Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 8/31 to 9/7 2002

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 8/31 to 9/7 2002

Hello to all from Fireside Lodge in Northwest Ontario. I will start this weeks fishing report with a group from New Jersey, who when they arrive, you know fall is on the way. However during their 9 day stay they had mostly summertime weather. Joe Denise, from Aurora, IL., (formally from NJ) has come to Fireside Lodge for the last 5 years with friends, Dan Sr and Danny Lesko, and Bob Nelson, all from Elmwood Park, NJ. I can't tell if these four have more fun fishing or having their evening discussions, which get very involved at times. One thing you can be sure of is they do catch fish , and this year Danny said he had his best trip ever for Big Pike toping his personal best at 35" and 37.5 inches. Bob and Joe had several days of very good Pike fishing, catching between 13 to 15 Pike each with a lot falling into the 30 to 35 inch range. Danny and Father Dan Sr had a bang up Smallmouth day catching over 30, with a lot of good size, and Danny landing a Master Anglers Award Smallie at 18.75 inches, and landed another at 18 inches. Joe also cashed in one day, while having a great day Pike fishing, he landed a couple of BIG brute Smallmouth, one at a Master Anglers size of 19.5 inches. Another day Danny and Dan Sr caught 18 Smallmouth on top water, which is the most exciting action to have, and that same day Joe and Bob hooked up with some toothy critters, Bob with 17 Pike and 1 Muskie, and Joe doing about the same , but he also lost a couple of Huge Smallmouth. This group gets together for several reasons, but the most important reason is just to be together, enjoy each others company, and most of all make memories with friends who can share those memories for many years to come. Thanks for making those valued memories, here at Fireside Lodge.
Another group of family and friends here to make memories was back for their third time in as many years. Bill Frick, from Orange Park, Fl., back with his sons, Dustin from Jacksonville, Fl., and Dane, from Brookfield, Wi., Jack and son Jon Lessig, from Orange Park, Fl., and Bill Mattingly, from LaHabra, Ca. This group definitely comes for the family and friends value in fellowship. They catch fish and enjoy the fishing experience, but the experience of just being together, having fun, and making memories sits high on their priority list. One day while fishing for Pike and catching some, Dustin and Jon tried their hand at fly fishing for this toothy critter, and were successful in landing some. Great accomplishment. Another day Bill and Bill, had a ball as they ran into a bunch of Smallmouth, catching some up to 16.5 inches. When all was said and done this group had a great 4 day stay of fishing, fun, and conversation. Thanks for coming back and hope the family and friends tradition continues.
Jim Jones, from McKinney, Tx., was back to Fireside Lodge for his 4th time in three years, with this being his second trip of 2002. This time he came with his wife Donna, for the first time. Donna just had a fantastic time, and could not believe the peaceful wilderness atmosphere we have here at Fireside Lodge. Seeing everything for the first time, you could always see the glow in her face when conversing about her experiences. They both caught fish and enjoyed themselves so much together, that they made reservations for the same time in 2003 before they left. It is great to see a couple share the wonderful Northern Canadian Wilderness together, and we at Fireside Lodge are looking forward to having Jim and Donna back with us next year. Thanks.
Another couple, Cooley and Marcey Smith, from Omaha, Ne., were here for their first trip ever, and also seemed to thoroughly enjoy their 4 day stay. Marcey did not take long to make the board, that is the fish board catching a Northwest Ontario Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at 18.75 inches. Great catch Marcey. These two had fun fishing, exploring a new lake system, and viewing the wildlife we have in our pristine environment. They really enjoyed the long creek ride into some of our back, out of the way lakes. Thanks for spending your valued time together with us at Fireside Lodge, and hope to see you soon.
They Oliva brothers, Chris, from Harwood Hgts, IL., Mike, from Downers Grove, IL., Sam, from Northbrook, IL., and friend Patrick Blaney, from Chicago, IL., were all at Fireside Lodge for their first time. Well they had great fishing and fun together. It did not take long for firsts to start happening when on their first day Pat caught his first Muskie ever, and then on the second day Mike caught a Muskie which completely filled the 48" cradle. The Muskie measured out at 48 inches, which is a Northwest Ontario Master Anglers Award Muskie. Chris and Sam on the same day caught some nice Northern Pike. On a very windy day which almost all stayed in, Mike and Pat ventured out fishing an managed to catch 6 nice Pike in a short time, 28" to 35". Another day these two lost count and caught a bunch of Pike between 28 to 36 inches, and Pat caught his 2nd and 3rd Muskie. This group also did well catching Smallmouth Bass with both Chris and Mike catching a Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at 18 inches. Another great event of the week was the celebration of Chris having his 50th birthday at Fireside Lodge. What a great way to celebrate this mile stone in life, in the company of family and friends in a wonderful wilderness atmosphere. Thanks for choosing Fireside to be part of this memory making event.
Father and two sons Arthur, Barron, and Bart Rulon, from Lexington, Ky., and Greenbrook, Wa. were at Fireside Lodge for their first time ever. These three had a lot to discover throughout our expansive lake system, and made the most of it. First day ever on our lake, and they caught 20 Smallmouth, only to over double this figure their second day catching well over 50 with a lot of these Smallmouth good size, 14 to 17 inches. Their third day they caught 35+ Smallies up to 16.5 inches, and Bart caught his 1st and 2nd Muskie at 31" and 37.5 inches. WOW what great size Muskie for Bart's 1st and 2nd. On an extremely windy day where all other boats stayed in except 1, these three went Pike fishing, and proved that the weather affects the anglers more than the fish, as they landed 20 Northern Pike, in the waters very near to the lodge. This trio had a wonderful first experience at Fireside Lodge and plans a return trip.
Lloyd Morton, from N. Lawrence, Oh., and Ken Roberts, from Louisville, Oh., were back at Fireside Lodge for their second time this year. They were both here in July, had fantastic fishing, and it was the first time Ken had ever done fishing for Northern Pike or Muskie. Well he did well at that time hooking and landing a lot of nice Pike and Muskie, but it is know obvious who really got hooked. Ken, and that's a good thing. They had another great fishing trip, and here are some of their results. 1st day was unbelievable with them catching over 30 Northern Pike between 30 to 36 inches, 3 Muskie between 33 to 35 inches, and Ken caught a HUGE Northwest Ontario Master Anglers Smallmouth at 20.25 inches. WOW!!!!!!!! What a catch, and what a day of fishing. On the very next day Ken also caught a Master Anglers Award Northern Pike at 40.5 inches. Great going Ken. They also caught 17 other Pike, and a 34 inch Muskie. Most of their other days were similar with them catching a lot of Pike, and some Muskie most in the size range of 30 to 38 inches. For their 6 days they caught easily between 120 to 130 Northern Pike, 13 to 15 Muskie, and listen to this, they had two 5 Muskie days. That is terrific fishing. Thanks for coming back, and looking forward to seeing both again.
Brothers Jack, Dennis, and Dick from Arizona, and near Chicago, IL., were at Fireside Lodge for their first trip ever. Well they were here together for a short three days, and had a lot of fun. They caught some nice Pike and Smallmouth while enjoying the wonderful wilderness around them. Fishing is the reason people choose to stay at Fireside Lodge, but it is only one piece of the puzzle that brings them back. The outdoor offerings while you are fishing are countless, and the atmosphere at Fireside Lodge is such that people enjoy each other company, in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Jack will be returning with his family in June 2003, and we look forward to getting to know Jack's family at that time.
Ricky Helm, from St Charles, IL., and father and son Bob and Jeff Swanson, from South Elgin and Waukegan, IL., also were at Fireside Lodge for their first time. These three had a great trip. They mostly fished for long fish, and caught a number of nice size Northern Pike. Every day they seemed to catch fish in the 28 to 35 inch range. One day they caught a bunch of Smallmouth, about a dozen nice Pike, and Bob landed his first Muskie ever at a big 37.5 inches. I can't possibly remember the number of times we have had people catching their first Muskie ever. We have been blessed, that our lake system produces Muskie at a much higher rate than normal, so it gives our guests the better opportunity to land one of these prized fish. In all these three had a great time at Fireside Lodge and can't wait to come back some day.
I want to say thanks to all our guests who made it possible for me to write this fishing report for the week, because without them a lot of fun, enjoyment, and memories would have slipped by unrecorded. Until Next week "Keep On Fish'n" Alan