Fishing reports are written weekly throughout the open fishing season based on Fireside Lodge guests reports of their daily fishing experiences while fishing at Fireside Lodge
Hello from Fireside Lodge
in Northwest Ontario, Canada. Opening week brought us fabulous unseasonable
weather with temperatures between 72 to 82 degrees. Having a record early ice
out, April 14th, and warmer than normal temperatures throughout the
spring making us about 4 weeks ahead of last year. The White Suckers were in
full spawning activity in the creek that runs through our property and by weeks
end the Smallmouth started making beds for their yearly spawning ritual. To
view some FABULOUS video of the spawning activities in our creek go to our
Facebook or YouTube links at the top of this report.
Frank Hazzard from
Arlington, TX was again our first guest to start off the season at Fireside
Lodge. This was Franks 20th consecutive year with a total of 27
trips to Fireside Lodge. Frank will be with us for several weeks so you will se
him in the next few fishing reports. Within his first week Frank had Smallmouth
Daily catches of 35, 62 with over 15% 17-inches or larger, 71 with most being
between 13 and 16-inches, 30 and 31 with 33% in the 17-inch range. He also
caught a number of Northern Pike and some Lakers, one being a MONSTER at
37-inches. One day while targeting Northern Pike Frank alone caught 31 with a
dozen being over 30-inches, and a few in the 34 to 36-inch range. In addition
to this fabulous fishing Frank had two terrific wildlife experiences seeing and
eagle swoop down and nab a whitefish from the water and struggle to become air
born with it’s catch. See this great video on our You Tube site at http://www.youtube.com/user/FiresideLodgeFish
All in all it was a
terrific week and we will see what next week brings.
Dennis Brogan from Carol
Stream, IL and good friend Joe Sisco from Cable, WI returned to Fireside Lodge
for their 10th consecutive traditional fishing adventure to Fireside Lodge.
Here primarily for the Smallmouth Bass and having only four days they did very
well. After a slower start catching 15 on their first day, the second day was
great as they landed 42 nice Smallmouth Bass. Third day they caught 36 with
Dennis teaching us a new technique to catch the BIG Master Anglers Award
Smallies. After flipping his crank bait perfectly over a tree branch where a
BIG Smallmouth could not resist the dangling profile of Dennis’s lure, it
struck with a violent explosion forcing Joe and Dennis to take their boat to
the shallow shoreline to land the fish that was now half dangling from the tree
branch. Too bad their third buddy, and partner in crime, Jeff Ziegler from
Carol Stream, Illinois wasn’t with them this trip as he could have taken video
of this new method of catching Trophy Smallmouth Bass to put on You Tube. On
the fourth and final day these two caught over 40 Smallmouth Bass, with most
being bigger, and Joe caught a Master Anglers Award 18.5-inch Smallie, and
Dennis caught a BIG Muskie they never measured but did take a nice photo. Both
left feeling the trip was too short and hope to return in 2011.
Bryan Neel III and good
friend Tim Stewart both from Rochester, MN returned to Fireside Lodge for their
8th consecutive year and 12th fishing trip. Tops on their
fishing menu is always Northern Pike and did they ever have action. One day
after a fabulous day of catching 47 Northern Pike and several Lake Trout the
action being so fierce that their hot lures, the X-Rap, got so torn up they had
to by four more that evening after supper. During their stay they caught 114
Northern Pike with 20 between 30 to 36-inches, 30 Smallmouth Bass without even
trying to fish for Smallmouth, and because the water was still cold the Lake
Trout were still shallow and they ended up catching 19 of these special fish
while fishing for Northern Pike, and many were over 30-inches and the largest
was 36-icnhes. Great trip for these two and they hope to return this year in
late August.
Tony Majcher from Hawthone
Woods, IL, who has been a Fireside Lodge guest/friend since 1991 returned for
opening week with his wife Judy for her second experience. Tony and Judy did
not waste anytime finding fish as they landed 36 Smallmouth Bass and Judy
caught a BIG 36-inch Northern Pike, being her personal best. Way to go Judy!!!
Second day had these two catching 26 Smallmouth Bass and Tony caught three
17.5-inch Smallmouth just missing the Master Anglers Award by a half inch three
times. Tony also landed 4 nice Northern Pike. Third day was a bit slower as the
Smallmouth seemed to be more interested in making nests for their annual
spawning ritual which should take place in about 3-5 days. Instead of engulfing
Tony’s sinking worm he would feel the Smallmouth just pick up the worm and move
it away from the area and then drop it. This is very early for this happening
as it usually takes place in the second week in June. Tony and Judy will still
have three days of fishing left running into next week so you will read about
them in next weeks report also.
Make sure to go to our website listed below to see the 2010 Photos
Hot Lures: Blue Fox
Spinner, X-Rap, Spoons, Mepps Spinners, Slug-O, Tube Jig, Twister Tail, Husky
Jerk,
Catches of The Week:
37-inch Lake Trout, 18.5-inch Smallmouth, and 37-inch Northern Pike
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
and nab a whitefish from the water and struggle to become air
born with it’s catch. See this great video on our You Tube site at 
day, the second day was
great as they landed 42 nice Smallmouth Bass. Third day they caught 36 with
Dennis teaching us a new technique to catch the BIG Master Anglers Award
Smallies. After flipping his crank bait perfectly over a tree branch where a
BIG Smallmouth could not resist the dangling profile of Dennis’s lure, it
struck with a violent explosion forcing Joe and Dennis to take their boat to
the shallow shoreline to land the fish that was now half dangling from the tree
branch. Too bad their third buddy, and partner in crime, Jeff Ziegler from
Carol Stream, Illinois 
wasn’t with them this trip as he could have taken video
of this new method of catching Trophy Smallmouth Bass to put on You Tube. On
the fourth and final day these two caught over 40 Smallmouth Bass, with most
being bigger, and Joe caught a Master Anglers Award 18.5-inch Smallie, and
Dennis caught a BIG Muskie they never measured but did take a nice photo. Both
left feeling the trip was too short and hope to return in 2011.
have action. One day
after a fabulous day of catching 47 Northern Pike and several Lake Trout the
action being so fierce that their hot lures, the X-Rap, got so torn up they had
to by four more that evening after supper. During their stay they caught 114
Northern Pike with 20 between 30 to 36-inches, 30 Smallmouth Bass without even
trying to fish for Smallmouth, and because the water was still cold the Lake
Trout were still shallow and they ended up catching 19 of these special fish
while fishing for Northern Pike, and many were over 30-inches and the largest
was 36-icnhes. Great trip for these two and they hope to return this year in
late August. 
and then drop it. This is very early for this happening
as it usually takes place in the second week in June. Tony and Judy will still
have three days of fishing left running into next week so you will read about
them in next weeks report also.
