsors are doing themselves any favors if they're trying to attract eyeballs...there's little drama and frankly it's a non-event for me

Crow...its america On my most recent trip to Virginia talking with a couple of fellow bass boat central members/anglers that we met down there when explaining our closed season "they close fishing during the spawn? what liberal came up with that idea?!" Theres a reason we have the best bass fishing on the entire planet without question. People will tell themselves what they want to think is right, no amount of studies/science is going to convince them otherwise. The funniest part is in texas they finally introduced strict slot limits to at least curb guys boxing spawning fish, sure enough texas in part with its share lunker program is absolutely taking off while the entirety of the rest of the country is literally falling.

I'd suggest using rivets, sealer and a patch instead.