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Krista's Korner
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 Now you can acquire organic bug repellent and other skin care products when you arrive at our base camp near Armstrong, Ontario. I discovered these products and their developer almost by accident. You see, in recruiting garden project students at Lakehead University, I met an energetic and very bright woman named Karen Kerk-Courtney. She is also the owner and product developer of a skin care products company - Bare Organics - here in Thunder Bay. The product line includes a non-deet "spray on" insect repellent, sun protection, and lip balms. I use and love the products, and am glad we can offer them for both immediate use by our guests, and as unique "take a gift home" items from the Wilderness North gift shop. Karen has a website that can teach you more about her products: www.bareorganics.ca I can tell you more in my podcast - Click here
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Healing on the Albany
Her name is Diane Cocoran. She lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is one of five U.S. soldiers who will be our guests as part of our "Healing On The Albany" project.
We are counting down to July 11th and are very excited that our plans are taking shape for our second Healing On The Albany Event at our own Miminiska Lodge. At this time ten Canadian and US soldiers have confirmed their presence at our event.
As you may recall, the event is fully authorized by Project Healing Waters. We continue to welcome monetary gifts that will enable us to transport these worthy men and women of the US and Canadian military service to our Albany River Lodge. There is more information here at the website:
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Healing on the Albany
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Hey Hey Boys - No Fighting !
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Paul Staroba, former NFL wide receiver and punter for the Green Packers, and the Cleveland Browns - and a University of Michigan star player is at Striker's Point Lodge this week. He is a guest of Mike Lashbrook, (left) seen here in his Michigan State Spartan colours while Paul (right) makes it clear that his loyalty to the Wolverines has not faded. While at Michigan, Paul totaled 818 yards rushing in a single game against the Wisconsin Badgers to land a spot in the record books for Michigan.
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Despite Fickle Weather Fishing Improves
...by Alan Cheeseman
That is a snow squall at our Ogoki Lake remote cabin. (Upper left picture.) And that was just last Saturday! We can not seem to shake winter. The cold main lake water temps have moved the big hungry pike into the shallows - and some anglers say even the walleye are up there too. It seems even the fish are seeking some warmth. Average lake temps are still in the low to mid 40's - with leeward bays at about ten degrees warmer. (Graham's forecast is for continued cool - but improving.)
Our small lakes are producing the more abundant catches and the biggest fish, like the giant 44" fat girl that Denver's Kevin Foutch (upper right photo) caught and released on June 4 out at Dawn Lake. Lance Kline's 41 inch pike from Mojikit-Moose Crossing was caught in a back bay near the Waboose Dam up on the reservoir.
And my daughter Sierra, celebrated her 7th birthday with a little lake trout outing with me on Waweig Lake near Armstrong, proving the lakers are still in the shallow water near the surface. She was trolling a blue and silver medium diving bait, when this 23 inch beauty jumped all over it.
Our podcast series on Chats with Master Anglers continues. On this week's podcast Tom Dennis, of Rochester Hills, Michigan and Lance Kline of Canton, Ohio share tips about their successful trophy pike angling. Listen in by clicking here.
Master Anglers:
We now have 15 walleye over 26 inches caught and released in both the Ogoki and Albany River watershed. As for the pike we now have 21- forty inches or longer - in the 2009 record books.
Click here to request your own copy of the Master Angler list for 2009.
Talk to you next week - and as always feel free to drop me an e-mail by clicking here or by phone at 888-465-3474.
Alan
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 Will Summer Ever Start?
HMMMM!
...by Graham Saunders
Here we are ten days into June - with a big full moon over head - and still no official signs of summer, which technically is just 11 days away. I do not see a significant warming trend in the next couple of days. Arrival of more seasonal temperatures is expected over the weekend at the earliest. Some rain - in the form of "isolated" showers - is likely Thursday and Friday - with clearing, and nearly normal temperatures, on the weekend.
In my Thunder Bay Chronicle article from last Sunday's paper, I answer the question on everyone's lips: Is this the year without a summer? You may listen in on the podcast to learn more.
As for the garden project: Potato sets are in. Onion sets are in. Plus the seeds for everything else are now in the ground, and we hope the weather is frost-free.
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Albany River Lake Report
...by Meryl and Bernard Carroll
With the exception of a few rainy days, Makokibatan Lodge fishing has had a wonderful start.
The Gildea group from Michigan - first time guests at Makokibatan - registered a total of 8 Master Anglers trophies. Pete caught three master angler walleyes - two at 27" and one at 26 ½, John got a 26 ½, John Barry 27 ½, Derek Formsma, a first time angler was really excited with two trophy walleye a 26 ½, and 27". All these trophies were caught in "walleye alley" on black jigs. Michael finally got one as well the last evening at the cut in the back lake.
The Pavalica group gave it their best to land a master angler pike but fell a few inches short. None the less, a number of 30-36 inch pike were caught and released by the group as well as dozens of walleye in between. Their choice of lures were black and silver Rapala floating minnows, slow trolled in the inlets and shallow bays. Dean caught his first master angler walleye which was almost as big as the grin on his face.
All the boys out this week enjoyed freshly fried walleye at our spring shore lunch island. Eli, our seasoned native guide, showed the group some of our finest fishing spots which resulted in the many success stories.
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Cold Weather, Hard Work,
Master Anglers
...by Tyler Lancaster
In the last two weeks we have seen a little bit of every season up here at Striker's Point. It went from calm,  sunny days, to overcast windy ones, and finally a small taste of winter was delivered. Friday June 5th was one of the coldest days in June I think I have ever experienced. With the snow came a biting cold wind that forced all anglers off the lake by 11 AM.
Despite the rapid change in temperatures and the overall tough conditions, Striker's guests managed to tally four master angler pike and several more in the high 30's.
Nick Bliley of Richmond, Virginia had a career day on Wednesday the 3rd boasting 39", 42", and 46" pike. Two of the trophies came while jigging for walleye in 20' depths. His real monster came on a Johnson Silver minnow tipped with a pork rind trailer. My good friends Bill and Bob Davidson, also of the Richmond area are along on the trip with Mr. Bliley. They got in on the action on the same day with Bill hauling in a 42" big girl and Bob wrangling a 38" bruiser. Both of their fish came on the good old Johnson spoon as well.
The father and son team of Dave and Kevin Sasada out of Wisconsin caused the first bit of commotion off of the Striker's dock this year. Dave was tossing a copper toned spoon and hooked into a chunky 39" northern early in the evening on Friday the 5th. There was so much noise coming from down at the dock it attracted about every guest and staff member in camp.
Jack Beavers and his good fishing buddies made the journey from Michigan to Armstrong and flew into Striker's for their first ever visit. They adjusted quite well to the "new to them," large lake. They put good numbers of walleye in the boat, and Mr. Beavers delivered on his last day, with a beautiful 37" sally.
Well that about wraps it up for this week, I hope we don't need to burn as much wood next week as we try to slip out of an unseasonably cold spring's grasp and into summer.
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