Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/19 to 5/26 2007

Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report 5/19 to 5/26 2007

Hello from Fireside Lodge in Northwest Ontario, Canada. After having three weeks of above normal temperatures with very little moisture on Opening day we woke up to temperatures near freezing and snow flurries. This is not typical but always a possibility, but despite the weather it was still an exciting day being the start of eighteenth season.

Frank Hazzard from Irving, TX. Is the most appropriate person to start out our first 2007 fishing report as he has been a Fireside Lodge guest for 17 consecutive years. Frank in an excellent fisherman and is the type of person to get a lot of joy sharing his information and helping others who are just getting started at Fireside Lodge for their first time. In the process he has developed a lot of fishing friends, and a few of which meet up with him annually so they can fish together. Bob Sauvain from Woodbine, IA. is one such friend who has also been coming to Fireside Lodge for about 10 years. During their six days of fishing they caught hundreds of nice Smallmouth Bass with the lowest daily total being over 40 and some of the best days catching 63, 72 and over 80. Many Smallmouth were landed in the 15 to 17.5 inches range, and Bob caught two Master Anglers Awards Smallmouth measuring 18.5 and a Monster at 19.5 inches. They also caught their fair share of Northern Pike with some 35 to 39 inches and incidentally caught some Musky and Lake Trout. Bill Stayer from New Freedom, PA. returned to Fireside Lodge for his fourth time and had his best trip ever catching more Smallmouth, Northern Pike, than ever, and also had incidental catches of Lake Trout and Muskie. Bill was here for 8 days a landed 9 Musky including 34, 35, 36, 38, and 40 inchers, with the 40 inch Musky being his biggest catch ever. Smallmouth he caught up to 17.5 inches and caught his share of Northern Pike in the 30 inch range. Bill fished with Frank for 5 days and over the years has benefited from Frank’s kindness and 17 years of knowledge fishing Little Vermilion Lake. To show his gratitude he presented Frank with a framed a matted photo of a 41 inch Northern Pike Frank caught while fishing with Bill in 2006. All three had fabulous fun, and Frank continues to help Fireside Lodge guests enjoy their stay at Fireside Lodge, and reinforces the atmosphere we try to create at Fireside Lodge. For that we give a special thanks to a great fisher and an even greater friend. Frank.
Dennis Brogan from Carol Stream, IL. And Joe Sisco from Hayward, WI. Returned to Fireside Lodge for their fourth consecutive year. These are also two special guys as they help many guests and they also take some guests fishing to make friends and help others catch fish at Fireside Lodge. There are very few places you can fish that guests are so open and willing to help others with fishing locations, techniques, and have open discussions about fishing. Dennis and Joe are Smallmouth Fishers and did very well after I gave Joe some special headgear so him or Dennis would not hurt each other while in the same boat fishing. They only had one fishing day in 9 that their daily catch was less than 30. Most days were 30 to 40 Smallmouth and had three over 40 with the best day landing 46 Smallmouth Bass. They caught a lot of bigger fish and Dennis managed two Master Angler Award Smallmouth, one at 18.5 inches and the other was a monster at 19 inches. Their weekly catch was 335 fish with 317 Smallmouth Bass, 8 Muskie, 6 Northern Pike, and 4 Lake Trout. They had a fabulous stay at Fireside Lodge and made their 2008 Reservations before leaving.
Father and Son Bob and Chase Kettler from Wauwatosa, WI. were fishing at Fireside Lodge for their first time and were referred to us by Pat Ehlers who owns The Fly Fishers shop in Milwaukee, WI. Being beginner fly fishers Bob and Chase enjoyed the challenge of fishing for Northern Pike with a Fly Rod. Despite the windy and rainy conditions Chase caught his first Northern Pike on a fly by his second day, and it was a nice fish in the 30 inch range. They made contact with a lot of toothy critters with some being non co-operative. After a discussing about how to make follows from Northern Pike into catches Chase was successful in applying a technique sometimes not used or thought of by fly fishers. Fly Fishers typical retrieve is a constant stripping of line and just varying speed, but do not add and erratic sideways or up and down motion. First chance Chase had at a Northern Pike follow, he applied this method he saw the big Pike take a swiping attack at his Fly, but missed. Lesson learned, lesson applied with good results. These two also caught a lot of Smallmouth Bass, and had loads of fun together a made lots of father and son memories together.
Fathers and Daughters Dan and Francesca Savignan from Wonder Lake, IL. and good friends Paul and Emily Sulewski from Chesterfield, MO. were not only first time guests of Fireside Lodge, but were also this was their first official father and daughter fishing trip. The girls were 11/12 years old and excitement does not even begin to describe the emotions upon arrival. Francesca had action on the day of arrival catching a BIG Lake Trout before suppertime. The next three days were full of new adventures and fishing activities. One of those activities was having a shore lunch cooking over an open fire. While finding a location for their first shore lunch a very special happening occurred as they all came across a new born fawn deer curled up laying as still as a picture. Emily saw the mom bound off, and after taking a few spectacular photos of the fawn they relocated to a new spot for shore lunch so they did not disturb the fawn and it’s mother. The rest of the trip was spent having loads of fun fishing, having fun between two special girls as friends, and spending time with their equally special fathers. The short three day trip was a fabulous memory maker for this father and daughter duo, and they all left saying they will return one day soon.
Father and sons Don McCabe from Avon, IL. Kelvin from Chicago, IL. and Cory from Fairview Heights, IL, was their first at Fireside Lodge for all three, and the second for brothers Kelvin and Cory. The fishing the experienced as they described it was “Fabulous”. The day of Arrival they caught some Northern Pike and Cory caught an 18.5 inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Bass. The first full day of fishing these three caught some Smallmouth Bass and a lot of Northern Pike, with a few incidental Musky. Cory again coming away with the prize catch landing a 40 inch Master Anglers Award Northern Pike. On their last day these three again caught many toothy critters with Cory catching a 34 and 37 inch Northern Pike and Don landing two Muskie one being a Huge thick 42 incher. This fish while being landed threw the hook and fell in the water. Being somewhat stunned the fish laid beside the boat long enough for Cory to reach in and hand land this monster, and Kelvin captured some great photos of both his brother and father. Don said it was his best day of fishing ever. Great memories were made between these three, and all are excited about returning to Fireside Lodge.

Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2007 Photos


Hot Lures of The Week: Blue Fox Spinner, Suick Jerk Bait, Slug-O, and Stick Baits, Husk Jerk.

Catches of the Week: 19.5 Inch Smallmouth Bass by Bob Sauvain, 19 Inch Smallmouth by Dennis brogan, 40 Inch Northern Pike by Cory McCabe, and 33.5 inch Lake Trout by Dan Savignan

Well, that's it for this weeks fishing report from Fireside Lodge, Please stay tuned for next weeks report. Until then "Keep On Fish'n" Alan

Well, That’s all for this weeks Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report. Until Next Week “Keep On Fish’n.” Alan
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
fireside@xplornet.com