Did You Know:
Canadian Geese are monogamous and mate with the same partner for life, only switching partners if the other dies.
Geese generally fly at an average speed of 20-30 mph with a top speed of 60 mph!
Most flying occurs below 500 feet, but during migration geese can climb up to 20,000 feet as their weight decreases allowing for a higher cruising altitude.
The honking and V shaped formation that signifies the coming of autumn or spring is a function of efficiency. As in cycling, the person at the front breaks the wind creating a draft and easier pedaling or flying for those behind. The honking is a way to communicate and encourage the goose at the front who has the hardest job.
For more fun facts about geese check out: Wormer, J.V. (1968). The World of the Canada Goose. | |
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Krista's Recipe of the Week |  |
Grand Marnier Pike
Ingredients:
4-5 Northern pike fillets
1 cup Flour
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of Cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
1tbs Butter
1/2 Cup oil
1 shot of Grand Marnier
1 Cup milk
Directions:
1. Mix flour, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a large bowl big enough to dip the fish
2. Dip the pike in milk and roll it in the flour mixture. (Remember to keep one hand for wet and another for dry to avoid a sticky mess)
3. Heat the butter in a skillet or frying pan, bringing the butter to a sizzle, and then add oil
4. Pour a shot of Grand Marnier in the pan -caution it may flare up (which is perfect)! Add the fish.
5. Fry fish for 5-7 min on each side, or until golden brown. The fish is cooked when it flakes with a fork.
Enjoy! |
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Hot Fishing and Cooler Weather
If you remember from last week's fishing report, Graham Saunders forecasted a shocking dip in temperature to just above freezing during the weekend of the full moon...Hopefully our guests up north stayed warm and cozy!
Since Graham's last report, I have been more conscious of the weather and casually thinking about what this year's fall and winter might be like. Last weekend I dropped in at Mojikit Channel Lodge to visit with Boyce and Alma and was again reminded that September is just around the corner. This trip seemed to signal fall is in the air and cooler temperatures ahead. During our flight I could see the slightest of colour change beginning to show in the forest canopy below, and the air temperatures at altitude were noticeably cooler than they have been the past few weeks. Over a cup of hot tea, the best way to take the chill out of the morning air, Boyce mentioned the geese migration south had started already....it seems early. Then again, everything seems to be happening almost a month early this year; hopefully that won't be the case when it comes to freeze-up!
While fall might be looming ahead, summer is not over yet, and there is still some great fishing to be had as our latest round of guests found out this past week. Congrats to a fresh class of master anglers and, as always, it's nice to hear from you!
Keep in touch, | |
 Alan Cheeseman, President Wilderness North Ontario, Canada
1-888-465-3474 (F-I-S-H)
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Reports From the Wilderness
The Northerns Fight Back at Striker's Point Lodge
Out at Striker's, the Diekman party are on to some hot pike fishing in the waters around Best Island. On Wednesday they landed a 41in northern, and on Thursday came close to reeling in another monster. The brothers watched helplessly as a pike broke their line at the leader yesterday. They said it was amazing to watch, and spent the rest of the day in the same area with only one thing on their minds -trying to catch the "enormous" specimen. As the overcast skies and light wind continue at SPL, I'm sure the Dieckman's will have more stories for us next week...They might even get a second chance to reel in their elusive friend.
Miminiska Lodge -Home to great fishing and the annual Midwest Flyer's air show | |
The Miminiska landing strip was a happening place Tuesday August 14th as the Midwest Flyers (MWF's) from southern Wisconsin descended in an array of different aircraft: Cessna T206, Cherokee PA28-180, F33A Beechcraft Bonanza, Cessna 182P, Piper Arrow III, Cherokee 180, and a Piper PA28A Archer... just to name a few. The MWF's have been coming here for almost ten years now to share their two loves, Fishing and Flying. Miminiska is one of the few places where guests can cruise over rugged boreal wilderness in their personal aircraft, land, and enjoy great fishing on the Albany in only a few hours (just over 5hrs from Wisconsin). The MWF's composed of 15 guys and 1 lucky lady, ignored the rain and wind to land some great catches. Phil, a long time MWF guest, landed a 40in pike on a jig and a master angler pin, but the catch of the week award goes to Rosie, our lone lady who reeled in a nice plump 5lb rock! -A very nice piece I might add. Taking a break from the weather, the group of close friends enjoyed shore lunches at the lodge while they shared stories and laughter amidst the roar of a crackling fire. The MWF's always bring lots of fun to Miminiska, they are a pleasure to serve, and we look forward seeing them all again. |
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Krista's Corner
Keeping up with the theme of bringing the tastes of summer into the kitchen, I stumbled across this week's find which comes with its own drink pairing -Grand Marnier Pike, A shot for the fish and a shot or two for the cook help make this meal great. Although normally a wine kind of girl, the Grand Marnier does add a nice sweet orange flavour to the pike without detracting from the fish. To really bring in the tastes of summer, mix Grand Marnier and a bit of sugar as a light syrup to pour over fresh fruit salad with fresh mint for desert. Top off the fruit salad with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon to make a tasty gourmet treat.
As they say in the culinary world, creating a great masterpiece is all in the ingredients and the preparation. While you can't go wrong with freshly caught pike from the crisp clean waters up north, filleting northerns can be a bit tricky. Luckily for you, I have attached a filleting guide that will help you enjoy the tastes of the north without worrying about bones, and make you the star of your next fish fry or dinner. | |
Happy Cooking!
Krista |
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Scott's Words of Wisdom
 Invite a Pike for Dinner I know I was supposed to talk about boat safety and being prepared for rough weather this week, but when I caught wind of Krista's featured pike recipe I figured it was a good excuse to talk about fishing for northerns. Northern pike are awesome game fish on any sort of hook and line. I enjoy catching pike on fly gear and have a personal record of 46-inches. A pike of 50-inches or better is on my bucket list. Of course a pike of that size should be handled cautiously, revived and released to fight again. But smaller pike can be awesome table fare. This comes as quite a surprise to many anglers who are discouraged from harvesting pike because of the slime and those nasty y-bones. But if you choose the right size of pike and take a little care in cleaning them, they are just as tasty - or even tastier - than walleye. First of all, the right pike to invite for dinner is one that is just under the slot size - say 24- to 26.5 inches. Pike that are smaller than 24-inches (even by an inch) are often too small and slender to have much fillet left after removing the y-bones and rib cage, but a chunky 26-incher is perfect. One pike of this size will provide as much meat as four 15-inch walleye! I fillet my pike and then remove the strip of meat containing the y-bone from the fillet before I skin. I chop the fillet into large bite-size chunks, dip them in egg and then some kind of flour-based batter. I must say I make a dandy plate of fried pike. Over the years, I have learned several tips from Wilderness North's First Nations' guides. The oil needs to be piping hot to yield golden pike-poppers. Hot oil is also not absorbed by the batter. (One method for ensuring your oil is hot enough is to place the butt-end of a wooden spoon handle into the oil. If bubbles are emitted by the wooden spoon, the oil is hot enough for your fish.) Add a squeezed lemon wedge and some "tartar sauce" made from mayo and sweet relish to your fried fish, and you are "golden". I carry a single-burner Peak stove in my boat along with a wok, some frying oil and a few cans of beans. I can have lunch ready in about 30-minutes from the time I start filleting the pike. Other useful items to include are: some paper plates, plastic cutlery, napkins, hand-wipes and sanitizing gel in your kit. Sanitizing gel doubles as fire starter if you choose to cook your meal over an open fire. Remember that whenever you eat fish for lunch, the fish you consume counts towards your daily possession limit. So eating a chunky pike makes sense if you want to bring a few walleye back to the lodge at the end of the day.
Tight Lines,
Scott Earl-Smith |
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Ontario Weather - Graham Saunders
Has Predicting the Weather Gone to the Birds?
The previous week featured near average conditions in the Northwest. The morning temperatures of 1.5º C(35º F) in Armstrong on August 19 and 20 may have prompted some thoughts that the remarkable weather of this summer is poised to switch to a new season.
The beginnings of fall migration are reported to be earlier than usual by Boyce at Mojikit. Are the geese predicting an early beginning to winter? Perhaps they are, but the next week or two look likely to be both warmer and drier than average throughout Northwestern Ontario -perfect weather to get out and enjoy the last few weeks of August fishing
Canadian geese tend to time their migration in early fall after a cold front has passed because after the passing of a cold front, the winds tend to be initially from the northwest and skies are clear. Presumably the geese like to see where they are going and daytime heating due to clear skies creates updrafts and thermals. Updrafts are important for these large birds who are heavy after a summer of gourmet dining.
Unusual bird and animal behaviour often initiates conversations that perhaps animals can sense the weather of the next season or two. Perhaps they do, but you would think that geese should be more interested in the weather in Texas and Mexico, rather than the winter weather that they are leaving behind in Canada.
Predicting the winter season is a risky business. The wild card is often El Niño, a measure of the temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. There is increased confidence for a weak-to-moderate El Niño during this fall and winter. In the Northwest region and other parts of central North America, a ``weak`` El Niño translates as no effect; meaning a "moderate" or mild winter. No one, including the geese, is predicting a "strong" El Niño. Exceptionably warm water temperatures in the central Pacific almost always result in record highs and minimal snow in our region of the planet.
Wilderness North Weatherman Graham Saunders teaches weather at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, and writes a weather column for the Thunder Bay Chronicle. |
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