Lac des Mill Lac 2008

[tbayboy]

<h1>It's 1500km to Toronto, I've got a half can of O.V, it's dark and I've got a life jacket</h1>

<a href=" title="Ready to start by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2754888697_a15b3b3397_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Ready to start" /></a>

<h1>Hit It!</h1>

 

Yep its that time of the year again. The time when I get to spend 5 days back in my home land of NW ontario with a bunch of buds for some fine fishing, fine feeding and fine partying (not neccessarily in that order). This year we once again parked our butts at Maki Bay Lodge on the southern shore of Lac des Milles Lac where Ken and Jeannie the owners took great care of us (even if they didn't have to rescue our truck this year). Wonderful people with a great lodge and pricing to match - highly recommended.

 

Ok so on to the report version two - I say version two because I had 75% written and then lost the report because of my big thumbs. Argh... Hey mods - can you get a version with auto save please

 

We arrived around 8pm Wednesday night and went out for a quick scouting trip to mark a couple reefs for later, no fish but a wonderful late sunset with some rain that never hit us:

 

<a href=" title="Rain on the horizon by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2754893233_340b92e4ec_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Rain on the horizon" /></a>

 

We started the trip with our first toast of the night - one of WAY to many that night

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2754896163/" title="To the trip by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2754896163_66815a02b5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="To the trip" /></a>

 

So the next mornign arrives and after a breakfast of tums, aspirin, camp coffee and cookies I wandered outside to another beautiful morning in paradise

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755731516/" title="Calm bay by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2755731516_f1d7ddc499_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Calm bay" /></a>

 

And we eventually start fishing. Second cast of the day over a 12' reef hump and I'm on the board with this eyeball

 

<a href=" title="First of the trip by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2754907123_b08316b666_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="First of the trip" /></a>

 

Did I mention there's smallmouth around as well?

 

<a href=" title="Smallies by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2755749922_05e3e5e7da_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Smallies" /></a>

 

We headed back around 3 and put together a kick ass Walleye Ceviche. If you've never had it you really need to look up a recipe and try it out. Delicious:

 

<a href=" title="Ceviche by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2755756926_5de0e1ed77.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Ceviche" /></a>

 

But of course this being the week for the boys the meals had a definte red meat leaning

 

<a href=" title="Steaks in the super cooker by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2754933269_cc7606d8c3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Steaks in the super cooker" /></a>

 

<a href=" title="Home made proscuito by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2755813820_bd6688fe44.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Home made proscuito" /></a>

 

<a href=" title="Snausages! by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2754986241_e67758f8bd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Snausages!" /></a>

 

Yep we ate like kings and of course we had a few fish fries for lunches as well

 

<a href=" title="Fish fry #2 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2754952181_e8f1d9b665.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Fish fry #2" /></a>

 

Needless to say, I was one satiated guy all week

 

<a href=" title="Another good meal complete by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2755768382_09c5a4f0d3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Another good meal complete" /></a>

 

On the second full day of fishing a few guys headed to the reefs. These were the best walleye bets all week with the high suns and warm temps. Just drift from 10 to 30 feet and pick em off on your way down or up the hills.

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2754940729/" title="Doing the drift by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2754940729_9bba149fcd_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Doing the drift" /></a>

 

Of course it wouldn't be NW ontario and Lac des Milles Lac in particular without a whole wack of these guys

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2754948747/" title="Stupid pike by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2754948747_62dd9a0ef9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Stupid pike" /></a>

 

Stupid buggers bent all the spinner baits I brought up to hell and back and in the end I lost 3 of the 4 to that lake . No one ever uses them up there and boy did the fish love 'em.

 

After another great day of fishing day 3 started off just like day 2 - sunny and beautiful. Check out the great rentals - $75 a day - sure beats what you get down here.

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755790404/" title="Go get 'em by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/2755790404_42fd908818_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Go get 'em" /></a>

 

Unfortunately it was my turn to go out with my buddy Jay and his 1970 14' piece of junk. Hey, I don't even have a piece of junk so I have to be jealous of his piece of junk . Anyhow, we went into a bay that looked interesting and I tossed my last spinner bait into a nice bassy looking area when something else decided to have a snack

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755793228/" title="Beautiful pike by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2755793228_37cbdfca74_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Beautiful pike" /></a>

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2754967999/" title="Now what? by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2754967999_a3663017b8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Now what?" /></a>

 

This old guy was perfectly behaved except for a few long runs so I wasn't ready to put my hands anywhere near him because I knew he had a good freak out in him (and I forgot about my lip grippers and lindy glove). So this guy got a nice boatside release, this was a nice thick fish:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755805380/" title="Back you go by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2755805380_f2e127535e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Back you go" /></a>

 

The stupid thing is that 10 minutes later I remember that I had a tape measure. Oh well, based on the side of the boat he covered we're pretty sure he was a solid 40"er. Nice suprise fish amongst all the stupid snot rockets.

 

Did I mention how beautiful it is out there? Big skies too...

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755808674/" title="Big sky country by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2755808674_51d34cb3cc_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Big sky country" /></a>

 

We lucked out with amazing weather all week - never too windy or too calm and only got drizzled on once for all of 15 minutes. Of course its not all skies and shorelines, there's fauna to go with that flora:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2754990085/" title="Baldie by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2754990085_43d8b74da5_b.jpg" width="957" height="1024" alt="Baldie" /></a>

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755027655/" title="Lac loon by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2755027655_f9d326cd4f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Lac loon" /></a>

 

And the lodge has a new guest this year. Ken said this guy showed up one day and some guests were feeding him so now he can't get rid of the little guy

 

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Bugger is probably too friendly his own good but Ken and Jeanie stay year round so hopefully he'll be ok

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755844560/" title="Lodge mascot fox by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2755844560_a05d7428cf_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Lodge mascot fox" /></a>

 

So anyhoo, back to the fishing right? Here's the killer bait of the week. Stupidest setup I've ever seen but this bright orange slurpie tube on the back of a thumper jig caught one of the guys just about everything. He was devestated when the last of the jigs snagged beyond recovery on the last day (stupid setup weight a pound I think).

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755828942/" title="Wonder tube by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2755828942_7f31175851.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Wonder tube" /></a>

 

The last full day on the water 3 of us nearly had our walleye limit in the freezer so we went bass hunting and it didn't take long to figure them out

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755848816/" title="Lac Smallies by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2755848816_763f6e0ba9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="955" alt="Lac Smallies" /></a>

 

While I tried on several occasions with tubes and wacky rigged worms neither really produced (go figure), instead it was blue and white cranks (countdowns, x-raps, deep runners) over rockpiles just under the water. The bays and points here are full of these sunken rock piles so it was just a matter of putting from pile to pile

 

As I said, we 'nearly' had our walleye limit, I was one short so we headed over to a known spot and it didn't take long to finish the dinner run

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755020933/" title="Moonrise Walleye by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2755020933_bdd07d256d_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Moonrise Walleye" /></a>

 

The last morning we spent playing with some more bass but I kept forgetting to grab the camera adn I was too busy playing with my lures (those who know me understand how I couldn't leave without tossing every single lure I own).

 

Was sad to leave but we'll be back again next year (maybe sooner if possible). Another great trip under our belts, here's a short video montage

 

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And some scenery:

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755033469/" title="Bass bays by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2755033469_5f7b4c5bdd_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Bass bays" /></a>

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755002309/" title="Contemplation by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2755002309_1b05807702_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Contemplation" /></a>

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755735070/" title="Point in the sun by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2755735070_78faccb0de_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Point in the sun" /></a>

 

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/2755038949/" title="Clouds on the horizon by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2755038949_5e2e24350e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="159" alt="Clouds on the horizon" /></a>

 

 

Hope you enjoyed it and sorry to the dial up folks

Sean

[danc]

Wonderful report Sean. Good time with good friends. That's what it's all about.

[Joey]

Wow, those pictures are fantastic.

 

A very well put together report. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

 

That fox is the cutest little guy.

 

Joey

[tdotfisherman]

Great quality pics there, thanks for sharing.. Although, if I was in your place I would have hoisted that big Nothern up for a few nice photos, she was a biggun..

[danc]

I would have hoisted that big Nothern up for a few nice photos, she was a biggun..

 

Northern Ontarians have no use for Pike. Sean, tjsa and I all argee to that fact. We'd rather not catch them than catch them.

[Beats]

That's a killer picture of that fox. Your pics are very clear and well taken.

Edited August 13, 2008 by Beats

[tbayboy]

Northern Ontarians have no use for Pike. Sean, tjsa and I all argee to that fact. We'd rather not catch them than catch them.

Yup, why would I want a big slimy thing flopping all over the boat, bad enough he wrecked my spinner bait . It's funny how I forget every year how annoying those stupid fish are. Ok the big guy wasn't annoying but the 100 others all week really started to try my patience.

[tdotfisherman]

Okay fair enough, everyone's entitled to their opinions.. I'm not going to hijack your thread with a debate about catching Pike.. Again Tbayboy, great report!

[highdrifter]

OOOHHHH YAH.

 

Very satisfying.

 

yyeeeeeee!!!

HD

[StrealHeader]

Sweet! did the mods finally remove that stupid picture resizer?

Pictures look sweet on the 21".

[huntervasili]

Some beauty fish you caught. Looks like a great time and some fantastic scenery, thanks for sharing the experience

[Greencoachdog]

Great quality pics there, thanks for sharing.. Although, if I was in your place I would have hoisted that big Nothern up for a few nice photos, she was a biggun..

 

It looks like they were afraid of it!

 

 

Excellent report and pics!!!

Edited August 13, 2008 by Greencoachdog

[Whopper]

Great pictures and report!

 

I find the bigger pike are easier to handle than the smaller ones. They will destroy some spinnerbaits though.

Glad you had a good time!

 

Thanks for sharing!

Edited August 13, 2008 by Whopper

[mattyk]

great report, beautiful pictures!

[Rich]

What an excellent report! I felt like I was right there with you guys. Sounds like an awesome time! Thank you for sharing the experience.

[danbouck]

Great Report! I love the pics and video

[Victor]

A very beautiful place indeed, you took some amazing pictures too Sean!

 

Glad to hear that you had a great time and the weather gods seem to have cooporated with ya. Nice pike too!

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Guest Johnny Bass]

Great report, pics and videos. I would not take too much of those tums. They give you kidney stones!!!!

 

Nice Pike!! You should have hoisted it up for a picture. I like seeing big pike! I could understand if you had no net and there were a lot of treble hooks involved. But on a spinner bait it would have been no problem. Anyways, thanks for sharing.

[TroutnMuskieHunter]

Great report and pics .....looks like you guys had a blast!!....I sure wish that we could get 5 days in a row here without torrential rain!!!....You had beauty weather conditions!!

[steve_paul]

Great report with some amazing pics.

 

Nice job on the fish - looks like a week to remember.

[BillM]

I thought this was going to be a musky report

 

Awesome pictures! The scenery is fantastic!

[scuro]

Excellent report. The pike...just go in there barehanded and grab the jawbone!

Edited August 13, 2008 by scuro

[John]

Great report and incredible pics Sean. Thank you for sharing your trip.

[mistyriver1]

Great report Sean. It is definitely beautiful country up there. I spent a week there last month and I know I'll definitely be back.

Edited August 13, 2008 by mistyriver1

[PatrickGG]

Nice report Sean, Looks like you guys had a blast.