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Ontario Fishing Report
August 24, 2011
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Da Bears
By now you have heard of the stories this summer from the U.S. National Parks, involving Grizzly Bears and park guests. Some have been quite tragic for both bear and man. We have come across a story that explains bear behavior based on science not just "hear-say." See the side bar to learn more and get a copy for your own reading.
We are excited to see the return of some big fish to our lakes and streams, now that summer is giving way to autumn. From both our lodges and outpost cabins the stories and photos tell the tale. In his column, Graham will recap a wild week of weather, and look ahead at a big cool down.
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Well if the young people you know are anything like the ones I know, they usually have a cell phone in their hands...thumbing away at text messages with heads down. Here at Makokibatan Lodge, there is just too many other things to do. And that's good. No wonder parents, and adult family mem bers list "introducing young family members to the wilderness" as a key reason they select a fly in fishing adventure for vacations. So its "thumbs up" to Emily Jensen, Aaron Silcock, Andrew Silcock, Aiden Silcock, Nels Erickson and Tara Jensen. It's great to see their faces, and their choice of clothing is pretty darn good too. So there is hope for the next generation.
I always enjoy hearing from you...so keep those e-mails coming. Alan Alan Cheeseman |
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News from Miminiska Lodge
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Midwest Flyers Land Planes and Fish!
Piper, Archer, Cessna, Beechcraft Bonanza, just a few of the nameplates on the ten personal airplanes that landed on the Miminiska Lodge's 2500 foot grass strip last week. What a great site as the Midwest Flyers Magazine group arrived for their annual "fly and fish" Canadian adventure. Despite the wind and rain, the group of 21 had a great trip with excellent fishing, and many shore lunches.
While most of the pilots are from Wisconsin, there was a new pair of anglers this year from Kansas City - about a seven hour flight for Roger Manning and Ed Hoffman who claims, "This is the best fishing of my life, landing over 480 fish in four days." Helping them along the way was our First Nation Guide, Thomas Nate.
By contrast, Pat O'Malley and John Appleyard from Sauk City, Wisconsin have enjoyed four fly in trips to Miminiska. Pat's Walleye success came from a jig and Gulp Minnow combination including a Northern that grabbed a Walleye being reeled in. Tom Janssen a returning guest from Appleton, Wisconsin and his flying partner John Pfefferle brought in plenty of Walleye as well, including a nice big Pike, 37-inches long, that Tom landed on a fly rod.
This year's flying group also included three women anglers: Betty Koch, Vikki Becker, and Rosie Zahasky. Congrats to Betty who caught and released the biggest Northern of the threesome - a 34-incher.
The winds and storms cleared as the week wound down...so we were able to have a bonfire on the beach for the group's final evening in camp. And if you thinking flying is miracle - there were NO bugs that evening. (We have alerted the Guinness people!)
The following morning the ten flying machines headed skyward and homeward until next year.
It is always a pleasure to welcome this great group of guests to Miminiska Lodge.
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News from Makokibatan Lodge
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Weather Cools...Fishing Gets Hotter
This past week at Makokibatan Lodge we welcomed the Westerhoek group from Newmarket, Ontario. This father son group had a great trip catching dozens of good Walleye in the 23 to 25-inch range. We also welcomed the Jensen Family of four from Timmons, Ontario, all of whom reeled in plenty of big Walleye and many respectively sized Northern Pike. Mark Jensen had the only Master Angler Walleye of the week, a nice 26-1/2-inch Walleye. (See photo right.) Mr. Jensen and his two daughters also enjoyed a day down river with our veteran First Nation guide Eli Baxter catching and releasing many nice Walleye and some beautiful Brookies as well. Steve Erickson and his son from Ann Arbor, Michigan were also in camp this past week and they, too, reeled in their share of nice Walleyes in the 20 and 24 inch class. They had an eventful day down river with Eli catching a lot of Walleye, Northern Pike, and some very hefty Speckled Brook Trout - the biggest being 20 inches in length. |
| Master Angler Walleyes at Outpost Camps
This week we welcomed the Lang party of Clarks Grove, Minnesota to ZigZag Lake.
These first time guests caught and released several respectable Northern Pikes - within the 38-39-inch range. A couple of these snarly tooth water wolves were nice and fat too! In addition, group leader Tom Lang caught and released a 29 ½-inch Walleye by the rapids. He lured in the glass eye with a purple and yellow jig head with a Gulp Leech. Well done Tom!
Brenda and John Walling of Trophy Club, Texas had a wonderful week enjoying the wonders of D'alton Lake. They weren't disappointed with the angling advice Chris Clemmons had provided them in advance of their arrival. John caught and released a beautiful 28 ½-inch Master Angler Walleye. He was using a homemade contraption of spinners on a crawler harness with 12 pound test line. Brenda gets a honourable mention with a 23-inch Walleye as well.
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Graham Saunders Weather Ahead
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Temperatures Drop - Forest Fires Increase
Most days in the last week featured considerable sunshine with afternoon high temperatures in the mid to high 70s (23 to 26 C) and generally dry conditions. A few new forest fires were reported. Yesterday's lightning and expected more today will likely create even more active fires.
Forecast
What a difference a day makes! Yesterday's heat was 15 F warmer than seasonal and set some records. Today brings showers, some thunderstorms and temperatures that struggle to reach the low 60s (16 C). This will be followed by considerable sunshine, moderate afternoon conditions in the 70s (21 to 27 C) and the possibility of even more showers on Sunday and Monday.
Forest Fire Update
As of yesterday the area burned by forest fires in Ontario is 624,788 hectares (1,543,851 acres), almost all in the Northwest region. This exceeds the record during modern suppression capabilities set in 1995 of 612,436 ha. The area burned in 1923 was estimated to be 37 per cent high than this current total.
Wilderness North locations are not threatened by any fires, although the smell of smoke is occasional and sunrise and sunsets are often remarkable colors. 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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Learning About and From Ontario's Black Bears
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A sweeping study chronicling more than a century's worth of deadly encounters with black bears in Canada and the United States is shedding new light on the nature of attacks and dispelling the widely held notion that a Mama Bear protecting her cubs is the prime danger.
Fatal black bear attacks were rare from 1900 to 2009 and they most often occurred in Canada, according to an analysis published in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Of the 63 people who died in 59 incidents, 44 victims were mauled in Canada... shorter growing seasons could be a factor.
Click here to receive the entire story and report as a PDF file in your e-mail.
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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. |
Miminiska Photos
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Makok Photos
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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. |
Zig Zag Trophies
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D'Alton Trophy
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