Moosebunk

How was the ice? Bravo didn't make the tour? That splake!!! Daaaang dood. Merry Chris Christmas man!

Brenda made cherry, blueberry and apple/pecan pies so whatever I'm having before that is really just a bunch of filler so the rest of my family can get a slice of dessert too. Turkey traditionalists here, and thankful for that! Cause otherwise, Bren would take over with goose. Yuck!

Merry Christmas Gang! And all the best in the new decade to come.

Since October 31st I've been stepping away from another great employer and a little bit into the unknown. Have never been fired but have been forced a number of times to change the path. Nurses/physicians have high, if not the highest rates of burnout for any profession, especially in both the emergency and mental health sectors, so sometimes it becomes necessary to look deep within and change for the better. Other times, it's looking out there and finding some greener grass then making the move, even if that means taking less income in order to keep happy. Had my back-up against the wall a couple times over the years and walked away. Whether you're fired or stepping down, there's always some stress to go along with that.

Great mixed bag amidst alotta bass. Was a strange fall this year for the fishing. Bring on the ice and 2020, best to ya.

I liked this article. Early 2000's started online researching travel destinations and while working countless, quiet nightshifts and spending time away north for the job, still continue the same to this day. Great hobby actually. Fist trips were Costa Rica with some deep sea in mind and, then more intensely BC sturgeon. Some decent books have come out, like Canada's Classic Fishing Lodges or North America's Greatest Fishing Lodges which did tend to write about the most pricey options but are still good reads.. Otherwise, the odd subscription like OC or OOD have good travel pieces sometimes. Take that stuff for what it is though. But I like your suggestion of visiting the forums mostly because it involves networking. Making some calls, emails or messaging all works, but make more than one and to different people. Some doods will sell you on everything as being the most epic because that's what they do or who they are, but having been all over the bloody place in the past 20 years I can tell ya, opinions on even the best lodges or places to fish in Canada can vary from one person to the next. Even two different people on the same trip can see things differently too. In this regard, you've got the right idea being that you'll both hear the gospel and listen to the congregaton.

You're scary enough looking without having to carry. lol.

Sound good! keep me posted Probably pick October first, September a close second. Three months of each, just fine.

Been too long since hanging with your gang of rascals, wrecking your joint, getting stuck in the slush and fishing that beauty lake. The missus will be tricky, she's already away twice between Feb 15 and first week of March, so I imagine with her likely out, you'll withdraw your invite. lmao! Preferred... well, gar are as easy as they come man, just as long as you put it in their face. Cranks are OK. This is my fall roady plan Simon... that just has to get done at some point soon. Ottawa to Nipigon to Lac Seul to Eagle Lake to LOTW to Nipigon to home. Figuring a little three weeker or so! And yes, I'd be happy just for a fish for with ya, but free room and board can't be beat either.

Shows what I know about 'em! lol.

You finish the Irishman, I'll finish my Irish Whiskey, we'll make a movie date and talk fishing. lol. Sounds about good eh!?!

Remember posting this one years back that I thought was a tiger muskie. Had similar markings to the fish in this post AND it had the very rounded tiger / pike tail. Was newer to muskie fishing so didn't know for sure, but was told by some here it's just a barred muskie. Thing of it is, there can likely be some variations considering a 1st generation tiger could reproduce with a 100% pike or muskie down the line and offset their typical appearances even more... I suppose?

Horny bush broad! Used to follow me everywhere in Northern Ontario.

You know man, weather ain't looking too bad for part of next week. May just be time left afterall. Boat is ready to go again. lol

Is it a tiger for sure? It's a real clean and healthy fish.

Thanks guys! Wish fall would last 6 months of the year, gonna be a long haul ti'll the next round.

Had one of those days in the basement yesterday which started at the desktop around 9:00am and ended there 'bout midnight. Did go upstairs to fry some of last November's Quinte walleye catch, pour a gin and have a nice family dinner. The fish was actually fine, I store it with the arctic char, incredibly over-wrapped-up and inside a styrofoam cooler in the freezer. Seems to keep any burn off, we had 16 month old char last week and it was good too. Fried the walleye though in a third Shake N Bake, third buttermilk pancake mix and a third Hint of Roasted Garlic crushed Tostitos, the girls really liked it a lot. Walleye were one fish I didn't get after this autumn at all. Maybe there's still time but the boat has dug itself pretty deep into the garage now under a blanket of anxious ice fishing gear. It's a shame I'm outta of walleye though, cause I need a physical exam and work note for a new job but I don't have a family Doc at the moment. One guy who's offered is always asking for walleye and it slipped the mind that I was gonna pay for that visit with him in fillets. Co-workers are always after me fish, heck I had to trade char for a CPR recert last fall. About that day yesterday though, some time and motivation got the juices flowing to do some writing and it so happened I got caught up on some seasonal articles for the site. To the "Home Angling" section, reports on gar, muskies and sturgeon were posted because it was a pretty good year of fishing for 'em, some HUGE fish were caught and I figured may as well be a show-off about it. Easy to read stuff, nothing too artsy, just the blow-by-blows really. Sooooo, if no one is going to get offended about things, go on ahead and look at some fish if you like. Click on the titles below to link... LOVING ALL THAT YOU GAR. MATTERS OF MUSKIE. THE STURGEONEERS. Won't be long gang! Santa, some ice for our drinks and cheer, then hardwater fun. See ya out there! Bunk.

I hate pike!

Skis and eyes are beauties Simon. Great fall for ya. Soon be on the ice!

Thanks fellas! Bill, I can see this trip happening again some years down the road. For big lakers there is no better place than Bear. For numbers, Arctic Circle may be hard to beat as well. Won't be heading back anytime soon, cause it's kind of a case of been there, done that at the moment... but as years go by plenty places are worth a revisit and, changing it up with a different group can make it new again. You and the missus as part of a group of 12 would be great! Of all the northern spots for bucketlist lakers, this should be the top one.

Some days now I can't remember what fishing stories get passed along where, and that's weird cause I write about half what I used to. Early Old Timers starting, who knows? What I do know is that it was a miserable rainy day today and that being so I slipped away back into some Arctic sun my missus, friends and self all enjoyed this past July... Arctic Circle Lodge is a self-guided fishing experience on Great Bear Lake NWT and it is there where lake trout numbers are just absolutely staggering. Some years back I think it was about 285 fish Bren and I caught over the six days fishing with some good big greys in the mix. This year little had changed except that we were a group of six instead of two. BIG, BIG fish this summer too, Bren caught her first over 40 pounds while other's picked up PB's as well. With a drone along, my buddy captured some great videos and photos, including the photoshoot and release of Bren's giant. The extra shots make this report something special. Anyways, it's a cool read, loaded with pictures and for those whose fishing is slowing down, it's good and free entertainment to pass the time. Here's the link... Strokes & Putts Fish Plummer's Arctic Circle Lodge. Later doods! :)

You were lucky Lew. And hear I thought I was doing well never hooking myself in like 20 years, and only ever sinking a couple trebles into the wife's scalp. Yikes! The freezing has served me we well with other's mishaps.

What David said... And Touching sentiments, she's still within you.

Quite the stories from here both ends. Geeesh!

Two recent videos fishing muskie. One when things went smoothly, one when things turned my poor daughter green. lol. Careful out there alone, had another close call last Sunday too, near buried a hook into my thumb with a muskie attached. The second fish of the day (the one in the video), all those hooks were cut to make quick and safe work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIOXFT4m8u4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83K8DeW4iHA