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Ontario Fishing Report
July 20, 2011
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Project Healing Waters Special Report : 
They arrived...fished...laughed...and they healed. Now they have gone back to their home towns. Ten soldiers - five each from the US and Canada. Some from the wars of southeast Asia, decades ago. Some fresh from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Together, with the support of the volunteer pilots, guides, medics, fishing rod manufacturers and Project Healing Waters coordinator Mark Snyder - they were part of what we now call "Healing On The Albany-2011." Financial gifts from many of our friends and guests like you were very important in making this annual event possible. THANK YOU ! Krista and I, and our entire staff take time to honour these soldiers each July. They stood up when others stood back. They are the ones who believe and act on that belief... that our free way of life is worth fighting for. Project Healing Waters - a worldwide non-profit organization - gives us the chance to open the doors to our planes and lodges, and provide the boats, motors, meals, and beds so they may receive- for a little while - the peace of the boreal forest of Northwestern Ontario. When you carefully look at the photo of the "Ten for 2011" below, you will notice the obvious scars of battle or the new man made limbs on some...but what you may not see are the not so obvious psychological wounds to some. This year, we too learned from these special guests more about PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)...and heard from these soldiers how much the cool green forests and crystal clear waters helped. We always receive thank you notes from these soldiers. However, we are the receivers of a greater gift, and Healing on The Albany is our way of saying thanks.  Canadians: Lewis Chaitove; Toronto, ON Rob Martin; Perth, ON Doug Brown; Ottawa, ON Fraser Dull; Edmonton, AL Kurtis Gaucher; Edmonton, AL Americans: Bill Boyce; CA Joe Harilla; PA John Swanson; MN Vincent Immel; CO Andrew Gendron; NC Keep in touch...email is easiest...click here. Alan Alan Cheeseman |
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News from Miminiska Lodge
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Project Healing Waters - July 8 -12, 2011
Since 2008, Project Healing Water's Healing On The Albany has been a very proud tradition at Miminiska Lodge and we were honoured to host the event again this year. Miminiska Lodge is a perfect place to heal.
The evening of the soldier's arrival had the most spectacular sunset and no bugs! These guys all enjoyed fly-fishing for the same Walleye and Pike that are so often caught on jigs and were successful in every way. Lures and flies like clouser minnows, poppers, and woolly buggers were the lures of choice for the fat Mim Walleye and big Mim Pike and- best of all - on barbless hooks!
Days on the water and evenings spent learning the art of fly-tying was the daily routine. On the last evening, after a wonderful dinner, Mark Snyder co-ordinator of PHW led the awards ceremony ... with a Master Angler pin going to Andrew for landing a 26-1/2-inch Walleye on a red and white clouser minnow. A jacket and hat was awarded to Curtis for the largest fish (36-inch Pike) and a special award to Vincent for helping out at the lodge one day while the others went out fishing. Mim Lodge was especially honoured to receive the US flag with full salute from John ... a very high-quality wind-proof 3ft x 5ft token of the US soldiers' appreciation. Photos were taken that evening followed by a bonfire on the sandy point. It was a very spiritual and uplifting experience to host PHW at Miminiska Lodge and we look forward to their return next year.
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Mike and Liz Melnychuk have been regular visitors to Miminiska Lodge over the years and fly their own small floatplane in from Parry Sound, Ontario, after a stopover in Nakina. They made daily shore lunch trips with our guide, Thomas Nate, to favourite spots such as the Walleye Mine, Snake Falls, and just above Mim Falls, having great success using simple white and yellow jigs for Walleye and Pike. Mike and Liz had an enjoyable trip and we look forward to seeing them again in August. |
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News from Striker's Point Lodge
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This week at Striker's Point Lodge , our very own number cruncher, Jason Hull, arrived for some fun in the sun. Jason brought his family up for a few days and caught and released a 37-inch Pike just two fishing points down river from the lodge. He caught it on a 1-oz silver minnow spoon in 15-ft of water.
We also hosted the Nazaruk party from Long Grove, Illinois; the Olson party from Schaumburg, Illinois; the Hill party from Ann Arbor, Michigan and the Knoble party from McGregor, Minnesota, but no trophies, Pike or Walleye. We have had several 20-22 inch Walleyes caught and released.
Towards the middle of the week, we welcomed the Henson party as well as the Pichey/Carroll/Gillard trio. Tyler Henson is part of our maintenance departure in the hangar in Thunder Bay and along with his dad, showed us their stuff. The boys caught and released three trophy Pike and two honourable mentions. Between the two guys, they released a 44, a 42, a 40. These big pike were caught off the first point, (east of the lodge-down river) from the lodge on a Storm Wildeye Seeker Shad Orange Demon. This lure was the joke of the trip as it was purchased as a joke and ended up being the most productive lure of the trip. So, who has the last last laught now? These trophy Pike were caught in 5-7ft of water and weeds. Congrats, guys! (photos on the right.)
Also joining us for a short sojourn was our own Joe "Prop-Chipper" Pichey and Meryl and Linda from Makok.
Meryl caught and released a nice 23-inch Walleye up the river, just before the rapids. Ask Joe, about the rocks around there, he'll be able to mark a few!
There are a few fires in the area so some days can be smoky and hazy and we are looking at hot temperatures again for the rest of the week.
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News from Makokibatan Lodge
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Big Walleye at Makokibatan Lodge
Good fishing, good weather and fewer mayflies all contributed to the catch and release of two of the biggest Walleye of the season at Makokibatan Lodge.
Henry Oakes, from Iowa a long time returning guest, guided by Eli Baxter had a fabulous week, including a monster 31-inch Walleye caught by Eli, plus Henry's 30-incher. These are the two biggest Walleye caught at Makok so far this season.
We also had the Swann's, from Thunder Bay in camp. This husband and wife duo caught lots of Walleye as Kevin Swan hauled in two Master Angler size Walleye (27-inch and 28-inch) over the four days.
We also welcomed the Jaqua group from Findlay, Ohio - a foursome who netted plenty of Walleye as well as some fair sized-Pike, all while enjoying the scenery, shore lunches and weather. They also were guided by Eli and claimed they couldn't have done it without him. One Master Angler from the group, Cam Jaqua, reeled in a nice 28-inch Walleye on a jig with a white twister tail.
The Carrol party, from Batavia, Illinois, another husband wife duo thoroughly enjoyed their stay with us catching many nice sized Walleye - averaging between 20-22-inch- the biggest being 25-inches, just short of a Master Angler. |
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Graham Saunders Weather Ahead
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Forest Fire Danger!
 Recent weather has featured hot and dry conditions. Temperatures were warm to hot, with readings in the high 80s F and low 90s (29 to 33 C) most of the previous week. The heat and dry combination added to extreme forest fire conditions. (See sidebar.) Forecast Today and tomorrow will be a mix of sun and cloud with afternoon temperatures in the low 80s F (28 C) and scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in the afternoons. Cooler conditions are likely on Friday and Saturday, then a return to more heat. Smoke will often be a feature from fires in the region. 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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PHW 2011
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They were our guests at Miminiska Lodge.
Ten US and Canadian military men who have been injured while defending our nations. They climbed aboard our floatplanes with fly rods in hand, and enjoyed the natural beauty of Ontario's Boreal Forest.
To learn more click here, and if you can make a financial contribution to the event, please click here.
Here are samples of the photos from this year's event.
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Strikers Point Lodge Photos
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Fire Update
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While none pose a direct threat to any of our lodges or cabins, nearly 100 fires are presently burning and several isolated northern communities are in various stages of evacuation, usually because of smoke, not because flames directly threaten.
Limited fire fighting teams concentrate on those fires that are close to inhabited communities, most having be started by lightning strikes.
The area is tinder dry.
Some communities are beyond road or rail access and need to be evacuated by aircraft. Arrival and take off can be limited because of the smoke reducing visibility.
Forest fire danger is extreme in the region - be very careful with any open fires. Click here for more information about fire safety and emergency services from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
To see a map of the fires in Ontario you may copy and paste this link in your browser:
http://forest.lrc.gov.on.ca/AFFM/fire/interactivemap/firemap_English.htm
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