What's Wrong with This Picture?
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Look at the seat just left of the boat operator. Yup - those are life jackets. And they cannot save your life if you don't wear them. We ask guests to always wear them when the motor is running.
You may know that if you own a boat in Ontario, you MUST take a boat safety training class, and receive certification to operate your motor boat. Our guests are NOT required to take this class, but we are obligated to spend time with you helping you learn safe boating practices, and none are more important than wearing the life vests.
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Ontario Outdoors Card |  | It was new for 2009. The Ontario Outdoors Card together with your fishing license - now it's the law of the land. The card is good for 3 years and will cost you about $9 USD. More information about these cards is available by clicking here or by listening to our podcast with the MNR officials.
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New Pro Shop for 2010 |  | | Visitors to our base camp and lodges will see our all new line of merchandise for 2010. The Wilderness North pro shops will feature a collection of jackets, t-shirts, sweat and hooded shirts, even rain suits like the one pictured above being modeled by our Miminiska Lodge Manager Tristan Yusak. The jacket and pants are on sale for just $150. You can buy them when you are here, or click here to order for shipment. |
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License - Please
|  | These are the planes of the MNR- Ministry of Natural Resources. The officers aboard check your Ontario Outdoor Card, your fishing license, and boat safety document, and they check to see if you have alcoholic beverages in your boat. They are most interested in the number of fish on your stringer. They are professionals and they are serious about their job. When you abide by the regulations the visit is quite enjoyable.
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Here Come's a Great Season!
...by Alan Cheeseman
As of today we are excited about the reports we're getting back from our guests who came in early about the fishing at ZigZag, Ogoki Lake, and Whitewater Lake. We also know that with recent rains the forest fire risk is going down while lake levels are coming back up. Graham's article below confirms that May was "one for the record books."
Let me take a moment to answer some questions you have been sending into me:
Do I need a boat safety card to run the boats? NO...however, you do need the document we will provide you indicating that we have trained you in safe boat operation. Keep this slip of paper with you while on the lake.
Can I bring potatoes across the border?
Starting this year, YES. 10 pounds per person is the limit.
Are all of your destinations open, considering the low water?
Almost. Whitewater Lodge on the west end of Whitewater lake is NOT open, however we are moving those guests with reservations to Striker's Point on the east end of the lake. The water is too low to safely get planes and boats in and out of the lodge dock area.
What about those Internet hook-ups?
Okay, you got me there. We're still wrestling the power supply issue. Consider this year the "beta test" and you may or may not have the service at your outpost destination as we work on the challenge. However, our 2-way radios or sat-phones give guests the constant connection to us they have come to expect.
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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Master Anglers in Every
Guest Group!
...by Joe Pichey
Now that's the way to start the year. Despite the unusual weather, and the low water conditions - fishing is fabulous.
Like I said last week, our guests could make Guide Eli Baxter's prediction of a record year come true.
Take Ogoki Lake for example. Jim Butcher and his gang spent five wild and crazy days out on the big 16,000 acre lake and came back with photos, stories, and a report that they ate all the walleye they could legally consume. Trophy walleye and pike  |
Steven Cagle's 41 inch pike and Denny Davis' 27 inch walleye proved that big storms and low water could not stop these great anglers from Shelby Township, Michigan. We had the chance to visit on tape with both Steven and Denny who reveal the success formula and the story of the storm that blew them off the dock. Click here to listen their report.
So, here's to a great season... we like master anglers and the count is now
4 Walleye and 9 Northern Pike.
I am at the base camp now to great our arriving guests... or you can e-mail me. I always
love to chat about fishing.
Joe |
Whitewater Lake is White Hot!
...by Katyln Johnson
Last year at this time at Striker's Point we had water
spilling over the top of our dock. Today you will find a 6 foot drop from the
end of the dock to the water surface. But don't be alarmed...water levels may be
down, but fishing is up, up, UP!
Our first guests, the Blankenship group, have reeled in seven - yes SEVEN -
trophy pike. Mike "Mr. Fish" Mullins from Abington, Virginia caught five of the
seven, measuring in at 41", three at 44" (bottom photo) and the big winner - a 47" monster
pike. His secret? Mike was fishing down the mouth of the Ogoki river, aptly
nicknamed "Gator Alley." He preferred casting to trolling, and stayed in
shallow water around 3-4 feet in depth.
Ted Taylor, from Hot Springs Village,
Arkansas, managed to wrangle in a 42" northern also in Gator Alley, fishing
with a minnow. Larry Blankenship from Tazewell, Virginia caught a 41" big girl using
a floating Rapala (again, in the famous Gator Alley).
The Davidson group from Powhatan, Virginia also had great luck with pike this
week. Bill Davidson was fishing for walleye when he caught his 41 ½" northern,
and he also had 4 other big northerns measuring over 36".
Nick Blily from
Midlothian, Virginia caught a 39" northern (top photo) at the mouth of the whirlpool using
a Johnson Spoon.
Whitewater Lake certainly delivered in terms of pike fishing, but walleye
fisherman were also ON FIRE this week. The Nurenberg group from Andover,
Minnesota caught 25-30 walleye each hour. When asked if they had a favourite
fishing spot, they responded with "EVERYWHERE!" Walleye are hot all over the
lake. The Nurenbergs tried their luck fishing with live leeches, jigs of all
colours and Gulp - and found them all to be equally effective.
We've experienced a wide range of weather this week, from hot sunny days with
temperatures in the mid-80's, to cold, wet days with lows around 48 degrees.
From Striker's Point Lodge on Whitewater Lake, this is Katelyn Johnson casting
off. |
Weather Record Set
...by Graham Saunders
 May goes into the record books as the warmest on record in
many communities in Northern Ontario. Unseasonal temperatures resulted in the
early appearance of the usual signs of spring - the migration of Canada Geese
and other bird species was weeks earlier than usual as was "green up" and some
of those pesky biting insects.
Temperatures in the low 90s F (31 to 34 C) one week ago were generally the
highest ever recorded in May and prompted a few local young people to take the
plunge - swimming in May!
Forecast
It is best to hold off on long-distance swimming this week. Some thunderstorm
activity is expected today and, although the next days will feature seasonal
temperatures, daytime readings of around 70 F (21 C) will seem cool when
compared to recent records. The coming weekend looks slightly cooler than
normal, with occasional showers. Next week should see temperatures recovering
to somewhat warmer than average.
Summer outlook
A few recent temperatures were warmer than any in July last summer. The summer
in 2009 was unusually cool in Northern Ontario but was followed by the warmest
autumn, winter and spring since records began in Ontario and most of Canada.
Environment Canada and most weather forecasting agencies are predicting a
warmer summer than usual.
Wilderness North Weatherman Graham Suanders teaches weather at Lakehead University, and writes weather column for the Thunder Bay Chronicle
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