FULL SWING

With the 2017 fishing season now in full swing I would have to say the overall fishing reports have been good.  Water temps are slowly creeping  up which will definitely help the fishing go from good to great.  From lake to lake reports are different but if you are targeting walleye your normal spring depths are in play.  There have been several small hatches of early spring insects which keep the walleye feeding in shallow water.  Trout and northern pike fishing seem to be a day to day thing, we will have customers do good to day and someone else won’t do as good tomorrow.  Overall surface temps are in the 50’s, again it really depends on the day and the lake.  Water levels are still very low for this time of year.  For those of you who like to perch fish, things are still slow and need the water temps to hike up, when we  see some weed growth, the action should start up.  Outpost fishing has been excellent , big numbers and some really quality fish being caught.

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COOL OPENER

Even though the area had ice out a month ago water temperatures are not quite at where they need to be.  Find the warmest water on the lakes and you should do OK.  Anglers yesterday had mixed reports but a few boats did really well, 3 to 6 feet of water and south facing shore lines.  The afternoon bite seems to be better than early morning  which makes sense as the water temps rise throughout the day.  Feeder creeks that have warm water flowing into the lake is always a go to spot at this time of year.  Bush lakes are running morning surface temps in the low 50’s and some of our areas larger bodies are even cooler than that.  The low 60 degree mark is optimal and with a little sunshine in the forecast we should hit that in a week or so.  With warmer water comes the hatches of several insects that will trigger the walleyes’ dinner bell.  Northern pike fishing has been slow to average and the lake trout still seem to be deep.  We are a few warm days away from a few key hatches and the the trout will be right on top the water column.  Trout lakes are holding temperatures in the 40’s.  Water levels in lakes and streams are low for this time of year.

Getting Close

Things are melting fast and the water temps are on the rise.  We are seeing Northern Pike in Pickerel Creek already starting to spawn.  Ice is still on the lakes but going fast.  Won’t be long and the walleyes will be in the creeks having their annual spawn.

A last minute ice fishing trip over the weekend in the north produced  some really nice fish.  Thought we would share some pics of  40 plus inch northern pike.

Betty and I are working on opening the camp and look forward to see many of you very soon.

The Melt is On

Would love to say the fish are on but things have been hit or miss.  Ice fishing in general has been exactly like that for the most part.  We are getting mixed reports from one outing to another.  The walleye have not moved into their spawning areas as of last week but we are starting to melt and creeks are starting to flow, bringing warmer water into the lakes.  The walleye should be moving in shallow and/or staging in-front of their spawning areas.  Depending on the day and the lake,  trout fishing has been mixed.  We have experienced some great days and some off days as well.  Crappie probably have been the most steady fish to catch but even they have put up a challenge.  Pickerel Creek has opened up in the “current” areas  which is about 2 1/2 weeks earlier than last year.  We could see an early spring if  weather trends stay on course.

 

LAST MINUTE CANCELATION: Opening June 10th to June 17th.  Only cabin available this spring and it is a great time of year to fish NW Ontario.

Wolf Hunt

Joe Bruan from Minnesota hunted hard and connected this week on a beautiful mature black wolf.  A trophy like this is what some hunters only dream about.  Wolf hunts are not for the faint at heart.  Long cold sits from dark to dark create a mental challenge that is extremely gratifying when things come together.  Way to Joe!

Ice fishing has been pretty good.  Crappie have been steady and trout fishing has been steady as well.  We do not have many walleye reports.  Trout have been suspended over deep water.  Fishing over 70 plus feet but working the 40 feet column.  Electronics are a must.  The crappie bite comes and goes, waiting for a school to come buy takes a bit but rewarded when it does.

SPRING AVAILABILITY : JUNE 24TH TO JULY 1ST  UP TO 8 PEOPLE

2017

 

We hope everyone is having a good start to 2017.  We wanted to let you know that we have been having problems with our phone.  For the time being if you can’t get through or get a busy signal please shoot us an email.  It seems the problem is only from some parts of the US.

Winter has pretty much settled in, cold and snow is surly the theme.  Trout season opened on January 1st and the first week of season was action packed for most.  35 to 50 feet of water with the old standard white tube jig seemed to be the ticket.  Mixed reports for walleye and crappie thus far this year.  Fisherman north of us struggled a bit on some normally excellent winter hot spots and some friends have been putting fish on the ice in the Dryden area.  Ice conditions vary along with slush conditions.  High water levels this past fall again will make some of those creek passages a bit iffy.  I have not heard of any excellent crappie reports but the season is definitely early.

Our Spring bookings are solid but we do have a cabin avaiable the week of June 24th.  We will keep you informed of any cancelations .  If you are looking for something to do in 2017 Dave will be guiding a spring bear hunt, and will also be guiding mid-summer and fall musky trips.  We are also expanding our wolf hunt by a couple of hunters so if anyone is interested let us know.  We have a couple of spots avaiable in March of 2018.  For those of you who like to bird hunt you should really think about a fall grouse/fishing trip.  Season starts the 15th of September.  It is a great time of year to be in NW Ontario.

 

 

A buddy of ours was trying to make us a bit jealous with an openning day lake trout.

Merry Christmas Everyone

IMERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

                                        FROM PICKEREL CREEK CAMP AND OUTPOST

 

THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE A MINUTE AND REFLECT ON THE YEAR WE HAD.  WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL TO ALL OF YOU THAT MAKE OUR LIVES SO ENJOYABLE AND FILL ALL OF OUR HOPES AND DREAMS.  WE HAVE BEEN AT PCC FOR 13 YEARS NOW AND WE ARE STILL ENJOYING EVERY BIT OF IT.   THE REPEAT BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE IS SECOND TO NONE AND THE REFERRALS YOU GIVE KEEP US GROWING EVERY YEAR.  WE CAN NOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH.  PLEASE HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHRISTMAS AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN 2017.  THANK YOU!

FISHING

ALMOST 4 IN A ROW.  FISHING WAS EXCELLENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.  NUMBERS AND QUALITY FISH OF ALL SPECIES WERE PLENTIFUL FOR MOST ANGLERS.  THE HIGHLIGHT FOR MANY IS THE SIZE OF FISH PEOPLE ARE NOW BOATING ON A REGULAR BASIS.  THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR WAS A BIT MORE CHALLENGING.  RISING WATERS LEVELS AND BAIT FISH SCATTERED KEPT WALLEYE DEEP THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.  FINDING FISH DEEP IS NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO SOMETIMES.  OUR FALL BITE WAS SPOTTY AND ACTUALLY CAME LATER THAN NORMAL.  NW ONTARIO ALSO ENJOYED ABOVE NORMAL FALL TEMPERATURES AND MANY ANGLERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF FISHING LATER THAN EVER BEFORE.

HUNTING

THE BEAR HUNT STARTS OUR HUNTING SEASON AND BOY WAS IT A GOOD ONE.  BY FAR WE SAW MORE ANIMALS, INCLUDING MATURE ANIMALS, THAN WE HAVE HAD ON CAMERAS IN AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.  IF YOU WERE TO ASK WHY THE SUDDEN JUMP I WOULD SAY I DON’T KNOW, BUT FOOD ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ANIMAL ACTIVITY.  EVERY STAND HAD MULTIPLE BEARS ON THEM ALONG WITH MATURE BRUINS FOR THE PATIENT HUNTER.  MOOSE HUNTING WAS PATCHY DEPENDING ON THE UNIT YOU WERE IN.  WE HEARD OF GROUPS WITH EXCELLENT HUNTS AND SOME THAT REALLY STRUGGLED.  POCKETS OF MOOSE AND DEER IN SOME AREAS ARE DEFINITELY SMALLER IN NUMBERS.  DEER POPULATIONS ARE STRUGGLING TO REBOUND.    THIS YEAR GROUSE NUMBERS WERE OFF THE CHARTS AND WHAT A GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO MIX A LITTLE BIRD HUNTING WITH SOME FALL FISHING.

OGANI OUTPOST

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OUTPOST YOU KNOW WHAT A SPECIAL PLACE IT IS.  FISHING WAS EXCELLENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.  MOOSE HUNTING WAS ACTION PACKED AND FREEZERS WERE FILLED.  2017 LOOKS TO BE THE YEAR THAT A NEW SHOWER BUILDING AND DECK WILL BE BUILT.  WEATHER DEPENDANT YOU MAY SEE ONE BEFORE OPENER.

 

PCC NEWS

WE CONTINUE TO TRY AND MAKE YOUR STAY AS ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE.  WE WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE THESE ARE YOUR PERSONAL CABINS IN CANADA. CABIN 2,3, AND 4 HAD NEW BEDS PUT IN THIS YEAR AND THE REST OF THE CABINS SHOULD SEE NEW SLEEP TIME COMFORT IN 2017.  AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALL CABINS WILL BE SMOKE FREE IN 2017.  WE DID CONSTRUCT A NEW PAVILION THIS PAST SUMMER AND HOPE TO GET THE FINISHING TOUCHES DONE THIS SPRING.  THE PAVILION WILL HAVE GRILLS, DEEP FRYERS AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, A WOOD COOK OVEN AND STOVE TOP.  WE WILL BE INSTALLING A BAR AREA AND A FIRE PIT AS WELL.  IT WILL BE COMPLETELY SCREENED IN.  YAY!!!!! NO MORE BUGS.  THERE WAS LOTS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON HIGHWAY 105 THIS SUMMER INCLUDING THE PICKEREL CREEK BRIDGE PROJECT.  WE THINK EVERYONE WILL ENJOY THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA.  THERE WILL BE MORE ROAD WORK FROM VERMILLION BAY NORTH ON HWY 105 TO APRIL ROAD IN 2017.  WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR BLOG FOLLOWERS.  THIS YEAR WE MARKED 15,000 WTH 3,500 NEWCOMERS.