Wabakimi Lake, Ontario

[Bluff]

Originally Posted by Pikeslayer8

This was the third year to Wabakimi without my Dad.
The first year was very painful and I missed him dearly. Last year was also tough but was a bit more bearable. After my trip last year, I knew what was needed. I've felt my Dad's presence but needed a better visual aide. Smartest move I made this year was to bring this picture of my Dad, the day he caught his biggest fish on Wabakimi and leave it permanently on the wall by where he used to sit. He had it stuffed when he caught it in August of 1988. Now it's at my mothers house in the fishing den hanging prominently on the wall.

It's kind of cool at my camp. Few years ago, someone put up a picture of a fallen fisherman that was important to their crew, and then comes another. My dad, Buck Bennett makes the fifth on the wall.
I think that he will like having his picture there. I snuck in my favorite picture of the last time we were in the boat together and just happy to be together and placed it behind his picture. No one else will see it, but its comforting to me that we will always be in fishcamp together.


The last line on the plaque reads "Man O Man It just doesn't get any better!"

Pikeslayer . I held off for a while before responding but the reason I didn't go to Ontario this year was because my father passed away. Nice to have the fishing memories and still hear what is going on at Wabakimi. Have already reserved our time for next year.

[Bluff]

Foodie - thanks for the report. Can't wait to get up there again.

Bluff

[Pikeslayer8]

Originally Posted by Bluff

The guys from my group called me while driving home last night. Very tough conditions. Weather did not allow for flying into Brennan. Instead they ended up flying into Seseganaga for 2 or 3 days then moving over to Brennan. Apparently they were the only group to get out at all early last week. The weather must have been something. Lake level rose 6-inches in three days. Tough fishing.

Karma?

Originally Posted by Bluff

Pikeslayer . I held off for a while before responding but the reason I didn't go to Ontario this year was because my father passed away. Nice to have the fishing memories and still hear what is going on at Wabakimi. Have already reserved our time for next year.

Dang Charlie, I'm sorry to hear this.
I believe the good Lord kept ya home this year to take care of your family business. Set your soul straight for next year.
I'd bet that there is a big ole walleye swimmin around in Rusty's Back Door just waiting for Bluff to show up next year.

[Bluff]

Thanks Pikes layer for your thoughts.

Foodie - refresh my memory please. When you stated " We decided to head back to the rock wall at the south cross.", where is the rock wall you are referring to?

[Jig Man]

Made our first trip to Wabakimi in late June. Fishing was awesome once we learned the lake. In our group of three adults and two 15 year olds we caught:
2- 41”+ Pike (tape measure was only 40” long) both on Jigs
2- 39” Pike 1 on Jig and other on a spoon
Once we figured things out we could average 100 to 150+ walleyes per boat in only about 6 hours of fishing per day. Biggest walleye was only 24” so that was a little disappointing but on the upside it was caught by my 15 year old son. Enjoyed watching a 34” pike make 5 attacks on a 15” walleye right at boatside.

Regarding the lake, man is that a big lake. Practically too big. On more than one occasion we had to battle 5 foot rollers in order to get across the main lake. At one point and incoming storm of Thunder, Lightning and 40mph winds forced us to abandon our boats and hunker down in the bush to ride out the storm. In my previous 15 fly in trips to other lakes I only recall 1 other time where we wore a life jacket. On this trip it was a regular occurrence.

Best fishing for us was down on lower Wabakimi. We found numerous mid lake reefs/humps where we literally could catch 75 to 100 walleyes in a few hours. Numerous double and triple headers in one boat.
We made the ride to the far end but then decided it was not worth spending 1 hour just to get there. The North bays were interesting to explore around. We visited the trapper’s cabin. Spotted a Moose and her calf as well as a Caribou and her calf. Since the lake was so big we decided to focus on Lower Wabakimi since there was no way we could learn the whole lake in 1 trip.

QUESTION: On our flight out we took a direct westerly path over the lake and the incoming river on the west side. At about the midway point between Wabakimi and the next lake to the west we spotted an overturned boat. What is the name of that lake and does anyone know the story behind the overturned boat?

[Bluff]

Jig Man - sounds like a great time. Wabakimi can sure get scary when the weather kicks up. If you are on the opposite side of the lake it was probably a smart thing to do and get off the water for a while. I am curious about the overturned boat. I am not quite sure where you saw it - sounds like Tew Lake (?). I know there are outposts on all the nearby lakes including Granite, Kenoji, Tew and Smoothrock. I believe NWO has the outpost on Tew Lake but I might be wrong.

[Jig Man]

Bluff, Tew does look like the lake when I compare the Tew Lake Map on the NWO websire to Google Earth.