Lake Ogascanan June 30 - July 6

[ziggy6]

So FINALLY the day had arrived for us to start our trip north. This year we traveled up with 7 fisherman and for the first time we hauled along a boat. The crossing into Canada at Ogdensburg was smooth and quick along with the rest of the ride up to the Tem Rose( good accommodations, good food and good beer ,  a great combo). Our only concern was when we realized that some of the stores might be closed on Canada day and we still needed to pick up some provisions especially BEER. We were lucky enough to weather this storm and purchase enough to survive our stay. The trip into Ogascanan was a bit quicker for us without the boat since the improvement on the Red Chute road...but the boat hauling really slowed down the last section of the trip so not to break anything. 
      We were welcomed by the Mullen family at the lodge, What a great group of people! The family are extremely helpful and their advice on where, what and when to fish was dead on.
      Once again we stayed at the Smiths pass cabin, which is a great location. The bugs were nasty, worse they had ever been in the four years we have been staying at the lodge.   Our weather was hot , sunny and little wind which made the fishing a bit tough at time. We were able to catch quite a few walleye though, enough for a hefty fish dinner and allowing a few to be taken home.  For our first time we headed into the northern waters where some of the party did very well on Pike.   The week went by quick and we learned a few things along the way..such as.... to avoid sleep deprivation we should take one morning off to sleep in, Bringing a box fan was a great decision along with several battery powered fans, 50 degree sleeping bags would be plenty...   The trip home was uneventful and as years before we already have started thinking about next years adventure! 

[Jay Thomas]

Thanks for your trip report. When we stayed on Ogascanan, we too did the trip north up into Taylor Bay - good scenic journey.

Jay

[SgtCrabby]

Thanks for a great report.   

We'll be going there in a month, towing 2 boats.
Um, bugs-drats. 

How hot would you guess it was ?

[T-Bone]

Thanks for the report Ziggy...sounds like a good time...especially venturing to new areas to see what's what in another area.

Good advice on preventing sleep deprivation as afternoon naps when the weather is hot and still are impossible.

[Hodgey1]

@ziggy6 Great report. You are at least the third or fourth to report how bad the bugs are this season. I hope the little buggers die off soon.

My son-in-law used a Dewalt rechargeable, tool type battery fan, that worked well last year.
Did you happen to eat any of the pike you caught?

[ziggy6]

Temps reached 90 (F) degrees according to the gauge in the cabin and with no wind it made it tough. 

We did keep 2 pike since they were hooked pretty bad, but we enjoy eating them as well. We use a 5 fillet cut on them so to avoid the Y bone. My cousin also is looking into using them in a fish cake recipe.   

I'm thinking  that we took most of the mosquitoes away when we left since our truck was full of them as we pulled away. The Mullens said a good sign was the dragonflies were hatching and that usually indicates a change over and the disappearance of Black flies and some mosquitoes.

[Hodgey1]

We did keep 2 pike since they were hooked pretty bad, but we enjoy eating them as well. We use a 5 fillet cut on them so to avoid the Y bone. My cousin also is looking into using them in a fish cake recipe.   

We caught a 30” pike a couple of years ago at Kipawa while jigging for Eye’s, that wouldn’t swim after being caught. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so i kept it.

I really thought it ended up tasting every bit as good as the walleye. I used the 5 filet technique and meat was bone free.

[Oarin]

Thanks for the report, Ziggy. Glad you guys had a safe and enjoyable trip. 4 more days!!!

[Dog]

@ziggy6 thanks for sharing. 2 weeks until we're at Smith Pass, Can Not wait.... I'm already there mentally