bigcreekdad

Mike First....good luck! As for your question, I do think paid subscribers will balk a bit if you put stories re: the same trip in both media. However, you are now doing this, I think, as a livelihood. As such, you should focus on maximizing your business potential. Me...I will gladly be a paid subscriber. Just my 2 cents.

So far...the responses indicate I'm just an old grouch

I'm really getting tired of these...the fish held out so much with a certain camera view that greatly enlarges them. You really have no clue as to size of the fish. Seems like more and more pics are "staged" like this. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky.

I'm going to be sick!!

Count me in Mike!!

Many years ago, I got an offer from a bank. I was at a competitive bank at the time. Both good jobs, but pay was a bit better at the offering bank. The potential new job was a bit different and I thought it would be nice to add to the resume, and it offered a bit more variety. However, the job I had was not overly difficult, had great coworkers, and I was (I think) appreciated by senior management. And, if I stuck around, I was the likely next CFO. Absolutely drove me nuts trying to decide. Ended up talking to my brother about it. After listening, he said "why not"? I couldn't really respond, and ended up making the move. In hindsight, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck....you have a nice problem.

Go AWAY!! At least for a couple months. I'm heading to West Arm tomorrow, and even the title of your post put me in a bad mood.

Nice fish....congrats! Might that have been an old male given the giant head? Truly a scary big head.

Heading up there to Memquisit Lodge in a couple weeks. Have never fished the West Arm. Anyone been up there this year with anything of note to report?

I will be heading to Crane's Lochaven Lodge....Wolesey Bay area.

Has anyone fished the French in October? I tried several years ago....caught one muskie trolling, but could not locate any bass or walleye. They obviously are no longer in their summer spots. Any advice on how/where (in the water column) to fish for them?

Gotta agree with Mr. G. We have a flat coated retriever, and an American lab. The lab is a friggin sweetheart....the flatcoat is nuts. Also, the flatcoat sheds constantly. The American Lab does not. If we get another dog someday, it will be another American Lab.

I see nothing wrong in what you did. People should not leave debris of any kind, whether temporary or not, in any body of water, or river. I pick up crap all the time.....how are you to know why it was left there? Obviously left by a boatload of jerks. If they were participating in a " tournament", it only reinforces my extreme dislike of these events.

nice report....thanks

I read something this morning that indicated lighthouse sales were only to non profit corporation that would maintain them in working status. Owning and living in one does sound kinda neat though.

I can't stand these anymore....leave me alone!! Not jealous at all....really, I'm not. I wouldn't even want to go to the places you go to. Btw...let me know if anyone cancels on any upcoming trips.

"Pictures or it didn't happen"?? What does that mean? Sounded like a good trip to me...other than the bugs.

Good God Lew!! Glad you are OK.

Would someone yank this stupid thread?!

Can I have your dog?

I second Adams....stayed there coming and going on a trip to NW Ontario a few years back. I aso second Giovanis. Even though they were just closing on my return trip they made a pizza to go for me.

I've been going to Crane's Lochaven Lodge on the French River for 11 years. The camp mascot mainstay for all my time there has been Junior, the Crane's yellow lab. Last September, Junior's 14th year, I hugged him when I left, and shed a tear knowing I would not see him again. Lo and behold, he makes it through from then till now, and I once again could scratch his neck (he loves it) and feed him my lunch cookies (shh...against the rules). However, Junior, now at 15, is in his last days. He's in pain, very weak, and Ed and Sue Crane have made the very painful decision to let him pass on to a better life sometime in the next few days. When we left this morning, Sue let me go into their cabin, unattended, to say goodbye to my old friend. You likely know how hard this was.....and, hell, I only saw him 2-3 times a year. It will be much worse for the Crane family. I went through this with my beloved, and too young at 8, flatcoated retriever, Seamus, a few years ago. The effect on me was profoundly sad. Wept like a damn baby. In some ways, God is cruel. Dogs should live longer than humans. I think they would handle our passing better than we of them. Besides, IMO most dogs are better than most people I know. In any case....Godspeed Junior...I'll bring a bag of cookies for when we next meet....but you'll have to share them with Seamus.

Been there, done that.....and know completely how you feel. We had to put our beloved flatcoated retriever Seamus down at the young age of 8 from cancer. I wept like a baby. Godspeed Copper.

Just returned from a week on the French with my sons. As we waited in Wolseley Bay for the Lochaven Lodge pontoon boat to take us the 5 miles to the Lodge, I noticed many mayfly shucks on the surface. I seemed to remember from a prior trip to the Upper French that this hatch had a negative effect on the fishing. Sure enough, the "bite" was way off from my trip during the same time period in previous years (where the "hatch" had occurred before our trip). During our stay, fish being fileted were found to be bulging with the darn bugs. Anyone else experience this?

Gerritt Wow! So glad to hear the outlook is good. Keep us informed of your progress.