Website Up-dates

As I have mentioned in previous posts, Big Hook's website recently has undergone a face lift. My brother Ricky and I have been busy over the past several weeks formatting pages and uploading content.  As the winter progresses we hope to keep delivering additional features, so check back often. Please comment at the bottom of this blog on what you think of the new site and/or additional features you would like to see.

Most people will notice new site has an updated appearance, numerous new pages and features that are now accessible.  Visitors will  notice additional links at the bottom of the page to a brief history about the owners Steve and Evelyn, a mission statement, information about the Opasquia Provincial Park and a sitemap.  A couple of new features that I would like to highlight are:

Google Interactive Maps

Utilizing Google's powerful map data base, guests now have the ability to view their favorite Big Hook Wilderness Camp lake.  Google Maps allow users to view each lake in either standard scale or from a satellite imagery.  In addition, these new maps allow users to scroll, zoom and click on points of interest.  Highlighted throughout the maps are icons for fishing hot spots, rock hazards and scenic locations.  Text and pictures accompany each icon for more explanation.  To start browsing Google Interactive Maps visit Big Hooks home page and click on your favorite outpost lake. There you will see a Google Interactive Maps link.

Nathan's Tackle Box

This new section of our website allows guests to peer into Nathan's Tackle Box.  Visitors can now study the hot lures Nathan uses while guiding at Big Hook Wilderness Camps.  New guests should find this section incredibly helpful when preparing for an up and coming Big Hook vacation.  Included in the page are successful walleye, northern, and perch lures, along with photo's and links to the manufacturer's websites.

On a side note, we are at the All-Canada Milwaukee show this week Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Stop by and pay us a visit.  For you non football fans, I am sure there won't be any lines to contend with on Sunday due to the Packers/Bears game. 

The following is a quote from Going Fishing TV in regards to there fishing tour throughout NW Ontario in 2009. Big Hook was their first stop. 


"The first operation was Steve and Evie Hartle’s Big Hook Wilderness Camp www.bighookcamps.com located in a sportsman’s paradise 185 air miles north of Red Lake, Ontario. Situated in the middle of the 1.5 million acre Opasquia Provincial Park, Big Hook Wilderness Camp offers up some of the hottest walleye jigging I’ve experienced. On top of that, the pike just won’t stop biting and surroundings are some of the most spectacular in the country. You can fish right off the dock at the main camp or Steve will fly you in to numerous outpost lakes that offer mind boggling action."


Have a safe winter everyone.
-Nathan
Big Hook Camps

Let the shows begin!

Sport Shows
This weekend is the kick off to the sport show season for Big Hook Wilderness Camps.  The first show of the tour is also the largest, Chicago Pheasant Run All Canada.  This show runs from the 13th-16th of January.  Visit All Canada's website for attractions, hours and directions.  The next stop for Big Hook is the All-Canada Milwaukee, which is running from January 20-23.  We hope to see many of you there.

Random News
I woke up this morning to see the temperature was a chilly -5 F on the thermometer; grimaced, poured myself another cup of hot coffee for breakfast and shuffled over to my laptop.  In my morning web crawl, I decided to see how the weather was faring up in the greater land of Sandy Lake and the Opasquia Provincial Park.  I must say it is a heat wave here in Minnesota compared to the current morning weather in Sandy Lake.  The air temperature was hovering around -34 Celsius (just about the same in Fahrenheit) with wind chills ranging from -38 to -48 C.  Needless to say, that's COOOOOOLD!

With the sub zero temperatures abound, Mother Nature should have no problem making ice for the winter highway this year.  Dad and I hope to journey northbound along the ice road around the first week of February.  We have plenty of goods and lumber to accompany us on the long journey.  Also, we have a new vehicle to shuttle around Sandy Lake that will be driven up.  Attached left is a pic of the beauty.  Should be interesting driving this one up the ice highway.



Finally, for you aviation enthusiasts.  In my early morning web browsing I stumbled across a rather informative weather site offered by NOAA.  It shows weather stations at all major airports in North America in real time, including some in our region in NW Ontario.  Click on the highlighted text for a very neat link to the NOAA site. You will notice the nearest weather stations are still a fair distance away from Big Hook camps.
Have a safe winter everyone.
Nathan
Big Hook Wilderness Camps

Google Maps

Happy New Year to all! Big Hook just rang in the New Year with a revised and improved web site for 2011. A new polished look with streaming photo's are the main updates to BigHookCamps.com.

An additional new web feature is Big Hook's interactive lake maps powered by Google. Using Google's expansive mapping features, guests will now have the ability to scroll and zoom in on their favorite spots. Hotspots and several other places of interest are now highlighted throughout our outpost camp lakes. Click on the emblems for fishing advice or gander at what that particular location looks like. Lake maps will be updated continuously throughout the year, so check back often. To view the lake maps just visit your favorite outpost camp at BigHookCamps.com and click on the Google Map link.

Sport Show's

Tis the season for Sport Shows. Big Hook will be hitting the road here shortly to begin the sport show season. Below is information on our 2011 sport show tour. We hope to see you there.

All Canada - St Charles, IL — Jan 13-16
All Canada - Milwaukee, WI — Jan 20-23
All Canada - Madison, WI — Jan 24-26
All Canada- Green Bay, WI — Jan 27-30
Tinley Park, IL — Feb 12-13
All Canada - Dallas TX — Feb 25-27