So I know its early, but I can't help myself! Any word on the roads? Did winter take its toll? We are travelling back to Watson via the southern route (Maniwaki etc.) this year. Let's start the discussion.
Hi Joe, I was at camp last weekend. Maniwaki is a little rough but easily passable. Red Pine road is very rough bt no big deal getting thru. Both need a good grading but no issues getting thru. no snow on the roads but some along the side and in the bush. should be no problem getting thru. BTW all the ice is off the lake.
We have awhile before we go so I'm sure they will have been graded, but its just nice to know.
Ah yes, the annual road condition discussion. Should have included this in my earlier post about routines and rituals. I know that when the roads are bad it takes about 2 hours from Chemin Kipawa to get to Bush Country Camp . on good roads it takes.... about 2 hours. Puckster's comment about grading obviously correct . not sure how often it gets done but We almost always seem to find they graded while we were at camp . really, it does help but also seems that Red Pine road gets rutted up quickly. Just looked at calendar...24 DAYS
Hey joe,
Jimmy c said he just had the road paved all the way to Grassy Lake.
Norton Louie B
@Louis b Perfect! That will make the trip easier as long as it doesn't wash out before the end of July lol!
Joe I am glad you started this discussion.
As a fellow Ohioan its a long ride up to the lake. I wonder every year of the bush road status. We drive into Dumoine which is past Watson so we both know it gets a little rough the deeper into the bush we head. Maniwaki is always pretty good. Red Pine is twisty and has been better the last few years and the Bearne rd (sp?) starts out fine but the hills are pretty washboarded. I hope for the grader to have come through before we head in the first of July each year. Thanks again for getting this going. Puckster thanks for your input as well for the info through Red Pine.
I'll trade drives with anyone here. ;D
Naa, on second thought, I'll keep my drive; when the tradeoff is fishing wet water all year round.
But I reserve the right to gripe about it. 8)
I also am interested in the road conditions, by the time I get there, my backside is already road sore.
I'll take the bad roads all day long if it help to maintain the excellent fishing. Tell Jimmy C. to keep the pavers back at North bay !. The first time I saw a jet ski on Booth was the last time I fished it! Easy access makes for Poor fishing!
Quote from: Netman on May 16, 2016, 10:27:33 AM
I'll take the bad roads all day long if it help to maintain the excellent fishing. Tell Jimmy C. to keep the pavers back at North bay !. The first time I saw a jet ski on Booth was the last time I fished it! Easy access makes for Poor fishing!
Hey Netman, yeah there's a bit of a loss when access gets too easy isn't there?
I mean we all have as much right as the next guy but how far should it go?
I miss the days when the only way into certain back lakes was by driving down horrific roads (trails really) for a full day and willing to beat the heck out of your truck/ATV in hopes that you find what you're looking for.
Maybe I'm getting old and nostalgic. LOL
Quote from: Fort Wisers on May 17, 2016, 07:00:07 AM
Quote from: Netman on May 16, 2016, 10:27:33 AM
I'll take the bad roads all day long if it help to maintain the excellent fishing. Tell Jimmy C. to keep the pavers back at North bay !. The first time I saw a jet ski on Booth was the last time I fished it! Easy access makes for Poor fishing!
Hey Netman, yeah there's a bit of a loss when access gets too easy isn't there?
I mean we all have as much right as the next guy but how far should it go?
I miss the days when the only way into certain back lakes was by driving down horrific roads (trails really) for a full day and willing to beat the heck out of your truck/ATV in hopes that you find what you're looking for.
Maybe I'm getting old and nostalgic. LOL
I wanna get into checking out the back lakes around camp, one of these years. Gotta be some nice specks and browns lakes around. I bought an inflatable boat last year with this in mind. Been a long, long time since I've done that.
Count me in Joe!
Off topic but I really , really wish there were some specks (or browns) in the north end of Kipawa within reach of 3 Seasons
Quote from: pike mike on May 18, 2016, 02:37:27 PM
Off topic but I really , really wish there were some specks (or browns) in the north end of Kipawa within reach of 3 Seasons
I have asked everybody possible and they all claim that there are no specks in those back lakes.
Stop at that small pond on the south side of 63 on your way in or out.
I believes its lake Antoine( brook trout)
Those bumpy roads must be hard on your drinks, almost need a sippy cup so you don't spill.
Quote from: Fort Wisers on May 18, 2016, 02:16:08 PM
Count me in Joe!
OK done.
I usually just use tins in the cup holders. I don't spill much that way. :) With automatic transmissions one hand is often free, dangling. Might as well put it to use.
I drove into Hunter Lake yesterday afternoon.
Up to mileage 21 (Windy Lk road) on Maniwake is fairly smooth. A few spots with washboard but average speeds were in the 35-50 mph range.
I stopped into the Zec office to ask where does one fish for brookies and they all pointed out lakes in the ZECs.
One guy even went on to say that North of Maniwake is mostly Pike and Pickerel whereas South of Maniwake is mostly lake trout.
Not sure I believe that. I am looking for a Quebec website that lists lake with species like Ontario has. They were not aware of any.
They told me to go ask the game wardens in town.
I will keep looking because I am also interested in fishing those lakes just off the Kipawa watershed.
Stay away from highway 63. Those are my lakes for fall and winter fishing.
It's odd that Beacheine is full of Specks , yet north of that is Walleye and Pikr.
Have you fished Lake Antoine?
What is in the Jocko River.
It's my understanding that La Reserve Beauchene is private so perhaps they stocked the lake at one time.
Antoine has specks but its a very shallow lake. Better off to fish the river.
The Jockos have specks too. I've caught a 3 pounder out of the little Jocko.
There's a fly fish only zone past the Highway.
Several Beaushene lakes are stocked with brookies and specks. A friend of mine at work has worked for the hatchery that supplied and stocked the lakes. I'm gonna ask around next time I'm at camp I'm starting to know people there I'm sure/hope I can get some info. There's a road that follows along the Ottawa river that leads to a bunch of lakes I've been told there's trout in some. This thread has got my curiosity going.
Quote from: puckster_guy on May 19, 2016, 04:44:47 PM
Several Beaushene lakes are stocked with brookies and specks. A friend of mine at work has worked for the hatchery that supplied and stocked the lakes. I'm gonna ask around next time I'm at camp I'm starting to know people there I'm sure/hope I can get some info. There's a road that follows along the Ottawa river that leads to a bunch of lakes I've been told there's trout in some. This thread has got my curiosity going.
This is the road that starts half way up the top of the hill from the mill. It forks, after the dump, one section goes back and hits the manawaki and the other goes down and snakes around lac Memewin.
You have to be careful where you fish here as a large chunk is on the Beauchene club's lease including the river that this road crosses.
I can't remember how far down the Beauchene Club lease area goes, but it's fairly well marked.
As you make your way further down this road, there is a section of lakes that belong to the Shawandahgooze Club, this area is hit or miss for marking of it's territory.
Then, further down yet, just past Lac Memewin, you get into Zec Maganasipi, boundary markers here can be hit and miss as well.
There are some good lakes down there, and the area is gorgeous, just be sure you know where the club and zec territories are so you don't get yourself into trouble.
Been down that road a few times. Some nice looking lakes that way. Too bad you can"t buy one pass and fish all the zecs. This whole system is annoying. To say the least.
Quote from: puckster_guy on May 19, 2016, 09:28:04 PM
Been down that road a few times. Some nice looking lakes that way. Too bad you can"t buy one pass and fish all the zecs. This whole system is annoying. To say the least.
Yeah I'm inclined to agree with you
Here's some info excerpted from http://www.perc.org/blog/what-world-zec that might help understand why ZECs operate the way they do.
When ZECs were started in 1978, each zone was charged with managing hunting and fishing within a certain domain. Prior to ZECs, public lands were managed by private clubs. The main criticism of the club system was that it was too restrictive on community involvement -- many of the clubs were controlled by non-Canadians and non-residents, and poaching was widespread. The ZEC program began with the instrumental requirement that each ZEC obtain the necessary resources to cover their costs. Because the ZECs must be self-sustaining, there is an incentive to charge a reasonable and profitable price to users. Further, managers are incentivized to protect the flora and fauna of the area as a future revenue stream.
In 1982, the Fédération Québécoise des Gestionnaires de Zecs (FQGZ) was created to represent the ZECs before Québec’s provincial government. With this structure in place, the program grew without major change until 1999 when the FQGZ proposed to the MRNF that ZECs be given the opportunity to manage recreation beyond fishing and hunting. Following the MRNF’s approval of the proposal, activities offered by ZECs have expanded to include camping, hiking, and other activities. This expansion can be attributed to the requirement that ZECs generate their own funds. Recognizing demand for new goods, managers are able to change their business model rather than remain “frozen in time†like other government programs.
Jay
Quote from: Jay Thomas on May 20, 2016, 10:10:23 AM
Here's some info excerpted from http://www.perc.org/blog/what-world-zec that might help understand why ZECs operate the way they do.
When ZECs were started in 1978, each zone was charged with managing hunting and fishing within a certain domain. Prior to ZECs, public lands were managed by private clubs. The main criticism of the club system was that it was too restrictive on community involvement -- many of the clubs were controlled by non-Canadians and non-residents, and poaching was widespread. The ZEC program began with the instrumental requirement that each ZEC obtain the necessary resources to cover their costs. Because the ZECs must be self-sustaining, there is an incentive to charge a reasonable and profitable price to users. Further, managers are incentivized to protect the flora and fauna of the area as a future revenue stream.
In 1982, the Fédération Québécoise des Gestionnaires de Zecs (FQGZ) was created to represent the ZECs before Québec’s provincial government. With this structure in place, the program grew without major change until 1999 when the FQGZ proposed to the MRNF that ZECs be given the opportunity to manage recreation beyond fishing and hunting. Following the MRNF’s approval of the proposal, activities offered by ZECs have expanded to include camping, hiking, and other activities. This expansion can be attributed to the requirement that ZECs generate their own funds. Recognizing demand for new goods, managers are able to change their business model rather than remain “frozen in time†like other government programs.
Jay
Thats good, I understand they do much more then the gov't ould do. Like maintaining roads and installing launches etc. My beef is why do we need 4 zecs in such a relatively small area? Why not combine them into one , charge more if necessary and give freedom to fish anywhere. My camp abuts zecs Kipawa and Restigo why should I pay over a hundred bucks for each/either of them only to be restricted to their small territory? Yup they're thousands of lakes there in each of them but I'd like to move around some......thanks for tolerating my little rant here :)
Any updates on this subject now that we are into July? How's Maniwaki? Red Pine? Others heading back to Watson and Grassy? 27 days and counting down!
Also curious about the roads! We are heading up next friday for a full week of holidays. We normally take the Maniwaki, Red Pine and Bearn Rd...but if the Maniwaki is too bad, we go in by Bearn.
Maniwaki is looking like it was recently graded. I could get good speed going. Red Pine is the usuall mess. Some improvements but overall the slow road to china. Dunno about Bearne, I'm almost never on it.
Well here is your back roads update. Just returned from our yearly trip to Dumoine. Its 72 miles of twisting road. Overall the Maniwaki was ok, we saw the grader on a flatbed headed out the morning we went in but no sign of where he had been working? Red pine is rough and slow as usual, I think it was better last year. The Bearn looked like it had not been touched in a while! Not Horrible but the hills as you go farther are pretty rough.It was dry so no major washouts anyplace. So overall the roads were OK, not great but could be worse. We made it in in 2.5 hrs and out in 2.25 hrs. Always a little faster out. Highways were in great shape also. One little area of two lane construction but no big deal.