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Ontario Fishing Report
August 10, 2011
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Is It Really the Fish?
For many of you who read this column a lot you know Chris Clemmons. Not only is he a great guest - but a National Champion Walleye Angler. He comes up at least once a year, and he and his group are coming back in September.
You would think, for a dawn to dusk angler it would be all about the fish. Now believe me these guys keep records that would make a banker envious. However, his recent thank you note to Krista and me began:
 "Our trip into Whitewater Camp couldn't have been scripted much better. Despite not landing a single trophy Pike or Walleye we had a fantastic time. And though we had our opportunities at a couple trophies, we learned there is more to a successful adventure than tallying Master Angler fish."
In July Chris was on Whitewater Lake at Whitewater Lake Housekeeping Camp.
Well, not only was it great to get his note, but he wrote a nice essay about his trip and the many Plus-Plus-Plus items that are derived from a wilderness fishing adventure beyond catching fish. He's a good writer, and I will send his very enjoyable article,"Good For The Soul" ... if you click here to request one by e-mail.
On a similar note, as I was reading this week's reports from our staff and lodge operators, I realized that our guests are most likely to discuss the same benefits from their trips. Read on...or, better yet, let us introduce (or reintroduce) you to the remote and remarkable boreal forests lakes and streams of Northwest Ontario...North America's last vast wilderness.
Keep in touch...email is easiest...click here. Alan Alan Cheeseman |
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News from Striker's Point Lodge
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| Big Storms and Big Pike at Striker's Point
This week at Striker's Point Lodge, we hosted the Barren party, the Lichtenbergers, the Docks and the Saunders (our weather guy). Among those catching and releasing big Pike, were several honourable mentions in the mid to high 30's...with only one over the famous 40-inch.
John Barren, from Gahanna, Ohio caught one of the honourable mentions along with a 44-inch trophy, his last day in camp. (See photo on right.) It was caught in Caribou Bay on a Rapala.
Walleye fishing was productive with some nice sized 'eyes caught and released...no trophies, but many quality fish. This week's hot spots were Seagull Island and down the river toward the outflowing rapids.
We had another huge storm roll through with hail...this seemed to slow fishing down for about a day, but it picked up again that evening.
Overall it is still dry out there with high fire dangers and we are continuing to see some smoke from area forest fires.
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News from Miminiska Lodge
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It's Like a Family Reunion - but with Fishing
The last week of July was family week at Miminiska Lodge as we welcomed returning guests. Pat and Jim McCabe have been coming up for almost 20 years from Ripon, Wisconsin flying into our landing strip in their twin engine Piper-Aztec. Despite the windy weather, they enjoyed shore lunches on their own and visiting lots of favourite spots that they've known over the years. They experienced angling success claiming, "The simple approach has always worked best ...dark-coloured lures for dark days and light-coloured lures for sunny days." They liked to troll with jointed Rapalas all the time enjoying the change of scenery along the shoreline. They landed many Walleye and Northern Pike with a simple and relaxed approach. We look forward to their return next year. Dr. Paul Perona has been bringing family and friends to Miminiska Lodge for almost 20 years from Peru, Illinois ... and in his own words, "This had to be one of the best years ever!" Some days were spent with Thomas Nate (our resident guide, photo right) down at Petawanga with great catches of Walleye and a very interesting catch one afternoon. Kurt was using a white jig and the tried and true method of casting out, letting it hit the bottom and reeling in veeerrry slowwwwwly ... it could have been a snag but it wasn't long before a (estimated) four foot long Sturgeon exploded from the water. Yes it came out for all to see, rolled over and spit out the jig. The groups at Petawanga changed from day to day while others enjoyed shore lunches with Tyson and Bill. A great shore lunch system developed where we picked up fresh Walleye from the boats late morning on the way to Shore Lunch Island - Tyson cooked up quite a scoff and the shore lunch groups kept getting bigger day after day. There were some big northern Pike to tip the scales too ... Rich, JP and Brett had the bragging rights but Brett got the Perona trophy in the end for a 36-inch Mr. Toothy. Tom Willett is another guest who has been coming here for a number of years and is also from Ripon, Wisconsin. Tom and Bill along with Matt and his six-year old son Henry arrived in the same Piper-Aztec that Pat and Jim flew into our landing strip earlier. Henry is quite the fishin' magician catching some of the big Walleye on jigs and spinners. They enjoyed a successful day at the "Walleye Mine" followed by their own shore lunch nearby ... with fresh fish from Jean's kitchen on Henry's plate back at the lodge almost every day. If fish is truly good for the brain, that Henry is one smart boy !!! Departing required a "jump start" and was a blend of skill and luck as we shut down the lodge generator and "borrowed" one fully charged battery and two others from guest boats to give us 24 volts required for the jump. But soon they were started and airborne with some wonderful memories and Walleye fillets to enjoy back at home. |
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News from Makokibatan Lodge
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Summer Days are Great at Makok
It was our pleasure to welcome the Wellenreiter family (photo right) of Stoney Creek, Ontario to Makokibatan Lodge this past week. When you added up all the brothers, sisters, cousins, parents and grandparents, it was a great family reunion of TEN. This remarkable family was guided everyday by four of our First Nation guides: Eli Baxter, Joe and Andrew Missewace, and Isaac Nate. Many nice Walleye and Pike were caught while the group enjoyed our beautiful weather on the lake and down river. They also booked a day trip to Fort Hope, a fifteen minute flight from here - for sight seeing and exposure to the Ojibway culture. In addition to angling, there were also some yard games, a kayak race, a scavenger hunt for the kids, and on the last night a Makok staff vs. the Wellenreiter family tug of war ... with the Makok staff squeezing out the victory. Okay now - back in the boats. The Blocks, of Hopkins, Minnesota, a husband and wife team were guided for two days by Isaac Nate on two river trips catching plenty of Walleye and a couple nice Brookies. The Voepel group, five good friends from Michgan found some very productive Walleye fishing off sand point and in "Walleye Alley." Mike Lewis from Ann Arbor, Michigan landed the biggest Pike of the year a monster 47-inch on a Hot "n" Tot crank bait. (See photo on the right.) Congrats, Mike, for using the cradle to land the fish and release her alive. You truly are a Master Angler. |
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Graham Saunders Weather Ahead
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Dog Days No Problem in Ontario
My wife Kerstin and I were on holiday at Striker's Point this past week and it gave me a chance to experience my weather forecast! Sun, temperatures in the high 70s and mainly light winds count as perfect holiday weather for most people. The only surprise was the thunderstorms last Thursday, a day early and severe. The evening timing of hail and strong winds meant that everyone was off the water.
Forecast
The coming week will feature sun most days with a chance of scattered showers in the late afternoon and evening, today and late in the week. Winds will be generally light and occasionally moderate on some afternoons. Expect cooler temperatures - in the low to mid 70s (22 to 26 C).
Despite the local heavy downpours that came with thunderstorms, overall a fire danger still exists.
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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| Master Angler |
 Many of our guests are official Wilderness North Master Anglers. As such we have prepared a special "hat pin" that certifies their remarkable angling. Our Lodge Managers often collect their catch data, and pass out these pins. However, sometimes we miss a departing guest who has had such good fortune. Or someone from an outpost adventure heads home without registering their catch. Not To Worry... If you have caught and released a Walleye 26 inches or longer, or a Northern Pike 40 inches or longer in 2011 you qualify. Here is your chance to register your fish, and receive by mail your hat pin. 
By clicking here, you can tell us about your catch. Make sure to give us your phone number so that we may call you, and have you tell us about the moment. |
John Barren's Big Pike
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2012 Wilderness North Photo Calendar
| We are again issuing the call for your photos from your trip to Northwest Ontario.
While we always get plenty of the "grin and grip" - angler and fish shots, it's the natural beauty and the wildlife that we're looking for as well - for our 2012 calendar.
You may attach these photos to an e-mail to us - in the highest resolution you have.
Don't forget to include your name, mailing address, and phone number.
We look forward to seeing your pics soon...and thanks in advance.
Start an email by clicking here. |
Shore Lunch
Shore Good
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 Thomas Nate knows the waters around Miminiska Lodge. His guiding skills and cooking skills insure those oh so special "shore lunches." He and his family have been fishing and enjoying this resource for decades, and our guests enjoy meeting Thomas, having him as a guide in the boat...and eating those fresh golden fried Walleye. |
Makok Photos
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Dog Days of Summer
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Most people are familiar with the expression "the dog days of August." It implies hot and humid weather in, dare I say it, the final month of summer.
The picture of dogs panting or hiding in some shady location is descriptive but has little or nothing to do with the origins of the expression. It dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece and refers to the return in August of Sirius, the Dog Star. The sighting of this star just above the eastern horizon before sunrise is relatively easy. It is the brightest star, after our Sun.
August was often the warmest month in countries next to the Mediterranean Sea. It was speculated that Sirius (from the Greek word Seirios, which means scorcher) added some heat to the Sun's warmth. Wrong! This star, although blue/white, the colour of intense heat, does not add a measurable amount of heat to our dog days.
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