Fishing report from Jan 1st-4th

Shocking, we have been fishing out of Idle Tyme and Bear Creek cottages for 20+ years now and have never experienced anything like this from Shawn, some of the previous owners between when Ross and Betty retired and Shawn took over did try our patience though, we actually left and went to Sandy Bay for a couple of years. Don't blame you for leaving, we spend a lot of money, drive from all over and get pretty excited for these weekends to be disappointed when we get there, so glad to hear you were able to salvage your weekend and kudos to the owners of Big Moose Lodge for all they did for you.

This is shawn Degagne at bear creek and idletyme we had gord 88 here last week and he came in Thursday night. He said he was leaving Friday around 11am because he couldn't get the hockey game. I arranged with my neighbour so that gord could walk a hundred yards with his group and watch it in the guest cottage all by themselves. he then proceeded to tell me they were leaving anyways because they could not walk to the huts!! he thought he was at idletyme and could walk to those huts. which are three km out and bear creeks are five...... a long walk anyway you look at it! After he told me he was leaving anyways he asked how much it was for the night and I told him he booked the weekend so that is what hes paying for. After thinking about it I knocked them down to 150 a guy instead of the 242.95 like they booked with the extra night and the extra day fishing. I know a lot of outfitters that woulda dinged them full I am sure. Thanks for the guys backing me up we do treat our customers right it is very rare we have one complain but you can't keepem all happy!! Happy fishing this winter wherever you go, be safe!!!

Welcome aboard bearcrk, as said there is always two sides to every story. This story did seem quite out of character of you so it was good to read your side of the story as well.

See you in a couple of weeks and remember I want the bungalow with all the big fish underneath it

Dave

ty I don't usually like to write on these thing but when I buddy told me about the complaint I felt I had too!!! See you in a couple weeks gonna move huts after this weekend so you will have fresh holes for sure!!! I am glad to hear gord88 and the boys were able to salvage their weekend and got some fish somewhere else!

We will be with idle in exactly 20 days as first timers on nippissing ice. Some buddies of mine heading out with bear on sunday for 3 days and have been going for years. They bragged about the place, that's why we booked with idle. Trust those in the know.

Not that Shawn and Tara need backing but I'm the person that Shawn called to access my cottage so his guys were taken care of and able to see their hockey. I'm less than 70 M from their cottage.
And I must say, anyone who has been to Nipissing knows, you don't walk out on the ice after dark to fish. If that is what you want, then get a bungalow and fish till your heart is content. When it storms here, you can't see more than 20 feet in front of you. Today it's a north wind, wind chill of -39C you would not stand a chance.

Unfortunately I had a bad experience with idle tyme also. We went 2012 and 2013 with them. 2012 our propane ran out at about 3am. We dealt with it out and they apologized no big deal. We caught fish and had fun. I figured that everyone make mistakes so I went back 2013. That was a bad yr: lots of issues. We had 12 guys up there. Asked if huts could be close together and they said no prob on the phone. I wish they woulda just been straight up from the get go. Huts were not close at all. p### buckets were over flowing. The lights weren't working properly also. We were told the guys would be around with bait and we ran out multiple times and had to go to other huts to get bait. Our group is going up again but with a different outfit. 2 years in a row with some big problems. It's a shame cause we spend a lot of $ and drove 6 hrs to get there. Saying that the guys are friendly and we had a couple drinks with them. I just can't drive that far spend that $ and keep getting shitty service.

I've been to Shawn's twice, great bunch of guys, excellent service

From my experience you have to look at these trips like more of an adventure. It's no different then any other advertised experience although it kinda is because there are many factors that are uncontrollable ex. weather and fish bite. At the end of the day you're in a small bunkie in the middle of a lake with potential of extreme weather conditions. We were out last year and someone had to be evacuated due to panic attacks. The wind one night was intense we had 5 gallon pails plunking off the sides of the hut. In defense of some of the operators, it's no different then any other small business it's hard to find good help and very difficult to micromanage and keep everyone happy. Quit frankly some people really have no idea what they are getting into when they book a bungalow for the weekend.

No matter what you do or how hard you try, you're not gonna please everybody. At some point you just gotta say "$&%# it" and focus on the rest of your customers to keep them happy. Like I said before "two sides to every story". Still one of the best outfitters up there. Looking forward to seeing him in a week.

Well put idub! They are running a business and they have variables out of they're control! For the most part they are gonna keep you happy and coming back! I always have a great experience even if I'm not
Always catching fish! It's a great time with friends and catching fish is just a sweet plus to the trip! Tight lines!

WELCOME ABOARD SHAWN (BEARCRK). JUST REMEMBER, YOU CANT PLEASE THEM ALL. WE WOULDN'T EVER THINK OF GOING TO ANOTHER OUTFITTER AS YOU AND YOUR CREW ARE GREAT.

SEE YOU THURSDAY JAN. 15TH BRIGHT AND EARLY. PLEASE HAVE OUR 8 MAN OVER THE BIG ONES. LOL

AND THANKS FOR THE GREAT DAY WE HAD ON THE OPENER. WELL WORTH THE 8 HOUR ROUND TRIP.

JEFF (BIGFILTHY)

just smile and wave shawn. you run a great show there.

keep it up

gary

Well put guys... If we ever had a perfectly flawless weekend I think I'd crap myself. Roll with it. And Shawn... I'll be there in two weeks with Dave make sure the super hole is the one behind the door!

Is that the hole with the pork chop bones in it