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Well, this post is long overdue. The year 2023 for Hardcore started with Daniel and Jacob helping Dad get ready for this season. This included checking ice conditions and fishing as well.  As usual, I took my boys up to Virgin for our spring fling and just have fun. We also did some ice fishing while checking ice conditions for Dick and Jane. Daniel caught this big bad boy who was a 22 incher and an even five-pounder. If you think my boy would have been happier to have caught this fish that is because his personal best is a 27-inch male with a 16-inch girth that was 9lbs.

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Old Times Again

Ron and Tammy came and it had been a few years since I saw them.  They each caught a brookie over 5 lbs.   Ron had the biggest at 6 lbs.  They also went walleye fishing.  Ron caught a 5 lb walleye and a 5 lb brookie in the same day.  It was a great time and it was nice to see Ron again as he is a long time customer of mine.  Congrats on getting married.  Hope you had a great wedding.

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New Times

Well, I didn't fish for five years and then suddenly, this spring I got the bug and bought a fishing license. Things took off from there.  Daniel, Jacob, and I started ice fishing brookies in May on Jessie Lake.  Then we went up to Lake Nipigon a few times.  My son Daniel started looking at the map at home and he started asking questions about Ombabika Bay.  I told Daniel that I had been planning to go up on Ombabika Bay for over 10 years.  When Daniel took out my maps, it got me excited, remembering all the old conversations and plans around campfires about walleye fishing Lake Nipigon.  Well, we had the time and we decided to go.  I made a phone call to Onaman River Resort, packed the truck, loaded our gear and away we went.  We had never been up there before, and I had heard of Onaman River Resort for years.  Our trip was great, and it was some of the best walleye fishing I had ever seen other then on Lake St. Joseph.  Simeon, Daniel, and I didn't make it to the Little Jackfish River, but we did get some nice fish and we spent two nights out there.  It was awesome as it was the first time in a long time that Simeon, Daniel, and dad all went fishing together.  It was so amazing that when we got back, I turned around and went back again this time with Melissa and Jacob.  This time, we did manage to get to the Little Jackfish River.  And this too was so amazing as man again is changing the course of river and altered the natural landscape.  Things get buried; the old campsites are gone.  We had a great time; dad got his 30-inch Walleye, the biggest walleye I ever caught.  I have had many 28’s, a few 29’s, but never a 30 incher.  Jacob and Mama laughed as Papa danced in the boat after the fish was released and the pictures were taken.  I am going back up there again and I'm definitely checking out the Onaman River Resort and spending more time out there on Ombabika Bay.  It was super amazing and I'm glad I got there, but wow, what a new playground.  It's amazing, Lake Nipigon is amazing and so is my family.  The fact that I can take my children or my wife who had to back the truck up and help me launch the boat. I couldn't do these things without my family, and I know we're going back.  We're gonna have fun because wow Lake Nipigon is God's country.

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Just Like Old Times

Well, it has been a while since my last post, and it is fitting that after a few years this post is all about the Bjorem Family.  First it was Dick and Jane and I had not seen them since covid.  It was like turning back time.  They did good fishing, catching over 30 Brookies in 3 days.  They each got 1 over 5lbs and Dick had the biggest by 1oz.  Sorry Jane, you can’t win them all.  It was so nice to see old friends face to face and spend time catching up on life and fishing.  Then after a short turn around Dick came back with Rick for another 3-day trip.  But before I get to that I have a story to tell about Dick.  We were fishing the pool at split rock, and we were in the back eddy when my shifter broke on my motor.  Anyone who has been there knows what I am talking about.  I told Dick there was no reverse and we were heading for the rocks moving fast.  Dick was in the front seat and dove out of his chair just in time to get his hand on the nearest big rock.  We still hit the rock very hard getting the biggest scratch and dent my boat has.  Dick smashed up his hand pretty good; I think he had a broken knuckle or two. The next day it looked like a golf ball in his hand.  He still fished and had to drive back home. This is one quick thinking tough old man he must have been an Iron Worker.  Not only did he save my boat damage, but Jane was safe as well. So now he comes back with Rick, and they caught 50+ Brookies over 3 days.  Rick got the biggest one at 6lbs.  We missed seeing Lucy as she could not make the trip.  We hope all is well.  This family is fun to watch fish they are so skilled; Rick is very skilled.  I hope you guys had a good walleye trip.  

God willing, we will fish together again.  

The Laukkanen family. 

 

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Two out of Three Ain’t Bad

Tom, Justin and Jacob all came.  Tom and Justin had fished with me numerous times in the past, but it was Jacob’s first time fishing the Nipigon system.  Tom had the biggest fish when he came with Justin over the last few years.  They had a tough three days of fishing as they only caught 18 fish over three days.  On this trip Tom got the smallest fish, it was only five pounds.  Jacob managed to get a 25 incher that was over 5.5 lbs and it was the biggest brook trout he had ever caught in his life.  Ironically Justin who had been here multiple times, this being his third trip.  His fish was only 24 inches, but topped out at just over 6 lbs—also the biggest Brook Trout he had ever caught in his life.  They had a tough bite as the Brook Trout has lots to feed on and weren’t biting very good.  But at the end of the day, Justin and Jacob both caught a new personal best Brook Trout which is the goal when you fish the Nipigon system.  It is not about how many you catch, but how big.  These guys were easy to guide, good company, they followed the rules and were pretty mellow.  Hope to see you guys again.  May God bless you.  As the title says, two out of three guys got the biggest Brook Trout of their life.  Two out of three ain’t bad!

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Following in their Footsteps

Well Rick and Lucy were back again.  They had a good trip.  They caught 34 fish over three days with an amazing 14 fish over 22 inches.  Rick caught the most fish, but Lucy got the biggest.  They are so much like Dick and Jane.  I have said it before and I will say it again.  It is such a treat to guide a husband and wife on such a special trip to fish for Brook Trout on the Nipigon system.  Dick came first many years ago and brought his wife Jane as his fishing partner.  After a while their son Rick started to come too with his wife Lucy.  I think about their family a lot.  Lately I have been wondering if there is anybody in Michigan who have caught more trophy Brook Trout than Dick and Jane.  And now that Rick and Lucy have been coming for the last few years and are compiling some pretty good numbers, I now wonder if there is any other family in Michigan who have caught more trophy Brook Trout than the Bjorem family.  I doubt it!

I heard Rick was on Michigan Out of Doors TV show fishing for Steelhead.  Congratulations on that accomplishment.  Rick I would also like to congratulate you on following your father’s footsteps in taking your wife on a very special fishing trip.  Not all men are willing to fish with their wives and children, but more should do it.  I remember when I was a kid, some of my finest memories are fishing with my father.  And now that I am older and have kids, some of my best recent memories are fishing with my kids.

Thank you Rick and Lucy for being good company.  I look forward to seeing you again next year.

PS.  They each got a 25 incher.  Lucy’s had a bigger girth.  It was almost 7.5 pounds and Ricks was just over 6 pounds.  Either way as you can tell from the pictures, they were both gorgeous fish. Which were released.

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Pretty Good Fishing

Well Dick and Jane were here again.  It must be another year gone by.  They did really good as they caught 38 fish with twelve over on their three day trip.   Once again, Dick caught the most with a twenty-five incher good for 6 lbs, but Jane managed to get 25 incher that was over 7 lbs.  Dick and Jane are in their 80's and yet they fished for three hours on day 2 in the pouring rain.   It was cold and miserable, but they still put 12 fish in the boat that day and that was the day that Jane got her big fish.  You guys did pretty good.  Myself and my wife and kids were glad to see you again.  May God give you another year yet. 

We love Dick and Jane!

The Laukkanens 

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