Rich Clemens

Goona be a great day with family and lots of good eats. Of course, as usual, I'll over-indulge and regret it later this evening. Thanks to all my Canadian Friends.

Geart repot Mike. Probably the envy of many on here.

So ya finally made it out. Well - did Paul roll you out of bed at 5:00am ... or was he a gentleman and let you sleep until 6:00am.

Mattyb: Can I ask where you were staying - when you mention the Norht Channel ? When we stay at Rainbow Camp, they call that the North Channel. This section is kinda locked in with rapids on both sides of the camp. I think we have about a 5 mile stretch. I've caught a couple skis trolling this section. Also, when we stay at Wolseley, we can circle around the end of the bay and head down the North Channel. If it were not for the couple rapids, we would be able to take the water to/from Wolseley/Rainbow. Others I have spoken to, in the past, don't spend much time fishing this part of the North Channel - so it is rare I even head down there from Wolseley. Also not very often I see any boats down that way. Wondering if I may be missing out on something. Never did catch much down that way. Just curious if what you are calling the North Channel is the same section of water than I know as the North Channel.

Great to see BIG JIM out on the water fishing. Met him a couple times when we were fishing the Rideau system. A few years back, big Jim invited my Dad and step-mother out for a day of bass fishing. What a great day it was. Won't find many poeple with a heart as big as Jim's.

That was a great time. Did that my first year up there. Would be great to do it again.

That's one thing I never want to be a part of. I can't imagine devastation like that - and all those it effected. Thanks for sharing Wayne.

Yeah. We spent time wind-drifting and trolling along the north shore-line. Didn't pick up much though. The two "biggest" pike I caught, we're caught trolling past the large island that leads into South Muskrat. There's always next year. Nice seeing you and Sam again).

That's what we found at Lakair. Land or water, the deer flies found us during the day. Sitting with John and Barb at their cottage in the evening, putting your ear to the screen, sounded like you were next to a bee hive. Oh well - that's the north country. I guess they have to eat too.

Welcome Sam. Glad to have met you guys this year and hopefully you had a great time - good enough to come back next year.

Nice seeing you folks again this year. Good to see that someone woke you up - so you didn't miss the Saturday afternoon festivities. PS. I know what you mean. During the day, it was the deer flies that sucked you dry. At night, the mosquitos sucked out what was left. Those deer flies drove my Airedale insane - almost to the point where she didn't want to leave the cabin.

Another OFC GTG has come and gone - number 10 I believe. This was my 4th and Patsy's 3rd. We both really look forward to this gathering each year and excited to see everyone's reports and pics from the week-end. Caught up with old friends and met some new ones. Always good to put a face and a person to a board name. We're all different, in many ways, but it's just one big happy family when we all get together. Everyone has a great time. Looking forward to next year already. Patsy and I arrived on Thursday the 17th and set up shop. Took a little run that evening to check out the water levels and some scouting of the weed-beds for Saturday's pike derby (Didn't do us a bit of good though). With the low water levels, things were certainly different than they were last year. With Musky opening on the 19th, we stayed the following week to see if we could track one down. Good thing not everyone bailed on Sunday as we had some good visits with our neighbors John/Barb and Paul/Joey were there for the entire week as we were. Thanks for the time folks. Water levels were low, as expected, and we broke in our new boat - literally. Got the bottom scratch up, the side, a few very small knicks in the skeg. Oh well - the first one is always the hardest. Now that it is done - no worries. At least, until Patsy sees them. The new ride worked flawlessly and had to take it easy for the first few days as we had not yet completed the break-in period. She was out of commission for about a month after we bought her to get a custom roof and cover made. Really appreciated that roof on the hot/sunny and rainy days. Gave our two girls some much needed shade and cover from the elements. The fishing, for us anyway, was way off from last year. We had a pretty tough week, even pounding the water for hours on end. Trolling, casting, mixing up the baits, etc. 9 days and a grand total of 9 pike - so I averaged 1 fish per day. Biggested was in the mid 20" range. Poor Patsy, she caught her first (and only) fish on Thursday - the day before we packed it in. But - this was not for a lack of trying. Marked a lot of shoals out in the bay and I had posted some information in another thread for anyone who may be heading up that way in the near future. (I have the GPS coordinates if anyone wants them - from a Lowrance HDS-7). I was surprised at the motor busters I didn't realize where there from prior years. Here's a collage of pictures that we took during our stay. Enjoy: Our new ride, all rigged up, and on the water. Low waters: The Batter Babes in action. Boyz from the hood. Another well-stocked price table. Everyone in the pike derby gets a handfull of treats. Saturday's evening meal. I BELIEVE HIM !!! Party Hearty - Then CRASH A couple Canadian Shield pics. Just love this part of Ontario. One pike for each. One big happy family:

Great spending some time with you folks again. Glad we had some great company for the week after the GTG. And THANKS again to Paul for helping me get that "Dang" Tracker boat lined up properly on the trailer. First time I had her in the water, I didn't have that problem. See what a lack of fishing success will do to a guy. Many thanks Paul. Hope to see you both next year - looking forward to it. Congrats on the Musky. I wasn;t even able to raise one up for a sniff this year. I'll try to put up my report in a day or so. EDIT: We had smooth sailing all the way through to the border. We only had to wait for a couple cars to get through. We left Lakair around 5:15am.

Great to actually put a face and a person to another board member. Hope ya had a great week-end.

Just pulled in around 4:30pm today. Total catch - 9 Pike for me and 1 for Patsy. Not very good odds, figuring we were up there for 9 days.

Thanks for sharing. Don't get to see many pictures of the Northern Reaches of Canada - enjoyed the pics.

Great putting a face to a name Dan. Hope ya had a great time and cane make it again next year.

Yeah - you can see the rock out of the water now. There are two rows of concrete slabs, but ya got a few feet of sand before hitting the water. Check out my other post, where I described some of the water hazards that I had found - mostly out in South Muskrat and on the way out there. Even from the launch, it is a gradual incline going out into the water. I had to float mine off this year.

That there is just insane Can't get much better than that. Yes - I am envious. Congrats !!!

I think ya captured the week-end quite well. Lots of good friends and good times. Did ya really have to post that one pic after I just ate supper ????

Quite Impressive Matt. Gonna enjoy seeing some of your reports.

Shurik: Do a search on this form for Wolseley Bay. We've stayed at Wolseley Lodge about 4 or 5 times and heading back there this September. I should have some posts and reports for others who were asking. I really don't think there is a map of the lower French that shows the water depths and contours. You can stop at the French River Trading Post out on Rt. 69 and get a map of the French River. It wil show the river, fishing camps, cottages, etc, and a general outline of the river itself. YOu may inquire at the lodge to see if they have any maps and some "hot spots" noted. I know we can get one at Wolseley Lodge, but this may only be available to their guests. I'd think the lodge owners could lead you to a few locations to try. Not sure what the low water levels will do for fishing in that area and basic navigation. Be very careful. The French River is known for making a mess of a motor in a heart beat. I just came back today from Lakair and have the scratches and dings to prove it. Good Luck and be sure to put up a report when you get back. Curious what I may be in for - in 2 1/2 months.

Just a quick note for anyone heading up that way in the near future. Patsy and I just returned from the OFC GTG a couple hours ago and wanted to put up a few cautions for anyone interested. The water levels as previously reported are definitely down. We broke in our new boat on this trip - somewhat literally. Some dandy scratches all along the bottom and some dings to the skeg. No real damage though and the boat/motor worked great. The launch area was a bit of a challenge for me as I had to float the boat off as it's rather shallow there and I didn't want to risk trying to drive it off. New boat jitters I guess. Getting the Tracker back on the trailer yesterday, in the wind, was a royal PIA. Thanks to Paul and Zach for helping us out. The concrete slabs on the launch are completely out of the water now and there is a few feet of sand to the water's edge. Better have 4-wheel drive or someone may have to be hauling ya out. The rock next to the bridge is now out of the water and that shoal extends about 10 feet or so towards the channel. I know - as we drifted into it while waiting another boat to clear the bridge. Plenty of water to get through otherwise. The run out to Tombstone is free and clear from all the trips I made. The shoal across from Tombstone is now out of the water, but stay closer to Tombstone, and you should be fine. Flew through there with no problems. WARNING !!!! After passing Tombstone on the way to the bays, you'll approach an island with a tan cabin on your left. Be careful as you approach the point where this cabin is. Where we went through, it was about 4 1/2 feet and move a little further out, away from the point, and you'll be in 3 feet of water. I think Paul and Joey hit this shoal on one of their passed through. Please use caution here. While fishing South Muskrat, be very cautious fishing the South side of South Muskrat. I marked 5 or 6 shoals that would take out the lower unit and only two of them are out of the water. The two that are out are further back in the bay, but these shoals seem to march right along the south side of the bay. Over on the north side of South Muskrat, there is another shoal, and this one marked. The entrance to South Muskrat has two islands, one in the middle and a smaller spit of land to the North. I marked a shoal well off the western point of this island. Prop busater too and it is underwater. The larger island, at the entrance to South Muskrat, I was fising the north shoreline, going west to east. The eastern point, the one pointing out into the West Bay, there is a dandy shoal coming off. I was wind drifting and got blown right into it - huge scratch across the bottom of the boat now. But - I was somewhat close to shore. Along the North Shore, the one bay with Jennings Point on the right, our from the western side of the entrance to this bay is another shoal a little ways out into the bay. Maybe 50 feet or so. I hit this one while trolling. I didn't fish North Muskrat and I didn't go into any of the bays along the North Shore. Went east as far as the little island known as musky island. Didn't travel out to Merganzer. I'll put up a little more of a report later, but wanted to get this information out, as I know a few board members are heading that way in a week. Fishing for us was lousy and others we talked to were experiencing basically the same thing. Rich

No worries Rick. I'm bringing one of those too. One more sleep for me .. but it may only be 1/2 a sleep.