Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/20 to 5/27 2006

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/20/ to 5/27/ 2006

Hello from Fireside Lodge in beautiful Northwest Ontario. Audrey and I were very excited about opening for our seventeenth season at Fireside Lodge, as were our first guests of the 2006 fishing season. Despite mother nature giving our first guests of the season a harsh greeting everyone was glad to be here and anxious to get on the water.
I will start off this years fishing report with Frank Hazzard, from Arlington, Tx. Who has been with us for 16 out of our 17 seasons. Frank always has a great trip with each being a little different. Even though Frank is from Texas he prefers the cool weather and enjoys wearing his insulated jump suit while fishing in the spring at Fireside Lodge. This year was a warmer spring and he wore his jump suit only once, which was opening day when our temperatures were at a high of only 42 degrees and had snow/ice showers throughout the day. Despite the warmer than normal spring Frank had 4 days of close to 100 or more Smallmouth Bass, and several other days landing 33 to 60 Smallmouth Bass. Another three days while Northern Pike fishing with Bill Stayer, caught 19 Northern and two Muskie the first day, 46 Northern Pike, one a 38.5 inches, and another was a Master Anglers Award measuring 41.5 inches and weighing 22.5 pounds, and the third day they caught 28 Northern Pike, 1 Musky, and 6 Smallmouth Bass. WOW! WHAT A GREAT PIKE FISHING!.
For Frank it s not only about the fish, but just being here in Northwest Ontario, one of the best wilderness freshwater fishing areas of the world. Able to see wildlife, gorgeous sunsets, sunrises, northern lights, and hear all the wonderful sounds which makes the wilderness come alive during this time period, Frank has a hard time imagining being anywhere else come spring. We are glad Frank has chosen to stay with us at Fireside Lodge all these years as we have become friends and have made many memories together.
George Fischer from Green Bay, WI, was back for his second trip to Fireside Lodge, this time with his wife LuAnn. This was LuAnn’s first experience visiting the wilderness for a fishing adventure, and did she ever enjoy her stay. George, being here for his second time, knew all the great places to take LuAnn, not just for the fishing, but for seeing the beauty the area has to offer. They did very well in the fishing department catching a lot of Smallmouth Bass three of their four days, and on the other day enjoyed a walk in the bush and also caught 47 Northern Pike. WOW, what a fast action and fun day. Also, while fishing for Smallmouth Bass with 6lb test line, George hooked into the fish of his life, or better said this Musky hooked George. All George could do was give the Giant Musky line and dance around the boat with this large toothy critter. The fish finally just opened it’s mouth and spit the lure out. After all was done George needed to take a breather, as he rested and thought about what just happened. George also caught a Master Angler Award Smallmouth and to see this fabulous catch chick on HUGE SMALLMOUTH. They spent their other time taking hikes, sight seeing at Twin Falls, just enjoying the wilderness and wildlife. Also, both got to know other guests and enjoyed conversation and laughs in the dinning room and lodge area. Both had a fabulous trip and hope to return again in 2007.
Larry Falli from Elkhart, IN. was back for his 8th trip to Fireside Lodge. Larry will use any method and technique to catch fish, and gets good results because of his flexibility. The cold front on his day of arrival was a challenge as our temperatures dropped to 32 degrees for a low and only 42 degrees for a high with snow and ice pellets falling from the sky. The next few days it warmed up, and so did the fishing. Larry had a few days of very good Smallmouth fishing and a few with very good Northern Pike fishing, and he said one day was excellent as he not only caught numbers but also landed big fish with his largest being a 40.5 inch Master Anglers Award Northern Pike. Larry enjoyed his stay, and it was another wonderful get away from city life
Very good friends Dennis Brogan, Jeff Ziegler, both from Carol Stream, IL. And Joe Sisco from Cable, WI., were at Fireside Lodge for their fifth time.
Laughing and having loads of fun are a sure thing for these three whenever they are together, and they also had very good fishing. Two of there days they caught over 30 Smallmouth Bass, and another day they landed well over 60 Smallies, with both Joe and Jeff catching 18.5 inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Also, while fishing for Smallmouth with 6lb test line Jeff managed to hook and actually land a 43 inch Musky. WOW, what a great catch. Dennis also caught an 18 inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. You can see photos on the Fireside Lodge website under page headed “Weekly Photos 2006” at www.firesidelodge.com
All three of these guys had another great stay at Fireside Lodge and have already made reservations for the 2007 opening week.
Bill Stayer from New Freedom, PA. was at Fireside Lodge for his fourth time. Bill loves to fish for the long toothy critters (Northern Pike) and had some great days and a few frustrating days, where the fish were plentiful but not co-operative. Bill, saw so many follows but could only fool a few into taking his lure. A few days he fished with Frank (above) and they caught 19 Northern Pike , two Musky, and lost about 6 to 8 fish. Another day they landed 46 Northern Pike and lost about a dozen, and on a third day they caught 28 Northern Pike, 1 Musky, and 6 Smallmouth. What made these days even more fabulous for Bill was that he learned a new method he never would have even though of using to fish for Northern Pike. They fished a Slug-Go, with a very active twitching retrieve. The color of the day was white, but Bill was really impressed, when after using the last white Slug-O he put on a Bubble Gum color and caught 3 Northern Pike in five casts. Just goes to show you, never say never to any lure type or color when fishing. Bill continued to have several other good days Northern Pike fishing, and thoroughly enjoyed his stay at Fireside Lodge.
Neil MacKinnon with son Neil, and friends Tom Ferguson and Dennis Carstensen all from Rossford and Perrysburg, Ohio were back again for their 7th straight year. Here for a short three days, they all headed out on the water the evening of arrival to get their lines wet, have that first battle with a Northern Pike, and see a beautiful sunset. On their first full day of fishing they made contact with a lot of Big Northern Pike, getting lots of follows and landing some nice fish. Second day had Dennis as the big gun as he landed 12 nice Pike and Tom caught 6 with both having a lot of other action. Their third and last day the father son combo of Neil and Neil were the top catchers, as they caught well over 30 Northern Pike with many other follows and lost fish. All four left with many more fishing experiences and memories made, and plan to return in 2007.

Catches of the week: 41.5 inch 22.5lb Northern Pike, 40.5 inch Northern Pike, 19 inch Smallmouth,

Hot lures of the week: Blue Fox Spinner, Tubes, Slug-Go, Husky Jerk and Smithwick Rogue, Storm Wildeye Curltail

That’s the news from Fireside Lodge in Sioux Lookout, Ontario for the first week of the 2006 fishing season an please stay tuned for next weeks report. Until the “Keep On Fish’n” Alan