Oshashiburi - Long Time No See

Although this guy looks like he might have just returned from an Amish barn-raising, he is in fact, my younger Japanese "brother", Tadao Hashimoto. And in this photo he's just come back from a good day of fishing at "Secret Lake". Tad is a beautiful and funny man and one of the best fly fishermen I know. This season, Tad returned to Omineca with some friends for a July fishing trip. It was just like old times.

He first came to Omineca as a guest, but Tad and I have been friends for over 20 years now. We consider ourselves brothers. And, like brothers, we have to test each other now and then. And since we both like food and cooking, that's how we've tested each other over the years. Actually in Japan it's a national sport: see-if-the-foreigner-will-eat-this? Tad has served me "kusaya" (the fish whose name means "smells bad"). It was OK. Tasted kinda burnt. But I've come to love "natto", a scary preparation of fermented beans. In return, I've introduced Tad to root beer, which tastes like medicine to the uninitiated. He says he likes it but I don`t believe him. In the battle of strange foods, I think I win because he politely refuses one of my all time favourites. I don`t understand why he won`t eat my beautifully stinky, aged-in-the-rafters, Esrom cheese. It's imported. From Denmark.

It's Twins!

After seeing no loon babies since arriving here at the end of May, we thought maybe it was going to be a year of none surviving. But, Frank and Rob encountered the first family coming through the narrows on Tuesday. These two are pretty young, and the Dad tried very hard to lure the boat away from Mom and young. With luck they'll survive the eagles and gulls, with their parents' help, and come back next year. Still a little rainy, but we did have a few dry days this week. Lots of fishing fun, and we watched a loon out front eating his catch, too!

Return of the Giant Caddis

As I am typing this, Rainbow Trout, around the dock and out across the lake are feeding, making splashy rises. One of the reasons for this is the return of the giant Caddis (pictured left). Caddis are one of the aquatic insects that are mainstays of the trout diet. Others include: Mayflies, Midges, Damsel and Dragonflies.

All these insects are great trout food but the giant Caddis (over 2.5cm long) are a whole trout banquet in one gulp. That's why the splashy rises. They are one of the reasons that dry fly fishing is so good around here. And because they hatch sporadically, not in big waves as many aquatic insect do, trout are always on the lookout for them. Giant Caddis or "Travelling Sedge" come in a range of colours, varieties and sizes. My Japanese fishing brother, Tad has called the biggest species "Mothra Caddis".

Rainbow Trout will make a great effort to chase down giant Caddis. That's where the "Simulator" Dry Fly comes in. More on Caddis and the Simulator soon.

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The Solstice in Omineca

Hope that everyone had a happy Father's Day / Longest Day (also known as: First Day of Summer and the Summer Solstice). We celebrated with crepes for brunch and an afternoon fishing trip. My sister, husband and two boys came to the lodge for the weekend.

Top photo is by my nephew, Sebastian. He captured a rainbow across the lake, near sunset on the shortest night (June 20th). Up here at this time of year, nights are already very short. For about a month, it doesn't get dark at night. There's just a long twillight between 11:30pm and 2am. The nights are so bright that we won't see the Milky Way until mid-July. By August, it's so dark and clear again at night that it seems like you can see every star in the universe.

Middle section of photos are mostly of my nephews, Harrison and Sebastian doing some dry fly fishing in Spitz Bay. We were anchored in the bay and Harrison decided to go for a swim while Sebastian and I kept fishing. When we caught a trout Harrison would release it for us. Swimming with the fishes, in a good way.

Bottom photos: Lodge from the dock and Antlertree by Sebastian.

Morels, Norwegians and Lou

After almost three weeks of hot, dry weather, rain has finally come to Omineca. Good for the forest and good for the mushrooms! Lou and I have found a nice handful of Morels (morchella elata). They were tasty in the rice pilaf. They’ve been growing on the trail behind the lodge.












Our Norwegian guests have gone home. Ronny, the smiling man, (he organized the trip) turned to laughing with glee as he reeled in fish after fish. Lots of fun with his group. It was nice to have Wes and Colin in camp to get things started for another year. Also, great to have Frank's Dad, Bert “the director“ in camp. He built a new roof for the Yukon tent platform, got some camp footage with his HD video camera and cooked a few memorable breakfasts!






Lou was a big hit with the guests, I was afraid he's be smuggled out of the country in a suitcase... (gotta watch those Norwegians! Ed.)
I'm off to Williams Lake to do the production work for the next issue of Die Kleine Zeitung mit Herz... nice to get to civilization but always hard to leave such a paradise.
See you next week.
Jill

Life is Good

The Omineca Wilderness Adventures Video Trailer.
A series of moments in the life of Omineca set to great song by Bob Egan. http://www.bobegan.com/
The video concept was by Geoff. Geoff, Jill and myself edited the video from stock in the Omineca Video Archives. At the start the music is a bit quiet. So, Crank it and enjoy.

THANKS BOB! - Bob Egan’s “Honest Night” and the Omineca Video Trailer.
Geoff and I had been talking about making a video. Something that captured the Omineca experience and used some of the great footage we’ve gathered over the years. But that’s as far as we got. Then one cold January night Geoff went to see Bob Egan play in Williams Lake BC. Promptly blown-away, at the show, Geoff bought Bob’s album “The Promise”. “The Promise” is a classic album, great songs in a wide range of styles. Bob is a master studio musician and songwriter. He has been a member of Wilco and now is the steel guitar player for Blue Rodeo.

When Geoff heard “Honest Night” from “The Promise” he knew it had to be the soundtrack for the Omineca Video we’d been planning. So Geoff presented his concept to Jill and I, then he got the “OK” from Bob Egan to use the song and it was all over but the shouting. It’s a classic song: elements of traditional, pop and rock & roll, spectacular writing, exquisite playing and production and an ecstatic, finger-pickin’ crescendo with guitars, mandolins and violins. One of the violin players on the track is Ashley MacIsaac’s sister, Lisa. Contact Bob.
Bob Egan.

2009 Season - Omineca Lodge Opening Soon

Howdy,
Welcome to our Blog. I'm Frank Badey, owner/operator of Omineca Wilderness Adventures. The Omineca Crew and I will be opening the Lodge in the first week of June. We operate the Omineca Lodge from June until October. The Lodge is a one hour drive from Fort St. James BC.

We are a full service lodge: rustic gourmet meals and comfortable private guest cabins. We offer Fly Fishing Lessons, Wildlife Viewing and Photography, Camping, Canoeing and Kayaking. Retreats and Adventures for Friends, Families and Groups.

Come and join us this summer. We've got a place by the campfire for you.