I'll Drill Your Thrill.

[baz fish]

Another great report by moosebunk you shure make good report there bud. 1 day all had to go on a trip like that .

[Chevy Champagne]

another perfect report from moosbunk
WOW i could never amagen catching fish that size great story as well
thanks alot bunk
walleye man

[Big Jim]

DUDE....I'm cured!!!! Well not really, but it felt like it for a few minutes after looking this over....

Looks great on you buddy

BIG JIM

[Moosebunk]

Could it be that you are becoming a victim of your own success? The reports are too good and probably bring more traffic, even to this remote destination. Heck who amongst us hasn't thought for a second of heading up some how. Now how about for those who live in the area? It would be a trip that I would seriously consider if I lived in Cochrane.

Having said that, it was another excellent read and brings spring that much closer. Thanks!

I like responses Chris which probe a little more.

Can't say this year and last I wasn't a little disappointed (spoiled having it all somedays, lol) in the increasing signs of life there. Maybe it's a little cyclic or something... in that people come and go from there in waves. Outfitter told me before I ever started fishing there that, he once flew in and saw 13 planes out of Quebec poaching. Flying in and out and in and out with plane loads of walleye. I have never seen this. I do see more planes than previous years and have been told by at least one person that it was my report that lead them to go there. If he's flying in and taking his walleye limit daily, so be it. When he tells others and they go, so be it. Can't weed out everyone. He!!, the lake is FLY-IN ONLY, even in winter... and I have never been anywhere fishing that isn't more regularily policed by the MNR. From the sky, from behind the bushes on skidoos... they've checked me every year but one... I don't think it's coincidence or headhunting... I think they're in there quite a lot. "Protecting trophy pike broodstock" is kinda how one fella put it to me one day. I help them out in that manner too... having always released trophy pike, and only keeping about 6 medium pike over the last years for the table.

Nothings changed Chris. The Cree used to "use" that area more so than what they do now. The Lodge makes its money off of about 400-500 anglers a year, the actual ice anglers are a drop in the bucket compared to that. If it's the fishery which you and I enjoy so much that's the worry, consider what the fleet of two stroke 9.9's escorting day long, day in and out, week in and out anglers are doing to the fishery over a similar short period as the ice guys.

Should I have kept my mouth shut over the past few years for fear of harming my own opportunities... that's a good freaking question. Wonder how many will actually fish the lake because of an internet post, or how many will feel like they did because of a same internet post??? For those looking to ski, walk, crawl of fly in there in the winter I hope they fish smart. Provincial park regulations are that you can make camp for 3 days then you have to move camp. MNR will be in to check on people. The snow in the bush is good and deep and the lake temps and winds unforgiving. Planes not plugged in will need to have their engines warmed often on some days, weather turns good to bad without warning. No skidoos in the park and only the fallen dead wood found under the snow on the ground may be used for fires.

The traffic came and found me, but more so where the outfitter put us. The lake is huge and other than a few known spots... I've never seen anyone branched out and utilizing it's full potential. One of the very reasons I may have seen more planes around there this year and last is, weather. Read the report and count how many no fly days I had. March and April past two years have been nothing but hit and miss. Tonnes of duck and run days from storms. If I can fly in, so to can someone else... taking advantage of good weather days. Same fishing reality as anywhere else.

[Scum Frog]

'bunk....awesome report as always!!!!!!

[JimmyBuffett]

Very nice bunkeroo.... I think the reality of these trips is not everyone owns a money tree But if I did I'd be there in a sec

[troutnmuskiehunter]

Very nice bunkeroo.... I think the reality of these trips is not everyone owns a money tree But if I did I'd be there in a sec

Or lives within the vicinity to do so...

My mom and her husband worked in the James Bay General hospital for a year back in the 1980's.....sure wish I would have kept in touch with her during those years...

[GR8-Scott]

Awesome report...
WOW - OMG, I can't believe the size of those pike....they're HUGE !

Thanks for sharing.
Scott

[scuro]

Sure the lake does get summer pressure but I'm guessing summer and winter pressure are different beasts. Funny thing about a lake like Kesagami. I could think of three other similar spots to the one you fished. What makes that spot ideal? Walleye are literally everywhere on that lake. My first thought is that it is mostly about a spot that one can take off and land in several directions...and this might be the prime consideration. So I'm wondering if this one spot is just a case of, why mess with a good thing?

The other thing I would like to know a lot more about is pike movement...especially between the seasons. I'm guessing pike move to where dinner is, and if dinner is always there, they would have no reason to move. I'm guessing pike in Kesagami don't move much perhaps within a mile for the whole year. If that is true can you be just as successful in other spots and not have to contend with planes coming in and killing the action for a few hours.

[Moosebunk]

Very nice bunkeroo.... I think the reality of these trips is not everyone owns a money tree But if I did I'd be there in a sec

Special circumstances Rich. You know that. Hard work and sacrifices some would call it... me, I'd call it planning and choice.

Tightlines ya little nutbar.

[Moosebunk]

Sure the lake does get summer pressure but I'm guessing summer and winter pressure are different beasts. Funny thing about a lake like Kesagami. I could think of three other similar spots to the one you fished. What makes that spot ideal? Walleye are literally everywhere on that lake. My first thought is that it is mostly about a spot that one can take off and land in several directions...and this might be the prime consideration. So I'm wondering if this one spot is just a case of, why mess with a good thing?

The other thing I would like to know a lot more about is pike movement...especially between the seasons. I'm guessing pike move to where dinner is, and if dinner is always there, they would have no reason to move. I'm guessing pike in Kesagami don't move much perhaps within a mile for the whole year. If that is true can you be just as successful in other spots and not have to contend with planes coming in and killing the action for a few hours.

Planes killing the action... don't know if it would always be the same circumstance from one day to the next. Depends more likely on the fishes feeding mood... if their skittish that day or aggressive... yada yada. I have found a couple times the bite slows when planes land... but more so when they warm up before take off and then for awhile afterwards. Just observation... no science to it.

Pike movement... I can't think of one time in one year I've measured the same fish twice. This years sizes on average were up from last years. Could be the 39 last year was a 40 this year. Dunno. I have to guess they move in and out of the area a little more than you'd think... unless there's tonnes of them around feeding on the abundant walleye. There has to be some study somewhere which tagged/chipped fish in some waterbody were tracked over a year. Heck, it's done with bass and other fish.

I too Chris can think of 3 other spots which I know have been and do get fished for walleye on ice. They're much like this area... two especially with prime summer pike beds nearby. Probably good pike numbers there as I've been told the walleye are abundant. I stick with what I know... it's a cost to me to get there and I want to make the best of what I've learned to catch and release those big pike. So you're right when you say, "why mess with a good thing." Once a plane drops you off, it's not like you're taking a walk to explore too much of the lake. I wanted to try two new areas this year after finding the first two trips kind of tougher than usual... even the third trip in a way too.... instead I chose to tweak the rigs a little, change up some of the usual lures... put new hooks on the big stuff, increase the treble sizes on the small lures in hopes to better stick any big fish... it paid off on trips 4, then 5 especially. On those trips too, there were less anglers around us... the planes that did come in set-up further away and all did really well... including a local here who had a 50 walleye day and one nice guy who caught a big pike and ran to us to have it measured. We watched them pound walleye numbers from behind us, for hours.

I know if I had a plane, I'd be all over that lake Chris. Many rocky shoals in narrows and off points will have walleye staging... the pike won't be far away...

It's always been fun and something to live for every March. Big anticipation for a nut like me, especially after a long, cold winter wait. The folks I've met on the lake from Timmins and Cochrane have all been nice people, and I haven't seen any abuse of the fishery by any of them. Never garbage, I never suspect overharvest, all just folks fishing. The MNR guys have always been kind and understanding too. Winter life on the lake, like the lake itself, is a great experience. With only fly-in access it's respected I think too.

[Fishquest]

Great job Moose. Looks like you had a nother great winter up there and Congrats on all the great fish.

[scuro]

Thanks for those observations. From a study on the net.

Our results suggest that the pike spawning population consisted of sedentary pike (N = 16) dwelling the whole year in the river, and moving pike (N = 24) which moved to Lake Oulujärvi after the spawning period. Pike exhibited homing behaviour, as most of the migrating pike returned to the same spawning area in the following year. Large pike had a higher movement rate than small pike during the summer and seasonally the movement rate was lowest during the spring and highest during the summer.

Winter early spring=stay near food, close to the spawning area, in the warmest water.
Spring to Summer = water temperature becomes more of an issue as does the moving walleye populations. Also if your dinner table is crowed you might be a heck of a lot more willing to move.

[bruce]

definately another thrilling r eport, thanks bunk!

[Astro-Mike]

excellent report bud.....