Bunk, Float and Fun. POUND KESAGAMI. Report. (pic heavy)
Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:02 pm
I'll keep the history short so to get to the fishing quick.
Thursday night Fishforfun left Georgetown so he could meet up with Floatfishin; coming out of Ottawa, in North Bay for 1am friday morning. Together the two of them were coming to me in Moose Factory by Polar Bear Express and they'd be getting in for supper on friday.
I was sitting at home friday morning with Bren praying for the ceiling to lift and the threat of freezing rain to diminish, because, Bren and I were going to fly into Kesagami for her (our) annual meat run.
But, the weather didn't clear. 
What ended up happening then was, I called the outfitter and arranged for a full day of Kesagami on the saturday instead of our previously agreed upon half day. As back up we still had a half day charter on Kesagami on the monday as well so if needed that could be stretched to full if weather screwed us out of any more time.
I just wanted 12 hours with friends and family on Ontario's Kesagami Lake. I wanted a big pike and a handful of walleye too.
Friday evening the boys came in along with the rain and warm temps. I gave them their first taste of the ice road.
The road was soaked the 1 1/2km. 12-18" dirty water.
Got the boys in settled, made some surf and turf on the BBQ, hit a few Molson and got off to bed in good time.
Next morning......................................................It began.
(there are some scenery pics, I am sure Martin will get to some of them, but, I got the fish, so here they be a coming)
Got on Kesagami at 9am. Quickly I drilled 4 holes for eyes while FFF set out the gear and Kev.... watched. When I finished I said, "Martin, why don't you drop down a minnow and get the first fish." Kev was already on that. After 90 seconds, a tap, and then as Kev says it "HE F#$KING SMOKED IT!!!!!" 
He's got the first fish.
I walked off 50m or so from the walleye holes towards the shoreline to start the holes for the pike but before I did Martin get's a fish.
And then, before I can get away still, they hit a double header. Sheeesh, they haven't been fishing 5 minutes.
So here some details about how I set up for these fish. In the middle of a wide channel between two points, 8 holes were drilled pretty much in a pair of parallel 4 hole lines. This area for the eyes. For the pike we moved in 50m towards shore and drilled 3 holes in a line with the holes about 50m apart in a parallel line with the shoreline. Makes sense as to why.
Kev (FF) used a Buckshot, Martin (FFF) stuck mainly with Cleo's and I used champs. We also had 12 dozen shiners. This for the eyes.
For the pike, the boys had tip-ups with heavy Dacron and I had the PIKE SLAYERINATOR with 50lb braid. Williams tipped with fallfish or whitefish was the bait.
At 1100 the tip on the PIKE SLAYERINATOR (of course, hahaha) drops and the bell goes. Booting it over the 50m the snows crust is turning soft in the warm weather and my foot goes through to the slush several times resulting in 2 or 3 good face plants. But, when I get to the PIKE SLAYERINATOR my heavy set drag is going zzzzt, zzzzzt, zzzzzt. At my set up I leave a blanket with a heavy rubber glove, scale, long nose pliers, jaw spreaders and measuring tape. It's the operating table. For now I put on the one glove and grab the braid. THIS IS A HEAVY FISH FOR SURE I yell out to Martin who's on the way. Finally up she comes.
I'm on the board with a 37", 12+lb Kesagami Northern.
Wasn't long after were back jiggin' eyes. The numbers were decent and we were averaging about 10 an hour with some hours better than others.
Around noon Kev's flag goes and he bolts for it.
Get's to the tip up and the lines peeling but Kev puts the brakes on. Having those flags pop or the bell go on the pike lines is like a rail of coke...it's a rush. Kev's flying now too and he's yelling it's a good fish from his post at the northern placed hole. In due time, it's up.
Pretty fish Kev too bad it's just a snot rocket 31"er.
As Kev is getting his picture taken Martin's flag pops at the southern hole. I bolt the 100m to help him.
Martin is ecstatic cause he knows he's into something huge. This moment on the ice kneeling down at the hole with him was truly fantastic. We were both really excited. Martin took his time and finally managed to turn the head of his fish into the hole. Not an easy task because all our pike lines were down in only 12-18 inches of water. I look down, see a full set of teeth and grab the gill plate. It's up. Awesome Martin.
He rests a minute with his prize.
Then the pose with his PB 39" but whopping 18lb Northern. Congrats bud.
Back to the walleye. It's around 2pm. We're doing well. Martin added a snot rocket to his pike tally and I picked up another pike at 28 inches. The walleye numbers are good as Kev and Martin had great starts, so were about 50 walleye caught.
Banana bread, sandwiches and Labatts down the hatch the PIKE SLAYERINATOR dings and drops. Off I go.
At the hole it's zzzzt. Long story short, heavy fish, good tussle, and it's on the ice.
This beeeyotch was phat. Only 35" but just over 12lbs.
Off in the distance we here a buzz in the sky and then a big plane breaks over ther trees. It's friendlies in green, 3 of them, and they have a fish sniffing dog too.
The Ministry boys set down. The pilot, Clifford, remembers me as we greet as he was the pilot who flew me in the previous year to fish.
The dog's out sniffing, the boys take our card numbers, and one gent measures a few of our fish and check the bait on our lines. At this point the pike lures are loaded up with 6-8 minnow on the hooks cause we've all lost our meat with the fish earlier.
Kev though, he just can't rest. He keeps catching eyes as the boys in green are talking with him. We thought it was a Kodak moment.
Then they left, only to fly back over an hour later and check out are meat pile one last time.
Time was drawing to a close for day 1. Kev wanted a pike. It was about 5pm and we had caught about 80 walleye. The last couple hours I was catching up to the others just slaying the eyes when the PIKE SLAYERINATOR had me rush out for a miss. The tip just dropped hard and when I got there something in one foul swoop took 6 minnows cleanly off the hook. Then, Kev shouts out. "IT'S A FISH, IT"S A BIG FISH!!!"
Back at his eye hole Kev has a pike on his jiggin' rod. He has a small buckshot and 10lb flouro for a lead, and, he's having waaaaay to much fun. This great battle ensues and finally his fish comes to the surface. The lead is a good 4 inches down the pikes mouth.
But it's up.
Kev's very own 37" Northern Pike wieghing in at 12 1/4 lbs. Wicked BRO.
An hour later the day was done. We flew home really sunburnt but sooooo pleased that we just used up 12 dozen minnows, caught about 90 walleye (biggest 20.5") and, 9 pike. (biggest Martin's 39")
Day 2 for the boys I took them on a skidoo tour on the Moose River with the help of a friend from work. We got skunked at Kwetabohigan. Had supper at the luxuries Hancock Cabin then rode home under the stars and a great display of Northern lights.
Day 3 for Kesagami then came. This time Bren was getting her chance and so the night before we all agreed first pike was hers.
When we touched down on the lake the clock started and we had 4 hours. Bren was immediately getting hits but was a little rusty with the jig and hookset. Before too long though, she was on them, and outfishing us with a Pixie spoon. Bren was keeping every fish this day as she does so a couple times a year to feed me and the rest of the family.
The PIKE SLAYERINATOR goes off. It's hers. She's out there with the help of Kev and Martin and manages a snot rocketus. I'm missing the pic for that too right now.
Over the next 3 hours no more pike will come. We learn that the day before the MNR had been back in and fined two Moosonee people. (one for over limit and the other no license) By the end of half day on Kesagami we caught another 65 walleye or so. Bren about 20 and us boys around 15 a piece. Here's some pics along with Kev's 21" walleye, the biggest of the trip.
STUD!!!!!
God love it. What a great time we all had. Bren wants to go back to fish the soft water on Kesagami now. YES!!!! But, in due time cause we're still fresh off our high.
Back at the house that afternoon your darn right we had a few pops... while I filletted 28 walleye. Then, at the supper table, Martin had most drawn out Darryl Cronzy moment I have ever witnessed.
Thanks Bren, the lads, and my two year old.
Thursday night Fishforfun left Georgetown so he could meet up with Floatfishin; coming out of Ottawa, in North Bay for 1am friday morning. Together the two of them were coming to me in Moose Factory by Polar Bear Express and they'd be getting in for supper on friday.
I was sitting at home friday morning with Bren praying for the ceiling to lift and the threat of freezing rain to diminish, because, Bren and I were going to fly into Kesagami for her (our) annual meat run.
But, the weather didn't clear. What ended up happening then was, I called the outfitter and arranged for a full day of Kesagami on the saturday instead of our previously agreed upon half day. As back up we still had a half day charter on Kesagami on the monday as well so if needed that could be stretched to full if weather screwed us out of any more time.
I just wanted 12 hours with friends and family on Ontario's Kesagami Lake. I wanted a big pike and a handful of walleye too.
Friday evening the boys came in along with the rain and warm temps. I gave them their first taste of the ice road.
The road was soaked the 1 1/2km. 12-18" dirty water.
Got the boys in settled, made some surf and turf on the BBQ, hit a few Molson and got off to bed in good time.
Next morning......................................................It began.
(there are some scenery pics, I am sure Martin will get to some of them, but, I got the fish, so here they be a coming)
Got on Kesagami at 9am. Quickly I drilled 4 holes for eyes while FFF set out the gear and Kev.... watched.
When I finished I said, "Martin, why don't you drop down a minnow and get the first fish." Kev was already on that. After 90 seconds, a tap, and then as Kev says it "HE F#$KING SMOKED IT!!!!!" He's got the first fish.I walked off 50m or so from the walleye holes towards the shoreline to start the holes for the pike but before I did Martin get's a fish.
And then, before I can get away still, they hit a double header. Sheeesh, they haven't been fishing 5 minutes.
So here some details about how I set up for these fish. In the middle of a wide channel between two points, 8 holes were drilled pretty much in a pair of parallel 4 hole lines. This area for the eyes. For the pike we moved in 50m towards shore and drilled 3 holes in a line with the holes about 50m apart in a parallel line with the shoreline. Makes sense as to why.
Kev (FF) used a Buckshot, Martin (FFF) stuck mainly with Cleo's and I used champs. We also had 12 dozen shiners. This for the eyes.
For the pike, the boys had tip-ups with heavy Dacron and I had the PIKE SLAYERINATOR with 50lb braid. Williams tipped with fallfish or whitefish was the bait.
At 1100 the tip on the PIKE SLAYERINATOR (of course, hahaha) drops and the bell goes. Booting it over the 50m the snows crust is turning soft in the warm weather and my foot goes through to the slush several times resulting in 2 or 3 good face plants. But, when I get to the PIKE SLAYERINATOR my heavy set drag is going zzzzt, zzzzzt, zzzzzt. At my set up I leave a blanket with a heavy rubber glove, scale, long nose pliers, jaw spreaders and measuring tape. It's the operating table. For now I put on the one glove and grab the braid. THIS IS A HEAVY FISH FOR SURE I yell out to Martin who's on the way. Finally up she comes.
I'm on the board with a 37", 12+lb Kesagami Northern.
Wasn't long after were back jiggin' eyes. The numbers were decent and we were averaging about 10 an hour with some hours better than others.
Around noon Kev's flag goes and he bolts for it.
Get's to the tip up and the lines peeling but Kev puts the brakes on. Having those flags pop or the bell go on the pike lines is like a rail of coke...it's a rush. Kev's flying now too and he's yelling it's a good fish from his post at the northern placed hole. In due time, it's up.
Pretty fish Kev too bad it's just a snot rocket 31"er.
As Kev is getting his picture taken Martin's flag pops at the southern hole. I bolt the 100m to help him.
Martin is ecstatic cause he knows he's into something huge. This moment on the ice kneeling down at the hole with him was truly fantastic. We were both really excited. Martin took his time and finally managed to turn the head of his fish into the hole. Not an easy task because all our pike lines were down in only 12-18 inches of water. I look down, see a full set of teeth and grab the gill plate. It's up. Awesome Martin.
He rests a minute with his prize.
Then the pose with his PB 39" but whopping 18lb Northern. Congrats bud.
Back to the walleye. It's around 2pm. We're doing well. Martin added a snot rocket to his pike tally and I picked up another pike at 28 inches. The walleye numbers are good as Kev and Martin had great starts, so were about 50 walleye caught.
Banana bread, sandwiches and Labatts down the hatch the PIKE SLAYERINATOR dings and drops. Off I go.
At the hole it's zzzzt. Long story short, heavy fish, good tussle, and it's on the ice.
This beeeyotch was phat. Only 35" but just over 12lbs.
Off in the distance we here a buzz in the sky and then a big plane breaks over ther trees. It's friendlies in green, 3 of them, and they have a fish sniffing dog too.
The Ministry boys set down. The pilot, Clifford, remembers me as we greet as he was the pilot who flew me in the previous year to fish.
The dog's out sniffing, the boys take our card numbers, and one gent measures a few of our fish and check the bait on our lines. At this point the pike lures are loaded up with 6-8 minnow on the hooks cause we've all lost our meat with the fish earlier.
Kev though, he just can't rest. He keeps catching eyes as the boys in green are talking with him. We thought it was a Kodak moment.
Then they left, only to fly back over an hour later and check out are meat pile one last time.
Time was drawing to a close for day 1. Kev wanted a pike. It was about 5pm and we had caught about 80 walleye. The last couple hours I was catching up to the others just slaying the eyes when the PIKE SLAYERINATOR had me rush out for a miss. The tip just dropped hard and when I got there something in one foul swoop took 6 minnows cleanly off the hook. Then, Kev shouts out. "IT'S A FISH, IT"S A BIG FISH!!!"
Back at his eye hole Kev has a pike on his jiggin' rod. He has a small buckshot and 10lb flouro for a lead, and, he's having waaaaay to much fun.
This great battle ensues and finally his fish comes to the surface. The lead is a good 4 inches down the pikes mouth. But it's up.
Kev's very own 37" Northern Pike wieghing in at 12 1/4 lbs. Wicked BRO.
An hour later the day was done. We flew home really sunburnt but sooooo pleased that we just used up 12 dozen minnows, caught about 90 walleye (biggest 20.5") and, 9 pike. (biggest Martin's 39")
Day 2 for the boys I took them on a skidoo tour on the Moose River with the help of a friend from work. We got skunked at Kwetabohigan. Had supper at the luxuries Hancock Cabin then rode home under the stars and a great display of Northern lights.
Day 3 for Kesagami then came. This time Bren was getting her chance and so the night before we all agreed first pike was hers.
When we touched down on the lake the clock started and we had 4 hours. Bren was immediately getting hits but was a little rusty with the jig and hookset. Before too long though, she was on them, and outfishing us with a Pixie spoon. Bren was keeping every fish this day as she does so a couple times a year to feed me and the rest of the family.
The PIKE SLAYERINATOR goes off. It's hers. She's out there with the help of Kev and Martin and manages a snot rocketus. I'm missing the pic for that too right now.
Over the next 3 hours no more pike will come. We learn that the day before the MNR had been back in and fined two Moosonee people. (one for over limit and the other no license) By the end of half day on Kesagami we caught another 65 walleye or so. Bren about 20 and us boys around 15 a piece. Here's some pics along with Kev's 21" walleye, the biggest of the trip.
STUD!!!!!
God love it. What a great time we all had. Bren wants to go back to fish the soft water on Kesagami now. YES!!!!
But, in due time cause we're still fresh off our high.Back at the house that afternoon your darn right we had a few pops... while I filletted 28 walleye. Then, at the supper table, Martin had most drawn out Darryl Cronzy moment I have ever witnessed.
Thanks Bren, the lads, and my two year old.
