Lake Ogascanan July 10-24 (Better Late than Never)

Started by Nancy, September 26, 2016, 11:47:09 AM

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Nancy

First of all, I do apologize for not getting this up sooner and delaying the post like this is not something I will do again as I am realizing how much has either gotten foggy or I just don't remember. (Happens when you get older I guess.) Maybe I will do this a bit backwards and start with some of the things I have taken from the trip this year.

Our trip seemed to be bit lackluster this year as the night before we left, we found out a friend of ours was having health issues so that kind of dimmed our trip some. This was the first time we had ever gone for two weeks straight. The past few years we had gone one week in July and then about a month later a week in August. I think going for two weeks straight is much better. If you just go for one week, it seems it takes you till about Wednesday or Thursday to really dial in on what depth the fish are at or where they are related to structure. Also, I came to realize this year just how important wind direction is to different locations and structures. Also, I think with the management practices that the Mullens' implemented a few years ago are showing up now with an increase in the size of walleyes.

Ok, so we left the morning of July 9 at 6AM, boat and truck all packed. The crossing at the border was about as slow as we had seen it. Pulled up behind one car as they were pulling away. Made our normal stop at Webers, and was entertained by two dogs in two separate vehicles. A very pretty golden retriever was teasing the day lights out of a not as handsome male dog in the next vehicle. It was hilarious. On to the Bo-Mark Motel in North Bay. We found this little mom and pop motel a few years ago and we really like the people, clean, and great beds. It is a bit out of the way, but with pulling a boat, it provides ample room for parking.

Saturday morning up at 6 and headed to Ogas with our stop in Temiscaming for gas, breakfast and last minute groceries at the IGA. We made it into the lake from Temiscaming in just under 2 hours pulling the boat. So we were happy with that.

We were greeted by the Mullens' smiling faces. There was another group in the lodge getting instructions so we were sent directly down to our cabin (the Point) at the main camp. (We stayed at two separate cabins during our two week stay, the Point, main camp, and Northern, north end of the lake. These are our two favorites.) Jer's wife, Lindsay, had just got done cleaning the cabin from the previous occupants. We got most of the stuff unloaded when Brad came down and helped us with the heavy stuff. Launched the boat and off to fishing we went. Yeah!!!! As it turns out, John got the first fish of the trip and the last fish. He landed this nice 24 inch walleye right after we went out.



Most of the mornings I went out fishing alone, as it takes John's arthritis awhile to let him loosen up and deal with a new day. He let me start running the boat some last year, so was feeling much more comfortable with that aspect of the trip this year. Found some new spots and some very productive. The problem with fishing alone is trying to get pictures of the fish, I did try to take a selfie of a 25 incher but it turned out very poor. The one new spot one morning on a north wind yielded a 25 incher, 23, 20, 3- 19's, 18, 17 and 2 smaller ones. It was probably the best fishing trip I had ever had as far as quality of fish.



One day, on the way to the dock, I heard from the picnic table and a group of guys "I know you". I thought uh,oh. Really, I am just a country girl from Pennsylvania. Here they were from Pennsylvania and @morganjp had been checking out our board before he had joined. John went up and spent some good chat sessions with them and enjoyed the time with them.

John and I both love planes and one day day we were treated by this float plane, resupplying some canoers. We had gone on one fly in and really enjoyed it. Seeing the float planes brings back some great memories.



We also enjoyed seeing the Mullens grandkids (Dan's kids) out piloting one of the camp boats themselves in the back bay. You could hear Ben being the tour guide to his sister. It was quite fun to watch.


Our first week ended with about 100 walleye, no pike. We didn't get out fishing for pike at all the first week and didn't catch any by accident. So we packed up and got ready to move up to the "Northern" cabin. It has been our favorite cabin over the years for several reasons. We moved up there on Saturday, and were joined by Donna and Kevin, our daughter and son-inlaw, on Sunday. The Mullens had put a new low insulated ceiling inside the cabin along with a new porch since we had stayed there. We actually prefer it without the ceiling. When it rains, we think there is nothing more calming than rain on a tin roof.

We have a favorite spot close to the cabin, but it didn't seem to be as productive this year as in the past. Part of it may be back to the wind direction again. We think it does better with a northern wind and we had very little wind out of the north that week. Most of it was the south and west. We had one day, I believe Thursday that we experienced the worst wind I had ever seen during the times we had been there. When Jer was up on Wednesday, he warned us about the upcoming weather the next day. He recommended to stay off the lake. I had never heard him say that before. It wasn't bad early in the morning, but about 10:30 it kicked up and blew hard the rest of the day. Jer said there was a tornado south. This picture doesn't really do the waves justice.


Donna and I went out one morning and got some quality fish off a new spot. We got a 24, 23 incher and others in the slot and smaller. I noticed the second week we were there the fish were moving off the structure to the base and edges of rockpiles.

Overall, we didn't have as good a week fishing as the first week, but it is always great being up there. Our week was culminated by a pike trip John and I did on Saturday afternoon. We weren't doing very well, and John asked do you want to go up that bay. I said I guess not since we weren't doing very well. 5 seconds later, BAM!!! His rod laid back and after a bit of a fight and problems getting this girl in the boat, we finally landed this 40incher. He was one excited fisherman. We had caught a 39 incher there, but never got one to eclipse the 40 inch mark.


It has been bittersweet as we realize this most likely will be our last trip to Ogas. Unless things change, health conditions is overriding the desire and ability to make the trip. It has been our home away from home, and it will be sorely missed, the hospitality of the Mullens, the scenery, the fishing and the relaxation and the sunsets like these.

Fort Wisers

Great post and amazing pics!
The rough water picture brings back a lot of "holy crap are we gonna make it back to camp" memories lol

Jay Thomas

Great report and pics Nancy. Thanks for sharing.

I can easily relate to the sentiments you expressed about the end of fishing trips. Two of our guys (one turns 82 in October while the other turned 76 in Jul) informed me 2 weeks ago that this year's fishing trips were their last fishing trips. Very sad from a couple of perspectives. Firstly, I've been fishing with these two guys for nearly 50 years. I'm really going to miss their camaraderie on fishing trips. Secondly, their retirement from fishing trips will require me to try to find new fishing partners or else I'm done with fishing trips too.  :(

Jay

Oarin

Thanks Nancy, excellent report. I'm very sorry to hear this will be the last trip for John and you to Lac O. I dread the day when I have to make the same decision about Taggarts. I'm glad you had a great time and John got his biggest pike! Thanks for all your time and effort in making this site a reality and for bringing me out of the Prehistoric Age in posting pictures. If you get the time, I, and I'm sure all the members would love to see pictures from your many trips. No comments would be needed. In fact that could be a new thread(?) for the LONG winter wait. Take care, Gary.

Greg

Great report Nancy!  Thanks for sharing great pics and stories of your trip... man, 2 weeks is something I have never done and I want to try it sometime!!

Greg

BH

Thanks for sharing Nancy.  Took me back to my trip this past summer.  Keep on reading the posts if you can't make another trip as I'm sure you will feel the excitement as others share their stories and you will recall your favorite moments from your trips.
Love fishing

getthenet

Nancy,thanks for sharing ! Please take your time considering whether that was your last trip to Ogas.A trip to Ogas or Kipawa is probably the best therapy or rehab possible !

fishtildark

Nancy, thanks so much for sharing a great report . I can imagine how difficult it is to think that the trip may not be in the cards in the future as I can recall my dad deciding not to go. hopefully things may work out better than you expect but the pictures and memories are still with you. You are correct on the pictures not doing justice to the rough water as I have tried to capture that before and couldn't. Thanks again for the report and your work on this board. Sam
So many lures and so little time.

T-Bone

Great report Nancy...thanks. Some nice fish in there for sure. Sorry to hear this year's trip may have been your swan song; not looking forward to the prospect of that for me or our core group anytime soon hopefully. Similarly, I'm very delinquent in getting my report together...hopefully soon. Great pic of that Found Air Bush Hawk float plane...actually pretty rare to see one, but not wholly surprising in that area of the world as they were out of Parry Sound, Ontario; interesting story about that company and aircraft. The original owner, Bud Found, recently died after restarting the company in the late-90s only to fail to find the right price/feature position for his plane in that sector. I believe they held on until 2014 or so, then once he died they limped along a bit then shut it down.

Thanks for posting...dandy fish...a nice farewell present from the fishing gods...

304...
Embrace every moment...you only get it once

RHYBAK

Oh my God.
How can I ever top T-Bone.
A man of wisdom ,for sure.

I too am sorry to hear that this may be your last year.
Hoping that it is year by year and that you are able to continue going on these trip that you obviously cherish immensely.

Great post with some very nice catches.

261 days
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle

T-Bone

It really is an interesting story, not wholly unlike all the stories you hear from the board about the Lac Kipawa area, the outfitters we stay with, the evolution of the fishing ecotourism business around Kipawa.

There are certainly hundreds if not thousands of stories and historical recounts of the area out there. Go fill up on them. As Rhybak would say, "that's what Google is for."  ;)

The history of the Ojibwe people and culture up around there, specifically around Temagami, is fascinating. Read about the medicine scrolls...wow...

Thanks again Nancy...and recall those memories often....

Embrace every moment...you only get it once

Fort Wisers

#11
OH MY GOODNESS I'm so embarrassed, I scrolled right past the last statement about this likely being your last trip as I was caught up looking at the pictures.
I started reading everyone else's posts and thought, what the heck did I miss!
I'm so sorry for missing this key statement!

Sorry also to hear this is likely the last trip, we're glad it went well though! Nice way to end things!
It's never fun to close a chapter of life like this, but perhaps a new and equally enjoyable chapter will open for you and John.
Thanks again for sharing, the pictures are really amazing and your report captures the essence of these fishing trips very well.

Brent and Katie


johnny walleye

Thanks to You and John ,and better health prayers.

wvmedic


SgtCrabby

I love the report Nanci.   

Man, talk about getting a blindside; I finally get back onto this site and here's the first thing I read.
I agree with everyone else,  even if this is your last trip to Lake Ogas. Life isn't over.
You may find other canadian lakes that you can get to with less work on your and John.
Or just another outfitter in the Kip area.

We all appreciate what you have done with this site, and what we know you'll be doing with it in the future!