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Big Walleye Stories - Helping Soldiers
....by Alan Cheeseman
Again this year we have had numerous reports of
exceptional fishing results from our many lodges and outpost cabins. From time to time, someone says to me, "Come-on Alan you're fudging here-right?" Wrong. This week we called a guest from Atlanta who claimed he caught and released two walleye - 30 and 31 inches at Makokibatan Lodge. Ray Boreham said he would send the pics. Well take a
look - 'nuff sai  d. Congrats to
Ray, and in fact this week's podcast features Ray has he describes the trophy
walleye, the pike that attacked the walleye he was reeling in, plus the nice brook trout that first Nation Guide Eli Baxter helped him locate. Listen Now. No wonder Ray and many others come
back year after year. We believe our conservation fishing policy makes the
difference. Thanks for your cooperation on "Catch and Release." As you know, Project Healing Waters 2010, is now in the
history books. Both Canadian and U.S. soldiers have sent cards and notes with
thanks. We know this event makes a difference in their lives, so our commitment
to keep it going is as strong today as it was on year one. We have discovered one more way to help soldiers. And you
can help too. It's called Cell Phones for Soldiers, and your donated outdated or
unused cell phones, MP3 players, and I-Pods are turned into prepaid calling
cards for soldiers far from home. This website gives you the details on how you can help. Last Call:We are still accepting photos for inclusion in our full colour 2011 calendar that goes to press shortly. If you have a photo for us to consider, send it to us as an attachment with your e-mail. Be sure to include your contact information so we may call you about including your photo. If you wish to submit more than one photo, make sure you attach only one with each e-mail. Click here to start the e-mail. I always value hearing from you, and answering your questions, so drop me an e-mail by clicking here. Alan
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Summer Surprise at the Outposts
by Joe Pichey - Outdoor Specialist
We are starting to see some familiar names on the weekly
fishing report as our annual and semi-annual friends make their trek north from the USA. The Hicks party from Akron, Ohio for example, who recently
tamed Ogoki Lake. AGAIN!! Tyler Hicks tossed a Golden Spoon into the
water and landed a 40-inch, 27 pound monster Northern Pike. Shortly after,
Steve Hicks landed a 42-inch, 23 pound "Toothy Critter" on his Golden Spoon. Those big northerns seem to love the gold "bling-bling" on Ogoki Lake. Keep up the great work guys! We also had the Carlson group head into Zig Zag. These Iowa anglers come up every few years and make a habit of landing big
fish. After spending the off season raising 1300 pound pumpkins, Dan and
his crew go after the trophy pike. His son Jacob Carlson of Cedar Rapids
boated another 40.5-inch northern on a Mepps Syclops while his friend Chad
Hartman of Newnan, Georgia conquered a 40-incher on a jig and twister. Ron Annear of
Clinton, Iowa decided to get involved and hooked a 26.5 inch Golden Eye on a
simple jig and crawler combo. During these late season trips we expect to see a number of trophy fish landed
on the most simple of bait combinations. A nice jig head and leech combo does
the trick as well as a minnow and floating rig in 12-15 feet of water. Just ask the Reed party from mid-Michigan how to land solid daily numbers. This group ventured into Dawn Lake in search of big walleye. While they
didn't land any trophies, they did boat some nice 20-23-inch, thick walleye. A good number of fish were hanging near deep drop offs and trying to find lower
temps, but would not take the bait. It only takes a few degrees change to
get these big ones in the mood. Let's hope it happens this week. We
all know they are there. I am heading out to Makokibatan Lodge this week in search of the elusive 30-inch walleye. I will report on my findings next week. Wish me luck! As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Send me an email.
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Summer Patterns Create Big Pike - Again
...by Ryan Lacey
The Landheer's from the Grand Rapids, Michigan area continued
their fishing trip here at Striker's Point, and finished as strongly as they
started. On their first night here, Dave Landheer landed a 43-inch Northern Pike.
He was fishing down river, jigging for walleye at the time. All of the
Landheer's caught big stringers of fish throughout their stay, and enjoyed
discovering more great fishing spots while exploring Whitewater Lake. Daniel
Rosema of Spring Lake, Michigan made the Master Angler list with his 44-inch northern. Overall they
had a great time and we look forward to seeing them next year.
Tom and Bonnie Ruggles joined us all the way from Bellair, Florida  with their
grandson Tommy. Young Tommy quickly got the hang of fishing in northern Ontario,
and acquired the "walleye touch" by the time he had left. The biggest walleye
from the group came from Tommy at 22-inches, in addition to some decent size northerns.
They all enjoyed the sights of Whitewater Lake, including Ogoki Lodge and The
Wendell Beckwith Cabin sight on Best Island. They fished in many areas from the
outflow eastern river, to main island points, all the way west to the narrows.
We enjoyed having them and we know they enjoyed their stay.
The Shiree group from the Detroit, Michigan area including Par, Hormoz and Bob
came in for their second trip of the three they book each summer. As usual, Par
got the guys on the fish and had no troubles doing it. These experienced
walleye fishermen had some really great days on the lake, catching one after
the other. Jigs and tails is all it takes - they say. September will come as fast
as their return. We await their arrival.
The brothers Dick and Doug Wenzel - Oshkosh, Wisconsin - came for a return
trip to Striker's Point. The expert anglers caught countless numbers of fish
during their stay, reaching into the hundreds per day on more than one
occasion. Along with big counts of walleye, both brothers got into some large
pike, catching some 37-inch and 38-inch, but the biggest of them all was caught by
Doug. The beautiful 46-inch was caught in the mouth of The Bay Of Pigs outside the
weed bed on the eastern outflow of the Ogoki River. The 46-inch matches our biggest northern of the season, but it
is not over yet.
I'll check in again next week. Tight lines everyone.
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 Master Anglers Add Up at Makokibatan
...by Meryl and Bernard Carroll
This week at Makokibatan Lodge we
welcomed the Kempf group of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and while they did not all have the good fortune of becoming Master Anglers, they sure had fun
and good fishing. The lone Master Angler was Loren Christensen of Onalaska, Wisconsin who caught and
released a 26 ½-inch walleye on a twister tail and leech.
The Melton group
from Bremen, Indiana did have a lot of success with the BIG fish. Dave, the group
leader, was sure proud of his 26-inch walleye caught on jig while Jim Childs
scored Master Angler three times with two 26-inchers and a 27-inch walleye all caught on
jigs and leeches. Larry Thompson was both the group singer and a Master Angler
with a 26 ½-inch "glass eye" on a jig, twister and leeches. Master Angler Jim Decraene caught his with jig and leech
as well.
Last week I forgot
to mention our guest from Atlanta, Georgia - Ray Boreham who was with us from July 21 through July 27, and
caught a 30-inch and 31-inch walleye while being guided by Eli Baxter. Now
that is some Master Angler - congrats Ray! And one other little oversight: from the Renninger party, Shawn
Giblen's 30-inch walleye with a 15-inch girth. Also Leo Wolfe caught a
18-inch Blue Gill in the lake.
From the Makok Outpost:
The Cartmill's from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, a group of four describe their trip as AMAZING. They had two river
trips in the North Channel: caught eight brookies, and a 42-inch pike below
slippery Rock Rapids, on a Mepps Syclops. "The fish were so plentiful," said Craig, "we caught them cast after cast." On their seven day trip they caught an estimated 800 walleye and 200 plus
pike. They also took a trip to the South Channel where they reported that most
casts were rewarded with a nice walleye between 18-20 inches, and a bunch of pike
over 30 inches.
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Walleye Prove Plentiful on the Albany!
...by Tristan Yuswak
Well this week has been busy, with some
big groups in camp, the place has been abuzz.
It was our pleasure to welcome back our
friends, the Perona group from Peru, Illinois, to Miminiska Lodge. They experienced great fishing on their
first day out, which was a perfect way to start their trip. With no Master Anglers, the group's closest trophy fish was a 25-inch walleye caught by Mark
Perona. We were so glad to have those guys here - again - and share in their joyful family times. We
truly look forward to future visits from them.
The Hufford group from Michigan, West
Virginia, and Ohio arrived to a very warm welcome from the Ontario walleye.
They averaged over 200 fish per boat each day of their five-day trip, which is
pretty amazing. They found the secret was drifting along the rocky drop-offs
and using orange jig-heads. Dallas Kayser of Point Pleasant, West Virginia caught
and released a 41-inch pike, taking Master Angler status - bloody well done
Dallas.
The Nord group from Illinois in the USA, had
a great time here, Dr. Larry enjoyed every day fishing with his son and two
daughters, they spent their time hauling in walleye and enjoying shore lunches.
They were also lucky enough to travel to Escargo Falls, somewhere boats haven't
been able to get by water for almost 20 years. That was the highlight of their
trip, and 100's of walleye caught and released.
The weather has been great, so hoping it
will stay that way.
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 Warm Rainy Skies Give Way To Cool Sunshine
...by Graham SaundersWarmer than normal temperatures - with normal being 74 -
are expected through Saturday. Highs could reach 88 Friday. Today's on again-off again thunder
storms and fairly humid air will give way to mostly cloudy conditions with a
peek of sunshine Saturday, otherwise more rain showers through Sunday. Monday and Tuesday
of next week, will find sunny skies following a cold front that moves through
Sunday evening or early Monday...with very cool conditions under clear skies on
Monday evening. Highs next Monday and Tuesday will probably NOT reach 70...but there will be plenty of sunshine. At least you can put away the rain suits and put on the sweaters and jackets. Today's thunderstorms will be one more reminder of the
dangers of being on the water during lightning. Lightning can and does strike
boats - especially aluminum boats like ours - with grave consequences. My best
advice, is get off the lakes until the storm clears. Here is a link to an
interesting website that offers a hand held "lightning" forecasting gadget that
tells you if lightning- or conditions ripe for lightning - is nearby - and how
close. Wilderness North Weatherman Graham Saunders teaches weather at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, and writes a weather column for the Thunder Bay Chronicle. |
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