BACK FROM MUSKRAT

[big-o]

Hi Guys & Gals

I just got back from Muskrat ....WOW what a great time...I like to thank BOBBER for all his hard work ...cooking three meals a day for 35 guys....YOU ARE THE MAN (EXCELLANT MEALS) also to Jazman for all of his hard work ...and to Fishhawk....(the master bacon cooker) To all the people who missed this trip...YOU MISSED A TRIP I got to meet a pile of Hawkers this weekend...every One of them ...super guys..Marcus...What can I say about Marcus....one of the funnyest people you would ever want to meet....and that will only discribe 1/100 of this gentleman, Bacon ...you are a class act, RJ & John, Mt Livewell and all the rest I had a GREAT TIME ....LOTS OF PHOTO'S AND STORYS TO COME!! I will let the rest report on the fish caught(Marcus caught his first Walleye & the biggest of the weekend)

[Muskiemagnet]

I also would like to thank Hawk, Bobber, Jazman and all the other guys who made this event an outstanding success. My only regret was not being able to stay for the whole thing. I did however bag my biggest laker to date and the smile has still not faded from my face. It is a great thing to get so many great people togeather to share a common interest, I look forward to meeting and fishing with all you guys soon. You can put my name down for next year.

To all the Hawkers who have any good photos of that Laker, I'd appreciate a forward to pboyd@istat.ca. Thanks.

Oh yeah....!!!! Mmmmm....deep-fried turkey. That was awesome.

[RJ]

A big thanks again to Fish-Hawk and Bobber for all their hard work...everyone had a blast and we owe that to you for sure...

The stories will be retold and rehashed over and over...but here's one to just put a lid on the weekend for me....

Bacon and I load up the boat...drive down the dirt road out on to the highway...he turns and looks at me and rolls his one peeper and says " Boy, Rachael would kill me if she knew I told that story"...I nearly drove off the road laughing...

Over and Out...RJ

P.S. Man a shower felt good....

[Canadian Bacon]

Guys I had such a great time!!!! It started with great weather on Thursday....RJ and I caught a bunch of Pike...if the derby had been on Thursday RJ would have won hands down with his Pike that was pushin 36". I caught the biggest smallmouth I have ever caught..of course she was dropped right back in....RJ described her as a J5V football to give you the idea of size.
Friday came and the derby was on...we continued to catch fish but nothing of size. Markus (the bum) caught a beauty Walleye..his first ever and the first of any this weekend...21.5 inches...begginers luck if you ask me. Correct me guys if I am wrong but his fishin partner WIG was in the club house with the pike lead at 29.25".
Jazman...who by the way did a tonne of work..thanks for cleanin up after us bums Jaz....Well he pulled in a 30.25" Pike of the bloody dock!!! We had a New leader in the Pike column.....It's agood thing too because that guy took the ribbing of a lifetime for losing a big Walleye at the boat...You guys should have left poor Jaz alone
The weather on Friday and Saturday didn't really co-operate but we toughed it out...in my head a little voice kept saying shut up and fish ya big baby! Saturday night we all went out for one more kick at the can....I had the pleasure of Fishin with my cousin (MT) for that day and evening. We caught a few the largest being about 27-28" so no winner there. The best thing was we had a chance to catch up...man life gets busy and you don't realize (even when you live fairly close by) how easy it is to kinda not spend the time with the guys you really like too..So that was great!!!
Markus hgad the best stroke of begginers luck ever....another Walleye!!! This one 29.5" ....Yaa Ya ya he won!!!!! Nice job...you had a great teacher there in WIG!
Two guys that I think just fit the bill as nice young guys who just love to fish are Tony and Ransome. They were in thier beautiful new Legend and almost never off the water...well it payed off as Tony came in at the last minute to win the largest Pike buy 1/4" over Jazmans. Congrats!!!
As for the non fishin part....well with wonderfull comentary by WIG Banjo showed us new ways to star gaze and different places to pour your beer....as Hawks Giggle eruptus into laughter...Bobber and MT did a little on th Guitar and I filled in when needed....Wow What a show that was . Ther were some great stories told..hey we're fisheman did you expect any less?? So here is to Baby wipes, terrified old guys in thier back yards, Cherry Brandy and beer, Tylenol and um Rachel's special talent! I know I have missed alot and can't wait to read on...
Mike and Rob, thanks guys it was fantastic!!! Everybody I met for the first time made me feel like I have known them and been friends with them for years. I hope I made you all feel the same. I can't wait for the next one...on To Caiger's there is no way I will miss this.

Thanks to all and for those out of town...your always Welcome and have a place to stay with me!!! Markus I am definately taking you up on your offer....but not the speed dial!

Thanks Guys!!!!

[Wall-I-Guy]

I want to add my 2 cents to this one too! Thanks a million Hawk, Bobber and Jazzman. Incredible commitment on their parts and certainly very much appreciated from all I talked to. First Class all the way!

As Muskiemagnet says...Sign me up for next year

And that turkey!!! WOW!!!

Heck, next year...I have to figure out how to get to Caigers!!!

[SkeeterJohn]

Even though the wind blew and the white caps where plentyful i think we all had a great time... Bacon(wipes) did a great job explaining most of what went on except for huge chunks of campfire/cabin chat that will for the most part stay back at lakeside

Markus had a VERY nice walleye and considering so few walleye were caught throughout the weekend he should be very happy with his result. He put some on the camp fire that night and it was the best fish i've had in a long time.. Heck even the smoked carp and a reasonable taste to it although i'm not really into smoked fish but markus smokes it all... Gotta make use of that smoker eh

The 19lb laker was a very nice suprise for most of us to see... i think we all were amazed at the numbers of baitfish present in the lake and couldn't beleive a laker made it's way to the banks... MuskieMagnet you looked like a pro for sure bringing it into camp.. way to go

RJ "it's a bit slippy isn't it" I could have blamed the beer if it had been later at night

Jazman gets top marks for helping bobber and fishhawk so much and he's always welcome in my boat even though we don't seem to catch too much in it... hmmm we'll have to go carping again sometime as we seemed to do all right at that You nearly had the largest pike off the docks too and on a 1" tube at that... a well deserved runner up considering the stick you took over a good sized walleye that got away.

Finally thanks to bobber and fish-hawk who made this weekend happen for us all to enjoy.. They worked VERY hard and the look on fishhawks face after cooking a mountain of bacon said it all... Bobber was always busy making sure we all were fed and enjoying ourselves... Top marks guys and another VERY successful trip witha great bunch of fishhawk-talkers that came out and had an excellent time.

[RJ]

I found a little something we may all be interested in...Scented or Unscented Bacon?????????..

[Canadian Bacon]

Unscented

[big-o]

OH NO.........HERE WE GO AGAIN........

[Rob]

wow sounds like it was a blast! Congrats to you " RJ" for pulling in the early non winnner pike " I feel for you". Same to you (CB) for getting your biggest small mouth ever, it's always worth it when that happen's. Way to go (markus) that's a big walleye you got, and (Tony) congrats to you also for taking poor jazzman by a 1/4" ( that's almost to close to call).

I fell envious when I hear stories like these, and wish I could have been there. I think the fishing part of it would have been the bonus! You all sound like a great bunch to spend a week-end with, and hopefully one day that will happen!

Congats to fish-hawk and bobber ( hey I got your name right this time), and anyone else ( if so ) behind "FISH-HWK.NET", looks like you guy's can throw a *&* of a good time!

Only good thing about beeing stuck at home this week-end was being able to shower, but I would have given it up in a second to have been there!

Again congrats to all, and hope it was a good time for all.


PS: great post (CB)

[Muskiemagnet]

Any lakers caught Sunday morning?? The wind was a little kinder, how about the fish??

[Markus]

OK, I'll get the photo parade started.

But, first a big thanks to fishawk and bobber for hosting a fantastic weekend. The guests took care of the fishing themselves, but cooking for and entertaining 30+ guys is no easy task. A top class weekend. Thanks guys!

Here's a picture of one of our docks. We had 2 docks that were full of beautiful boats...legends seem to be the most popular model for sure. There should have been a sign posted though, limiting 2 hawk talkers on them at a time.


WIG was my main fishing partner for the weekend and he'll always be welcome in my boat! What a guy. Friendly, curtious, funny, positive and a real classy guy. Early Sayurday morning, he boated our first fish of what was to become a great weekend. Here's WIG with a nice pike.


Being a virgin to the wallie world, I needed to lean on the Walleye-I-Guy for a few tips. We geared up and chose the right spot. WIG showed me some fancy south eastern style net work and we boated a couple nice walleye.


I also enjoyed having JimW and Jazzman in the boat for a little casting as well. Despite the breezy weather, my old boat saw a lot of fish this weekend. Tons of Pike and perch, a couple sweet walleye, incidental smallies, and rock bass.

The evenings at the campfire were fantastic too. It was great to sit back and enjoy chatting with such a great variaty of characters. Here's a shot of WIG and BTS locked in a game of camp chess.


I also really enjoyed Muskimagnet stoping by and putting on a lake trout clinic. Without a doubt the nicest lake trout i've personally seen. I also want to thank him for forgetting the fillets...they've already completed their circle of life. Yum!

A big thanks to everyone for welcoming me for the weekend and I'd like to return the hospitality to all of you this season. Hopefully I can sway some of you down this way.

[Muskiemagnet]

Great picturs Markus. Your welcome for the fillets (son of a...!!). I'm looking into a smoker now after your generous samples got my mouth watering. I'm sure we'll hook up again sometime in the future, perhaps for a duck hunt or a trip to the niagra bar. You can put on the clinic next time.

[SALMON]

Dean and I had a great time with lots of fish caught. Markus had so many he even let me release them instead of into the smoker! Looking forward to next year!

[big-o]

Going back over some pics that I was down loading i was seeing a few faces that i forgot to mention(Icouldn't include them all)...Big-JOE..tks for the great cigar It was great to finnally meet you, sorry you couldn't stay for the whole weekend!!! MuskieMagnet...You will have to change your name to laketrout magnet...great fish, WIG...WIG....WIG...I'll be up at five WIG great storys, super guy...but he NEVER SEEN FIVE IN THE MORING ON THIS TRIP Met Cracker for the first time...a lot of fun and a great guy...any time you need a seat in a boat ..you are always welcome Also it was good to see Brian again(BTS) , Brian and I hope to join up this fall for some double digit eye's..looking forward to that trip Tony and Ransome...great looking new ride, we will do the crappie thing Luccanus always great to see you , from the BIG-ZERO Spinner, we fished to gether under some pee pee condutions but it was fun and it great talking to you again...can't wait till tuesday!!!! and to My fishing partner and brother TOPWATER(Mike) our fishing exploits continue, we caught the same amout of fish.....4 ,2 each Thats pretty good for us TKS MIKE ...as sit here and type ...most of the names that I wanted to mention ..have gone So as I remmber them I will add to the list Again I have to say to all the attented you are all super people and great sports and I'm glad to have met you all as you get older your memory fades a little so the guys I havent mentioned I do apologize