If things go as planned, my wife, I, and eldest grandson are heading off to Wabigoon, Ontario tomorrow morning.

The grandson has just a week of spring break from collage, so it will be short, and I hope sweet.

Wish us luck, and maybe we can snag a few pickerel for you kind folks?

Richard, travel safe and have a great time!

Assuming you are calling a walleye a pickerel?

and a pike a jackfish ...

have a great trip ...

Thanks men, yes, walleye, pickerel, same thing, jacks are Northern pike. I use the local slang terms mostly.
I need to talk the lingo to fit in as best I can.

Have fun!

SS

P.S. Growing up, everyone I knew called them pickerel or "pics". That's changed around here at least. Now everyone calls them walleye or "walters" here.

Well folks, we are loaded up, I'll worry I forgot something, I always do.

A thirteen, or fourteen hour drive at best, but we have done it many time before.

The grandson is an Eagle Scout, but a wood burning stove, and fishing through ice will be new for him.

I looked at the cold weather clothes he packed, and made sure I put in double my bibs, and heavy coats.

I'm told the lake ice is glare ice, and slick, so ice cleats may in order.

Thanks for the good wishes, and I'll try to honk as we go by!

In the south, 'jacks' are chain pickerel.

Southern America, I mean.

Folks we made it in about a hour ago.

A lot to do, and it is chilly, but us would be Canucks are a hardy lot?

The place is fairly warm, thanks to baseboard heaters, and a good friend.

Now, if Paul would just bring in one of those great meals as sort of a care package? You here Paul?

Grilling Iowa Angus sirloins on the new deck just now.

A good day here folks, we caught a bit of everything, walleye/pickerel, a nice jack/Northern pike, crappie, and a whitefish.

Friends over for corned beef, and cabbage tonight.

A nice day weather wise, and all around.

Good luck Richard--supposed to be nice weather this weekend. Bunch of us headed out for pickerel here too.

Be mindful of slush and current--we lost 2 local guys here 2 weeks ago--they made a wrong turn down the river coming home after dark. I felt we were lucky to find their bodies.

Richard,

Guessing you were on Dinorwic, with that "mixed bag" ?

Friend of mine said there were hundreds of people fishing there a couple of weekends ago.

For me, part of the enjoyment of ice fishing, is the peace'n'quiet !

No Paul, Dog, and Green Island is as far as we have gotten.
Just about a half mile from Polar Star Camp where we unload the fourwheeler. They made the rail crossing impossible by the government dock.

A bit of "action", late today, two wee pickerel, that are sleeping in their own beds tonight, a couple of crappies, and the first perch I ever pulled through ice. No bad for the short time we were out.

Time fly's folks, we are about loaded, and ready to roll in the morning, bright, and early.

South bond, and down, loaded up, and truckin, a long way to go, and a short time to get there.

Drive safe and don't hit all of the tourist traps along the 502 .

502 is what it is John, a nice drive, I'm hoping for a dry road, with moose for viewing only.

The ride through Mn takes the time.
Thanks for all the kind wishes.

Good morning kind folks, we are back in Iowa.

John's joke about Ontario, highway 502 refers to nothing much on the entire 130 kilometers but rocks, trees, and lakes.
It is curvy, and hilly, and a great road for the terrain the builders had to go through.
It does seem to go every way, but straight up, straight down, and straight ahead however.

The north half was dicey with ice, and some snow.
I kept the speed down to "play it safe", I understand those rock cuts are rather solid. As in fastened to the core of the earth.

Thanks for all the kind wishers good folks.

Welcome home! Glad the trip went well. Two things that are fun while traveling the 502 (which I love and consider beautiful, but I've never driven it in the winter) are watching the vehicle's compass trying to decide whether to bake a cake or take a nap and watching the distance to destination on a GPS go down a bit, then back up, then down, then up...