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It's all about the Sisterhood
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In 1980, Thunder Bay linked with the port city of Duluth, Minnesota,
population
85,000. Our common shipping heritage, cultural and geographical
similarities, and close proximity made becoming Sister Cities natural.
Thunder Bay and Duluth citizens regularly visit each other's
communities for business or pleasure. A successful art exchange between
the Tweed Museum of Art and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery was sponsored,
in part, by the Sister City Committee. |
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Boundary Water Adventure Story
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From time to time it is fun
to turn back the pages of history and read about the adventures of outdoor
travelers say back in the 1920's. Well that is the fascinating story you'll
find as you read through Charles
I. Cook's recollections of a the winter 1919-1920 in which he learned the fine
art of trapping in what we call the BWCA* today. The book is published by the
Minnesota Historical Society, and is available from Amazon in paper back, hard
bound or digital for your Kindle. * Boundary Waters Canoe Area
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Your Photos on the Wilderness North 2010 Calendar!
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If you have been a guest of Wilderness North, at any of our remote cabins or American Plan Lodges, we would love to consider your photos for our 2010 calendar. It's simple to help. Click here to open an e-mail, on to which you can attach up to three digital images. The bigger and higher the quality - the better. If we select your photo to be included, we'll call you and chat about using the image, so include your phone number. Deadline for submission is August 31, 2009. When submitting your photos make sure they are of the highest digital quality even if you must submit them in separate emails.
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Water - Water - Everywhere!
...by Alan Cheeseman
Now don't panic. We're not going to.
However, we have received word that the big dam that forms the Ogoki Reservoir
- The Waboose Dam - will increase its water release rates from 3cm/s (cubic meters
per second) to 330 cm/s - starting now and continuing for some time in order to balance the water inflow-outflow rates.
Holy Water Batman - that's a
lot of H2O. 
What will likely occur is a significant rise in water levels on
Ogoki Lake where we have three remote destination cabins, while there will likely be no significant drop in levels at the Ogoki Reservoir - or Mojikit Lake, home to our Mojikit Channel housekeeping camp and Moose Crossing remote cabin.
Time will tell. We will be watching, and will advise incoming guests of these changing conditions so
they can prepare for rising levels - or select another destination, if
necessary. We do NOT expect this aggressive release to impact Zigzag, since it gets its waters from the Summit Dam.
As for the angling? - Joe Pichey - discusses the impact of changing
water levels in his column this week. Meanwhile, we'll make sure the boats are pulled up plenty far each night so
they are still there in the morning.
In all other locations, fishing remains quite stable. All that rain that created the Waboose Dam situation, will, however, hold the
forest fire season in check. So there is always a silver lining.
You'll note our photo feature sidebar - look left - this week focuses on Thunder Bay,
Ontario's U.S. Sister City, Duluth, Minnesota. Our photos feature highlights of the
Canal District, right on the shores of Lake Superior. There you will find the legendary lift bridge (see
right header photo) hotels, parks, walkways and walk up access to the main
canal. the canal through which the big Great Lake ships arrive and depart this great city from April though
December each year.
 The photo on the right is the American Mariner. She arrived in Duluth yesterday and is over 700 feet long and 75 feet wide. There is even a live cam on the Army Corp of Engineer's Building keeping a "live" eye on the shipping canal 24/7.
Krista and I have found the city to be a safe, clean, and family friendly stop for those guests driving over from the greater Minneapolis/St.
Paul area. This link will open the door to more information.
Next week, we will continue our salute to Native  First Nation employees,
as Dave Rich tells us about growing up on Ogoki Lake, and his time as a guide for
both fishing trips and moose hunts. Dave oversees the maintenance of our considerable
number of outboard motors, boats, and outpost cabins and base camp in Armstrong.
I always
value your comments and questions. Send them to me by clicking here or call at 888-465-3474.
Alan |
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 The Countdown is On
...by Tristan & Jasmine Yuswak
This week
has been a fair dinkum good bash at Miminiska Lodge, we have had some large
groups in and have made some really good mates and had some great times, and
lets not forget the great fishing!
The
Perona group from Peru, Illinois, found that they had to go searching for new
spots, and thanks to the high water levels, the usual holes just weren't up to scratch. The
dock is still completely underwater and the level is still rising each day, so
we are about 1 ½ feet higher than it has been in many years, the Native guides are
saying. This didn't stop Bill from landing a 36 inch northern on the good old
silver minnow, a fish that Bill says was so fat he could barely get a grip on
it. Well done mate. The walleye were out in abundance and no-one went hungry on
the shore lunches, which are just so good.
The group made
a few trips over the portage to Petawanga Lake and with the aid of the guides
were catching nice fat walleye on almost every cast. Petawanga is such a little
gem and the 20 minute walk is an great sample of the boreal forest vegetation. Once there, you are sure to get yourself into a
great little fishing spot that will score well.
The
Saricks came in to a warm reception with good weather and good fishing straight
off the bat. It was such a nice surprise to hear the accent of Mark as he
stepped off the plane, a nice Zimbabwean, I had really been missing someone who
understood all about Rugby and Cricket, which we caught up on over a wood-fired
Braai (traditional South African BBQ) and the meat was oh-so delicious. Haha.
Jordan Sarick managed to haul himself in a 35 inch pike and then broke his rod
on the next monster.
Well,
with two weeks left to go, we are getting sad but excited, sad to leave this
wonderful place, but excited to see all our mates again when they come back
next year! And also excited to head back to the ocean and get my sea legs back
again.
Hoo-roo
for this week from Miminiska
Lodge.
Trist and Jas
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Another Great Week at
Striker's Point Lodge
...by Tyler Lancaster
Gary Anderson and five of
his family and friends made the long haul up from Arkansas to be with us this
past week here at Striker's Point Lodge. The Anderson group had a mix of both
good and bad weather during their stay. Plenty of walleye were caught and a great
time was had by all.
Twin brothers Dick and Doug Wenzel from the Oshkosh, Wisconsin area were back
last week for their seventh Striker's trip. The brothers manipulated the
walleye of Whitewater Lake once again. On day two, Doug tied into a hefty
41.5" northern while jigging for walleye. They were averaging 80 walleye a
day, with most of the fish coming from 18-25 feet of water.
The Dacenzo party made their first trip to Striker's last week. Anyone who first
lands on Whitewater Lake knows it can be an intimidating feeling, just the
sheer size of the water. The Dacenzo group pushed aside all uneasy feelings and
made the most of their outing. They found fish in a variety of locations and
Lisa Dacenzos 33 inch and Dave Bells 36 inch topped the northern pike
category.
All in all it was another fantastic week of fishing. There aren't many weeks
left as the season wraps up here September 12th.
Tight Lines,
Tyler Lancaster
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Water Levels and Hollow Bellies
...by Joe Pichey
As the
water levels rise, so do our trophy fish numbers - right?
We hope
this trend proves true again - right now as the aggressive Waboose Dam release
fills up big Ogoki Lake. In recent years, dam-created high water has had a
positive effect on the overall numbers of fish our guests have landed.
Here's
how it works:
After the
initial "shock" of increasing current and rising water wears off, fish migrate
to these newly created shallow "feeding" areas to see what they can devour. It
certainly makes for an easier day on the water when ol' toothy is prowling the
shallows rather than hiding on a mid-lake reef 28 to 32 feet down.
Now to
the hollow bellies:
One of the best baits I have come across in recent years is
the hollow belly swim bait. This technique has been featured on several fishing
shows over the last few years and I couldn't agree more with its effectiveness.
Recently on a trip to big Whitewater Lake I used the hollow belly for an
afternoon and averaged much larger fish than my boat mate who was using a jig
and leech.
It seems the larger fish like the improved swim action and the
"hooked to bite" ratios improved as well. It is easier for fish to bite
down and through the hollow baits, then for example, Sluggo type solid rubber baits. The hits were ferocious. I can't recommend
these lures more strongly. Don't be afraid to go with a 5 to 6 inch bait. These golden
eyes love the larger minnows!
Great Fishing!!!!
Joe
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 Changes Are on the Way
...by Graham Saunders
We did
see a change from persistent cool weather in the last couple of days.
Yesterday's temperatures were the warmest since late June and warmer than any
single day temperatures in July. July, usually the warmest month of the summer,
rarely featured temperatures in the mid-70s F. It was the coolest July in
Armstrong and locations on the Ogoki and Albany River systems since 1992.
Today's top temperature should reach 85 degrees, 90 in some locations. Most of
the following days will reach the mid-70s, although clouds may move in, some
sunny breaks - mixed in with occasional showers - should be expected on the
weekend.
The following week is an "Either/Or" forecast. The line between warm and cool
conditions is likely to run right through northern Ontario. If this division is
to the west by a few hundred kilometres/miles, it means cool and unsettled
weather will likely be our fortune. If the line is to the east by the same
distance, warmer than average conditions result. Frankly, despite the computer
models it is too soon to tell.
Sorry to be evasive - but it is better than being
wrong.
Graham Saunders is professor of climatology and meteorology at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
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