Fireworks!

            July is a special time of the year for many.

West Lake Football

            The gathering of friends and family and celebrations continue to peak here in Opasquia. This week will likely be our busiest of the summer with several groups in camp that are dear friends, many mulit-generational family trips, and some honoring those that can no longer make the journey – bringing granddad’s cooler or tacklebox and some photos of the “old guys” in the “old days” to share also.

It’s an important time for the local eco-system too, as the sun’s energy is turned into biomass at an amazing rate. You can almost watch the trees, shrubs, and grass grow. I’ve had to trim the trees on some of our walking paths several times of the past few weeks - they just keep growing back. The weed beds in the lakes have bloomed like crazy. Every member of the food chain seems ravenous, as many are aware this peak won’t last
long.

To say the fishing has been "great" wouldn’t do it justice. Stories of incredible catches abound from all our locations. I got a hug the other night from a group at Central after they boated their 8^th trophy pike in just two days of fishing.

Central Lake: fish longer 
than the fisherman

Reports of trophy walleye and pike from all the camps seem to be the norm. South Lake boated a 28.5” walleye yesterday. West Lake’s outbound group said their biggest pike was just under 40” and they had numerous 22 – 28” walleyes. I didn’t get tallies from Cocos, but that group of regulars mentioned that “it just keeps getting better.”

Top water lures have taken over as the favorite bait for our pike fisherman with several stories of leaping fish smashing buzz baits and Whopper Ploppers. The old, trusty Silver Minnow has gotten a lot of attention too.

Folks targeting walleye have been finding them in 10 – 15’ of water and have been using medium depth crank baits and jigs / twister tails with great success.

We are fortunate to not have any active fires currently in close proximity to any of our locations, but many fires continue to burn across Canada and a perfectly clear day has been rare as of late. It just depends on which way the winds are blowing as to what fire(s) we are getting smoke from. Hoping for more rain for all of northern Canada sometime soon.

Lake levels have held surprisingly steady. I would say low, but still in the “normal” category.

A hog out of the Fishbowl

            Our mayfly hatch this year was sporadic with the first waves coming much earlier than I expected (end of June), and hatches here and there that lasted for about two weeks. With how spotty they were, fishing did not seem to be affected much.

It’s hard to believe that we are now in the last week of July. Enjoy the peak of summer while you can, everyone – many of us wait all year for this!

Till next time: good fishing and good times, R.

South Lake Sunset

Revved up…

West Lake walleye!

As we stare down the third week of June, we now have all the camps open and full. It’s always a good feeling when the opening work is done. Now we can transition to upkeep and improvements - and maybe sneak in a little fishing ourselves.

Most all of our cabins and facilities wintered well. Southwest, the last to open, came with the most challenges. An angry bear seemed to have taken out his angst on the cabin, tearing out every screen and also a good portion of the plumbing and sewer lines. Mother nature (at least I hope it was wind and not the bear) also toppled over a giant tree that we found leaning in the path the airplanes need to taxi / dock. Fortunately, all were fairly easy fixes and with a few swipes of the chainsaw and some replacement pipes, all our camps were fully operational.

The weather has been all over the place since my last report (it was snowing at that time). We’ve had hot, cold, mist, snow, wind, calm, smoke, clouds, and sun. What we haven’t had much of is rain. Fortunately, there is some in the forecast, which would be very welcomed.

Adam considers a jump into the lake. 

I’ve fielded several inquiries about the fire situation up here. As many may have read about in the news, Sandy Lake was evacuated due to a fire that started near Deer Lake, another First Nations community about 40 miles SW of Sandy Lake. That fire traveled very quickly and burnt more than 700 square miles of terrain. Fortunately, it stopped just a few kilometers away from Sandy Lake, which was evacuated as a precaution. While the fire isn’t completely out it is substantially subdued, getting just enough precipitation and favorable winds.

Closer to home, we did have a fire that started due to a lightning strike just outside the SW boundary of Opasquia Provincial Park. It was nearest to our Burnt Lake cabin. That fire gave myself and a few guests at Burnt a little bit of a fright, but again, we thankfully received just enough rain to tamp it down and winds that have not allowed it to travel any closer to our camps.

Toothy smiles!

Significant rain is expected in the next few days and will hopefully put out both fires entirely.

The fishing hot spots have been slightly unpredictable, but after a little searching, the catches have been predictably outstanding. With low later levels a lot of the small feeder creeks, typical June go-to spots, have not been producing quite like they normally do. With the water temps still pretty cold (surface temps are just starting to break 60F), fish are still relating to shallow mud flats and large boulders that soak up the sun. Most are being found in 4-8’ of water.

Some highlights so far include a 43” pike and several more in the upper 30’s at West Lake. A few 27” walleyes were boated at West Lake also. This week’s group at South Lake already has 10+ trophy walleye, the largest measuring 28.5”. A 40” pike started the tally at Central on week one, and since, guests have pulled in several around that length and at least one 28” walleye. This week’s guests at Southwest lost count of their fish by Sunday afternoon (their first day on the water). Cocos also had a few large pike on the “brag board”.  

Sunny skies and walleyes...

Hot baits and lures have included: Mepp’s Black Fury Spinners, orange jig heads tipped with Berkley Power Minnows and Ripple Shad, and Storm Hot N Tot’s in metallic gold and chartreuse.

I’ve only gotten a handful of photos back from guests so far this year. If you were recently fishing with us and want show off a fish or two, I, our incoming guests, and those that can no longer join us, love seeing your photos! Please don’t be shy 😉.

It’s great to be in the full swing of things and looking forward to most of the summer ahead. We have had a few random cancelations, so if you are thinking of a late hour trip, please reach out and we’ll see if any of them might suit.

Otherwise, have a great summer and good luck on the water everyone!

 

  

And so it begins!

The countdown to Big Hook’s 2025 season opener is down to the single digits (8 days)!

I was able to make into camp on May 15th and was welcomed with freezing rain, sleet, and snow.

Central Lake seems to have wintered well, and the power, water, woodstove, and internet all came online with ease. The sauna is the next facility to get up and running. I am taking a break from outside tasks and warming up inside in the meantime.

There have been several folks asking about how things look, so thought I’d take advantage of a little office time and get out a report. 

I can’t offer details on the fishing – I’ll need a helping hand to get some boats in the water (Maria and Adam are stuck and waiting on the weather in Winnipeg and Red Lake respectively). But, the trees are starting to bud (usually a sign that the walleye bite should commence shortly) and with warmer, more spring-like weather in the forecast, I have to believe the fish will be active and hungry once we get a little sunshine.

The water levels look average to slightly above for this time of year. The ground was saturated prior to the storm. Now, with probably near an inch of snow / water equivalent, I expect them to come up a little more as this precip. all melts and finds its way into our waterways. A good start.

There have been several forest fires already in NW Ontario. None of them are close to our operations (nor should impact guests traveling thereto), but unfortunately have affected some communities and outfitters elsewhere in the region. Hopefully this same weather extinguishes, or at least significantly tamps these down.

Good luck to those braving the elements on the Ontario fishing opener today – we’re looking forward to joining you shortly!

We’ll be busy with the business of opening all the camps through the next few weeks, but hopefully I’ll have a more substantive fishing report soon.

Happy “summer” everyone!

Ryan 

Warmth in the forecast!

Ripp adding to the downed lumber
on the boardwalk. 

CATCH you later....

It’s hard to believe, but we are wrapped up for the 2024 season at Big Hook!

Texas takes on Central Lake

It seems that summer always goes too fast; the later half of this one felt like a time warp. I guess it’s also true, time flies when you are having fun.

And it was a very fun late season, with just one caveat – the fire that continued to burn for weeks on end, threatening both the Burnt Lake and Cocos Lake cabins. Fortunately, both were sparred thanks to the hard work of the Ontario MNR firefighters and a little luck / help from up above. Quenching rains came just as the fire was about a mile southwest of Cocos and nearing 50,000 acres.

August often brings northern light shows

The extremely dry weather this summer led to lake levels at record lows – down about 4’ from normal at all our locations. Hopefully it’s a snowy winter in NW Ontario so we can start off 2025 closer to average – it will make the snowmobilers happy in Red Lake and Sandy Lake too.

Fishing remained outstanding through the end. Maria, Adam, and I were able get out and test the product some as we pulled portage motors, buoys, and the windsock at Central and found dense schools of walleye. It was easy work pulling in the last, unlucky, to-be-fried fish of the summer. Late season guests did well with both walleye and pike, as their metabolism is still peaked and they put on lbs. for the cold months ahead (the fish, not the fisherman).

In late August we saw a few days with heavy winds. During this cycle, the pike seemed to be relating to rocky points, probably hunting weary and tired prey fish worn out from fighting the currents. I witnessed one trophy fish being pulled up on a ½ oz. bucktail jig. Before and after the wind event, top water action was busy as ever.

West Lake 30"er!

Several trophy pike were boated in early September at West Lake on green and red Rapalas and June Bug spinners.

As noted, the walleyes were grouped up in massive schools and feeding heavily. One group at Central reported floating atop a gentle drop-off leading from a sheltered bay to bigger water and catching “hundreds of 18”- 20” walleye” at about 20’.

Several moose sightings were reported at Southwest, West, and South Lakes. On one of our forays around Central, Maria, Adam, and I spotted a wolf walking the shore – a first for me in Canada!

With the closing of the camps and the departure of our last guests comes a lot of projects that have been on the to-do list. The foundation at Burnt Lake kept us busy for a few days. Frost heaves there shoved the cabin forward – as if the threat off fire wasn’t enough. It’s better than new now, however. West Lake saw a new set of stairs and new chimney pipe installed. Southwest Lake got a new refrigerator, some power system upgrades, and brush cutting. Cocos also got a lot of brushing work done in addition to a heli-pad for the MNR helicopters (so they didn’t have to continue hovering on our dock - see pic). And, the solar installation at South Lake is now complete, making all of our locations operate primarily on renewables (there’s still a generator backup at each location too). The last northbound planes heading up to fly out our final guests of the year delivered several brand-new outboards that we will be eager to fire up in 2025.

MNR firefighting helicopter at Cocos

My most sincere thanks to all our guests and my staff that made this summer possible. It was one for the memory books. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you.

We are now taking reservations for all of 2025! There are some great weeks still available for the second half of summer. Please reach out you’d like more details. “Quit wishin’ and come fishing“ as they say. Thanks again everybody for an outstanding 2024! We’re looking forward to 2025 already. Have a happy fall and winter in the meantime, Ryan

Another hog from South Lake

Final flight of the year for the 2024 Big Hook staff

Awesome August...

It’s been go, go, go since our last post with nary a rainy day to hunker down and write a proper report. 

The second half of summer has been hot and dry with high chances of heavy fish.

Central Lake Trophy Walleye

Lots of great specimens have been boated since our last update. A 44” pike among other tanks out of West Lake, several 40+” pike and football shaped walleye out of Central, photo worthy fish and huge numbers at Cocos and Southwest, and at least FORTY trophy walleye (and several trophy pike) out of South Lake in the last month! Needless to say there’s been lots of big smiles.

The fish seem to be everywhere. Reports of gangbuster catches in anything from 3’ to 28’ of water for both walleye and pike have come in. Walleye have been found on shallow reefs, deep holes, and in the weed beds too. I can attest to the same after getting on the water yesterday afternoon – I was sight fishing walleye on a mid-bay hump in 3 – 5’ of water and then caught them at 22’ a short boat ride away. We also had top water walleye strikes while throwing bucktails and buzz baits for pike. The walleye are hungry! The pike were incredibly aggressive too, latching on to every 4^th or 5^th cast. A pair of brothers at Central last week boated both of these monsters. 

You’ll notice Burnt Lake is left out of the reports. Unfortunately, we’ve had to shut down operations there for the past few weeks as a large wildfire has picked up in intensity nearby. The cabin looks to be safe, but the shoreline that burnt in 2011 (taking the old cabin with it) has reburned along with several thousand acres to the north along the Manitoba border. We are hoping the weather pattern will change by next week and we will start to get some precipitation. Pilot Adam spent much of yesterday washing and waxing the airplane to try and coax in a sprinkle. Also of note, the water is down in all lakes about 4 feet from normal – currently the lowest I have ever seen it.

Central Lake Trophy Pike

The dry weather has led to a bumper blueberry crop, but the raspberries have been almost non-existent.

Numerous wildlife sightings continue with the moose starting to move. Bears have been seen (thankfully) far away from camp munching in berry patches. A troublesome squirrel with a sweet tooth has been harassing anyone with a candy bar at West Lake (rehoming efforts are currently underway). We got a great show of the blue, super moon last night, and northern light sightings are starting to become more common as the days grow a little shorter (current sunset at 8:30 pm with darkness setting in around 9:00pm).

It's hard to believe we only have another few weeks of the season to go. BUT, we’ll look to savor my favourite time of year up here with gold leaves beginning to emerge, some fantastic fishing no doubt, and (hopefully) a few rainy days to quench the fire.

Smoke rises from the Burnt Lake fire. 

Good luck and happy fishing,

Ryan

Mid-July, Oh My!

It’s hard to believe the most patriotic of both Canadian and US holidays have come and gone, but what a month of fishing!

30" Walleye South Lake

There are some absolute hogs being boated at all our lakes and the numbers are out of the park too (well actually IN the provincial park, but you know what I mean).

The last group out of South Lake reported several walleye in the mid to upper 20’s with one breaching the 30” mark.

Burnt Lake beat up on the big girls too with both trophy pike and walleye in the boat. Last week’s group also got into a mess of perch.

West Lake has seen several trophies of both species also.

Recent groups at Southwest reported a few mid-20’s walleye and one recent group caught 550 fish in just two hours (2 boats) and more than 3000 through the week!

I missed a report for the outgoing Cocos group, but we’ll try to catch up with the current guests later this week.

Suffice it to say, though, the fishing has been gang-busters!

Heck of a stinger out of SW

I haven’t heard of anything wild or new in the favorite lure category, a lot of silver and gold colored spoons, 3/8 oz jigs, and crankbaits are listed beside the trophy fish on the brag boards in camp.

Summer is in full swing with hot temps and (usually) brief afternoon thunder showers almost daily. Fortunately, they have been all benign save one big wind event we had three weeks ago.

With the hot temps, we are starting to see a mayfly hatch at Central, and presumably our other lakes too. I think they should be in full force the next few days with continued warm weather. It is usually a remarkably brief affair lasting a week or less. They are quite prolific, however, covering everything from the boats, motors, grills, cabins, to the airplane. They are supposed to be a strong indicator of a healthy ecosystem, so I guess we have that going for us. Which is nice.

We’re now staring down the back half of summer. The walleye should creep down deeper and form some dense schools. The pike will claim their turf in the weedbeds and cabbage – top water fun will ensue.

We did have one recent and unfortunate health related cancelation that frees up a week at Central,7/28 – 8/4. There is also one more opening this summer at South Lake: 8/18 – 8/25. Please reach out anytime if a last minute trip is in the cards for you.

South Lake 37"

Thanks so much for everyone that shared trip reports and photos. And thank you for reading and happy summer, everyone!

Time for shore lunch!

It's Summer (right?)!

It’s been a busy month since we first arrived at Central Lake to kick off the 2024 season at Big Hook!

We have been hard at work getting the cabins, boats, and equipment prepped for our guests – the first of whom often arrive within just a few days of us.

Winter was relatively kind to all our locations with the exception of Burnt Lake. Large frost heaves there necessitated some foundation work before we could even get in the cabin.

Things otherwise turned on and opened up well, and before we knew it, the business of reassembling the cabins was over and the lakes were buzzing with outboards and fishermen.

The spring weather has been another story. It has been a very cold and wet start to our season. We even got a good shot of snow! Just three weeks ago, we woke up to several inches blanketing the whole park.

Fortunately, the pattern seems to be changing and we are now parked under some high pressure with blue skies and (moderately) warmer temps. Upper 70’s are in the forecast by next week. It will feel good and maybe the chainsaw can have a rest.

The camps are now all open and busy. Reports have been coming in and the consensus is that the fish and bugs seem a little confounded by the weather too. There have been reports of white hot bites in 3’ of water. Other groups were working a little harder for their fish and finding them deeper (9-10’). Some this week reported walleyes still milting or egg laden (about a month late). Guests last week reported a spotty mayfly hatch (about a month early). Confusing.

Many of our regular guests that return to the same lake, same week are simply stating that the fish are busy and active, but just not where they have found them in year’s past. 

I’ve only had the chance to wet a line a few times myself, but did make it out for an hour or on Wednesday in preparation for the weekly Central Lake fish fry. I took Maria and new pilot, Adam, to a spot right near camp I have caught an easy supper at in mid-Junes gone by. Nothing. I cast a little closer towards shore and my jig was immediately slammed. We moved the boat a few feet from the rocks and caught the 5 we needed for dinner in about 5 minutes.

In addition to our stringer full, there have been reports of lots trophy fish being boated too. South Lake reeled in a 28” walleye on a hot’n tot. Cocos lake has a 27.5” and a few more at 25” on the board too. The current Central Lake group also has a walleye tied largest to date at 28” (3/8 oz jig). We’ve heard about several pike in the upper 30 – lower 40 inch range. At least one pike in the 40’s was boated during West Lake’s opening week 5/26-6/2 and “lots of northerns from 33"-41" the week after. Some successful lures were a 4” 5 of Diamonds and a twister tail tipped silver minnow.

For folks tracking other seasonal patterns up here, the black flies have come and gone – a very short season for them. The mosquitos are fierce right now, but seem stunted in their growth. What they lack in size, they certainly seem to be making up with in numbers. The pollen has come off the pines (it looked like a dust storm early this week). All the deciduous leaves are popped and trees are looking full. Lots of wildlife are out and about; several black bears and moose have been spotted. Water levels started off much higher than I anticipated (the second highest I have ever seen when we first arrived), but have been going down quickly despite all the precipitation (I wonder it some trees fell or ice blocks formed a damn below Cocos which have since given way). And, there has yet to be a wildfire in Northwestern Ontario (knock on wood).

We’re looking forward to settling in to what should be an outstanding summer.

I will do my best to keep updates and fresh reports coming for those with travels pending. There are one or two open weeks towards the end of our season if anyone is thinking of a trip still. For those that have recently been to Big Hook, please don’t be shy about emailing us some pictures – we love to share them.

Thanks so much for reading and happy summer everyone!