stanley Report post Posted August 11, 2013 It's been a busy couple of months for me. One kid off to ASU and my little girl finally in high school, plus lots of work along the way. That being said, we found some time for fun! Took almost three weeks off starting in mid-July for a couple of vacations. The first 10 days were spent on a fishing trip in Ontario, Canada and the last 1/2 in San Diego with the kids. Lots of adventure and relaxation! First was Canada! I was fortunate enough to be invited with some friends on a trip that they do every year. 8 of us flew into a remote lake in Northwest Ontario for 7 days of amazing fishing. We were after Northern Pike and Walleye. 100% catch/release, except for the Walleye we kept for dinner every other day or so. I had never been to Canada or on a 'fly-in' trip before, and it GREATLY exceeded my expectations! Here are a couple of pics/clips: SORRY FOR THE SIZE. Working on re-sizing files! Loading the float plane for the trip into the cabin I got to ride shotgun on the plane-ride in! One of the MANY Walleye that we caught. Sunset from the deck on the cabin we were staying in. End of a long/great day of fishing...... Look at this sucker! Won the 'Big Fish' award for the week! I was lucky enough to be in the boat with Bill when he caught it! Here is a quick clip of Bill reeling-in that big one. This was my first view of a BIG Northern Pike. Think I get buck fever when hunting deer? Turn-up your speakers and listen to me have a meltdown when I got a look at this pig! lol (VERY short video) Gene and one of TWO 40+ in Northern Pike that he caught during the week! Again, I was lucky enough to be in the boat with him when he brought this thing in. Lure hitting the water on a cool and misty morning........ (credit for this pic goes to Matt, not me....) Fishing an amazing little inlet/portage area between lakes. Amazing country!! BTW, both of those big Northern Pike were caught on ultra-light 6lb test tackle. Awesome fun!!!! After the Canadian wilderness trip, it was awesome to spend a week on the beach with the kids on Coronado Island just chilling! No pics uploaded from that trip, but everyone knows what Boogie-boarding on the beach looks like! Happy summer to everyone and good luck in the fall!!!! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Wow. That is fantastic, and looks like great fun. Always wanted to do one of those fly in trips. Used to catch Northerns in Minnesota as a kid, but it's been a long time. Did you see any good bear action up there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Ok Stan you are in charge of the very first cwt North Of The Border Fishing Trip. Just kidding you know but wouldn't that be a blast? Thanks Stan for sharing. There's no doubt you had a great trip by the looks of those pictures. I envy you my friend. Glad to see you having the time of your life and getting some much deserved relaxation with friends away from the everyday hassle. Then come home and spend some time with the kids in San Diego had to have been the icing on the cake. Thanks Stan for sharing your trip and I had to watch the video more than once. All I can say is I wish I was in that boat. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Didn't see any bears until the fly-out, Snapshot. One was spotted from the air shortly after take-off. The outfitter that dropped us thought we might see some moose and/or caribou during the week, but we saw neither. The outfitter does drop camps for archery moose in the fall, so I suppose there are some in the area.... Yes TJ, it was a GREAT summer break from the rat-race! The Canada trip was a great check-mark on my life's bucket list, and beach time with the kids is always a real treasure! Here's a quick link to a youtube folder I just opened with some more fishing videos. Look for the "Gene landing the BIG ONE" clip! The guys I went with have a 'gentlemans' policy of NO landing nets! All fish must be landed with-out nets, and no assistance! This was a requirement for bragging rights! Gene man-handled this big thing in! Lots of fun! Fishing videos -> http://www.youtube.com/user/stanleyaz1?feature=watch Plus here's a personal favorite fishing video...... S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Thanks again Stan for sharing them videos with us here. Nice to see the cwt shirt getting in some fishing on the Canadian waters. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 11, 2013 That's awesome!! Those are some beautiful waters to fish! Thanks for the pics! and nice Tshirt!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mocha1545 Report post Posted August 11, 2013 Fantastic pics. Thanks for sharing. Awesome that you got in the fishing and the beach and the beach with the family. Looks like a great time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scooter Report post Posted August 12, 2013 Great pics. Been up that way quite a bit and NOTHING beats an Ontario pike trip!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted August 12, 2013 So I guess you don't lip land a pike right??? Awesome video and very jealous sitting here looking at the pics.......looks like you had a great time.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted August 12, 2013 Stan! Loved the recap of your travels! That fishing trip sure looks like a blast. The views must have been amazing. I love that sunset photo BTW. I'm happy to hear you are enjoying a little bit of the pleasures of life my friend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted August 12, 2013 So I guess you don't lip land a pike right??? Awesome video and very jealous sitting here looking at the pics.......looks like you had a great time.... Thanks Non-Typical Solutions! Yes it was a great time! Actually, that's pretty funny about the 'lip landing'.....! I was a TOTAL novice and had no idea, and hence was not completely prepared. Can you say TEETH??? If you notice, the guys holding the two large Northern Pike in the pictures are wearing golf cloves on their left hand. Still, they preferred to go 'over the top' or under the gill-plate (careful of the gills) to land as opposed to in the mouth! Upon landing the first big one on the pics above, Bill decided to go into the mouth to 'lip land' the fish. After all was done and the fish was released, his glove was bloody..... And it was not fish blood! S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted August 13, 2013 Stan!Loved the recap of your travels! That fishing trip sure looks like a blast. The views must have been amazing. I love that sunset photo BTW. I'm happy to hear you are enjoying a little bit of the pleasures of life my friend. Hey Hector! Missed your reply earlier. Yes, the trip was a blast. I had never been on a fly-in trip, not to mention way up in Canada. Was a great time with some good guys. Views from the boats and plane were constantly impressing me! Trying to enjoy lifes pleasures...... Let's try to hunt or glass together this fall!! (Or at least get together for a beer! ) S. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites