Exploring the Bush

My son, Arthur, works in the mine as a heavy duty mechanic and, in his spare time enjoys just exploring. He researches and then goes out to find old mine sites from the gold rush of the 1930's. He takes his dirt bike down bush roads and trails, just checking things out. We may think that we live in the wilderness but there is lots going on out here. Right now exploration companies are looking for gold much deeper than they've looked before....and they are finding it way down there. Old mine sites are now being revisited.In the 1930's, there was a gold rush at the west end of Red Lake. Several mines were started, stores were opened, even bootleggers set up businesses. This is where Art Carlson, Hugh and Craig's father, came to when he imigrated from Sweden in 1928. He later returned to start the camp on Douglas Lake.
Last week, Arthur took this picture of Mount Jamie Mine, located at the west end of Red Lake on the north side. As far as I know no gold has come out of this site, but over the years it has seen lots of activity. Today as I fly to Viking Island, I can see signs of fresh exploration work in the area.

A Old Fashioned Old Rush,

then 80 years later they are back

Louie Badzinski shows his grandsons Power Bay

Louie Badzinski has been coming to McInnes Lake since a 1972 moose hunting experience. ( At that time, McInnes Lake Outposts were owned by Bob Myers. So Louie has way more experience on McInnes than Hugh and Craig do. ) Moose hunting was not as good as the fishing and since 1974 Louie has returned each year. For the last 20 years, he has come twice a year, sometimes three times a year.

Power Bay is his camp.

In 2009, Louie brought 3 oof his grandsons to start a new generation of fishermen. In June 2009, Louie's grandson, Ben Behling, caught and released this 29.5 inch walleye.

One year later on June 6, 2010, his grandfather caught his 31 inch walleye wihin 100 feet of Ben's 29.5 inch walleye. This 31 inch also is back and swimming in McInnes Lake. The actual fishing hole is a well guarded family secret

.....part of the fishing lore to be passed

from generation to generation within the Badinski family.

Who gets to fly EZW

Russ would like to revise yesterdays report. He says that EZW out performs GMB in every aspect; it gets off the water quicker, it flies faster, controls are more practical. Somehow he has persuaded Craig to fly the orange Beaver GMB. Something about Russ's headset .......

Sure Russ.

our New Beaver is on the Job

Russ flew into camp this morning to pick up Doug Haacker, his wife and twin girls. The bright yellow plane looked wonderful, the engine sounded right on and Russ was happy with the performance. Craig says the plane gets into the air quicker than GMB but flies slower. Russ says some controls are in different locations so he needs to fly each plane differently....keeps a pilot on the ball

Bill, Tom and Pete...quite the crew

It is always good to see a group of guys who get together once a year to fish. Of course, they are here to do more than fish. They enjoy each others company and razz each other back and forth for the whole trip. These 3 guys do know each other well.

Tom told me that this year, the fishing was the best they have ever had here. A fish every 3 minutes for an hour straight is good fishing on Douglas Lake. Many of the walleyes were over 18 inches and up to 26 inches. They could find "eaters" but had to really look for them.

They didn't travel to the other lakes, preferring to come in for cheese, soup and a visit at the lodge. One day they did join the whole group in camp for a shore lunch organized by Terry Desmond. The picture shows guys from 3 different parties.

And at the end of a long hard day............

Doug brings his Girls Fishing

And these Girls Love to Fish

Morgan and Paige calling Phil Green.

Na na na na na na

We're fishing you're not

Tim and Frank go Fishing

People come from all over to fish on Douglas Lake. They each have their own stories and their own reasons when they plan a fishing trip. Frank came here from Minnesota about 10 years ago to fish with his son, Matt. When his cousin, Tim, was battling leukemia, Frank asked him what he would like to do for fun when he won the battle. Sooo, Tim from Tennessee ended up at Viking Island. We loved the sound of his voice mixed up with a few Chicago and Minnesota accents.

They's comin in so fast, we's pullin hem up just by a string

oh yes the Start- Up

Billy has the new engine installed and running like a charm. Craig is on his way from town to take it for a test flight! We will miss the dock ornament here at Viking Island and all the entertainment. All the guests were very impressed with Billy and Mike, the professional way they worked on an engine way out in the boonies and how nicely the start-up went. All present would ride in the plane after watching the operation. Craig took no passengers, though, as he set out for the test flight.

And all went well ....

C-GEZW is on it's way north to Power Bay

Engine Change in the Bush

The Otter arrived on time. The operation went very smoothly. The guys just worked slowly and methodically through the different steps, stopping often to discuss, problem solve and ensure that I didn't get the chance to video an engine going in the drink.

Bush mechanics must not be rushed.

Otter driver, Steve, was a huge help. No doubt, he has done similar deliveries before. Bill, owner of Red Lake Seaplane Service, was in charge of the engine; what parts to protect, which way to handle it. Hugh was in charge of his wrecky, but adequate, dock, the dock crib platform and the tripods. Russ, Patrick and Mike were in charge of the muscle.

Now Bill and Mike are back at work, reinstalling all the components, and checking it twice.

What really amazes me, is that Bill has yet to fly to town for a part.

I can't believe it.

Try doing a plumbing job at home without returning to the hardware store

Our New Beaver C-GEZW

Our new Beaver comes from Green Airways. Hugh and Craig have watched it fly in and out of Howey Bay for years and it is the best performer here. Well Jack Green sent the plane over to Red Lake Seaplane Service for a 100 hour. That means they went through the plane from head to toe. Then Craig took the plane for a check ride. He couldn't resist bringing a load out to Viking Island as part of that ride and, wouldn't you know it, the engine needed to make a terrible racket as he taxied into the dock here.
Bill came from Red Lake Seaplane Service to check things out and after going through every possibility, he phoned Tulsa Engines and it was decided that EZW needed a newly rebuilt engine. Great news, a new engine means we don't have to wonder what that noise actually was, we can fly a new one.

Bill is not so keen on working in the bush. It would be so handy to change the engine in the hanger with all the convenieces right at their fingertips. Hugh is enjoying the challenge. He is in charge of tripods and bracing. Patrick, our dock hand, is in charge of heavy lifting. Mike is the second mechanic.

Despite the location, this part of the project has gone very well. Tomorrow at 8 am, we are expecting Green Airways Otter with our new engine. Hugh has a dock crib built on top of the dock to unload the engine onto. Hopefully all goes well.

Our Norseman is Gone

Selling the Norseman was a huge decision which took a couple years of consideration.

Back when Hugh was in his 30's and 40's, he used to say he would like to fly a Norseman, BUT he is so big that no one would ever hire him to fly one. I told Hugh, then, to go out and buy a Norseman......I didn't want to hear about it when he was 60. Our business could use the convenience of its own planes even if it didn't make complete economic sense. (You either have planes or money....seldom both at the same time). So with Craig in agreement, the quest began and Viking Outpost Air was born.
CF-FQI is a great plane and served us very well. Six passengers and gear was its regular load. It would also take 45 gallon drums, 4' x 8' plywood, boats, 16' timbers and propane freezers. Maintenance on a Norseman is the most economical of all the float planes because all components are easy to get at and it has very few aero nautical directives. Hugh and JB found it easy to fly.

Now after about 20 years, our Norseman needs major maintenance work. The fabric skin needs changing, the wooden wind spars and ribs need work and a rebuilt engine needs to go on the front. Hugh is now 63 and he saw himself flying the big loads into his 70's while the young whipper snappers flew around in the smaller planes. It is much easier to train young pilots to fly the Cessnas and then onto the Beaver. Several years of flying are required before a guy (or girl) can upgrade to the Norseman. If Hugh and Craig were in their 40's, they would definitely be keeping the Norseman.

Peter Dillion from Verdin Saskatchewan bought the Norseman and we are very happy to know that our baby will still be flying in the north hauling a good load and doing a good job. He is younger, he is a pilot, he knows someone who can redo the plane. GOOD NEWS. I was really worried that FQI might sit on the shore forlornly for years.

Next door at Green Airways, sat a Beaver, all redone and ready to fly, but not in use. C-GEZW has always been the best performing machine in the bay. It has a life time struts and all the mods that the guys want.

Mike brings his nephew, Kyle

Mike is a dyed in the wool fisherman. He comes to Viking Island to FISH. That means he travels as far as he can to try other lakes, even hauling boats and motors over portages and through swamps to get to a new fishing spot. Don't travel with Mike if you don't want to get wet or haul ass over muddy trails.

Kyle took a chance coming up with his uncle for a little fishing.

I was worried when he told me he had been eating only dumb dumbs while studying for exams and somehow he still just didn't need to eat!!

However after a few days of Mike's style of fishing....... he found his appetite. .... 5 pancakes for breakfast, second helpings and extra brownies is more what I like to see from a college student.

When he forgot his flip flops, no problem, he made his own. When they handed out the beer, he seemed old enough to drink.

It is great to see young guy who can get along with his uncle and the rest of the guys. He has a great sense of humour and enjoyed Jack's ribbing and Maurice's jokes. I have a feeling he passed the first year fishing test and we may see him at Viking Island again.

Hey, Ed, you have a great grandson,

stay put awhile and get better,

see you soon

Jake Koehl goes from Rheaume to Africa

When Jake Koehl went off to Africa, he took his hat collection and the kids there were pleased with them. I wonder if they will meet up with anyone who knows where Red Lake Ontario is?

Billy Wennlund, Champion of Rheaume

Billy has been coming up to Rheaume for, well, as long as I've been around here. His son, Trent, sent me these pictures which just tell the story of this spring's fishing trip. They have such a good time up there, that Craig hesitates to put their pictures up, lest more people call to go fishing at Rheaume and only Rheaume.

This was Jeff's first trip and he caught 6 northern over 40 inches. Maybe he'll be back (as long as he got along with that Wennlund Gang!)

Each outpost has its champion and

on Rheaume it is the Wennlunds

(Jake Koehl may dispute this claim)

Our new Beaver

Hugh and Craig have sold the Norseman....a huge step. It has been our trademark since it arrived at our dock in the 1990's. They have bought a Beaver from Green Airways. In the past it was the best performing beaver and has all the modifications we would want. Things like life time struts and a good configuration in the baggage compartment are important.

Here is the information plate from inside the aircraft showing the year, the model and the serial number.

Rhian, my grandaughter comes to Camp

Rhian, Gwyneth's daughter, came out to camp.

She was a very busy little girl, doing all the things my kids did at camp twenty some years ago. I see that life out here hasn't changed much. She fished off the dock, helped with dishes, made doughmen with the left over pastry and sat for coffee break with all the staff.

The guests here were all Grandpa's and were very understanding of Gramma. I was busy enjoying Rhian, best little girl ever!!

Joeri, the Switzer, returns... Hurray

Last week, Joeri from Switzerland returned for a visit to Viking Island. Why he thinks about our little island, while he travels all over the world, I'm not sure, but it leaves me very honoured.
Of course, he can't just "visit". Gwyneth, my daughter tells me my grave marker will say, "Do you want a job" because I am so quick to give out projects. However, in this case, Joeri was quick to pick his own project and just worked away with great imagination and now our walkway to the fish house looks like a little piece of Switzerland.

A Toast to the Very Best of Friends.
Just stop and think how lucky we are.

Oh Yes, there will be a dock!

The dock, the dock, the dock. It was destroyed last August during the flood (of the century...so far). Hugh has been planning and flying in materials and trying to find time to get the job done. For the past few days, I have been in town while Hugh and Patrick laboured away at camp....getting that dock built. Here is the first news I've had and it looks promising!!

Hugh, get that monstrosity in the water, nail on the deck,

Get to Work

Fishing Report from Crossland

We fished Crossland Lake May 22nd thru the 29. I wanted to send you these photos. We were fishing off the dock when my friend, Mike Shoemaker's line got tangled; so we cut his line and his slip bobber went under. He ended up pulling in a 30 inch 11 pound Walleye by hand. I caught a 41 inch 22 pound northern off the dock casting a orange Cisco Kid. I also caught a 44 inch 26 lb Northern casting a Red Cyclops spoon on the East end of Crossland. My father, Dick Weber, caught two 41 inch Northern's one in Crossland and one by the mouth of Guernsey. We caught over 30 Northern Pike ranging from 35 to 44 inches.

The Northern fishing was excellent!!! We had a great time!
Thanks,
Billy Weber




Notes from Enid: thank you very much Billy. I am very interested to get such great pictures of the northern. You can see the colouring is quite different than what I see over on Douglas Lake. The dark background is darker and the spots are much smaller. Some fishermen have even suggested there are muskie in Crossland. I just figure they are very Nice Looking Northerns!!

Crossland is the place for big Northerns!!

But you may need to hire Billy as your guide!