Most here know i am Canuck and are also aware that tensions between our countries are currently "elevated". I am consciously choosing to ignore that and just post my stories like normal so that they can be enjoyed for their outdoor content regardless of politics. That being said:

Thursday after work my son and i headed to the cottage for another planned 3 day trip on Nip. Plan was to fish Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday morning dawned sunny and about -16 so at 7 am we headed out for bait and then to the Government dock and headed for the Manitous. Weather forecast was for snow in the afternoon but looking at the expected hourly fall rates i wasn't too concerned - mistake.

Anyways we got set up and had lines in about 930 am. By 3 pm we had about 25 fish caught including a huge burbot taken on the Jaw Jacker with a Kokemachine mini-clapper. That 25 fish included a smaller (24 inch) burbot, one slot eye and 17 jumbos between 10 to 12 inches. The rest were under size and went back

The 34 inch burb:



The tiny hook set rather precariously:



Landing that guy was a team effort - my son had the rod and i was adjusting the drag in real time and then used the gaff to get him out of the hole.

Slot eye:



Typical perch:



At 1 pm on Friday it still wasn't snowing yet. Then i went out to take a pee just before 3 pm and i was greated with howling wind, heavy snow fall, and 0 visibility. My neighbor's seasonal hut which was only 25 yards from us was no longer visible at all. This was the view in every direction:



I told my son we are leaving now before it gets dark and becomes even worse. I got out the GPS and guess what - no satellite reception. So fall back plan - my Suunto orienteering compass that replaced my old Silva Ranger that got destroyed last year when i flipped the sled.

Rode 11 km completely blind and driving the machine one handed so i could watch the compass in my other hand and navigate. Took 1 hour and 20 minutes to cover the 11 km including crossing 2 pressure cracks completely blind. I ended up putting us on shore 300 yards south of the parking lot where the truck was parked - called it a win.

Friday night my son came down with Norwalk and spent the night puking. It was making the rounds through the family and fortunately i got spared. Saturday morning he was some better but we decided to take the day off and rest as honestly we needed it after the ride from hell on Friday - i smashed my left foot when we rode off a 4 foot drop blind at one of the cracks/ridges.

Sunday morning my son was feeling better and the swelling in foot had gone down so we headed out at 7 am to get bait and return to the Government dock. It was sunny and clear and forecast looked good this time - just cold. Was -28 air plus whatever wind when we left the cottage:



Fishing was much the same with about 25 fish. No burbot on Sunday but my son caught a beauty 23 inch eye:



Some pike entered the mix as well:



Sunny cold beautiful day:



Last highlight of the trip was this guy on the road this morning driving home:

1. The fishing was really good!
2. No machines were harmed in the making of this story!

Sweet!

Kick azz on the good fishing report! Within 300 yards in those conditions, yep that is a win

What is (Friday night my son came down with Norwalk) is that just basic what we call Crud or is more like the Flu?

dang, driving in a complete blinding snow on a snow machine has gotta take some stones! Happy you guys made it out alive with a smashed foot and thats it. Could have been MUCH worse, and I know you know that.

good job on the fishing. The burbot is called freshwater cod? or is that another fish I am thinking of?

Keep the stories coming! Don't worry about the politics of all this, it will blow over and we will be back to just sharing stories. plus, you guys beat the US in the four nations final so theres that...

I wondered if it autocorrected from norovirus, which is notorious for vomiting and diarrhea.

Yep - norovirus

You are correct - freshwater cod - really good eating.

Great report!

Man I’m jealous, thanks for sharing

Sounds like it got a little western, on many fronts. Glad y’all made it safe!

Great read. Glad y'all are safe. If you ever get to Texas, better plan on being here a while. Many of us will take you to our favorite spots.

Great stories as always, sir. However you have earned another

No tensions between the regular folks of our countries, just the politicians.

Great fishing report, great catch!

I'm thinking that ride out was a bit nippy. Love fishing hard water, but man you make it an extreme sport!

Congratulations on a good and thankfully safe trip.
Like Paul 1167 said, to heck with the politicians. Us regular folks love seeing you and your sons adventures out onto the frigid frozen lake. Most every country I have visited the people are the same way. They just want to live their lives and don't trust or like the government.

Living the good life.

If you guys are ever in Ontario or for that matter anyone who knows me from the forum is in Ontario and it is between January 1st and April 15th shoot me a pm and if i can make it work i will take you on a trip you will remember for the rest of your life. I have gear/tackle and snowmobiles to accommodate 4 people comfortably in a heated insulated popup and can make it as extreme and remote as you are comfortable with.

Electronics are completely trustworthy until it matters. I keep a compass buried in my pack for that exact reason. Great navigation under tough conditions, btw.

That's outstanding. Would really love to do that sometime.