James Boraski

According to the calendar, Spring arrived on March 20th, but it’s kinda hard to imagine while there’s still more than 2 feet of snow on the ground here in Thunder Bay!!

Nonetheless, April has arrived and it’s time for me to start shifting back into my “On the Water with James Boraski” persona as our soft water fishing seasons are fast approaching and soon to open.

With that comes the need for preparation… checking over rods and re-spooling fishing reels with new line; readying all the tackle and gear for inside the boat – including landing nets – essential and necessary gear!!

Sadly, in 2025, I had a large Northern Pike and a few heavy Lake Trout challenge the strength of the mesh in my main landing net (a beautiful wooden net that had been custom made for me in 2022 by my friend and incredible canoe builder – Jon Babulic). 

As a result of some big rips & tears, it needed some new replacement netting and some TLC before heading into my 2026 guiding season. 

I had heard about Lorne Morrow of Nipigon Nets here in Thunder Bay, so I made a call to see if he could help me order and perhaps replace the netting, and it resulted in the most friendly “James – I’ve heard about you… bring the net on over to my shop and let’s take a look to see what we can do.” 

I wasn’t in the shop very long before I realized first-hand that I was in the company of a master craftsman… I had seen pictures and heard much about these impressive nets (I’d call them works of art) that Lorne builds by hand… each one built to be individually unique.

So, after looking at Jon’s hand-made net, Lorne said he was impressed with its construction and he quickly assured me he could help.

Then, after stripping off the old netting he suggested (like most craftsmen never satisfied with only a partial repair) that I should have him clean it up and refinish it with some fresh epoxy and urethane as it was looking just a little“worn & well-used”.

And well-used it had been… landing literally hundreds of fish of several different species during the years the net had been in service for me.

After Lorne’s assessment, the conversation quickly shifted from what I had initially gone to see him about to “you’re one of the few guides on the Nipigon that isn’t using one of my nets… why is that?” I couldn’t help but chuckle… I told him that I wanted to wait until he had built a couple hundred nets so I could be sure he knew what he was doing… lol.

But seriously, I told Lorne how I had met Jon Babulic while fishing up at Virgin Falls on the Nipigon River some years before, and I saw one of his hand-made nets in action while he was landing a big Brookie in an old Chestnut canoe he had restored. After some discussion, when Jon offered to build me a larger version for my boat (made to my specifications) I couldn’t refuse.

I explained to Lorne that I certainly wasn’t opposed to owning one of his Nipigon Nets, but continuing to use Jon’s net would mean a lot to him, and it would mean a lot to me too… it’s very much a loyalty & respect thing for my friend.

Lorne understood completely, but he continued telling me that – as a Nipigon Guide – he really wanted me to have one of his nets. He showed me all the different models that he makes – the Little Cypress; the Cypress; the Jackpine; the Rabbit Rapids; the Split Rock and the Split Rock Guide Special.

Then he asked if I could think of any other application where one of his nets might fill a niche… I told him that I love canoeing and that I didn’t have a good net for my cedar-strip canoe… and with that, he said he would build me one to match my canoe.

Within a few days, pictures started flowing in – showing me the process of construction on my net!! First the handle, then the addition of the hoop.

A few days later, Lorne sent me photos of the refined product – with my name and business name inscribed on the handle of the net, and his name, year and net number (209) inscribed on the opposite side!! And of course “Nipigon Nets” is branded into the top of the handle.

Lorne is a gracious, humble and generous man; and an artisan who’s obviously very proud of his Nipigon Nets as he often donates them to various organizations for fundraising. 

Being a Forester by profession, he felt that a transition to working with wood in retirement would be a great fit. In 2023, he initially started building customs paddles, but he is now almost exclusively building nets… each one individually numbered and he is well over 200 nets made.

With his Forestry background, Lorne knows all about the strengths and virtues of various wood types… and he combines more common species (White Ash, Cherry, Black Walnut, etc.) with some unique wood types (Pedauk, Ebiara or Red Zebra Wood, Wenge & Canary Wood – all from Africa) for colour and effect.

Lorne cuts all the boards he uses into strips himself to ensure consistency and quality… I was there one day and he showed me how… it’s a lot of effort (and a lot of sawdust to clean up in the shop so as not to have the particles landing on the nets when they are being finished with epoxy and urethane).

He has even been able to obtain some old-growth Douglas Fir (more than 250 years old) from the old Domtar Mill that he used to manage in Red Rock, and from stoplogs that were used at the Cameron Falls Hydro Dam on the Nipigon River.

Lorne completes the nets with one of three netting options: either the larger mesh ghost (clear white) or black rubber netting, or with a finer mesh “catch & release” nylon net on the hoops.

Lorne absolutely loves handcrafting these beautifully artistic “tools” – one at a time – for anglers with a discerning eye and a love for the many lakes, rivers and streams Canada has to offer… especially those close to his home in the Nipigon area.

He says he’s not interested in mass marketing or production… in fact his goal is to keep numbers low and manageable – maybe 30 to 50 nets per year – in order to allow for maximum creativity and uniqueness in each net that he builds. 

Each net is its own ‘labour of love’ according to Lorne… he spends about 15 hours on average to complete each one, depending, of course, on size.

His biggest custom creation was one he made for renowned Nipigon fishing guide Gord Ellis… it’s called the Dr. Cook Special… a ‘one-of-one’ net that is 100 inches long with a 75 inch hoop.

I very much look forward to the day Lorne calls to tell me that my very own Nipigon Net – #209 – and my Babulic net repairs are finished and ready for pick up. And even more, and I can’t wait until each of them sees their first Trophy Brookie or Lake Trout slide into them during my 2026 season.

Thank you Lorne… the Nipigon Region and Thunder Bay’s angling community is lucky to have such a generous and artistic craftsman like you!!

Folks, if you are interested in more information, or in acquiring one of Lorne’s Nipigon Nets, check him out at the following:

Facebook: Nipigon Nets

Website: www.nipigonnets.ca

Phone: 807-620-6850

Email: morrow@nipigonnets.ca

I hope to see you out ‘On the Water’ this summer… enjoy!

Here we are… mid March and that sordid prediction by a ground rodent seems far from bearing any truth… cold temperatures and winter just do not want to end!!

So, in keeping with the prophetic words of a winter lover – “if you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow” – we took to the chilly outdoors once again.

This time, we decided to have a little March Break“staycation” by renting The Lake House at Bay’s End… a spectacular AirBnB near the most easterly point of Lake Superior’s Thunder Bay… we were on a Whitefish mission, and this gave us easy access to the Bay.

After getting settled in, we set out by snowmobile to find “the spot” to plant our portable ice fishing shelter for the weekend.

And truthfully, we didn’t have to go far… just a few hundred yards out front of The Lake House to locate that 35 to 40 feet of water that, as a fishing guide, I find yields quite good results for one of Ontario’s tastiest fish – pan-fried, baked or smoked!

Although our start was mid-afternoon, it didn’t take long before a few nice eating-size Whitefish were laying on the ice… and the anticipation for the following day grew even more with our early success.

The next morning, a small fuel line issue with the snowmobile delayed our start a little bit. My partner, Janet, decided to walk out to our ice hut and by the time I got there she had the heater going, the graph turned on, and had already jigged up the first Whitefish of the day!

Several more fish quickly followed, and we had 6 on the ice by the time we went back to The Lake House for lunch.

As the day drew to a close, our fish count had increased to 9… 11 in total for the weekend – not too darn bad!

Wintertime public access to Lake Superior’s Bay’s End ice fishing can be found off the Eldorado Beach Road at O’Conner Point… there is limited parking on the roadway, so pay attention to the signs and avoid the tow away zones.

And, if you’re looking for a quaint local getaway – whether it’s for fishing, hiking, a sauna, snowshoeing, etc. – check out The Lake House at Bay’s End in Shuniah on their AirBnB site… Jonathon & Nancy will be happy to answer any and all questions you might have.

Good luck and be sure to enjoy this last part of Winter in our great outdoors!!

As a Fishing Guide – regardless of season – I often find myself on the ice or water before the sun hits the horizon, or as it’s falling off into the afternoon sky.

These moments present some awesome opportunities for another of my favourite activities – photography!!

Many of my clients are awestruck by the raw beauty of our rugged, largely untouched northern boreal landscape and Canadian Shield… and the vistas and scenery often become a big part of the daily dialogue and photo ops.

Of course the crystal clear water in many of our lakes truly heighten the experience as the substrate and habitat the fish use is a vision in and of itself.

We often seek out fish around islands and rocky points… many of which are covered in orange lichen… these are always an attraction for those unfamiliar with northern environments.

So too are the cliffs that often boast and display unique, sedimentary geological features and formations following the glacial recessions.

Winter scenes offer similar awe-inspiring views… pressure cracks on the freezing lakes often sees crystal clear ice piled up that draws the attention of ice-fishing clients and hikers alike to come take a look… some even get quite creative building piled-ice sculptures.

I also find cloud formations particularly interesting… God certainly has a knack for filling his canvas with colour, shapes and light.

And, every once in a while a foggy morning – on what will be a sunny day – can yield some very interesting “fog-bows” that the camera catches sometimes better than the naked eye!!

Of course, my clients have to drive to arrive at many of these fishing destinations – summer and winter – and there’s equally as many beautiful views along the route so keep your cameras ready… just in case!!

There’s so much to take in and enjoy if you spend the time looking in our Great Outdoors.

People often ask me how I endure such long & cold winters here in Northwestern Ontario… and my response is always the same – “by embracing whatever winter has to offer.”

I have always enjoyed winter activities and getting outdoors – skating; skiing; snowshoeing; snowmobiling; ice fishing; hockey; etc. 

But not everyone is driven to spend as much time outdoors in winter like me, so there are other things to consider that can help get your mind off the winter blahs and bring some excitement to the season you might least enjoy.

One of the most enjoyable (for me anyways) and underrated winter activities in my repertoire is setting up my winter bird-feeding stations and cataloging all the different species that stop by for a little sustenance when their natural food supplies can be scarce. Kids love it too as they get to see and hear the birds up close.

Birds are generally not that shy when they find your feeders, and it’s surprising how entertaining they can be by observing how they feed, and how the various species interact.

For example, I find that Blue Jays and Gray Jays – as beautiful as they are – tend to be bullies and gluttons at the feeders. They sift through the seed mix spilling lots down to the ground until they find something they like… all the while chasing other smaller birds away until their bellies and crops are full.

Chickadees and Nuthatches on the other hand, are opportunists and flitters – they fly in, quickly grab a single seed and retreat to a nearby branch where they peck it apart… and then they repeat the process over and over… I often wonder how they can expend so much energy flitting about for a single seed!!

Other species like Dark-Eyed Juncos, Red Polls, American Redstarts and various Sparrows don’t mind yielding the actual feeder to other birds as they clean up the spillage on the ground thanks to the Blue Jays.

Purple Finches, Gold Finches and Pine Siskins love feeding at tube feeders where they can perch and feed together.

In one of our most eventful feeding seasons (fall through spring) we documented more than 21 different species that routinely visited our feeders!! I would have to say that our favorites are the very colorful Evening and Pine Grosbeaks.

We generally try to provide feeder styles and seeds that accommodate all the different feeding preferences of the birds that inhabit our woodlands and those that migrate through. 

These include platform feeders; cannister feeders; tube feeders; suet cages and peanut rings. 

We fill all of our feeders with the #1 choice of most winter birds – black-oil sunflower seeds… they have a high caloric conversion value for the birds. In addition, we mix in both whole & shelled peanuts and some cracked corn in smaller amounts too.

The suet cages are particularly important if you are trying to attract Woodpeckers… we’ve been fortunate to see Downey, Hairy & Pileated Woodpeckers all enjoying the suet & seed cakes that we make ourselves.

This is a wonderful activity to get you out and enjoying the sights and splendor of our great outdoors… and it gives the birds in your vicinity a much needed cold-weather boost.

But keep in mind that once spring arrives (usually mid-May) you want to take your feeders down to avoid any unwanted visitors… enjoy!!

If you want more information or advice on how you can get started, check out the information & resources available from our very own Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, or the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority.

After the all the excitement of Christmas and New Years… you know, when the dead of winter finds us… it often coincides with the season’s coldest month(s). And January of 2026 has been no exception!

For many people the cold, raw temperatures make the thought of going outdoors a lot less than desirable. But for me, after spending a decade in the Canadian Arctic, you realize you can’t stay indoors forever, so you figure out what you need to do to cope and co-exist with the long, cold winter.

I enjoy outdoor recreation and activities that allow me to get out amongst people… hiking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, skiing… but it’s a little different in the Arctic!! So it meant asking a lot of questions and doing some research in order to get myself prepared.

The first thing I was told (but kinda knew) was to fully understand how the deadly combination of wind and cold temperature takes its toll on a body – particularly frostbite on unprotected skin – so I was told to get a good parka, cover my face and make sure I had a very good toque or winter hat with ear coverings, a quality pair of warm, protective mitts, insulated socks & sub-zero boots! Check!!

For light outdoor activities, you can’t beat a Woods or Canada Goose down insulated parka or a pair of Sorel Arctic -40 insulated boots for warmth.

But they are not designed for an activity with a lot of movement that will cause you to perspire – hiking, skiing or snowshoeing. Those activities in the out in the cold will require some additional thought and planning.

I do a lot of snowshoeing, hiking and fishing/hunting so I’m often on the move which often causes the body to generate heat. For those activities I want to layer my clothing starting with an insulating & wicking “base layer”… after that another thin layer covered with an insulated outer layer that is wind, water & snow repellant – I find a pair of insulated snowboard pants with zippered vents in the legs ideal.

I also generally trek with a backpack that has a hoodie, some extra socks & mitts, energy snacks, juice or water, a small first aid kit and matches, etc., just in case.

Aside from all the great exercise and time with pets, family & friends, there’s lots of beautiful scenery and interesting tracks & animals to behold when you’re out there!!

So don’t let the long, cold winter blues get you down… get yourself geared up… gather up some family & friends… lay down some tracks… and get yourself into our great outdoors for a day of hiking, ice fishing or snowshoeing.

And before you head back indoors, gather around a nice campfire for some hot chocolate, soup & hotdogs to extend your time together!!

For many folks, the season began several weeks ago… but for those of us who like a little more ice under our boots, January usually marks the start of our annual winter tradition – ice fishing… but be careful.

Early season ice can offer some great fishing, and also some inherent dangers… otherwise we would never have that sage old cliche… “be careful – you’re walking on thin ice”.

Several agencies & organizations regularly post guidelines for ice safety on clear hard ice… the trouble, however, is that the formation of ice and the arrival of heavy, insulating winter snow often coincides and can hinder the formation of clear, hard ice… and extra caution is necessary.

In that instance, greater care is required as the conditions often create more porous ice… and the weight of the snow can cause water to seep up to create heavy, slushy conditions on top of the ice. These conditions make it much more dangerous for inexperienced ice trekkers & snowmobilers alike.

The best advice is to proceed with caution; measure the ice thickness several times while trekking to your chosen location; avoid areas with known currents that will make the ice less stable; look for obvious, safe tracks that others are using without mishaps; and be particularly careful around pressure cracks & ridges. But always remember that, as weather changes, ice conditions can change rapidly too.

After you’ve checked everything out and are comfortable that the ice conditions are stable, it’s time to have some fun… there’s nothing greater than spending a winter’s day on the ice, in the fresh air, drilling some holes and catching some fish!!

Our lakes offer a plethora of fish species from under the ice… perch, walleye, northern pike, whitefish, herring, brook trout, lake trout… the list is immense and opportunities are endless.

Whether you’re sitting in the open air, or in a small portable ice fishing shelter, or even in a larger, more permanent heated ice hut… the fun and memories you’ll make will last a lifetime.

And, at the end of the day, is there anything better than a self-caught, fresh fish dinner and recounting the day’s special moments? I think not!!

So get out there and enjoy another one of our great winter activities… but be safe & smart.

I guess it can be summed up as “to each, their own.”

I read an article recently that pretty much labelled anglers & hunters as ‘egotistical killers’… and that we display our “trophies” simply to pump those egos. Personally, that couldn’t be farther from the truth or the reality for me.

For me it started long ago when I was just a kid myself… hunting and fishing with my Dad put a lot of food on our family’s table over the years. It continued when I was a single Dad, raising my own family without the benefit of financial support payments. The fish and game I harvested was an important part of our daily protein intake.

Sure, every once in a while you might get lucky and land a trophy fish worthy of a memory, or from a location that you might always want to remember and may never be able to return to… but not because I was only out for a trophy or to feed an ego.

My personal collection of antlers or fish that I display in my house all started with the goal of food in mind… with the exception of Brook Trout.

And although I do have 2 Brook Trout on display, they are both fibreglass replicas made from simply the length & girth measurements and a couple photos before the fish was live released. I’m sure lots of other anglers have done the same thing in the best interests of conserving their catch.

It’s quite different when it comes to animals like moose or deer… in this instance, photographs are the only option if a hunter chooses to “live release”.

My moose & deer antlers are my memories of my first archery & rifle harvests… harvests that fed my family, and others, for many months… so I’m darn proud to display them. They represent countless hours of calling practice, scouting, planning, sitting for long hours waiting for the right opportunity for a clean shot and an ethical harvest.

And I love recounting the stories to my grandkids when they come to visit and see the fish or antlers… they ask all kinds of questions that children often do, so – for me anyways – it’s a way of teaching others about conservation; my appreciation of the outdoors; and the countless experiences it has provided for me, and so many others.

So my friends, here’s the point:

Fish how you fish and Hunt how you hunt… celebrate the moments you that you get outdoors and the memories that you make.

Display your memories if you choose – or not – but be proud of each and every accomplishment you earned on the water or in the woods. Don’t let someone else determine what’s important for you to remember.

All good things must come to an end… it’s inevitable… and December 15th is a date that lots of hunters dread, especially those who are still hoping to fill a tag they’ve been carrying around most of the fall.

The amount of wind and cold weather that the end of November, and so far into December offered up sure made things a little more challenging.

I’m sure that some hunters look back on the season and call to mind the opportunities they had to harvest an animal of the right sex and age for their tag but chose otherwise, thinking “I’ve got lots of time.”

And then the clock starts ticking hard and fast this last week of the season, and those same hunters are second guessing their decisions with lots of “could have / should have / if only” thoughts.

This year has had some additional challenges with reductions in tag quotas, and the near elimination of the supplemental tag allocations for deer in many areas.

A lot of factors contribute to these management decisions… population targets; mandatory hunter reports; harvest levels; winter severity indices; climatic change; disease and other causes of mortality; predation levels; etc. etc.

In these cases, all we – as hunters – can hope for is that – with our unfilled tags and lower harvest levels – conservation wins, and that the herds might benefit in the long run.

But in the meantime, there’s still a few days left to give it one last push… just remember to go about it safely, ethically and always legally… and with respect for the animal as the highest priority.

And if it comes down to a tag going unfilled, be happy that you had the opportunity to spend some time in the great outdoors with the hope that “there’s always next year”.

And although the food quality is nowhere near as delicious as the natural, organically raised wildlife that we love to put on our tables, I do have a few good recipes for both unfilled tag & animal track soups… lol.

Good luck out there in the woods this week!!

An interesting matter was just brought to my attention by a local Conservation Officer… and I’m sure it’s something that most other people – just like me – are not aware of as well. So, in an effort to increase hunter education and awareness, here’s the details:

Did you know that the Municipal Bylaw which allows archery hunting for deer within specific areas of the City of Thunder Bay [in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 13] is superseded by the Provincial Hunting Regulations?

And, as a result, when there is an open firearms season for deer within WMU 13, the requirement for archery hunters to wear hunter orange head and body coverings then applies.

The Municipal Bylaw is silent in that regard, and likely the reason that many hunters are not aware of the blaze orange requirement during the archery hunt in the City.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse and admittedly, like others I imagine, I was not aware of the hunter orange requirement since the Municipal Bylaws do not permit the use or discharge of firearms (other than bows) within the City.

I made an erroneous assumption that, like for other archery-only seasons, I could simply wear camouflage clothing while hunting on my own property within the City… but I was WRONG!

And I have been wrong for 13 years… posting pictures of myself dressed only in camouflage clothing during my Municipal deer hunts… and for that I am both sorry, and embarrassed.

As a proud former Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Deputy Conservation Officer, my reputation and integrity mean a great deal to me.

This experience has taught me how easily an innocent mistake or misinterpretation can happen, and I am grateful this Conservation Officer chose education over infraction, and used his professional judgement and discretion in this matter.

I am the better for it, and I have chosen to use this article in the best interests of community service, outreach & education to help others become more aware as well.

Unless excluded otherwise, I am certain these same hunter orange requirements would apply in other neighbouring jurisdictions (i.e., Shuniah) that also have specified Municipal hunts for deer and bear.

As the Municipal deer seasons draw near their closing date on December 15th, good luck to those still archery hunting… and don’t forget… Hunter Orange – It’s the Law.

I am so glad my Dad introduced me to hunting as a boy… his greatest lesson was buying me a single-shot shotgun, giving me just enough shells for a limit of grouse, ducks, geese or rabbits and telling me not to waste them; to make every shot count. And I generally always did… and to this day, I can proudly say that I have never had to put a second shot into any big game animal that I’ve been lucky enough to harvest.

My Mom loved preparing wild game for our dinners… and being Italian, she sure knew how to cook. As a young boy, I would take great pride in helping to feed our single-income family of 5 with the game I would bring home after a day in the woods. I love that my Mom gifted me with enjoyment of cooking and some of her favorite game recipes before she passed away… especially her eggplant, venison sausage & mushroom parmesan. 

So wild game food security has been a way of life for me for 50+ years. I raised my own family in the same tradition. Both big game (deer, moose and bear) and small game & waterfowl (ruffed & spruce grouse, pheasants, wild turkey, rabbits & hares, ducks & geese) have all found their way to my freezers and to my table over the years.

Thanks to my very good friend Vic (and a few YouTube videos), I have also learned the art of butchering my own big game… it allows you to cut & prepare the meat so it’s cleanly packaged and ready to cook the moment it’s thawed. Yes, it’s work… but it’s rewarding work.

And more recently, my partner Janet has also picked up a knife and has assisted me with the cutting and packaging, along with us grinding our own burger and making our own sausages (both fresh & smoked) as well.

The food quality when the game is prepared properly is amazing. Roasts, steaks, tenderloins, stew meat, stir-fry trim, burger or sausages all have their own appeal when they hit the oven, crock pot, fry pan or barbecue.

The succulent aromas of roasting rabbit, duck or goose or frying up some lightly coated grouse breasts in the fry pan are a delicacy to behold.

So for those who say “eeeww – I don’t eat wild game”… I say this:“don’t knock it until you try it!”

We’ve saved thousands of dollars from having to buy all our meat at the grocery store… and the organically grown protein that we harvest, freeze, store and consume throughout the year is second to none because we care for it from the field to the table.

So if you’re up for it, get out “into the woods” and get a taste of something spectacular… my fellow hunters know exactly what I’m talking about!