May 16th was opening day for the 2009 Walleye season. This year the ice went off Eva Lake on May 6th. For this area of Ontario, that is an average time for ice break up, so we had plenty of time to set up all the outpost cabins for our eager fishermen to arrive. The water levels after spring run off were above average. Then came the spring rains. It seemed like every other day we had some form of precipitation. The temperatures for May and June were below normal. The trend stayed the same throughout the summer. September was the warmest month of the year. There were very few fires this season, although once in awhile a lightning strike would start a fire which did not burn very long due to the wet forest.

With this years weather patterns, the fishing was excellent all summer as there were a lot of cloudy days, and walleye fishing is typically more productive on cloudy days. McGinnis Lake was used again this summer and as always, the fishing was exceptional. When the guests found the best fishing hot spots, many of the walleye were over the size limit and needed to be released, but still had plenty of fish for a shore-lunch. There were Smallmouth Bass caught up to 5+ lbs. The biggest Northern was also caught by Gary Lockhart at McGinnis Lake this year – 49 ¼” on July 13th. The Bemar Lake chain never let anybody down. When the weather was rough, those football sized Bass kept on biting. The Walleye fishing can drop off a bit during mid-summer at Bemar Lake, but the whole system produces quality size fish all season long. The catch-and-release program is working well. Jim Keightley from St. Louis caught the biggest Smallmouth Bass at 23”.

P.S. – Sorry to the Gabrisko party who followed the wrong trail and could not find the new outhouse at Bemar Lake Cabin, and stood up the old biffy. There is always next year!

Mosher Lake’s water level in the spring was at a record high. Guests were able to run through all the narrows without any trouble. Walleye were caught all over the lake. When water levels dropped, the walleye moved into the deeper water. By mid-July, the northern pike fishing was excellent, 30” – 40” Northern were always a part of the daily catch. Ninty-Seven year-old David Wertzberger from Dubuque, IA, and his sons went to Mosher Lake this season. David continues to amaze us with his good health and witty spirit! He always leaves saying, I'll see you next year!

The only way to describe Wapikaimaski Lake this year was “unreal”. Due to it’s size and depth, it produces almost unlimited 2 – 4lb. Walleye, and also produces many really big lunkers. Chris Hacker caught the biggest Walleye of the year – 30 ¼” - on Wapikaimaski Lake. Another guest landed a 46” Northern.

The Gridiron/Sassafras Lake chain was very busy this season with great numbers of fish during the mid-day hours. With dark stained water and a good Walleye chop, it made for a good combination. With a few sightings at other lakes, the only real nuisance bear we had this summer was at Gridiron. A fisherman from Southern Ontario was given permission to shoot the 300lb. bear on the dock. It was getting too close for comfort.

Mountairy and Loganberry Lakes usually rate the same every summer for exceptional fish size and quantity. As for great fishing stories, the Geislinger group who fished Loganberry Lake this summer really stand out! They kept count on the number of Walleye caught and released.
It was over 1244 fish in three days! WOW!

Mountairy and Loganberry Lakes did not have ice in the ice houses this year. The winter conditions were terrible. With all the slush on the lakes, we could not get to the cabins with snowmobiles to stockpile the ice.

So all in all, the fishing for the 2009 season was a great success. Thanks again for your enthusiasm and co-operation. We could not do it without you!

Biggest Fish Contest:

Smallmouth Bass – Jim Keightley – Bemar – 23”

Every spring we find surprises that create extra work for us to get the camps ready. Usually it is dock damage. This year the wind was blowing in a bad direction when the ice was going out. The pressure of the moving ice damaged the docks on Bemar, McGinnis, Grew and Gridiron Lakes.

A new 16’ x 12’ dock was put in at Grew Lake and ice damaged the main crib at Bemar Lake. This year, a new crib was put in and a dock was built, which will be put into the water after ice out, just in case the ice takes it out again in the spring of 2010.

The post dock at Gridiron Lake was re-fastened, and the main floater re-anchored. A new laminate floor was also put down in the kitchen and hallway. New boat ramps were made out of logs and new fuel tank put in at Wapikaimaski Lake. The outhouse at Loganberry Lake was re-positioned for better flushing, and Bemar Lake has a new outhouse - just take the correct path!

January will remind us how bitterly cold Canada can be with daily highs of 20 degrees below F and nightly lows sometimes as cold as 45 below F. We will enjoy our visits south to the sports shows! Keep watching our website for updates about the shows we are attending in your area, then come out and visit Fern, Brian, Don and Jim on the circuit.

Upgrades

Generally, all of our remote outpost cabins need a little regular maintenance throughout the season, such as docks, walkways, boat ramps, outhouses, etc.

After 36 years of beatin' around the bush of Northwestern Ontario I have decided to hang up my wings and go into semi retirement mode.

This has not been an easy decision. I have been very fortunate to have the cockpit of the famous deHavilland Beaver as my office for many years. I have soared among the eagles and watched many sunsets disappear over the horizon on so many occasions. Let me tell you there are no two flights or sights the same.

I could write a pretty interesting book on the things I have seen, done and had happen in my flying career, I’ll leave that for another time.

As many of you have known over the past years, I said I was going to retire at 65.

Well that came and went in 2008, here we are going into 2010.

This past summer you had the opportunity to meet Brian Wallace, the new face and pilot at Kashabowie Outposts; I sold my shares in the company to Brian and his wife Marlene this spring (2009) and continued working throughout the rest of the season.

Brian has a long history in aviation and business. He had flown for Fern (before Fern and I went into business together) at the old original base on Shebandowan Lake and then went on to pursue his flying career with some of the major airlines that service Canada, US and International Countries. It's always been Brian's dream to get back into bush-plane flying and become an Outfitter.

Fern and I had been talking with Brian about this for a while and it had to be coordinated to transition smoothly at the right time. It was decided by all that the spring of 2009 would work the best.

I wish Brian and Fern all the best in the coming years, we all know where the economy is, but they will still be there to offer you one of Canada's best fishing adventures. You have my guarantee on that.

Now don’t breathe a big sigh of relief, because you haven’t seen the last of me yet. I will still be attending the usual sport shows that I normally have done in the past and working part time as much as they want me to each season, which sounds like a fair bit.

I have a loving wife, two sons, a daughter, 5 grandchildren, in-laws, outlaws and family that I am going to drive nuts for a while. I also need to put some miles on the new Harley Davidson that my wife so graciously got me for a retirement gift... don’t know if it means; 'hit the road Jack and don’t come back no more, no more !!!!!!!!!!!'

I have been blessed with making many very good friendships over the years in this business and will never forget that. I hope I have treated each and everyone of you with the courtesy and respect you deserve. If I was traveling in any state in the US and had a problem or just wanted to stop and say hello, I know there would always be someone I could contact, so don't block my calls please!

My co-workers, Fern, Carol, Jim, Liz, Brian, Al, Shawn, Josh and others at Kashabowie Outposts have been the best team I have ever worked with (if you can even call it work) and I have done a lot of things in my life. It is their commitment and dedication that have taken our company to the high level of success we have achieved over the past ten years.

Thanks to them all. There was never a day that I did not want to go to work, they made my life easy and I appreciate that.

You know the sign you hang on your door, "GONE FLYING", well I need to get four more made: "GONE FISHING", "GONE RIDING", "GONE CRUISING" (also have a classic car that needs to get used) and "MY CHOICE".

My best wishes to everyone, and Happy New Year!

Kashabowie Outposts would like to thank all of their guests for returning each year for another fill of adventure, fun and just great memories with friends and family!

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