Moosebunk

Not writing nearly as many stories as in the past so this one was more of an undertaking than usual. Rusty man, but trying to get back into it after some great trips this summer with family, friends and this here solo stint in Nunavut. But anyhow, combined some play with work while in the Arctic this month and the whole experience unfolded into something different. Not what I expected at all, though probably what I needed, some cool surprises this was surely one to remember. Waaaay Up to Victoria Island to cover much air, sea, land and self in this "Quest For The Ekaluk," and its silver running char. Link to full story on the title here... A NUNAVUT NOMAD V. QUEST FOR THE EKALUK . . . . BUNK

Sad. One of the best 1000 series reels I had, for a good while was that Quantum PT with all the rainbow colors on it. It was the last two Symetres that both failed. One basically within weeks, the other months. Shimano took 'em in, supposedly fixed some faulty part, gave 'em back and one was done within the year. The other sees lighter use. Anyways, for what they are, paying $150 you'd expect better than a season or two out of them.

This won't open for me bud. ???

Stradics taxes in are like pushing $300. So $209 ain't bad but it is a 1000. You'd have better versatility here and a stronger drag on a 2500 to 3000. The 1000 for pike and lakers is better suited to ice fishing, you'd wear it out too quick for serious lakers and pike. Symetre are obviously out and the last few years they were making them they turned 'em into junk. I own eight and the last two stood up to nothing. Once upon a time they were workhorses and my oldest in the bunch are the ones still working best. Put those through Hell a thousand times over. So like you, I look around this price range and right now Shimano has the Nasci. Four SAIL store employees recommended this over the Quantum Smoke which had been marked down to close to the same price. I just put a 3000 Nasci to the first tests on arctic char and a 4000 on lakers. They started rough at the reel handle, like a slight little burr every third crank or so, but that's smoothing out a little now. If these reels fail I'll likely quit with Shimano awhile and move to Pfleuger or other options, but so far they seem OK. The Pleuger Patriarch is usually $269 but it's marked down to $149 at SAIL this week.

Never once! ? Hey guys, haven't been here in a long time. ?

Great eye for a generally small eye fishery!

Just incredible images mon chum! Hard to argue that the Yukon isn't the most beautiful place to fish. Where to next? I thought you were coming to Ottawa at some point too?

Agreed. And today consequences with the law can be greater too. Kids know what they're doing and make a choice. Sneaking a bit of Shnapps after school in grade 8, smoking mom's menthols in the field in grade 7, stealing from dad's coin jar in grade 6 to buy candy, trying to walk out the front door of the Giant Tiger with an 86 pack of crayons in grade 1... even the harmless stuff, kids know what they're doing.

Working in rural E.R.'s outside of Ottawa and small towns in Nunavut, I've given Narcan only a few times in the past 3, 4 maybe 5 years. One of those patients was someone we snowed, another an elderly patient who just kinda forgets if she took her pills that day and sometimes takes more. I'd have to wonder how my E.R. friends in the city are doing with this?

Looks peaceful! Perfect rig too.

Hey! The kid's got serious skills... or luck... or both! That apple fell real far from the tree. lol. JOKING!!! Congrats to the lad.

Have heard that buzz before in the woods... INTENSE buzz that builds at dark, stays a short while and almost suddenly stops. You write them better than anyone really. And a great mix of photos. Have had this one up on the screen a couple days knowing not to miss it. Glad that didn't happen. Enjoy the next stop bud!

And you're still at it... Those 6 months just faded away in a day.

You're smiling bigger than ever dood! And she's got you hooked, and you're getting her hooked too. For sure some nice clean salmon to welcome in the spring.

Growing up I have watched my father challenge himself in so many ways with his different sports and hobbies. Amazing accomplishments actually, for many of those things he did become very good at. Skiing, scuba diving, sky diving, wind surfing, a pilot with his own plane, photographer, marksman, builder (of many, many things), learning German, Morris Code and ham radio, motorcycling, hunting, golf, hockey, building/flying model airplanes and gliders, playing bass in a band, owning his own business... He's a perfectionist too, and it never bothered me one iota growing up joining him for anything or even seeing him off to enjoy whatever was going in his life. He's been an inspiration many times over and will always be a more knowledgeable and experienced man than myself. But when he gets in the boat with me, or reads one of my stories about some traveling and the fishing done, maybe sometimes I inspire him a little. Fishing is just one of those things that each person finds in their own way, and when moving ahead through life, continue on with to find themselves.

Used to chuck bugs now and again when living in the Moose Brian. Up on the North French and Cheepas in spring when they're shallower, I did best with a weighted chartreuse wholly bugger. Pink would do well too. And as Gil pointed out, Clousers just like the ones he's posted caught a fish or two as well.

Ramble On from the site here once shared a video with me of a walleye heart still beating about 15 minutes after he had cut it out of the fish.

Used to love playing golf with buddies. Was a junior member of the local course 10 minutes from my house. Played from the time I was about ten years old ti'll early 20's. Found fishing in my mid teens though, and in no time golf took a backseat when given the choice between. Nothing wrong with that sport though. It's a personal test enjoyed every time out.

Just double checked with the journal to learn it has been over three months since last fishing. Spent most of that time in Nunavut working... in plenty dark... and in plenty colder days than here at home, albeit I rarely ventured outside. On shift and call 24/7 for a month on end, it's the quieter times some evenings and weekends that I gotta keep busy. Creating some entries for the website was just one of those ways... This bit of a report takes four excerpts from previous trips with one new entry as well, to basically highlight the five different times I have been fortunate enough to visit Nunavut through work and play. Arctic char and those memories fishing are certainly a happy place to go, especially when the days are long away from family and fishing. In this picture loaded write-up are two excursions to the Tree River with my wife Brenda, and three other work trips to Kugaaruk, Taloyoak and Coral Harbour found within different areas of Nunavut. Some here may have seen a few of the char pictures before, but most have likely not seen them all together and accompanied by the best of the incredible scenery only the Arctic has to offer. A click away if you're interested... Fishing Canada's Arctic Char. Next char report I'm hoping will come from one of three rivers on Victoria Island near Cambridge Bay. If not there, it'll certainly be somewhere new. Spring is fast approaching, in the meantime stay safe on the ice. Bunk.

Disgusting report Meegs! Gawd I hate to love and love to love splake. Fish has got my number... but not yours apparently. ;)

Great read Rob. Interesting line of work to be able to study such an elusive and cool weasel like this.

This was food related. This isn't the original video but I did see it recently. Wolverines running out of containers that I think were just holding garbage. Imagine if they hunted in packs?!?! lol. We saw some on a trip to the Sutton River this summer. Named a speckled trout pool after 'em. Locals up here in Nunavut see them too... and I was admiring a traditional amounti which had a hood rimmed with wolverine.

Yeah!!! Forgot about that. Cochrane Air didn't own the camp on Partridge the few trip years I was there... and they do now. How I'd love to revisit that cabin on Partridge and fish Kesagami again. Great fishing... and the last time I was there Brenda and I had Kesagami all to ourselves for a week. Not another soul. What a great time. http://bunksoutdoorangle.com/kesagami-reflections/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKGii_uaYaw

Yeah... they are "usually" solitary, but check this out! https://twitter.com/amymacbiologist/status/999319052655955968?lang=en

If fishing crappie you have to get permission. lol. Anyways, lake is super busy, holds all the above mentioned fish but even though it's the closest lake to my place, I still never fish it anymore. Come summer it gets beaten to death... but guess the odd good one still gets caught. Go for a drive and try different scenic spots you might be able to access along the river. It goes for miles man...