Moosebunk

Cool Zulu!!! You don't report often enough, but when ya do, ya make it count. Always enjoy the hunting threads this time of year... and this one was no different.

I get cut off far less than I get tailgated. Trailering my 20ft boat now around the Ottawa valley, it hangs off the back of my trailer about 3 feet, then there's the motor. I've got the boat and motor marked with reflective tape as well as an orange ribbon but I still can't believe how many a-howls sit right up behind me. And I drive quick enough too. In Ottawa last week all the way up Hunt Club I had this idiot in a Mercedes swerving across lanes in behind me trying to pass traffic that was already 15-20km's over the limit. I enjoyed speeding up and slowing down repeatedly trapping him in the slow lane. I could tell he was annoyed, but I was hoping that he'd sit so close on my rear that when I suddenly had to brake hard for something, that my ball-hitch would go through his grill. Would be worth it. I can't believe HD that one of the main reasons you left Ontario was because of the drivers though. That's having it bad dood. Do agree though... up north, people are in no hurry to go nowhere. Remember folks... don't tailgate... it's 2 Mississississississississississississississippippippippippippippippippippippippi ppippippippi's. Do the count and you'll get cut off more often in heavy traffic, but at least you won't have someone like me in front of ya PO'd and aching to let your hood meet my bumper. Muhahahahahahahaha!!!!

Now I'm totally pissssst off!!!

Nice fella. Economy probably kicked that town in the head this past summer. His business would be first to suffer the ache.

Hey... I was on OFC tonight and thought this needed a bump. BUMP~~~!!!

You're kinda weird... but in a weirdly fun way.

Bright side... Better the Flames players get it than the Leafs...

Ya got 'em dialed in kid. Nice as always.

My sucky internet nowadays is way too slow for me to see the video. But I know ya had a good year Jacques.

You spent way too much time licking them lead blinds as a kid. First pike = hurtin' Second pike = hurtin' not as much Third and fourth = nice!!!

Very solid effort Trout-O. Brought ya a nice reward at trips end. Had ya even not caught the fish though it still would have been a cool report.

Some hospitals will threaten not to pay sick time to those employees who do not get the shot but then fall sick to the flu. "All involved with hospital care" is a little loose. I'm "involved" but do not qualify sick time if ill. That and, no one forces me to go to work anymore on schedule. Regular permanent employees MisFish do tend to be held to different standards at times than those who are casual employees. Because I have no regular employment at this time... I'm not sure as to what the policy is this year for all staff at the place which I work. By percentages you might be talking about your qualifying for the shot??? H3N1 was around in 73 and I believe it was an H1N2 that may have been present in the not so distant past as well. Those over 65 especially, but also adults whom have been around since early 70's, may have antibodies already to H1N1 because of previous contacts with variations of the virus. Those over 65 have a considerably better chance as I understand it. You and your old-timer buddies might be better off than guys like me... most certainly the kids though who likely haven't ever been in contact with this type strain of influenza.

Show off!!! Davey... you rock. Being that I'm pretty much an unemployed bum and you're a student with Summer's off, we should fish again next year my friend.

I wish stupidty and ignorance weren't just sad facts of life but instead a virus which people could get vaccinations for. Never understood why pathophysiology including disease and illness isn't drilled into school aged children throughout the younger and teenage years. Like French or even math should have more importance than hard knowledge of a persons most important life subject... their own human health. Got the shot last night. Didn't have too, but working in ER's these days there's just too much risk to me, my family and my patients. And this year, nearly all Health Professionals who are educated and working their lives in Healthcare, will get the shot. Not even because they have too, because the projected pros outweigh the cons by a landslide... as is the case this and EVERY flu season preceeding... regardless of how tough a flu season it might become or not. Funny thing is though... I just can't believe how stupid all us doctors, nurses, and health care providers really are... I mean afterall... there's WAAAAAAAAAY more smart people at OFC in this thread particularily, who know this stuff better than us and are saying we're weak dummies to get all wrapped up in such media driven hype. No wonder the ER's are swamped. H1N1 isn't at all the epidemic ignorance is.

Thanks again for the replies from all who did, sadly missing some from buddies. I was half expecting to get a little hate-mail here for keeping a big tagged Nipigon speck... but for those whom may have been offended, thanks for respecting my wishes and the report. 25 out of 28 speckles on the week did go back to swim another day. One was legal, kept and eaten because of a fatal gill wound and going belly up right away on release, and one other fish will be headed to the wall beside mine.

Your hunting reports every year are always an enjoyable read TJ. And, this is the first I've ever seen a wolf shot in ANYones hunting report. Cool... but yet kinda weird dood.

Flashbacks to the shroom daze Wayne? It is you, for sure... always you. Pikeieieieieieieieieeeeeeeeiiieeeieie..... you've grown up a fair bit since we started on these boards. You're not the "kid' I remember in old posts.

With BIG RED transformed... all that's left for sleds is my trusty 250cc Bravo.

Caught this earlier Mike and don't know where to begin with it really. I do know that all here at OFC better get prepared for another late fall onslaught of chrome from the one and only... SOLOPADDLER!!! Can't get bored of looking at the bows you catch... and there's always so many of them too.

Great looking fish Wayne. I don't know that spot???

Superb work. Especially like that second one of your wife with the butterfly. As delicate a concept as the art itself.

From ego, passion and wasted raw talent. All you diddly-iddly-doods that gave props... my thankitty-ankilitties.

Frank's the man. Thanks Bill. I'd like Mike and Louis... and yourself to come up with a plan and some dates...

I get up every morning, kneel beside the bed, then thank the GAR GOD himself in my prayers. Isn't that right Capn'???

Day 5. THE TEETH COME OUT. Our fifth day we were up to meet the sunrise. The night before we had all hit the sack early, especially Big-O who had ducked into his tent sometime around 6:00pm. Dead calm waters appearing from the mist we hurried through breakfast so to take full advantage of the lake. A short time into casting, a well rejuvenated Phil plucked the first fish of the day, a snappy 21-inch speckle which was missing much of its gill plate. Checkin' this pic later on and all others of Phil, I came to the conclusion he's one photogenic dood. Big grins and great fish, or a perfect serious action pose... every time. The previous year marked this pikey looking spot, and now that all of us had caught some specks I think the game plan switched up to toothies. However, it was a decision made in the boat because my pike gear remained back at camp. Anyways, this was the first time in the trip the fellas really seemed OK with doing some casting; and why not being that the conditions were perfect. It didn't take too much investigating at all really before pay off. After a couple follows to the boat it was... FISH ON TIME!!! Phil hooked the first. When we saw it come to the surface he knew instantly it was a personal best pike for himself, while I guessed it 40 inches right away. As he was playing the fish though, a much larger pike slowly arose from the depths below and hovered underneath it while it struggled on the line. I was blown away to see this. The bigger pike must have had at least six more inches on Phil's fish, and there it stayed for much of the duration of Phil's fishes fight, just sulking below it and following it around. if ya look close in this next picture you can make out the silhouette of that bigger pike) Well I couldn’t stand looking at the second pike any longer, but just before I readied my rod to take a cast, it sank down. With a 1/4oz jig on the trout gear I chucked in its direction anyways... and wouldn't ya know it... second cast... THUNK!!! Double-Header YO YO!!! Phil tired his fish quickly with the right gear and got it boat-side for the landing. My fish surfaced in the meantime and it was evident I had a big pike on the line but not "the" big pike we had all seen. Unbelievably, it was crazy to think that small area had at least three large fish sitting side-by-side in the shallow waters. I had a slow war on my hands with the lighter artillery and a soft and crappy Cabelas jigheadly hook as the main gun, so Phil got right to the news flash with his fish to report on the mission. Then afterwards, I landed my pike while Phil was in wait with his; giving it some lake air, and we were able to capture this memorable shot. Phil's first "trophy" Northern at 41 inches... and one for me that was no slouch either. crap were too handsome manly men!!! Well, after the release and our cameraman WIG being relieved of his duty, the dood got to anglinating with some gnarly determination. Within just a few tick-tocks he went and burglarized himself a pike of his own... a cool fish too with a nasty gash on its side. Criminal I tells yas. All was right in our boat-fishing world that morning. This little drive-thru pikey bed was full of hungry esox. The remainder of our trip would see us back in there a few times to try again but weather turned as the trip went on, and shut us dooown. Pat and his crew who would arrive next day were quick to start beating the spot too, actually having some better luck than us. It was a gem of a day and after the wee pike slayin' we took off to another pike and trout area. The sun was high and the air refreshing. WIG and BIG couldn't help but relax while I did the usual 16 miles from bow to stern to bow to stern running around in the boat that I did everyday we were there. Couldn't help but break up the monotony by casting awhile then trolling awhile. It was patience on this late morning which paid off for the big guy when his rod fired and he had a tank of a fish squeal the reel. Unfortunately, troubles clearing lines saw that fish pop off yet WIG had to only wait minutes before another one took its place. Quite a few lost fish for WIG he probably had the most hits of anyone for the week, he made sure this one stayed stuck. I cooked up some chowdah while the fellas fished, and once the belly was full we all left the area to try some new weedy locations. ... and then we beat those weeds for some answers. Phil found out the most intel, when he caught his second trophy pike of the day, a 40-inch chunky pike. The afternoon went mint and we located some new productive pike areas we could later return to and share. Heading back to camp at days end we couldn't help but stop at our favorite morning pike spot and try just one more time for that giant fish which was spotted during Phil's morning trophy battle. Too bad for us though, the fish was on to our game. The teeth had shut down as abruptly as they'd come out. Day 6. THE THREE AMIGOS. Woke up to hellish cold and rainy weather. Plan of attack was to head to town, grab a shower at the truck stop, call the families, and grab some more ice to keep my big fish chilled for its long trip home to the freezer. And so away we went. Upon arrival at the launch we were quick to find one MuskieMagmet (Pat), Scottydog (Scott) and their buddy Gord waiting to get the boat wet and hit the camp. Quick hellos and see ya laters we got on tour town and made fast work of the tasks. We returned to camp by midday to grab a quick lunch and hit the lake. The winds were picking up again but that didn't stop Phil from making this day, his day... again. To kick things off he began with a solid broospeckled charout!!! But, only a short time later he finally got what he wanted most... a fish over 22-inches. Yep... all week the man was on the hunt for not only his first ever speckled trout but also one he could legally take home to find a place on the wall. The fish he caught gave him a wicked tussle on the line and was definitely a coloured beaut. 23.5 I might add. Our new companions back on the site came off the water shortly after we decided to pack it in ourselves. The late afternoon had turned nasty with wind so we figured we'd get to work on our beers. Scott, Pat and Gord thought the same. We all ate well that evening and enjoyed the protection from a big tarp the lads rigged up for a roof. It was smart, because with them they brought a forecast of 25 to 35mm of rain, winds gusting to 50km/hr and a low overnight of 2C. The onset of that shartstorm arrived during our time of fun and I was happy to bail into the tent. Everything was good and dry in there... Day 7. THE NORTHWINDS HOWL. Patty can camp cook like no other. If put to the test I can whip up a good meal on the Coleman... but the master is Pat when he's around. Our final full day started off with one big feed of grease and a couple pots of coffee... a good thing considering no one gave me the memo that we weren't coming back for lunch. Winds still blowing hard, WIG, BIG and I set out for protected shorelines of any kind, and made a bit of a milk route out of favorite pike spots and new water as well. Some long fish-less trolling runs was how it all seemed to start but eventually I broke the ice with a first fish. The lone speck was the only one off the first shoreline. Phil bumped us through some big waves to an area he much preferred; a spot which had already given him a forty, and to show he was still on his game he caught the only fish there while we took a couple of passes. It was the kind of day where ya just had to keep moving. There were areas where I spotted fish; such as a new bay I aptly named Croc Bay in which the longest pike of the week followed my lure to boat then sat motionlessly for eons while eyeballin' my spinnerbait, yet the fish weren't quite active enough. It was another move later in the day that paid off for us. Off a point WIG hooked a speckle just after I had hooked one myself. Then, he hooked another. A second pass and I caught one again. They were all smaller 16-inch range specks until WIG caught his third. Good thing too, as he dropped three on the morn as well and he was feeling a little deflated at times. The spot was mint. It looked very unlike anything we had felt was trouty all week so it pleasantly surprised us. In the gloomy weather of the day and having sucked back four pounds of Ju-Jubes, the quick action of the fish took us out of our fouled digestive lull and made the afternoon a success for everyone. But that'd be it for the day. Again we called it early as Nipigon afternoons are like three year olds. Real tired and tempermental before supper. Borderline scary sometimes. The other crew followed us in around 4:00pm and so did the seagulls. Venison salami, Coronas, burgs and chowder filled my belly full, while the boys reported on their day trying for lakers and pike and Scotty and I schemed about a possible return trip to Pym. Phil fed the birds cheesies, brownies, and even something that made one of 'em nearly choke to death, this until the cold air settled in and a rain began to fall. Until midnight a few of us stayed up but with our departure to come next day it was an easy fall into a worn out sleep...... ...... Final morn Pat cooked up another big feed to see us off. I congratulated Gord again on a 43-inch Northern he'd caught and gave Scotty one of my productive lures which he went out and had instant success with. After a slow pack-up we loaded two boats full of stuff to see all our belongings back to the launch. My big speck which I'd kept secret from the second group, quietly packed away into the trunk of Phil's truck while we three then wished Pat well and said our goodbyes. We had a great week of fishing, and as we drove away it was hard to believe how fast the week passed. Nipigon: meaning - deep, clear water lake... Well, it is truly a place so grand that time doesn't really seem to exist within it, only just the reflections given to us later on. I’ll be left thinking about it until next time. -END- So, with Nipigon behind me and September arriving I had to get a job. Back to back successful job interviews landed me two casual work gigs that for the next six weeks would provide full-time work. Afterwards, I'd have to settle and see how many hours could continue to come my way. The fall was a busy time. When not in training I stayed busy around the house playing with new toys and working away at modifying the old one... 3.5 acres kept me riding this guy a fair bit. And to keep the riding mower and Bravo company, BIG RED (Renegade 600) was transformed into BIG RED (Outlander 500) and brought home to join the gang. Lastly the WarCanoe required some new upgrades for southern style fishing. A carpeted casting platform, trolling motor and beefy console were added. Amidst all the work, the past month or so has finally allowed for some play and sampling of new waters, a few old waters and plenty scenic ATV tour time. Along the way I've had the chance as well to fish and ride with old friends, and even get the chance at some first time outings with internet souls who have been along with me during the Moosebunk journies for several years. Sure hope to fish with many more. Southern livin' might just be alright for Moosebunk, his girls and the WarCanoe. Except for the terribly brutal rural internet services. Ti'll next time!!!