Fishing Reports at Fireside Lodge: Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 6/9 to 6/16 2012

Fireside Lodge Fishing Report 6/9 to 6/16 2012

Huge 46-inch Trophy Musky fishing at Fireside Lodge Canada

Well, for all the worries about the water levels, the rain this week really clinched the fact that we will have high water for a while, having rained most of the week and very heavy at times. I don’t think you can start a forest fire if you tried.

Trophy 48-inch Northern Pike Fishing at Fireside Lodge Canada

Giant Smallmouth Bass at Fireside Lodge Canada

Very good friends & long time Fireside Lodge guests Joe Denise from Palos Heights, Il and Bob Nelson from Elmwood Park, NJ were back to hunt down Smallmouth Bass & Northern Pike. On DOA they caught 16 Smallmouth Bass while fishing for 2 hours before supper. GREAT Start!! First day Joe had the hot hand as they caught lots of Smallmouth Bass. Joe teased Bob as he struggled a little the first day getting the kinks out, but tables turned day 2 as b Bob was on top of his game of surface fishing, and had Joe repeatedly going into his tackle box in an attempt to catch up. 3rd day was a draw as they were in sync, both catching a lot of Smallmouth Bass along with a few Pike, while discovering a new fishing spot. 4^th & 5^th days were slower for them in their search for Smallmouth Bass, but they still caught enough fish to keep them interested along with gaining some great stories of fishing in & around wood. Last day they got back in sync catching plenty of Smallmouth Bass all day long. This was a sad day being their last, but left having caught lots of nice fish, great conversation, and another set of lasting memories between best friends & fishing buddies.

Ladies Fishing Trophy Smallmouth Bass in Canada

Fly Fishing Big Smallmouth Bass at Fireside Lodge

Mike & Linda Lapresi from Tucker, GA returned for their 16^th time fishing at Fireside Lodge. 1^st Day had Mike out at dawn catching 9 15-17” Smallmouth Bass fly-fishing before breakfast. Linda & Mike had a very good day up until noon catching many big Smallies, then very strong winds blew up making it difficult keeping location & presentation of lures/flies. 2^nd day was even better despite rain on and off all day long. They caught a lot of big Smallmouth, all on surface baits, which is their favorite presentation. Third day was another fabulous day catching 36 Smallmouth 15-17.5” their way, on surface lures/flies, all before supper. 4^th day had them with 30+ Smallies, while discovering a new spot. Today your casts had to be accurate as they were fishing very close to shore structure & between the pencil reeds. 5^th day the weather turned around favoring surface fishing and Linda & Mike took advantage having one of there better days landing 35-40 bigger Smallmouth & Linda caught a Trophy Master Anglers Award 18.5” brut. Way to go Linda. Both left having a FABULOUS stay & we were sad to see them go.

Over 40-inch Tiger Muskie caught Fishing at Fireside Lodge Canada

Another Trophy Northern Pike Fishing at Fireside Lodge

FABULOUS Northern Pike Fishing Canada at Fireside Lodge

Walt Lacasse from Minnetonka, MN returned with his spring crew of Jim Jones-McKinney, TX, Terry Ahrens-Plymouth, MN, John Hietala-Northfield, MN, Bruce & Richard Laybourne Milford, OH & Allen, TX, and Dick Oksanen-Mabank, TX. First day was terrific fishing with Walt & Dick having a BIG fish day. They caught 24 Northern Pike over 30”, including a 36”, 37”, and Walt landed a 40” Tiger Musky. Dick also had a HUGE Muskie on which came completely out of the water doing the tail walk while throwing his lure right back at him. This group had lots of smiles & laughter at their supper table. 2^nd day all caught fish as brother Rich & Bruce catching many Smallmouth and Bruce landing a trophy 18.5”er. Dick had the biggest Pike of the day with a beauty 39” very fat Pike. 3^rd day had Bruce and Rich doing the best catching Smallmouth all day. 4^th and final day was fabulous as the group caught well over 100 Northern Pike and John came up with a very special catch landing a 48-inch. 35lb GAINT Trophy Northern Pike. WOW!!! What a fabulous catch. Before leaving Walt signed the group up for 2013, & I am sure the planning is already happening.

42-inch Muskie caugt fishing at Fireside Lodge Canada

Many BIG Northern Pike Fishing at Fireside Lodge

Dan & Nathan Mosier from Lincoln, NE returned for his 13^th time as Dan has brought 4 of his children over those years. First night Dan caught a 37” Northern & a big Smallie. 1^st day they did great catching 20 Smallmouth Bass & 15 Pike, with Nathan landing a Trophy 18” Master Anglers Award Bass and Dan caught a Huge 37” Northern Pike. 2^nd day was 15 Smallies & 15 Pike. Nathan, at 17, made a life long memory with his father as he landed a Giant 42” Muskie, his first fish of this size class. This was a very exciting moment for Dan & Nathan, who was rewarded for his persistence & patience. He also caught it on his favorite lure, which he has bought at least one from me every year since he was 9. 3rd day was a little slower relatively. 4th day was gangbusters as they landed 124 Northern Pike, even though they were driven in early by threatening weather. 5^th day started with high winds which spoiled 2/3rds of a day, but the last third was spent catching Northern Pike and Nathan caught another BIG fish landing a 36” Northern Pike. WOW, what a great BIG FISH trip this was for Nathan. Both left nearly having tears in their eyes, but smiles came with the mention of their return in 2013.

GIANT Trophy Smallmouth Bass Fishing at Fireside Lodge

Bill Aulenbach-Barberton, OH, Mike Lewis-Akron, OH with Father & son Bill & Kyle Rasbach from Ft Meyers, FL returned for their 9^th consecutive year. 1^st day this group had a very good day with Bill R & Kyle catching about 35 nice Smallmouth Bass, & Mike & Bill A had success with the toothy critters. 2^nd day had them catching 47 Smallmouth Bass as a group with Bill R having the hot hand & Bill A caught a BIG 36” Northern Pike. 3^rd day was a super Smallmouth day as the group landed 71. 4^th day was a Musky day for Bill A & Kyle without much results, but Mike & Biil R tore the Smallies up catching 54, most BIG fish, with all but 2 fly-fishing, & Bill R caught a HUGE 19” Trophy Smallmouth Bass. WOW!!! 5^th day was spent half day of wind rest and the other catching Smallmouth with Kyle and father Bill R catching 20 in just a few hours. On another day they caught so many Northern Pike it was ridiculous. Bill R & son Kyle caught over 100, all fly-fishing, and Bill A & Mike lost count in their boat. Last day had them with a memorable finish as both boats caught over 30 Smallmouth Bass. Even after 7 full days of fishing it was still hard for them to leave, however before doing so they made reservations for the same dates in 2013.

BIG Northern Pike Fishing in Canada

Terrific Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Canada at Fireside Lodge

For the 7tth consecutive year Jerry Amer & Bill Calhoon from Columbus, OH showed up all smiles & ready to fish. DOA these two caught about 24 Smallmouth Bass & 10 Northern Pike. At first they mentioned it was a slow start and then realized that they might be somewhat spoiled. 1^st full day they caught over 55 Smallmouth fly-fishing. 2^nd day was terrific, catching over 50 Northern Pike, over 30 Smallmouth all 17-18” and landed 6 Trophy Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Bass with 90% fly-fishing. 3rd day was slow chasing Muskie, so they switched to Smallmouth Bass on Little Vermilion Lake landing many fish 14-17-inches. 4^th& final day was a fast & furious finish as they said they caught Smallmouth after Smallmouth to the point they could hardly make their fly casts work. Lot of Big fish caught & many more fishing memories made between two long time friends / fishing buddies. They made their reservations for 2013 before departing, and once again let the planning begin.

Tremendous Fishing For Trophy Smallmouth Bass at Fireside Lodge Canada

Many Trophy Smallmouth Bass caught Fishing at Fireside Lodge

Grade School friends Don Landbo & Dan Szkola from S Elgin & Sugar Grove, IL returned for their 9^th year. 1^st day was a portage catching 31 Northern Pike and 6 Walleye 20-23”. 2^nd day had them catching 69 Northern Pike and missing a bunch. 3^rd day was surface all day long. Even though their numbers were down they still caught 65, plus missed at least as many or more. As Don said in the dinning room top-water action can be addictive, seeing these toothy critter come out of no where to slam you lure. 4 day had these two focusing on Smallmouth with surface baits doing very well catching 60 with many strikes & blow-ups & Dan got an 18.5” Trophy. 5^th day was doing it their way, catching 110 Northern Pike mostly surface fishing. The great thing about fishing on the surface every explosion & strike is just as good as hooking & landing a fish. 6^th & final day was their best in numbers landing 107 Pike, 1 Muskie, & 5 Smallmouth with Don catching a Master Anglers Award Smallies at 18”. Great Trip for Great friends & fishing buddies, & upon departure made reservations for the same dates next year.

Terrific Fishing for Muskie at Fireside Lodge Canada

First time guests Paul Wilson from Fargo, ND father and son Bill & Andy Wilson from Excelsior, MN & Mike Rowan from Lowell, MA were holding up their 12-year tradition of fishing together. 1^st day was a discovery day doing well catch some Smallmouth Bass and Pike, with Paul loosing a trophy Northern Pike. 2nd day beat all expectations as the boated over 160 Northern Pike. WOW! what fast learners. 3^rd day was a slow down from the second but that was inevitable. They were fishing for bigger fish having some great follows, & 1 was a monster estimated at 47-48”. Super fishing for this group on their 4^th and final day as they caught well over 200 Northern Pike. Mike retired a lure on our lure collection wall as he caught so many fish on it he said it would be a criminal act to bring it back to Boston with him. All had such a fabulous time they made their reservations for the same dates in 2013, & we are thrilled to have them back.

Large Northern Pike are a BLAST to catch Fishing Canada

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