Moosebunk

Fat sucka that one 21'er. Good eats. Don't clean out all your glory holes. Ya gotta keep your clientel into fish ya know. lol.

Coooooooooooli---oh!!! Doods. Nice seeing the ice reports shift into first and rev up for the coming season. Terry WILL catch a fish this year I BELIEVE!!! Good luck in the 2010. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get out with yas at some point.

Thanks dooooods! Sounds cool Scott. If I'm ripping through there I think I almost remember where ya live. Wayne... be seeing ya again of course. Ron... just tell her to work hard, take OT, forget about boozing with locals who really seem to want to booze with her, don't pick random men to dance with at the dances (cause I always stitching up girls on saturday mornings after a dance, lol) ... no gambling with her fellow paramedics cause they will take her money and no Bingo's cause no white man can DAB as many cards as quick as an Indian. Hehehe!!! She'll be fine. Until ORNGE says no to someone like me trying to get a patient out but they don't have an Advanced Medic working so they won't accept. That's when bad rumors start to fly. lol.

I'd think there'd be less integrity in losing say... 8 to 0 to a team half-arssing it as opposed to 16 - 0 when they're playing at best for 60 minutes. That'd be more of mockery IMO. Latvia was going to lose regardless of score. Now they know how much harder they will have to work and train to ever fairly compete. Yes, their total beating this round sucks for their pride, but for their future if they want to continue playing World Juniors, it's probably for the best. It's the elite tournament... and if they produce that poorly, then maybe a level down is where they belong. And for their goalie... 70 shots. He should win a gold just for surviving a shot every 50 some seconds.

Minnows in the garage are gasping for air this Boxing Day. What was supposed to be a fishing day turned into a freezing rain and a lazily digest yesterdays feast, day. Was a real wierd but exciting transitional year for us as some may already know, but that didn't mean there weren't many moments in the 2009 to wet a line. Because I'm bored and always do a year end anyways... here's three TOP 10 lists for the 2009, done up my way. TOP 10 PICS. 10. Enjoying new life. 9. Touring into the Highlands. 8. Traveling to the end of the road. 7. Rekindling with old friends. 6. Feeling adrenaline only magnificence can evoke. 5. Beginning a new day. 4. Knowing the river ahead holds endless possibilities. 3. Having the sky as your limit. 2. Sharing chances and staying afloat. 1. Taking care of family first. TOP 10 FISH. 10. The Broonie. November 13th with Solopaddler. Few years back I caught my first brown trout on the Niagara Bar. It's been a number of years since. Standing riverside with Mike during a briskly cold morning right at the sunrise, the float dropped. This guy was only my second brown ever, and much smaller than the first, but it surely was the most stunning of the two. The trout and char species on many days can get my vote as the ultimate in pretty and fun fish. 9. A BOQ Walleye. November 7th with RJ. Had once fished BOQ unsuccessfully and so it was exciting to return this past fall. The fishing was tough for the season but along with the Capn' I learned a great deal about boat control, speed and set-ups, shared almost a near death experience, had the perfect company in the boat and ashore, and did manage a couple almost classically bigger BOQ specimens. BOQ will see me again for sure. 8. Float-tube Largemouth. June 27th. A half dozen boats fishing around me on the lake I watched on as few caught a barely thing. Eventually I hooked a big bass that drove my frog into a hollow stump and came off. While hung up, next thing I knew, one of the boats was fishing beside me. Upset I kicked my feet to take me across the lake to a bay where no one had been in yet. I tied on an old stand-by I would use for pike up north and began peppering every bit of weed in all directions. On one cast the lure had just hit the water when I heard the biggest surface explosion. The resulting bass may not have been huge by some angler's standards, but to me it became the "KABOOM BASS" and was a memorable one for the summer. 7. The Smallmouth. October 17th. Smallies are real intense fighters. Years passed I would sometimes fish for numbers of smaller fish on a couple favorite lakes and river systems, but this autumn I worked hard on a number of occassions alone and with friends to catch bigger fish. The tactics were a little new, but kind of just twists on fishing that had been done at times for other species. On this day off a rocky point I switched the tube for a Shad Rap on my light rod and ended up in the best smallie fight of the fall. 6. A Sentimental Searun. May 27th. Not many really know what a rare catch a searun speck is within the big dirty systems of southern James Bay... not the Albany, not the Ekwan or Sutton... but the Moose and all it's tribs require timing and good chunk of effort for speck success. Anytime I caught these fish within the short few week season every spring, they would become a highlight for my year. But this particular fish was not only bigger than usual, it came at the end of my best trip of 2009... a very special finale on the North French. 5. Gar. June 14th with RJ. A) Some fish are just too cool. Some fish are just too cool. C) Catching some fish is just too cool an experience. This past summer there was a day I didn't want to see end. A lesson in hunting gar alongside one of my favorite fishing partners was just too much fun. There's nothing like these prehistoric air-breathing toothy gators, and nothing really like fishing for them. I had to thank God I got three on the day cause the Capn' was up on me like 4 to 1. 4. Silver Steelhead. November 12th with Solopaddler, BillM & Paulus. Walking through frost covered bush in the dim light before the sunrise, and coming upon a river that only needed a few tall peaks and cliffs in the background to reflect the west coast, is an awesome sight to behold in our backyards. Plucking strong silvery rainbows from river currents, sharing all day long with friends, is steelheading to me. 3. The Sturgeon Brothers. May 24th & 26th. My top fish from 2 to 5 could have all been shifted around but what put 2 & 3 in thier place is, the fact they came to me by means only. In the past I've had a little love affair with sturgeon and caught some real bruiser whites in western Canada, but it was a lake sturgeon on the Moose that was the first I ever encountered. That fish got away, but this spring... two others inadvertently did not. It was a send-off after a decade of life in the north that could only be capped by these first lake sturgeons. 2. A Big Pike. April 6th with Agent Stevie Zebco and Uncle Norm. Want to know where and what the best ice fishing experiencing is...??? This is. To me it always will be too. And in fine form at the perfect time, this personal best pike took top honors in 09. 1. The Speckle. August 25th with Big-O and WIG. Don't know how many people fish their entire lives and get a 7 pound speckled trout, but I did... by 33. Should be lots of life left too... Muhahahaha!!! This fish from the hookset to the wall is nothing but an awesome memory. TOP 10 SHOW STEALERS. 10. Bill & Frank. These two yahoos stayed on the spot all day and pounded the eyes. They; along with Mike, were a summer heat wave highlight amidst my high stress. Bill & Frank caught most of the fish that day up north. 9. WIG. With a huge bellow he let the entire world know how happy he was to put his and the first big NW Ontario speck of our trip in the boat. 8. Bren. Catching her first whities was just another typical day showing her man how to fish on the ice during an actual slow day on the K-sawg. 7. Fra. I had the hot stick all the day before asking the guy where he wanted a hole. I drill, he drops, and he wins the big fish bet. 6. Big-O. Hard to beat watching your pal play out a 41 inch pike while an even bigger fish is haunting below it. Then, you cast out only to hook up for a double header. 5. Solopaddler. This guy could feed starving Africa with the numbers of steelhead, walleye and pike he releases in a year. On our trip, there wasn't any more magical on the river than him. 4. The Capn' RJ. Doesn't matter what ya fish for... he'll beat ya everytime. Knowing that makes it sooo much easier to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Of course at BOQ he'd get the big fish and best pic. 3. Bren. (again) With the MNR standing over our shoulders for a half hour, Bren's pike was the first I had to actually ever drill a second 10" hole beside the hole in order to pull it out from under 4 feet of ice. How can ya top trophy experiences like that??? 2. Uncle Norm. So my Uncle comes along to catch some walleye and on a good day after I catch my PB pike I'm feeling generous enough when my set-rod rings and drops in the distance to say... "You take that one Norm... C'mon." We run over to the set-up and he drills the hook only to catch a bigger PB than the one I had caught earlier that day. Karma! 1. Stevie. aka Agent Zebco. The recipient of both necessity and kindness through friendship, Zebco repays me by repeatedly catching the majority of the trophy pike, whities and eyes during the winter 09 K-Sawg season. This fish his first trophy and biggest ever... 2009 turned out to be the year I put more days in fishing than any in years passed. The only goal for 09 was met, as last January I wrote to enjoy my last days living up north. The best trip of 09 was a solo excursion last May up the North French... during those four days my heart pounded so many times and so hard it chipped a tooth. But, it was also the year I enjoyed more company than I ever have before... Bren & the girls, Agent Stevie Zebco & Amelie, Bogie RB'ers, Uncle Norm, Dave (Ramble On), Capn' RJ, Mike (Solopaddler), Wayne (Irishfield), Bill, Frank, Paul, Tony, Christine (Snag), Rob (HOF), Fra, Chris, Keith, Mike & Mike (SM05 & Mangler), Ian (Ransome), Ed (Toobinator), Tim, Phil (Big-O), Rob (WIG), Pat (Muskiemagnet), Scotty (The Dog) and Gord. See yas in 2010.

February - ice fishing with Buddies for a long weekend in the trout hills. Early March - ice fishing Temagami (it looks like, probably) with old pals. Late March - maybe, just maybe... my favorite pike and walleye lake in the remote. May Long - a week up the rivers I used to call home in NE Ontario. Now for summer and fall it's in mind to consider... Athabasca, Attawapiskat and/or BC, and some short side trips... like Quebec specks, Lake Ontario salmon, St. Larry muskies and Maddy trout camp tours on the ATV. Planning late summer for a definite NW Ontario tour. Alot of fun in mind... not much of it actually concrete. Good luck all in the 2010.

You'll be running with the pack on the ice in a month. No probs. Positive thinkins brutha!!!

All the best my friend. To you, your dad and family.

I know places that'll break your bank and have your kids threatening to kill me for ever telling ya about. Take me, let's go!!!! You deserve a good 2010. Karma should be shifting good by now.

Thanks Bill re edit. Your plans look good to me. Pack me in your tackle box.

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.