Aug 1-8 Trip report

[tbayboy]

Hey everyone. Just thought I'd drop in with a quick report from Kipawa last week.  My wife and I spent the first week of August at Camp 3 Seasons. This was our second year with our own boat which was nice (was all worried about it the first year, this year I just relaxed). Things are definitely different this year - lots of families up there, most from Quebec. Kind of strange without a cabin or two full of our US friends but it was good to see that Reggie was still able to keep the place busy.

Weather was pretty typical for a week on Kipawa - arrived on Saturday with temps hitting 30c (90f), blue skies and no wind at all then it got mixed Sunday and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were cold and grey - down to 10c (50f) at night and around 20c (70c) in the afternoon.  Thursday swung back towards "summer" and Friday and Saturday were again beautiful, still and hot.

But really its all about the fishing right?  And Kipawa didn't disappoint. I went out for the morning shift every day then Julia and I would find some spots to fish for a bit in the afternoons followed by a break and then the evening shift. The only skunked shift was one where I spent the whole time trying to fish a lost toy from the bottom of a bay (sigh....).  Also lost a fender on one windy night but necessity is the mother of all invention and a couple pool noodles did the trick for the rest of the week

Julia out-fished me pretty much every night - something to said for consistency I guess. A pink jig with a leach dangled off the side of the boat was all she ever used whereas I'm cursed with fishing attention deficit disorder - I just have to keep trying new things every few minutes. But I managed to land a few and we had fish to eat every night with lots of eaters to be found (16-18 inches). A few big girls came in including this tanker but it was more of a numbers trip than size this year.



Some fish specifics: Walleye were mostly in the 18-22' range though the last night they were found deeper (24-25). On the  flat calm days we found  the fish in the bigger bay - humps and stone piles (snoopy for those who know it) were the ticket. On the rainy windy days it was wind blown shore lines that held the schools. Some decent bass were caught but I couldn't buy a top water bite this year (boo) and the spinner bait wasn't the big winner that it usually is (though it did catch my biggest bass).  Pike showed up while trolling (rapala tail dancers and berkley flicker shads) but nothing of any notable size.

My weapons this week included:
- float + jig + leach: worked well, allowed me to cover some depth without having to move the boat
- jig and leach: never leave home without it
- Jigging minnow (acme hyper rattle) - Got a nice bass but not much else
- Spinner Bait - some bass but no big 'eyes.
- Top water popR - nothing
- Rapala Tail Dancer and Berkely Flickr Shad - Pike and a few eater 'eyes

As always the scenery was stunning (even when it was grey). Loons everywhere, Merganser's came by for a bit as well and Reggie had a big garter snake hanging out by the shower stalls making sure everyone was social distancing.  There was even a @RHYBAK sighting, good to see you out and about!

We took way to many pictures along with several videos and I'm just too tired to edit it all into some fancy video (and I still haven't figured out how to embed a video on the forum) so instead I've put them all up on a google photos album. I hope you enjoy them, I sure did enjoy being there to take them: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZFHiXajxbARbKAqWA

Here's to next year everyone, keep safe and tight lines!

[Jay Thomas]

Sean and Julia,

Thanks so much for your trip report. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing pictures of you two again - certainly brought back some fond memories. Nice boat! It was great to see the products of the compliment of toys you have Sean - both above the water and below the surface. Congrats to Julia - from the pictures, it looked liked you caught the biggest walleye as well as the biggest bass. Great to see you guys enjoying the outdoors together.

Jay

[RHYBAK]

Yes, It was nice seeing you during my short visit on the lake.
Very nice pictures and videos.
Sorry to hear about your GoPro.

What kind of drone do you have?

[Greg]

WOW ... great fish!!!  And thanks for the report... very anxious to get back to Kipawa.

Greg

[Ozzy30]

Tbayboy great report and nice fish, sounds like a good week with a few hiccups.  I have had lots this year.

[limacharley]

Great trip report sir. Very impressed with the pictures.

Are you from Thunder Bay? Would you happen to know any Letwins?

[tbayboy]

@limacharley : Yep, born and raised in Thunder bay, moved to the Toronto area for school a while back (god I'm old).  I went to high school with an Eric Letwin though I swear it was spelt differently (did I mention I'm old....).

@RHYBAK  that was a Mavic Mini taking those pictures. Cool toy that can't handle wind (its just too small).

[Oarin]

Great report, thanks.

[GregL]

Nice fish!

[T-Bone]

Wow...what a dandy walleye!!! Great report...I'm so jealous. Thanks.

[CaptainCrappie]

Absolutely great report and photos.  I especially liked the underwater pics.  Looked to be very shallow spots where you found em with the camera.  Kipawa is such a wonderful place and those pics confirm it.  I recognized many areas and fish them as well.  Take care and keep those reports coming... year after year!

C. C.

[TBIRD]

Great Report & Great Photos - Thanks.

[Jig and drift]

Thanks for the report, but the pictures are the real life saver for those of of who can't go north. Fantastic stuff. To all the lucky people who can head up keep posting the pics!

[tbayboy]

2 Weeks til this years trip and was rewatching the various videos from last year and decided to put them together.  Unfortunately I can't figure out how to embed youtube in this version of the forum so here's the direct link. Hopefully will have a new video when we get back in a few weeks.


https://youtu.be/0tqXrhQS7Fs

[Balsams]

Hope you enjoy. I see you guys have done this before. Some excellent looking meals and drink pairings. On my trips, it’s all about comfort and making it epic.