6 weeks...

6 weeks and we will be on the road.  Put down your computers fellas, the secret lure for 2013 has been ordered.  I am thinking about putting it in a safety deposit box until the day before the trip.  Hunter, your angler review should be out in the next day or two.  Until then fellas, might want to start some inventory.

Angler Spotlight - Connor E.

This marks Connor's second trip north.  He knows about pulling the anchor rope, he knows how to relax, but does he remember how to fish?  Can he leave the Connor groupies behind electronically for the entire week?  Connor had a pretty good rookie year in 2011 with a 20+ walleye (enter proverbial Trent dig here), and 30+ inch pike.  Now he is looking to build upon that by upping the stakes.  He will spend some time with Grandpa (this won't help his chances), and his uncles.  If he takes advantage of the time spent with his uncles, he could see some money coming his way this year.  Fisherman of the Week seems out of reach for a guy entering his sophomore year of veterancy but with the experience he will have at the helm of his various boats, anything is possible.  Keep an eye on him....It is the quiet ones you need to watch out for.  God knows they will be few and far between on this trip.

Troy's post from 2009

This only had one response in 2009 and that is a tragedy.  I think it is time to revisit it.

Some of my Favorite Things

Here are some of my favorite parts of our yearly trip.

-Hearing Dad's diesel fire up when it's time to pull out of the driveway.
-A hot hamburg at the upper deck.
-The drive from the boarder to Wawa.
-Getting off the plane at the Pines and giving Rodney a hard time.
-The boat ride to the chutes. (this is my favorite time of the whole year)
-Seeing some of the familiar scenery on every turn of the river for the first time of the year.
-Coming around the last turn and getting the first look at the Chutes.
-The feel of a hook set.

 Walleye Killer comment

The smell of a crisp morning stepping outside the cabin is one thing that is burned into my memory. I smelled that smell one morning when left my hotel in Seattle.

The glassy river as you leave the trappers cabin and make your way to the fish market.

The sound of a loon along with the water splashing up on the side of the aluminum boat.

"There's one"

The sound of the screen door slamming shut on the back cabin.

The smell of a pic burning.

We may need another meeting....

We might not need to leave until 6:35.  Starting July 1st.  The stretch of I-77 between New Phila and Canton is going to be 70 mph.

Also, we may not need to take the whole 800 dollars as the exchange rate has moved on up to $1.04.

This trip just got faster and cheaper.

Angler Reviews.....

Only a month and a half left before the trip and we have a big group this year (sans Big Fish apparently).  Time to get working on these Angler reviews.  I will take time during my busy conference call schedule to get these done.  I will work from the most rookie to the most veteran as best I can remember.  Please note, the order of these reviews are not at all based on ascending order of fishing ability.  You will be able to tell this because Trent and Bob will be the last two to be written.  To be honest, I already have Trent's written in my head.

We will start with the only first timer on this year's trip....

Will E.

Will will (I have always wanted to type that) have the same thing going for him that every other rookie that ever attended this trip has; The Rookie Fortune.  They always catch at least one big fish.  His captain has a year of boat captain under his belt so he should be in better shape than Connor was on his first trip.  He shouldn't have to deal with broken rods, fish being cut in half by the prop, and so on.  I was present for his first spinning reel lesson and if that is any indication, Will is going to have a good week.  Connor caught a walleye in his first 10 minutes with a line wet so he will have some pretty big shoes to fill.  I have no doubt Will will (twice!) win at least one fish pot this week and there is almost a 100% chance of him winning Rookie of the Year.  The experience of learning to prepare a mixed drink will almost be as valuable as the fishing experience he gets.  He may not end up winning fisherman of the week but he will contend for fish pots on a daily basis.  Welcome Will, to a trip I hope you look forward to year after year the same way I do.

Planning Meeting

Thanks to Camp Director and Shirley for hosting another productive Camp Planning Meeting.

New Stuff...

Added some new photos to the Slideshow.  If anyone has any they particularly like (like Larry laying in the reeds at the lower landing), send them to me and I'll get them loaded.

Tour of the Camp for Will

7 Weeks....

Seven Weeks, people.  Time to start that prep.  I am putting together odds on favorite to win FOTW this year.  Any guesses who will be at the top?

Is this in front of the family kitchen???

Tricky

The Northern Lights Motel has a tricky little parking lot these days thanks to a serious flood last October. Check out the photos here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-photos-storm-destruction-near-wawa-ont/article4710264/

16 days...

I am 16 days tobacco free. My load will be about 1lb lighter this year.

For The Younger, Young Guys...

If you want any tips or hints on catching big fish, I am here to help.  Sure, you can get information from other people on this trip but you should probably go to the source of the person who has the biggest fish on record of all the people on this trip.  It was 31 inches.  On a jig.  It went under the anchor rope twice.  Fishfinder passed on the first opportunity to net the fish.  It was a display of angling experience and knowledge.  Some people require six hooks to catch a 29.5 inch fish.  I just used the one.  Let me know if you need any instruction.  Just here to help.

Walleye Killer

8 weeks...

Has the boat seat age limit been lowered from 60 to almost 40 yet?

$60.96...

For an Outdoors Card renewal and to fish for 8 days. A steal at twice the price but don't tell that to the MNR. It will be twice the price next year.

May 8...

There is a little bit of ice left on Kapuskasing and Nemegosenda Lakes but the mighty Nemegosenda River looks to be free of ice.  Holy crap....I posted the same exact thing on May 8th of 2011.  Fishing was pretty good that July.

9 weeks

Just over 9 weeks left.   I am 7 days tobacco free.  I have seen streaks like this end during this trip.  I am going to have to come up with an alternate strategy to keep this going all the way through July.

Is this the crew?

Bob
Steve
Ryan
Aaron C.
Trent
Troy
Andy
Theron
Connor
Will
Rick
Hunter
Bernie
Larry
Aaron H

jigs

Hey Ryan I'll take one.....literally just 1 jig.. if these things are as good as you claim i should only need one. tell you what throw in one of those pink ones for Trent,,, on me.. Make mine 1/4 oz i know that your arm gets tired so you go with the lighter weight but I personally can handle the heavier weight.. I don't what any of those ones in a dress or a skirt... i don't need it dressed up i'm not taking it on a date i'm just fishing with it.
seriously thought HB and I will prob get a pack 1/4oz let me know what you have 1/0 hook pearl white or Chartreuse..
Bake