Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 6/21 to 6/27 2003

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 6/21 to 6/27 2003

Hello to all from Fireside Lodge in Northwest Ontario where the fishing is great because we are keeping it that way. Well we finally got some rain this week which was very welcome. The two days of rain and cooler temperatures helped the serious forest fire conditions we found ourselves in for the last week and a half. At one point forest fires were actually threating the Sioux Lookout area, but a shift in the wind blew the fires in the opposite direction, and the rain later in the week helped fire fighters get it under control. Just to show how fast a fire can spread this fire started on Thursday 6/19 as a 4500 acre fire, and by Monday 6/23 it expolded into an 80,000 acre fire, and was taking out outpost camps and threatening other facilities along the way. So make sure when you see the forest fire signs in Ontario that say be careful, please be careful.
Now for the fishing this week I will start with a group who was here last year and back for their second trip to Fireside Lodge in successive years. Tim Bergen, from Orland Park, IL with young sons Joe and Adam headed the group consisting of Mark Foster, Tim Komenda, and another father and son combo of Gerald Sr and Gerald Curran, all from Palos Hgts, Hickory Hills, and Romeoville, IL. Here for 4 days they did great, and in father Tim's words after their first day of fishing he stated " that they all caught numerous Northern Pike and that it was by far the best day of fishing they had ever experienced". Adam, 11 years old, landed 7 nice Pike biggest being 32 inches, and Josh also caught a lot. They all had a great day catching and having a lot of other action, like lost fish and follows. Father and son Gerald Sr and Gerald also stated what a fantastic day of fishing it was. On their third day they beat the fishing of their first day by landing over 60 fish amongst the group, mostly being Northern Pike. Joseph caught a 34.5 inch, Adam a 34 inch, Tim Komenda a 34 inch, and father Tim a 34.5 inch. Two Muskie were also caught by father Tim both at 31 inches. Great day for all. The biggest story of this day was not about the fantastic fishing they had, but was the terrific expeirence father and son Tim and Adam Bergen had, as the made their way through the long and winding creek to Maskinonge Lake. All of a sudden around a bending curve in the creek their was a HUGE Moose just about face to face with 11 year old Adam, and only a few feet further from Tim. Well Tim just shut the motor off and the Moose looked at them for a few seconds then slowly moved out of the creek and dissapeared through the tall creek grass.
Adams eyes just about popped out of his head, and the excitement while telling this story in the dinning room was beyond description. Great trip for all in this group, and not to be their last.
Frank Wolfinger, from Barrington, IL., a return guest of Fireside Lodge was back to show his close friends the fun they could experience at Fireside Lodge. Ray Rausch, from Elmwood Park, IL., Stephen Baker from Homewood, IL., and Eugene Sturgeon from Abingdon, Va. were all here to enjoy each others company in the wilderness setting we have to offer. Well these four had a ball even on the day they were rained out as they had fun playing cards all day and exchanging each others money. They also caught plenty of fish. Targeting Smallmouth one day they landed well over 30 between the four of them, and the next day increased that to over 30 Smallmouth bass in each of their two boats. A great story amoung these four developed when, Ray while catching a Smallmouth, had a Muskie come up and attack the Smallmouth he was catching. Well after having it on for a while it just let the fish go and left Ray with a partially shredded Smallmouth. Well Ray must have antagonized the Muskie because shortly after that, Steve while catching a Smallmouth had the same Muskie attack his Smallmouth and held on all the way into the net. What a great catch and a great story. Hope to see these four again soon as they all had a wonderful stay with us at Fireside Lodge.
Damien Kujawa, from Lowell, In., was back to Fireside Lodge again, but with a very special fishing partner this time around. Damien recently was married to Amy, and Damien who has been to Fireside Lodge before with his father, brother, and friends, was now enjoying his honeymoon with Amy and starting a different set of very special life long memories at Fireside Lodge. I could not help but smile whenever I saw these two as they were constantly smiling and enjoying each others company. Just like it should be for this very speical time in their lives. Damien had loads of fun showing Amy all of the great places on our lake system, such as Twin Falls, Maskinonge creek adventure, all the secrect spots Damien has learned from his past visits to Fireside Lodge. They had very good fishing and catching, but when writing about this couple I felt fishing should be definitley secondary. Amy and Damien, we at Fireside Lodge were honored you chose us to spend one of you most special times in you life with us. Thanks and hope to see you both at Fireside Lodge for many years to come.
Dave Roberson from East Alton, IL, back for his 9th trip to Fireside Lodge, was with son Eric and good friend Robert Goodhardt from Springfield, IL. Well knowing the lake pays off, as in just 2 hours on the night of arrival they caught 10 nice Smallies, Dave landing a Master Angllers Award Smallmouth at 18.5", and some Northern Pike. These three had great fishing throughout the week and were really showing 1st timer Bob and great time. Another day the caught well over 40 Smallmouth and Eric got the Master Anglers Award on this day with another 18.5 incher. Towards the end of their trip they got hit with a major cold front with rain from the East and just blowing all day. Give it up??? Not a chance, and good thing because on this day they caught over 50 Northern Pike 20+ Smallmouth, and three Muskie. Pike were up to 37 inches, and the Muskie were in the mid 30's. The fabulous thing about this day was that over half of these fish were caught on buzz baits. Could you imagine the fun this was. Great fishng and great fun had by these three. I am sure they had a fourth in the boat with them though, and he was a good friend of Dave and Bob. Jack sadley pass away before the trip, and what I heard about Jack from Dave and Bob, we all lost a fun and enjoyable person form this earth. Thanks for coming guys and hope to see all again.
Father and Son Paul and Anthony Capecchi, from Inver Grove Hgts, Mn. were at Fireside Lodge for their first visit. They had a super first fishing and catching trip to Fireside Lodge. On their second day they ventured to a portage lake and ended up catching 53 Northern Pike. The next day it was a cold rainy day and they stuck close to the lodge and ended up catching over 40 Northern Pike on a day most satyed in and rested or played cards. On their last day they caught so many fish, that when I asked how they did they looked bewildered. Then they replied conservativley 70 Northern Pike. When I asked if this was their best fishing day every, they repied definitley. Wonderful fishing and lasting memories for these two.
John DelGiorno from Mount Laurel, NJ brought his boy Nick to Fireside Lodge and were extremley excited to be here. They were here for a short three days of fishing, and unfortunatley they got two days of solid rain and cold weather, of which we have had none of for the previous 4 weeks. Despite this they enjoyed, and had fun fishing, with Nick coming through with some very nice catches, one being his biggest Smallmouth at around16 inches. Look for Nick holding this beauty on my website. They also caught some Northern Pike and other Smallmouth, but their real search was for the ever evasive Muskie. After giving it a good effort they did get close with some follows, but the Muskie won on this trip, but good thing is there are other fishing fishing trips planned in the future for these two. Thanks for coming from so far.
Dave Moon, from St Peters, Mo., was back with his son Matt for their 6th consecutive year. But, this year they brought 10 other friends. About half that have been here before and for the other half it was their first experience in Canada fishing. They were Bruce Wucher, John Setzer, Thomas Burckhardt, William Beckett, and Jeff Stoyanov all from
St Peters, and Tom Wolf from High Ridge, Mo., John Schwent from Festus, Mo., Steve Schubert from St Louis, Mo., Jim Sullivan and Steve Balint both from Springfield, Va. Well on this groups first day all 6 boats of two had great Northern Pike fishing catching any where from 20 to 35 per boat, and a good numer of these fish we 30 to 35 inches. The second day listen to these numbers, Tom and Bruce 50 Northern Pike, John and Steve over 50 Northern Pike 20 Smallmouth Bass and a 37 inch Muskie, and and another boat caught 50 Northern Pike and 3 Muskie. One of these two caught 3 Northern Pike on his first 4 casts, and on his fifth cast he caught a Muskie. Dave and Matt Moon did great as always catching a lot of Northern Pike and few Muskie, and had some very good Smallmouth fishing, Dave catching a Master Angllers Award Smallie at 18.5 inches. Jim Sullivan and Steve Balint also had a few 40 to 50 Northern Pike days, however they concentrated on Smallmouth a few days and did terrific one day catching 40+, and another day catching close to 50 Smallmouth. Other Master Anglers Award winners in the Smallmouth division were Jeff Stoyanov 18" & 19.5", Steve Schubert 18.75", Tom Wolf 18", Tomas Burckhardt 19" & 18", and John Setzer with two 19 inchers. All in all this group had a tremendous amount of fun, espcially on the cold rainy day when they all stayed in and played cards all day, and took naps. Thanks for all coming, and hope to see all again.
We have people come to Fireside Lodge for all different reasons, #1 the fishing, but sometimes a special event is planned around a fishing trip as was the one planned by Ewell Scott, from Morehead, Ky. Ewell was with us last year and decided Fireside Lodge would be a great place to celebrate his father Earl's 90th birthday. Family members and friends, Ed & Brian Scott, Troy Burchett, and Charles Tingle also from Morehead, Ky., Lucy and Mark from Mechanicsville, Va., Adam Scott from Lexington, Ky., and William Martin from Franklin, In. Well they arrived on Earl's birthday June 25th, and after an eveing of celabration with a double fudge chocalate cake decorated with sparklers, and having Earl near tears with joy to have his family around him, they were ready to go fishing for three days. A few highlights from the first day was Adam and Brian scoring big with over 40 Smallmouth up to 17" and several Northern Pike. Troy and Charles also scraped out 20-25 Smallmouth up to 17". The second day Adam and Charles fished for Northern Pike and Muskie and caught 44 up to 33 inches, and the action was so good that three seperate times they had doubles. Troy and several others from this group caught a bunch of Smallmouth, with a lot being between 15 and 17 inches. On the last day they all eneded up fishing together, and found a hot Smallmouth area where they all shared the wealth of our great fishery, and ended up catching not only a lot of Smallmouth, but also caught some Nothern Pike and a Muskie. Mark took the top prize on this day by catching a 18.25 inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Great fun was had by all, and wonderful memories were made by this group. Thanks for choosing Fireside Lodge for such an important and meaningful family event. Happy Birthday Earl and we wish you many more.
Allan, Dave, and Steven Shogren from New Hope, Apple Valley, and Lakeville, Mn., were here with friends Time Ritzer from Edina, Stephen Kitts, from Farmington, and Gregory, from Amboy, all in Minnesota. For Allan, Dave, and Tim this was their third time back to Fireside Lodge, and for the others it was their 1st experience. Well first day on the water they met with typical Canadian cold front conditions, and despite the rain and cold Allen was determined to find fish for son Steve, who was experiencing his first trip to Freside Lodge. Well done Allan, as they both caught a lot of Northern Pike, and the rookie Steve caught the most. New comers to Fireside Lodge Steve Kitts and friend Greg Stevens, spent most of the morning figuring out the lake systen, and sometime after the noon hour got onto a pattern and started catching fish. By supper time they had a good afternoon fishing, and these two are very quick learners because after supper they both caught huge fish. Steve catching a 41 inch Muskie, and Greg landing a 40.5 inch Master Anglers Award Northern Pike. WOW, what a first day on the lake for these two. Allan and son Steve on their second day did great, with Steve catching a Master Anglers Award daily double landing both a Master Anglers Smallmouth at 19.5 inches and a 40 inch Northern Pike. Allan also caught two Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at 18.5 and 18 inches. Dave and Tim were also catching their share of fish and on the last eveing Dave caught a big 42 inche Muskie. Great finish to this short three day trip, and in just 3 days four out of six guys walked away landing a 40 inch or better fish, with also catching 4 huge Smallmouth between 18 to 19.5 inches. That's great fishing.
Back for their third time in three years Phil, and Tim Spahr from Fairborn, Oh., and Marlborough, Ma. brought Brad (son/brother) along for his first Canadian Fishing Adventure. These three had great fishing and convinced Brad that Fireside Lodge was a wonderful fishing destination. In their first couple of days they caught 42 Northern Pike, with a lot of 26 to 33 inch fish. In the next three days they had fabulous fishing for Northern Pike, catching 54 in just 6 hours one Sunday afternoon. Not a bad way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon between father and sons. Tim also caught 2 Muskie, a beautiful clear 34 incher, and a Smaller barred Muskie. Another day while landing 24 Pike and having plenty of other action, Brad lost about a 40 incher boat side, and Tim lost a 37 inche Pike. Phil and Tim after arriving stated that an accoplishment they would like to achieve, would be to have Brad catch a Muskie, which would be his first. Well it did not come easy, but was accomplished when on their last afternoon of fishing Brad caucght his first Muskie, which was a beautiiful 34" clear Muskie. Congatulations Brad. Ironically Phil caught his first Muskie two years ago on the last day, and last year Tim caught his first Muskie on the last day. So Brad did his part in upholding this Spahr family tradition. These three caught a lot of Northern Pike during their stay, and the size of fish was impressive, with most being near or over 30 inches, and a good number of mid 30" fish. They also caught some Smallmouth, and Tim caught his long awaited Master Anglers Award Smallmouth at 18 inches. Great family trip had by these three, and some special memories made to last a lifetime.
This concludes this weeks fishing report, so until next week " Keep On Fish'n". Alan