2015 Open Water Wrap Up

 What a year that was presented to us in 2015.  Very late ice conditions, low water to start with and then screaming high water levels.  Heat, followed by major rain.  And a late walleye bite that was better than ever, all lead to a record year.

  May and June started off very slow for walleye, as well as pike.  The water was so cold when the pike fishermen were in, and then in a flash, the water heated up and the big pike went deep.  Usually when this happens, our walleye turns on and everyone is kept happy.  This year however, was not the case.  Walleye on tramping were a work out every day, but we still put up very respectable numbers, and a lot of giant walleye were landed and released.  Going into the end of June, things really heated up, and it continued right through July.  It was staggering hearing the stories of how many big fish were being caught.  Even with our slower start in June, July helped bring our Master Angler numbers to record levels.

  The pike started to pick up as well in August and September again, and ended up being one of our better years for big fish.  This was even with the very slow May and June. But with the walleye bite so hot, there really wasn't many anglers logging in hours chasing northerns.

  Wekusko Lake again proved itself truthful in the fact that the lake has come back stronger than ever.  We had a lot of big walleye and pike caught in this body of water.  And fishing below the falls was as strong as ever.  We are very excited for this upcoming year on that water, as somehow it continues to get better and better.

So our totals for our camp:

Master Angler Walleye (28"+) ended up at 463.    We had 6 that were over 33", with the largest at 33 1/2".     Of the 463,  58 of those were from Wekusko Lake!   I really don't know how many were over 32", but there were more than a few.  In fact, just in my boat I guided 6 over 32".

Master Angler Pike (41"+) ended up at 26.  

Lake Trout (35"+) ended up at 2.

 We are all very excited of the upcoming season.  Water levels are normal, but there shouldn't be a lot of ice this year with the extremely warm winter we are having.  The winter is repeating itself like 2010.  If the pattern stays true....look out walleye.  2010 was out of this world good for walleye, so it's already got me chomping on the bit!

 

 

2015 Bear Season

  Our bear season at Wekusko Falls Lodge last year was challenging yet terrific. We had some very high quality bears shot, but also had some strokes of bad luck.  At least I can say with every disappointing experience, we learn from it, to make ourselves and our clients better hunters, guides, and outfitter.   Nevertheless, everyone went home as happy and satisfied customers.

  Some of our highlights from last year included donating a hunt to a wounded veteran from Wisconsin.  Outdoor Bound TV was also in camp to film the experience for an upcoming episode.  The filming didn't stop there though.  We also had a father/son hunt filmed, as the son has special needs.  I ended up building some bear proof blinds for this hunt.  It was an experience building them, and more so hauling them into the bush!  But with some of that farmer ingenuity, we got it done!

  Another special hunter got to use the bear blinds, as he was too old to get in a tree!  One of my long term clients brought up his Grandpa, who was at the tender age of 98!!!!!!!  And yes, even he killed a great chocolate bear!   Another highlight included a monster bear that weighed out at 350 lbs, shot with the bow by a young woman as her first bear!  This bear had zero fat reserve so it would have been interesting the weight on this bear in the fall!

   All the work that we have put into bear camp is starting to really show.  From work on our trails, to our new baits getting well established, each season runs smoother and more successful.  We are all excited for the upcoming season in 2016.  Each year brings new challenges, but hard work and hunting smarts always puts us on top!

  Pictures:  Top- Mark Meunier (wounded Veteran)
                  Middle Left -  Walt and Paul with Paul's first bear
                  Middle Right - Ken with a Giant Chocolate Boar
                  Bottom - Brady and Bryan with the last blind ready to be transported

Ice FIshing 2015 Finale

WHAT A HARD WATER SEASON!!!!!!

This last ice fishing season was incredible, with big fish being caught right from the get go.  We had success for the big 4 - pike, walleye, lakers, and burbot!  Our biggest fish through the ice this year:
Pike - 48",  Walleye 29 1/2" (which was disappointing), Lake Trout 39", and Burbot 36".

It was a learning curve for me guiding since the water was a full 2 feet low, meaning many structural areas had changed.  I love the challenge (most days), but I may have turned a bit more bald in the process of figuring these fish out!

The ice was sketchy to say the least for much of April, which ended our guiding season early.  There were some in the area that pushed it right till the end of the season, but safety for both my clients and myself (I want to see my wife and kids each night) had me make the call to end it earlier than expected.  There was a time in my life that I wouldn't even have questioned it, but as a person gets older and has more responsibility things start to change.  If I ever have to question the integrity of the ice, then I hang up the auger for another year, or find another body of water that is safe.  This is where a guide that knows what they are doing is worth more than people think.  As I was on the ice for 40 days straight, I was able to see how the ice candled and honey combed each day, and how much ice was good ice versus rotten ice.  It is amazing how fast one rain can ruin solid blue ice.  Just ask the fellow that put his truck in reed lake just a few days after I called it quits!

If anyone is thinking about ice fishing next year- do some research and then head out!  It can be WAY MORE FUN than you think!  And a warning- more addictive than you think as well!

Brrrrrr February!!!

This winter has been an unreal windy cold season.  Especially February.  With low water and these crazy temperatures, the falls have been making some very unique ice abnormalities.   It also came close to freezing the whole upper falls over!  Now it has receded and made an ice blockade right across the bottom of the falls.  And like usual, the lower falls is frozen right over, and not much open water below.  I did however, see something that had me thinking otters were making a special house......but then upon pondering...... the water is pushing foam out of the only spot it can.  This is the only time of year you see stuff like this!

The Foam "Otter House"

Wekusko Falls  (upper)

Ice Fishing Report

Well it's that time of year where we are covered in snow and ice.  Most people get scared of the cold, and would rather sit inside watching T.V. instead of braving the elements.  I love ice fishing, but with family, business, and the new cabin, I am stretched pretty thin.  BUT a good friend and client emailed wondering if he should come up the next day, and I jumped on the opportunity to get out on the frozen landscape.

  Ice has been great this year, although not super thick.  And snow is about one foot, which is making lake travel great.  Much better than dealing with all the snow, slush, and hard drifts of the last two years.

  We ended up fishing three lakes- Wekusko, Reed, and Kormans.

 We did well on Wekusko- landing about 35 walleye, nothing over 26" though.  It was a battle finding the fish at first, but we finally succeeded, and made the day worth it.  

  The second day we went scouting on Reed, as we tried some new structure I found this summer.  It didn't take a minute and we had our first laker on.  We ended up landing 17 trout, and losing many as well, but managed a couple of beauties!  Unfortunately, we listened to the weather report, and didn't come prepared for the gale winds and the cold.  We retreated to the shelter of one of my favorite pike bays, and hit an awesome late evening bite.  We ended up landing 3 pike over 40", and lost some real bruisers too.  What a day.

  The last day was colder, and we headed to Kormans to try our hand at some big rainbows or brookies.  We did find trout- 12 of them....but nothing over 15".  Half were brookies.  This fishery will be amazing in a couple years.  Those fish will only grow, and then look out!

  And who said the fish don't bite mid-winter? Not ME!!!

New Docks

Yes that's right.  Gone are the old rickety, un-level, narrow and wobbly docks.  I have come up with a solution so every boat will get it's own spot and no juggling boats to get out!  It was a way bigger project than I expected, but it sure turned out great.  I just have a couple of small slips to construct in the spring, run power and lights, install the tie down anchors and will be in business!  Just a few details about it- the main dock is just shy of 150' long, 5 feet wide, and a sitting area!  I also plan to router out some holes and cover plexi glass so kids can look for fish under the docks.  It will be just another touch to make the overall experience that much better for our clients.

 

Bryan Adventures

This year was a very busy one, as it was a busiest bear season and open water.  I also built the new cabin and new docks, and time was always allotted to work rather than play.  But I did manage to escape reality a bit.

  First was in August where we had to leave to go to our friend and guide Naoto's wedding.  It took place on Pigeon Lake, Ontario.  Elissa and I left the lodge with my parents, the kids with her parents, and retreated to some relaxation.  The bachelor party was as follows- a bunch of us guys fish Pigeon Lake hard, and I mean die hard.  It was alot of fun...and I caught my first Largemouth Bass.....and apparently it was pretty big!

The next "get away" was in September, where I got away to moose hunt.  I hiked in 2 miles to my new secret spot and set up some scent and did some calling.  The next morning I slipped back in there and the bull moose had received the script.  The 300 win mag did it's job, and I anchored my first Manitoba Moose...a 44" bull!  And what a work out and story of getting the darn thing out!

I also got away in October to head to my family farm and do some bird hunting with Maggie, my dad Allan, Elissa, and some of my clients and friends from Wisconsin.  We had great duck hunting- killing our 40 birds a day without much effort...but the geese had our number- a first for me ever down there.  They were so inconsistent on the fields, but one morning we managed to pull a few down to the decoys and let them have it.  Maggie did amazing and you could tell she was in her glory.  I still say that blasting alot of shells is the best stress reliever there is!