| Author |
Message |
krisa
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 11:19 am: | 
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Good morning! I live in Michigan and my family has been going to the Kenora, Ontario area to fish for the past 30 years. We even have a 44inch/32lb Northern Pike on a wall to show for our efforts. This year we'd like to try something new and a little closer to home, but still looking for great fishing.
We would like to rent a houseboat on Lake Temagami for the week beginning June 26th. This will be our first houseboat experience. Never having been there and never having seen the different houseboats in person, I have so many questions. I'd appreciate it if someone could help me out.
First, are the lake levels okay for using a houseboat - i.e. can we still get close enough to the shore to put up a tent at night? I read an earlier post about it being tricky to use the boat in windy conditions, is it always windy on Lake T? Is one style/size of houseboat easier to maneuver in wind?
We are looking for a houseboat that will work for 6 people - 2 grandparents, my husband and me, and our 2 kids (boy - 12, girl - 15). Canusa is no longer doing houseboats which leaves us four options.
Leisure Houseboats - too small
Tamar Vacations - 32', 9.9 HP, 3 double beds for a great price ($1,115 including taxes, 1 tank of gas, and insurance). Upside - I like the price. Downside - small - we'd have to put the kids in a tent at night - either on shore or Tamar suggested putting a tent on the roof. (I hope the kids don't blow off!) Also, no roof driving and no waterslide. (How important are either of those - are the bugs too bad to drive from the roof? If you don't have a waterslide is it okay to jump off the roof into the water?)
Ketchuneny - a little larger boat at 36 feet. I don't know anything about these boats yet except that they have bunk beds and the price is $1263 plus gas.
Three Buoys Lakeland - Expensive at $1922 including insurance/taxes and then gas, whatever that would be, is additional. Plus, this is for less time because they only have a boat available from Saturday 8am - Thursday at 3pm. (The other two we'd have the boat from Saturday about 1pm - Friday at 8:30am.) They look very nice, but are they worth $1,000 more for 1 night less?
Does anyone know if the screens on the boats keep the mosquitoes out? I'm leaning towards Tamar right now, with Ketchuneny in close second. I'm just hoping the boats aren't so small that we drive each other nuts! We ARE planning to either rent a boat our bring our fishing boat and it appears that we will be able to tow that behind any of these houseboats.
So, if anyone has seen or been in any of these houseboats and has an opinion, I'd love to hear it.
Thanks for your help! |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 246
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 12:53 pm: |
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There is that old saying that you get what you pay for... All of them run a pretty fair outfit/business, and I see all their boats go by daily, just want to be sure they've covered EVERYTHING in the price for you. Each businesses boats seem to fit a certain crowd, but only one appears to fit yours from your details above. Kids might enjoy the tent if the weather was like last week.. but if you get a few days of rain, they're not gonna be happy campers while you're nice and dry downstairs.
Did Tamar or Ketchuneny's prices include their water taxi from the Access road dock to their facilites to get to said houseboats?.. or do they bring the houseboat to the landing so you can load it there.. instead of lugging your gear 2 times each way? That I don't know.. questions for you to ask. After you get unloaded, how far from the landing will you have to park on the dusty access road? Remember to bring at least 2 gallons of water to make it so you can see out of your windshield on your return. Also keep in mind the extra time involved in dealing with an island run business vs a mainland one and how it will cut into your "fun" time. Also the extra time of driving in on the access road vs just going to town on the highway.
Three Buoys.. you back your vehicle down to the housboat and load... and park across the street. Well keep boats with a full cleaning crew between each user... room inside for the kids and that oh so famous slide to play on!
Lakeland will also, usually, let you use the houseboat (tied to their dock) as a motel on Friday night for a fee, so that you're ready to go in the am. A better idea than staying in North Bay in a hotel and then scrambling up the highway in the early morning.
Yes.. you can tow a boat behind any of them.
(Message edited by irishfield on June 3, 2010) |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 831
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 1:17 pm: |
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And I wasn't going to say this because I am not an avid fisherman... but anyway...
I don't think you will find the fishing in Temagami the same as it is in the Kenora area.
But, I am sure some people will tell you it is just great. |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 247
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 8:23 pm: |
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lol Ed!
If you have them Krisa.. bring some downriggers as the lakers will be pretty deep by the end of June! If no downriggers some gear that will get you deep (weights, torpedo divers, dipsy divers or the old steel line)..or you could let the houseboat drift and jig. Temagami isn't the greatest Pike lake.. but there are some bigg'uns in there. Over populated with Small mouth bass around every rock and lots of Pickeral/Walleye if you work for them.
(Message edited by irishfield on June 3, 2010)
(Message edited by irishfield on June 3, 2010) |
bob
Member
Post Number: 32
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 7:20 am: |
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Temagami is often called the no fish lake. After spending 52 years on the lake, I believe that it was fished out years ago. It's a big lake and you've got to be a pro or very lucky to get any thing other than bass. |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 832
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 7:45 am: |
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Ha, Ha,Ha... here we go the fishing wars are starting.
Up there in NW ON you just have to beat the side of your boat and they jump in. Kind of like the Muppets calling out " here fishie, fishie, fishie".
Not sure if that happens in Temagami.You will have to work for them. |
lorrain
Member
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2008
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 8:50 am: |
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Gosh I don't know but having a little over 30 years on Temagami , I still catch lots of fish and I am certainly no Pro. Well maybe in my own mind. Patterns have changed and you have to change with them. Being a little biass I think you will have a fantastic vacation here and certainly reccomend the Three Bouys for quality , dependability and overall customer service. |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 248
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 10:56 am: |
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Naaa.. there's no fish in the lake, stay away!
..and YES.. it's still swimmin down there!
(Message edited by irishfield on June 4, 2010) |
mr_pike
Member
Post Number: 33
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 11:44 am: |
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Wow, nice Laker Irishfield. Did you get a chance to measure that sucker before it was released? Just curious if it reached the four foot mark. |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 833
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 1:09 pm: |
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That looks like an Obabika Trout, that I saw swimming around. |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 249
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 1:19 pm: |
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Yes Mr Pike.. it broke the 48" mark.. I wish I could load the video of it coming up.. The catcher ate his entire Mr. Noodles during the fight..that lasted over 45 minutes. Released lively and healthy as it was caught quite shallow with one small jig right in it's lip. I think the estimate calculator put it at 42 or 43 lbs... we just wanted to get it back down the hole! |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 250
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 1:30 pm: |
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Here it is I think.. note when I used my boots and said 45" I thought my boots were 12".. they're 14!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI5yM0yMBjw&feature =player_embedded
Now back to that houseboat... where'd ya go krisa??
(Message edited by irishfield on June 4, 2010) |
kim
Member
Post Number: 282
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 4, 2010 - 8:13 pm: |
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Nice fish.
Good conservation too with the catch and release.
How old would that laker be? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 834
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 8:19 am: |
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After seeing the video.... it is pretty hard not to participate in your enthusiasm Irishfield.
If it had been any bigger you would have needed a larger bore hole to get it out.
We even saw a nice pickerel come out.
Well done. |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 251
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 5, 2010 - 5:37 pm: |
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Why we always drill 9 and 10 inch holes.. that laker wouldn't have come thru an 8 !
No idea how old that pig would be Kim.. 20+ |
bob
Member
Post Number: 33
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 6, 2010 - 7:26 am: |
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Krisa
For that amount of people I would choose the large houseboats from CANUSA vacations or Lakeland. CANUSA is more centrally located in the lake. The water levels are OK for navigating, just make sure you have a shoal map. There are plenty of sheltered bays to moor in or to tie up to shore. Enjoy the tranquillity, fesh clean water and air of the area and respect the local residences privacy. And I am sure we would love to hear how you made out with the fishing after your trip. |
preacher
Member
Post Number: 125
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 10:10 am: |
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"
I thought my boots were 12"
"
After all, it's made for a foot! ;)
Nice fish. |
krisa
Member
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2010
| | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 12:20 am: |
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Thanks for all your great comments! CANUSA is closing up shop and Lakeland ended up not working for us because they rent Friday-Thursday and we can't get there until Saturday. We want the maximum time so we went with Ketchuneny. We will have to call them when we get on the access road and they will come pick us up (no charge). I'm sure we'll have a bit of envy when we see the nicer Lakeland boats go by, but that's okay. Maybe next year we'll be back! I'm not sure what we'll do for a week with no laptops, ipods, or electronic entertainment... sure hope we find some fish to catch! And Moose to see! It looks beautiful. I'll let you know how we did when we get back. Thanks! |
gudwulf
Member
Post Number: 47
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 7:18 pm: |
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Krisa... You will be blessed with no laptops, ipods and cell phones to mess up your day.
Relax and enjoy the solitary north woods... we don't get that many chances. Life is extremely short in the Big Picure and you should take all the time you can to experience the stars overhead, the magic of the Northern Lights & satellites shooting overhead at 1200 mph. Look to the skies at night and keep your eyes open during the day... and listen to the Loons when they are calling with blessings in this most Awesome part of the world. Have a great trip! |
camper2009
Member
Post Number: 33
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Monday, June 28, 2010 - 6:31 pm: |
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We rented our first houseboat last yr! We went with CANUSA. This yr we only have 4 of us so we went with the little smaller boat from Tamar...
Driving the top was a blast! On a nice sunny hot day its an amazing ride! We didnt use the slide.
We saw a moose last yr! Thats about it for big game. We might have seen a bear, but it was far and took off in the bush.
We fished non stop for an entire week. I think combined we caught maybe 10!! lol The cold beer, beautiful sights and sounds made up for the difference...
Watch for ROCKS! Pay attention to the shoal map and when driving, you should always have a navigator who is paying attention. Tie off to a big tree and anchor the back and enjoy a nice fire!
We booked our Aug 7!
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camper2009
Member
Post Number: 47
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 6:42 pm: |
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Wow great vid!!!! I'll be up in a week! Hopefully I can share a great video too! |
camper2009
Member
Post Number: 48
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 6:43 pm: |
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BTW...
How was the houseboat trip?
A report would be wonderful.
Cheers
Paul |
Temagami general