Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 6/12 to 6/19 2004

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 6/12 to 6/19 2004

Hello from Fireside Lodge in the beautiful Northwest Region of Ontario, Canada. This week brought more unseasonably cool weather but we also had a couple of perfect 70 degree sunny, calm days. In general it was another excellent fishing week, with some fabulous days, and a few lesser that fabulous days. But that's fishing.
The highlight story of the week was of a couple of Fly Fishers who just had a tremendous fly fishing, or should I say fly catching, in the 5 days they were at Fireside Lodge. Steve Jensen, from Battlefield, Mo., and return guest Dave Halblom from Des Moines, Ia., were here only to Fly Fish. The first day is usually a critical day for fly fishing as they try to figure a fly patter that will work for the rest of the week. The first day while catching 12 nice size Smallmouth, Dave landing a 17.5 incher, and Steve catching a Master Anglers Award, Mammoth, Smallmouth measuring 19 inches,(WOW what a catch on a fly rod), did figure out the pattern. A special crayfish fly tied by Steve was the ticket. The second day they caught well over 30 Smallmouth up to 17.5 inches, and the 3rd day caught over 35 Smallies, most between 15 to 17 inches. The excitement with the type of fishing these two had was evident, and each day they brought in Steve's digital camera, so we could display their great catches in the lodge on our new viewer system. The program is, that anyone with a digital camera can bring us their digital card at supper time, we will copy their fish photos and put them on a 20" viewer in the lodge. We return your card to you within 15 minutes. The pictures are shown in a slide show presentation. Make sure to bring your digital camera. On their fourth day Steve and Dave decided to Northern Pike fish and caught over 60 Northern Pike on a white and red streamer. What a great day. On the fifth and final day they finished with a bang catching well over 50 Smallmouth Bass. They both went home with sore wrists, shoulders, and worn out fingers. This is a small price to pay for the fantastic fly fishing they had. Before leaving they already made a reservation for 2005 for themselves and two others. When coming to Fireside Lodge don't leave your fly rod at home.

Dale Landes from Cheboygan, Mi., and friend John Davis from Harbor Spring, Mi. found themselves at Fireside Lodge for their first time. Dale is a very avid angler. He even beat me in the morning, and I get up and 5:00 am!!!! Every morning his boat was gone enjoying the peacefulness of the morning. Even though the early morning bite is not terrific, Dale just enjoyed the peacefulness and serenity of that time of day. He also caught a few fish each day at that time, and some on explosive surface strikes. While catching Smallmouth one day Dale had a 40 inch plus Muskie surprise him right at the boat. Talk about a heart stopper. Dale also brought his mountain bike along and did a little biking, however had a hard time fitting this in amongst his fishing. Both had a terrific Northern Pike day as they lost count, but said they caught at least 50-60 Northern Pike. In all they had a wonderful stay and brought home some memories. Thanks for choosing us at Fireside Lodge.

Return guests Stan Perushek, from Milwaukee, Wi, and sons Steven and Dan from Irvine and Costa Mesa, Ca. were back at Fireside Lodge to make some new memories. These three fished all the time, rain or shine, and the catching results paid off. One day they caught 20 nice Smallmouth and 2 Northern Pike, another day the had a phenomenal Northern Pike day catching 87 between the three of them. The other days were spent catching mostly Smallmouth Bass with several days catching over 20, with and number of 17-17.5 inch Bass, and Steve came through with a Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at a BIG 18.5 inches. Steve will have bragging rights until these three return to Fireside Lodge again. Most importantly was the memories made between two sons and a father.

Long time friends Jim Paulsen from Billings, Mt., and Robert Nelson from Bowls, Mn., were re-united at Fireside Lodge after 33 years. Being old school friends and basketball team mates, they had not seen each other since their school days. After a contact through a school reunion they decided that they should get together to catch up, and make a fishing trip at Fireside Lodge a means to do just that. Paul had done some fishing before, but for Bob it was his first time ever. They did well, and it did not take long for Bob to catch his first fish ever. As the week progressed they did better every day catching mostly Smallmouth Bass, and Bob's personal best at the end of the week was a 16.5 incher. Great going Bob. Jim deserves an Angler Award for introducing another person, and friend, to the great sport of angling. It takes patience to teach someone angling techniques, and at the same time the ability to control the boat and handle all the other tasks of fishing. I thought this was a great story to remind everyone that it is not always about the catch. There are many other rewards to fishing, and by making the effort by both Paul and Bob, they should make many years of fishing memories together as friends.

Doug Woodard from Vacaville, Ca brought his nephew Mark White and good friend of Mark's Mike Lattell both from Fairfield, Ca. to Fireside Lodge for their first time. All experienced anglers, they came to Fireside Lodge to target our fabulous Smallmouth Fishing, and they were not disappointed. First day despite tough winds and cold front conditions, they caught a dozen Smallmouth, four being 17-17.5 inches. With better weather on their second day they had a ball catching well over 30 Smallmouth Bass, and Mike caught a Master Angler Award Smallmouth at 18 inches. While fishing Mark lost site of his lure, which he thought got caught between two rocks, but after his pole tip went south he realized that a Big Smallie sucked his bait in, and the fight was on. The third day they decided to search out large Smallmouth, and with great success. Each caught Master Anglers Award Smallmouth, and in fact they landed 5 of these GIANT Smallies. Mike and Mark had a double 19" and 19.15" and Mark caught another BIG 19.5 incher, and Mike another 18.5 incher, and Doug also got into the act landing a BIG 19 inch Smallmouth. GREAT BIG FISH DAY!!!!!!!! The last day of fishing for these three also proved to be a BIG fish bonanza. With Doug and Mike doubling up this time catching two massive 20.5 inch Smallmouth Bass. WOW what a double catch!!!!!!!! Mark Also caught another Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at 18.5 inches, and with a special technique fishing a sinking worm caught two Muskie measuring 34 and 32 inches. Mike also caught a BIG 36 inch Northern Pike. What a Great Day, and what a Great Stay these three had at Fireside Lodge. Hope to see all again one day soon.

Craig and Connie Pavelko, from Terril, Ia., choose Fireside Lodge for their quick get away from every day chores. The first time here it took a day to get familiar with our lake system, and on their second day the made contact and caught a number of Northern Pike, and a few follows on larger Northern Pike and Muskie. Their third day was a picture perfect day being calm, sunny and about 70 degrees. The fish were there but not cooperative. They had many follows and saw a lot of BIG Northern Pike and Muskie but had a hard time getting them to take their offerings. That evening we had a severe cold front come through with high winds, and a day time high temperature of only 48 degrees. That's not chilly, it's cold! They chose not to fish on this their last day, as did a number of others, and just enjoyed the great lake view and wilderness setting we have to offer in our very comfortable new cabins. Thanks for making Fireside Lodge your last minute getaway.

Father and son Ron and Brian Novak from St. Charles and Marengo, IL., decided to try Fireside Lodge because Ron had never fished for Smallmouth, and it had been a long time since Brian had targeted these great bronze back fighters. Well, they wasted no time as on the day of their arrival they caught a dozen very nice size Smallmouth between 2:30 and 5:00 before supper. On their first day they caught a number of Smallmouth, and Brian landed a 34 inch Muskie and lost another larger one. That evening was topped off with catching 7 more Smallies all on top water baits. They were very excited with this great top water action. The next day Brian rated as one of his top 5 fishing days ever, and definitely his best Smallmouth day ever. They caught 6 GIANT Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Brian caught two at 20" one 19," and one 18 incher, and Ron caught a 19" and 18" Smallmouth. Most people do not catch one of these monster Smallmouth in a lifeime, let alone 6 in one day. On their last day these two had a phenomenal day fishing for Northern Pike, catching 36 and most being over 30 inches, up to 35 inches. All fat and healthy fish. They said it was by far the best fishing day of their lives, and the quality of the Northern Pike were unbelievable. These two had a great first experience at Fireside Lodge and intend on returning in 2005.

Master Anglers Award catches for the week were 16 Smallmouth Bass

Hot Lures for the week: Floating Rapala, Husky Jerk, Tube, Twister Tail, Swim Bait

That's all for this weeks Fireside Lodge fishing news, so until next week, "Keep On Fish'n". Alan