2012 Winter Road Video

Here is a short clip I put together of our winter road travels last week.

Good luck on the water everyone,
-Nathan
www.bighookcamps.com

Tales from the Ice Highway.

Big Hook Camps 2012 trek to the great white north has completed.  All three drivers (myself, Ed, and Steve) are thankful to once again drive on smooth pavement.  Spanning a period of ten days two round trips were completed from Red Lake to the remote Sandy Lake reserve where the winter road winds to an end. Overall, we  averaged around 11 hours of driving time for the 355 km (220 miles) one way trip.  Every voyage to the remote land of Sandy Lake presents unique challenges to our caravan of three vehicles.  This year was no exception.

Nearest gas station is 6 hrs away 

Our biggest obstacle tackling the winter highway is the most obvious, the weather.  Plan and simple, if the weather is too warm no winter road exists.  A mild winter as of late had the road battered and slushy on our first attempt.  Our vehicles battled deep snow ruts and sloppy road conditions for a grueling 12 hour ride.  Recalling the drive, I believe my truck was in 4X4 drive for at least 3 hours.  Accompanied with the warm temperatures was a dense ice fog that limited our visibility for several days.  Fortunately, Mother Nature blasted some much needed and appreciated cold weather for the remaining three legs of the trip.  We witnessed temperatures dipping to a frigid -31 C.

Throw all rules of the road out the door

Another variable in traversing the northern ice roads is maintenance.  Different sections of the road are maintained by separate reserves.  North Spirit, Sandy Lake and Deer Lake have designated areas of the road to work on. This involves plowing snow, grating the road and flooding sections of lakes.  North Spirits region was in poor condition due to a busted grater and warm temperatures.  Deep snow also slowed our progress entering the northern Sandy Lake sections.  Keep in mind we were some of the first vehicles to drive the road this season.  After our second trip several plows were able improve the conditions and our travel times dipped from 12 hours to 9.

A final element to consider while hauling materials down the long and lonesome road is our vehicles.  This year we drove three vehicles accompanied with a 8x16' aluminum trailer.  Three vehicle caravans add a sense of insurance should one truck break down or get stuck.  The big truck, a Ram 2500 with extended cab, carries the largest of the load at around 2000-2500 pounds on top of dragging a trailer stacked with 2000-4000 lbs of materials.  With the heavy load the Ram was stuck three times in deep snow.  After some quick shoveling and a tow strap tug, the Ram was back in action in minimal time.  I usually drive the lead vehicle plowing the tracks in the road, kicking up plenty of snow.  The fine snow often accumulates on my air filter suffocating my engine.  Several times this year I was forced to stop and refresh my filter.

Random winter road facts:

• 13,000 pds of materials were hauled including:  a new solar battery bank for Central, boat for Burnt, non perishable food items, 4 new four stroke Yamaha 20hp motors for Favourable, several thousand pounds of pressure treated material. 
• Average temperature was mild at 26 F.  
• Moderate snow levels in Sandy Lake should allow a good spring run off, raising levels of the lakes.
• Animals spotted: 9 moose, 2 fox, 1 lynx, 4 grouse and a deer.  
• Zero fuel trucks were spotted.  As a matter of fact, no fuel was available in Sandy for our final return trip.  After numerous phone calls we secured enough to fuel for our three vehicles.  Cost to gas up three trucks: $500. Ouch. 

Now we just keep our fingers crossed for cold weather and for numerous fuel trucks to reach Sandy Lake.

Stay posted for the 2012 Winter Road video.

Good Luck on the water or ice everyone,
-Nathan
www.bighookcamps.com

Small hatch

We have noticed a small hatch beginning for the May flies over the past couple of days. This is good news because I believe that is all we are going to see for the year in the greater Big Hook region (knock on wood). With the hatch so late in the season could mean the May flies will be nonexistent for the summer.
I spoke with the guests at South and West Lake today. West reported an excellent pike bite in the "fish bowl" half of the lake using various plastic baits. South Lake has been boating and releasing numerous walleye's flirting with the 30 inch range.

The fish are slowly moving into deeper waters averaging around 12 feet of water for walleye. The pike are holding more on rocky points and current areas due to the fact weed development is slow this year. Soft plastics have been getting great results for pike such as: the Storm Swim Shad and medium or small sized Bull Dawgs.
For walleye, I still believe you can't beat the good ole fashion jig. It may sound boring but it has proven results. 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz jigs, the jighead color really doesn't matter, it's the twister color that counts. We have tried every color under the sun this past week and the only color that HAS NOT been effective is the clear see through chartreuse green. Every other color was walloping the walleye, yes even pink was doing well.


Good luck on the water everyone. Remember to put the big one's back!
-Nathan
Big Hook Wilderness Camps

New Non Resident Fishing Cards

The program will come into effect Jan. 1/09 and anyone wishing to hunt or fish in Ontario will be required to have an Outdoors Card. The card will cost $9.00 and be valid for 3 years. These new requirements are part of the implementation of a new licencing automation system that takes effect 2010. The requirement for an Outdoors Card will also enhance the ability to replace lost hunting and fishing licences and hunters will only need to show their hunter accreditation once rather than each time purchasing a hunting licence. Once the paper application has been completed, the Outdoors Card will be mailed to the purchaser's home address. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact Burton McClelland, Manager of Licencing Improvement Project, Ministry of Natural Resources at 705-755-1802. Or go to the website listed below.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165323.html

High Water

Water levels here in the Opasquia Park have sky rocketed over this past week. Central Lake is still rising. Last Tuesday a massive low pressure dumped an impressive 3-6" of rain in all of NW Ontario. Central, in particular, has rose almost 18". Burnt Lake's waters are lapping at the edge of the dock. Apparently the sudden swell of H2O did not affect the fishing. Burnt Lake guests said fishing was still the "best they have ever experienced." According to the Pratt party at Cocos, the water is rising day by day. They said the fish became more and more aggressive every day after the storm. They attacked the rising waters by trolling crankbaits along steep drop off and enjoyed great results.
West reported many nice sized pike, largest topping out at a beefy 43'". Blue and silver were the hot colors.
Tis' the season for year end projects. Dad and I spent the past week building a screened in porch for South lake.
Weather is starting to cool off as it usually does this time of year. The water temps are chillling and the weed beds are dying. Soon the lakes will turn and thus is the close of the fishing season. This is the last week for us at Big Hook. In closing, I would personally like to thank everyone for visiting us this summer. Myself, mom and dad look forward to seeing past, present and future guests in the seasons to come. Thanks again,
Nathan
PS if you have any fish pics from your latest trip please email them to bhwc@aol.com.

Sunny Skies=Deep Fishing

Weather as of late has been wonderful here at Big Hook Camps. The warm weather has heated the bodies of water to a pleasant 72 degree's. The walleye's have responded by diving to deeper depths. This is typical behavior for walleye's in the month of August here in the Opasquia Provincial Park. Most walleye's can be found in 15-20 ft of water. Occasionally I'll try fishing 25' of water for the bigger female eye's.
Now to throw a wrench in the gears of the fishing gods. Under overcast conditions walleye's will have the tendency to ascend to shallower waters. So when you see those dark skies forming, think somewhat shallower.
Pike have had unusual behavior the last week. Pike typically hang in 8' weed beds. However, this past week the weed beds have been unproductive, at least on Central Lake. Pike instead can be found on the 8-15+ ft reefs feeding on smaller walleyes. Windblown shores and deeper points are also quality spots.

Hot lures:

Walleye- berkley gulp twisters (yellow, pumkingseed, white), 3/8 oz jigs, rapala shad rap RS blue and silver

Northern Pike-black bulldawg medium size (hands down the most productive last week), Johnson silver minnow 5/8 oz, orange bladed bucktail/black skirt