Never in my life have I ever worked so hard for one fish!

This is the kind of fishing that doesn't get you a corporate endorsement. There are no sponsors, and certainly no TV crews! It's not glamorous and it's not fashionable! The beauty though is raw and powerful.
Something pretty can in a moment turn ugly and deadly. One wrong decision doesn't mean a lost fish, it means a lost limb, or worse, a lost life.

Usually a day's fishing in the bush starts early, as the sun rises. Usually you're on the road by the dawn's early light. Usually the coffee and bacon sandwiches are consumed as the truck's headlights still light the way. This day was different. I had two hours of home time before leaving. And I hadn't risen until eight in the morning. Dogs were walked, news was watched and breakfast was leisurely. Were I in the city on this schedule, I could have attended church service before hitting the lake!

We drove for about fifty clicks. Beyond fifty clicks is the ice road. And in a month's time you can't go any further. Ice roads melt. After that, another three on the SkiDoo. This brought us to a stand of conifers that sloped down to a spruce swamp and eventually the lake to be fished.

I spent well over an hour snowshoeing through that stretch of bush. Taking a bearing, picking a tree and winding my way. As the crow flies, less than one kilometer was travelled. Travis and Brad following my trail, cutting a path that the SkiDoo could travel to the lake.

I fell once. The snow, even with my snowshoes on, came to my waist. It took me ten minutes to get back on my feet! Once, and fortunately so, one snowshoe released itself from my left boot. Strapping on a snowshoe with heavy gloves on is next to impossible. But removing one's gloves when it's twenty below is not comfortable! 

Eventually I broke free of the forest's grip and walked out onto our lake of choice! But it was more than an hour later before I heard the whine of a chainsaw and struggling motor of the SkiDoo. 

 

Once on the lake distance and time came into complete contrast to the past two hours. After a few moments we were digging three feet into the snow and drilling two feet into the ice. We then set our lines.



Again, any thought of corporate endorsements faded. Dreams of professional sponsorships were swept away by a wind that carried dry, stinging snow that easily could have been blown off Hudson Bay. Everything about this adventure became rudimentary. Depths were measured by arm lengths of fishing line. Strike indicators were branches cut from scrub on the frozen shoreline, our time of patience was used up building a "White Man's" fire.

We set lines, simple lines. Two or three split shot, a #2 hook and a minnow. There were no rods and reels; no fancy reflective glowing jig heads; just hooks and minnows. Minnows trapped in near by lakes.

So we set our lines. We stoked our monstrous fire and we waited. 

After about an hour and a half of fire building, a little food and something to drink, we checked our lines. And sure enough, one branch was down! And a fish was on!

Our first fish of the day!

We re-set the line. Moved the deeper set-ups to shallower water and returned to our fire.

There were two more fish to follow. We didn't fill our limits, we didn't even catch fish we were targeting! This outing was in search of walleye. Truth be told though, these were my first Lakers and I was more than pleased with the catch!

Soon after eight the sun had set. Our day on the ice was coming to an end. Now the trek home was to begin.

The journey back through the swamp and conifer stand was trying and exhausting! There were two slopes that were just shy of verticals. Maybe ten meter stretches that took twenty minutes each to traverse. But the snow glowed beneath the light of thousands of stars! The forest gave us shelter from the wind, and our struggles to move the SkiDoo and sled through the swamp warmed me almost as much as our fire had. 

Finally we arrived at the truck. We loaded the machine on the trailer, the sled in the bed of the truck and ourselves in the cab. Soon we would be warm in our own homes.  

I've fished with guys that refuse to use live baits. I've even fished with some that will change the lure in a fish's mouth just for a photo that promotes a tackle manufacturer. I'm not adverse to fancy tackle, I have my share. I'm not adverse to a day on a well equipped boat. I'm certainly not adverse to comfortable digs within a quick boat ride or short walk from my fishing hole! But an adventure such as this is something every angler should experience!

Were I have been told how difficult this day was going to be, maybe I wouldn't have gone. I'm glad I wasn't told! I've never worked so hard for one fish though, ever!

And by the way, I'm still looking for endorsements! 

Hiking, Observing, Harvesting, Sharing; but mostly, Learning...

Hiking, observing, on occasion, harvesting, and sharing... But always learning!

Today was a fantastic day! For me, unlike most days, it started after the sun had risen. Every morning this past week the dogs were walked while the moon and stars were still in the sky. I've been witness to a spectacular sunrise and the crisp air of early autumn has been cool upon my face each morning. Today though, our dogs walked in the first light as opposed to last darkness.

I walk every day, I must, it's demanded on me, a responsibility of keeping canines in one's household. But I also choose to walk. It gives me opportunity, objectivity and peace of mind. I walk with my camera, or my fishing rod and at this time of year, my gun. 

Walking is a major mile stone in one's life! A child's first step is celebrated by his or her parents. It's the first step towards one's independence. But as we grow it seems that being able to ride a bike, swim, or drive a car become more important. Walking though is so much more a greater achievement. As our friends and family reach an age where mobility is impaired, once again if one can walk, at a great age, it's celebrated. What good is longevity if one cannot walk?

Our walk through life is both figurative and literal. We cross paths with others' walks. We are often asked to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. We walk down the aisle. Hopefully we are blessed with someone to walk hand in hand with: I am. Life is a walk.

Every day that I am capable of walking is a blessing. I am thankful for each step I am able to take. I am hopeful for each step I take. Each step gives me a new view, a new perspective. Each step is an opportunity for a new encounter, a chance meeting of minds, something new to harvest. Most importantly though, each step is a chance to learn!

As infants, we learn to walk. As adults, we should walk to learn!

    

The Forest Floor

Keeping my walks in perspective, and my wits about me...

Some more views of the forest floor... AND a good reason to look up every once in a while!

I wasn't the only one having a wander this evening. As I walked down one slope, no more than 20 minutes from home, I encountered evidence that the berries were still on one forest denizen's menu!

We're not the only ones that check out the under growth. And we're certainly not the largest of God's creatures that walk in the woods! This bruin must have weighed in at over three-hundred pounds. Far bigger than twice my size, I was fortunate he had his mind set on blueberries! 

The moose too, should be respected. Getting between a cow and her calf can be as dangerous as coming between a she-bear and her cubs. I've yet to see a moose while hiking, only while driving so far this year. But there are plenty of walks to come.   

A Bad Day Fishing is Better than a Good Day at Work!

They say a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. So then, how much better is a great day of fishing compared to a good day at work?






The day started out rainy, let up a little, rained some more, and some more after that. It did just happen to subside as we launched the boat. But mostly it rained. When it wasn't raining the air was simply just wet! 

The walleye were wet too! But after all, they do live in the lakes! As do the pike: they though, are not just wet, but slimy too! 

The slime on the Northern Pike serves a great purpose! It acts to shield the fish from bacteria. If the slime is removed, by such things as handling them too much before release, it becomes susceptible to all manners of disease and infection. So in a sense, it protects the fish in two ways: disease and contact. After all, how many of us choose not to handle them just because of the slime!




We kept two pike anyway! I'm now searching for some unique recipes!

 





We also kept four walleye. We released many more, and all of them far bigger than the ones we kept! Better they return to the dark waters to swim and reproduce again!



I'm not sure what the rest of you think, but I'm quite positive of my thoughts on this. I'm also of the mind that Travis, "Master Guide" on this adventure, had a far better day on the lake than he would have had at work! I know, emphatically, that I did! 

     

Any Excuse...

Any Excuse for a Walk in the Woods...

Woke this morning to the wood-fire out. It was chilly. Best remedy for a cool Sunday morning? The new Keurig that Aimee brought home late this week. It was raining too. Walk the dogs, but wait the rain and dark skies out before the first walk in the grouse woods for the season.

I left the house just by one this afternoon. There are not many places left in this world where you can walk through your subdivision with a shotgun over your shoulder. So I walked to the woods with a pocket full of shells, my camera and a curiosity, no, a hope for what I might see.

I walked for four hours! I heard many birds. I saw one, took one shot, and took that one bird home! I took many photos though. I looked down as much as I looked up, not to stop from tripping up, but just to see what was there.

I saw some fantastic and interesting stuff! Views and panoramas, tiny forest growth, and unfortunately some trash. 

This week, in the early evenings after work, I’ll walk the woods a few more times. 

Tomorrow we’ll be blueberry picking; found a great spot this afternoon closer to home than expected. Maybe another grouse or two later in the week. Of course, I’ll fish one of those evenings too! 

I’m thinking a new recipe is formulating; Grouse with a blueberry sauce!

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I’m thinking a walk a day keeps the doctor away! And, after all, hunting, fishing or photography are simply good excuses for a walk in the woods!