Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/29 to 6/5 2004

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/29 to 6/5 2004

Hello From Fireside Lodge in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Weather has still remained below normal but this week we had some nice days, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius (60F to 70F) and have had some beautiful calm sunny days. The Shelly family Doug and Cindy with boys Andrew and Brad, from Mount Joy, Pa., returned to Fireside Lodge for the third time as a family, and this was Andrew's 4th, and Doug's 5th time at Fireside Lodge. As always this family had a great fishing vacation at Fireside Lodge. They caught a lot of Smallmouth Bass and some very large Smallmouth. On the day of their arrival Doug, Andrew, and Brad caught 9 before supper and each caught a Master Anglers Award Smallmouth, with Brad catching an 18.50 incher, and Andrew landed a HUGE 19.25 incher. In the evening they caught 6 more with Cindy catching 4 nice Smallies. The next day brought in a cold, windy, rainy system and they only fished for a few hours catching12 nice Smallmouth, Doug caught a 19.25 inch Master Anglers Smallmouth. They all took a long nap before supper, which was the smart thing to do considering the weather. The next day Doug and Cindy, fishing alone, caught 21 Smallmouth and both Cindy and Doug caught Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Cindy caught her first measuring at 18.5 inches, and Doug caught a 19 inch Smallmouth. On their final day it was gorgeous weather and the whole family enjoyed a great shore lunch, and also had a great day fishing, catching 19 more good size Smallmouth. This family now has five years of memories at Fireside Lodge and counting, which as the VISA commercial says "this is priceless." I remember 5.5 years ago when Doug called looking for a fishing lodge to take his family. His requirements were to have a wilderness atmosphere, with excellent fishing, where his family would feel comfortable. Well, after 5 consecutive years of fishing at Fireside Lodge, I guess we fit his requirements. Thanks for coming back to Fireside Lodge to add to your family memory book each year.
Tony Majcher, from Hawthorne Woods, IL. , also back for his fifth time, came with friend and second time guest John Chander from Lake Zurich, IL. They had a great time despite the erratic weather. Here for the Smallmouth, that's what they concentrated on, catching some nice size Smallies, and enjoying every minute of their stay. Tony has been at Fireside Lodge with his wife, son, grandson, and good friend John twice, and before leaving Tony's next goal is to bring his other grandson to Fireside Lodge. What a great set of memories Tony has made, with family and friends, at Fireside Lodge.
Father and son Larry and Scott Siebenthal, from Creve Coeur, IL were back at Fireside Lodge for their 3rd consecutive year. These two love Northern Pike fishing, and that's all they concentrated on during their week stay. Last year they caught high numbers of Northern Pike, and this year they were less concerned with numbers and just targeted larger Pike. They started off great, as on the first evening on arrival day they caught 11 Northern Pike, and Scott caught the exact fish he came for, an absolute GIANT 41 incher. This was a fish with shoulders, as it's girth was tremendous. Scott was mighty proud of this Master Anglers Award Northern Pike, as any angler should be. Congratulations to Scott on his catch. This was just the beginning, as Scott and Larry on their first full day of fishing caught 24 Northern Pike, including a 33, 35, 37, and 39 inch Pike that were just as fat and girthy as Scott's 41 incher. The 35" fish has a story behind it that is rather funny. As Scott was bringing this fish into the cradle it thrashed and a lure that was hanging over the side of the boat, attached to another rod, got hooked in the cradle and closed both sides together near the top of the cradle. Then the fish thrashed and swam out of the cradle still hooked, but now Scott's line is going through the top of the cradle, exiting out through the side, and the cradle is closed shut by the lure. Unable to get the hook out of the cradle they fished the whole rod sideways through the cradle. By doing this the gave a lot of slack line to the fish, and figured it would be lost, but by then they realized now Scott's line was wrapped around the engine prop. Now they really thought this fish was a lost. Wrong, after getting Scott's line loose the fish was still at the other end, and was successfully caught by Scott. They called this the fish that should have got away. Scott also caught a HUGE Master Anglers, 18.5 inch, Smallmouth while fishing for Pike. During the rest of the week they continued to catch big pike landing 3 more 37," and several others at 38 inches. All in all these two had a great fishing trip and intend on returning in 2005. One other story, while they were traveling down the lake they saw something unusual in the water and it turned out to be a cow moose swimming in the water with her new born calf. These are the benefits of fishing in a true wilderness area, which we are fortunate enough to have at Fireside Lodge.
Gary & Cindy Falter, from Versailles, Ky., were at Fireside Lodge for their first time. They made the most of their short 3 day stay catching fish and enjoying our great wilderness atmosphere. On their very first night Gary caught a 34 inch Muskie, and it sure took both by surprise. They caught just about ever game species we have, Smallmouth, Northern Pike, Muskie and even accidentally ran into a few Lake Trout, while fishing for Smallmouth Bass. They had a great time and are considering returning with a larger group in 2005.

Hot Lures of the week: Husky Jerk, 4" Tube Jig, Blue Fox Spinner

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