An ending with the short rods for the season.
Had intended to finish with some giant lakers, which pleasantly went my way. The ice season was cut almost into half due to work up north but what time there was to fish all counted for something. Some serious catches and just the right people joined in along the way.
January was spent icing some trout and eyes at home.
Report is here, named PROSTAFFIN’ ICE.
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End of that month and all February I took five weeks work in Attawapiskat. Also completed a personal goal which I called the Taiga Trek, hiking snowy terrain over 100 kilometers during the subarctic’s iciest grip. Bigger highlights of that time, almost walking across the border from Ontario to Nunavut on James Bay and, chasing down a snowy owl over 17 kilometers to get just right the pictures. The work… I can’t say much but imagine kicking in a door and just beating a blizzard in flight to medevac and save a 21 year old… and that’s not the half of it.
Complete story and all photos are found here at ATTAWAPISKAT TAIGA TREK.
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Some favorite pics from that time away though…
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Upon returning home there was time to make up with family and friends. In the past traveling far and today still looking forward to our annual Calabogie gathering, once the list was completed with just the right mix of quality people, I graciously accepted another invite from my neighbor, friend and host. As has always been it was another excellent trip. Brenda joined as well, and more than the fishing she loved taking plenty bounties and pots at the Poker table. We will see all again. 😀
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Not since switching from skis to a snowboard at 14 years old have I hit the slopes with two planks beneath the boots. My father when I was young would spend three weeks a winter in Europe shredding the Alps from Germany to Italy and places between. Our family loved to ski together as well, traveling each season to Killington or Whiteface and, I’d often join Dad while he instructed at Pakenham midweek. It was bucketlist for Brenda to try it, Summer was game, while Leah had already fallen in love with skiing. Nearly 25 years and although the skis and my creaky knees have changed a tonne, my hair-doo and bones were up for it… Brenda’s not so much. 😆 Was one memorable day for the clan here at home.
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Finally the ice fishing season came to a close with an annual trip North. Staying the past two years with a friend, it’s a long full day drive but worth the miles in order to play on one of Ontario’s most grand wilderness stages. My buddy Len loves the snowmobiling and down time as much as his fishing, while I tend to go full bore into the abyss chasing lakers that have so far averaged out at 17.5 pounds with all combined catches. It’s like muskie hunting for ice-laker nuts but even harder on the human gears. 400 kilometers on the skidoo, dozens of holes through up to four feet of ice and jigging for hours and hours for the chance at 1, 2 or maybe 3 fish on sonar a day. The effort required puts anything at home here to shame, but often so do any rewards.
Shot some video and took some pics while there.
No TV fishing host material here, the fish are the stars of the show.
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Spring around the corner, fishing at home versus work in the north is a toss-up. April will likely be shot either way really. Looking forward to May and June with no plans to do anything but enjoy the fresh air, warm sun and take in plenty of fishing.
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Best to all for the softwater season!
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