 Happy American Thanksgiving  |
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| 2013 Calendars |
The 2013 calendar is about to roll off the presses; it's our Twentieth Anniversary Edition and we are in the final stages of design. As in the past, this year's calendar is filled with photos and information about Northwestern Ontario's vast wilderness and unique First Nation culture.
If you did not receive a calendar last year, we would love to send you one. Just click here to send us your mailing address and we will add you to the 2013 mailing list. Your info will also be added / updated in our customer database.
If you would like to us to send a calendar to a friend or family member just forward this email to them. We love to be introduced to new people and we encourage you to brag to your friends about what you did at Wilderness North last summer. |
| A Message from the Trip Planners | 
For the die-hard anglers and those yearning to satisfy your need for a wilderness adventure, the gathering of friends and family presents an ideal time to begin planning for next year. Whether you're looking at topping last year's achievements, or seeking a chance at redemption with another go at the trophy that got away, we hope to see you again for what's shaping up to be another great season.
Reel Deal is back and better than ever.
To reward those of you who book early, or to give a final push to those sitting on the fence, Wilderness North is pleased to offer a 10% discount to those who pay in full by Feb 15 2013. When you call to book your trip we ask for a 50% deposit but will give you until Feb 15 2013 to pay off the rest and receive a 10% discount if paying by cheque. Those paying by credit card will receive a 7% discount due to processing fees. |
| Scott's Words of Wisdom | |
Thanksgiving
Regardless of all the variables that affect our lives in North America - like politics and the economy - we have so much to be thankful for. Hence thanksgiving is a special holiday. It has no other significance other than being thankful for everything we have.
If you enjoy the outdoors like I do, Thanksgiving has an extra special meaning. That's because my outdoor pastimes bring forth a responsible harvest of fish and game.
This past summer I fished a number of special places. The season started in April with migratory rainbow trout fishing along the north shore of Lake Superior. I normally don't keep many of these fish because they are much more valuable on the hook than in the pan. But I do take one or two and cook them in the barbecue wrapped in tinfoil and stuffed with onions and butter. Then comes the annual walleye opener in May. This past year I fished the opener on Wabigoon Lake about 4 hours west of Thunder Bay. This prolific fishery is at its best in May and our family enjoyed a day where we all caught numerous walleye in shallow water, including my 80-year-old mother-in-law Dora. Of course we kept some of those spring walleyes for a nice fish fry.
June is the month where Wilderness North's various fisheries come into their own rhythm. Walleye and pike are caught in the hundreds by many of our guests. Because the fishery is so valuable to our business, most of these fish are released to fight another day. But, we do partake in various delicacies like coconut walleye and bacon-wrapped walleye -two of my favourites. This year I started cooking pike using Krista's Gran Marnier Pike recipe. It has been a hit every time. As I've written before, many people shy away from pike because of the bones, but once you know how to fillet them properly they are delectable. These catches - and those of beautiful brook trout, which we don't harvest - are common place throughout the summer. And the experience of catching these fish can be had whenever you trek north. This past fall I guided moose hunters for two weeks in various locations along the Ogoki River system. Walleye were once again eager biters, although we had to search a little harder for them. A few timely meals of walleye helped prime our pumps for the hunt.
As I write this I am preparing for an afternoon of deer hunting. I've just refueled on some deer chops with onions. I am thankful that I live in a part of the world where fish and game are bountiful. Bountiful both because we live in a sparsely populated part of the world, but also because many of us are careful stewards of our resources; making sure that our fish and game regulations are appropriate and that we don't take more than what is responsible. Being a careful steward doesn't mean that all your fish need to be released. Neither does it mean that you always take as much as the law allows. Stewardship really means that you enjoy the resources and use them in such a way that future generations to follow will have something left to enjoy. And, that we pass on our ethical stewardship to those who follow in our footsteps.
Perhaps this Thanksgiving you have some wild fish or game left over from this year's outings. What a time to prepare something you've caught as a way of giving thanks for the great outdoors.
I hope next season you'll join us on an adventure. We'd love to have you.
Send me an email and we'll start the conversation.
Cheers,
Scott Earl Smith |
| Krista's Corner |
 It's that time of the year again. Time to give thanks, celebrate with friends and family, eat, and perhaps drink :), too much. This year let's focus on a wild game thanksgiving meal. If you're anything like me, by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, after a summer cooking turkey at a lodge, traditional fare is not an option. As I was researching options I came across this sauce and thought it would be perfect on one of my favourite meats: partridge.
Many of you I am sure have heard the thundering wings of a partridge (aka grouse) during the summer or fall while on a fishing trip or out in the woods. A couple of weeks ago myself, Alan, Meryl, and Brian (our chief pilot) headed up to do some last minute work at Striker's Point Lodge and while walking the back trails, we were accosted by 3 partridges in a pear tree. Too bad I had left my slingshot at home :) Ever since then, I have been craving a good feast of partridge.
I suggest serving this partridge dish with your favourite vegetable -I would do a nice medley of root vegetables baked with balsamic vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. For the starch I thought I might as well go big or go home, so I would make a killer morel mushroom risotto. Now, as we all know, morels are not easily found, but I've been told they can be found around Whitewater Lake. You can also find them dried at your local specialty food store To get the full recipe click here
Happy Cooking, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Keep in touch, I love to hear from you!
Krista |
| By the Way... |
 | | Fishing at Wilderness North. |
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| Graham's Weather Report | 
Weather on the Edge!
Everyone in the region has likely seen a few flakes this fall - talking about weather, not cereal or people. Towards the far west of Northwestern Ontario, Kenora and Red Lake have experienced more than their share of snow this season. In October, Red Lake received 48 cm (19 inches) of the white stuff and both communities easily set new records for monthly snow totals.
Other locations to the east have had little or no snow accumulations so far and, at the moment, the region is snow free. At this time of the year the precise temperature can be critical. The temperature is often just above or below the freezing point (0*c) or, if you are an optimist - the melting point. The "character" of precipitation changes radically depending on relatively small changes. A few degrees above 0*c ensures rainfall; +1 or +2*C could mean snow that melts on contact with the ground. A degree or two below can mean heavy snow that accumulates or rainfall that freezes on contact with roads, windshields and wings. Another complication is that the above or below freezing temperatures often change during the day and with changes in elevation.
I mentioned the lack of snow above. It looks like this will change in the next couple of days. A cold front will introduce colder temperatures. Fortunately, these temperatures are likely to bring temperatures well below freezing/melting and avoid a hodgepodge of rain, ice pellets, and freezing rain - just snow, at least for now.
Graham Saunders
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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