Quickie

[T-Bone]

It's going to take me a few weeks to put the annual report together as I have pics to get from others and have some business travel coming up, but here's the quick of it:

- Great time, great friends, many, many memories (I still laugh even when just thinking to myself)

- Weather was quite cool and highly variable; seemed like a lot of rain

- Fishing was mediocre at best; I'm not sure there are any bigger 'eyes (20+ inches) left in Kipawa; either that, or our expectations on both numbers and size are WAY out of line; both numbers and size were MUCH better 10 years ago, so something needs to give in slot size limit, keep limit...whatever.

- Jigged most of the time; trolling somewhat difficult with high winds and 20hp motors; drifting was too fast

- Smallest fish = 2" chub; largest fish = 38" northern; most 'eyes about 12"-16"; only a couple approaching 20"

- Border delay on return of 2+ hours was not a good way to end an otherwise memorable, safe trip

- Evaluating our options for 2015, though penciled-in at Alwaki Lodge mid-July

I'll try to get a full report put together soon.

[john c]

Hi T-Bone

Looks like we had a better time at the border coming home, about 15 min and we were gone. 

John

We crossed peace bridge at about 8:30 pm on Sat. night.  When we pulled in there was 1 car talking to the guard and 1 waiting then us.  He took about 5 min. per car.

John 

[Oarin]

T-Bone, which bridge do you return on?

[T-Bone]

Peace Bridge in Buffalo. Queenstown Bridge was also projected at 2-3 hour wait at approximately 3PM on Saturday.

[Jay Thomas]

Hi Todd:

Thanks for the quickie report. I was wondering how your trip went with the cool wet weather conditions. Interesting observation regarding size of walleye. I look forward to you full blown report with pics.

Jay
11 days until departure for CTL

[rambler]

First of all thanks for the report and look forward to the long version. Although we didn't experience the same as far as fish size or numbers, (this was actually the most fish for our 2 week trip), I do believe the slot is a good idea. A boat with a few college kids working for the ministry stopped us to ask us some questions about the lake and about a slot limit. I told them I was all for it. It can't hurt. Glad you had a good safe trip!

[600 miles north]

     Glad to hear you had another memorable, safe trip Todd. I can't wait for the full blown report either.
     The wait last night at the Peace Bridge wasn't any better. My aunt and uncle returned and crossed around 6 PM Sunday and said it was horrible. Lines were backed up all the way over the bridge and started before the duty free.

     Heureux d'entendre que vous aviez un autre mémorable, bon voyage Todd. Je ne peux pas attendre que le véritable rapport soit.
Attendre la nuit dernière au pont de la paix n'était pas mieux. Ma tante et mon oncle est retourné et a traversé environ 6 h le dimanche et a dit qu'il était horrible. Les lignes ont été sauvegardées toutes les voies sur le pont, et démarré avant le duty free.

Brad

[CaptainCrappie]

Hey T,  remember how it felt when you were getting on Rhybak's case about his trip will be over before yours?  Bummer!  Think that the weather and results did that all on it's own?  There may have been other influences,  I'm just saying.  Looking forward to the longer version.  Your group always looks like you had a blast! See ya in the funnies!

C.C.

[Oarin]

T-Bone, we always take the Niagara Falls Bridge on the way home because the other two are always backed up and that one usually isn't. If it is backed up way down the road to the bridge get into the right lane and go past the bridge lane and into the Duty Free Store on your left. You can bypass all the backed up cars waiting for the bridge. It's also a really nice Duty Free. I'm not sure how close it will be to where you're heading, but it has to be better than an hour or two wait. Also, they don't allow trucks on that bridge, which helps too. Oarin.

[RHYBAK]

Hey T,  remember how it felt when you were getting on Rhybak's case about his trip will be over before yours?  Bummer!  Think that the weather and results did that all on it's own?  There may have been other influences,  I'm just saying.  Looking forward to the longer version.  Your group always looks like you had a blast! See ya in the funnies!

C.C.

Karma could be a bitch sometimes
Thing is,T-Bone still has one one me.
He will be going next year and I won't be.

[600 miles north]

     No Kipawa next year, RHYBAK? I don't like hearing that...

[Administrator]

I was wondering the same thing, @600 miles north, you poor soul @RHYBAK!

[T-Bone]

Think that the weather and results did that all on it's own?  There may have been other influences,  I'm just saying. 

Well...I will say this. Our appetite for busting-up at 4:30AM to hit the lake has waned over the years...as has the importance of the fishing experience in relationship to the total experience. Clearly fishing for 'eyes midday has it's challenges of not only finding fish, but getting them to bite. The weather had some influence on how many hours we'd spend on the water, as did the enjoyment of being together shooting the breeze on the deck while enjoying the scenery and some cold Bleues. We're nowhere near the 12-hours per day we used to spend on the water. When you have (3) boats going out it's not common to spend the time fishing and traveling the lake in concert, so that results in less time fishing in exchange for more time we can spend together.

Don't get me wrong...for as hard as we try we do pretty darn well. We could've had a fish meal everyday to the point where bellies would be busting. Maybe it's just sour grapes now that the trip is over...a little regretful hindsight that maybe we could have worked a little harder at the fishing. But, in all reality, no regrets at all that we took the time to spend together and build a load of classic moments and memories. I sit here with a huge smile on my face just recalling a few, and there were too many to count.



 

[SgtCrabby]

Hi T-Bone,
The condensed report sounds like you had a good time even though the weather and fish didn't cooperate as hoped for.  I'm looking forward to the full report complete with pictures.
Our border crossing was also slow of about an hour and half with the line starting at the duty free (Peace Bridge).

Huh? Rhybak will not be returning next year? That is a bummer.

Salut T-Bone,
Le rapport condensé semble que vous aviez un bon moment même si le temps et les poissons n'ont pas coopéré comme espéré. Je suis impatient de le rapport complet avec photos.
Notre passage de la frontière a également été lente d'environ une heure et demie avec la ligne à partir de la franchise (Peace Bridge).

Hein? Rhybak sera pas de retour l'année prochaine? C'est une déception.

SgtCrabby

[son of melvin]

Glad to hear you had a good trip, agreed it's not just about the fishing but the whole experience of being there. Our turn starts tomorrow... 10am pickup and it's off to Alwaki!