solopaddler

Fabulous stuff Northunter! I agree, the picture with the moss is very cool. There's a portage on the Lookout River n/w of Armstrong called "fantasia" portage....very cool, it looks strikingly similar to your picture.

Have to concur with most here Lew, the Civic is a fantastic car.

Only other thing I'd mention, if resale isn't a factor, that is if Sheri plans to drive the car for a long time, then I'd look at a comparable Hyundai.

IMO, you're getting Honda quality with an even better warranty for less money. Only negative is the resale value can't hold a candle to Honda's....

Very impressive, thank's for posting!

Awesome pic's bud! You sure do get around

What lake are you starting on? I'll be flying into Kenoji! Love that pre-glacial Ogoki river. Awesome walleye and pike. I've fished in a lot of remote areas, but Wabakimi in spring is about the best walleye fishing i've seen. Not the largest fish (although i did get a nice 7 pounder last year), but it's pretty easy. You get hungry, paddle the canoe 100 feet, catch 3 walleye, come back and eat. It's awesome!

Kenoji eh? Know it well! I paddled through there on my way up the Pallisade system....

We're going to start our trip at Onamakawash Lake (Shultz's Trail)......

You're right about the walleye fishing, it's incredible!

One thing about Wabakimi...pretty much every lake of substance has an outpost camp on it. Not really all that big a deal, but depending on your route, take the time to bushwhack into some of the smaller lakes up there. There's plenty of lakes that really aren't part of any route per say, that are too small to land a plane on, and for all intents and purposes are completely untouched and unfished.

Those are the true gems of Wabakimi IMO

Solo, i leave for Wabakimi last week if May. Should be up there for at least 1 month. Then it's either Woodland Caribou, or head south to the north shore area for some crown land bush whacking for 2 months or so. Summers are short and i plan to take full advantage of the long days. It's probably my last year being able to do so, so if figure why not. Plenty of walleye, pike, brookies and lakers to be had. We're just finished ordering all our maps so decisions will be made soon as to where exactly we'll be.

 

I was up in Wabakimi last year and it was honestly the best place i've ever tripped. Nothing beats the Boreal forest! If only the blackflies and skitters would cooperate.

Good for you bud! Wabakimi is one of my favourite areas as well Hope we get some good trip reports from you when you get back!

As it turns out I'll be up in that area in June myself....Going to take the train with our canoes and gear and get dropped off at a point just west of Armstrong to start our trip. Not a super long expedition, but nevertheless I'm looking forward to it immensly

cheers, Mike

Solo, you are my hero. I'll be in the bush for 3 months this summer and i'm on a mission to find a rock like that one!

Cool! I take it you're not married with kids? I'd love to hear where and what you're doing in the bush for 3 months!

As far as the rock goes, well we can't take credit for it.....it was just there and we used it . Someone else with imagination built a fire pit around that rock many, many moons ago.

Thank's for the kind words everyone

I hear you Entropy, just kiddin' around, you're totally right!

Not so long ago I'd regularly take a lot of grief for the way I live, and had lived my life. Many opportunites to "get ahead" in life were missed 'cause of my single minded passion.

Most of my friends had successful careers, homes, families. Me? I didn't have much except for a long list of outdoor related exploits.

Finally, at the age of 36 I got married, then in short order bought a house and had 2 kids...Big change for sure that I never thought would happen to me. I'm now much more "responsible" (some would argue that ) and have definitely slowed down as far as my expeditions go (not totally though..I'm not dead ), but it's all good.

I look back now at what I've done over the years, the places I've been to, the things I've seen and I wouldn't change a thing.

Memories are indeed a precious thing

The best part is things are only going to get better!

(My DEEP thoughts for the day! )

Great report!

I have to ask, what bet did Dan lose?

Well, typically on each portage we carried once. I carried my boat, my pack, paddles and fishing gear. Dan and Pete had one very light pack which one of them would carry along with their canoe, and a really heavy pack which one of them would carry along with their other gear.

Didn't seem to matter what Dan carried he was always last, and always SLOW

He constantly complained that the reason I was so much faster was because my canoe "balanced" better and was easier to carry. I said I was faster 'cause he was just a big wimp .

Naturally things came to a head: He bet me he could carry my load faster than I could carry his load (his choice which one).

The stakes were this: If he beat me I offered to carry his gear across every portage for the rest of the trip. If I beat him he had to shave off half his beard and wear it like that for the rest of the trip.

The photos speak for themselves

Very nice shots. Save those for when your in the retirement home. They will serve you well.

Retirement home! LOL! Speak for yourself

Glad you enjoyed the post guys...

Quetico park west of Thunder Bay is one of my favourite places on earth. Over the years I've spent a lot of time there, including several long solo trips. Probably the best flatwater canoe country in the world in my opinion....picture perfect shield country and campsites, fantastic fishing, not too many people, it's paradise!

This particular trip was done with two of my friends, Dan and Peter. We spent 3 weeks exploring the park, me in my solo boat, and Dan and Pete paddling tandem...we had a blast!

Sorry again about the poor quality of the pictures (one of these days I'll get a proper scanner!)

Campsite on Pickeral Lake where we started our trip

Dan with a Pickeral Lake laker

From Pickeral we paddled through a series of small lakes connected by rapids to reach Oliphaunt Lake. I shot this particular little swift in my solo boat.

Pete and Dan fishing at the inflow of one of the small rapids

Peter cooking breakfast at Oliphaunt Lake

Mmmmmm... bacon

We travelled from Oliphaunt to the famous "poet" chain of lakes, (Chatterton, Keats and Shelley). One of Quetico's more famous spots is Split Rock Falls where Keats flows into Chatterton.

Here it is

A view from of our campsite just below Split Rock Falls

Dan with a typical walleye caught right off our site

From there we made our way into a little gem of a lake which unfortunately I'm not at liberty to name

There's no campsites on this lake, so we had to carve one out of the bush

Dan with a decent pike from "unknown" lake

Typical smallie I caught....these are the types of shots you take when you're soloing!

From there we made our way over to Keefer lake. Right at the inflow from Sark Lake we stumbled onto a hotspot for Walleye....we had multiple triple headers...it was awesome! In the midst of catching Walleyes hand over fist, I set the hook into something a little heavier and managed to land this decent laker

One of my favourite lakes in the park is Burt Lake, it's a big, beautiful, windswept jewel of a lake that doesn't see too many visitors. That's where we headed to next.

Loon on Burt Lake

Me with a stringer of Burt Lake Walleye

Here's our site on Burt. It's early morning and Dan is still waking up, LOL!

Me with another typical Burt Walleye

Peter is a really light sleeper and in order to escape our nocturnal noise he elected to spend the entire trip sleeping in this (he's nuts! )

The following pic's are before and after shots of Dan......let's just say he lost a bet!

Western sun hitting the shorline

As we travelled back to our put in point we travelled to two of the most remote and beautiful lakes in the park, Delaney and Veron. To get to Delaney we had to traverse what's affectionately known as the "death march" LOL! About a 3km portage, and really, really nasty!

Here's a view of our campsite on Veron

Eventually we made our way back to Pickeral Lake and our car. Here's a shot of the sunset on our last night in the park.....

As I said it's paradise my friends, hope you enjoyed the pic's!

cheers, Mike

Definitely not lymphocystis, but I'm willing to bet it was not caused by a prop. Most likely a bacterial vibrio infection commonly referred to as "red pest".

Which camp are you going to? The one on the island or the one on the beach? I came super close to booking the beach cabin for my wife and myself a few years ago, but didn't. It's been on my list of spots to go to for awhile now....

Wish I could help you out, but from my end I'd love to hear how you make out on your trip!

The only thing I can tell you, I investigated Air Melancon thoroughly and they seem to be a very highly regarded outfitter. I think you made a good choice

Never been on Edgar, but I'm definitely aware of it. I guided at Kesagami years ago and besides the big lake Edgar was always their best fishery along with Nettogami...

You're going in there at absolutely prime time as far as I'm concerned! I'm sure you'll have a fantastic trip!

Too true Lew, just got back from my shift at the weather office, temp (without windchill) was

-22. Hope everyone's got a strong battery in their car

Great report, and those bucktails are lookin' good!

Great report!

Once again more outstanding pic's Dan! Thank's

I agree totally! IMO that hit was way more flagrant than Domi's elbow on Niedermier in the playoffs against Jersey a few years back...

I was really dissapointed in the lack of reaction from Kaberle's teamates when the incident occurred. You just don't let that kind of thing happen to a teamate without some kind of response.

Try Brendan O'Farrell at 705-869-1361

What are you embarassed about? You've got a great voice!

Fished the Niagara Friday and today and managed to do quite well, although today was pretty cold with the wind chill! Here's one of a bunch landed over the last 2 trips

Nice picture Dan, congrats!

When it's raining, these are the boots I wear with my rainsuit. Treat the uppers with silicone and they're totally waterproof. Bought mine at Bass Pro...

You got it Blake, consider it done