Moosebunk

Thanks all. Kesagami is one fun report in the making. Will post another tomorrow likely and even more before March is done. SetoM and others wondering... yeah, you may see some report type trips printed in pages in the future. Writing is cool, photography is cooler, both I find fun. Glad yas enjoyed this one.

Glad ya like all. Solo - I hope things don't change. I believe Charlie is keeping his job there and it's his belief practices shouldn't change. Beerman - Edgar has great fishing I hear, and in the past I understand it was iced fish more, but not really at all now from as far as I know. It wouldn't make sense really either. Kesagami is about 3km away and is the better fishery.

December’s unsafe while January and February are just oftentimes too darned cold. That’s why up here the only winter month I really live for is March. After a sleepless night like that before a big hockey tournament, Bren and I met up with our friend Francis for 7:45 on Sunday morning. From Moose Factory we drove over to Moosonee and parked the truck on the river runway at the bottom of the hill in Tozerville. John was quick to come out and say good morning and begin brushing a little frost off the Cessna while we sipped our hot coffees and loaded our gear into the plane. By 8:20 we were off and soaring southbound about 1000 feet above the James Bay muskeg, excited like only a kid could be, or an adult heading to fish on Kesagami. Mainly cloudy, -16C with a southwest wind gusting to about 40km/hr when we touched down on the lake it was a tad bit cool. We got our gear loaded onto our little sled and made a quick hike over to my preferred fishing area. Francis brought an 8 inch Jiffy auger and I had a 10", so the plan was he drill the holes for walleye and I drill outside those for pike. We were quick to find that the ice was quite thick in the 40-42 inch range. Francis using the auger extension first finished up the eye holes while I pre-drilled as deep as I could for the pike. Once I was able to finish mine I took some time to meticulously setup my two “Pikeslayerinators” (#1 and 007) and one other rod as well. The whole process from plane to all setup and me jiggin’ eyes took about 2 hours. While I was working though, Francis and Bren were already fishing. They likely had about an hours head start on me but had not put a single fish on the ice in that time. From where I was off in the distance I yelled over a few times for a report but it was not at all seeming good. When I finally went over to them Francis said he had a large pike snap him off and they were still fishless. I asked Bren if I could see her rod and in about 10 seconds missed a fish, then in 20 seconds or so had one on the ice (not lying, you can ask her) Bren was over-jigging, the bite was a little lighter than usual, and the rod she had wasn’t quick enough for her I think. But after that, she still went a couple more hours without a fish while Francis and I started catching some good size eyes in about the 14-19" range. Bren finally asked for a different rod and it was game time for her too. Then, a bell goes off in the distance. All pike setups are about 60 yards away. One northeast, one way east, and the other southeast. It was PikeSlayerinator#1 off to the S.E. The tip was bouncing too much for what would be likely be a big pike, but, being the first alarm I still sprinted like a cheetah, with the grace of a maybe a drunken wildebeast. Get there, grab the line, realize the wind in about half an hour has blown about a foot of thick slush into the hole, but yet I still feel the weight of a solid fish. Hand-lining the freak it takes only seconds to realize this isn’t the fight of a pike, and in no real time at all I am digging out the slush with my hand to get at the head of a big walleye. All the while yelling for Francis to get over here even though strangely he’s pretty much already standing beside me. When I finally get under the gill plate, stupid but safely I manage to remove the snowball from inside the fishes mouth, then hoist it up into atmosphere. At about this time, I’m lost in another world. And as you can see, I’m pretty stunned by the vessel which has taken me there. This big fat girl ends up being my personal best walleye for weight at 8.5 lbs. One pound heavier than my PB for length, yet a half inch shorter at 28 ½ inches. On the lake I didn’t much care about that, what I was most happy with was, it was only still morning yet and this was the start. Next 4 hours or so was business as usual. Many times the “Slayerinators” rang out for me to come unhook some hungry eyes and a few snot rockets, and, even on one bell that rang when I was already on my way over to clear the slush, I found myself into a fight with a big pike that got the better of me. Dumb I had been to leave my gloves behind I couldn’t put enough pressure on the braided line without it cutting into my hands when the fish ran, so it sadly escaped due to my handicapped effort. Back at the eye holes Francis was taking care of his families meals while Bren was all about providing for ours. I joined them off and on to jig eyes too, but, the slush clearing and bells ringing were nearly a full time job in themselves. Around 3:30 Bren and decided on lunch. Having her there, happy, really excited to fish and not letting anything at all like the cold wind, slow start, or little fish (lol) bring her down truly made my day even 100 times better. She broke out the Coleman stove and began heating up some pre-prepared homemade seafood chowder. I was trying to rig up a barrier to keep the wind from getting at the stove when Francis says, “Bunk! The rod out there is down.” I’m pretty whipped at this point. I turn and look to the east setup. The rod isn’t right down, it’s about half ways from what I can see of it in the distance, and it’s just kind of bobbing there. Figure it’s another walleye false alarm. Walking over when I arrive I carefully pick the rod up off the stand and for the hey of it drive a hookset into the suspected walleye. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!! Just one big reel peel to a sudden stop. It’s go time I guess. The fish below after the initial big run came back to the hole in about the time it took Francis to walk out to me with the video camera at his eye so to capture the moment. Below it didn’t want to turn too easy but on the third attempt it’s head peered out at me from through the slush. Francis says, “THAT’S HUGE!” And at first I didn’t really think so, but after bringing the head out a little more realized it was a big pike. A big pike that I just turned up a 40 inch hole from out of about one foot of water below. Quite a bend for a big fish. Finally into my arms I figured I had my third biggest pike to date, and was right in a sense. The fish came in tying one other for personal best length at 40 1/4 inches but was third best weight at a light 15.5 lbs on my cold and snowy filled Rapala spring scale. (gonna check the calibration on that before next trip) Third year in a row though with a 40+. That was a real pleasing feeling. No worse for wear this fish kicked out of the hole as soon as it’s head was back in the water. And so finally, Bren and I sat to rest for lunch. Day winding down a member of a group off in the distance; my fishing buddy Howie from last May’s opener, came by to say the fishing was a little slow at his end. He was wondering what all the commotion had been about over with us, and he was promptly informed by some red bearded angler with overly inflated pride. Just about then, off in the distance, ding a ling. Northeast better known as “PikeSlayerinator 007," which has been rather quiet through the day, is finally getting some play in the final hours. With a new found energy from the chowder and big pike, I’m back to sprinting like a cheetah with the grace of a drunken wildebeast. When I get to the hole there has to be 18 inches of snow and thick slush, and so again, I find myself hand-lining what feels to be another good walleye while trying to dig out the hole but with a scoop this time. And the effort all pays off too. Bren comes over to say that’s a nice big one and assist with some pictures, and then this eye finds it’s way back to the water. Fish was likely about a 5lb’er. 5:30 we hear the plane off in the distance coming back for us. We could have stayed to about 6:45 to fish, but I was pretty much a right off by this point. Francis and Bren hadn’t wanted anything to do with their pike set-ups off in the distance, so I found myself spending much of the day running and working, all the while getting beat on by quite cold and gusty winds. Bren was tired too. She had caught 21 walleye. Total eyes for the day caught by all 3 was by my best guesstimate 55 and six pike. Before getting on the plane Francis with the video camera running asks “any final comments on the days fishing Bunk?” My response, “I’d say we kicked Kesagami’s ass again this year.” Flight home we all hit that brick wall, especially Bren. In fact, I had a very hard time walking and getting up the stairs to bed that night.

Considering atlantic salmon, landlocked char, big red trout and some greys in 2008. Anyone fish this northern Quebec river??

Breathables all the way. In fact, if you live in Ottawa get down to Green Drake today and take advantage of the last day of their sale on Orvis stockingfoot breathables. I have both, my Neoprenes are 5mm thick. They're equally warm in cold waters, but neoprenes are sweat machines in warmer weather. Good breathables are more durable in my opinion and, give you the advantage of use in all seasons. Float tubing the crotch wore a hole in the Neo's pretty quick, the breathables aren't seamed in the same place and are still keeping my nads nice and dry.

Likely not Sand but Snare. Those are all part of the Mikwam River system that flows eventually northward to Kesagami as well. Fished 3 of 4 of those last year July. I am spoiled living where I do for the walleye fishing. I would have had the same success had I stayed home on the more pressured but larger Moose River. For what you pay for a week on the other Cochrane Air lakes, you'd be better off if you can to pay the extra for Edgar, or even more for Kesagami, and catch in one day what you would likely do in a week at the smaller lakes like those on the Mikwam. Not to mention, bigger averages.

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but I think it was 99 fish total that were kept last year. A few of those trout and pike but likely about 80 walleye. I think that's about 20% of the total walleye catch for the year. We have about 2 meals at home per month and it takes about 7-8 walleye to feed 4. Yeah, that math works out.... couple shore lunches in there for guests in das-canoe. I'd trade those walleye for something different, like perch, crappie or whitefish.

Coming from someone who has difficulty keeping the wieght down on any trip, you really don't need alot of gear for fishing these lakes. Check out the Kesagami website and you'll find the basics. The basics people tell me, work.

My choice, after just finishing reading an article in Canadian Fly Fisher on Beauchene specks, would be to hit that place as late in September as possible for specks. Bass, lakers and pike you can get many easily accessible places, world class specks you cannot. Take advantage of that.

Edgar, besides Kesagami is likely Cochrane Air's next best thing. Haven't fished there but heard it's pretty good. The north and south bays are your pike areas, around the southwest island from in front of the cabins and, the first main point just north of the cabins along the western shoreline are noted as walleye spots. Double check with Cochrane Air about Kesagami access though, as I believe they don't permit it.

Yeah Mike, should be a couple reports coming this month. Praying for good weather and the minnow bans to not pose any challenges. I sure hope monster fish co-operate too. CCMT - this report spanned out and was a work in progress for some time. When ready to post it didn't take too much work in one sitting.

Bren's been known to fish with me from time to time.

Renegade 600. Reliable.............. never had a prob, just rolled over 6000km. Not as much a Summit fan as the Renegade, although either are good machines. Like my slightly wider ski stance and the happy medium between trail and powder.

Now she's a go. Easy fix. Pre-game show this is. On ice for the big stuff this month. Can't wait, hooks all sharpened and some replaced today. New leaders, questionable line trashed. Shouldn't be any excuses for not getting a big pike this weekend..... unless they don't bite.

Tried it anew elsewhere and had the same prob. Likely something with pbucket right now. Try again later.

January got out once. Big trip on the skidoo 165 km’s return for the shot at some good speckled trout fishing. Arrived at Halfway Creek 80 km’s up the winter road from Moosonee to Fort Albany, to find the ice road workers had dammed the creek to create a large pool at roadside so which they could fill their trucks with the water. Water they in turn use to flood and smooth sections of this winter highway. Needless to say, the water on the lower section of the creek; where we fish, was greatly affected. My buddy Paul and I had hoped an incoming tide off James Bay scheduled for about 3 pm would still bring a fresh school of searun trout, but, an offshore wind during a new moon cycle didn’t really help with that either. We went fish-less, but enjoyed the riding. By the end of January a new “PikeSlayerinator” was born too. Through February tied some musky bucks and four attempts at pike were made. The growing number of ice anglers around here, and the bad freeze-up around one of my usual walleye spots forced me further upriver. First day out ended in huge disappointment as a big pike was lost during the sunset. About 5:15 I was packing up and on my way over to grab my set rod. The tip dropped an inch suddenly, and just remained there for a second. I started to run and the reel began peeling, when I grabbed it there was very likely the heaviest Moose River fish on the end of the line I had ever felt. We played for what seemed like 10 minutes and did make a couple passes at the hole, yet it wouldn’t turn and eventually snapped 30lb braid. I sunk into the snow crushed for a second, then ran over to the skidoo for another spoon, rigged it quick, went back and started jigging the hole, but came up empty. I’m pretty convinced it was a bite-off above the leader, but, when fishing through nearly 3 feet of ice and in only about 2 feet of water, there’s always the great chance that the line running and rubbing at pretty much a right angle with the bottom of the hole is reason enough for the line to get cut. While there though I did manage to pick up four snot rockets as some sort of consolation prize yet, dropped the camera in a hole and totaled it. Did manage to retrieve the disk though... for it’s 3rd time in about 1 ½ years. Remember that, they’re reason alone to grab the camera from the water. It's been a cold month. A week later I returned for that big fish. It was a cold sunny day and a friend of mine John and his wife flying their plane landed where I was so to come over and talk awhile with me. Throughout the afternoon I picked up just one small pike and it was so slow I laid back on the skidoo for a wee siesta while the sun was setting. After about 20 minutes I hear a little crack in the ice from the hole beside the skidoo. One eye open I see that the tip of my rod has dropped just an inch and is sitting there very still-like. I spring up, grab the rod from it’s holder on the skidoo and set the hook. Immediately it feels like a good fish, not like “the” fish, but a good one, so I put some pressure on it when suddenly my reel screams for just an instant, then snap. Again, 30lb test braid broken off, and again, I sink into the snow crushed and really quite bothered by this second loss. Waiting only 1 day to get back there this time when I arrived two locals were on my spot with about 20 rods down. I had only brought the hand auger so to just open my pre-drilled holes but these fellas had those taken up. Could say, I was miffed, but I went over to politely say hello anyways. Always ask, “catch any,” and so sure enough one lad motions me over to his box sled and points out a 3 lb. walleye and 1 wee snake. Then, he tells me about 15 minutes earlier they nearly lost a rod and it’s holder down a hole to a big fish that got off. “Yeah, is that right” I say then ask... “Mind if I borrow your gas auger?” One moochacho says “it’s kinda dull,” a comment that nearly had me clench my left... being that I just traveled 30 km’s on skidoo, had a crappy and dull hand auger of my own that wasn’t going to be drilling through 3 feet... twice, and, two local yokels were putting me in a bad mood. Just then though, my buddy Francis who I wasn’t sure was joining me for a fish, comes late around the point. “See yas doods.” Francis at hello says, “I knew I was following your tracks, double carbides on each ski.” Francis and I got set-up and over the afternoon he did well picking up six pike to my four. I had to work the midnight shift, had been out since just after lunch, and couldn’t wait around for that big fish and it’s 5:15 bite, besides, I had a chill in me for about 2 hours and was feeling the need to get home and get warm. All the pike were pretty much weenies anyways. This past Sunday I headed back there with my eldest Summer. I think she likes skidoo rides more than fishing. Two new fellas were sitting on my old holes now with about 20 rods down and they complained the fishing was slow. We got to the other spot nearby and first words out of Summer’s mouth, “Dad, I’m really sweaty now.” I drill four holes and get the lines down when she says, “Dad, my feet are getting cold.” “Keep moving around Summer” I tell her. After about only an hour with 2-3 to go Summer says from her perch sitting on the skidoo, “Dad, I’m cold.” Now, Dad knows to dress his kids to the max when taking them out. In fact, Summer has handled colder than this many a times. She’s a real trooper too and not usually one to complain. I got a blanket out, she was being lazy anyway and so I covered her up while she laid on the skidoo. About 10 minutes later she says she’s warmer then falls asleep. An hour goes by and I’m doing great with three snot rockets caught. It’s nearing the magic hour for that big pike. A northeast wind is building a little, while the suns heading down, then Summer wakes up. “How ya doing kiddo?” I ask. “Dad, I’m really cold, as she starts to cry.” My mind goes ARRRRRRGGHHHHHH! “OK Summer, just a wee bit longer. You gotta get up and start moving around to warm up.” “I can’t” she says. So I put her on her feet and she’s shaking like a leaf. DING DING goes the bell on the Slayerinator. “MOVE AROUND!” I yell as I’m running over to the tip-down to pull up a dink eye. Get back to her, that’s it, I’m packing up, worried about the ride home against that wind. On the way home drove by my usual walleye spot at Kwetabohagan to see about 30 people fishing a space about 50m squared. (Later told it was about 60 people during that afternoon) Back at home, hot chocolate, a blanket and mom’s long bear hug warmed Summer’s bones. Remember that sweat is your enemy. Yesterday slipped out to Kwetabohagan for some walleye. Had the place to myself and tonnes of holes only thinly frozen over to choose from. Just punched a couple easy enough. Nice day to be out, mainly sunny and warm but with a slight north wind that could come along now and then and getcha. Things started slow and during the afternoon I found myself taking a ½ hour nap on the skidoo. Finally around 4:00 a school must have roamed on in as I caught the rod tip bounce. Picked up for a jiggle and nothing. Put the rod just so it sat on the skidoo seat kind of teetering and could fall off with the lightest tug, and was quick to pick up a nice eater fish when the tip dipped. Not wasting time I gave this another go after baiting, dropping down, giving a jig, then setting the rod to teeter. Sure enough, fish. Repeated the process 5 times, releasing the third fish as it was too small for supper, and happily when the bite ended I had my limit. Packing up, a gang load came skidooing along the path that lead the 10 km’s up to the pike spot. Glad I was to have chosen a different venue for the day. When I got home after getting things put away and letting the fish thaw out a little, this blue slime on two of the fish was evidently thick. Caught two blue walleyes before regardless of what specialists and authorities say about it, but these were the first 2 blue slime walleye that I’ve read about in OOD. Back at the grind for a short while today in nice warm weather, again the place was barren of others. Just after dropping the lines around 2 pm I was into an eye. Over the two hours I caught only 3 and lost a small one atop the hole, but, didn’t much care as it was good to be catching something anyway.

Few NHL fellas, Kirk Muller bought me and some buds a few plates of Mussels, pints and wine in some restaurant in Montreal we would have never got into if he hadn't said, "these 20 people are with me." Sat on a plane beside Ted Nolan back when he was just newly unemployed from Buffalo. What a he!! of a nice guy. Mike Modano, strangely while he was with Kirk Muller, buying pints at the Beer Store in Kingston on Princess. Kirk didn't remember me... basssterd. Wayne Ronstad when he was "On The Road Again," at Edgetown (now Penny's Pit Stop) outside of Perth. Got on a chair lift with Captain Jean Luc Picard one time. When we left the ground I said "ENGAGE!!!" Made the bald headed little french man freak, smile a little. Had a little Subway with Eddie Vedder the singer from some band. Talked about music and boarding. Said hello to Natasha Henstridge at some little Diner just around the corner from the Delta Chelsea. Told her I thought she was really hot in the movie Species, but hadn't seen the sequel. She said "thanks."

Don't know John, but heard the opening tune playing on the tube so went over to the TV and changed the channel to something better. Maybe Dimestore..?

I often set the hook on the tip-down by running over and giving the thing a good kick. Now I surely will never miss a hookset again, and, I'll be looking real fashionable at a good price while I ice fish. Thanks Dan. You truly bring great things here to OFC. lol

Thanks Marc, Pete & Sandy. Looking quite forward to this issue.

Not much fishing, I mean catching, done lately. Worked on some lures recently though. 20 Inline Spinners. Average about 8-10 inches long, and 2-3 ounces in weight. Beginning bucks were taking about 3 1/2 hours but the last 12 that were just finished up over the last week took about 30 hours only. Tying isn't that slow, but because I used thicker steel shafts that still wouldn't screw the action, (not the Real Pro Lure Making skinny crap) I had to drill out each bead. That, and the saddle feathers, the glue setting in stages, the flashabou, dressing each treble... pretty much everything other than just tying the marabou and bucktail took extra time. I used 750 to 800 meters of thread, 20 feet of wire, and 1 large bottle of laquer that quite frankly, I likely inhaled half of it. Some of these buggahs I gave names while going along. Orange and black one: Trick or Treat. Blue and pink one: Rainbow Treasure. Yellow and Red one: Mickey Finn. Blue, purple and black lure: Cold Steel Black, brown and gray: Rusty Rat. Black and red lure: Nightmare. Brown, orange, yellow lure: Charlie Brown Pumpkin Green and white: Kermit. Pink and white lure: Miss Piggy Red, white and Blue: Capitaino Americano Brown and yellow: Pike Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Next project, 50 inlines. Sizes 3 to 5. All single hooks dressed in popular fly and streamer patterns. Just like the Europeans do. lol.

Yeah, I'm trying to cut back on my portion sizes. But, it's also lead to more portions.

Obviously doooood, to a football "fan" it's more.

Sure was a crappie report Justin. Fish looks good, but no matter how hard mom tried I still could never finish the peas. Yuck.

Geeeez Andrea, shaky start hanging with that Uncle Buck fella. lol Stick with the good people here and you'll learn a trick or two for the water.