Moosebunk

We gotta be careful these days but most older people know if they go off the rails and you coldcock'em, they asked for it. Pops couple summers back one-shot dropped a guy in a CTC parking lot because the dude wanted his parking spot so bad but my dad didn't drive out and give it to him quick enough. So, guy blocks my dad from coming out, gets out of his car, walks towards my dad cussing and hollering until he was close to take an unexpected hail Mary in the kisser. That shut him up when he hit the ground. Great thing is, a kid would cry and sue ya, I guess when this guy came around he musta figured he'd had it coming. You could weight the pros and cons for doing the same thing in this case. It does suck though... I think it was Clive from here who was with me one of the last times I raised my voice on the water. It can actually be kinda fun and good for you too, to let the steam out.

Looks like a great time had by all, and some good eyes too. Feels great getting out and getting back to a little normalcy. Congrats on parenthood as well, you have been busy.

For sure Pics. As I quoted above... " it's my view that lockdowns, Public Health efforts, healthcare efforts and personal protective practices can totally work. The problem for the rest of Canada is, not everyone can easily get on board with it for many different reasons." Many different reasons truly does include many different reasons.

That's a tough ladder.

Arviat Nunavut is in the news today and they're having a little celebration. Why are they celebrating??? Because Nunavut did lockdown last spring. They closed their three borders tight and implemented two week quarantine periods in isolation hubs for any of their residents and non-essential employees looking to return the territory after being south. Ottawa, Winnipeg and Yellowknife were the designated sites and throughout most of the year the quarantines worked. Essential employees were also expected to answer to Public Health with regards to their own social distancing practices for the two weeks prior to travel into Nunavut. On a small scale, something much easier to evaluate than international travel in and out of Canada, Nunavut represented very well what travel restriction, quarantine, isolation and being responsible can do to thwart the spread of Covid. But then... a case did finally break through. Nunavut being one of the last places on earth to see a first case, they were quick to act. Sanikiluaq picked up the first couple cases of Covid, they identified the cases, did the contact tracing and locked the town down, especially isolating the positives. Poof!!!! Like that, no Covid. Then another person brought a case from Winnipeg into the airport at Rankin Inlet. Passengers moving onward landed in Whale Cove and Arviat. First positives identified, contact tracing complete and Poof!!! Whale Cove and the bigger hub of Rankin locked it down, did the tracings, isolated the positives and reset their case numbers to zero. Arviat on the other hand, being totally underserviced, one of the sickest populations in Canada and also the youngest, well... it took six weeks of hard work. A public health emergency team was deployed there, the Chief Medical Officer traveled there as well and, within about 6 weeks with case numbers in the town of 3000 or so people reached over 300, a lockdown, some big efforts and isolation of the positive cases reset Arviat right back to zero. Nowhere else in Canada has a case count affected about 10% of any single localized population within such a short time... Looking at Arviat and each other Nunavut community as a small scale version of what is to be the expected outcome of Covid case control, and, also looking at Nunavut's excellent border control as a whole, it's my view that lockdowns, Public Health efforts, healthcare efforts and personal protective practices can totally work. The problem for the rest of Canada is, not everyone can easily get on board with it for many different reasons. The one thing that I have found for certain is, that those people who could be on board but instead choose to whine, piss, whine, moan, complain and scream that it doesn't work, they are the biggest plague to bettering the health of Canadians and helping all just get through this.

Spring if home I'd be all over those lakes open already north of Lady O. And probably on the big pond after lakers too. Can't wait for May.

Quite possible. That is where Andy and I stayed both times. Well, he certainly didn't want his photo taken with anything less than a giant... or have his photo taken at all for that matter. Hard to know for sure how he feels about sizes but one thing is for certain, he loves the muskie game. Thanks for reading fellas.

A relative late-comer to muskie, this retrospective article shares a personal evolution into that great hunt, highlighting a first 100 days fishing and exploring the St. Lawrence river, and myself. Link here... 100 LARRY DAYS OF MUSKIE. | Bunks Outdoor Angle

I like ravens a lot. Gangs of them in the north, so smart and so many interesting calls. But they don't compare to owls. Nothing is cooler, more interesting and beautiful than owls.

So essentially it looks like maybe a little red marabou tail, red thread and the clear wrap? I like this tie Brian, did up some bloodworms when learning back in the early 2000's but none as durable looking as that, and mine were without the little bou tail that likely comes to life down there. Nicely done!

3300 or 3400hrs on the last Yammy 60. Changed an impellor once and plugs a couple times. Didn't go easy on it, never fogged it, twice a year in for its gen maintenance. Keep in touch with the kid who bought and beats it trailering dirt roads up around Hearst. Three full seasons and running like a top. Recently walked the shoreline while up here in Grise Fiord at the top of the world. Saw an Evinrude, the rest were Yamaha. Most in Nunavut order their motors from Montreal to come up on sea lifts. They could order ANYTHING yet everywhere ya go it's like 5 or 10 to 1 Yamahas over everything else. Hondas a second choice but they're cold starts are said to be more temperamental. Ocean goers want dependability, it's life or death, so I guess they'll choose to pay that little more for a Yamaha. Wonder how many times these threads have come up and how many times Yamaha's been top choice? Not to say other motors are bad... they're just not as good. lol.

Merc dealerships are gonna need bigger garages and taller mechanics.

Nice thing about Arctic Circle, unguided is, the only tip you're giving at the end of the trip is to the camp manager, who is also the cook, cleaning staff and dock hand. You go guided, tack on about an extra 2G's for the package and another $750 or so PP to cover guide and staff tips. You lose about a half days fishing with the extra travel to Circle but, you can make that up by setting a longer day schedule if you want. And what you catch is all because of you! Circle is a good way to go. Much cheaper but still pricey, the boating is big water play but structure safe if that provides you peace of mind and, your boat will release 150-300 lakers for the week, depending on dates and how you want to use your time. 20-30 pounders very likely, almost a given. 30-40 pounders a decent chance. 40+ possible and, there have been a few 50+. That piece of the lake is very well the most beautiful too. High hills and cliffs, channels, deep back bays, it's more like parts of Great Slave. Anglers going to Circle unguided tend to catch double to quadruple what the main lodge catches without taking pricey flyouts to hotspots. You want a better chance at a 50, 60 and maybe even 70 pound laker... Plummer's Trophy Lodge. Guided, expensive, not as scenic, fewer fish caught, LOT more giants.

Fished Snare Lake... think it was around 05? And went in mid summer. Was actually the first fly-in softwater trip I'd ever done. The cabin you chose looks much nicer, the lake sounds a little deeper, you're going with family and it's gonna be great. Being a small lake with worm harnesses, jigs and few diving cranks you'll be quick to sort out what works.

For about an extra $100PP.... if these guys are open and you're willing to drive a little farther, this is a fly-in pike and walleye tour I'd do. Lake has a lot of bigger than average eyes. http://www.onamanlake.com/Onaman_Lake4.html

Judging by the murder of that whitefish... I'd say your bloodworm is aptly tied.

Firmly believe there are virgin fish all over that lake. The speck lifespan is so short and they're so spread out over every bit of rock, everywhere, that there's too many places not at all fished by anglers season after season. The pike in places are rarely targeted, in some places HEAVILY targeted, but they're predatory enough to forget being hooked a day or two later. The lake has BIG depths in many places, some I'd think see only a handful of boats a year... and spots like Windigo Bay albeit a shallower, sand flat bottom for miles and miles, must hold immense bait and lakers seasonally feeding in their comfort zones, without hardly ever seeing a boat, let alone a lure. And the walleye... they're almost forgotten except by gill netters and Americans. In some spots they take a beating, but the main lake fish are low on the list of options. Boating 30 miles out isn't necessary for great fishing, but it is adventurous and increases the solitude.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer between natural light, natural dark or bright anything. Kinda like Dax eludes, as long as you're fishing your "A" game you should be confident enough to know that the lure catches fish, or has a good chance, under certain conditions.

Wouldn't say that's unfortunate for us at all though. Let'em think that. lol.

HOLY SMOKES MAN! Family time, girlfriend time, friends time, new home time, cottage time, Taro time and plenty of bass time especially, 2020 turned out quite alright for ya! Great pics too!

Thanks man! And I think you need to go back for that southern gar soon as the borders open. Appreciated Greg! Although years pass and times have changed, still always nice to hear people read and enjoy the write-ups as they always have. Know of a particular cabin which you may speak of. Hoping the best for northern friends in the business cause my Lord they took a hit through 2020. At the very least, it should be accepted that Canadians move about following best precautions they can, especially those planning to further distance and merely go about enjoying their lives. Thanks for reading fellas!

Despite all that went on in our country this past year one thing remained pretty consistent... the FISHING! The lakers, muskies, gar, char, crappies, specks, pike, walleye and even for once in my life some splake too, all made life better. The fun never ends as long as you keep getting out there to experience new things, in new places and hopefully in 2021 with plenty more people safely at your side. Short 2020 picture loaded report at the link below... Best to all for 2021. . THE FISHIN' 20/20 ON 2020 .

Your beard can never seem to make up it's mind just how long it really wants to be, or if it wants to even be at all. lol Great stuff buddy!

Tying dries is better than nymphs, hairwings, streamers, poppers and salmon flies... well, maybe not those most elaborate and artsy salmon flies but a close second. Nicely done Brian.

I'll third the Helix 5 or 7 portable. Beauty units that pack alotta options. Go with a Dakota lithium for power if choosing the 7 though.