It’s that time of year up here in Northern Ontario…walleye season opened on Saturday. Yesterday, we took the 20 footer and canoed way up an obscure place where no one would ever go…no luck. One day too early, the fish were still spawning.
Today we headed up Murky Creek, a usually languid small creek that contains nothing but pike for most of the year. However, for about two weeks after the spawn, it is one of the hottest fishing places around. I had heard reports that they still weren’t there, but we took a chance today. Put in at around noon and paddled upstream five kilometers to the junction of a small stream.
By the way, Kim, if you are reading this, I love my bent shaft paddle, thanks for sending me to the darkside, couldn’t live without it now. Going to have to buy Irene one now too.
A couple of guys were already there in a boat, and as we arrived, they hauled out a huge walleye, and then threw it back. The regulations up here only permit you to keep one walleye over 18 inches, so they had obviously broken that record already.
Shortly after that, Irene hooked into a big one, and the fun had started. A few minutes later, she got another one.
We had forgotten our measuring tape, and they both looked close to 18 inches. After a half hour or so, I was starting to feel a skunking coming on for myself, so I suggested that we paddle another couple of kilometers to a campsite I knew and brew up some coffee. Pulled out my Vital furnace and perculated some coffee in no time.
The Baileys made it quite tolerable.
The obligatory selfie!
We decided to call it a day, as we weren’t sure if our fish were already in violation of the rules, and everything we saw coming out of the water from other boats had been big. We took the Honeymoon canoe out today, it’s a very sweet paddle!
When we got back home, we measured the fishies, and sure enough, one was just under 18 and the other was slightly over.
Now for those of you who know how to fillet fish, you can skip the next pics, I just thought I’d throw in a short tutorial for anyone wanting to learn. I start off by cutting just behind the front fins.
Then I cut up from the bunghole to the cut by the throat.
Then I cut down and around the rib cage. Some people just slice straight down and cut the rib cage out later, but I like to surgically remove it as I go.
Here is the fillet peeled off.
Then I take the skin off.
Last thing I do is remove the little ridge of bones in the center.
Into the frying pan.
With the fried onions and potatoes
And the most dangerous foods to marriage, beans.
And here’s what you get.
I’ve gained a lot of weight since I’ve been married, but I gotta say it’s been worth every mouthful. My wife is a fantastic cook, and she loves fishing. Here’s another secret….she can fillet fish too, I don’t like that one getting out, because then I’ll have competition from every male fisherman in the region. Life is good!
Today we headed up Murky Creek, a usually languid small creek that contains nothing but pike for most of the year. However, for about two weeks after the spawn, it is one of the hottest fishing places around. I had heard reports that they still weren’t there, but we took a chance today. Put in at around noon and paddled upstream five kilometers to the junction of a small stream.
By the way, Kim, if you are reading this, I love my bent shaft paddle, thanks for sending me to the darkside, couldn’t live without it now. Going to have to buy Irene one now too.
A couple of guys were already there in a boat, and as we arrived, they hauled out a huge walleye, and then threw it back. The regulations up here only permit you to keep one walleye over 18 inches, so they had obviously broken that record already.
Shortly after that, Irene hooked into a big one, and the fun had started. A few minutes later, she got another one.
We had forgotten our measuring tape, and they both looked close to 18 inches. After a half hour or so, I was starting to feel a skunking coming on for myself, so I suggested that we paddle another couple of kilometers to a campsite I knew and brew up some coffee. Pulled out my Vital furnace and perculated some coffee in no time.
The Baileys made it quite tolerable.
The obligatory selfie!
We decided to call it a day, as we weren’t sure if our fish were already in violation of the rules, and everything we saw coming out of the water from other boats had been big. We took the Honeymoon canoe out today, it’s a very sweet paddle!
When we got back home, we measured the fishies, and sure enough, one was just under 18 and the other was slightly over.
Now for those of you who know how to fillet fish, you can skip the next pics, I just thought I’d throw in a short tutorial for anyone wanting to learn. I start off by cutting just behind the front fins.
Then I cut up from the bunghole to the cut by the throat.
Then I cut down and around the rib cage. Some people just slice straight down and cut the rib cage out later, but I like to surgically remove it as I go.
Here is the fillet peeled off.
Then I take the skin off.
Last thing I do is remove the little ridge of bones in the center.
Into the frying pan.
With the fried onions and potatoes
And the most dangerous foods to marriage, beans.
And here’s what you get.
I’ve gained a lot of weight since I’ve been married, but I gotta say it’s been worth every mouthful. My wife is a fantastic cook, and she loves fishing. Here’s another secret….she can fillet fish too, I don’t like that one getting out, because then I’ll have competition from every male fisherman in the region. Life is good!
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