Moosebunk

Did I miss it Cliff? You OK?

That one awesome laker Terry? Is that the one you're thinking? Horny hick chick backwood bush broads brother Wayne... you know it. Catch'em on Friday nights near town, release 'em Saturday mornings in a swamp some place. Before hitting the backroads with a case and the 22 to do some serious "hoggin." Not the report... but she gave the one pic you've take a liking to... "a like" as well. lol. And somebody might have even shared it too... or Twitted it off to somewheres. Mom's side got off the ship over that way... so maybe there's traces bud! Check out my... #thanksdoods.

First part was all just in fun and hope those reading had a laugh. Keeping busy here during any rest days and humoring myself while down and out from fishing awhile makes for time well spent. That day for splake January 7th was the beginning of the ice fishing season. Thirteen days later it was over, and won't be back at it until March. During the short ice time I did have, a few days were spent down on Quinte and several more were shared fishing lakers. All three outings on the BOQ saw eyes caught, but two of those three were rather slow. One day with Mike, he nabbed a giant PB and had a hot stick picking up fourteen eyes for himself. I lagged further behind, crying several times through the day as rubber-hooks or dumb luck saw to it that I had to watch four tanks come unbuttoned beneath the clear ice underneath my seat. Heartbreaking and annoying, seeing three of those four big fish swim away after shaking the hook. Some days go down like that though. The consolation prize... it was an absolute slay day overall, and a memorable one for sure. Three outings for lakers proved much better and I landed two real solid beauties. Picking up nearly a dozen while fishing on different waters, a couple friends along for the ride caught some smaller fish too, and some surprise eyes. Mike returned one day after we had been out and managed to catch himself a true valley pig, perfect timing before his season comes to its permanent end as well. Mike's laker along with his giant eye, he really smashed 'em up good over his short ice season. Myself, I'm looking forward now to some late winter fun. Will let some pics do the talking from here on out. In case I don't get around the forums much, enjoy the rest of your winter fishing all. Bunk.

Over my long two month fishing hiatus a buddy Mikey and I got to some thinkins... "We're getting up there dood, can feel it more and more," I confessed over the phone. "I'm always stiff in the morning too Bunk," ole Mikey replied, "and not in that way I used to be when I was a young lad." You see... next month Mikey is scheduled for both a hernia repair and carpel tunnel surgery in the same week. In Hollyweird they might call that an oil change and lube, or maybe a day at the spa, but for us Canucks I just don't believe most folks care for nerds with knives tampering with our parts in any kinda way... yet, I did hafta wonder if maybe some liposuction might do him some good. What Mikey and I was really thinkins about though was our fishing. "We're not hip any more," I whined. "The forums, the mags but especially all them social medias, they're full of Fishing Stars nowadays Mikey. Our rambling on in reports like we've done for decades just ain't cool... and to-boot nobody gives a hoot 'bout our awesome fishes. It's all just become some fast-paced "like" 'em and leave 'em, 11-second sound-biting tweet tweet, come follow me linkedin and hashtaggin' but no more than so many characters at once kinda deal. Running and gunning for fans instead friends." Mikey I think kinda tuned me out awhile, but then when he tuned back in he finally answered... "I wanna be like that!" And I was like, "HELLLZ YEAH Dood!!! Me too!" We decided right then it was time to join the masses, and so we made our plan to become... PROSTAFF!!! Tough and top anglers respect the splake. Cunning little sterile hybrid freaks that don't know if they're a speck one day or a laker the next. Fishing them beauty bi-polar buggers can be extremely challenging, especially when they're ugly and depressed; as they often are. Not only that, splake come even tougher to catch cause you have to drive some place on a road in your truck, often in the early morning. Usually that place is quite far out of the way too, though fortunately somehow manages to always bypass a Tim Hortons. Also, you often have to physically walk into a lake pulling a sleigh and carrying stuff, a kind of exhaustion that fatigues the muscles and makes ya sweat. Lastly, it's always wicked cold outside in the winter. Our work was cut out for us but Mikey and I both knew if we caught multiple huge tricky splake in tough Canadian winter climes, we would both instantly be relevant again in the world of modern anglers. The day we decided to go the weather was absolutely horrendous. It was below zero and the sun was shining way too bright in our eyes. To-boot, Mike and I were headed for new waters and each had no idea at all what to expect or even really quite how to get there. After the coffee, drive and a mile walk up over a snowy hill and across some other lakes, bundled and backs saline soaked we completed the first part of our fishin' mission. Some rattle and rust, it sorely felt a time since last trekking into the bush for fishing like this. For Mikey, this is often how he chooses to go about things. Although, ya wouldn't think it with all those breaks he had to take along the way... Yet despite our panting along, making those frequent chest clenching stops, and wiping sweatcicles from the brow, the hike in was a rather glorious undertaking. It would be a good day to fish. Mikey had a plan, of course he had a plan. If he didn't have the plan, I'd have the plan. There's never a time when we go fishing that there's any shortage of plans. To start this day, my first plan was to watch Mike put his plan into motion. Drill 'em... dooooood! Quick to test the new waters I got a lucky lure down the hole while Mikey's spine was turned. Worked it fancy too with a little wiggle jiggle. Then, in just a minute, I felt a little nibble nibble. Drove the hook home and reeled one up! I love it when a plan comes together... but... BUT WAIT!!! "DANG IT ALL TO HECK," I hollered over to Mike. "It's a dang' woman!!!" Fishing for women has always come easy to a red-bearded Norse-God like me... in fact, I've chased 'em all over, caught and mounted so many in my life that the wallet's been totally empty for years. This one here... well yep, a purdy fine catch too, but certainly no PB. Hammer of Thor and she was quick released. Not gonna make any kinda name for myself as an angler catching simple species like women. I got that lucky lure back down the hole though. Worked it again too with a little wiggle jiggle. When, in just a minute, there I felt a little nibble nibble. Drove it home to the bone! Mammoth SPLAKE!!! So excited when it appeared in the hole. But then, a heart-breaker, it was unfortunately just too big to lift up and out, and the hook tore from it's lip before it splashed away. Mike had made shelter and waved for me to come join him. Inside everything was set up for success. Sonar, rods, lures, chairs, the Buddy fire burning and even some fresh bait. Pouring a cup of coffee from my thermos, Mikey was a staring down the hole before he suddenly looked up to me and said, "take a looky down there and see what I see." At the bottom of our holes, some twenty feet down in the gin clear, were two enormous splake frolicking in the silt... our lures there too dancing all sweet just above their heads. The knees started shaking but I pulled myself together right quick. No serious and hardened angler ever gets nervous. In an instant one splake flashed up from the bottom and obliterated my offering. The battle which ensued was epic. Actually, it was so epic it made normal epic look stupid and outdated. Look up epic in the Living Webster next year and guess what you're gonna see... YEAH, it's coming, a new definition of epic. An FYI... we usually drill 30-inch holes and so the fish here is really a lot bigger than the normal big. In fact, our big make any normal big look stupid and outdated. This fish was truly a dandy too! And when I knelt down to take hold of this great splake, a huge moment in fishing history happened just then... "You're the man Bunk," Mikey surely whispered under his breath several times over. "I know Mikey thanks," I answered. "Know what?" he said. "I know I'm THE MAN!" He looked at me puzzled, maybe he felt awkward, but I know what I heard and I know he knows I'm the man. "You're pretty OK too," I told him. "You shut up," he replied..? "Why so angry Mikey, you hating on me? You jealous of my fishabilities? One minute you're saying I'm the man and the next..." My rod suddenly buckled over and the reel peeled so hot it melted and burned my fingers. Less than one millimeter from the line escaping the final eyelet and gone, I nabbed it. Hand over other burnt hand, grimacing in pain, I pulled in the biggest splake of my life. Totally obliviousified by my own new awesomeness I hadn't even noticed Mikey was locked solid into an unforgiving war with a splaker of his own. "Mikey, Mikey, I'm gonna be Prostaff now, get 'em!" Mikey and I high-fiver'd and hugged just then in our little shelter. We were in a zone, feeling super good and that was where we needed to be now. Confident and on our game again, cool and hip, we both put the hammer down on some serious splakeroonies. Finally we had a real reason to fish again. No more merely sharing our fish and experiences without purpose, in an amazing turn of events those pitiful days of old were about to take on a whole new direction... #waitforit... #youknowit... #yourgonnathinkweretotallyawesomenowandyouretotallyrightaboutthatandyouareawesometoo Satisfied with the slay I stood up from my Canadian Tire chair to stretch and slip outside. The warmth of our cozy and effiecient Mr.Buddy Heater set to low had been a little too warm in the Subzero ice fishing shelter which Mikey chooses over all other brands to fish within. #ThanksMrBuddy #SweatingitoutinmySubZero #WetItchyUndies The annoying sun in my eyes it felt incredible to slide on my new #Oakleys and take a breath of that fresh air made for us all in China. #thanksChinaforairandeverythingelseyoumake. And thanks to my 20-year old and still almost perfect Sorels, because in wicked style and comfort I could walk over to my HIT Enterprises rod-flag-bell-thingy, having only to pause and repair a smidgen of the Scotch brand Duct Tape that's been there on my boot at least five years. Those of you that haven't heard of Duct Tape, you're either from Antarctica or you are quite challenged. Scotch brand Duct Tape can stop leaks and even trains from derailing if it has to, I know, I seen it for real on You-Tube where you can also subscribe to my new account and get all my latest videos before we even make them. Again though, serious shout-out to Scotch brand Duct Tape, #AhhhDucIT, and if you get time to check out their awesome new best ever website I strongly suggest you do... http://www.3m.com/intl/CA/english/centres/home_leisure/duct_tape/?WT.mc_id=www.3m.com/ca/ducttape The snow outside on this day being very white and all, I kinda liked that, so I'm Prostaffing it now, but only the white snow. My Grandfunk Railroad jingle for white snow, "Everybody's doing the snow 'Pro'motion. C'mon baby, do the snow 'Pro'motion." Mikey had to help me with the second line. #ThanksMikey #Mikeylikesit #MikeyMikeyMoMikeyBananaFanaFoFikey. #MmmmmmMikey! I saw this handy frozen staff in the lake ice so guess what? I'm Prostaffing this staff now. #Prostaffinthestaff #Prostaffastaff. #Prostaffage End of the day the fishing was totally rad and that in huge part is thanks to my Chevy Silverado and it's GoodYear Tires. Getting us to the lake safely and without having to walk 100 miles is a serious advantage. #LikeARock #OKYear?NoThey'reGoodYear. Mom, Dad, the big guy upstairs, wicked awesome you guys put me together so I could one day ProStaff everything. #AuntMabel #UnclePearl. Thanks to #supermarkets for food, SubZero for shelter, Tim Hortons for coffee and of course, Scotch brand Duct Tape and China for saving trains and giving us air to breathe. Finally, if I didn't Prostaff your stuff yet just hold on a little bit, it's only the first day Pro and I'll get to you soon as able. "Follow me" Mikey. "Where? On InstaHam, FaceCrack, Tweeter," he asked? "No dummy Pro... follow me up the trail, we gotta get going." I laughed. "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" #Ha #Haha #Hahaha "Hey Bunky," Mikey smiled and asked once we reached the 2014 Chevy Silverado 5.3 V8 4X4 Off Road Edition, purchased from Chevy West Ottawa off Palladium Drive, "you have a good time fishing today?" "Of course I did Mikey we're on the Prostaff now. And that's all just for fun." #TheEnd

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/orthostatic-hypotension/basics/definition/con-20031255 If you like, scroll through from definition to causes and such. I like this website in practice. Although, not saying that's what happened to you, it just first came to mind. The mild concussion afterwards is possibly the result of your longer effects lasting throughout the rest of your day. Food for thought..? Glad you're OK. Scary stuff when you're way out there Cliff. And heck, we all know how hard the ice is when you fall on it and injure anything.

Whitey slay! WTG!!!

Love that last shot! Great "sick" day for the wee lad.

Why we have still not sat down for a scotch together Al is baffling me right now. Your efforts are certainly personal for you, and quite interesting and of course important to others. Enjoyed reading this post very much, and thanks for putting it together. The efforts and regulations must be helping, for it seems every year the speck fishing on Nipigon gets better. You are right though, some beat of fish caught from time to time but, at least they're being "re-caught." Hoping it keeps getting better over the next decade.

Have certainly catered to many over the years, guided if you will but never directly paid as such. And each year for a number of years people often wanted to get on board for different trips which would first be researched and arranged, then always booked at an equally reduced and fair rate for all. Being the planner who puts it together, I often felt it my duty to try and ensure everyone enjoyed themselves, and because so, during the trips I pretty well always took the reigns for the meals which, 90% of the time were prepared for and served by me. This somewhat puts other people on your schedule if they want to eat their plentiful portions hot from the cabin or camp stove. 90% of the time, this wouldn’t be an issue for myself or others, for anglers on a fishing trip are generally eager and happy to spend as much time fishing as they can. Getting to relax a little more too as things are taken care of for them. Experienced planning and personal hard work, much like guiding, allows for this. But yet I have an example of efforts that didn’t work out too well one time. Over the winter it was decided to hit up a huge lake. New area but plenty experience there, like always, I began researching everything such as the fishing, accommodations and the especially the lake. It all got mapped out, safe harbors, camping and all known and potential spots for targeted species. Secondly, a full meal plan got drawn up and from that, a complete grocery list which had only what would be needed, eaten, leaving little to waste and keeping everyone’s costs minimal. Full big breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps and snacks thru the day, and huge dinners often with dessert planned out and made daily for our trip. Once booked I kept the guys informed of other things such as travel and accommodation plans, deposits, food costs and made sure all were OK with it and paid up. This one time too, on this trip said, because of some past difficulties, I even set up a “savings” plan schedule to help ensure this one friend would meet his share of the cost and be able to join us. I hadn’t tripped with this guy in years partly because I was weary of things which might happen and have with him and others, but, I offered up a place for him with us as a kind gesture for some recent troubles he’d been having, as he still was to me a friend with a good heart, and with whom I’d shared some great times in the past.. The day we are to depart from my home the fellas show up a little late. My friend is intoxicated from his sleepless night before and in the 25 or so minutes needed to load the vehicle he pours four maybe five more beers into himself at 6:30am, before crashing out 9 hours on the drive in the back of the truck. Coming to late in the afternoon when down the road, his first need was to hit a beer store and grab a traveler 12'er for the rest of the ride, every coffee or gas stop along the way he downs one or two. In the box of the truck, his two 55-packs and three 24's for our 7-day trip remain waiting untouched. You can see where this is going...... and just now I had finished typing up a lengthy one here that in a weird and sad way tied in a different sense of guiding, life, alcoholism, slander, threat and lost friends, over what for me was actually a good trip in many other respects.... I can't seem to post it now for just any and all though. It was simply and by far my worst and only one of a few difficult times while fishing.

On my spinning reels, there goes that 50 or so yards of braid when those 20lb'ers hit the lure from down there. lol.

As you know, they can work fine Wayne for sure Piking, had one rod with a C3 on it in the past, even a Zebco spin reel, and they never had issues. Wasn't jigging deep lakes tho.

Will pull no punches, use it in the hut mostly, and give it to ya straight by the end of the season. Will tell ya though so far Art, it's not actually "clunky".. it sits nice in the palm for pencil grip and seems decently built.

They make 'em left and right Terry.

Very chill video! Was grinning and relaxing through most of it except the speed boating. Cameo's too from plenty OFC'ers and good fish Will. Didn't know there was a Temagami 2014 that went down... and some lakers taken too. For probably 10 years have been doing a yearly recap... except this one?!?! Enjoyed yours instead.

Agree with that Bill as it would be the case with any baitcaster used outside below freezing... Will see how it does outside though... Anytime fishing lakers there will always be at least two other sticks with spinning reels ready to go. Brian... it seems pretty solid... and from the spool to the first guide is pretty well a perfect straight shot. It's no bigger than a 750 series reel or so... but with nearly doubly the line capacity and a rather heavy drag if need be. I can't wait to sink a big spoon into a heavy laker and test this things gears. It was ordered right from 13 Fishing. And no... I'm not Prostaff of them or anything.

Mad skillz! Dave's program is well put together and certainly has a little extra over some other shows. So are you in the boat on the camera, in the workshop editing and putting it all together, or both?

This here quick video better explains it than I can... Looking forward to giving it a whirl with the lakers or eyes, hopefully soon. Will let ya's know what I think.

Considering I don't believe that walleye is a Quinte fish Mike, it's super impressive! But the trout are equally as good.

Arrived at Christmas. Called the Teardrop made by 13 Fishing. Upside-down baitcaster is what it is. GearR - 6.2:1, 8BB's. Threw it on a M-H 36" St.Croix and spooled it up with 100 yards of 15lb braid. It's small though, light, with line capacity for more. With lure attached it'll balance perfect. Thinking it'll be for big lakers, maybe big eyes or pike too. Even if it's garbage it still looks purdy cool. Anyone use it before and have an opinion?

All the best to everyone and their families in 2015.

I was away when you first posted this Joey. Nice to take a look now. Some absolute gems in that lot. Enjoy snapping away in 2015.

Wicked Crappie start. I like that gold Flyer spoon you picked up. Good for the eyes too.

Was fun watching your fishing exploits through 2014 Brian. You got yourself out there a tonne and really mixed it up with your tribbin, icefishin', float tubin' and boatin'. With the Lowrance and Buddy Heater we're one in the same now. Best to ya in 2015 dood!

With what you're choosing from here I'd go with the Fenwick only because I've always liked those sticks for walleye when living up north. Either would be good, prefer the 7'2". For what it's worth.