Moosebunk

By this time in years passed I'd have the next year pretty much mapped out for fishing trips. With a new twist in life things are on hold for 2010 at the moment, and... if I did have ideas, I'd be unsure of about most of 'em likely. What's on the horizon for any of you fisher-folk out there? Is 2010 the year somebody plans to live out a dream trip, or are many just happy sticking with what they know and love? Let's hear 'em. We could probably all use some insight ourselves into what could be in the cards for maybe us too.

A Christmas Carol 1947's starring Alistair Sim. Second would be Elf with Will Farrell.

Very sad indeed. Don't know what that boy was thinking???

Must not be spending as much time on the net anymore. First time I've seen that. Thanks Rick!!!

Good job dood. A great summer of memories and fishing. Bring on 010!!!

YES LEW!!! Very happy to see this for you man. You're going to fit right into the country life, there's no doubt about that. And, great spot!!! What you don't get going without any waterfront you make up for in the home. Agree with your choice. Good luck with the move and your future there.

You're right John... it would take some kind of full on NHL pandemic to all other teams before the Laffs "could" still only potentially; if lucky, post apocalyptically and hellith freezing right over and out of this worldly event, get a cup!!!

Agree with guitar. What you have so far are 3 structured group/team activities. Let your boy get creative on his own, and in the future if he sticks with it, see if he takes the initiative to join or form a group on his own. Otherwise, agree with something like martial arts or just letting the boy play.

Ya see... char were my dream for as long as fishing has been more than just a hobby. And yes... it's not just about the fish sometimes, but where you end up going to catch them. It was by weird circumstances that I actually ended up on the Tree River as it was an Ungava trip that fell through. And, having been there and caught those char... it's still mind-boggling to me how often I continue to dream and think about that paradise in the arctic, and its fish that are the greatest of their kind in the world and so unbelievably beautiful. It's funny how as I was just driving home from work in the blowing snow tonight, I was reliving Bren's and my boat ride out to the Arctic Ocean where we gazed at a sun that just wouldn't quite set... And yesterday, our copy of Arctic Lure from Plummer's came in the mail and I was thinking about the fishing there, and how Bren and I were really blessed to catch what we did. Man, it's totally perfect to have shared that trip with Bren as well... problem is, I mention fishing trip with her and back to Great Bear and the Tree is where she wants to go. Over the years I've had some big hard-ons for purely amazing fish like sailfish, sturgeon, marlin and speckles, but none of these caught by me in any of those great experiences could ever surpass the char experience at the oasis in Coronation Gulf known as the Tree River. I don't have a "single" new fish to dream about since those two nights on the edge of the universe at Tree. If you have a dream fish... and you haven't caught it... get busy making it happen. Cause experiences like that you can take to the grave and beyond.

Spent a fair bit of time trying for muskie this fall. Although unsuccessful, I learned to not bother trying again in that place, at that time of year. lol. Dropshotting smallies, fishing gar, some BOQ tactics, steelheading... those are a few new types of fishing I tried this year.

Meely - I have no plans on locking stuff up. Would only consider the locks just to keep the lids closed. Twocoda - A little reflective tape ain't a bad idea. I had planned to actually within the white painted square on the back. WormD - it ain't overkill if it's tough. Even you admitted to that.

First suggestion is a great one. Thanks. It was quite noisy on the first ride. Second suggestion has already been done.

SERIOUSLY DOOD!!!??? What would I be doing and how much you paying? Bren would likely LOVE to see me making some coin... and getting out of her hair. If ya need me to, for the winter I'll keep your cottage warm and shovelled out.

You ever consider char... we could plan that out well in advance together.

Last week like the week before and the week before and the week before that, I had some time on my hands. Bored outta my skull of late, there was need for a healthy project. With the coming ice season and no way of knowing whether or not the valley will have good enough snow and trail conditions for the Bravo and sleigh, I figured it wise to prepare BIG RED with some cargo boxes in case of a dry season. Top priorities were... A solid and easily mountable construction, first and foremost for carrying the auger, then any other ice fishing gear. Also, the comfort of the two-up seating and passenger for the bike wasn't to be jeopardized. Lastly, I thought it should look pretty slick!!! Having a garage with the new home certainly is enjoyable these days. Getting started... I cut the shape from some leftover treated plywood and began the auger head box. Inside the box a bracket was constructed to help secure the auger. The 1/4 inch ply finished the motor box and then the tackle and bait storage box was started. I wanted closed, snug and safe keeping of any minnow bucket that might travel. A larger bucket which can be removed sits inside and can be used for any number of things, (taking home the catch) but also, it will accept the bait bucket if need be. Two compartments on this side and a little creativity in the construction, the walls were put in place. BIG RED's cargo boxes coming to life... Now it was onto the front box which was expected to carry the 10" auger blade. With spare ply and some 2X2's and 2X3's it came together quick. A slit to one side in the wall was made to position and secure the blades, keeping the auger to one side and allowing more storage for other things to the other. The front and back cargo atop BIG RED sat unsecured for a first look. Next the doors for the 3 rear compartments were constructed and everything went to my painter... The front box needed a solid means of securing it to BIG RED, so... two cleats were measured up and cut to fit perfectly into the bikes front rack, then drilled into the bottom of the box they would eliminate any forward/back and side to side movement. The doors and locks were added... ... and they worked out just fine. All doors open in. On the back of BIG RED the mounting was easy. A single strong tie-down was all that is needed. Behind the seat also remains enough space for a geri-can or small Rubbermaid. Remove the seat and there's enough space for my 70L Coleman cooler, the float tube, a large Rubbermaid, grand piano... whatever. The front auger box also mounted up easily. Two strong thingy-mibobs I had kicking around, I stuck on the left and right side. A strong bungee there, running ring to ring and wrapping through the rack, and two small bungees from the front of the rack to the handle are enough to stop any bounce. Again, the cleats below do the rest. A top view in the garage... and it's believed that the "pretty slick" priority from onset is being achieved. Today I loaded it up and took it all for a tour in the forest behind the house. Needed will be some clips or locks for the cargo doors and, maybe some well thought-out placements of some ring-screws or U-nails for supporting more bungee uses, if needed. The auger head was fine. Although, I do throw in an old blanket to cushion it from any bouncing around. The bait bucket wasn't going anywhere, and the tackle trays stayed put too. (enough space for 2 large and a small Plano) The geri-can came along for the tour and didn't budge. All-in-all the back cargo was strong and secure... and again... pretty slick. And, although the boxes look like they overhang off the sides of the bike by a mile... they don't. The width of the two is equal to the width of the quads wheel base, but they come off the back a ways. The front cargo was fine. Chucked the auger and Lowrance Ice Machine in for good measure. Also strapped the rod locker in behind the box with a bungee. Nothing moved. Full range of steering wasn't affected at all either. Rods, tackle, flasher, auger and bait bucket all atop BIG RED... pretty much all the necessities were covered. Still plenty room for odds and ends, as well as fuel or even a few cases of beer. End of the project and I was happy with the results. Making my own cargo boxes was considerably cheaper than buying what was commercially available for the Outlander.. AND.. I was able to create them much more specific to the needs of ice fishing. Looking at the wood in them, they're built tough too. Come summer as well, they are simply empty boxes that can be filled right up with the float tube gear of two people, or used even for hauling camping stuff off into the woods. Could care less if it snows now this winter... just as long as it's cold and the fish are biting.

You little devil Wayne. Better not give away my surprise to myself. lol

Bill... Have you ever had a multiple trophy pike day through 40 inches of ice, or... on the river? I hear ya with specks dood. So pretty, so tough, so rare, so special. With big esoxes... so nasty, so toothy, so wily, so special. So hard to choose some days. All depends on moods and seasons. But, if I lived next to the Tree... I'd take char over anything. lol. So depends on the circumstances too I guess.

I'll have what Wayne wants. Just so I can torment him by leaving it grounded. lol. I got my gift. It's in storage and will be unwrapped, put together and trailered home come spring.

Best wishes Chris.

Pike and specks are pretty much year round fish, and if I was still living in the north they'd be equals. Now that I'm in the south and have more opportunities for specks, I imagine they will solely take the #1 spot. Like others have said... it's real hard to pick one... cause jiggin' walleyes are a tonne of fun too.

24/7 - when did I make such a promise??? If I could get ya on a big toothy I would... truth is though, you're probably better at it than I am. Jacques - maybe I'll head PQ side for some whities at some point. Dunno??? Lots of new places I'm curious about for my first ever ice season in the south. And yep... I do have it in mind to camp and fish Kesagami this year, but I'll have to wait and see.

I think it was January 2006 or 2007 Roy when every morning for about 2 weeks had windchills in the -45 to -52 range. It was just a brutal stretch I remember. Thems days be cold sometimes and I'd warm up the Renegade for like a 1/2 hour then scoot across that river as fast as I could. Every winter had it's share of snaps I guess. Anyways, there was always this little space with the parka at the neck where the helmet wouldn't allow me to zip it up quite all the way... if I didn't duck just right and was wearing just a sweater or even T'shirt... the air would get me there and really bite. Same with the eyes... water water water some morns. Fastest that skidoo ever rode for me was 187km/hr, never probs getting it to 160... On real cold days you wouldn't keep that speed for long, as you're right... it's extra windchill for sure. lol. Man... I'll miss my morning commutes this winter.

I liked CC's sentiments and also Thorpe's. This topic is great food for thought. Mike... personally I'd think it not worth it for ya for river fishing... for pretty much the reasons CC states. Thanks for taking me out... you know you'd be welcome to fish anytime, anywhere with me. Same goes for DanC, Wayne and any others who have shared in the past. When people would come visit me up north, or friends who didn't regularily fish joined me, taking them fishing was the ultimate for me. There would only be certain types of fish I'd consider guiding for (some I'm not good enough at catching, some I am) and some places I'd only consider guiding. I think for guiding to stay interesting and fun for the guide... it has to somehow always be just as much of an experience for both guide and guest, and the odds would be best if stacked in favor of success, but in a setting/experience that can almost always accept some failure to catch as well because of all else that is lived in the day and place. ie, Drifter at Great Bear, Ramble at Kesagami or Ben in Seul. These types of places hold great chances for intended species, don't hold fear of later being raped, and are a wilderness experience outside of fishing unto themselves. If I don't have a regular job come next spring.................

I'll be after trout mostly... I hope. Maybe pannies. Hope to take a trip for pike as well.

Winter - tough weather, good fishing. Spring - tough weather, good fishing. Summer - weird weather, OK fishing. Fall - weird weather, OK fishing. It was a weird and sometimes tough weather year with some OK to good fishing. Hehehe!!!