Monday, November 15, 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/28 to 9/11 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/28 to 9/11 2010
Hello From Fireside Lodge in Northwest, Ontario, Canada. At the beginning of this time period we had warm sticky weather, which is not normal however for our final week we got reminded, by a severe cold front with high winds that fall is here and preparations for winter should start soon.

Dan Mosier from Lincoln, NE who has come to Fireside Lodge every year since 1997 return for his second fishing trip in 2010 with his daughter Abbi Mota who was with Dan on his very first trip for her High School Graduation. Abbi is now married and a Mom of two children. Boy things move along quickly in life. DOA these two went out and caught some Pike & Smallmouth with Abbi catching a HUGE Trophy 18.5” Smallie. First full day they had a fabulous day catching 27 Northern Pike by 1:30, taking an afternoon nap, and sitting on their deck just enjoying the beautiful lake view of the Boreal Forest before enjoying a wonderful supper in our lodge dinning room. Second day was terrific as they caught 40 Pike, 3 Smallmouth, with Abbi catching another Mater Anglers Trophy Smallie measuring 18”, and Dan landed a nice 34-inch Muskie. They did all this and still had time to relax on their deck before supper. Third day had them fishing until 1:30 PM. Besides the amazing fishing feat of catching back to back 34 & 35-inch Northern Pike, they caught other quality Pike and Smallmouth. Last day was a good fishing day catching Pike and concluding another fabulous memory making vacation for this wonderful Father & Daughter team. Thanks for choosing Fireside Lodge to spend this valuable time together.

Long time return guests Bryan Neel lll and Tim Stewart from Rochester, MN arrived to fish with us for their second trip in 2010. First day fishing they caught 13 nice size Northern Pike between 29 to 36-inches. Second day was a copy of their first as for the Pike fishing, however they also got into some BIG Smallmouth with Tim landing a GIANT 19” Trophy Smallie. Third day they caught some nice Pike and saw some enormous Smallmouth in shallow weeds they could not catch. Tim said one of the largest swam lazily behind his lure and stayed near the boat for 10 minutes. Fourth day was met with high winds, which made for tough fishing conditions affecting fishing technique & locations, which resulted in just catching a few fish. Fifth day was full of fast action Northern Pike fishing as they landed many Pike in the 26 to 30-inch range and a few Smallmouth Bass. Sixth and final day was good catching more Pike and Tim came up with a second 19” trophy Smallmouth Bass. Both had a great time and said, “see ya next spring” when departing.
Back to fish at Fireside Lodge for their 8th consecutive year were Susan & Harry Vilsack from Pittsburgh, PA. First day they had a fun day catching Northern Pike. Second day was a day by the Natural Wonder of Twin Falls, as they caught some fish and enjoyed the days weather and the beautiful Boreal Forest that surrounded them. Third day was fabulous fishing for both, and Susan alone caught over 15 fish and lost a monster trophy Smallmouth. After she quote "bedazzled the bass" with her sparkly, styling' lure”, the fish made huge jump throwing her lure as it hit the water with a huge splash. Slightly disappointed? Yes! Excited with the happening? Definitely!! Fourth day was very windy making fishing difficult but the fifth day was gorgeous making for a wonderful last day on the water. Both caught Northern Pike and Susan with her magic lure had two larger Pike hooked, one very large fish, and lost both as they dove under the boat at the last minute. They had a great trip and plan on returning with Harry’s sister and husband in 2011.

Returning to fish at Fireside Lodge for their 12th consecutive year were Bob Babcock and Jane Waldron from Midland, MI. Joining them for his first time was Bob’s brother-in law Bill Jewell from Houston, TX. DOA they got the kinks out and caught a few Northern Pike. Fist day was full of action with Bill catching most of the fish including some nice Pike and several big Smallmouth 17-17.5”. Jane also caught the largest Pike at 35”, and several nice Smallmouth on her favorite top water lure the “Tsunami”, while Bob did and expert job guiding. Second day was met with very high winds challenging their fishing abilities, however they still managed to catch some Northern Pike. Third day had Jane a Bill catching most of the fish in the morning, but after lunch Bob went smaller lures and got the hot hand catching 3 Pike in 5 casts. The key to success in fishing is adapting your presentation or location. Fourth day was another good day catching Northern Pike and Bill caught the most including some dandy size Pike over 30”. Bill had a Big Pike attack his lure at boat-side after bringing it our of the water, which really got his attention, saying it took a year or two off his life. Bob and Jane also had Northern Pike over 30” and Bob had a Giant Musky come after his surface bait, seeing the huge head surface and jaws open as it chomped down on his lure. The success ended there as the fish spit out Bob’s lure as it rolled and vanished from sight. Fifth day was a huge weather change bringing a severe cold front with high winds and rain. All weathered the storm with limited success. When leaving Bib & Jane reserved the same dates for 2011, and the talk that evening was centered around how they were going to convince Bob’s sister to agree on Bill returning with them next year.

John Vivino from Fairfield, IA came to fish at Fireside Lodge for his first time. First day he faced very windy cold front conditions which is tough on anyone new to a lake system. After getting started at about 1:00PM John learned his way around the lower arm of Little Vermilion Lake and caught a few fish including a nice fat 30”plus Pike. Second day had him exploring further catching five nice size Northern Pike and he also took a break and hiked a trail that leads to one of our portage lakes. He had a ball getting an inside look at the Boreal Forest seeing a Ruffed Grouse with her chicks, plenty of Moose tracks and droppings, signs of Beavers along with the many other wonders the forest holds. On John’s third & final day he was invited by Frank (Below) to fish together. They had a great day catching 20 nice Pike on Slug-O’s and stick baits. John was very impressed with Frank’s knowledge of the lake system and fishing techniques. Before departing John expressed what a wonderful stay he had with us and said that we were a top notch fishing lodge.

Fran & Colleen Sack from Lorain, OH were back at Fireside Lodge for their second trip of 2010. DOA hey caught 5 Northern Pike right off the bat. First day had them landing 15 fish, mostly Pike and a few Smallmouth. Second day was great as they caught 28 fish, almost all Pike, and Fran caught an 18” Master Anglers Award Trophy Smallmouth Bass. Third day was slower, catching a few Pike, however Fran lost a very big Musky after it spit out his lure. Fourth & final day by supper they landed 9 Northern Pike and lost 6 or 7, two being in the 35 to 38-inch class. After supper they gave it one last whirl to catch a trophy and Colleen came close having a GIANT musky follow right behind her lure. As I always say, better to see the fish than to not have the opportunity at all. Both had a great stay in our wonderful wilderness setting getting a break away from their every day responsibilities.

Frank Hazzard from Irving, TX a 20 consecutive year guest, also returned to Fireside Lodge for his second trip in 2010. First day Frank caught 20+ Pike on Stick Baits & Slug-O’s. Second day Frank spent half day searching for Smallmouth catching 6 and then switched to Pike landing 7 nice fish. Third day was all about Smallmouth & figuring where they were holding. Frank ended up catching 25 and the most seemed to be where the weeds broke off into deeper water. The technique was slow jigging plastic tubes. Great Day!!! Fourth day had Frank catching several Pike and 6 nice Smallmouth Bass. Fifth day Frank caught 14 Northern Pike and 12 Smallmouth with two Smallies being 17.5-inch fat footballs. During the rest of Franks stay he had a couple of great days Smallmouth fishing with boats catches of 25, 34, and 37. Frank had another great fishing trip with us and hopes to return in May of 2011.

Bob Reinhardt from Orland Park, IL returned to Fireside Lodge for his ninth consecutive year. DOA before supper Bob caught 6 nice Northern Pike and lost what he thought to be a 38-incher. First day had Bob catching a bunch of Northern Pike. Second day he landed 8 nice Northern Pike, a Muskie, and had several big follows. Third day was also a very good day and totals for Bob’s 3-day trip were 35 Northern Pike, 2 Muskie, and 5 Smallmouth Bass, landing lot of nice size fish. He had a great trip and hopes to return in 2011 with his son Jon and good friend Charlie.

Here for their first time were Anthony Chelpaty, James Cerra, George Parker, and William Beardslee from Andover, Branchville, Sparta, NJ and West End, NC. Here for a short three days they happened to time it right for a severe cold front with high winds and rain. Not a good combination for first timers on any lake system. These four had a blast catching some Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass, and terrific time with us at Fireside Lodge. What I found so refreshing about these four is their constant interesting conversation among each other. With the electronic world the art of good conversation has seemed to be set aside, but not with these four. Fishing together for 25 years traveling to many locations from Alaska to Central America, before leaving they informed me that Fireside Lodge was now their new Canadian fishing destination. All said we would see them again in the near future.

Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2010 Photos For Fabulous Video, Wildlife Events, and Current Happenings go to our Social Sites Below.

FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireside-Lodge/304211179043?v=wall

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/FiresideLodgeFish

Twitter
http://twitter.com/FiresideFish
Hot Lures: Rattle Trap, Rattl’n Rap, Blue Fox Spinner, Daredevle Spoon, Suick, Tube Jig, Hair Jig, Slug-O, X-Rap

Catches of The Week: Smallmouth Bass 18, 18.5, two 19”
Northern Pike 39”, several 35 to 38-inchers and many at 30 to 35-inches. Muskie several fish 35 to 37-inches with some follows in the mid 40-inch range.


Final Note: WOW, how time goes by as I feel I was just writing our final 2009 fishing report. As I write this final fishing report of 2010 the fall colors are in full form and from this point forward everything will become quieter at Fireside Lodge. As the birds and waterfowl depart for their annual fall migration and animals prepare their winter haunts, it will become progressively quieter until the snow covers the ground, the ice consumes the water, and a whisper can be hear across the bay. Most noticeable is the silence around the lodge and grounds absent of all of the hustle and bustle of morning activities in planning the days fishing adventure, eating and conversation in the dinning room, and boats leaving the dock, all in anticipation of what stories and memories the day may bring and be discussed at the supper tables. No more morning smell of the bacon on the dock or lights seen in the cabins at night. All very sad but necessary for us to move on and plan for the upcoming 2011 season, which will come just as fast as the 2010 one speeded by us. Audrey and I know that is it all of you, our guests/friends, that give Fireside Lodge energy and make it come alive to give us all the exciting happenings and make the wonderful memories all of us have had for the last 21-years. For that Audrey and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts. It is you that have enabled us to live our life dream. Please stay in touch with us throughout the fall/winter/spring by visiting our Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter social sites and feel free to post any of your experiences with us on our Facebook wall. If you have any good fishing video please send it to us so we can post it on our YouTube site. Also, during the next several months I will be catching up on posting many more (100’s) great fish photos on our websites from the 2010 season.


Well, that's it for this weeks final Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report for 2010. Please stay tuned on our social sites mentioned above for new happenings and events leading up to the 2011 season. Until then "Keep On Fish'n" Alan
http://www.firesidelodgefishing.com
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
E-mail at: fireside@xplornet.com

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/21 to 8/28 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/21 to 8/28 2010
Hello From Fireside Lodge in Northwest, Ontario, Canada. At this time of year the weather can do anything however having a few cool days and a few in the 80’s made for a typical fishing week for later August.

Steven Jones from Medina, OH returned to Fireside Lodge with Lee Lora also from Medina and Jeff Con from Cuyahoga, OH. First day fishing they had a slow morning however in the afternoon the fish turned on, catching many Northern Pike and one 17.5-inch Smallmouth Bass. Second day was excellent saying it was their best day ever catching Northern Pike, and the magic lure was a #5, Silver Blade with Blue Bell, Blue Fox Spinner. Third day was much slower but they still managed a half dozen nice Pike. Forth day was blustery with strong, over 40mph, winds however Steve said they did manage to catch their fair share of fish. Fifth & final day was a short day because all decided to get on road for the trip home by mid afternoon, but Jeff and Steven caught a half dozen nice Pike, with Jeff catching his largest measuring 35-inches. All had a great trip and were already talking about their return.

Long time return guest Paul Letourneau from Northville, MN with friends Spencer Olson for his fourth consecutive year and Link Wilson for his second visit, were back to explore our waters on Little Vermilion Lake system. These three got off to a great start catching a bunch of Pike, and Paul landed a BIG 17.5-inch Smallmouth Bass. The second day they found themselves portaging to another lake with to fish for Walleye & Northern Pike, and the Pike were very agreeable catching them all day long. Things were so good that Link tried lures he never imagined fishing with for Pike and still caught fish. Third day was very slow just having a few follows. Fourth day was very high winds gusting to over 40mph, but they did great catching Northern Pike, and BIG ones at that, with Spencer being the Master of Anglers in this boat catching a 28, 30, 32, 35, 39, and 42-inch Trophy Northern Pike. WOW What a fabulous day for Spencer, Paul, and Link. Fifth day they had a fabulous day portaging to one of our four out lakes catching 37 Northern Pike. Sixth and final day was terrific weather day as they caught some nice fish, and while enjoying their last breakfast they were all sad wondering how the week went by so fast. Good thing there is always next years trip to plan for, and as Paul left he said, “See You Next Year”.

Returning for their 11th fishing trip to Fireside Lodge in as many years were Ed Burns from College Station, TX and Todd Smith from McKinney, TX. After spending most of their first morning fishless except for one nice Smallmouth Todd found the Northern Pike and said he got tired of unhooking Ed’s fish. Second day their target was Smallmouth Bass, catching a lot of bigger Smallmouth, Todd landing an 18-inch Master Anglers Smallmouth before supper and after supper Ed also caught an 18-incher. Third day was slower, as it was for most guests, but they still caught some nice fish, and Todd came up with the fish of the day being a nice 37” Muskie on his last cast before a storm was about to hit. Classic Muskie catch. Fourth day was almost a complete wash as the winds were so bad that Todd & Ed returned to the dock by 11:30AM and raised the white flag to Mother Nature. Fifth and final day they did not tear em' up, however they did catch a respectable number of Northern Pike, and as Ed put it they had two fish that were picture worthy, however one they lost in the netting process and the other simply got off. In talking with Ed and Todd in their cabin the last evening they really enjoyed their stay and hope to see us again in 2011.

John McClelland from Evanston, IL returned to fish Little Vermilion Lake after a 4-year furlough to enjoy the wonderful wilderness fishing we have to offer on our lake system. First day had John catching a few fish and enjoying some canoeing. Second day was one of his best ever catching so many Pike he didn’t even bother trying to count. Third day was a one fish day, but even a one fish day in the beautiful Canadian Wilderness is great compared to not being here at all. Fourth day had John Picking up his wife Diane from the airport who was joining him for 1.5 days. During this time they enjoyed a hike, canoeing, and going for a great swim to curb the warm temperatures during midday. Both had a great stay with us enjoying the very familiar wilderness surroundings of the Boreal Forest. Hope to see these two back one day.
Jim Stalknecht from NJ with son Michael from Guthrie Center, IA returned to Fireside Lodge with Mike’s good friend Rick Crescente from Highland Lakes, NJ. First day fishing these guys did great catching over 20 nice Pike just between Mike and Rick and all were 28 to 34-inches. The key was deep weeds and a very slow retrieve. Second day was not as productive, having to retreat by 1:30 PM because of high winds and very tough fishing conditions. After supper they gave it a try and did well catching five Pike in an hour. Third day had Rick & Mike portaging to a Musky lake having plenty of follows, each catching a Muskie and Mike lost a big one. Fourth day was a “Terrific Day Of Fishing” for these three as they caught over 50 Northern Pike, and after losing a nice Muskie, Mike hooked another within 5 more casts which ended up being a Monster 43” Tiger Musky. The picture is worth a 1000 words. Fifth and final day was another fabulous day catching about 40 Northern Pike and losing as many. Jim and a great re-union with his son as did Rick with his best friend. All left saying “See Ya Next Year”.

Returning for his eighth consecutive year was Bill Goodwin from Wilmington, DE with good friend Melvin Harper from Petersburg, VA for his second visit. First day was very short because of terrible winds and they found themselves in their cabin by 11:30 AM. Second day was still windy but Mel & Bill caught some nice Smallmouth Bass, a few Pike, and while Bill was fighting a Smallmouth a BIG Northern Pike totally inhaled the Smallmouth. After a lot of thrashing around the fish spit it out and swam away. Very exciting event. Third day had these two catching only a few fish until about three in the afternoon when they discovered a new technique. The wind was tough all day so while fishing in a bay they just drifted with Rapalas' while doing nothing and as soon a the lure ticked the weed tops a Smallmouth would slam it. Within 1.5 hours they caught a lot of 15 to 17-inch Smallies. That evening they also caught a bunch over 15 inches with bill landing the biggest, which was trophy 18-incher. Fourth day was great catching 22 Smallmouth and 6 Pike, with Alvin catching some in the 17-18” class. Fifth day they did well finding Smallmouth Bass and caught some dandy fish with Mel landing an 18” Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Sixth & final day was another bass catching day with both Mel & Bill catching Smallmouth in the 14 to 17-inch range. Both had a great fishing trip and hope to return in the future, and we thank them for traveling from Delaware and Virginia to see us at Fireside Lodge.

Richard Klose returned for his third trip to Fireside Lodge with good friend Alvin Savoy for his first trip, both from Sevierville, TN. First day these two ordered breakfast and two #6 Blue Fox Spinners. Their breakfast was great and the spinners caught fish in a spot we discussed while they were eating. See how eating in our dinning room can benefit your fishing success. Dick & Alvin said they caught one Pike after another, and the gold spinner out-performed the silver-blue. Second & third days were a lot slower but both enjoyed the nice weather and wilderness that surrounded them. Fourth day, in their words, was great day as they caught a bunch of Pike, Alvin with a big 33-incher and he also caught a trophy 18” Smallie, and a nice fat 30” plus Tiger Muskie. Fifth and final day they did well catching Pike in the 28 to 32 inch range. Dick & Alvin said they had a very good trip and hope to return in the near future.

Norman and Sandy Alexander from Newton, KS returned to Fireside Lodge for their second visit. First day they struggled to find fish in the morning but the fish turned on later in the day, catching some nice size Smallmouth up to 17.5-inches and Northern Pike. Second day was a great catching day for Northern Pike, landing many of these fighters and they also enjoyed a wonderful shore lunch. Third day had them portaging and catching some Big Smallies, Sandy landing an 18.5” trophy, & Norman with some in the 17”plus category. They both caught a Muskie & had some Big Musky follows. Fourth day was another portage lake adventure that had Norman getting his morning exercise, as he had to portage twice after forgetting the boat plug. They enjoyed having a lake all to themselves and had a ball catching Northern Pike. After supper they targeted Smallmouth Bass and caught a bunch near the lodge, with Norman catching a 17-incher and Sandy coming up with another trophy measuring 18-inches. GREAT day for these two. Fifth and final day they went out with a bang catching Northern Pike one right after another all day long having Quote “The their best day fishing yet”. After supper they only were out for about 15 minutes as lighting chased them in but not before Sandy caught a big 16-inch Smallmouth. Both had a fabulous fishing trip and left saying that we will see them back again, however next time Norman is going to push for a six-day stay. It’s never enough is it????
Rob Little with 8-year old son Aaron and Uncle Randy Molson from Toronto, Ontario were back to fish at Fireside Lodge. DOA they caught fish right away with Aaron landing the biggest Pike, (great photo), and all caught Pike and Smallmouth. First day was “FABULOUS” as they caught some Pike and 30-35 Smallmouth Bass, a lot over 16” and Aaron & Uncle Randy both caught Trophy Master Anglers Award Smallies. Congrats to Aaron for his GREAT fishing feat at such a young age. Second & last day another great day catching many Smallmouth Bass in the 14 to 17-incch range, and they all has a blast roasting some hot dogs over and open fire by our natural wonder, Twin Falls”. For this father son & Uncle it was a terrific fishing trip full of family fishing memories with anticipation of many more to come. Thanks for choosing Fireside Lodge for this first very special fishing trip with Aaron.

Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2010 Photos
For Fabulous Video, Wildlife Events, and Current Happenings go to our Social Sites Below.

FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireside-Lodge/304211179043?v=wall

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/FiresideLodgeFish

Twitter
http://twitter.com/FiresideFish

Hot Lures: Rapala, Rattl’n Rap, Storm Wild Eye Shad Swim Bait, Blue Fox Spinner, Bucktail Spinner, Spinner Bait, Sassy Shad, Original Floating Rapala, Live Leeches

Catches of The Week: 43.5” Tiger Muskie, 42” and 39” Northern Pike, nine Smallmouth Bass over 18-inches and numerous mid to high 30” Northern Pike

Well, that's it for this weeks Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report, Please stay tuned for next weeks report. Until then "Keep On Fish'n" Alan
http://www.firesidelodgefishing.com
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
Email at: fireside@xplornet.com

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/14 to 8/21 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/14 to 8/21 2010

Hello from Fireside Lodge in Northwest Ontario, Canada. At the start of this week we had stable warm conditions but on Saturday evening a wicked storm system hit us bringing high winds, lots of rain, and severe cold front conditions, which lasted, through Tuesday. Wednesday things started to turn around being sunny and 64 degrees.

Ron & Lisa Vincent from Sherrills Ford, NC returned to Fireside Lodge for their 12th consecutive year, and Eric Hess returned for his second trip and brought Suzy Senkus for her first experience in the great Canadian Wilderness. DOA was fabulous as Ron & Lisa caught lots of fish including four 17.5” Huge Smallmouth Bass. Eric and Suzy also did great catching fish, with Suzy catching her first ever Northern Pike and Eric wasted no time landing an 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallie. Great start for these two couples. First full day was FABULOUS as they all caught a lot of fish, both Lisa & Suzy catching Master Anglers Smallmouth over 18-inches. Ron & Lisa also caught 5 Smallmouth in the 17.5-inch range, and Ron came up with the BIG fish of the day landing a HUGE 39-inch Northern Pike. Second day had Ron and Lisa again doing great as Lisa hit a milestone catching her first Musky ever and Biggest Northern Pike measuring a fat 35-inches. They also caught a lot of Smallmouth between 14 to 18 inches, with Lisa landing a Trophy 18-inch Master Anglers Smallie. Third day both of these couples had adventures. First Eric & Suzy portaged to another lake and had a fabulous time catching many big Smallmouth Bass with Eric catching a prize Trophy 19” Master Anglers Award Smallmouth that was just about as round as it was long. They also had three large Musky follows but no takers. Ron & Lisa decided to go to Cedarbough lake to fish for Musky and Smallmouth which involves a short paddle through a creek and getting over a beaver dam. Well just as they approached the beaver dam and pushed up on it, suddenly they saw a GIANT Bull Moose with a HUGE rack standing in the creek starring at them. Not knowing what to they just watched this magnificent animal when it decided to suddenly bolt out of the creek into the bush. A 1600 LB Moose with a full GIANT rack was definitely the catch of the day. Fourth day came with a huge weather change including severe cold front conditions with very high winds, and when it rained it was horizontal. These four gave it a great effort, caught a few fish which was an accomplishment for the conditions. Fifth day was more of the same weather and the winds were even stronger than the day before but Ron & Lisa managed to have a terrific Pike catching day, landing 20, with all being over 30-inches except one 28-incher, and Ron caught two at 35” and one 37-incher. He also lost two big Muskie, one estimated at 45”. Eric and Suzy Did well catching both Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike while battling the high winds & rain. Sixth and final day was fabulous, or as Eric and Suzy would say and ‘Epic Day”. They ended up catching over 50 Northern Pike and three Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Bass, Eric landing another 19-incher and Suzy caught an 18-inch fat Smallie. Ron and Lisa also caught over 50 Pike and Ron landed a HUGE 19” Master Anglers Award Smallmouth and also an 18.25” & 18” Awards Smallie. Great way to finish a fabulous fishing trip in the Canadian Wilderness. All were not as eager to depart as they were to arrive, but the memories made will bring never-ending smiles throughout their every day lives.
Second time fishing at Fireside Lodge were John & Monica Ziegler from Union Hall, VA. First day these two caught some nice Smallmouth Bass. Second day they faced very high winds but despite the tough conditions were the first to leave the dock. In fact everyone else was watching them as they slowly broke waves leaving our bay, which gave all the others in the lodge the incentive to go fishing. They caught a few fish trying to navigate the rough water and high winds. Third day was more of the same conditions but worse so they opted to stay in and enjoy the day in the comforts of their cabin. Fourth day things improved 100% and they had a great day catching a bunch of Pike. On this day color made a difference as the all gold Blue Fox Spinner caught all the fish, and the Silver Blue could not buy a hit. Fifth day had these two having a FABULOUS fishing day as they adventured into another lake via a creek for the first time. They caught a bunch of Pike with Monica alone catching 20, and John did equally well but was trying to catch a big Smallmouth all day. Within the last hour John did land a beauty 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Patience and perseverance paid off for John. Sixth day was another fabulous day fishing and catching as they caught 24 Northern Pike, and both Monica and John caught big Smallmouth Bass in the 17-17.5-inch range. Both left saying they had a FABULOUS stay with us and looked very sad to be leaving. The high note is they made some wonderful memories and made some new friends. Hope to see John & Monica back at Fireside Lodge in the future.

First time guest stopping to fish at Fireside Lodge after a visit with his relatives in Winnipeg was Gordon Mair from Skippack, PA. First day Gordon made his way around the lower end of Little Vermilion Lake and caught a few Northern Pike. It was very windy and difficult to fish by himself however he did a great job considering the conditions. Second day was very rough conditions for Gordon being by himself and he spent the day reading and relaxing in the comfort of his cabin surrounded by the wilderness setting we have at Fireside Lodge. Third and final day the wind conditions were as bad as the previous day, but Gordon went fishing and did well catching a half dozen Northern Pike in the unusual rough water conditions. Gordon left saying he had a wonderful time and that he intends on visiting us again in the near future.

Long time return guests of Fireside Lodge were David & Steven Anater from Lancaster and Mountville, PA. First day they were met with severe cold front conditions and high winds, but after crossing some rough waters they found some great fishing landing over 20 nice Northern Pike in the 28 to 32-inch range. Second day conditions were even worse, and after getting beat up by the high winds gusting to over 50 Km per hour and at times driving rain, they gave it up in about 4 hours after catching a half dozen fish. Third day was fabulous fast action and fun as the caught 48 Northern Pike and had lots of other action. Fourth day was a drop shot for Smallmouth day. After reading about this technique they decided to try it, and they did catch Smallies and Dave landed a BIG 18” Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. They also had some Pike bite offs and caught a few. Fourth and final day was a relaxed day just trying to soak up the peaceful wilderness we have here at Fireside Lodge. In about 5 hours of fishing they caught a whole bunch of Pike, no monsters, but the fast action was loads of fun. Both left having detached from their everyday life, and making great memories between brothers.
Walt LaCasse from Minnetonka, MN returned for his second trip this year, and 11th consecutive year, bringing his son Eric from Lancaster, CA an his grandson Keeghan. DOA they braved very high winds, rough waters, and driving rain cacthing 5 Northern Pike before supper, after which they called it a day in hopes the weather turns around. First day was great as they all caught Northern Pike and Keegan landed a nice 28-incher. They also caught a great afternoon nap, which revived them for the evening fish. Second day was very good as they caught 19 Northern Pike and had fun enjoying the pleasant day after having several cold days of rain & wind. Fourth and final day was not their best fishing day but what it lacked in catching was made up for with the beautiful near perfect weather. Walt said that it was so nice to be on the water that they did not care about the fishing activity. All had a great stay and Walt reserved for the same dates in 2011 before departing.
Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2010 Photos
For Fabulous Video, Wildlife Events, and Current Happenings go to our Social Sites Below.


FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireside-Lodge/304211179043?v=wall

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/FiresideLodgeFish

Twitter
http://twitter.com/FiresideFish

Hot Lures: Tube Jigs, Blue Fox Spinner, Little Cleo Spoon, Rattl’n Rap, Rattle Trap,

Catches of The Week: Smallmouth Bass Two 19”, One 18.25”, Five 18”
Northern Pike 39” and many 34 to 36-inches.

Well, that's it for this weeks Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report, Please stay tuned for next weeks report. Until then "Keep On Fish'n" Alan
http://www.firesidelodgefishing.com
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
Email at:fireside@xplornet.com

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/7 to 8/14 2010

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 8/7 to 8/14 2010
Hello from Fireside Lodge in Northwest Ontario, Canada. Weather this week was great even though it was on the warm side with high humidity having a few showers and t-storms. We should enjoy, as we all know that in the far north we only have a few more weeks of summer, which could end tomorrow.

Al Sins and Don Funderud with Dave and Pam Hamilton from Asheville and Raleigh, NC returned to Fireside Lodge to hunt Musky and BIG Northern Pike. First day out Al & Don had a fabulous day Muskie fishing as the hooked 9 Musky and landed 5 up to 34-inches. WOW, that’s a dream day for most Musky fishers. Al & Pam also had a great day catching nine Pike and 4 Smallmouth. Second day was a slower cold front blue bird day, but Al had an opportunity at a 40+ Northern Pike. Third day was a gangbusters day for this group as they caught 49 Northern Pike. Fourth day Dave and Pam had a ball catching some fish and soaking up the wilderness, with Dave coming up with a nice 32-inch Musky. Al and Don did very well Musky fishing having 12 follows, Don catching a 31.5-incher, and Al came up with the groups best fish of the day landing a 41” Tiger Musky having a very wide girth. Fifth day had Dave and Pam having 29 BIG Musky follows but no takers, but caught some nice Smallmouth Bass. The day was very calm and with the water being very clear the Smallies were so visible Dave mentioned it was like shopping for bass. Al & Don caught some Pike and had some follows. Sixth and final day for Al & Don was a final push to catch a few big fish. Well, they saw them and even had a few huge Muskie follows at the same time, but could not get a hook up. Dave and Pam however did get the big ones to hit as Dave landed a 37.5-inch Northern Pike and a GIGANTIC, 44.5” Tiger Muskie with a huge girth. Words out of Dave’s mouth were, “This was a Chamber of Commerce Fish”, the one that makes people like him coming back and how fitting was it was for him to catch this monster on his last day within hours of their last day ending. Pam also gets a ton of credit for this catch as she cradled the fish for Dave, which is a bigger challenge than most might think. All had a great time and left as they came, with big smiles on their faces.

Bill Westbrook from New Philadelphia, OH retuned for his 8th consecutive year and for the first time his wife Jill joined him. First day fishing was a complete success as they caught 29 Smallmouth Bass including three 17.5-inchers, and Jill caught most of the fish. Second day had them portaging to another lake which was a very new experience for Jill. The day was a great as Jill enjoyed the adventure catching over 30 Smallmouth Bass and Jill again landed the larger Smallies at 17- 17.5 inches. Bill also landed a nice 31-inch Muskie. The fourth day was a very LARGE day as they first caught 28 Smallmouth Bass with Jill doing well again, and then the wind shifted and Bill had a hunch to fish in a bay that the wind was blowing into. First cast he hooked a nice Musky but lost it in the battle. On the next cast he hooked another Muskie and what a fish it turned out to be. After Jill did a great job of netting this Monster Musky it measured out to 46-inches with a very wide girth. Jill also did a great job of taking a series of photos including three release pictures and one of the fish swimming away. The excitement ran so deep that they decided to call it a day at about 3:30 PM. Fifth and final day the caught over 30 Smallmouth Bass and enjoyed their last day in our wonderful wilderness surroundings.

Returning for his second time was Steve Johnson from Halltown, MO and with him was his wife Debra. First day on the water they found plenty of average size Smallmouth on the rocky points and at supper we discussed the value of the weeds and how they hold larger Smallmouth at this time of year. Second day they caught 16 Smallmouth Bass and three nice Pike. Third and final day was their best as Steve and Debra did great catching many Smallmouth Bass and enjoyed their surroundings. At supper both mentioned that they would love to stay another day however figured best to end on a high note. Both made wonderful memories and were discussing the possibility of returning in September.
Tom & Jennifer Born from Burlison, Tn returned to Fireside Lodge for their fifth time. First day was a little slower still catching a few fish however Tom while trolling hooked into a Monster that completely cleared the water in a jump the broke his leader in half. Second day was off to a portage lake for Walleye & Northern Pike. They caught bunches of Pike and six big Walleye ranging between 22 to 26-inches. GREAT DAY!!! Third day was not a record setter but they caught some nice fish and enjoyed the day. Fourth day they caught both Smallmouth & Pike and Jen caught two Pike both measuring 32-inches. Fifth day was a very good catching day as they caught many Northern Pike having great action all day long and enjoyed a fabulous shore lunch over an open fire. Sixth and final day was a fun last day as they caught fish and enjoyed the wonderful peaceful atmosphere we have on our lake system. As you can see they caught several nice Muskie and Pike and are already looking forward to planning their dates the same time as the Reese’s (below) in 2011.

Bill & Pam Hochstetter from Rockford, IL returned to Fireside Lodge for their fourth time. On DOA these two did great as Pam caught a great 35” Tiger Muskie, Bill lost one that equaled Pam’s and caught a nice 33-incher. Great Start. First day was a short fishing day catching a few fish but catching up on some much needed rest. Second day was a great Smallmouth catching day having fun enjoying the fight of these feisty bronze backs. Third day was cut short and fished only until 11:30 AM as Thunderstorms with a lot of lighting moved in the area. Fourth and final day was a very good day Smallmouth fishing as they caught a lot of great size fish and concluded their trip on a high note. Both did just what they wanted to do which was spend quiet undisturbed time in the wilderness together and get relief from the fast pace they live.

Tom Strachen from Akron, OH returned with his group for a third time consisting of son Ross from Columbus, OH son-in-law Tom Stenger from Copley, Oh and Henry (Buzz) Stenger from Highland Hgts, OH. The their very first evening all caught fish but it was Ross that had a special experience landing the fish of his, and most fishers life, a 44-inch Monster Trophy Northern Pike. WOW, what a start as Ross set the bar quite high for this group. If fact after discussion we figured the group needed to hit the reset button. First day had Tom Strachen and son Ross catching about 11 nice pike and Buzz and Tom Stenger caught over 20 pike. Second day was fabulous fast action catching 45-50 Northern Pike and having a lot of other action. Third day had Buzz and Tom Strachen catching about a dozen Pike up to 30-inches and losing about half that, while Tom Stenger and Ross caught over 30 Northern Pike. Fourth and final day they finished with some good action on both Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass. All left saying they had tons of fun and look forward to their return.

Father & son Tom & Mark Reese from Bartlett, TN & Alexandria, VA returned to Fireside Lodge for their tenth consecutive year. First day on the water they got right to it catching some bigger Smallmouth. Tom caught his first ever Trophy Master Anglers Award Smallmouth measuring a whopping 18.5-inches. Way to go Tom. Tom when describing how the Smallies were hitting said that most of the strikes you could hardly feel and sometimes you would just see your line move off to he side, which at that point you would set the hook. Obviously Tom had the technique down. Second day after resting for a half day they hit the water to enjoy catching more Smallmouth, the best fighter that swims in freshwater. Mark also landed a few Pike. Their third day was spent mostly dodging T-Storms getting in some fishing and catching a few Smallmouth Bass. Fourth day was very productive spending a good part of their day catching Northern Pike. But for Mark and Tom this is more than fishing and catching fish. It is a getaway to connect every year as father and son and make memories together like none other. We value and appreciate their friendship and are glad they choose Fireside Lodge as their personal getaway.
Ron Ramsey from Swanee, TN was returning to Fireside Lodge for his 6th year in a row and this trip his wife Vivian joined him. First day they caught fish and Vivian was in awe or the wilderness area she was seeing. Second day was a great fishing day as they caught a bunch of Pike, Vivian landing her first ever Northern Pike and many more after. Also, Ron hooked and landed a HUGE Trophy 18.5-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. This was Ron's first award fish. Third day was a portage day for Muskie and Smallmouth Bass. The Muskie were active but not cooperative as they had many follows but could not hook up. As they were waiting out a thunderstorm on shore under a tarp, (Ron always being prepared), as waiting for the lighting subside they created a new plan for the day, Wacky Worming for Smallmouth. Well the results were great as they caught a good number of Smallmouth along with some big ones, and Vivian caught an 18.5-inch Master Anglers Award Trophy Smallmouth Bass. Great going Vivian. Ron explained that it was a new method for them and that it was really neat to finesse the worm in a slow sink technique, and then feel the slightest bump or in some cases just movement in the line while have a nice Smallie at the other end. Fourth day when I asked Ron and Vivian how their day was the answer was simple, GREAT!!! They caught fish and enjoyed the wilderness we have at Fireside Lodge. Fifth & final day Ron & Vivian came to the dinning room full of excitement about there day. They caught Smallmouth Bass on wacky worms and then got into a bunch of big Pike 30-plus inches and Ron caught a 37-inch Musky and a 38-inch Tiger Muskie. This was done fishing a new spot, which made it even more exciting. During their trip these two also did a wilderness hike seeing lots of Moose tracks, the scat of Black Bear & Moose, and
observed the construction abilities of beaver as they found a huge beaver dam. In all Ron & Vivian had a tremendous stay with us at Fireside Lodge. We missed seeing Ron’s dad this year and we all wish Bob a full and complete recovery.
Father son combo of Mike & Zack Gerulski from Huntington Woods, MI who having been coming to Fireside Lodge for nine consecutive years came with Mike’s brother-in-law Stan Nunn and very good friend Ted Ricci from Northville and Hancock, MI. DOA Mike & Zack to took Stan & Ted to their favorite place and traditionally the first place they always fish, Dog Island. They caught some Smallmouth and a few Pike to get started. First full day they were forced back before noon by bad T-Storms, however not before having some action with Mike and Zack catching Smallmouth Bass, and Zack losing a couple of Pike. Stan and Ted did very well catching Smallmouth, Ted having the technique of slowly fishing tube Jigs and landing nine nice Smallies between 14 to 16-inches. Second day all caught fish but Ted seemed to do better than the rest again. Third day all had a good day with Zack having the hot hand on Smallmouth Bass with his World Famous lure the “Zack’s Bass Zapper”. Mike had a great Northern Pike day, while Stan & Ted caught mostly Smallmouth Bass up to 17.5-inches and a few Pike. After supper the fish turned on and Ted really had the hot hand catching one fish after another including the million dollar fish. Just kidding as the wager was not that high. Ted had a lot of surface action and landed an 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Fourth and final day was a great fishing day for all, and Zack especially did well on his almost patented lure “Zack’s Bass Zapper”. The only disappointment he had a suppertime was his losing of a Giant Trophy Smallmouth. Not to stay discouraged Zack and Dad Mike went out after supper, caught Smallmouth, and on consecutive casts each landed a Trophy Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Zack’s being 18” and Mike’s measuring 19-inches. Now that’s a great father and son fishing memory!!! All had a fabulous stay and all hope to return together again in the near future.

Brothers Steven & Lawrence Sandler from Richmond Hill and Markham, Ontario were back fishing at Fireside Lodge for their fourth trip together. DOA they got right to it catching about 12 fish, a combo of Smallmouth and Northern Pike in a short time period. First day was fabulous as they caught 30 fish, about half Smallmouth and half Pike with Lawrence catching a very large 36.5” Northern Pike and Steven catching a very heavy 35” Tiger Musky. Great first day!! Second day they caught a ton of Northern Pike up to 29-inches, and Steven caught a few large Smallmouth Bass just under 18-inches. Pike totals for the day were estimated at between 50-60 fish. Third day the tooth critters out witted Steven and Lawrence, however they did catch a lot of Smallmouth Bass 15 to 17.5-inches. Fourth and final day was all about Pike and it happened to be a very windy day with tough boat control conditions but they did manage to catch about 15of these great fighters.

This is what fishing is really all about. Family and friends making life long memories together.

Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2010 Photos
For Fabulous Video, Wildlife Events, and Current Happenings go to our Social Sites Below.

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Hot Lures: Blue Fox Spinner, Wacky Worm, Mepps Spinner, Live Leeches, Zacks Bass Zapper, Twister Spin, Tube Jigs, Storm Swim Baits, X-Rap, Husky Jerk

Catches of The Week. 46” Musky, 44.5” & 41” Tiger Muskie
44” Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass at 19”, 18.25”, and five at 18-inches


Well, that's it for this weeks Fireside Lodge Fishing News Report, Please stay tuned for next weeks report. Until then "Keep On Fish'n" Alan
http://www.firesidelodgefishing.com
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
Email at: fireside@xplornet.com