TBL Outpost 2019

[Oarin]

Got back Friday from another great trip with my son, Jon, to Kipawa. We left at 4:20 AM on Saturday and had no trouble beating the traffic at the Bridge or on the 400. WE rolled into Temiscaming about noon, ate at the hamburg stand, got our beer at the IGA, and our licenses and leeches at ProNature. The leeches were $50 per lb. and very nice. Onward to Taggarts. Does anyone else wonder what Ava looks like? Her name is all over the rocks heading down 101. Anyway, we got to Taggarts, loaded up our boats and left for the 6 mile ride to the Outpost. About half way there the it began pouring with some lightning thrown in. Not fun, but we made it safely. The heat, humidity, and bugs were ungodly! We spent the next few hours getting the cabin and boat set up then off toward the Narrows for some fishing. We got there, managed a few fish, but then the wind picked up and we headed back to camp. Being at the Outpost cabin is not bad at all. It's really large and well set up. Over the next 6 days the fishing ranged from great to bad. I caught my largest eye yet and Jon got his 2nd best. We only fished the evening and caught plenty of fish, some over and quite a few under or barely legal, which we tossed back. We had two thunder storms and unusually hot and humid weather. The Thermacells worked great! There was a French Canadian family camping on and island we like to fish at. He had a large plastic tarp around polls to form a tepee. Man, that's one tough family with the bugs like they were. Most fish were in 15-20 feet of water and white jigs seemed to work best. WE left early Friday AM, and stopped for the first time at Weber's. I really don't get the big deal of that place. The burgers at the stand in Temiscaming were clearly better. The only traffic heading home was on the QEW by Hamilton and we got back to Farmington about 4:00. We're sighed up for next year. Only 355 more days! I'll put some random pictures at the end. Thaks to Yves and Lise for letting us come in a day early and for the 2nd boat.

[Oarin]

Sorry about the pictures. I forgot the last step for resizing them. Also, I forgot to mention we met up with my long time friend,Jim, and his friend Bob. This was Jim's 6th year at Kipawa. I'm pretty sure he's hooked on the lake too.

[puckster_guy]

 Excellent pictures and report, Bro. Nice to see all parts of this lake have their own character. Good to see we have all our own individual places to call home.

[Oarin]

Fixed them, I think.

[Greg]

Great report Oarin... congrats!  We were at Alwaki and my trip report is in the works.... 

[Fort Wisers]

Great report and well done pictures, thanks for sharing!

[Hodgey1]

Oarin,  Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[T-Bone]

Nice report Oarin...and those are some dandy fish there. Glad to see you had a safe and enjoyable trip. Boating all the way to the narrows from the outpost seems like a pretty good drive though each way...have to imagine there were fish closer to home...or maybe just a nice boat ride to catch some 'eyes. Either way...those are some beauties there. Nice work...

And, what bugs were bad? All? Any blackflies still?

4...

[GregL]

Nice report! Got some good ones there!

[Oarin]

Thanks guys. T-Bone, the Narrows is a ways off, but with the upgraded boat it's only about a 25 minute run. We do fish areas much closer to the Outpost, but we'll start at the Narrows area and work our way back if the area is slow. You should be leaving for Alwaki soon. Good luck, safe travels, and I look forward to your report.

[RHYBAK]

Nice report Oarin and excellent stringer.

Now I see the Outpost is at the very north of the lake in that area.
What are you calling the narrows?
Would that be the area just before entering the big lake?
Towards two moons ?

[Oarin]

Yes,Rhybak, It's a narrow area connecting the TBL side and the Two Moons and Bear Island side. It usually holds walleyes for the evening bite. There are several small islands and rocky areas to set up in. It's our go to spot. The trip from the Outpost to the Narrows is about the same as it is from TBL. Deep Bay isn't deep, but it's long. It's about 25 minutes, but that part of the lake is beautiful. The ride is a pleasure to do each day. I miss it already! 

[SgtCrabby]

Thanks for a great report.  And fantastic pictures.

As T-Bone said:  bugs? What bugs were bad?

[Oarin]

The bugs were the worst I've seen in years. Some black flies and hoards of mosquitoes! I bet we had a hundred on our screen door hoping to get in each night. Bring ThermaCells. We put 4 out on our open deck each night and in 5 minutes they were gone and we could sit out there,drink a beer, smoke a cigar, and look at the moon lit lake. Paradise!!!! One thing we did to get to the cabin faster is this.

[Chazz]

Oarin - thanks for your report and thanks for the tips regarding thermacells and the quick clips