Need opinions ..

I am in the middle of designing a new bungalow . I will be mainly using it for personal use on a very good Splake lake .. I wondered if I should build it big enough to sleep four so 12x16 ish .. Reason being is I would consider slowly rebuilding my bungalow business . I would no longer operate on Big Ab as it is simply way to far to access and very difficult at times to say the least . However I wonder if there would be anny people interested in splake , and simply the seclusion of the far north ?? Anny opinions ???

A Ray

Glad to see you back,A Ray. It's been a while. Good luck with your new project.

Thanks , I'm slowly getting the swing of things again . Lol .

A Ray

I must say tho the it seem like things have slowed way down .. Not nearly the posts or replies that it used to be . Maybe I'm just out of the loop but doesn't seem the same ? Or is it just me ?

A Ray

not the same ray... not the same...

to be honest i think targeting specifically splake with bungalows could a be a tough go... i think you would be better off offering guided trips out onto some lakes... have a portable and a heater...

now if the lake offered good multi speciies fishing, that would be better... walleye is the go to for most...

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Originally Posted by Abitibi Ray

I must say tho the it seem like things have slowed way down .. Not nearly the posts or replies that it used to be . Maybe I'm just out of the loop but doesn't seem the same ? Or is it just me ?

A Ray

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Definitely not you sir!
Things have slowed down quite a bit. I'm fairly new here compared to some and I have noticed a rather dramatic decline. A good number of decent respectable posters have been whooshed away for the sake of a couple trolls.

As per your OP.
I'm not a whole lot of help due to my lack of hardwater fishing. When I do get out its usually on some out of the way pond where I know 8 won't be bothered. That said I can't see why someone wouldn't want to get after some nice splake.

Ya I hear ya Fishy Steve , problem is the only place where I can put a group on 80 plus walley in weekend is Ab and I'm not willing to give up the very little family time I have to do that again . There's a reason why I'm the only one to ever operate bungalows out there .. It's simply to difficult .. If it were drive on the lake from your back yard like Nippissing I'd be all over it , but then so would everyone else like Nip and then there would be no fish like Nip .. I just thought there might be a maket for light adventure and nice trout lol

A Ray

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Originally Posted by oaknut

Definitely not you sir!
Things have slowed down quite a bit. I'm fairly new here compared to some and I have noticed a rather dramatic decline. A good number of decent respectable posters have been whooshed away for the sake of a couple trolls.

As per your OP.
I'm not a whole lot of help due to my lack of hardwater fishing. When I do get out its usually on some out of the way pond where I know 8 won't be bothered. That said I can't see why someone wouldn't want to get after some nice splake.

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Glad it's not just me , and I hear ya on the trolls , kinda what put me off for a while , as well as other things . But hopefully things look up and the trolls disappear lol cheers

ARay

are you right in cochrane? larder lake too far for u?

i mean i would say build a shack or 2 and put them on a good splake spot... i wouldnt go all out and build 10 or anything...

Yup I'm in Cochrane , larder is too far for sure and the trout fishing is better here than Larder . Larder has gone way downhill . Average size lakers caught there are considerably smaller than the average splake I get . I have done the derby a fiew times out there and not seen much for catches or the monsters you hear stories about in the past .

If I were to build it would only be a couple , just a little outfit to pass the time . I miss it , as well as meating new people , new stories ect . Maybe someday go back to Abitibi with one hut . But not numerous huts again .

A Ray

Ray - I'd be interested in heading up that way for some hard water. Most of the guys on here got pissed off by the constant political talk and trolling. All those guys just wanted to talk fishing and hunting, but most conversations turned into a pissed match... posting photo's and video's just aren't worth it anymore.

I believe the saying is "if you build it, they will come" LOL :)

FishFrenzy

Well I will keep you posted if I get it all set up . Thanks ..

Realy too bad it is very noticeable too . Years ago I would have seen pages of replies on my threads and now only a fiew posts . I know a quite a whole back I posted a thread of a successful walley trip . A board member got right upset ect ect . ReAly turned me off , he had no idea where I'm from nor the fishery I fish , nor the fact that I release 100 times more than I ever keep . As Fishy Wishy had put it at the time .. " your preaching to the choir lol" oh well I'll keep puttin up some pics when I get chance for those who enjoy them cheers .

A Ray

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Originally Posted by Abitibi Ray

Well I will keep you posted if I get it all set up . Thanks ..

Realy too bad it is very noticeable too . Years ago I would have seen pages of replies on my threads and now only a fiew posts . I know a quite a whole back I posted a thread of a successful walley trip . A board member got right upset ect ect . ReAly turned me off , he had no idea where I'm from nor the fishery I fish , nor the fact that I release 100 times more than I ever keep . As Fishy Wishy had put it at the time .. " your preaching to the choir lol" oh well I'll keep puttin up some pics when I get chance for those who enjoy them cheers .

A Ray

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Your adventures are only dreams for most of us.. Keep it coming Ray! One of these days we need a northern meet and greet..

FishFrenzy

Thanks , ill keep the pics coming .. A meat a greet would be great .. I'd love to do that . Maybe when I build the new camp ill see if there's anny interest .. I tried before but could not get a date that worked ..

A Ray

If the dates work, I'd have no problem making the trip!

FishFrenzy

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Originally Posted by Abitibi Ray

However I wonder if there would be anny people interested in splake , and simply the seclusion of the far north ?? Anny opinions ???
A Ray

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Personally, I would not drive up North just for slake but I would to catch big lake trout or limits of pickerels and whities though.
The seclusion of the North is definitely a bonus as long as you don't spend a full day to get in and out of the lake. There is always one guy in the group that is not that adventurous.

Good luck in project.

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Originally Posted by Abitibi Ray

Well I will keep you posted if I get it all set up . Thanks ..

Realy too bad it is very noticeable too . Years ago I would have seen pages of replies on my threads and now only a fiew posts . I know a quite a whole back I posted a thread of a successful walley trip . A board member got right upset ect ect . ReAly turned me off , he had no idea where I'm from nor the fishery I fish , nor the fact that I release 100 times more than I ever keep . As Fishy Wishy had put it at the time .. " your preaching to the choir lol" oh well I'll keep puttin up some pics when I get chance for those who enjoy them cheers .
A Ray

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To me the issue is that someone ask a simple question and the thread get sideway, kind of like your thread..... I wanted to read about ice fishing and I ended reading about BS. No big deal but.....

Or someone ask, "What the best atv out there?" and most people will answer "get a snowmobile" and the OP doesn't get any relevant answer so it won't ask again. It seems like that most guys want to give answers or want to reply even if they have nothing to say.

I hope you "stick around" Ray.
Most of the topics on this forum are southern Ont related & are of little interest to us in the "north"
Nice to see some perspective from another northern guy.

No offense meant to those in the south,unless you are a liberal from the gta.lol

ARay,

I'm still around. Don't post nearly as much.

Many of the people I enjoyed reading are no longer active posters (BTW you were on that list, at the top). Many cite the political BS, some say it's the trolls. Many I believe just grow tired or grow away from it. I started to think it was me chasing people away.

You know first hand the circus that posting pics of a successful fishing or hunting trip can bring. There are some guys that live to tell us all about how taking any fish is killing the fishery.

Don't get me wrong there are still some good guys (and girls) here...but it is not the same.

I have seen your new posts with the girls, looks like you are still keeping it real...I applaud you for that. You remind me in many ways of my father when I was your kids' age.

Let us know what you decide on a splake operation.

FW

for me, it was the constant complaining about everything that you do and pictures posted... i left for about 3 years myself, only bin back hanging around for the last year and a bit, got the email they were gonna delete my account if i didnt sign in within 30 days so signed in and caught up haha havent posted a fish picture since ive bin back, like you say someone finds out you ate a fish and they lose their mind... had bin posting hunting pics, though may not next year... had a certain outfitter pm me telling me i should be ashamed for shooting a small bear...

not even an update from rob 2126 or any of the other winter warriors this year...

Sad that people critisize others for what they shoot or catch . Personally I hunt and fish for food and because I enjoy it . The trophy will come when it comes . When I hunt moose or deer if I have a tag for it , I take it . Shot a lone fawn this fall tasted great . Lol . But we had five days to hunt we got two fawns and a nice 8 point . I considered posting a thread on it but remembered that guys get upset when others shoot fawns so I held back . We considered it a good hunt , seen three deer took three shots , came home with three deer . That's what matters most to me . Good clean kills , no tracking required . Cheers

A Ray

I so enjoyed your stories over the years. The truck in the back roads, your family outings , successful fishing trips.

Sad that your camp burned, good to hear your thinking to rebuild . You are living the life, that most of us down south only get to experience once a year . Please continue keeping us up to date.

Still shooting that. 270WSM eclipse?

Thanks for all the replies guys . Thanks BGH for the kind words . So glad to see your still around FW , I was beginning to get worried that you might be gone . Always enjoy your input .. I will be building a new ice shack this summer and will post pics of the progress . If I can get a fiew people I interested I will start a small operation and see how it goes . Maybe one day ill get a fiew board members up here yet lol. Aside from the change in the sight I still enjoy hearing from the guys here . I will be trying a new splake lake tomorow as well as Saturday and maybe Sunday too lol pics and posts to follow ... Cheers guys

A Ray

Oh yes FW love that beauty , although it seems to get a little heavier every year lol

A Ray

Back to your original question, I had a remote patrol camp that measured 12 x 16. On more than the odd occasion I would have our group of 4 guys stay a few days for some fishing. With all our winter gear, boots, helmets, snowmobile suites etc. it was really crowded especially with the wood stove stuck in the middle of the floor.
I ended up putting the stove in a 4' x 4' alcove and that totally opened up the interior for more room.

Just a word about catch and release. Our guys have a saying.."Catch and release in the grease"

Sounds like the itch is coming back to you Ray!! lakers on the lake at the camp would be an idea... ( or second camp and have portables to go onto other lakes as well may be a better idea.. )

Great to here from you sawbill , as far as the heat system goes it would likely be like I had in my 12x20 bungalows . Thermostat controlled propane wall mounted unit , takes up only ten inches of room , as well as all bunks would be fold up against the walls for more room .. That's the big issue with ice huts is the happy medium between being able to pull it and being able to live in it lol I've had quite a fiew over the years and have come up with a fiew good tricks but would love to build a 12x20 again just don't want the hassle that comes with pulling the beast lol I had an 8x16 once that pulled nice but a bit tight for sure . I figure 10 or 12 x 16 might be the happy medium ??

Scud_17 the itch is there , can't operate up at my camp due to the park :( I'm just trying to wrap my head around how to get something going that doesn't kill all my spare time and that guys could do well at . But it's reAly hard to go from one of the best ice fishing bungalow operations on the best lake to what I'm proposing now . If I were going back on Ab I wouldn't need to ask questions lol I could book solid tomorow lol but you as well as I do how hard it is just to take ourselves out there , imagine what it's like trying to take 14 guys out lol it's just way to much . Wich is why no one else had ever done it .. Lol cheers

ARay

[. I wondered if I should build it big enough to sleep four so 12x16 ish .. WECOME BACK GLAD TO SEE YOU . I KNOW MOST OUT FITTER CALL A 12X16 A FOUR MAN I FOUND IT WAY TO SMALL FOR 4 PEOPLE TO FISH OUT WITH A 2ND SMALLER HUT LIKE SOME OTHER HAVE IT LOT NICER WITH OUT THE SMALLER HUT ITS MAKE A NICE 3 PERSON HUT WE WENT MOST TIME IT IS EASYER TO FIND FIND 3 GUYS WHO CAN GO FOR WEEK I KNOW WHEN WE GO WE SPLIT THE COST AND USE THE 4TH BED TO STORE OUR STUFF ON THANKS GEOFF

A Ray[/QUOTE]

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Originally Posted by abitibi ray

sad that people critisize others for what they shoot or catch . Personally i hunt and fish for food and because i enjoy it . The trophy will come when it comes . When i hunt moose or deer if i have a tag for it , i take it . Shot a lone fawn this fall tasted great . Lol . But we had five days to hunt we got two fawns and a nice 8 point . I considered posting a thread on it but remembered that guys get upset when others shoot fawns so i held back . We considered it a good hunt , seen three deer took three shots , came home with three deer . That's what matters most to me . Good clean kills , no tracking required . Cheers

a ray

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there is nothing wrong with putting some meat in the frezzer i am 100% behind you just keep the post coming

Hey A Ray. We have some property up the Abitibi river a distance from the mouth of lake Abitibi. We have a 4 season cottage resort on lake Temagami and are planning to start a second resort on the Abitibi river. We are planning to build some cottages, ice bungalows and bring two of our houseboats. Would like to talk to you at some point if you have time to get some info. I am newer to the forum but do not use it often for the same reason the others have said. I just want to talk fishing and hunting. Not politics.
Thanks Jeff

I am still around Ray, although a little further West. I seldom post a picture or talk about a hunt. The air changed here a year or two back. Turned into a place to come and argue. Who wants that

Hey woody so glad your still here . So sad that the sight has ended up like this ?? Sure hope it gets back to normal . Seems I missed a lot ?

A Ray

I would love to chat with you . I have a fair bit of knowledge of the area as I have hunted and fished all my life lol do let me know when you'll be in town and well try to get together .. Cheers

A Ray

Don't feed the Trolls, ignore their input and all should be okay.

I stopped posting fishing reports and pics but will still respond to others and offer advice where I feel it could benefit the OP.

Brag and Boast with little or no support to the fellow fishermen.

In my case, I enjoy reading about your successes in the different corners of the province. I travel a lot for fishing each year and stay at many different resorts and compete at a high level in tournaments. It broadens my horizons and opens up new opportunities being part of a network of like minded individuals whether right or wrong we learn from each others experiences.

Always nice to here from you A A.. Starting to look like all the good guys are mostly here , just shy lol I had a great weekend of splake fishing with the family and plan to get up to the camp next weekend so a good thread full of pics is in the works . Well be ice fishing here till may for sure so keep an eye for me in that section for a while yet lol cheers.

A Ray