Moosebunk

Released myself from the spring reporting midway through the season. If wanting to catch up though here's the earlier link... http://www.ofncommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53938 May had been fun and full with crappie and gar plus the odd trout adventure but, late month and into June held promise for even more. Giving up the crappie, the last 3 weeks has just been all about lakers and gar. It's such a quick and strange transformation when thinking back to two years ago and how every May long weekend and early June was prime time Moose River fishing for pike, eyes and searuns. The head would be totally wrapped up in water levels, tide time-tables, trapping minnows, tying bucktails, pre-preparing meals, and making long journeys upriver to camp out. Now it's Accuweather, sun and wind, scheduling, and who's got what days off midweek. Opening day of laker fishing here in the valley May 28th, I invited my friend Patty out for just a quick morning fish. Reports by end of the weekend were that lots of small fish were being caught, so we guessed ourselves lucky while fishing the busy weekend, to both pick up some decent numbers and a few fish with size. Next outing was something special and it deserved it's own report. My dad joined me for a day of gar fishing and was rewarded with a first fish caught that was worthy of the record books. It was awesome, and that report is here for any who missed it... http://www.ofncommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=54100 Wasn't long after, there was a need for more of the longnose. The first time in almost two years it was decided I'd leave all other rod and reel temptations at home and try something new, with something old. It was a struggle for the first couple hours honestly. Anything the line could get caught on, it would. Gar were seeing my white flailing arms waving from afar and often spooking quick into the abyss. After a few hours practice though, I got into a little bit of a rhythm and pattern that worked, and so the day finished with a number of gar caught on the fly. It was pretty cool... and, it's a tool to have that could come in handy at times. Lakers on the Saturday, then gar twice midweek, June was here and the first weekend in Patty and I again took another short morning crack at the lakers. My partner who surely knows the ways of the grey trout had the hot stick, but after catching this beauty early on, the numbers of smaller fish didn't get any click & flash love. First weekend was lucky, to do it twice in a row... maybe I was onto something...? Later that evening at home I opened an email which bummed me right out, so come morning I was quick to phone a couple of buddies and arrange therapy in fishing again for sunday and monday. Spent the day with the kiddies and next evening slipped out for 3 1/2 hours to fish musky with my buddy SM05. Other than bumping the skeg into stumps twice while on the troll, the big fish eluded us. It was great catching up with Mike though, and I'm looking forward to a couple of his future trip reports this summer. Monday was forecasted to be a perfect gar day, so we instead chose lakers for the morning and eyes for the evening, with a BBQ at my place inbetween. Slop and ole FLOATY were my company in The Bomber, and despite the rubber hooks and tough fishing bite on both fronts, we were rewarded with a little of everything fishy, and a tonne of good time. I loved this biggy sunny too, but not nearly as much as the yahoos I spent the day with... Later in the week Pat and I attempted round three with the lakers. As luck wouldn't have it, the bite was tough and only mini-trout to eater sizes made it up boatside. Cold front coming in for that night, unstable weather the couple days before... I know, no excuses wuss! High sun and morning low of 9C, the kiddies on the bus for school while Pat waited in the drive, it was gar time. The fish were slower to wake up and surface temps in some places were 11-12C colder than when last on the chase, it took the sun warming the day, before the gar would come out to play. Once they did though, the fishing was pretty sick and some true giants just barely eluded us. This thing called work got in the way for the next while. Leah's French play at school (tres tres bon babygirl) plus, some needed truck repairs were also inked in the schedule. It wasn't until finally end of this week that Pat and I again put in a day for gar and an evening for muskie. Was hoping that either could end the spring season with a really big toothy ski, but after two big blow-ups and sightings on the cast, and one boil on the troll, the fish just couldn't find the hooks. Only pike. The gar on the other hand co-operated as always, although they're becoming trickier to fish as the summer comes on. That'll be all for spring. That's it for gar ti'll next year too I think, but lakers will certainly again see me on a couple of summer trips ahead. Kiddies out of school it'll be bass with them around home, and muskie, and maybe a salmon run. This next season it has ironically fallen into place as well, that I will relive the summer of 2008 all over again, with many of the same players involved in the three trips planned. It's funny, but it would seem the years since then so much has changed, but, so much hasn't. Stoked doesn't even describe what's ahead. Want to thank my friends and my dad who share time in the Lund. Always my pleasure.

Beauty fish and shots Bill. Worth the stop for fish like that, everyday man!

Doesn't look much like any of the tick bites we've been seeing in ER. They're getting worse in this area and it's almost every second day the past few weeks that people have been coming in for tick removal or bite assessments. THAT bite of yours actually looks a little more like a bite that's developed a very small localized infection... kinda like a wee boil or a pimple filled with bad juice as opposed to zit pus. Could have been a tick initially but I'd think you'd have noticed one burrowing into your fingertip. Lots of nerves there and those ticks do tend to want to stick around for a bit and feed. Your finger is hard and tender because of the pocket of fluid below. I wiped one off the back of my neck yesterday. They say 50% of ticks being tested by Public Health in this region are coming back positive for lyme. That certainly doesn't necessarily mean that 50% of those bitten will get the disease.

For the cost per year, PRO is the way to go. Bring back the pike doods!!!

This indeed was "a trout fest!" Great looking fish and pics.

I'd want a light action rod and a med-heavy one, with reels to suit.

What Wayne said... The same boat was parked beside me on the highway a few weeks back. We were going in opposite directions but had the windows down and shared a laugh. I was pulling my Rebel, him his. Both with the windows down we just looked at each other and he said "like the boat man" at the same time I said, "sweet ride dood." Great fish and decal Al, and welcome to the club.

It's solid reports like that one which make many boards a pleasure to sit and visit. Good stuff bud.

You and I fish 'em very different Mike except for that old standby Johnson eh... and orange stripes rule too. Agree about the bugs later on, they really are a non-issue except in bed some nights. Gotta love river breezes that take care of them. On the Moose I always liked fall pike fishing better than spring. Spring was for eyes and trout, summer for vacations and fall for pike. Knowing the place is a factory, I still wasn't sure you'd necessarily peg 'em all that good. Early ice out and for about a week after on the Moose, alot of years were tough... live bait or meat on a hook was sometimes the only way and still not all that good of a one. Did have to deal with nets alot too though... First ice in November the pike would slooooow right down too and fish kinda like they would at ice out... Your weightless reapers and the flies were a solid idea for slowing down. We should swap trips some time or go up in the fall...

Well done Mike and Co. Excellent and I wouldn't have expected anything less. The early season risk paid off but would you go that early again or hold out a couple weeks for bugs but more stable weather? Dave, the fly rod pike are an inspiration dood. Judging by the photos the big fish bite was a fly rod bite, as you're not a little guy and those fish are impressive. Long journey for ya, but I bet you're glad you took it. Mikey, you're fading away man. You've shed a few pounds fighting those gators. The camp is looking mint, and that's in good part due to your efforts in promoting what Eddie and the Skat have to offer. Most definitely agree with the "haunting" comment of both the pike there and especially the wilderness. Any pike lures or colors that creamed the crop of 'em this year? Glad the crew worked out too. Your report gets me jonzing for a return to the river.

I thought these photos to be really great and the report your best to date. A day one man overboard and forest fire had me thinking the rest of the report would be full of other gongs within the group, but ya got it together and made out like walleye bandits free of arrest. The day four nearly sunken boats reminded me of last year at Kesagami for us. It happens. Eddie I'm sure will lengthen the dock in time so the boats can have enough water to be turned facing out into the lake to ride any big waves shorebound. A helpful hint for trips to come. Aberlour is a favorite. So are walleye. No shortage of scotch or fish for your group... awesome good numbers and must have felt real cool to know you were the first in a long, long time to fish that lake. God love that area of the north... I wanted to ask though what the total fishable area is? On the map the lake measures smallish but with the potential to be big if able to travel to the other nearby lakes or even reach the Skat. Was this the case or is Richter the week long playground?

The reel Drifter showed... YEP!! That's the one. As far as an ultralight goes... I like a little longer... 6 to even 7 foot...?

Hey gang. Dad will find it pretty cool when I pass along this link to him. Thanks for being a part of that with all the great replies for the report. Appreciated.

Took my dad fishing the other day and his first gar ever came in just one measly ounce shy of my own personal best. Whew!!! But we had a good laugh about it and he did take top honors for length at 52-inches. FOR NOW BUDDY!!! It was an awesome weather day on the water catching a good number of fish and the company was perfect. I don't go on about dad in the fishing reports, never have anyways, but this report I want too. He's the man I'll tell ya, a pretty cool dad to look up to. Some things that he's done while growing up from a wee lad are.... He immigrated from London England at 8 years old. His family landed and they instantly became Canadians. Not something-hyphen-Canadians, but just Canadians. He learned to speed read before leaving England. It's annoying that books which take him 2-3 hours to read, take me about 8-12 or more. Dad delivered milk in Montreal as a boy. Delivered... milk... in bottles. He cooked the family dinners by age 9 while his parents worked. Dad bought and paid for his own first car at 16. Dad would often row to and from Carleton Place to Pickerel Point on the Mississippi to fish when he was young. Dad played bass in a folk band called White Dove that made a record. Dad tried peyote once and disassembled every nut and bolt from his car, then normal, put it all back together again. Pops attempted Woodstock, but broke down in Smiths Falls I think it was. At 18, dad hitch-hiked to BC where he worked 3 months in the bush, then bought a motorbike and drove to California to stay in an airport hangar for 3 more months there cleaning airplanes for free room and board plus free skydiving. He left that to travel through the Southern and Eastern States, to Eastern Canada then finally home. Dad's been struck by lightening. He survived his parachute not fully opening. Dad actually spends an hour or so every morning and "reads" the entire paper with his jug of coffee. He worked as a DJ on weekends and ordering clerk through the week. Later as an orderly with the Rideau Regional. One of his claims to fame was spending time during every shift for 8 months teaching a handicapped person to tie his shoes. Dad ran the time-clock for the Perth Blue Wings Hockey team for 25 years. For free. My pops learned to play golf well, windsurf, pistol shoot, build and fly all sorts of model airplanes and boats, study psychology at Carleton, raise two boys, operate HAM radio, learn Morris Code and to speak German (spy) and travel to many places in the world. Dad got his pilots license and bought a 4-seater Cherokee. He would take me up flying when I was a boy. He'd sometimes travel in the plane too, like to Lake Placid to go skiing (a hobby he loved the most) or he'd fly to the Florida keys to scuba dive. (another hobby he enjoyed) For 25 years dad ran his own successful business as a professional photographer. We had a darkroom in the basement of our house awhile, and dad would photograph pretty much anything and everything for anyone. Landscapes, sports teams, weddings, models, passports, events, etc. From his shop in Perth he'd sell cameras and do photofinishing, then later assemble computers and sell those too. Every year in the 80's, my pops would travel to Europe for 2-3 weeks to ski all over in the Alps. Dad managed to quit a life of smoking a few years back. Dad for a time, was a dispatcher for the local police before retiring. Now his part-time jobs are grandparenting, snowbirding, gaming and biking. My pops on his bike and now triked-out Goldwing has driven The Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap. He has more than one tattoo, has broken more than one nose in his life, and drinks real whiskey when he drinks whiskey... Scotch Whiskey. Like I said at the top, "some things"... and there surely is alot more to my dad than just this, but if you think it's all cool then I should tell ya about my mom too. (but, maybe another time) There's little my dad can't do if he sets his mind to it. It's in big part by his examples and guidance that I love the man so much, and in small part I suppose simply because of biology. I know it's early, but you, mom and the Goldwing, will be out on another road trip during Father's Day... so have a happy one then dad. Thanks for the other day on the water too.

Very nice Jay. Sharing some quality outdoor time with the wife safe in your wicked Fort Knox tent is the way to go man. Enjoyed the video a tonne.

That's just an amazing tour. I had read somewhere a report about others camping out on Shakespeare for their trip too. I'd like to give that a shot one of these day. Congrats on all the beauty PB's. Awesome for ya. Thanks for reporting.

That was wicked Johnny. Took me back to a few places I once made the stop at too. My close buddy I refer to as Stevie Zebco fishes much the same set-ups your buddy does. They do hold up those Rhinos. Hope to see ya get more of these chances over the summer. Enjoyed the report, thanks.

Too many blue halos for this one kid to handle. Looking forward to a turn. Nice to see ya riding your Lund chariot along those shorelines again Dan. Stellar report, you really do need to do more of them.

You & Leah are always welcome here Wayne.

Ahhhh, they're all from photoshop land after much arm extension. Pretty slick how they look so big and real!

Naprosyn, Flexeril and T3's are the more commonly Rx'd meds for LBP and Sciatica. All drowsy drugs but often necessary in the first few days of rest. Most common long-term treatments are stretching followed by exercise. Your MS certainly complicates regular recovery. Wishing you well. I'm a back pain sufferer too, and when 1 in 4 men are said to have chronic back issues, it is something we see in the ER's very often. Something else we see in every patient, is aging. And yes, from the second you're conceived you are in a sense breaking down and falling apart. Good luck Erik.

Spring fishing has been in full flow for the last six weeks and I've been drowning myself in it. Around home there was a bit of a wait between the last ice outings and finally swinging some long-rod casts from the big boat. To pass that time a little exploring through the local backyard was done. The kids were totally game and had a blast. That journey on land was complimented a week later when I soaked the WarCanoe on the nearby Mississippi, Clyde, Fall and Mud Rivers. A truly remarkable day cruising high on spring runoff and peering around many new corners of highland waterways. What would be spring without trout? Well... "without" was almost the key word for describing trout this spring. Despite a couple tough ATV trips into the Madawaska Hills in search of specks and bows, it was a day of lakers in The Bomber that saved face. RJ and Slop are two guys who know their crappies, and so thankfully spending some time on the water with them helped me put some of these slabs into the boat. A couple solo efforts and a couple more with family capped things off. Watching floats drop can be addictive. No 14 inchers this spring but a good number of 12 to 13.5's. After craps... and kinda during, the gar fishing warmed up in these parts. This is a really gnarly fishery one can't help but enjoy. RJ and I started things off and since then I've shared the boat with buddies Grant, Pat and Luke. Everyone has been having a blast and most have been nailing new personal bests. Luke's PB below @ 14lb, 6oz. Grant's PB below @ 51 inches. Some gar aren't all that wicked looking at all... but rather kinda sweet and innocent... ... though some fish are meant to be punished then taken aboard to photograph. Wished I had a tape at the time for this one below... long skinny fish @ 13lb, 6oz. Below, this morning catch is a new PB for length at 50.5 inches. Weight was solid @ 14lb, 2oz. Next three shots below are of my new PB caught while fishing with my buddy Pat. A little descriptive text helps highlight that moment. A thorough Bomber struttin' had some gars look our way and some turn and run. Setting that hook is the goal but laying chase is a good bit of fun too. Patty and I were on the prowl when we both took notice of an absolute PIG of a gar... one of those rare FREAK gars that eat other gar. She was quick though, and had both of us in a tail-spin after her. A few ignored casts and she slipped away downtown into the deep brown. Twenty minutes or so later we were trudging through some skinny muck when Patty put the cast to a quality fish in his sight. Other side of the boat I saw a black silhouette of a good fish pretty close to me too. I made my cast and not even really seeing the take, I just set quick on the hit. Fish was all up in my face and showing zero respect in no time, but some Mojo Bass moves patented by the Saints of Croix allowed Patty to slip the net under this one. "THAT'S A FAT FISH!!!" announced Patty. Excited I answered, "Dood, I'm thinking this is my PB." The fish was real relaxed in the boat... not all are. Although it had a little bowel release on deck. Patty held the tape at the fishes nose while I stretched it along to the tail... 50 inches. Maybe my longest, maybe not, but it was the girth of this girl that had us in wonder. CROCSOCKS, be thy name. Patty watching on, I slipped the digi-scale under the gill-plate and around to the leathery soft flesh midline with belly. Holding her snout, got her vertical, slowly and carefully released all tension until she hung calm, and watched the scale settle in at 16lbs, 7oz. YEAH!!! Just slammed my PB from the previous week by a hair more than 3 pounds. That is just GARgantuan cool. "Awesome fish Bunk... but you know... that fish we saw earlier would have eaten this fish," expressed Patty. There wasn't doubt in my mind that she was going back to the swim anyways, and Patty was dead-on-target. Every now and again you see a real prehistoric mammoth gar swimming. Personally, I have seen three, maybe four fish that made all others look extinct. One fish for sure from last year still haunts me. This one went back to the river with whole-hearted happiness. She'll be even bigger next time too. And so that's half of spring in a nutshell. It's been quality fishing and days out with friends so far, hopefully that remains the case. Enjoy the coming sun all.

Still drooling ya big frig! I'll git ya back...

It's an admirable thing you're doing Ron.

Appreciate the morning read. Thanks for posting that up. Looked like a tonne of fun with new and old friends.