Moosebunk

Each year across Ontario and during the month of May, anglers come alive to begin living out their winter long dreams of seeking out fresh, spring, fish. With all the new seasons beginning to open up, the society of trout doods, the walleye and pike broods, the pannie poppers, sammy slammers, followed by the muskie maniacs and later the bass terds, all increase that fishing buzz which swarms about in the air creating a mass fishsteria. It's an exciting time, and May really is a pinnacle month for many of us within the fishing circus. From an online perspective and a decade of cycling through seasonal fishing discussions and reports, spring provides a rebirth to the new fishing year. The forums support some of the absolute best and most energetic reports, as many anglers are truly happy to see the softwater beneath the gunnels, and those long awaited fish hit the hooks. This spring their have been some really superb walleye, trout, pike, crappie and salmon reports already, and those who posted should pat themselves on the back for not only giving of themselves for others enjoyment, but also helping fuel a fishing energy which will carry us further into the summer. It's been almost three years since moving back to the valley from Moose Factory and James Bay. Each May on the Moose, I would take time off work to ensure that a full week would be spent on the water at the walleye opener. Every day not working after the ice breaks-up; yet before walleye opened, would be spent exploring further stretches of swollen northern rivers such as the Moose, North French and Cheepas. A year long open season for pike, I would start searching for them first, but, also keep a kean ear to the local whispers of searun speckled trout entering the feeder creeks. Spring is when our eyes open wide, adventures begin, and our atrophied casting muscles harden again with each swing of the rod. WarCanoe Adventures - 2009. http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32551 So in all essence, May would historically be a favorite month for fishing. The times back then allowed easier chance during high navigable waters to find fishing success for all species offered in my old home of James Bay. Since leaving the north and joining those folks who's fishing and reports had been endearing to me, I am lucky enough nowadays to enjoy all the new and different species, styles of fishing, and chance encounters to fish with some who's fishing certainly inspired me through the years. Did I say already that I love the month of May??? Since leaving off last at April lakers and crappies, this past month I fished more than I really should admit to. We'll just say, May fishing is a drug. Those casting muscles were surely medicated, as mine went from tired to fit to exhausted again, while I chased after trout, gar and walleye. A Birthday early in the month too, myself, friends and family never stopped opening gifts until June arrived. May was certainly a party!!! Anyways... here are pics hot off the press which should highlight some of the month's great times. A day spent splaking with Mike during which we bumped into my old friend Keith. Sadly no fish were caught, but Mike pulling a cold Corona out of his bag during our shorelunch was a sure way to escape into a different sense of happiness while being out fishing. Enjoyed that Mike, as it's rare that other than on big trips nowadays, a Coleman Stove lunch with a cold beer makes an outing that much better . The day after my Birthday I roused early, and with the ATV loaded took off for a high-elevation back lake. An hour to park the truck and another hour to quad-in over some wickedly rocky and tough mountain terrain, by 8:00am I was enjoying total solitude with a cup of coffee while the sun tried it's best to peek through the clouds. Two full passes around the lake in the float-tube chucking various lures, the speckles just wouldn't co-operate that morning. I lived though, and later Bren bought me a Birthday dinner before we shared a night with Brian Adams. Summer caught me spending a little down time at home preparing for... you guessed it... more time planned for fishing. A recent change to my usual routine now permits me more hours than I realized for other things I used to do more often. Lure making and jig tying, and playing my bass are a couple of those hobbies. Sure was a little rusty with both, but improving. At $12.95 + tax, for a Vibrax In-line Buck, simply buying the #5 spinners separate, up-sizing the treble and taking to the vice to tie in your own patterns, the cost breaks down to basically 2 lures for 1, or less. But what's better is, it is your choice of hook and materials. So, rather than "just" bucktail, you can add saddle feathers, flashabou, marabou, hackles, etc., and double the glue, if you choose. Your own dressed trebles can and will last longer and have twice vibrance, that you can ensure yourself. As for the jigs, well they work out to about $2.00 a piece after buying the heads and throwing in your own work. Worth it to have what you want, and even more so when a fish strikes one of your own creations. Kesagami Killers!!! Some tried and true trophy takers like "The Bleeding Rabbit" (white/red) and "The Sexy." (yellow/red) Trout Takers!!! Patterns sorta-kinda like speckled trout, smelt/shiner, walleye/perch and whatever something bluish, purple, olive might be. What would be spring without walleye at the walleye opener? Three efforts produced a number of fish. First attempt was a new lake pike and eye combo with friends Kevin and Trevor. Pike in the afternoon were hard to come by as much time was spent shaking off annoying largies, and that evening the eyes remained a mystery. Later on I snuck away on two solo back lake trips with the WarCanoe. First night jigged up about a dozen and a half with a few doozies pushing or over twenty inches. The second chance no big fish came aboard but I did find a small pocket and window for nine dinkeroos to take my jigs. Incidentals were incidentals. I got a real kick out of two fish this spring. A head hooked carp proved to be one buggah of a brick to reel in, while a beat-up looking, spawning bullhead had just enough mojo to actually make my thumb bleed when it bit me after trying to lip it. OK Fiish... I'm convinced to get a glove, but not for pike, just the bullies. And finally the month finished out with the opening of lake trout on the Rideau. Unfortunately, I had to work. Yes... actually work during that beautiful, sunny weather Saturday and Sunday that proved to be a laker-slay-fest for the many locals who made it out. By Monday and especially Wednesday, pressure and cold fronts had settled in slowing the bite down some, (excuses) but 2 X 4-hour efforts for 8-hours brought aboard eight fish for friends Mike, Patty and myself. Some quality fish too during a tougher bite. Thanks to those who came aboard last month. Appreciated. Bunk.

A go-to muskie bait is an oxymoron to me. lol. Thanks for letting me know too guys, that I bought all the wrong the stuff. Best two muskie came on Fudally's... a brown/red and yellow/red, long-lined about 75 feet back and trolled around 4.5 mph. If you're looking for average fish, that'll do it. lol.

Dandelions suck! And they seem to get worse every year that you do nothing about them. Have 3 1/2 acres of lawn to cut here and no sooner finish that they pop up again. But for those ones growing up in the driveway and walkways..... shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Round Up. It's really for the thistle and ivy though.

Great example Dave. Kudos is right! Thanks Spiel.

It's all just world-class awesome to me. Great fishes Al!!! You get my mojo rising for some speckled brook char.

Great stuff bud! Couple of the cohos have kind of a camo look to them like Glen's jacket. One day I'll get an open water king, coho and atlantic... ONE DAY!!!

Great fish Capt!!! Congrats on that fine PB

DeBeers!!! Victor Mine Project???

Grinning ear to ear and humming that little diddy the whole way through Mike. "THAT'S intense concentration." "I'm a little freaked out right now." "My singing repels every living creature." Man... you were cracking me up. Have enjoyed your reports from the first one, when you left me speechless and mapping out your most epic Albany adventure. This video was a great first for ya!

Holy Moly Johnny B... that laker is nearly as warped as you are.

Bravo young lad. That's a section of the river I gotta try out and methinks you lit that fire under me tush to git'er done!!! Congrats to you and your pops and thanks for posting this one up bud!!!

This is what I logged on for tonight buddy. A great trip report. Love the pizza, the prize, the plane and the place. Think I might know that portage lake now...? Good show man.

It's "fishing" that fuels; or should fuel, the OFC engine. I kinda get what Brian is saying, as you would expect that all angler members fishing and contributing reports should receive the best acknowledgements/feedback for their efforts from those they are willing to "give" to. A no-lurker format could make view numbers and responses to threads a more balanced and personable experience. Even if people just simply log-in in order to view but never say or contribute anything, then even that still somewhat enhances a membership and helps better define "community." I rarely post nowadays here other than in peoples reports to say thanks, great job, give feedback or ask about something... because A) they made an effort to report, and B.) it's of interest, and C) it's appreciated that they did report and D) because the hope is they will continue to do it. Surely there are others who when posting a report hope that it's well received and appreciated, and I have always found OFC gracious in that respect with me, but it's not always the case with all others or even as a general rule of thumb. So that leads to... ... I would love to see a fishing reports and a general discussion section separate here and I've always thought that OFC could in the very least entertain a trial period for this. All anglers here contributing to "fishing experiences" should not have their moments lost to pages 3,4,5 and beyond, within a few days because "other" threads simply wash them away. Those are peoples proud and/or interesting fishing moments, and threads like someones rant of the day, or some political thread, or news item, or question about home improvements, isn't often IMO as news worthy as say, JohnnyB's recent trip to Temagami, Dan's speckle weekend, Cookslav's trip to Algonquin, Lungelarry's PB 50-incher, Brian's day steelheading... etc. Personal Fishing reports like that from signed-in members should have a main stage where they remain in the OFC theatre until only the next fishing show earns it's place at the top of the Box Office. As a "community," visitors (members) here will gain more in fishing and probably friendship. Such a section to view should also be open only to those signed-in. Idle topics of lesser interests to the masses (being that we are or should all be here in a sense for "fishing) should not take away, make less difficult to find or view, or somedays take center-stage over membership contributions in fishing. I'll be expecting a few to say, "but it ain't broke so why fix it." And they're right... not saying anything is broke. And neither is my truck, but it still went in the shop today for a check and a tweak and I drove it away feeling that it was going to run better. Just my $0.02.

Great pic Larry... you're off to the races now! A fine fish man.

What a great day Brian. Lighter rods and spinning reels for the lakers, that'd be the way to do it.

Living the life Simon!!!

Already.... ahhh sheesh man... it's not gonna be a good year for forest fires I'm betting.

Long skinny pike and some real wicked crisp pics. Thanks for posting.

Just looks like heaven up there. That is all!

Some great looking pike. As for spiral wrapping on casting rods... I'll leave those tests to your experienced hands. lol

Crabby Colin!!! lol. Good to see this tonight Dan. Actually just came in from the garage where I have been tying up a new batch of goodies. Never ever could one get enough of those specks.

You're right, it can be a tough task. Great job on your first this year. You can tell it's a good solid fish.

I read the title and thought... "only you Mikey." lol. What a question to pop. BUT... Way to step up Jay. That's wicked!!! Good luck guys.

What Misfish said!!! 15-20 years ago my pants were lower than yours and my chain wallet was to the knees... and our hip hop and rap was better. What you got going on though is the fishing. Solid craps again.

Walleye are the mainstay of the Near North; and North for that matter. My thought would be TJ, that because the walleye stocks are often the most in jeopardy from harvest, then to help them out why not keep predator pike and opportunistic bass open all year to hopefully have some anglers like yourself, find the balance....? ie, a tasty smallie under the knife.