What kind of a job do you have?

[Whopper Stopper]

Looks like you folks have some cold dang weather up there. It has to be damn tough to make a living working outdoors.


Just curious what type of employment you are engaged in.

                  WS

[Drifter_016]

Lots of guys work outdoors up here, I'm not one of them anymore.   
Working outdoors in -40 temps sucks.

I now work for the government of the North West Territories running the IT dept. at the college here in Yellowknife.   

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the reply. I have followed along with some of your posts regarding big fish and always enjoy your pictures. You are a legend!   

I didn't know if  people would share or not about their jobs but thought it would be interesting. I work outside here as a tree trimmer. Winters indeed suck but after 30 years it would be hard to be indoors.

                       WS

[oso polar]

I'm a carpenter by trade, but mostly work inside. I framed houses for 18 years, outside all winter every winter. In Yellowknife I work for a local flooring store installing hardwood, ceramic tile, stone, and pellet stoves. The pellet stoves will keep me outside for a couple of hours at a time but that is not a big deal if you dress properly.
I also have a class B commercial fishing licence which keeps me outside for hours at a time, although I don't currently have a net in the water as I have had trouble with my snow machine this winter. I'm hoping that I can get it in by February.

I learned to dress in layers and don't actually own a heavy duty coat. I find that suits my needs better. It may be a social blunder in the south but everyone here knows that nothing keeps you warmer than fur, and it's a completely renewable resource.

When all is said and done I find it a lot easier to fish in the cold than work in the cold. Cheers.

(-26c Brown lake, 180 miles up the ice road to the diamond mines mid march)

[Drifter_016]

Nothing wrong with fur at all.
Keeps you warm and toasty.
Got a grey rabbit bomber hat myself.

[oso polar]

Nothing wrong with fur at all.
Keeps you warm and toasty.
Got a grey rabbit bomber hat myself.

I rest my case.

Thanks for all of the posts Dave, I live vicariously through you these days. I love all the pics.

here's some of pulling the net:

[Drifter_016]

I really want to figure out how to get conies through the ice (on a rod not in a net ) 

[oso polar]

I run the net in those islands just as you get into the north arm of GSL in the commercial fishing zone. The water depth is right close to 40 ft and every cony we catch (more and more every year) is right full of little stickleback minnows. So are the trout that we catch but they are lower in numbers.
It looks to me like they are feeding fairly heavily, and all the more so as the spring progresses.
I watched a guy bring one in with the rod and reel right at the giant boat launch when the ice was still on the lake but there was a fifty yard opening of water right along shore. He was using a five of diamonds, and it proved to me that they could be caught on regular gear although I haven't done it yet.

That's about all I know, but if you have any questions I'll try to be of assistance.

Rob

[Drifter_016]

Thanks Rob.   

[oso polar]

I saw Fridays paper today, congratulations Dave, you are now officially famous like Buffalo Joe, and Alex Debagorski, but you have more charm

[Drifter_016]

I saw Fridays paper today, congratulations Dave, you are now officially famous like Buffalo Joe, and Alex Debagorski, but you have more charm

HAHAHA!!! Too funny!!   
Yeah me, Alex and Joe we be faimoose!!!!   

And fer you who didn't see it.   

[Bill Dance]

Hey that background looks a little strange! Joking!!!! 

[Whitefish Slayer]

Hey that background looks a little strange! Joking!!!! 

BAHAHAHA!!!!

[harry]

Silly question from state side but how do you effectively set a net thru the ice. Looks interesting. Just a short description of how ya do it would be great. Thanks and i do everthing there is to do with concrete from ready mix to what ever the job entails to make a buck but i love stamp work its an art and a work out. I know nothing different hard work and great health go hand in hand.

[Drifter_016]

Watch this video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1PD7eVwp8

[oso polar]

That is exactly how we do it, thanks Dave. The only difference here is that it is impossible to see the jigger travel under the ice as it is usually 4-5 ft thick and covered in snow. Even that bright paint job is very dull through that much ice. We have taken to drilling a hole and dropping a camera down to find our jigger when we need to. It's a little more work, but in the end it's actually way faster than trying find it by looking through the ice.

A few more pics of life in Yellowknife

[Drifter_016]

No bison hunt this year.
That anthax breakout last summer killed off a large nuber of animals.

Let me know when you're going out Rob maybe I can tag along when you set your nets.   

[Whopper Stopper]

Great video and some fantastic picture. Thanks for sharing. Cripes the guy in the video appears to be wearing tennis shoes 

                    WS

[harry]

Thats a pretty nifty way to move a line under ice thanks now it is understandable how its possible. I am sure its old technology revamped but it amazes me that someone could invent a way to net fish thru ice. Its got to be a rewarding hobby and way to pass time plus maybe make a buck. Wish you were closer I'd volunteer a day for the experience. Just to say i did it.