Veterans!

We have many return customers and have become friends with lots of people, but it is good to hear some stories from guests who have been fishing some of our lakes for almost as long as I have been alive. Jim B. has been fishing the Cobham and Pat R. has been fishing Springpole since the 70's! These guys have been through a number of outfitters throughout the years and have many stories to tell.

Jim who hails from Iowa has brought many a fishermen to the granite rock we call Northwestern Ontario specifically the Cobham River System. The cabin we purchased 6 years ago was originally erected in the 70's and Jim began fishing there then. (Morley and Daniel were built on Cobham Lake in 1992) The Cobham is a lake of extreme water levels. It goes from being as high as it ever was last year to quite low this year, 4-5 feet lower than last. Jim told me he has seen it so low one spring that they had to physically carry the boats in the rapids going down the river. Alot has changed since then, from coleman lanterns to propane lights, to bright solar powered light. The running water has gone from running to the lake to get it to simply turning on a faucet in the cabin with the aid again of solar power. He now makes Cobham Morley his home for one week each summer with his crew and I wonder how many 40 plus inch northerns he has caught on that body of water in 30 years.

Pat has been with Lac Seul Airways since the original owner John Hannaway back in the 70's and loves to catch Lake Trout. And Springpole has some Huge Trout. I have heard a ton of stories about John and most of them have alot to do with him being grumpy and giving gruff orders to people around the dock. Pat's brother Bill joined the group in 1986 and figured he would have a laugh during the weighing of the gear before the flight to Springpole. As it was being weighed, he lifted on the cart, making it look lighter. John Hannaway did not think it was very funny. They went from being the first flight out that morning, to flying in late that night, waiting around all day for John to send them out.

It is good to see all of our regulars and hear the stories of past trips and good times!

In my last post I did not have all of the pictures from the group, Tom C. sent us this one of a great looking 41 inch Trophy! Thanks Tom, you will have another picture on our wall again! Keep it up and we will have to create a section for you and your family!

Northern Hunting!

If you want to catch Big Pike, you need to come fishing in May! More often than any other time of year we have 40 plus inch fish caught and released at all of our outposts. This year, even with the early ice out the big ones were still up in the bays sunning themselves. The weather is always a question in May but you just have to be prepared for every type of weather if you want to catch numerous Trophy Fish!

The Collins family went to the River for the first time and had a great trip! They have been fishing with us for 10 years and have fished a number of our lakes, and I think they have found a new favorite! Everyone in the group caught at least one northern over 40 inches, and 15 more from 36 to 39 inches. Walleyes are a pest to these trophy fishermen but they were aggressive and hit some of their biggest lures in the box! They always say they catch enough walleyes by accident to eat!

Here are a few pictures from their trip.









Other Northern Hunters last week included:

Cobham Daniel had the Millhollin party who usually come to the Cobham as close to ice out as possible but this year came the second week. They caught 3 northerns over 40 inches an absolute ton of wallyes. A good trip despite a few windy days which made it hard to fish where they wanted. Mike K. is coming on a moose hunt with us in 2011 and getting very excited already. Hopefully I can coax a big one in for him!

Cobham Morley. The Mirick Party. One good doctor and his tough Pike Hunting boys. This year Mats and Patrick brought along a couple of new guys to experience the Cobham. They had an awesome trip catching two 40 inch northerns and 20 over 36 inches. The Rookies caught the biggest fish with Mats catching the most. They will be back next year loaded for the big ones!

Vee Lake has Northern Pike that are as big as a Sturgeon! The Johnson party came back as usual to fish their favorite lake, Vee. They are experienced fishermen and always do well. This year was no exception! Walleyes in 2010 were crazy! Catching over 200 in one short day for 3 of them. Barry who has fished with us for 21 years, was fishing by himself one day and hooked a big one! So big he did not even attempt to try to put it into the net. It would not have fit! He had it up to the boat a few times but could not get it tired out enough to attempt a grab. Barry estimated the length by noting where the nose and tail were adjacent to the boat. It was 57 inches!!! We have heard stories every year about the fish seen but not landed and this was a good up close look! Maybe we will see this monster again!!