Attawapiskat River 2010

[Skud]

Well I was able to convince my dad to head up to the high north again for some fishing adventures. I also had to convince my wife since I was up there during our 18th wedding anniversary. My good friend Nathan also joined us. It was his first fly-in experience. Here we are at the airport itching to go.

 

 

 

Our weeks weather was very much like the week before for the other group of OFC'ers that proceeded us. Cold, windy and rainy without let up. My emergency cold weather clothes became my full time clothes and having the wood stove going through the night was a must. Pike fishing was slow for several days except for the ever eager hammer handles willing to entertain us. Fortunately for us Josh(Bluesky 1713) gave us a tip regarding the walleye bite before he jumped on the plane and flew out. Look for a 9ft hole in Junction bay to find walleye he said. That tip gave us many hours of enjoyment and full bellies during the week. Regardless of the weather there was consistent action on jigs and casting bodybaits. Average size was between 16 to 19 inches with a few dozen caught between 20 to 24 inches.

 

Nathan's 22"

 

A 25" for me

 

Dinner!

 

A side task for myself was to see if I could get a Bear. Getting a bear rug for my wife for our anniversary was one of the deals I had to try to fulfill to make her happy. Eddie and I set up a bait site and I rigged up my trail cam. The first few days had only some smaller critters show up.

 

Red squirrel

 

A Fisher in the tree

 

My Dad and I

 

But eventually the target species turned up

 

 

During the worst weather we had to settle on other activity's. I brought up a Dart board and several sets of darts and we set it up in the main lodge as a permanent fixture for all to enjoy.

 

 

Playing cards also killed some time

 

 

As well as sleep(Eddie's friend Harry)

 

 

We also helped Eddie out around camp fixing things up and building a platform for a future Cabin

 

 

By Wednesday the bad weather started to let up leading into a good afternoon. It started with this

 

 

Then it started looking like this

 

 

That was enough to wake up Mr. Pike. I finally managed to get my first decent pike for the week by catching this 36".

 

 

As the sun went down below the treetops my Dad shows me up by hooking into this Leviathan.

 

 

What a way to end the day

 

 

The next Day we woke to a beautiful site. Clear skies

 

 

My Dad wouldn't wait for us

 

 

We started off by getting into low 30" fish.

 

 

I then got into a great run of catching some beauties between 36"-38"

 

 

 

 

 

Then I finally got into a 41.5"

 

 

It even got warm enough for just a t-shirt

 

 

 

The bite died down for the pike so we headed back to the Walleye hole for the last bite

 

 

My Dad then shows us up again by nailing this whopper. 29 1/4 inches

 

 

It inspired Nathan to try harder

 

 

Another beautiful sunset

 

 

 

Back at the Bear bait the trail camera revealed that the bear was visiting during the daylight hours.

 

 

 

It was time for me to take to the treestand. Here was my view

 

 

While I was up there I took some pictures of the local woodland creatures

 

Red Squirrel

 

 

Fisher

 

 

Then Mr. Bear showed up

 

 

 

This bear was a young male, 2-3 years old. Not the trophy I was looking for but it was Friday night with 20 minutes of shooting light left and I wasn't going home without a rug for my wife. I took the shot. Eddie's 300 Win Mag dropped it in it's tracks.

 

 

We flew out early the next morning trying to beat some more rotten weather moving in. I could have easily waited a few days for it to clear so I could spend more time there but we had to go. After a safe drive home my boys were eager to see my first bear. A few more years and they will be joining me on the Attawapiskat.

 

 

 

Being that the winds were high that last Saturday morning I could not retrieve my Trail cam. Eddie sent these pics that were taken after we flew out. Eddie re-baiting with some peanut butter.

 

 

The visiting peanut butter lover. A young Bald Eagle. There are several pics but this was by far the coolest

 

Edited September 23, 2010 by Skud

[danbouck]

Awesome report!

[corvette1]

nice trip your dad was hot to fish i flew to knee lake same as you cold and wet you made the best of it congrats

[solopaddler]

Fantastic Doug! That is just freaking awesome that your dad caught big fish of each species!

 

That junction pool was a hotspot in June as well, seems it still is.

 

Glad to see it worked out well for everyone in your party.

Bad weather or not it's paradise up there.

[Rod Caster]

Really cool report! Those trail shots are awesome, I always liked fishers but they are hard to see in bush because they're so stealthy.

That one walleye is a monster. Congrats to your father.

[asdve23rveavwa]

Great post, sounds like quite the adventure.

[johnnyb]

That place looks like it just could be Heaven.....awesome report!

 

 

[adempsey]

Just awesome! One of those photos is now my new background =)

[Guest ThisPlaceSucks]

awesome!

[fish-miester]

awesome stuff!

[tip-up]

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

[misfish]

Super report Doug.

Nice photos and fish,and the bear is a bonus.

 

TFS

[Grimace]

Excellent. Really cool report. Thanks.

[Skud]

Thanks for the comments all. It was fun putting it together.

 

Mike, that big walleye my Dad caught was on a #11 Minnow Rap in the purpledescent colour. He bought it when you posted about there limited numbers and was using it all week.

[fish_fishburn]

Great report Skud. That walleye your dad is holding is a fine specimen she's gotta be in the 10 11 lb range.

[Leecher]

Excellent report and pics Doug

Even with the iffy weather you guys got into some great gators and eyes

....and the bear was bonus Congrats

Thanks for taking the time to post this report and share your trip with us!!!

Leechman

[danc]

Personally I wouldn't pay a nickel to catch a Pike, but nice report otherwise.

[Guest Johnny Bass]

Very, very nice! Some great outdoor shots!Looks and sounds like a great northern adventure for sure!

[stasbrute]

Great pictures looks awesome up there!!!

[solopaddler]

Thanks for the comments all. It was fun putting it together.

 

Mike, that big walleye my Dad caught was on a #11 Minnow Rap in the purpledescent colour. He bought it when you posted about there limited numbers and was using it all week.

 

What happened to the bag full you bought from Epps?

 

It's a deadly lure no doubt.

[Joey]

Really nice report Doug. Glad your dad showed you all how it is supposed to be done

 

Nice that you got your wife her rug, bet it will look really cool.

 

Joey

[Spiel]

You're a lucky guy Doug, I'm still looking forward to my first trip up there.

[limeyangler]

Great report man....really good read!

 

The weather certainly got better, some of those days look perfect.

 

Great trail cam shots too.

 

Really enjoyed reading that.

[Rich Clemens]

Greatr report Skud. Someday, I'd really like to do something like that. Thanks for sharing.

[Moosebunk]

Weather goes all over the place after September 1st in those parts. Woke one morning there to 3 inches of snow on the 8th... but then there'll be days in October you could hike in your T-shirt. Ya did pretty good for the mixed bag of weather. Gotta love how the fall pike go nuts.