Fireside Lodge Fishing News/Photo Report 9/5 to 9/12 2009 Part 2

The unusual warm weather continued into this week having temperatures anywhere from 12 to 18 degrees above normal, sunny with very calm winds. A few brief showers popped up towards the end of the week but nothing major.

Back at Fireside Lodge for their second trip in 2009 and for their tenth consecutive year were Aaron and Michele Hayes from N Aurora, IL. On the day of arrival before supper the had fast action on Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike and Aaron actually landed two nice Smallmouth Bass on the same cast both hooked on the same lure. WOW, That’s action for ya! First day was a good day as they caught 19 total fish being a mix of Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike, Michele catching a nice 17.5-inch Smallmouth and Aaron landing a beauty 36-inch Musky. Second day they caught about 15-fish mostly Northern Pike. Third day was a portage for Muskie and they ended up have about 22 follows and landed two Muskie and one 17-inch Smallmouth. The also caught three Pike within an hour on Little Vermilion Lake including a nice 36-incher by Aaron. Fourth day was a FABULOUS day as they caught 44 Northern Pike between 28 to 33-inches, and 25 Smallmouth between 14 to 17-inches. Aaron had the hot hand working the X-Rap a certain way producing 37 Pike and 21 Smallies himself. WOW, what a GRRRRREAT day fishing. Fifth day was another great day as they caught 30 Northern Pike, 7 Smallmouth Bass, and a Musky. Aaron caught the Musky and it was a beauty measuring 41-inches and Michele came up with a HUGE 40-inch Master Angers Award Northern Pike. WOW, what a day in the beautiful Canadian Wilderness. Sixth and final day Aaron and Michele caught 23 Northern Pike and 7 Smallmouth Bass with Aaron finishing on a high note landing an 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth. Both were sad to leave and hope to return in 2010.

Joe Denise from Palos Heights, IL and Bob Nelson from Elmwood Park, NJ were returning to Fireside Lodge for their 12th consecutive year. First day fishing Bob started them out right by catching an 18-inch Master Anglers Award Smallmouth Bass on his very first cast. That got the ball rolling as they experienced a fish feeding frenzy during several times throughout the day catching many Smallmouth Bass in the 14 to 17.5-inch range, and several Northern pike. The highlight of the day was when Bob, as he was reeling in a 14 to 15-inch Smallie had a Musky attack the Bass. It let go and attacked it three different times resulting in Joe taking a great photo of the Muskie with the Smallmouth in it’s mouth right by the boat. Very exciting fish happening for Joe and Bob. Second day was action, action, action, saying that they caught fish everywhere they went, almost all being Northern Pike except for Joe hooking and landing a Master Anglers Award Smallmouth of a lifetime measuring 20-inches with a giant girth. Bob had his second unusual happening in two days as when fighting a Northern Pike it jumped into the boat landing in the back splash well, became unhooked and jumped back in the water in-between their 40HP and 6HP engines. What’s for tomorrow Bob???? These two had fabulous fishing for Smallmouth Bass catching 14 to 17.5-inch Smallies on a variety of lures from surface to jigging techniques and everything in-between. The action stopped after they had lunch, and I advised them to fish through lunch next time. Fourth day was a terrific Smallmouth Bass day for these two as they caught many Smallmouth Bass between 15 and 17.5-inches and Bob landed another Master Angers Award Smallmouth measuring 18.5-inches. They also had a lot of Pike action as Joe lost four Rattlin Raps, his lure of choice for the active Smallmouth, to the toothy critters. Bob used mostly surface lures, the Chug Bug being his favorite for the day. Fifth day was a tremendous Northern Pike day for these two as the caught one Pike after another all day long. They kept moving to different spots and just kept catching fish. At suppertime they could not give me a number because it was too hard to keep an accurate count, but said the action was non-stop. Sixth and final day they ended their trip on a high note having another good day catching Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike. However, the biggest catch of the week was the wonderful time spent between two long time friends. Thanks for choosing Fireside Lodge to spend this special time together.

Father and son Roy and Ross Lagerblade from Rock Island, IL and Crestwood, KY were returning to Fireside Lodge for their fourth consecutive year. While fishing a few hours before supper on the day of arrival they caught many Northern Pike to get started off right. First day was a Great day for these two as they caught well over 30 Northern Pike and had lots of other fish activity with follows and lost fish. Second day was off to Cedarbough to fish for Musky. As they were pulling up to the dock Roy told me to ask Ross how the fishing was not him. Well Ross ended up catching two Muskie 28, and 36-inches and a big Northern Pike at 37.5-inches. Third day was another dedicated Musky day. The day was sunny and warm which is not ideal for Musky. They sure found Musky have many follows but no takers. Both still had a fabulous day fishing together and just seeing that many Muskie. Fourth day was a GREAT day catching for these two as they caught well over 35 Northern Pike, and Roy said they would have doubled that number had they counted all the fish that came off near the boat during the fight. They also had two double catches, and Ross got some great photos of a HUGE beaver swimming, and then displaying displeasure with them intruding its home turf. Fifth and final day their plan was to search for BIG fish and Ross was hoping for rain and cloud cover to increase their odds. They caught plenty of fish but the lunkers did not show up, and Ross did get his rain as he was pulling up to the dock at the days end. Better late than never? Both had a fabulous trip making another set of father and son memories, a tradition they started 28 tears ago and hope to continue for many years to come.



Make Sure to Read Part 1 of This Weeks Fishing Report

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

Hot Lures of The Week: Carnival Blue, Red, and White Spinner Bait, Blue Fox Spinner. Yo-Zuri, Suick, Buck-Tail, Bubble Gum Worm, X-Rap, Rattlin Rap, Silver Minnow Spoon, Calico Fox, Mepps Musky Killer

Catches of the Week: 42, two 41,two 40.5, two 40-inch Master Anglers Award Northern pike 39.75-inch Northern Pike, 39.5-inch Northern Pike, 7-38-inch Northern Pike, many 34 to 37-inch Pike, 20inch Smallmouth Bass, two 19-inch Smallmouth, one 18.5-inch Smallmouth, one 18.25-inch Smallmouth, three 18-inch Smallmouth Bass, 35.5, 36, 40, and 41-inch Musky

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

Special Note: It is hard to believe it is the end of another fishing season for Audrey and I at Fireside Lodge, and even harder to grasp it concludes our 20th year owing and operating Fireside Lodge. What was once a talked about dream of ours became a reality because of us 20 years ago, but the success of Fireside Lodge during those 20 years is because of you, our guests. After each season ends so does the morning chatter in the dining room planning a fishing day, the sound of the boats leaving the dock, the excitement of the fish stories told in the lodge at the end of the day, and the lights in camp after dark fall as guests rest in anticipation of what tomorrow might bring. We realized after the end of our very first season, as silence comes over the lodge, cabins, and grounds that it is “YOU” our guests that bring life to Fireside Lodge. For some 2009 was their first year fishing at Fireside Lodge and for others it was their second, fifth, tenth, fifteenth, and even nineteenth year. For guests with a longer tenure you have seen many changes and improvements over the years of which Audrey tried to capture in the 20 year anniversary DVD she produced. If for some reason you have not received a DVD and would like to receive one we would be glad to mail a copy to you with no costs to you. Just email me and let me know. It would be impossible for me to write about all of the experiences, happenings, special relationships, and memories that we have had over the 20 wonderful years at Fireside Lodge, and for that Audrey and I want to give “Special Thanks” to all of our guests. We also look forward to seeing some of you in 2010 as we begin another season moving towards another 20 years.
Thank you very much for all the memories. Sincerely, Audrey and Alan

http://www.firesidelodgefishing.com
http://www.firesidelodge.com
800-545-0815
mailto:fireside@xplornet.com