2016 could have been a total shit show but instead turned into one incredible year. Full of unexpected firsts, numerous new species, big fish bests, and some of the greatest personal experiences in the outdoors, sitting back and reflecting on it all now, it’s a wonder how it all came to be.
Other than a regular ice fishing trip penciled in a couple months in advance, no planned itineraries existed at any point during 2016. That is totally abnormal! With a new job came a different set of circumstances. Firm timelines or commitments were out, so each approaching season was taken head on and I was left to adopt my own schedule. The end result were many fishing trips taken out of the blue and rather last minute… Amazingly the year would unfold.
First thing first in the New Year was a need to work. Sacrificing family and ice fishing at home, to make a living I took on a contract in Kugaaruk Nunavut for six weeks. Arriving there early January, the sun would not rise for a couple more days. By departure time mid February, sunlight hours would exceed eight hours daily. For the purpose of exercise and some needed adventure, any chance to escape outdoors was taken. Often hiking in subzero temps reaching to near -50C without windchill, chasing the arctic sunsets, hiking upon the sea ice and exploring any nearby hills, often made me forget all about any life that was missing back home. Kugaaruk, the remote arctic and the Inuit living there truly opened my eyes to a new world and culture extremely interesting. A life experience to never forget, I left the north with a cool polar bear canine talisman and walrus tusk momento.
.
.
.
.
Arriving home the ice fishing season began. Some local whitey and lake trout fishing to come, our annual group trip to Calabogie sprung first. Since 2008 there hasn’t been a Bogie trip missed, and having a great core of committed individuals should see our tradition continue. Brenda has really enjoyed herself in recent years and now looks forward to seeing friends each winter as well.
.
Finally the end of the season trip arrived. Worried it wouldn’t happen, the week before departure the north saw upwards of 40-50mms of rain for several days in a row. The big lake was a total soggy slush swamp and the road and snowmobile trails were in rather rough shape. Thankfully, the nights got cold enough and all that top water locked up tight. For a week straight I rode out onto a glassy ice skating rink, putting over 300 kilometers on the Bravo. On day four the lakers and whitefish were located and during the next few outings the fishing turned incredible. Big lakers through the ice is the absolute greatest ice fishing there is, and on this trip each day hit temps around zero making it even more perfect to run and gun under an inviting warm sun.
.
.
.
After ocean surfing and swinging with the girls through Costa Rican rainforests, home in the valley there was this one particular week in April which alone could have made my fishing year. It started with my biggest steelhead ever, continued a day later catching great lakers with a friend, then ended out the week on a personal best brown trout. Following that were a number of exploratory outings for crappie, suckers, catfish and even striped bass. Once May rolled in, the gears changed again to a healthy dose of gar fishing with friends and family. The spring season at home was full of quality fish.
.
.
.
.
The WarCanoe sold in late May and was replaced by a new 14-foot AlumaCraft. Having shopped around locally, there was no better deal to be had for a more equipped boat. Taking some time in the yard, I loved installing many additions to this ride and transforming it into a little fishing machine. Polished up the old trailer and Honda, mounted a spare MinnKota, some seats, rod holders and a secure yet remove-able casting deck at the bow, it all works mint and should provide a great rough road or small lake boat when needed.
.
Over the past few years during the month of June I have looked forward to some solo time away. Like it had been for a decade in the north, springtime travels on the water to chase after fish and camp out awhile, makes for the best of adventures. A half and half trip of five days solo and five days guiding, I never thought on some completely new area of Lake Nipigon to catch the biggest pike of my life. To find specks on many new shorelines. To camp at possibly the greatest campsite and then, to guide another guest to all of the same and more, while shooting two T.V. shows from my boat. A plan that came together very quickly, very efficiently and left an everlasting memory, “The New Fly Fisher” episodes for brook trout and pike should make for some cool fish T.V.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Early in the spring I had tried to lock down some Arctic guiding for the summer but unfortunately a couple things held me back. Worried with no work upon returning from Nipigon, the phone started ringing daily for help in the local E.R.’s until one call put everything at ease. Kugaaruk had a month long need for August and the contract was mine for the taking. Planning an extra four days vacation before starting there in the health center, I arrived late July to some Arctic char fishing and tundra exploration. The timing was a couple weeks late for the first run of fish and a couple weeks early for the second but, luckily char were found throughout and a few magical days did come true. Caught were my first and best pure strain Arctic char in both searun silver and full spawn colors. Combining work and play lead to another char fishing and Nunavut life experience I will take to the grave. Most stunning fish on earth, a most inspiring place to catch them.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The kids back to school I had been home a couple weeks when last minute deciding to drive up north for some campfire R&R with my close friend StevieZ. A partner in many fishing trips, to our surprise more friends would join us later. Weather made things interesting yet the two of us battered through some quality pike, specks and even salmon before our six days was done. Catching pinks was a first for us both and only added something special and new to our otherwise usual pursuits. Next year it may be StevieZ who takes the helm in his new Lund.
.
.
.
.
.
Autumn arrived and so did muskie fishing. Bren was bitten by the big fish bug after releasing her biggest and best muskie to date. A couple weeks later when back to try again, she also suffered one huge, huge muskie loss. A fishing moment that will haunt us both for life. Attempting something new, a friend Lenny and I set out to try our luck at lake sturgeon in Quebec. After a seventeen fish day and personal bests for us both, we both quickly understood fishing these prehistoric giants was going to happen many times again.
.
.
Thanksgiving came and went, but it was back during late August while in Nunavut when able to hammer out a trip plan to Florida for some beach shark fishing. Mid October finally arrived and days after hurricane Eddie I touched down in Orlando to try besting some of the nastiest surf monsters swimming. My first shark was an eight foot bull shark that beat the living shit out of me for 45 minutes late in the night. A couple days later after many bite-offs and missed sets, a beauty blacktip hit the beach with much less effort. During the odd time too with new found southern friends, I had the chance to catch my first redfish, snook and even Jack Cravelle. Five new species it could be said that the salt water fishing was seriously rewarding.
.
.
.
The sharks left my arms burning for a couple weeks it seemed. Late October did little back home except sneak out once for some Quinte walleye followed by a last kick at the can with Lenny for the sturgeon. While away south it seemed a number of anglers suddenly followed our scent trail to the big fish, but how could they not? Our final day we put another thirteen in the boat including three over sixty inches, shattering personal bests numerous times over. Quality fishing that done right leaves you totally exhausted. The first weeks into November the weather was almost tropical and I was able to enjoy a couple more outings for eyes and a solid seven days in a row for muskie that turned up only one measly fish in the final hours. On the 19th the boat went away and 2016 fishing year would come to an end.
.
.
.
.
Many more catches, many pictures and certainly some friends and family are missing from this year end write-up. Want to thank those who made great company in the boat along the way. With much thanks again, this past fall my buddy T.J. also completed an overdue goal of mine by creating a great website to host any and all new fishing stories to come and, archive the many already shared online over the past twelve years as well. It’s been a personal labor of love for a long time and an important part of this fishing life.
For the moment 2017 is all up in the air, though it will be whatever we make it. Be open, take chances, work hard but play harder, and live it right. A happy and healthy New Year to all.
Thanks for reading,
.
Bunk.
.