Canadian Ice Fishing, Crazy Canucks

I'm not sure where this Video originated but I like it. Looks like people I've met somewhere.

by Len Colon from Sudbury on YouTube

December Freeze-Up

Florence has been keeping a record of freeze-up dates on Howey Bay in Red Lake for many years. She took over the job from Elmer English, the best hardware man ever to live by the shore of Howey Bay. (Well Harley comes close!)

In year 2009, Howey Bay froze over on December 4th, a very late freeze-up.Here is Howey Bay early on December 4 and then the following morning.

Not quite a record.

In 2001, the bay froze over on December 6. In contrast, the bay froze over on November 4, 1991 and on November 10 of that year, skaters and skidoos were safely out on the ice.

Note from the past: One year, Carl Parker drove his car down the bay on November 16 but not with much of a safety margin. Carl was always looking for a little danger. He is a town character and a past neighbour, I remember at this time of year.

A Letter from Bob Zadek

At age 95, Florence believes in writing letters and looks forward to her mail. Yesterday, she got one of those great letters. Bob Zadek, also in his 90's, enclosed the following photo with the caption, "Arriving at Douglas" He writes, "Expect a phone call soon. Those memories of you and Arthur are dear to me! Keeps me young. Love Bob"
The young guy with crossed arms is Craig, Florence is waving and Arthur is in the foreground docking the plane. Note the dock decking is made of cut poles. You can see one of the boats that Arthur used to build during the winter with a sweet 1955 5 1/2 Johnson outboard.

Also the floating dock in front looks like a good idea to me.

Hope to see one again in 2010.

NO SNOW YET

Today is November 29 and still the weather holds. This is the best luck as we rush to get the electric line for Arthur's house in and buried. This last bit, we are using wheelbarrows to avoid cutting down any more trees. Cody Jeffries is doing the major work while Arthur is working at the mine. Still this is a good workout for a couple of old farts like Hugh and I.
The phone was ordered a little prematurely but Doug, the cheerful phone man, was not deterred. Arthur has a phone.
Can you see it WAY up in the tree?

Fall in Red Lake

I took a walk up the hill behind Arthur's. This is a typical jackpine forest with plenty of moss. Today the whiskey jacks (gray jays) are calling and the red squirrels are busy. It seems alive and wild. Arthur came upon a great grey owl watching the area. This could be Arthur's gruardian bird.

A great Fall, Winter is taking his time

Winter has passed us by for now. Today two canoers went by the house, enjoying a bonus outing. These planes have been pulled up for ages.

Hugh and Craig could have worked an extra month!!!

Saturday in Red Lake

What does Grandma Enid do on a Saturday afternoon in Red Lake?

Why go to the Snowflake Tea, of course!

Florence Carlson and her friend Winnie McDougall are both well known Red Lake Pioneers. They are treated like queens when they go out and about. Florence, the Great Grandma of the day, enjoys the traditional United Church tea. She served tea and baked up a storm for many years and now gets to relax and take it all in. Winnie was the best public health nurse ever when I had my kids, so here she is watching a new generation.

Good weather for November and House building

Building back in the bush, means a little extra work for some ammenities. Water comes water from the lake. Hydro requires some cutting through the bush so the line can be buried in the ground. Arthur and Hugh got the waterline in this weekend. Arthur is working his Takeuchi everyday, hoping to get hydro before the frost settles in.

John Hazel at McInnes

Just thought I would finally send you a couple of photos from McInnes. We didn't get a moose but had a fantastic time. We already booked Rheaume for next season. Thanks so much for the BLOG. I check every day!

John Hazel

Maverick does our banner

Maverick did this great "scape" after their hunt to Orono.
"Here is the Scape I put together for our trip. The final size is 8"x40". I added things that happen during the trip and things we'll never forget. I've done a bunch of these for people. It's a great way to tell a story. Remember a trip. Remember old times. "
If you are interested in Maverick putting together a scape for you, check out his website at
http://www.scapesbymaverick.com/

No we are not a Cessna Dealer

We own 3 Cessna Aircraft. CF-BYA and CF-HVD are both Cessna 180's. CF-HXA is a 185. These planes are the Ford trucks of our operation; reliable, solid and ready to fly at a moments notice.

Each one has it's own personality and good points. Craig favours CF-HVD, the blue one, because it is fast, but a bit touchy on landing. Hugh likes CF-BYA (white and red) because it has a smooth takeoff and no surprises. CF-HXA, white and orange, is a touch bigger and comparatively quiet. This 185 can take 2 passengers and gear easily. It flies the most hours of any of our planes, which proves it is the most practical for our operation.

Cessna 180 - Ford Truck of the Sky

Arthur's house is going up

We are in a rush to get a few things done here before the frost. Water, hydro and concrete need to be done before the full force of winter arrives.

I'll keep you updated!

The planes are pulled up, the weather cooling off

Now is my time to take stock of the past season, go through pictures and tidy my desk. I'll find a few gems for the blog. Here's one:Ken Kasner is a Canadian from my part of the country. Somehow he moved to Michigan and has been moose hunting with us for a LONG time. I can't believe Ken, my northern Canadian friend, actually fell out of a big boat into the lake. The guys could see his hat light shining up through the water before he came sputtering up. I don't need a picture. I can just see it.

Looking through the pictures the groups have sent me, it is not uncommon to see a clothesline like this. I know you guys fall in.

HOW do you fall out of a big boat?

Moose Hunt with Maverick

Maverick took these pictures while on a moose hunt on Orono Lake. He writes, "It was too bad that we didn't get a moose, but still had a great time. For sure will be back to try again."These pictures really show the beauty of fall. I like to forget the oncoming winter and enjoy the moment. You can feel the changing of the season all around you.

Stephanie visits Red Lake, Fun Times

Stephanie arrived to Red Lake for a few days of R&R. The 2nd morning here she was about to fly off with Dad (Craig) for a little fishing at McInnes.
Wearing Craig's big down parka and carrying a power saw, she stepped on a piece of drift wood beside the plane at the office and ended up spraining her ankle - end of trip. She then helped Roseanne stuff envelopes for the packages that we send you next month.

Poor kid! Nice Red toes and purple foot!

HUGH, how much tackle does a guy NEED

I just got a call from Mark Dobbins. He would like everyone to note how much tackle Hugh has beside him.

Hugh's own fishing advise goes like this, "Many people arrive with a tackle box that is large enough to start a tackle store at your outpost. My experience has been the larger your tackle box, the fewer fish you will catch. "

Three boxes?? What's up Hugh?

Last Day of Lake Trout Fishing!

Last day of lake trout fishing is one of those northern traditions you shouldn't neglect. You should be either fishing (and freezing cold) or wishing you were fishing. A day or two out of a busy schedule does wonders for the soul. Hugh used to take the kids out of school for one last day of fishing. This year he and Bill Scott took the time. They looked for trout on Peterson. September has been very warm here and I was wondering if the trout were up on the surface. Hugh said this one seemed to be by himself. When they walked out onto the beach, they were met by this magnificent bull moose. Later, on Douglas, they caught a few walleye for supper. I'm thinking this was too big and is probably still swimming.

Thanks Bill for taking Hugh fishing....Always easier to get along with a guy when he gets his fishing time!

Moose Hunting on Orono

Staurt White and Chuck Warren came moose hunting with us for the first time. Thank you to Don Schmidt for recommending us. They found and shot a nice sized bull. They found him on an island and he waited as they landed and set up for the shot. Stuart shot first and was backed up by Chuck who shot the final shot. The weather was unseasonably warm and we needed to take the moose to town right away. They got to do a little fishing and check out the country.

Thanks for the pictures guys.

Define Our Canadian Wilderness

I spent a couple days at a marketing seminar. I heard about branding, demographics and social media. I struggled to define our place in the market. We are not Coke or the Best in the World of anything. So....
Where, What and Why are We ??

"Where we are Not" is Easy.....

• We are not a shopping mecca.
• We are not in mountains, too high to climb.
• We are not on ocean, too rough to boat on.
• We are not in the Artic, too remote to reach.

"Where we are" is the Best Possible Place for Us

• We are smack dab in the middle of the Canadian Wilderness.
• Our outposts are perched on the top of the Canadian Shield, a massive region of granite. You see solid rock outcroppings lining the shoreline as you fish; feel it underfoot as you walk the portages.
• The bush is boreal forest; rugged spruce, jackpine and birch caught in a 100 year cycle of burn and grow again.
• Wildlife here lives without influence from civilization; moose, woodland caribou and black bear; bald eagles, loons and ravens; beaver, otter and wolves.
• The lakes and rivers run off the shield towards Hudson's Bay forming a fascinating and varied mosaic, only an experienced bushplane pilot can navigate. Walleye, northern and lake trout share the water with burbot, perch, suckers, white fish and perch.

Here is true wilderness, you can fly into and experience.

I know WHERE but I don't have the catchy slogan that describes it.
Do you have any Suggestions?

At camp alone

It is a good time to reflect as I tidy up, put cabins to bed for the winter, make lists for next spring. Considering the economics of our world at the moment, this summer went very well. I cut down on staff as much as possible, actually even more than possible and got by. I relied on friends, family and guests for help, patience and support. As the summer progressed I found out that guests are booking their trips later or even last minute and I can count on that. This allows me to hire a dock boy and do more maintenance next year. 2010 should be great at Viking Island.

For now Jerry is keeping me company. Jerry is the pesky beaver who cut the internet phone cable and continues to deforest the island. He even knawed a part of the dock to make his pathway a little neater. Each morning I find his latest handywork but never catch him at it.

He is the extreme logger of Viking Island.

Our Historic Cabin Completed

This is the old original lodge. The kitchen, which was an add on, was demolished in July. Now with new shingles, redone logs and fixed up windows, you can see what a great job Art did building his cabins back in the 1950's. The hip roof was his trademark and took a lot of extra time to construct.
I am very pleased that during this crazy summer of floods, cold weather and economic uncertainty that, at Viking Island, we got a project completed!
....only with the help of my brothers and their kids, friends like Bill Scott and his family, Corey Pyykka, Tom and Pudge Robertson, Mike and Ed Robertson, my kids and their friends, our pilots Brahm Perl and Cal Gosselin, Craig and Roseanne for taking care of stuff in town. Thank you everyone.

Hurray

Hudson Wisconsin takes over Viking Island

Steve and his group put up with destroyed docks, walking the planks to get to their boats, weather that was "too Hot" for September and lack of staff when student help went back to school. Still everyone was in a great mood, fishing was great and I had a great week! I enjoyed young Alex, a kid who fit in fine with all the adults, fishing everyday and never getting bored with camp life.
The guests make this camp what it is. They create their own atmosphere and make their own fun.For first week of September, for the past twenty some years, Steve McDonald has organized a fishing trip to Viking Island. They take over the camp deciding who stays in which cabin and setting up their own fishing contest. Deanne and Dave Wiseman bring her two brothers and they have a great family visit while fishing. Kamen brought two classmates from Bulgaria (they all are now proud to be American) and they added enthusiasm to the week (with a touch of vodka). Ron and Barry come with Ron's father, Lyle. Dewey brought his son, Mark, this year. Steve, Danny and Bob fish together. They have brought Patsy Cline tapes each year and that has become dinner music at the lodge.

Gully, I Missed You.

Viking Island Work Party

Hurray!

This is our old lodge built by Art Carlson during the 1950's. It now sits beside our present lodge and stores supplies and our solar system. This July my family came and demolished the old porch that used to be attached. Last week, Hugh and Brahm shingled the roof. This week Tom and Agnes Robertson and Mike and Ed Martin finished the project!!

From shack to historic cabin!!

Bergstrom set new Douglas Lake Pike Record!

Dr. Thomas Bergstrom, MD (ret.) following local fishing guru, Hugh Carlson's advice, used 15 pound test green Spiderwire and a 3/4 oz. "Five of Diamonds" spoon, after a brief struggle, to land his trophy Northern Pike. His catch bested his previous record, set last year, of just over five inches. Bergstrom claims that next year he will stick with Hugh's recommendations, with a similar sized original "Rapala."

Rocky catches THE Northern close to home

Dr. Russell Crisman DVM (ret.) caught a 40+ inch Northern Pike within screaming distance of the Main Lodge (But then, we discovered that Winnipeg is within screaming distance!) He was using a Mepps #6 with 10 pound test Crystal Fireline and was trolling what is now known as "Rocky's Point."

It was a week of no wind, and lots of sunburn.
Submitted by Crisman's guide, Bob Hausser