Loss of a quality establishment

Those of you who frequent NW Ontario often are most likely familiar with the Village Corner in Vermilion Bay.  It was one of the last stops for travelers before venturing up HWY 105 to Red Lake.  This restaurant/gas station was a great establishment that offered everything from fishing gear to heaping portions of food.  

Unfortunately, last fall the local business caught fire and burned beyond repair.  Everything was a total loss in the gas station and the restaurant.  Cause of the fire was believed to be an electrical short. Locals were hoping to have the business rebuilt for the 2011 season, however it looks as if the Village Corner will not be operating anytime soon. 

For travelers looking to refuel in the Vermilion Bay area have the option of Bobby's just 2 miles west on Hwy 17.  Just like the Village Corner, Bobby's offers fuel, has a great selection of fishing tackle (rather expensive, in my opinion) and gift store.  Neighboring Bobby's is now Busters Barbecue Restaurant, not a bad place for lunch with large portions and a great tasting sauce.  The local BBQ sauce has won so many taste competitions that a national distributor out of California agreed to supply groceries stores throughout the USA.  Keep your eyes open for Busters Blueberry BBQ sauce.  I have already seen the product on the shelves in several towns throughout Wisconsin.  

2011 Ice Watch

Now is the time of year Big Hook starts getting out the blow dryers and heating elements to melt the ice covering our bodies of water.  As of April 12, 2011 17 inches of ice still covered Eagle Lake, ON.  Up north in the Sandy Lake area, the snow is melting quickly, however ice is still clinging to the shores.  Cool temperatures in the region are slowing the melt off.  Massive amounts of snow this past winter suggests that we will have high water this spring throughout the Opasquia Provincial Park.  As every spring, Big Hook is thinking warm thoughts.  

(Attached right is a couple of photos taken while trout fishing on Eagle Lake April 10th, 2011). 

Hope the spring is treating everyone well.  

Remember to practice (catch, photo, release) CPR.  

-Nathan

Big Hook Wilderness Camps

www.bighookcamps.com

Countdown

The 2011 season is almost upon us.  Temperatures are on the rise which means the snow is melting quickly.  It is only a matter of time before the lakes are devoid of ice.  This time of year is the equivalent of limbo for most fisherman in the north.  River fishing is available however most lakes are still covered with ice preventing fisherman from launching their boats.  To pass the time before lake open I like to inventory and organize my tackle and make sure my gear is up to par.

Over the summer I manage to lose hundreds of dollars in fishing tackle.  Those toothy pike are the culprits to most of my loses.  My refusal to use steel leaders while trolling is detrimental to my tackle box.  However, I'll risk loss of a lure for a 25"+ walleye any day.  Even in our neck of the woods walleye are generally leader shy. To catch more trophy walleye, first ditch the leader. I'll explain an alternative to leaders in a moment. My second reason to avoid trolling with leaders for walleye is they truly mess with the lures action. Walleye lures on average are smaller, less than 1/2 oz.  Pairing that with a bulky leader just causes the lure to slosh and pull through the water with no vibrant action.

Instead of a steel leader, I'll splice an 18-24" section of 30# fluorocarbon.  Fluorocarbon is valued for its refractive index, which is similar to that of water, making it less visible to fish.  Plus fluorocarbon is more dense than traditional mono filaments allowing baits to reach deeper depths if needed.  Fluorocarbon does have drawbacks.  Since the line is more dense means it is subject to line memory. Be ready to expect plenty of loops and twists if you line a whole spin casting spool.  The other down side to fluorocarbon is simply the cost.  I just purchase the leader spools that offer approx 25 yds of material.  Ande and Berkley manufacture quality fluorocarbon leaders.  


Back to gearing up for the summer.  It is crucial to inspect your fishing reels and rods before the fishing season begins.  Every fishing combo that has spent the winter in the garage or attic could use a little TLC every spring.  Believe me, there is nothing worse than flying 185 miles from the nearest town only to have your gear foul up on the first day. 


Fishing rod maintenance is simple.  Inspect all your guides and make sure there are no chips or cracks.  A tiny crack in a guide will cause line to fray and eventually snap.  If a tip is missing on a rod, no sweat, just take it to your local tackle shop.  Most stores will replace tips for around $5 while you wait. 


Reels can be a little more complicated to maintain.  First, begin with the fishing line on the spool.  Is it the same line that came with the reel? If so, it is time to be changed.  Mono filaments that have been exposed to the sun deteriorate over time becoming brittle and unpredictable.  Once again, stroll down to the local tackle store and get spooled up for around $6.  No need to fumble with line yourself, let the store utilize their bulk spools and line winders.  Braided lines are more resistant to the suns UV rays and can withstand years of abuse before changing. 


Second, inspect the mechanics of the reel.  Is there a grinding noise when you attempt to retrieve?  Sand and dirt is most often the culprit.  A simple clean and grease can make an old reel feel like new again.   Most of the time a small dab of reel oil on the bearings and drag washers is all that is needed. Check the bail on spinning reels and the thumb press on bait casters.  Another common malfunction to fishing reels is a busted bail spring.  This .05 cent part is the Achilles heel of fishing reels causing fisherman more frustration than....well fish.  


Now that our gear has passed inspection, it's time to hit the water.  Oh wait....walleye opener isn't until May 21st in Canada.  Back to strolling the stores for me.  


Good luck on the water everyone.  Remember to practice Catch, Photo, Release (CPR).
-Nathan
Big Hook Wilderness Camps

Interesting Article

Here is an article from Field and Stream On-Line that discusses 30 great new instant classic lures. A number of the lures are irrelevant for fishing at Big Hook. However, several look rather intriguing and a couple are a staple in my tackle box.  Click the highlighted text above for the article.

Lures mentioned that in my tackle box are:

• The ever popular Bulldawg.  Many of you know that I am a firm believer in this lure, it consistently produces trophy fish for me in the months of July, August and September. However, there are drawbacks such as durability (it only takes one 24" pike to rip the tail off) and price tag (around 13-17 bucks). 
• I have tried the Sebile Magic Swimmer.  The lure looks fantastic gliding though the water, however it has yet produce great numbers for me.  Perhaps I'll give it another go this summer.  
• The Gulp minnow is a staple for walleye, don't leave home without it on a trip to Big Hook.  
• The Zoom Fluke is a great rig for early spring pike.  Twitching a texas rig in the shallow mud flats will produce great pike and even walleye action. 
• The Bomber Salt A is a close cousin to my favorite pike lure Bomber Long A magnum.  The gold or silver colors are a must.
• Reef runner makes quality baits.  The color combo posted in the article is effective in our tea stained waters. 
• The Yozuri crystal minnow is a great spring walleye lure.  The blue silver color combo has been good to me in the past. 

A couple of lures on the list that I'll be purchasing for this summer are the:

•  Salmo Hornet-looks very similar to my favorite walleye trolling lure the Shad Rap. 
• The Lucky Craft Sammy could be a lot of fun for pike on calm nights. The upturned nose could provide awesome walk the dog action. 
• The Cavitron Buzz Bait could be another top water winner.  
• The Live Target Crawfish Crank looks to fit the bill for walleye.  Crayfish are one of the primary forages for walleye in our waters.  I fore see this bait becoming a quick favorite.   

So many lures so little time.  Good luck on the water everyone.  Remember to practice CPR (catch, photo and release). 

-Nathan

Big Hook Wilderness Camps

Spring Fever

Spring fever has officially set in.  This yearly ailment usually strikes me around March Madness, as much as I like to watch the NCAA tourney, I would really rather be outdoors.  Temperatures here in Minnesota are on the rise and the snow is dissipating quickly, it is only a matter of time before the ice retreats from the shoreline. Unfortunately, it is matter of time before I can get a line wet.  

However, the weather is a different story up north around Big Hook.  I have been keeping a close eye on the temperatures in the Opasquia Provincial Park and have yet to witness temps above the freezing mark.  We just had a report from Sandy Lake Seaplane that the tankers are still running the ice highway with fuel.  This is excellent news because there is never a surplus of fuel in Sandy.  Looks like more snow is on the way up there, so that furthers the expectation of high water this spring.  

So let us get back to fishing...

Spring is a great time of year for great discounts at most retailers.  Fishing specials often roll out in February and March.  I like to keep an eye on Cabela's Bargain Cave.  Here are a couple great buys they are offering and other store specials.

• Rapala Glass Shad-a great trolling bait for walleye in July and August. The Glass Citrus Shad looks like it could be effective for trophy walleye. 
• Hot N Tot- another great walleye trolling lure.  The Orange Fire UV and Blue Chrome are my fav's. 
• Free shipping on rod/reel combos, is a great deal.  It is often expensive to ship fishing rods. 
• Cabela's Tackle Bag-These are perfect for a fly-in fishing trip and at $40 is not a bad price. 
• Gander Mountain- has 20% off all soft sided tackle boxes. 
• Fleet Farm is another great place to check out for fishing.  They don't post sales on the website often so check your local store.  I have found most of the time they will beat out Cabela's and Gander. 

Those are just a couple of deals I have stumbled across while browsing the web this morning.  I'll keep everyone posted if I come across anymore online deals. 

-Nathan

Big Hook Wilderness Camps