Fireside Lodge Fishing News/Photo Report 7/18 to 8/1 2009 Part 1

The weather finally turned around getting some sunny days with calm winds, and temperatures in the mid 70’s. We did have some rain in the form of showers by mid week but no dramatic cold front or high winds like the past few weeks.

Chuck Barreras from Douglassville, PA was returning for his fifth time with Tom Crooks from Feasterville, PA along with Chuck’s father Charles, daughter Maria (her third trip), son Steven, and Andrew Klimek, the son of Richard who is a very good friend of Chuck and Tom. First day fishing this group was on fire catching 110-120 Northern Pike and a few Smallmouth Bass. Steven at eleven years old caught his first Northern Pike and his first fish ever on a lure plus 14 more. Second day both Tom and Chuck each caught a Muskie and Steven had his first Muskie follow. Third day was another super catching day as the group caught well over 100 Northern Pike and Maria had the biggest fish of the day up to the boat, and as Tom was unhooking it at boat side in the water the fish thrashed and was off in a flash. They did get some photos of the fish in the water and it was a monster. Andrew also did great catching his fair share of Northern Pike and his excitement in the fish photos is obvious. Four days go fast and this was their last. The plan was to fish for Smallmouth Bass and they did with Steven landing the biggest of the day and if his fishing career landing a very big 17.5-inch Smallmouth. They also had some family fun at Twin Falls enjoying the sight and sound of the rushing water, fishing, and just enjoying the great day. Many family memories were made and all left with smiles, however a little disappointed that it was the end of their trip.

Returning to Fireside Lodge for their fifth time were Father, son, grandpa combo of Bill, Kamen, and Charles Kossow from Salina, KS, Kenny Kossow from Gypsum, KS and father and son Doug and Kane Comfort also from Salina, KS. First day on the water was a great day and had Kenny and Bill Sr catching a lot of Smallmouth Bass, Bill and his son Kamen did great catching Pike with Kamen landing his largest fish ever on his fourteenth birthday measuring a heavy 33-inches. Father and Son Doug and Kane also had a special day as they both caught their first Muskie. Kane did a great job landing a 36 inch very large Muskie, and Doug’s was a beauty at near 40-inches. WOW, what a great father and son memory. Second day FABULOUS as in Bill Sr’s words “if we caught one we caught two hundred”. After some discussion it was determined that they caught well over 200 fish, most being Northern Pike. Kamen caught two over 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Bass, Bill Sr caught 12 Smallmouth between 17 and 19-inches and a BIG GIANT 20.5-inch Smallmouth. This group had a day of fishing that most will never experience, and will remember for the rest of their lives. Their third a final day they caught 43 Smallmouth Bass, 10 Northern Pike and had a ball at Twin Falls enjoying part of the afternoon relaxing by this natural wonder. Kamen and Kane both had BIG Muskie follows and were very excited telling their fish story of the day. Upon departing Fireside Lodge Road they left Fireside Lodge and Little Vermilion Lake system behind, but the memories made between family and friends will stay with them forever.

For their second consecutive year Bruce and Pamela Ross from Mequon, WI were fishing at Fireside Lodge and this year good friends
Craig and Leslie Martin from St Charles, IL Joined Bruce and Pam for their first experience. First day was a cool with light rain and drizzle all day long. They had a great day catching Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike. Smallmouth were up to 17.5-inches. Some of the Northern approached the mid-30-inch range and Leslie caught her first Northern Pike ever, In-Style, landing a very BIG 35-inch Pike. Second day was better as they caught a lot of Smallmouth and Northern Pike. Pam had a big fish day by landing a 17.5-inch Smallmouth and a 35-inch Northern Pike. Bruce was very excited when telling his story of seeing the biggest fish he has ever seen in fresh water. The fish followed his lure and stay by the boat for 20-seconds or more so Pam and Bruce got a great look at the beast estimated at over 50-inches. Not interested it just turned and waved goodbye to Bruce and Pam with its tail. Leslie and Craig had a great day catching some nice Smallmouth and Pike and learning more of Little Vermilion Lake. Third day was terrific as hey caught a bunch of Northern Pike, Pam had the highest total catching 35 herself, and lost one monster. Fourth and final day was fabulous as they caught a lot of Northern Pike with some Smallmouth Bass, and Pam lost a lot of big fish but did land a 38-inch Northern Pike with GIANT girth. Bruce, Craig, and Leslie also did well and Leslie finished the trip like she started by catching the biggest fish a very large 38-inch Northern Pike. All had loads of fun and made lasting memories between good friends.

George Carney and Tom Miller from Madison, WI returned to Fireside Lodge for their seventh consecutive year. On their day of arrival between 1:30 and 5:00PM they did great catching about 20 Northern Pike between 26 and 33 inches. First full day in their own words “was a fabulous day” catching so many Northern Pike they had three or four doubles and caught over 100 Pike before supper. WOW, what a GREAT first day at Fireside Lodge. Second day they targeted Smallmouth Bass catching a half dozen, and about 7 Northern Pike. Third days plan was shooting for some Smallmouth Bass, which they caught some but to their surprise had a GREAT Muskie fishing day. While using a chug bug fishing for Smallmouth on the surface George hooked into three different Muskie, one biting him off, a second jumping and spitting his lure back at him, and the third, HUGE Muskie, after being half way into the net straightened the split ring holding the hook and took off with the hook in its mouth. Tom did land one 30-inch Muskie and had another hooked and lost. In addition they saw Muskie everywhere they were fishing for Smallmouth Bass. Fourth day, after supper, they tried something different, by going in the shallowest very weedy areas and fishing surface plastic frogs right in the slop. Well, they returned to the dock full of excitement as they caught a lot of small to average size Pike that were jumping through the slop to hit their lures. Fifth day was fabulous starting out with 8 Northern Pike on their first 12 casts. Well, this continued all day and they ended up catching over 100 Pike. Sixth and final day they enjoyed catching fish and soaking up the wilderness around them, reminiscing the week’s happenings, and concluding another fishing trip full of fun and memories made.

Back for his second time was Martin Duda and for his first good friend Kevin Keech both from Belleville, MI. First day they caught a mix of Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass with Kevin landing a Master Anglers award Smallie and Martin catching a HUGE 38-inch Northern Pike. Second and third days had them catching about 20 fish each day, being a mix of Smallmouth and Northern Pike. Fourth and final day they caught 18 fish before supper mostly Northern Pike and after supper they caught about a half dozen more. They soaked up their last evening in this great wilderness setting of the great boreal forest. Both left with great memories and for Martin it was a special place to remember the past and enjoy the present. Both hope to return in the future.

Returning for their second year in a row was David Jewell with Wendell Davis. And for his first time Bob Nutter from Pineville, Crab Orchard, and Clarksburg, WV. First day Smallmouth fishing they did well catching some Smallies. Second day they portaged and caught a boatload of Northern Pike all day long, and Wendell lost a BIG Walleye that completely destroyed his rig when it took a dive at boat side. Third day they did well catching Smallmouth Bass by fishing many locations and spent all day on the water, resulting in about 50 fish between them. Fourth day was so good that when talking with them at suppertime I guessed that they caught about 100 fish. At that they laughed at me saying that it was more like 200, mostly Northern Pike, plus Wendell landed a HUGE Smallmouth measuring 19.5-inches. Last day for these fellows was a very windy, which caused some problems of boat control and presentation, however they caught some fish and had a bunch of follows by toothy critters, All had a great stay and hope to return next year.


Make Sure to Read Part 2 of this weeks Fishing Report

Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2009 Photos

Hot Lures of The Week: Dardevle Spoons, Blue Fox Spinner, X-Rap, Mepps Spinner, Beatle Spin, Tiny Torpedo, White Jig

Catches of the Week: Two 20.5-inch Smallmouth Bass, 40-inch Muskie, 38-inch Muskie, three 38-inch Northern Pike

Hot Flies of the Week: Flash Tail Whistler

Please note that we have a “NEW” email address below

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
mailto:fireside@xplornet.com