2012 Fishing Season!

As we have wound down from the summer and fall seasons, we thought to update the web on the happenings at Wekusko Falls Lodge:

  The spring started off with some good pike and lake trout action on Tramping.  A few masters of each were caught in the shallows (nothing huge but respectable fish).  By the end of May fishing was really strong on Tramping, which only continued as each day passed and we started to pick up a lot of 30"+ eyes.

  As the first solid week of fishermen showed up the second week in June, things really heated up for walleye.  By the end of this week we were already at 127 master angler walleyes, the largest being 33", which ended up being the largest from tramping for the year.   This week was hit with rain everyday and our water level stayed high.

  Following this kick start to the season, the tap was turned off and so did the fish.  We did continue to catch big fish, but it wasn't as fast and furious.  There were days of big fish, then of just small fish, but the bite was still on.  During this time, some big pike were being caught, with 43" being the biggest. As the end of June arrived, the big fish were tough to catch, when all of a sudden they turned on.  I just happened to be guiding at this time, and we ended up landing 13 master walleyes in one day, with 5 of them being over 30".  A day for the books!

  During July, lots of fish were caught with some real beauties in the mix.  By mid July things were really great!  I had never seen so many fish on a finder at one time.  It was a problem to keep the smaller fish off the hook and let the big ones hit.  Hope next year brings the same!  Down at Wekusko, the evening bite was on, and we were catching a lot of walleye every outing.  It was good to see all the sizes of fish- 6" to 26", which is a good sign for the future.  Sauger on Wekusko were also on the hit list during July. Many were caught, most being masters.  The biggest caught this year was 22", a big fish for the north.

  August continued with decent walleye fishing and some amazing big pike.  Lots of master Pike were reported, 43" being that longest.  Master walleye were also still coming out, with 30" being the longest.   As August continued on, our water levels started dropping... and before we knew it, September rolled in...  We had the Cisco Kids in mid september, and they caught a lot of Pike (couple of master's).  They also did really well with the walleye on Wekusko.  As the month continued, our fishermen slowed down, and so did the fishing.  Soon it will be time for ice fishing!

  Thank you to all the fishermen that came in and stayed with us in 2012, we believe 2013 will be another outstanding year!

  Our totals through camp for masters in open water this year ended up being:

Walleye- 276, Pike- 34, Sauger- 28, Lake Trout- 5

 

SPRING BEAR SEASON

  My bear guide Yoshi and I had an interesting spring.  We were rather busy baiting and setting up new  baits.  Eventually the bear hunters started coming in, and we ended up going 90% success rate.  We ended up with 2 blond bears, as well as a few over 300 lbs.  The biggest this year was 365 lbs,  but we had some true monsters on the cameras.  

  Not only big bears, but lots of color this year.  Going into a bait I had a great look at a 200 lb smoky sandy tan bear. It was the same color as a dark buckskin horse.  Very strange but very cool.  Hoping a hunter gets a crack at him next year.

I am looking forward to our 2013 season, where I am sure we are going to get some big bears.

One of the monsters in at a bait.

Biggest bear of 2012 spring season.

GRIZZLY

  Avery Prieb, my nephew, turned 12  a couple winters back, which allowed him to hunt in Canada.  The spring of 2011, I set up a bait that was on the outside edge of the lodges allocation, in an area no baits have been set up.  We had a monster black bear come in, but through a number of unlucky events, we were unable to close the deal on him.  We'd try again in 2012.

  During the summer of 2011, I left a camera up at the bait to see what came around.  In came a tall and lanky blond bear that looked great, just needed more weight.  I irregularly baited "Av's Bait", and hoped that that blond bear remembered it for the following spring.

  2012 came, and so did the baiting.  Up went the camera on Av's Bait, and sure enough, that blond bear from last year was coming in, but had a bit different coloring.  Looked exactly like a grizzly bear, and had more weight.  Expectations were high, as I phoned Avery and told him he better get his little butt up here and hunt this bear.

  May Long weekend arrived and so did Avery.  My bear guide Yoshi and I went into the bait with Avery to film, and we saw absolutely nothing.  Something was wrong, and we decided maybe too many people in the stand.  So the next day, just Avery and myself went in, crossbow in his hand, and it wasn't long till we had action.

  A little gaffer came in and played around, in and out of the bait a few times.  As light started fading,
 I told Avery to find a comfy spot and try not to move, cause something may happen soon.  It wasn't long, and the little guy looked up and ran off.  Show time?  

  Sure enough, in comes "Grizz" with a sow, and he was weary.  The sow he was with went straight to the bait and started eating.  Grizz checked us out keeping away from any shooting lane.  Avery held it together, and after a few minutes, the moment Avery waited 2 years for finally came.

  Take em Av- take em!  Thwack!!

  Run run run- crash-  ............................ you drilled em!!!!!!  

  I have never seen a 13 year old with such big eyes in my life.  For a kid that plays johnny too cool, he could barely hold it together.  But then again, neither could I.  I am not sure who was more excited, or more proud.

Words are hard to explain just what Avery and I were feeling.  But as we settled down and everything sank in, Yoshi said it best on the way home with the bear. " You did good Avery, you did good."

ICE FISHING WRAP UP

Well here I am in August, getting caught up with a few things.  Like writing about ice fishing...... hmmmm.   Perhaps baby Kiley has life a bit busier than the past.

  Anyhow, the tail end of ice fishing was a blast.  We had some interesting excursions, one of which involved a bunch of farmers from south manitoba, 8 quads, a few sink holes, a whole lot of slush, and fishing when we finally could make it.

  The fishing was strong, lots of numbers, but bigger fish were harder to come by as the season progressed, which is generally not the norm.   My laker spot on Reed slowed down by the end of March, and walleye on Wekusko stayed strong.  Korman really really got tough for me anyway, catch a couple a trip, but nothing like mid winter.  One fishery that stayed strong all year was Woosey lake for walleye and especially Burbot.  Alot of masters came out of the ice there, and those 30"+ burbs sure do fight!

  Funny thing is, from now it is only 3 more months until the ice auger cuts another hole, or hundred.  Till November sometime........

February Guiding

So this last week I was able to get away from the lodge and guide some clients from my home town of Avonlea.   They made the trek up last year, splitting the 3 days of fishing into walleye, lakers, and pike.  This year was the same, however, but with another year of ice  area knowledge under my belt.  My future guide - nephew Avery- also tagged along and was learning the ropes.

   Our first day started out for walleye.  The lake we went to generally doesn't have that great of an early morning bite.  We got geared up and were on the water by 10 am.  The bite started hot and heavy, but slowed down around noon.  It stayed constant throughout the day, and we ended up packing in around 4pm.  Our count was done, and we landed just over the 50 walleye mark.   Not a bad way to start.   This lake I am keeping anonymous, due to the fact that local pressure can easily take this spot over.

  Day 2 had us heading to Reed Lake, going for Lake Trout.  A week prior I scouted out a spot and we lost a monster monster trout right below the hole.  We headed back to this spot and did fairly well.  We landed 12 trout, lost just as many, and had one 34" x 18".  

 Day 3 had us heading to Krug Lake for pike and walleye.  We did land some nice pike on the tip ups, nothing huge huge but very respectable.  The biggest pike was a 39" that had insane girth.  The walleye were biting okay as well, but nothing over 18".  It is good to see that the lake is coming back with a good walleye population.

  Ice conditions were close to the same on every lake.  Just over 2 feet of ice, and between 10" to 2' of snow on the lakes.  Some ice is solid right through, and some is flaky slush ice.  So how long will the ice be here?  No idea.  It will all depend on March weather.  

   My next guiding trip is mar 5-8.  We will see what happens then!

Ice Fishing up to February

This winter has been an interesting one.  It has been soooo warm.  This has meant alot of snow, and not much ice.   As well, if a person likes slush puppies, just head out to the lake, put your flavoring in a cup, and hold it behind the snowmobile.  

  I am not sure how long we will have ice this year.  With high water, and poor ice, we might be in to open water by mid April.  

 Fishing so far has been real good for me.  I had 2 goals for through the ice this year.  First- to learn the rainbows in Korman Lake.  Second- to learn the the east side of Wekusko for walleyes.   WIth a baby this winter, my time has been limited, but I have stroked the first goal off the list.

  I have fished Korman 5 times, and have caught 9 master Rainbows.  Allan (dad) fished twice with me there, and he also caught 4 masters.  He also battled a fish for 5 minutes (and yes the drag was set correct cause I checked since it was taking so long), and the fish ended up getting the line caught in a sliver in the bottom of the hole and straightened a size 4 gamy to get off.   Not sure what it was..... but it's still out there roaming the depths of Korman.

  I also fished File Lake once, and managed to catch a 31" and 32" laker.   The picture is not that great since I didn't have the camera warm- because the information from locals is that there is no big fish in that lake.   These were not monster trout- but the definitely were not push overs.

  Woosey Lake also got a few holes punched in.   We have been doing quite well with walleye there, but also in some big burbot.  The last time out one client caught  a 33" brute.  But as the story goes- we never got to see the one that just about spooled him!!!

  I plan to keep you all posted on the ice as well as the fishing!

Bryan

BABY!

 October came along, and Elissa's tummy was getting rather large.  It was time to head south to be ready for the baby to come, and for me to get a bit of hunting done as well!

  We headed out to my family farm for a few days, where my dad and I got to do some speckle belly goose hunts.  Maggie got to show her stuff out there and she worked her magic.  After getting my fix on some hunting, it was time to head into the city and wait.

  It wasn't long and we welcomed our baby girl to the world.  She gave us all a scare, and we were a bit shocked that it wasn't a boy....we were sure it was going to be a boy.  At that moment we named her Kiley, and she had us wrapped around her finger ever since.  We are so blessed to have a daughter!

  Now, Elissa just had surgery, but no one was going to stop the physiotherapist in her.  That day she was showering, and the next day doing small walks.  One more day and Elissa was released (one day early).   We were now parents........yikes.

   So when you come to the lodge this year- you will be greeted by our new welcoming committee!

Bryan, Elissa, Kiley, Bauer, and Maggie