Wine Lake Camp Fishing Report

End of the season 2011

2011-10-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sand hill cranes fly over head. They, as well as us, are making preparations to head south for the winter. The week's weather remained gloriously warm and sunny ( in the 70's). As the cabins were boarded up and water lines drained, my thoughts drifted back to the early years of Wine Lake Camp and all the folks who have experienced life out here on the edge. Existence was much harsher in the early years before the road was built all the way to Perrault Falls.

In her book, THE LAST RESORT, original owner, Irene Williams wrote about their first year at a remote tourist camp in the 1940's:

"Arthur asked his brother Frank to send any spare parties of tourists to Wine Lake. How many people want to travel forty-five miles over water and cross three portages to catch fish? Not very many!"

"The first party Frank sent us was a man, his wife and guide. It must've taken them all day to get there as they never arrived until around six-thirty. They had brought all their food with them so I didn't have to do a thing. That pleased me but that didn't bring us in much money either. The next day they went out to fish but the motor broke down and although Arthur did offer to rent them his little motor, they declined the offer. The guide spend all day trying to fix the motor but couldn't get it started. Finally, late on Sunday evening, the guide got the motor fixed. Monday morning they were leaving as they only stayed the weekend. We made the large sum of two dollars!"

"The weather was beginning to get chilly and we were beginning to get low on food. We had been living on pork and beans and bologna. I think I know every conceivable way of disguising bologna..... All the things we took for granted in England, were so precious to us over here. If we had a barrel full of water, we would think we were in heaven and if we had a large woodpile, we would think that we were indeed wealthy."

I look around and marvel at all that has been created out here on the edge of the wilderness since the mid-1940's. Now guests pour into camp every season and our menu has evolved way beyond beans and bologna...... but the feeling that we are heavenly blessed to live here still lingers on.

Until next year..... good bye Wine Lake!

The eleventh hour at Wine Lake Camp

2011-10-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

A Great Blue Heron stood on the dock and stared at Matt as he prepared to leave his summer job at Wine Lake Camp. His mind wandered back to the 41 1/2 inch Pike that he had caught and this poem rippled forth:

Fathomed abyss,
fierce beauty forth
from mystic depths.
Secrets flourish
and so our quests.

In silent realms
fingers dip.
Steeping thoughts
shadow gifts.

It was a clear, quiet night on Monday. A cow moose bellowed loudly in the back bay east of camp. A bull grunted repeatedly in response on the opposite shoreline near the narrows. Three moose hunters stood on shore, listened intently in the pitch dark, and strategized for the early morning hours. They would eventually clock in about 60 hours of hunting during the last week of archery season.

Just over camp hovered a dazzling light show. Green northern lights streaked, twisted, and shifted -- as if headlights emanating from a celestial spaceship down upon all who gazed upwards. "Magnificent," whispered Tom Jr, "Can you believe this?"
"Can you believe I caught a 29 inch walleye fishing for lake trout in 40 feet of water?" said Randy as Greg just shook his head in disbelief.

The lake trout were stealth players this week -- although a few (from 23 -30 inches) were snagged here and there. Beaver dams were blasted through and push/pull poles were manipulated through the shallow entrance to Ghost lake in pursuit of a day's possession of walleyes. Greg, in the same vain of his famous father, Don, took the opportunity to have shore lunch every day under the brilliant sun. Don had brought 12 year-old Greg to Wine Lake Camp back in the 1960's and dragged him on incredible adventures to portage lakes in search of moose, ducks, and lake trout. This breed of outdoors man shows no fear when surrounded by the magnitude of the natural world. Greg still packs a survival pack in his boat and takes whatever comes in stride. Just like dad.

And then came the last morning of the season. It was balmy warm ( 75 degrees) all week and then the hint of frost settled in the morning air. The forest floor became a sea of gold as poplars let loose their sparkling leaves left and right.

The diligent moose hunters gave it one more try -- seeing moose daily but never getting a clear shot. The trout anglers attempted to tease a few out of the deep water before the season closed at midnight. And then it came, a rutting bull that wanted a fight at the 11th hour. About 15 minutes before dusk, Tommy grunted into the moose call and Tom Sr. thrashed at the nearby tree. Dan stood firm as the 51 inch bull moose crashed out of the woods heading directly for him. He took the shot at 6 yards with his traditional bow. What a grand finale to the end of the season.

Closure --- a season of laughs, relaxation, beauty, projects, hard work, cherished memories, simplicity, connecting with oneself/the natural world/and old friends. It just doesn't get any better than that. We now temporarily give Wine Lake back to the flying squirrel in the compost pile, the gray jays hastily picking seeds from the dried sunflowers, and to the silent eyes that peer out at the edge of the woods as the sun begins to set.....

Fall has arrived (September 2011)

2011-09-25T11:33:00.001-07:00

Just as the vibrant rust and yellow flowers of summer faded (having been zapped by a mid-September hard frost), the undergrowth in the bush rippled forth in striking hues of red, orange, and gold. Reddish tone scrub maples made the floor of the forest appear as if on fire, while the poplars twinkled yellow leaves among the evergreen. We weren't really losing the rich beauty of summer, we were gaining the mosaic of Fall's splendor. In Autumn, the guests tend to be experienced outdoorsmen who are able to roll with the punches. The weather can be unpredictable and often comes in extremes.

There are always four- legged creatures deep in the woods, but we don't often have direct contact with them. The animal world was incredibly active and visible this week. First, as Frank slept soundly in the Eagle's Nest on Friday night, a hungry bear ravaged through the rubbermaid containers and coolers outside in the back of his pickup truck. Every apple, stick of butter, loaf of bread, and bag of oats was devoured. Tin cans were dented in frustration. But as Frank laboriously tried to scoop up the scattered coffee grounds, he laughed and said, "Well, at least he didn't get the beer."

As Bob tinkered with his tackle boxes stuffed full of jig heads, and contemplated whether life after his retirement party would include more fishing time, he watched a black bear leisurely relax on the sand beach at the south end of Wine Lake. Johnny and his guide put the sneak on seven different moose on Tuesday ( three bulls and two sets of cows and calves). At one point, Johnny stood frozen in disbelief as the cow moose came within a few feet of him and could have casually kissed him had she so desired. Later, the hunters were amazed to see four wolves cross the river, led by a jet black wolf with striking white patches on it's face.

The next day, Al hooked into small mouth bass at the Anishinabi portage and was aware that wolf scat and a pool of blood splattered the rocks near the waterfall. Working as a team, the wolves' hunt had been successful. There have also been unusual reports of mountain lion sightings near Ear Falls. And on the way out and across the portage, John Sr. watched a 40 lb. beaver walk within 6 feet of his path.

The smoke from the wood stoves curled out of the chimneys and wafted across the water. It was a gentle reminder that the seasons were in a state of flux. Some days were warm and sunny ( 60's and 70's); most were chilly and wet. A slower pace descended upon the camp with late morning fishing excursions. The resolve of the fishermen had to be strengthened several times as the wind presented a difficult obstacle to overcome. Busting up beaver dams was required to access Beaver Lake on a daily basis.

I would say the fishing was a little harder than normal this week, and the weather a bit testy, but "the ride down the curves in the river in a flat bottom boat with Herb was worth the price of admission," according to Bob. "I stare at a computer screen all day long, so just being at Wine Lake is good for my soul." Some anglers were able to scare up some walleye who were just barely sucking on the minnows, and find trout down about 40 feet below. The Missouri gang slung steel for Pike and landed a 30", 31" and 40" Northern, as well as a 27 inch Laker in 10 foot of water.

It is said that the average American watches five hours of television per day. Count me as atypical. When I want to watch something, I stare endlessly at the diamonds glistening on the water or the wind rustling the leaves. When I crave drama, all I need to do is talk with any of the guests at camp and hear about their lives. That's the best reality show I know.

The smoke from the wood stoves curled up and out of the chimney.
There's less adrenalin in the air.
A quieter existence beckons.
Fall has arrived.
Fall has very much arrived.

Dazzling Northern Lights fill the sky

2011-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

The week started off in the mid-80's as we neared the full moon. There was not a hint in the air as to why a migration had begun. But at 3am on Sunday morning, Bob sat straight up in bed... dreaming that he had been in a big city traffic jam. Instead, the loud sound of horns blasting in the dark of night was actually 100 geese flying overhead and reporting to one another that the wild rice marsh below would be a fine stopping over point in their travels.

Brad, Herb, Nate, and Bruce went for an evening swim in front of camp that day --probably the last intentional freshwater dip of the season. Brad was celebrating his and John's stringer of walleye on the first afternoon of fishing. Nate and Bruce were celebrating turning 40-years-old. They playfully splashed in the water, stuck their heads into a beaver lodge, carved a wooden fish sculpture, made Rockin Moroccan campfire stew, and entered a mallard and a surgically enlarged walleye in the weekly fishing tournament. As the full moon shone through their window like a giant night light later that evening, Nate commented, "there's no other place on earth I'd rather be."

Fifteen years ago, Nate and his wife Jen worked at Wine Lake. They returned for their honeymoon and still later with kids in tow. "This place helped define who I am as a person," stated Nate with gratitude.

By Monday evening, the moon was at full effervescence. Half the camp decided to take advantage of it and fish well after dark. Gene bent back his barbs and went forth to find perch and northern. Quinton and Kermit lingered in central Wine Lake till 11pm, catching 30 -40 walleye over 18 inches in size. Gene and Warren stayed on the north end and were treated to a display of shadowy green northern lights across the darkening horizon.

John, Leon, Gary, and Brad pursued walleye each day; on glorious warm and sunny days and even on Wednesday when a series of squalls rolled through pelting the water with sleet, hail, and half dollar-sized snowflakes. These guys wrote the book on "pampered living in the wild." Each evening, Brad created a masterpiece of fresh fish with all the trimmings. "What I love about Wine Lake," said Brad, "is you don't have to pack in a lot of food. You just have to get creative with the fish you're guaranteed to catch every day." One night a bed of fresh spinach was covered with alfredo linguini and topped with lemony grilled walleye and capers. Another night it was fish gumbo and later walleye cerviche and tortilla chips. Just for fun, one night they fried fish.

Chris and Chad can always be found at their honey hole in central Wine around dusk. If the wind kicks the water up during the day, they head to the "hump" on the north end of the lake. Every September, in 20 -25 feet of water, the lake produces one walleye after another. Three boats caught 100 walleyes in an hour on Tuesday evening. "We need to switch to another species. This is too easy," first timer Eric said.

Sari reeled in perch and celebrated another birthday overlooking the peaceful waters of Wine Lake. She listened to Bob's excited chatter when he caught five walleye between 20 and 28 inches in two hours time. She reflected in the cabin's journal about all the trips, all the people, and all the memories she and Bob have made at Wine Lake. Wine Lake is etched in their hearts and they are etched in ours.

Warren remembers coming to Wine Lake when 12 year-old Tommy Williams ( now 60) shot his first deer. Bob shared memories of "borrowing" some minnows from women camping at Anishinabi Falls back in the 60's. The road map of wrinkles on these guy's faces indicate how much time they have spent in the elements pursuing their love of angling and the out of doors. We all pray that they each still have a few more trips left in them. Warren thinks he has brought over 40 fellows up here from Arkansas over the years. "And only two just came once," he grinned.

There is a long history of characters and their adventures on Wine Lake dating back 70 years since the beginning of the camp. A small boat ventured onto the lake on Thursday carrying the Schulte family. Grandpa Schulte was the generous man who adopted the grave site of Frances Fobister in the 1950's, built a cross and white picket fence, later had a grave stone carved, and did regular upkeep on the memorial site. He is no longer alive, but his middle-aged grandson carried a set of vinyl picket fences in his small boat and prepared to maintain the site once again. Once, in honor of the young, four-year-old Frances, and lastly, in honor of his wonderful role model, Grandpa Schulte.......

NW Ontario -- the new Caribbean?

2011-09-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

With climate change slowly (and sometimes drastically) tweaking our weather system, our typical Fall temperatures in the sunny 70's were soon replaced by four hot days in the mid to upper 80's. Shorts were quickly created out of warm autumn attire to relieve sweaty anglers. According to a recent study coming out of the University of Texas, "animals and plants are moving rapidly away from the equator to escape the global warming's rising temperatures. Research of 2000 species shows that they're headed toward the poles at an average of a mile per year." "If you observe closely, you'll even see homo sapians encroaching on NW Ontario by the boatloads," mused Robbie.

Within four hours of climbing up into the tree stand, Rick shot a black bear with his bow. The rains lifted and he was able to track and haul the noble animal back to camp as the sun dipped below the western horizon. His buddies took a break from fishing on Sunday to help butcher and freeze up the prize. Dennis and Dave sought out big northern pike and were rewarded with a 36" and 39" by the week's end. Besides all the fishing Rick was able to enjoy, a high light for him was checking his trail camera and seeing several wolves work the bear baits each night.

The group from Chicago worked tirelessly to reel in numerous quality fish. Ken was most proud of the 37 1/2 inch Northern Pike he landed and Ed topped off with a 40 inch northern. Al just kept shaking his head and marveling at what he caught this week. "I've never caught so many large fish in my whole life," he grinned. Mark and Mike tracked large northern and trout, but spent most of their time playing around with forty-five trophy walleyes from 18 - 27 1/4 inches in size.

Randy, Dan, Skeeter, and Kelly sat around the LIAR'S FIRE each night on their deck. They reminisced about past fishing trips, joked about who would win their trophy fishing lure toilet seat for goofiest behavior of the week, and told stories from each day's adventures. There were some nice large northern pike entered on the brag board by this group. Kelly hinted at how he managed to also catch ten lake trout on the south and west shorelines of Wine Lake. His secret technique was to fish between 50- 55 foot down despite the fact that it was September and the trout should be gravitating upward. Randy and Kelly landed 22 - 31 inch Lakers by staying deep.

The water level continues to drop. It's still possible to access Ghost, Mud, and Beaver Lakes by trolling in shallow water drive, but waders may soon be the preferred method of sneaking into those honey holes. The weed beds have flourished from the warm, dry summer temperatures. They resemble a tangled dreadlocked mess of hair if your propeller gets in too deep. Bring plenty of lures to fling into the cabbage weeds -- a giant northern lays dormant there waiting for your best effort!

"Attracting a man is just like fishing ---
you just have to jiggle the bait a bit!"

Sustainable Fishing Practices

2011-09-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Eleven year-old Dion was up early on Sunday morning, eager to experience what his Dad had been telling him about for years. On his first trip to NW Ontario, Dion sauntered down to the dock and repeatedly cast into the bay. It was easy to catch perch, northern, and a 14 inch small mouth while everyone else in camp was still sipping their coffee and making plans for their day.

What Dion Jr. doesn't know is that the strong fishery that he will explore all week has been lovingly cared for by thousands of anglers for years. The delight that appeared on his eleven year-old face when he eventually reeled in the largest walleye caught all week, is possible because more and more visitors to Wine Lake are thinking about their long term impact while enjoying a remote fishing opportunity.

Patrick Kiger shares FIVE SUSTAINABLE FISHING PRACTICES that will allow Dion Jr and his children the same exhilarating experience that countless anglers before him have relished. Have you stopped to think about what each of us can do to keep Wine Lake a world-class fishery surround by a protected wilderness?

"When recreational anglers go out into nature, they can observe first hand the effects of pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. And they become keenly aware that these problems endanger that past time to which they're so devoted. If you fish for pleasure, there's plenty you can do to protect fish, other aquatic animals, and the environment,. Here are five ideas.

1. Practice Carbon-Conscious Fishing
Next to commercial overfishing, climate change is one of the biggest menaces to the life in our rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. You can do your part to combat these dangerous trends by reducing the amount of carbon that your fishing boat puts in the atmosphere. Replace your propeller with a new stainless steel one, which will reduce drag. Closely monitor fuel consumption and find the most energy-efficient cruising speed. Learn to go easy on the throttle.
2. Use Lead-Free Tackle
Anyone who remembers the horror stories about kids getting brain damage from eating paint chips knows that lead is toxic to most living things. Lead is still an ingredient in most fishing jigs and sinkers. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fish exposed to enough lead can exhibit a wide range of problems, including muscular and neurological degeneration and destruction, stunted growth, reproductive problems and paralysis. Worse yet, lead also kills loons and eagles, who sometimes are unlucky enough to eat a fish that's swallowed a lead sinker. Fortunately, you can order bismuth jigs from suppliers like Northland Tackle and locate other lead-free fishing gear.
3. Practice Catch and Release
If you throw back the big, robust prize catches, you give them the chance to live, mate and produce equally robust progeny. Be sure to learn the techniques espoused by catch-and-release experts, such as using a circle hook, which is less likely to catch a fish's gut and improves it's chances of survival upon release. Gently handling fish, landing them horizontally with a cradle, and quickly getting them back into the water are all practices that help ensure the fish will live to be caught again.
4. Pack Out Everything You Pack In
People leave all sorts of junk behind on shorelines and in the water, and it causes problems. Debris in the water can wrap around boat propellers, causing engine damage, and trash like cigarette filters and grocery bags look like food to animals. Once ingested, they cause suffocation or starvation. The point is, be fastidious about bagging all your debris and bringing it home with you -- for recycling and composting, if possible. If you're really committed to protecting the environment, pick up somebody else's trash as well.
5. When You Keep Your Catch, Use Every Part of It
Chances are, unless you're a shark, you probably don't eat the whole fish. Don't throw the rest away. While some creative souls make jewelry out of the bones, you can compost the fish parts with plant waste such as sawdust, peat, wood chips, leaves or bark. Microorganisms in the pile will feed on the waste, and over the course of several months, convert it into rich humus that is great for growing plants. Don't worry about the smell because the heat from the microbes will pasteurize the pile, eliminating the odor, as well as any disease organisms."

Sterling commented this week, that "during a typical fishing season, I spend a lot of time in a boat angling and do quite well. But nothing holds an equal to the fishing environment, as well as the fish, that are caught in Wine Lake. I've often wondered who is 'really' being caught because from the day I leave Wine Lake Camp I begin counting the days as to when I will return....and there's nothing wrong with that, except it's not soon enough."

There haven't been many sightings of moose over the last month, but this week they came out of hiding. Lucy and her two calves frolicked in the bay mid-week and four other moose were spotted in the river. Substantial rain showers and some gusty winds visited us this week. All these sights and sounds, as well as the taste, smell, and feel of Wine Lake are still out here .....waiting for your senses to indulge them. Thank you for helping preserve this little piece of paradise.

Surf and Turf

2011-08-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Late August fishing was fantastic! Within the first hour and a half on the lake, Marty and Chris caught two trophy lakers. Trout fishing remained strong for the first half of the week with fourteen lake trout caught and released between 23" -30 1/2 inches.

The large crew from Nebraska didn't waste any time. Their menu plan called for a walleye fish fry the first night and the lake lovingly produced. Jim even caught a 25 incher within hours of wetting his line on Saturday.

Dave remembers his first fishing trip to Wine Lake with his dad back in the 1980's. He is amazed by the unbelievable difference in the fisheries today. First timer, Scott, has fished Lac Seul and the Sioux Lookout region for years. After joining his group in catching endless walleyes between 19" to 24", he commented about how much bigger the average fish are in Wine Lake. Another first timer, Joey, from the heart of Chicago, caught a 30 inch walleye this week. Being new to angling in a strong, dynamic fishery, he didn't even realize this was a "once in a lifetime catch." No camera was available.... only a wonderful memory was created.

There were lots of skilled anglers in camp this week. They were on the water taking it all so seriously, just like an 8 - 5 job. But then when they returned to camp, the festivities began. Grilling, playing cards, horseshoes and ladder ball, and laughing at all the fish stories they could muster up to tell. There was even a line forming in the back yard to get free back adjustments from Steve, the visiting chiropractor. All in all, 127 trophy fish were caught and released this week. The trophy walleyes dominated the brag board with eighteen of them measuring between 25" to 30".

The day time temperatures were mostly in the 70's with a touch of rain now and then. With little moisture befalling the earth, the water level of the lake continued to drop. Accessing Ghost and Mud Lake requires tipping up your motor into shallow water drive. The beavers are as busy as the Army Corp of Engineers at the entrance to Beaver Lake. Nights are in the 50's with heavy dew saturating the grass each morning.

On Tuesday evening, Marty shot a black bear with his bow in the woods surrounding Turn Around Lake. At 9 pm, his wife and guide went to pick him up. Lightening bolts and thunder clouds were building off to the south as the skies darkened. Marty needed to quickly track and field dress the bear before the clouds opened up. By 10 pm, the threesome were able to slowly wander back through the woods with a flashlight and transport the under 200 lb. bear into the boat. It was pitch dark but heat lightening kept building. As the boat crept back down the lake, streaks of electricity flashed across the sky like the grand finale of fireworks on the 4th of July. The light show brightened the way back in a boat without headlights. By the time they got to shore and hung the bear, the skies opened up and healing rain drenched the earth. The next day, Jay and Scott chipped in to butcher the harvested bear. Then Marty shared grilled bear loin wrapped in bacon with all the camp guests. The dark black fur of the once proud bear was skinned, salted, and folded to take home for tanning.

It's the time of year that we are busy splitting wood in preparation for winter and the next season. The smell of freshly cut pine trees, and the feel of sticky sap, permeates the camp. Fall is fast approaching, and with gratitude given to the fallen bear and all the fillets consumed, we have already shared a Thanksgiving meal together.

2011-08-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

"What we are told as children is that people when they walk on the land leave their breath wherever they go. So wherever we walk, that particular spot on the earth never forgets us, and when we go back to these places, we know that the people who have lived there are in some way still there, and that we can actually partake of their breath and of their spirit."

Rina Swentzell, Pueblo

When Ken visits Wine Lake each year, he feels in touch with the spirit of his deceased father, John. For Wine Lake is where John fished with his son and Ghost Lake is where a rock inukshuk and memorial gravestone honor John's spirit and all the fish he caught there. On the rocky shoreline that supports a vast array of blueberry bushes, on this rock shelf, John's breath is still felt. The large northern pike and trophy walleye swim just feet away and remember the man who spent countless hours each August on Ghost Lake.

Patricia, Karl, Dolly, and Stanley may have been able to sense the presence of others who came before them as they quietly worked the north end of Wine Lake this week. They were the only inhabitants angling on the north edge and secretly delighted in catching over 45 fish one day.

Butch hadn't visited Wine Lake in over five years. He was impressed with the quality of the fishery compared to other lakes he has fished in. It took until Friday before he landed a trophy 25 inch walleye. A nearby boat, which was reeling in one large walleye after another each day in Beaver Lake, let him in on their secret technique of using floating jigs. This technique produced results.

Nights are beginning to cool down almost enough to desire a wood fire to take off the chill. This year's sweepstake's winner made biscuits in the Coleman oven one morning and jalepeno poppers on the grill to warm her group's tummies. The days warmed into the 70's -- perfect for lake trout fishing. Wally, Mike, and Chris caught and released lakers from 23 - 35 inches in length ( one time they even had a double on). Then they sipped cocktails and sat watching the peaceful lake each evening. You could overhear them recounting stories of days gone by.

All in all, it was a strong week for August fishing. Eighty-six trophy walleyes were caught and released. Dick topped the week's chart with a 27 1/2 inch walleye. Twenty-five trophy pike were released as well. The biggest among them included catches by:
Ken 35 inches
Chris 35 1/2 inches
Paul 36 1/2 inches
Wayne 38 inches
and Spencer with 42 inches of flopping northern!

Lots of laughter and fun radiated from the Wolf cabin. It started on Saturday when Dale greeted everyone at the portage wearing a spiked green wig and Hawaiian shirt. The shenanigans could faintly be heard even through the storm that blew through on Tuesday. We were blessed with two inches of rain. That is three times the amount of precipitation we've received between June 10th and August 10th this year. Some high winds prevailed as well. But not even the brisk breezes could dissipate the breath and spirit of all the travelers who have passed through these parts, walked on this land, and fished these waters..... If you have been to Wine Lake, Wine Lake remembers you.

The Spirit of Wine Lake

2011-08-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

"Lucy, I'm home...." yelled Dickie Ricardo as he rounded the bend and saw Wine Lake Camp. Whenever he initially pulls up to the main dock, Dick, like so many others, feels like he has returned to his second home away from home. It just feels right to be out on the edge, to be surrounded by rocks and trees, flowing water, and the coziness of a simple log cabin. Keith, has brought over 50 people to Wine Lake in the last 10 years. He says he wishes he would have found this place 20 years earlier. There is a draw, a familiarity, a cleansing that occurs when you venture back into the wilderness for your vacation.

The temperatures have dipped back into the 70's with cool mornings and nights. A hint of Fall dances on the cusp of the waxing moon. We all donned sweatshirts on the dock in the a.m., but by afternoon the children were sporting swim trunks and splashing in the refreshing water. Much needed rain showers finally descended on us this week; the crackly dry grass soaked it up in a flash. The changes in barometer improved the fishing from slow at some points to lively the next day. Pete the Pike is our own personal fishing barometer. When we throw bait at him each morning, he selects whether or not to leap into the air for it, casually swirl in it's direction, or stare lethargically at the floating food. As always, you and your depth finder can locate fish in Wine Lake, you just have to convince them to eat at your buffet.

And the convincing went on all week long. Some liked bouncing a jig and minnow off the bottom, others were partial to trolling little joe spinners and a worm. A few had their best luck with Gulp leeches in Dynamite Bay. They all worked.....just pick a style and master it. Or shake things up now and then and try some new tackle ideas. Our gift shop has offered GREEN TACKLE Ideas this year -- complete with lead-free jigs, biodegradable fishing line, and barbless circle hooks.

Andy, Ty, Alex, and Brittany had the best luck on releasing large walleye this week. They ended the week with a bang and bragging rights on 25, 26, 27 1/2, and 27 3/4 inch walleyes. Ten to twelve pound northern were landed by Chris, Hayden, Mike, Harry, Gary, and Kyle -- ranging in size from 29 -34 inches. Everyone caught enough fish to eat several times over and the fish fryers were humming all week. Harry and Mike consistently caught their limit of walleye by mid-day and snuck in an afternoon nap now and then. Paul lost his balance in the boat, fell and broke his rod, and his loyal buddies just kept elaborating on the gruesome details and recapping the humiliating story over and over for the entire camp.

Al treated his young grandsons to their first Canadian fishing trip. He is used to vacationing here with his adult buddies, but he wanted to give Nick and Chris an unforgettable experience. "When I'm with the guys, we fish TWICE as long and I'm HALF as tired as this week," Al smiled. But he wouldn't give up this adventure for the world. They fished and hiked, napped, played hide and go seek, swam, ate, and revelled in the natural surroundings. Eleven-year-old Nick thought it would be "cool" to own this camp some day.

Dan and Sue never made it all the way back to Ghost Lake, but they enjoyed fishing the north end of Wine Lake and reading on the deck of their cabin each evening. Sue and Micca struck warrior poses on Sunday as they practiced yoga next to the lake. Young Ty and Caleb leapt off rocks and picnic tables yelling "Par Core!", while their bodies twisted in gymnastic contortions. Who says fishing is all there is to do out here?

"This place is beautiful," exclaimed Brent. "I've been making trips to Ontario for 20 years. Every place has the basics, but Wine Lake Camp has a great fishery and artistic flair throughout. Even the outhouses are decorated for a laugh." While all this may be true, one of my favorite aspects about living far from civilization is the camaraderie that often emerges during the week. Our sense of being isolated and alienated often morphs into a deep feeling of connectedness and compassion. As the convoy of boats snaked down the foggy river to leave on Saturday, each boat was keenly aware of the occupants in the vessels in front of and behind them. Every guest remained at the portage to help one another across, carrying each other's gear, pulling the rope that hoisted each boat up and out of Wine Lake. That is the spirit of Wine Lake -- creating supportive relationships with each other as we are surrounded by all this natural beauty. May we all carry this spirit with us as we return to our homes.....

The highs and lows of August

2011-08-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

As soon as the morning rays of sun peeked through the window, 13-year-old Connor's feet hit the floor running. With PopTart in hand and his drowsy-eyed mother in toe, he was the first to speed off in search of the day's catch. Cliff, a solo flier, often beat him to the punch -- trolling away from the dock no later than 6 am. However, the rest of the camp was absolutely and defiantly in no hurry most mornings. They knew the fish would wait for their leisurely arrival.

Some of us are continuously driven souls. Some of us prefer to snooze and refuel on our vacations.... surfacing by 10 am to see what the rest of the day will bring. These extremes typlify this week's fishing success as well. There were hot, still days when the fish were hard to convince to actively feed. There were moments of ecstatic delight -- when big honking musky lures splashed in the water and drug in walleyes, trout and northern, sometimes in unusual locations.

August weather followed suit --sticky warm days in the 80's followed by cool evening swims. Back and forth. Up and down. Thus goes the pattern of the lake, the cycle of nature, and the pattern of humankind. This time of year, despite the angler's skill level, the middle of the sunny day may or may not produce fish. Early morning and evening angling becomes prime time.

Lots of trophy hunters were in camp this week.... flinging gigantic lures every which way. There were Hawaiian dingle dangles, eight inch gold sequenced twister tails with snarly hooks, hefty wooden suicks, and the most productive -- a giant musky lure that looked like a six inch perch. All these creative lures paid off with 32", 34", 35", 36" and 39 1/2" Northerns through out the week. In any case, the fish that are being caught were BIG and PLUMP. "The northern population on Wine Lake is extremely healthy," commented Jim, an avid trophy hunter.

Pete, a 25 year Wine Lake veteran, placed third in the tournament with buddy Steve. Katie and Cliff squeaked by Dale and Dave to win the tourney with 10 pounds and 68 1/4 inches of flopping northern and walleye.

Several extra large walleyes were released this week, topping off with Dan Choate's 28 incher. To her delight, Erika enjoyed landing and releasing a 25-year-old, 31 inch Lake Trout. But Cliff was just as pleased to score numerous 22 inch, eating-size Lake Trout on the south end of the lake.

I thought I had heard enough fish stories to last a life time, but Michele and Alex topped them all with their 42 1/2 burping Northern which helped them lose a trophy walleye. You have to hear it to believe it. And then there was Steve's story about an eagle that was swimming..... The art of storytelling is definitely alive and well at Wine Lake Camp.

Summer in Canada:
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair. "

Kahil Gibran

Ode to the Night Crawler

2011-08-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

ODE TO the NIGHT CRAWLER
Deep within the earth
busy creating rich soil.
Completely out of it's element
dangling from my hook in the water.

The presentation of choice this week was the humble backyard night crawler. It kept anglers enjoying many a fresh fish meal. And the shiny red and white daredevil pulled in 28"-33" northern left and right. Some played with jerk baits and top water lures, but jigs and spinners topped with a worm brought home the fresh water bacon again and again. Chase and Bill utilized an unusual approach to walleye fishing. They turned into midnight warriors each evening between 9pm and "dark thirty" and found huge walleyes suspended in 70 foot of water in Wine Lake.

There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm.

Lucy, the cow moose, greeted everyone on Saturday. As she chomped away in the bay, Ron hunched over his tackle box and pinched the barbs down on his northern pike-hunting hooks. Soon afterward, Don would land a 24 inch walleye on his barbless contraption.

Joann and Bruce snapped pictures of the regal moose. "I could go home right now. Just observing this has made my trip," said Bruce. Then he wondered, "do you guys still notice all this beauty around you or have you grown to ignore it after 25 years in these woods?" "Yes", I said, "We live it, feel it, and breathe it every moment. It's a great office to work out of."

By evening, somewhat reserved Gary was beaming from ear to ear. "We just had the best two hours of fishing we've ever experienced in Canada." The waves turned his boat round and round near the baby's grave island. Each attempt to reorient and line back up landed a walleye -- a 24", 23", 22", 21", a couple of 19 inchers, and their limit of 18 inchers. Kathy's very first cast was a 24 inch walleye. Throughout the week, they continued to catch endless large walleyes in 25 feet of water in north and central Wine Lake.

Fourteen-year-old, hot rod Andrew, and friend Sam, explored every inch of Wine Lake.... while Tom and Matthew trailed behind. They landed 28", 29" and 40 inch Northern Pike as well as walleyes. Each day ended with a celebratory "Oklahoma O" in front of camp, an evening swim, and a plate full of fried fish.

The boys from Missouri went Pike hunting all week. James landed a 36 incher. Kale fought with 37 3/4 " and a 39 inch Northern. George outfished them all by landing a 40 1/2 " Pike. but only Kale and James could catch a trophy small mouth bass, trophy-sized walleye, and trophy northern pike all on their jerk baits out of the same fishing hole on the north end of Wine with a total of three casts!

Julie multi-tasked as mom, nurse, guide, guitarist, and angler and still reeled in a 30", 31", and 41 inch northern from Dynamite Bay. With strong angling skills, Bruce and Brennan almost won the tournament with 11 3/4 pounds. But in the end, they were outmeasured and outmaneuvered.

Ring leader, Paul, organized theme nights in his cabin. Ugly necktie night, Hawaiian shirt day, bad hat night.... you get the picture. Sam and Joe won a few prizes at best for their attire. Caleb and Charlie found their own entertainment in the wilderness by taking a dead northern carcass away from an eagle. The head of the pike was one of the largest we've ever seen in these waters. Could it be that the legend of PSYCHO PIKE ( 50" plus) is now passe'? Craig still believes in the legend and is in hot pursuit. His adoring grandsons will follow grandpa and his dreams to the edge of the world.

Sun and temperatures in the 70's warmed our days, but we are headed back into the high 80's if the forecasters are accurate this time around. There is still little rain to speak of. All campers are relearning the ART OF PORTAGING since the water is low. Everyone wishes they had packed a little lighter coolers and bins for carrying across the rock. Boots and shoes get wet. Three or four folks pull together with the motor locked up and someone else holding the front rope as the boat slides across the ramp. Team work. Preparation and determination. Mindfulness. Ahhhhhh........Wine Lake.

Surrounded by Fire

2011-07-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's been warm and dry for six weeks now, but this week takes the cake. A flurry of forest fires (112 in NW Ontario) made the air thick with smoke and the MNR enforced fire restrictions were put into effect across the north. The air temperature climbed well into the 90's and topped 100 degrees for five days straight. The surface water temperature rose to 75 degrees or more, instead of the typical 67 degrees. "It's hot enough to fry an egg in my armpit," I kept muttering over and over. But everyone endured and the fish kept biting. "I like it HOT!" exclaimed Joanna. "This weather is perfect for me." The Great White North seldom sees this kind of sustained heat. "At least we don't get the humidity up here like in the Midwest," commented Ryan.

Secret lures and sophisticated techniques kept the fishing strong, despite all the heat. "You need to outlaw this lure," smiled Joe, "it's too easy to catch walleye with it." Penny created some homemade spinners with pink beads, a #3 hook, and a silver dented spinner. They named it the PINK PENNY, took out a patent on it, and slayed the walleye all week long. Lots of folks relied on Gulp, but Chris embellished his by adding a smashed elephant garlic bulb and a little water to the pouch. Sam stuck with a white twister tail on a jig. Brad and Ryan caught walleyes all day in Ghost Lake when it was 100 degrees, in the weeds, using a spoon! Go figure. The Lookingland party found walleyes in 8 feet of water no matter where they went. Rich and Larry claimed that it didn't matter whether they tried leeches, night crawlers, or minnows; the fish were biting on everything they threw at their hungry mouths in front of the sandy beach. "I've never caught more walleyes in one day than I did today," said Rich on Wednesday.

Joel (a 37 year veteran at Wine Lake) said July fishing at Wine Lake is now equivalent to what fishing used to be like in June 30 years ago. Steve and Joel took a break after a few hours; catching 30 walleyes between 16 -22 inches. Their cabin of five successfully released 65 walleyes between 18 -24 inches ( the primary brood stock for the lake) by midweek. In his spare time, Joel perused through a book abut the history of the Ear Falls District ( called YESTERDAY THE RIVER). It details the Ojibway heritage and influence of the Europeans and gold rush in the area. The guys from Plano took a midnight drive to the abandoned (and haunted?) trapper's cabin to see what bits of history they could stir up.

"The folks at Wine Lake Camp have restored our faith in human nature," said Sam and Jeri. Everyone helped each other locate fish during the hot days of summer. Ron, "a class act", offered them several little joe spinners to try. Mike stopped by to encourage them to fish a little shallower, and later offered to clean their fish. The whole camp sang "Happy Birthday" to Connie, and Charlie celebrated his wife's birthday by catching a 21 3/4 and 22 1/2 inch walleye that day.

All bets were off when Jay and Don temporarily had motor problems on Ghost lake. They blew their emergency whistle and paddled down the channel to find a mechanic. "Yeah, we heard the whistle a long time ago," teased Neil, "but we just kept on catching fish!" Neil and Mike slam dunked the fishing derby with 10 1/2 lbs. After 25 years, it was Neil's turn to shine. But by and large, the women ruled this week in terms of large fish caught and released:
Penny released a 31" and 32" Lake Trout,
Tomasa reeled in a 37 inch Pike,
and Joanna topped out with a 40 inch Northern.

By Friday, the mercury had dropped 50 degrees and everyone developed amnesia about how hot it had been. But by and large, this week was HOT in many, many ways......

Everything Tastes Better Outdoors

2011-07-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Why is it that everything tastes better eaten outdoors? Twenty-four folks congregated on Beaver Lake this week to experience "the largest shore lunch in the history of NW Ontario." Despite a week with temperatures in the 80's , everyone caught fresh walleye to add to the kettle. Dee had lovingly prepared 15 pounds of potatoes and onions for the crowd, along with baked beans, pasta, and bean salad. The fire skirted the frying pans and sizzled the boiling beans as the cooks stirred the food. But by the end of the week, we were on fire restriction as drought conditions emboldened the potential for forest fires.

But during the grand shore lunch, the view and setting were spectacular. The waves sparkled and the breeze lightened the warm day. Everyone filled their bellies, but left just enough room for cooling cheese cake topped with cherries and blueberries. However, you don't have to prepare a complicated gourmet meal to have a memorable meal at Wine Lake. "Even a peanut butter sandwich tastes better when you're sitting on a rock in the wilderness," said Renee. Celebrating life with friends and good food at Wine Lake is a memory not soon forgotten.

"I couldn't wait to get back here," said Adam. "We took every mode of transportation possible, except a bike, to get to Wine Lake from southern Ontario," added Stephanie. The young couple caught several nice lake trout in a few hours, many walleye to eat, and worked like the dickens to find a monster pike that would simulate hardcore musky fishing. "Working here two years ago helped make us who we are," admitted a teary-eyed Stephanie. "We grew so much that summer and will never forget this place."

As the sun towered overhead in early July, a group of women splashed in the lake and floated around in inner tubes. Nine men and women boarded the floating dock and squealed with excitement as they simultaneously jumped together into the refreshing lake. Over the horizon, the storm clouds built up and lightening slashed across the sky. The group scrambled to get out of the water after their day of fishing. Clothed and dried, they huddled in their cabin during the rain storm. The sounds of boisterous laughter rippled across the camp and blended in with the thunder claps. It seems that vacationing with your best friends just couldn't get any better. And it was only Sunday night.

The bucket of sweepstakes entries remained relatively empty for the rest of the week. It wasn't because the fishing was slow in any way, shape, or form. Few people really bothered reporting the trophies they caught and released. That wasn't really the point of this week. One 60-year-old man returned to Wine Lake where he found refuge from a broken home as a teenager. Others came to make new memories and pay homage to one of their own who joins them now only in spirit. Some were taking in every moment as if it would be years before they would be back to breathe it all in again. With seven days of glorious sun and cooling breezes, there were excursions to Ghost Lake, bumper boats in Beaver, the courage to cliff jump in Turn Around, kick butt northern fishing by the winning team of Hillary, Kim, and Rick. There were s'mores around the campfire, cold drinks, guitar serenades, and a fish cook off on the grill. Fishing was just one of the many pleasures of the week.

The buttery yellow ball of light appeared to be melting into the lake on Thursday night as a loon called out in the distance. A full moon this week produced consistent fishing opportunities, an awe-inspiring presence, and highlighted glorious laughter late into each night. This week, as always, Wine Lake is a place of joy and renewal.....

Coming Full Circle

2011-07-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

When we purchased Wine Lake Camp 25 years ago, we inherited many things. One of which was a group of characters from Chicago. They'd already been vacationing at Wine Lake for 30 years and had developed close friendships with the Williams family. Well, this week our inheritance has come full circle. These guys have helped us all realize that Wine Lake isn't just about catching fish. Wine Lake is about the relationships we forge with each other and with the natural world.
For 48 years, Joe Tropea, Johnny Mirza, and Eddy O'Malley trolled these waters for lakers in early July. Here is their story........

The sturdy red pine tree stands next to the rocky shoreline, the very shoreline which overlooks a popular trout hole. Joe and Johnny had spent 48 summers trolling over that hot spot. As the decades passed and technology pumped out more gadgets, they stayed true to the age old art of fishing. They didn't rely on all the high tech bells and whistles. Just simple jigging, and trolling down deep for lake trout, with some weight on their line.

On Sunday, a group of their friends reverently bid farewell to these old men from Chicago. Over the years, Johnny's heavy office chair had been converted into a boat seat the size of a Mack truck. He had always sat quietly in the front of the boat, giggling, as Joe played captain. Today, this grandiose seat was placed under the red pine with a plaque commemorating Johnny's life and passing. He could forever observe the trout hole and all who fished there. He could sit, relax, and giggle now and then.

Then the small group of loyal friends gathered in boats over the lake trout hole. Memories of Joe, Johnny, and Ed were shared. As we talked, our attention was drawn to two mature bald eagles, sitting next to each other in the red pine. They were perched in the tree, curiously watching over the ceremony. We had come to reflect on the life and times of Joe Tropea. His unforgettable personality had been written about in two books that tell the stories of Wine Lake Camp. He was both a warm, loving man and a demanding customer; a favorite guest at the camp. A wreath of lilac leaves floated over his favorite trout hole. This is where Joe's ashes would reside. Tied to the wreath was a picture of three young guys in 1958 with a boatload of large, gutted lakers.

We all wondered if the third buddy, Ed, was still alive. A stroke had sent him into nursing care five years earlier and we hadn't heard about him since. Jokingly, we looked up at the two eagles who attended the service and surmised that Eddy must still be on this earthly plane, or there would have been three eagles ( or two eagles and a turkey vulture!) observing the last rite. In any case, after the ashes were distributed, we turned and the two eagles had quietly disappeared. Dennis, an Ojibway elder with long ties to Wine Lake, later shared with us that it is the Eagle that the Aboriginals call in at a memorial service to take the person onto the spirit world. How fitting that two eagles came to carry Joe and Johnny home.

Every summer for two weeks, these high school friends from the heart of Chicago came to smell the fresh air, fish in the clear, cool lakes, and rekindle their bonds of friendship. One Iranian immigrant, one Irish man, and one feisty Italian made a lasting impression on Wine Lake. With their passing comes the end of an era. Henry David Thoreau said it best, "Many men go fishing all their lives, not knowing it isn't fish they are after." Joe and Johnny have finally found what they were after. Their spirits are at rest at Wine Lake.

The draw of the the wilderness at Wine Lake continues to call forth guys from big cities and small towns. Come.... Come.... ......Come full circle.

Stories of Baby Moose, Barbless Hooks, and Burdock.....

2011-07-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, at 5 am, there was a camp-wide wake up call from the bay. Lucy, the resident cow moose, was balling and moaning. Lucy stood in the middle of the bay and dunked her head under the water. Only the ridge of her back was visible for over a minute as she tugged on sunken edibles. Her young twin calves stood on the shore watching. A while later, she lifted her head and realized that her young ones had ignored orders to stay close by. She bolted across the bay and bellowed endlessly as she reached the shoreline, searching frantically for her invisible children. "Get over her, NOW," she said. Any human parent could understand the message behind this moose talk. Who says we can't communicate with the animals? If only we'd stop long enough to listen to what they are saying.

Everyone was off to good start on Saturday. Bumpy waves gave the guests a thrilling ride back into the wilderness. But then Cathy and Deb quickly located 22 -26 inch walleyes on the windy side of Wine Lake. Jack "the lip ripper" and Tim, who have never fished in Canada before, were pleasantly surprised to catch over a hundred fish in the next few days.

Although the last three weeks have brought hot sun in the 80's, and little moisture from the skies, the fishing has been consistently strong. Even in July, the catching doesn't seem to slow down much. John and Allissa helped Jeremy snag a 30 3/4 inch Trout and Erik found a large Laker relaxing in 15 feet of water. The water level is dropping. No more can we "squeak" through the falls at the portage. New rocks are peeking up from the water in places where they used to be hidden deep below. Careful attention to the props has become a necessity.

In order to beat the summer heat, John puttered out daily onto the lake by 5:30am. He was never disappointed. Several generations of his family have visited Wine Lake for 50 years now. As little as 15 years ago, they chartered daily float planes to other distant waters in order to catch more walleye. Today, John's family just snuggles into Wine Lake for a week to receive nonstop fishing action in the middle of a sunny day. Within three hours on Monday, they caught 89 fish. Later in the week, Rachael astounded herself with a 41 1/2 Northern and Dolores danced throughout the boat, with the line wrapped around her head, in order to pull in a 34 inch Lake Trout.

Chris, and his young son Brady, spent the week pursuing four different species. The first species was carefully removed from the sunny deck of their cabin. Chris and Brady conducted a backwoods science experiment to see if the gardner snake they caught and released far back in the woods would eventually return to greet them. It did not. But all the other species they released ( the nine Lakers up to 27 1/2 inches in size, the 14 trophy Northern up to 38 inches in length, and the 24 trophy Walleye up to 27 inches long) will be here next year when they return to visit.

THE BARBLESS CHALLENGE. At least four people took the bait and showed us all how easy and enjoyable it was to fish with barbless hooks. Deb and Cathy liked to effortlessly remove the smaller Northerns from barbless lures. Cathy even landed a 27 inch walleye on a barbless jig with a worm. Erik and Paul appreciatde how much easier it was on the fish when they used barbless hooks. Mike was the only one concerned that guys with wives named Barb would probably have a difficult time going "Barbless".

Paul and Erik took their fishing seriously. Too seriously perhaps. Paul stood up in the middle of Mud lake and untied the stringer of walleyes from the side of his boat. He turned to attend to something else as Erik watched the stringer miraculously swim away and begin to sink. He was not about to lose a half day's work, so without much thought, Erik dove in to snag the nylon rope. The CO2 compressed air life jacket did what it was designed to do. Upon submersion, it inflated and swelled to pinch Erik's startled face, flipping him sunny side up in the water. But mission was finally accomplished -- the walleye were retrieved and the startled, red-faced swimmer would live to fish again!

Ronald Blane and Harold Lee scored first place with 9 1/2 lbs. at the weekly fishing tournament. The winning title didn't seem to phase these returning champions. They joked and picked out guitar tunes in the evening just like they were regular Joes.

Matt and Laura trampled through the woods; blazing trails with field guides in their hands. They found edible plants to tempt their palate -- burdock root, the young stalks of blue bead lilies, raspberries, tiny strawberries, red clover, and wild rose hips. In addition to the cool, clear waters teeming with fish, there is an inviting boreal forest for young botanists to explore.

"We're coming back," said Pat, after landing a 29 1/2" Walleye. As leader of a crew of adventure seekers, Pat was all smiles. For 30 years, he has fished many different lakes in the back country of NW Ontario in order to experience what this region has to provide. His group spends most days grunting equipment and portaging into remote lakes and rivers in pursuit of more fish. "We're not going to do that any more," he stated. "Every person in our party caught the largest walleye he has ever caught in his life right here on Wine Lake." Like so many others, Pat and his buddies are "hooked on Wine Lake.

Oh Canada, my home and naked land (July 1, 2011)

2011-07-04T06:17:00.001-07:00

The ability to "run the falls" has now passed. It is hot. It is dry. As the thermometer heated up into the 80's for Canada Day, the Heap clan sported originally designed shirts with "FISH NAKED" on the back side. Despite the message on their shirts, these farm boys mostly kept their Carhart jeans on all week. But by Friday everyone was looking for shade and gentle breezes while they drug lindy rigs through the water in pursuit of walleyes. The Heaps like to get off the beaten track and so they collectively portaged into Tipover, Duck, Halverson, and Anishinabi Lakes for 17 inch smallies and lots of walleye as well as covering much of Wine Lake proper. "I don't want others to find out about this hidden secret called Wine Lake Camp," said father Bryan. "I want to keep it all to myself."

However, young Theo and Jacob, and their dads, found Wine Lake this week. They spent an enormous time fishing despite being only 8 years old. Jacob released a 19 inch walleye and Theo caught and released a 22 incher. The boys were learning how to preserve the primary brood stock of the lake to insure there will be plenty of fish to catch here when they return years later. Their dads must have also taught them an age old hunting initiation ritual on their first trip to Canada. Theo taunted Jacob that he would have to "eat the heart of the fish" since he was the first one to catch a fish that week!

Patricia and John were always the first ones on the lake each morning as the sun rose over the lake. When the waters were still and quiet, they shared sacred time together. They were each blessed with many nice trophy fish as well. John worked the shorelines with endless perseverance and together they caught at least six walleyes over six pounds ( 25 -26 inches long and 20 years old). Patricia landed a 35 1/2 inch northern pike. They climbed the hill to Little Trout lake and skinny dipped in the cool clear water....already making plans for their next trip to Wine Lake.

Sam and Rich sought to catch huge northern pike. They utilized blue fox and gray ghost lures to entice the fish. Even after each of them had caught 50 fish one day, Sam wasn't satisfied because none of them matched or exceeded the two 38 inch pike he'd caught earlier in the week.
One group calculated the sheer number of fish they caught during the week. Another still uses the damaging fish scales to weigh the pounds they catch and release, and one other group figured they had caught and released 156 feet of walleyes during the week.

Ben celebrated his 16th birthday at Wine Lake with friends and family. It was only fitting that he, Ty, and Caleb worked together to win the fishing tournament. His birthday week allowed Ben to catch trophies in at least 3 different species -- 13 inch perch, 17 inch small mouth bass, and a 25 1/2 walleye. Wine Lake is a good place to celebrate life! Uncle John, Lonnie, and grandpa hooted and hollered when they caught and released their 26, 27, and 29 inch walleyes!

Victor and Judy took a holistic approach to vacationing. Time was spent photographing bald eagles or a cow moose and strumming guitars on the dock. Mornings were spent fishing, while afternoons were reserved for relaxing naps. Fish tacos and cold beer were shared with friends. "You can probably catch fish elsewhere, " commented Victor, "but Wine Lake, to me, is just magical."

Oh Canada...... our home and native land.

The Eagle is Watching Over Us

2011-06-26T09:38:00.001-07:00

Several boats reported being watched by eagles all week long. It seemed that no matter which bay they fished in, suddenly there appeared another bald eagle sitting high in a dead tree, peering down over them. This is often called the Bald Eagle Capital of North America. Today, as in the past, the Great Spirit of the Eagle hovers over and keeps watch of the wilderness.

Marc and Bill enjoyed a day trip to Halverson Lake. Sam and Kurt rode the windy waves to Anishinabi. They returned with stories of monster northern and small mouth in almost every cast.

When fishing it seems "No one ever loses a little fish." But the truth is Matt tangled with a 45 inch northern pike in Turn Around Lake and Sam landed a 42 inch Pike from Beaver Lake. Many 28 - 39 inch Northern delighted all those who were flinging spoons and rapalas. The following fish were released this week:
35 inch Pike by Gordon M.
35 1/2 inch Pike by Bill S.
37 inch Pike by Ron M.
37 inch Pike by Bill V.
37 3/4 inch Pike by Marc R.
38 inch Pike by Steve M.
39 inch Pike by Jim E.

Tom and Steve went in search of Perch. They marveled at the jumbo size ( 10 -13 inches) that were found. As first timers to Wine Lake, they were also amazed by our strong walleye fishery. After fishing Saskatchewan and northern Manitoba for years, Wine Lake is the first lake where they were able to catch lots of walleyes. They utilized the barbless lures they always use for walleye, perch, pike, and smallies. Tom is still grinning about the 28 inch walleye he caught and released.

Will accidentally cast over a seagull and wrapped it in fishing line. Father Trent cut the line, but realized the bird was unable to fly free. He carefully held the bird and meticulously removed the line. In gratitude, the seagull quickly bit him and flew off.

Gordon, Matt, Justin, and Vince spent most of their time pursuing walleye. They caught and released endless brood stock between 18 -25 inches. These are the crucial size to gently release since they replenish the lake. All guests at Wine Lake Camp abide by The Law of the Lake --releasing all trophies and helping to build and sustain a first class fishery. Matt used his skill and finesse with a pink jig and white twister tail to catch as many walleyes as his dad did, who used a jig and minnow.

Bragging rights on six pound or larger walleyes go to:
25 inch walleye by Bill S.
25 inch by Mark E.
25 and 26 inch by Kevin E.
26 inch by Nick D.
26 inch by Bill S.
26 inch by Kurt Z.
26 by Bill Z.
26 1/4 inch by Justin M.
26 1/2 inch by Jim E.
26 1/2 inch by Bill V.
26 1/2 inch by Vince G.
28 inch by Dave B.
28 inch by Tom M.
30 1/2 by Gordon M.

Ommmm, Ommmmm, Ommmm. What is that sound? Is it a swarm of mosquitoes being chased by a dragonfly helicopter? Is it the distant hum of a boat and motor? Or could it be Zen Master Ron who was facing east and striking a yoga pose to get the crick out of an old fisherman's neck? The long light-filled day of Summer Solstice came and went. Om. Om. Ommmmmm.

The Fish N Chics respectfully placed third at the tournament this year. Returning champions, Bill and Marc, brought in 11 1/4 lbs to claim the title once again. Cookouts and fiestas, leeches galore, warm, dry days in the 70's and cool nights -- all these enriched us.

Margaret Atwood has said, "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

According to Caleb, "In the summer time, at the end of the day, you should smell like fish."

Crazy as a Loon in June!

2011-06-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Mike, Joe, and David were just trying to fish on Ghost Lake. As Joe reeled in a fish, a loon chased the lure and his catch right up to the boat. This crazy loon entertained them by continuously dipping and diving all around their boat ... and then swallowed a twelve inch walleye with gusto. To settle things down, this crew trolled for Lake trout and were rewarded with 25 1/2 to 27 inchers.

They came. They pursued. They succeeded. At the height of the walleye season, the Dogfish Warriors from Wisconsin, attacked Wine Lake with a vengeance. Their fearless commander challenged the group to land 1000 walleyes while visiting what they respectfully refer to as "Herb's Holy Land." With drive, intensity, and a positive spirit ( not to mention a gazillion minnows and chartreuse jigs with a red eye), the warriors typically caught 60 -100 walleyes per day....ending the week with a total of 1045. They snagged 247 trophy fish with twenty-seven of the walleyes ranging from 25 to 29 3/4 inches in size. When asked how the new guys in the crew could catch so many nice walleye, the senior warriors grinned and said, "blame it on the guides." Brian and Justin grilled up a tasty dinner of fish and veggie kabobs marinated in lemon pepper, next to walleyes with portabello mushrooms smothered in asiago cheese for the hungry warriors. With all that effort expended, it was time to refuel in style.

The dry, sunny weather brought temperatures into the 70's and low 80's all week. Rob and his son enjoyed doing belly flops off the dock and trudging up to Halverson and Duck Lake for a special adventure. Many believe Big FOOT lurks in the deep woods near Howard Lake but 11-year-old Robbie said they never saw or smelled Satchwash while they sauntered along the portage trail. But did he see or smell THEM?

Mud and Ghost Lake were among the hot spots this week. Rachelle and Glen and their group used bottom bouncers and worm harnesses to find all their eating-size and trophy walleye. In the midst of all the catching, Glen was treated to a 39 1/2 inch Pike... the biggest he has ever caught. He also got a few pranks pulled on him by his wife and grandson. There's also a honey hole on Dynamite Bay that Gary and Rick enjoyed pulling giant walleyes out of. This kept them enticed after also catching numerous Northerns between 28 and 35 1/2 inches nearby.

Fathers and sons from Indiana enjoyed the traditions of fishing, grilling, basketball, cigar smoking, and hide and go seek together. Sam landed a 29 inch walleye and Barry can now brag about his 30 incher-- all caught on little joes and fat night crawlers. The youngsters enjoyed catching Smallies up to 16 1/2 inches in length. Silver haired Mark celebrated his 25th consecutive year vacationing at Wine Lake with stories about changes that have occurred in the fisheries. In the late 1980's, it sometimes took all week to catch your limit of walleyes. In the 1990's , angling surveys and aging samples were taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources, and a concentrated Catch and Release program was put in place. Due to the care and effort of our guests since then, Mark can now fish a few hours and have his limit in tow.

You can dazzle the audience at the fishing tournament by catching two chubby Ling. You can wander up over the hill to Little Trout Lake and have the day all to yourselves. You can delightfully skinny dip with your partner at the sand beach. But whatever you do, remember this is not just a fishing camp. This is a place of healing. The lilac bushes are in full bloom and their fragrant aroma permeates the backyard. Remember to stick your nose deep into the flowers and breathe fully every time you walk by. If your spirit is awakened, Wine Lake is both a place of wonder and nourishment.

Two Guys, One Day, Seventy Walleyes

2011-06-12T11:06:00.001-07:00

Three foot waves rolled from the west across Wabaskang lake on Saturday. Maria bounced uncomfortably up and down in the bow of her boat while 15-year-old Ella stood holding the front rope and screaming with delight as they crashed through each powerful slam. All would be forgotten after Maria landed her feisty 38 inch Pike and Ella caught and consumed her first taste of "popcorn walleye" a few days later.

By Sunday, a gentle cleansing rain engulfed the wilderness. It was cold, but not miserable. No one was in too much of a hurry to get out on the lake. The feeling of relaxation and release of tension permeated the camp. "I just retired last week," said Tom as he boarded his boat by 9:30 am, "no need to be in a hurry any more."

Night crawlers dangled on sharp hooks and sucker minnows splashed the surface as northern pike aggressively leaped for them. The Parson cousins began their annual insider's bet on who could land the largest walleye during the week.

Dick Benes had never fished in Canada before. At 80 years old he knew catfish. But he was quickly learning the lingo, and felt proud as he filled out his sweepstakes entry which would create the chance for a free trip after releasing a 26 inch walleye with his sons. "Stand tall and walk proud," the trees reminded him.

Steve and Kessco spent time on the SE end of Beaver Lake jigging for walleyes. Kessco picked up a 40 inch pike without any leader on his line. Steve caught and released more trophy walleye than anyone else this week, and together they won the tournament with 10 lbs. of eating-size fish. Steve is also the FIRST ANGLER willing to take the BARBLESS CHALLENGE. He pinched down the barbs on all of his northern and lake trout lures and was still able to successfully land a 25 inch laker. He's been fishing barbless for awhile and says it's so much easier to remove a hook from the fish.

As the week warmed up, Bill and Jonas spent an afternoon catching 70 walleyes between 14 and 26 inches in Mud and Ghost Lake. Not bad for first timers! When asked what they used as a lure, Jonas humbly shared that every fish was merely caught on a little "wit and charm." Jonas relished the fishing on Wine Lake and also commented that Wine Lake Camp is the only Canadian resort he has ever visited that expresses a deep concern for the ecology of the wilderness. He appreciated the composting, recycling, green tackle suggestions, and flowers growing here and there.

Jeremiah and Greg were still in camp when Little Lucy the Moose emerged in the bay. She visited us numerous times last year and was now returning for the juicy aquatic salad near the boathouse. She chomped on the vegetation and "mooned" Bruce when he tried to take her picture. Known as "mong-soa" to the Algonquins , or "twig eaters", moose can plunge to the bottom of lakes and remain there feeding for up to a full minute before resurfacing with fresh greens dangling from their mouths. Later, Jeremiah, Greg, and Chris explored an island and found a loon's nest.

"Is there something funny about this boat?" Brock asked with a grin. "The fish are just jumping in it." His group caught all six species this week. Tony just kept catching and releasing walleye between 18 and 24 inches.

Dave Parsons taunted his relatives as he secured the group's walleye trophy on more time. He was also happy with the 39 inch ( 23 pound) northern pike he landed. But Dave's 27 inch walleye was hard to beat. Although Darren, Jeff, and Kyle came in close behind on the bet with 25 and 26 inch walleyes.

The water level is rising. The 70 degree days have arrived in full force, even when the mornings start out at a chilly 45. Ella sits next to a marigold and gently pets a bumble bee as it sips nectar. This week Wine Lake Camp is occupied by both hardcore anglers and bee whisperers........

May 28th, 2011: Wine a little.. ... you'll feel better.

2011-06-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

Typical spring weather in the North has returned. The anglers don rain jackets and warm coats as they bounce across the lake. Some days there wasn't a ripple on the surface, other days the proverbial "walleye chop" turned into a cold north gale. And on Sunday, it was as if the heavy smoke from Norm's cigar had settled in over the lake --obscuring all but the shoreline from view and creating a fog that made visibility about 20 feet in front of your toes.

The Hanson party celebrated birthdays and life around the campfire -- late into each night. Heat lightening danced across the darkened sky. The feet of seagulls tromped across the Wolf cabin roof, calling out to be fed the fish entrails, and waking up the dozing guests below. The guys from Chicago played a dice game and grilled pork chops the size of Illinois. Newcomer, Ray Lata, told us his group has fished many Northern lakes, but they came to Wine Lake this year to "rough it." His friend, Wally, landed a 38 inch ( 20 year old) Northern out here on the edge. And Dennis found a 36 1/2", 37, and 39 1/2" Pike waiting for him one day.

Plenty of whitefish, and trout between 26 -30 inches, entertained anglers who were trolling for walleye along the north and central shorelines. It is often hard to locate small, eating-size trout in the spring as they venture into the top 15 feet of water. George Pavloski even surprised himself by reeling in a beautiful, 35 1/2 inch Laker.

Several groups consistently found the hungry walleyes using jigs. The most successful anglers tipped it with a minnow, their natural bait --catching 4 times the number that others caught. The first walleye caught by Paul Hanson was a 30 incher -- followed by about 20 Small Mouth Bass by the Anishinabi Falls. His son, Jesse, matched the 30 inch walleye catch by week's end and figured it was finally time to get a replica made. Kyle and Terry kept record of all the nice walleyes they released.

On tournament day, brother Denny sabotaged George by leaving him with a fishing pole without any line on it. Karl couldn't believe it when Joe mistakenly "mooned" a boat load of guys he thought were with his party. ( They probably won't forget this wild sight either!) But all these pranks didn't matter when Karl and Joe won the tournament with 12 1/4 pounds of fish. At second place, Paul Cross beamed as he and his fishing buddy, Rick, landed one large walleye and northern after another from Dynamite Bay. The action seemed to bring endless joy to his twinkling eyes.

There were perch baskets and a metal stringer unwillingly sacrificed up to the lake. Every year the metal clipped stringers lure anglers into thinking their catch is secure. But a flopping fish can quickly release the clip and drag itself and it's comrades away. Nothing beats a nylon stringer! And as Jeff says, " Wine a bit, you'll feel better."

Young Laura, one of our staff members, is learning to fish. At first squeamish, she philosophized over the killing of a fish for supper. She finally concluded it was acceptable to take the life of a fish if she was also giving something back to the lake. Still processing, she pondered, "What am I giving?" The Great Canadian North gives us tasty meals, boastful stories, adventure, comradery, and serenity. In return, what will each of us give back?

May 21, 2011: At the End of the World as we know it

2011-05-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

The tall, lean poplar tree stands shivering it's leaves in the gentle breezes. The Northland gradually turns a pale color of green as it shakes off the last vestitudes of winter. A humming bird hovers near the window as a sign of the frenzied activity of anglers approaching the walleye opener. Ice out on the lakes occurred around May 9th and the temperatures unusually climbed high into the sunny 70's, then settled back into the 50's with frosty nights.

Opening week for walleye is always a special time of year, filled with folks who wouldn't miss it even if it killed them. Guests from their twenties to fifties share the lake with the veterans of Wine Lake -- seasoned elders like Jerry, Bob, Dick, and Al -- all teetering around 70 years of age and sometimes teetering as they disembark from their fishing boats. These men have weathered the elements at Wine Lake for upwards of 40- 50 years. They can still tell you stories from the 1960's as if it was just yesterday.....memories of Irene William's lemon meringue pie, leaky cabins, and endless fishing tales. They are still weaving fishing tales and passing on their Wine Lake wisdom to the next generation and new guests. The lines on their faces indicate a million adventures well lived.

Over a hundred trophy fish were released this week. Janet released a 41 inch northern. Mike Jr. celebrated his 21st birthday by catching a 43 inch Pike. Many lakers over 27 inches and upwards were caught in the shallows. Bob Jr, Bob Sr, and Mike Johnson all released 30 inch trout. Walleyes too numerous to count have been caught and released, or eaten with a smile. Hank Mull caught his biggest walleye at 29 1/4 inches. And Bob Miller nonchalantly reeled in a 31 1/2 inch walleye on opening day as if it were an hourly occurrence.

There were tasty lakers on the grill, and a pan of deep-fried walleye fillets at a shore lunch shared with newly made friends. A lanky 37 inch northern was caught and released by Jerry Becka Sr. There were baskets of jumbo perch to clean, and the boys from Indiana won the fishing tournament for their first time. Mike Becka made my week by telling me that he got the idea to use a compost bucket at home after using them at Wine Lake Camp for years. The lessons from the woods carry on.....

The tall, lean poplar stands shivering it's leaves in the gentle breeze. Fog hangs over the lake on Sunday bringing needed moisture. Spring time at Wine Lake Camp is a reverent and robust time of year. While others in the civilized world have declared May 21, 2011 as the end of the world, a rag-tagged group of men and women at Wine Lake are fully alive and enjoying being at the end of the world as we know it.

A Reopening of Ourselves to the Wilderness

2011-05-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Honey-combed patches of ice are shifting.
The southerly winds strategically break the icebergs
and send them plunging deep below the surface.
The season of Spring comes none to soon for northerners
who have endured a long, harsh winter.
This land of mysteries unfolds before us
as we reopen for the vacation season.

It may be difficult to contact us
in the flurry of preparations for the eager anglers
and the walleye opener.
Do not worry.
We will be there
and we warmly await your arrival.

Send us an email
or try calling in the evenings
as the sun slips down behind the bay
and beckons the frogs to begin their a capella serenade.

Above, Within, and Below ( March 2011)

2011-03-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

ABOVE, Within, and BELOW

Above ground, the lake remains frozen

waiting for the days to lengthen and the equinox to arrive.

Above ground, the ice has been stored

in anticipation of hot summer days on the lake.

Within the ground, the seeds and sprouts lay dormant

until the perfect moment to burst through the earth's surface.

Below ground, the hibernating mother bears nuzzle their squirming young cubs

who are eager to prowl..... above ground.

See live footage of black bear cubs anticipating the arrival of spring in NW Ontario

at http://youtube.com/watch?v=QnlCqOjUzCg

Winter Solstice (Dec 22) in Ontario

2011-01-28T12:36:00.001-08:00

The sun has swung way to the south and the day light hours are getting short. Winter and cold weather have settled in. Seven wolves appear at the narrows, one of them is black as coal. They sniff around the otter holes and then head out of view. "I'm becoming a pacifist," says Tom Williams (previous owner of Wine Lake Camp in the 1970's) as he watches the action. "No more running around, getting a gun, and shooting wildly in the direction of the wolves." He just watches in wonder.

It is clear, calm and minus 28 degrees. There is already more snow on the ground than what was received all last year. The ice conditions are hazardous due to all the snow accumulation. There have been a couple of fatalities on the lakes with sinking snowmobiles. "Sort of natural selection," reflects Tom, "I guess it weeds out the dumb ones."

The locals carry on in the harsh conditions of the north while the summer tourists wait for warmer temperatures before they sort through their tackle boxes and trek northward. Yet winter weather in America's heartland means eager anglers are already counting the weeks until they return to the wilds of Canada.

A Tribute to Irene Williams

2010-10-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

As the wool blankets fluttered on the clothesline under a warm, golden October sun, I pondered what life must have been like for Irene Williams, original owner of Wine Lake Camp in the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. She briefly met Art Williams in Hyde Park in London in 1942. Together with 44,000 other war brides, Irene sailed to Canada and took the train to NW Ontario where an unfamiliar life in the northern bush awaited her.

Calgary artist, Beverly Tosh, has painted nearly 100 portraits of these WW2 brides in their wedding dresses -- women who married in haste, not realizing what they were committing themselves to. Painted on rough pieces of lumber to signify the difficult times they went through, this exhibit "ONE WAY PASSAGE", began gracing art galleries across Canada since May 2007. Irene William's portrait is among them.

Irene raised four children and spent 30 years in the rugged outback of northern Ontario running Wine Lake Camp. She cooked, cleaned, and laundered the wool blankets that warmed the tired guests after a day of fishing or hunting. She did without electricity, telephones, or indoor plumbing. Her cracked, dried hands made lemon meringue pie, and her never-failing British accent wove stories of laughter and intrigue for all who visited her remote, boat-in camp.

May Irene's determination and courage inspire all those who still seek an adventurous vacation in the Canadian wilderness. And may her welcoming spirit still teach us to shepherd all those who bob across Wine Lake or stop in for a "spot of tea"......

Everyone takes something home.....

2010-10-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dr. Houck's eyes moistened with tears as he looked sentimentally out of the Loon cabin and down through the narrows. Forty-five years ago his best friend, Jack, had convinced him to come to Wine Lake Camp. His head was full of memories from the last four and a half decades -- full of adventures, shenanigans, and the taste of daily shore lunches with Jack, Denny, Janet, and his children. His heart wondered if this trip would be his last. Would he be able to make 100 trips to Wine Lake in his lifetime? He was nearing that milestone. He came this time in hopes of helping his son Jim haul out a bull moose.

Like Dick, others came this week. Men in their 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's. They came to spend as much time as possible outdoors-- without neckties and suit coats, voicemail, air conditioning, TV remotes, or text messaging to constrict or interfere with their experience. Most were solo flyers this week -- surfing the waves with a large bolder holding down the front of the boat, or sitting quietly alone high in a tree as it swayed in the wind. All took time to reflect, to ponder, to question the answers and look within. No one felt caged in. They felt free and very much alive-- with wind in their faces and the sun in their eyes. They came to be challenged by the natural world -- the darkness, the wind, the rain, the wildlife, and their food source. Especially in the Fall, a visit to Wine Lake Camp feels like a returning to our roots of hunting and fishing for survival. This time of year calls forth a special breed of man.

And each man (and woman) that came had an experience to take back home:

A bull moose came within 50 yards of Jim as he bow hunted on Ghost Lake. Later, Jim sat in a meadow near Dynamite Bay viewing scenery he best described as similar to a Bev Doolittle painting -- a majestic cliff and a spectacular sunset framed by poplar trees.

Kessco watched a wolf, otters, a muskrat, and merganzers as he patiently sat in his tree stand hoping for a cow moose to pass by. He also experienced a bald eagle snatch a snow goose out of the air. Tickled to be here, he said "staying at Wine Lake is like camping at the country club."

Janet got skunked one day without a single bite, and then caught ten walleye the next day on Beaver Lake. She celebrated another birthday with carrot cake and homemade ice cream.

Steve rotated between catching nice walleyes, perch, pike, and trout and playing a once-in-a-lifetime "29er" cribbage hand.

Dick got a thrill when he hooked into a 31 inch Trout at the same time Janet caught a large whitefish. Then they tangled lines and squirmed together in the boat like a Frick and Frack show in their attempt to land both fish.

The lake trout were stacked up shallow in the rocks where they spawn. But "that's like shooting ducks in a barrel," said Frank. He chose instead to fish in 5 -30 feet of water with down riggers on the South end of Wine Lake to catch eating-sized Lakers for breakfast each day. Later, he ate bacon-wrapped northern kabobs and reflected on the amazing panoramic views of the changing cloud formations which moved over his boat all day long.

Hunting was challenging this year with over 30 hungry wolves roving the area and spooking the moose population. Fishing was comparatively slow this week as the lake began its' gradual movement toward turning over; to rest and recuperate for the winter. But Fred Bear, the famous bow hunter from the 1940's, reminds us what a week at Wine Lake is all about. "I come home with an honestly earned feeling that something good has taken place. It makes no difference whether I got anything; it has to do with how the day was spent." They came to Wine Lake, one man at a time in search of an experience. They wrestled with the basic elements that sustain us all -- water, air, earth, and fire. And they left satisfied and content.

Forty-seven geese honked overhead and struggled to reclaim a V formation as they headed south. We will soon follow their call.

The Legend of Psycho Pike lives on.....

2010-09-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

The height of Fall splender was evident in the myriad of colors displayed this week. Swirling leaves crunched under one's feet. They covered the rock paths that wind through camp and fluttered in the breeze. The sun enlivened the red, gold, and light green leaves mixed in with the dark green needles of the jack pine. Families of ducks congregated in the river. A wishful Canadian goose spotted our plastic goose decoy in the bay and came in for a closer, disappointed look.

Most of the week was plagued by overcast skies and temperatures in the 50's. Then Friday night the skies completely cleared, leaving a thick fog of pea soup blanketing the lake on Saturday morning and creating a hard, slippery frost on the dock. Sari hunkered down in the boat as the entourage of boats crept through the thickest ares of fog on their way home. The air had a bone-chilling bite to it. But a spectacular sight emerged in the river as the early rays of golden sun peeked through the mist and created a mysterious path to follow.

This was a week to remember. Bob Miller actually broke with tradition, and after 45 years of visiting Wine Lake camp, he casually shared a few of his secret honey hole spots with Frank. For anyone who knows Bob and his old school pattern of hiding his whereabouts from the competition, this was a big deal! Despite this apparent softening, Bob can still clean four walleye and twelve perch in the same amount of time it takes others just to tie up their boat.

Frank had fun catching at least eighteen lake trout, but everything appeared to be backwards. He would hook onto a Trout in 10 foot of water while supposedly jigging for walleyes. Then he would reel in a walleye on a down rigger while fishing for Trout at 20 foot depths.

But the story of all stories came to us this week from Jim and Mike. On Sunday, they had caught about forty walleye down on Beaver Lake -- with the largest at 24 inches. On one of Mike's last casts, a gigantic Northern Pike followed up the walleye on his line and chomped down sideways on it like a dogbone. Seeing this monster northern, Mike began to frantically look around the boat for a net or cradle. Without a large net to be had, Mike tries to land the Pike with his small walleye net. It was sooooo big that it's face wouldn't even fit in the puny net! Jim begins to squeal and estimates the Pike at about 50 inches in length. For the longest time, Mike plays the fish and repeatedly attempts to net the large whale. Finally, the northern lets go of the walleye, but that's not the end of the fishing story....

Minutes later the 50 inch Pike is back and grabbing a bite out of one of their walleye on the stringer which is dangling in the water. A day later when they returned to Beaver Lake, the "same" fish followed up their line and taunted them again and again. We'll never know the true length of this monster from the depths of Beaver Lake, but the legend of "psycho pike" lives on and on and on......

Young, twenty-s0mething, Kane set a bow hunting record this week for the fastest kill. He and his dad sat in tree stands and scouted for moose. Within a day and a half, Kane watched a bull, a cow, and a calf moose all cross under his stand. His 10 yard shot took the cow. It was soon hung in the ice house, ready to butcher and feed his family this winter.

The cycle of life and death continues. Our visiting mama moose, Lucy, again wandered into the bay on Wednesday with only one remaining calf by her side. She munched on aquatic vegetation as the cameras snapped pictures. Was she coming to bid us farewell for the season? Did she instinctively know that the cow moose hunter had already filled his tag and it was once again safe to be this visible and vulnerable?

Nearby, a downy woodpecker tapped on an older tree hoping to catch a bug burrowed in for the winter. Camp life is winding down, but the winter forest is very much alive.......

Just like the wind......

2010-09-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

He rode across the bouncy waves with a big smile and a guitar case clutched in his hands. Chris had written a song that revered the power of the breeze. Even after a rough ride into camp, he and Warren both claimed that "there are no bad days at Wine Lake." And so the brisk wind that might have tortured and intimidated others for days became Chris' anthem to hum along all week. Chad and Chris even began to compose a Wine Lake song as the tea kettle in the Trout cabin whistled a perfect G note late into the night. Words and images began to flow as the campfire crackled outside.....

Just like the Wind ( original lyrics and music by Chris Inghram)

I'd like to roam the lands

Move mountains with my hands

Make valleys in the sands

Just like the wind.

I'd like to stir the leaves

I'd like to bend the trees

I'd like to be the breeze

Just like the wind.

I'd like to move the chimes

Tell secrets of all times

Blow cobwebs from your mind

Just like the wind.

I'd like to see God's face

Turn snowflakes into lace

Send lonely thoughts to space

Just like the wind.

And if I were the wind so powerful I'd be

To fill the sails and move a ship across the sea

Oh how I wish all that wonder could be me

Just like the wind......

Oh yes, the Fall winds howled and the water swelled for five of seven days this week. The yellow leaves of the birch trees fluttered and scattered. Debbie crocheted and Darlene kept the wood stove humming. Rosemary and Don got lost in the magestic scenery. Ron and Darlene snuggled in one bunkbed to stay warm. Craig, Terry, and Ron fished in the protected coves until the wind laid down its snarling head, then back they came with five walleye for supper and enough for a fantastic pot of fish chowder at the end of the week.

Ron and Don took turns catching Pike between 30 and 35 inches in length. Debbie and Craig latched onto several trout as the week wore on. They shared many a night around the campfire with friends and relatives.

Gene and Warren were elated to accidently find Lakers in 4 - 15 feet of water off sandy beach when purposely fishing for a stringer of perch with worms or Northerns with Mepps lures. Gene says you have to pay attention when the Trout begin jumping and swirling next to your boat on a mid- September day. Last week they were down deep; this week they made their move into the shallows.

Nobody in camp was in much of a hurry this week. Sausage and gravy simmered on the stove top next to a pot of coffee. Folks might sneak out to fish by 8 or 9 or 10am. Chad, Mark, and Chris consistently caught their fill of walleye every evening in the central part of Wine, just off their favorite point. The trick was to fish deep --- most every walleye was caught in 25-40 feet of water on a jig and minnow. Captain Chris maneuvered the boat while "ten minute" Mark begged to move from spot to spot.

Lynn and Rex returned to Wine Lake after a few years away. They took the prize for giant northern caught and released. Lynn snagged a 36 1/4 inch and another 36 1/2 inch Pike . Rex hooked onto a 42 1/2 inch Northern. After several days of slinging son Jason's homemade lures (found at http://www.rodbenderbaits.com/), they took a few minnows and drummed up a stringer full of walleyes, followed by another stringer of perch. It was a tough week to fish, but their luck seemed to change after they spotted a lone, silver wolf standing on the shoreline at the Bay of Pigs.

As the wind gusted, a whiskey jack searched for food in the yard. A puffed up Ruffed Grouse continually visited the Moose cabin. These "thunder chickens" are drumming their mating call at the edge of camp in the spring -- but they look more like a Thanksgiving dinner when they appear in the Fall. And as it has been said, "If you're not out on the edge, then you're taking up too much space." Join us "on the edge" at Wine Lake!

Fall is Here....

2010-09-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

"You can tell Fall is here..... the houseflies are starting to cling," said the talkative 75-year-old woman seated next to me on the bus. There isn't a quick way to get to NW Ontario from south of the border, but I was doing my best to get there by commuting eastbound along the TransCanada highway. As the Greyhound bus pulled up to the crossroads of Hwy 105 and Hwy 17 at Vermilion Bay, all the passengers started pointing and gawking out the dirty windows. The Esso station/Jigger's Tackle Shop and Restaurant were barely standing -- smoke smoldering from the burned out cinder blokcs amid piles of blackened rubbish. A thriving northern business up in smoke. The corner diner that had been the heart and soul of the little NW town became a pile of ashes that day. Plans are being made to reconstruct and open again for the May tourist season.

You can tell Fall is officially here -- the red scrub maple are turning a distinctive hue in the underbrush. Sandhill cranes and geese call from overhead as they head south. The nights have a chill to them and the mornings are often greeted with a light frost. The bugs have all but disappeared. Golden sunny 60 degree days are interespersed with damp, chilly ones in the 50's . The shadows run deeper as the sun sets in a pinkish western sky. Stocking caps ( called toques if you are Canadian) and Carhart coveralls adorn the anglers as they speed off to find the fish. When the motors troll down, you can hear a bull moose grunting off in the distant woods.

And the fish are swimming deeper than ever after several weeks of unsettled weather with winds consistently blowing from every direction and mixing up the thermocline like a blended margarita. But Mark Brown knows the technique for Fall walleye fishing. He found a secret hump in the middle of Wine Lake and with a jig, worm, and bottom bouncer he crawled the line up wind in 35 - 45 feet of water to claim 32 walleyes on Tuesday. Al and Scott tangled with a 37" and 37 1/2 inch Pike. Chris Noel reeled in a whopping 27 inch walleye. The Chicago boys headed to Turn Around Lake almost every day to drown minnows and to Halverson for some good smallie and northern fishing. Mark single-handedly caught over 40 Lake Trout primarily between 22 and 35 1/2 inches in 55 - 90 feet of water. Scott and Larry took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the weekly tournament with 10 1/2 pounds of whitefish and pike.

I returned to camp after a three week hiatus. I was greeted by my tail-wagging dog and Mel and John who leisurely relaxed on the dock. Immediately I felt at home. About 9:30pm when I walked through the backyard, it seemed as though the stars had been lovingly placed in the sky overhead just for me. A dark black blanket covered the camp, and the brilliant stars dazzled brightly like a Las Vegas bill board just over my head. The Big Dipper, which took up a quarter of the night sky, appeared to be slowly pouring it's contents on my forehead. What a magical, magnificent gift to be at Wine Lake in September......

A Week for Making Friends

2010-09-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Randy Rowe and Dave Almquist didn't waste any time when they arrived. The first few hours of fishing on Saturday, August 28th, brought 35, 36, and 39 inch Pike to their lines. It's always a good sign when your vacation in the wilderness starts out like that.....

Everyone crashed in their bunks on Saturday night after a day of travel, anticipation, and an afternoon of hardcore fishing. Snores were heard bellowing out of the Moose cabin and rattling the windows on the Wolf cabin. But at 3am, a LOUD thunder boomer came crashing down directly over camp and every soul in camp sat straight up in bed as the rain poured down around them.

The walleye fishing was slow early in the week while the temperatures hovered from 85 to 92 degrees. But the Trout fishing was hot, hot, hot. Lance Hoolver reeled in a 28 inch Laker and helped his fishing buddy, Jack Cochran, catch his first ever Trout. Now Jack is "ruined for life" and will only fish for Lakers because a 35 incher is what he initially pulled in.

Everyone in camp rallied on Monday afternoon as another mini-hurricaine swept across the lake. Working together, they were able to quickly help Mary and Jeff keep the tarps full of sawdust (for next year's ice) from blowing and washing away. The feeling of community kept building all week as Al had shorelunch with the Moose cabin, Keith and the guys from Missouri invited the newbies from Illinois over for dinner, Al took Dennis walleye fishing and showed him a few hot spots, and everyone shared stories and jokes on the dock. Friendships born from fishing tales, survival of harsh weather, and the lack of electricity are friendships that could last a life time.....

Doug, Michael, and Jake had the best small mouth bass fishing they have ever had at the Anishinabi Falls. They kept a limit of smallies and fried them up for dinner. Then another game of horseshoes beckoned the father and sons to the backyard.

The peak of fishing this week fell on Wednesday. Dee and Dennis limited out on walleyes. Kelly and Randy caught five lake trout between 26 and 34 inches, and won the tournament with eleven pounds of Pike and Trout. As the weather turned more Fall -like, Dan and Jack still pounded the pike and released several 35 inchers before the week wound down.

whrrr, whrrr, whrrr
the sound of wings flapping overhead

a loon loudly flying west
calling that rain is on it's way

thunderclouds loom off in the distance
eyes and ears are better forecasters than the weather channel

soon lightening bolts crackle
a stiff wind begins to stir

boats head quickly to shore
a well-deserved nap awaits

A Circle of Loons

2010-08-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

There are just a hint of yellow birch leaves forming in patches up and down the shoreline. But we are primarily still in the heat of summer with sunny days in the 80's for August 21 - 28th, 2010. High southerly winds, creating big slapping waves, dominated the first half of the week. But a little rough weather didn't stop Scott Hannon. With the wind in his face, he managed to land a 29 inch walleye on Monday. His partner, Whitey, teased him by saying "that won't stand as the biggest walleye for our crew this week since you caught it so early on!" But it did. The strong NW winds from the previous week had the walleyes all stirred up. A large group from Omaha worked the rocky shelves from 6 feet of water out to 25 feet down to find numerous walleyes to eat.

They utilized the classic walleye rig -- a spinner with a trailer hook. These worked so well that Scott and Dan both had to have one surgically removed from their middle fingers. You can only imagine what these resourceful guys then started using as their shameful "walleye salute" to others!

By Tuesday, the winds switched to the NW and the high was only 62 degrees. Wine Lake Camp was boiling over with testosterone and muscle. The gang from Nebraska graciously helped Herb and Jeff lift and move the double seater outhouse over to a new, freshly dug hole. One scraggly guy stood nearby with a sign that read "Will Move Outhouse for Beer." In the mean time, Ron was busy catching a 37 1/2 inch Pike and the biggest Northern of the week (at 38 inches) was landed by Jay.

Trout fishing was phenomenal this week! Fifteen large Lakers were caught on Friday -- ranging from 26" - 32 1/2" in length. Probably the largest laker to be caught and released this year was slowly reeled in by super angler, Rich Sayles. His fishing buddy, Spencer, sat back and had time to smoke an entire cigarette while enjoying the extended fight that the 38 1/2 inch laker provided. Nearby in another boat, Jay, videotaped the whole exciting incident. If Jay can mastermind a download, it will appear for all to view on YouTube.

The Pabian group squinted through binoculars as Lucy the Moose and her twin calves returned again to munch on the bushes just past the fish cleaning house. But a change has occurred....... Lucy and her offspring were joined by a young bull. The four dined together as August ever so gently began to quietly slip into September.

If you are lucky this time of year, you will happen upon a circle of loons. They are the lone birds working the single's scene in the north. Often in the evening, they gather in a large group out in the middle of the lake and perform the "hey look at ME" dance that mirrors bar scenes among humans. Since loons mate for life, this selection process is both serious and intense.... with little room for superficial showoffs to find a partner before flying south for the winter. It has to be the real thing. My "real thing" has lasted 30 years as of this August. Just like a person who is given the opportunity to observe the loons during their flamboyant circle dance, I am so very blessed.

Where Women are Tough as Nails

2010-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

A cold wind stirred up the lake and bellowed through the camp for three days this week. Big waves slammed sideways into the boats crossing Wabaskang. Newbies wondered if all this challenge would pay off. Once they finally landed at the dock, Chris and Marty, nearly 25 year veterans at Wine Lake, knowingly reassured the others, " Yes, it is ALL WORTH IT." The gusts peaked at 50 kilometres and the day time temperatures hovered around 40 degrees. This was reminiscent of late Fall weather instead of the usually favorable conditions of a week in August. But Wine Lake Camp is known for women who are tough as nails and men who are basically good looking. Hearty middle-aged women from Wisconsin and Texas braved the waves that jostled their internal organs. They fished with their handsome men folk on the protected west shoreline, and then gathered inside next to woodburning stoves to play cards, read, nap and relax. Patricia claimed it was "as cold as the coldest day in Texas." But the crew from the south warmed themselves by grilling cream cheese stuffed jalepenos wrapped in bacon, and hoped for warmer days to come.

The dark black sky cleared on Tuesday with a shaft of rainbow colors shooting straight up into the heavens. The storm had finally lifted and 70 degree temperatures returned.

Despite the windy weather, Marty sat high in a tree, 80 yards down a narrow trail off of Turn Around Lake. The sounds of the northern forest entertained him. He had come to hunt black bear. He could hear a bear snort on the thickly wooded hillside behind him. He waited patiently, staring at the logs that covered the food intended to fatten up the pre-hybernating bear. The bear never came to dine. Well, not until Marty climbed down and walked the trail out to the lake at dusk. Then the trail camera started clicking away -- capturing the young bear furiously throwing the logs away and sticking his head into the gooey food scraps. The hungry bear quickly licked his lips and peered back over his shoulder. Marty stood unknowingly on the shoreline nearby.

Twelve-year old Jake would get to experience a bear at an even closer range. He sat watching in a treestand on the opposite side of the tree from his bearhunting dad near Little Trout Lake. Mike had instructed Jake to keep quiet at all costs. This was hard to do because five times a bear sauntered into the area. Each time it stopped when it saw Jake and glared up into his wide, silent eyes... then retreated back into the woods. Mike finally shot the bear and Jake now has a scary story to write when he returns to school this week.

Two high school buddies from Illinois, Ron and Bill, won the fishing tournament with 10 lbs of northern and walleye. They flung steel at 28" to 33" Pike all week. Then they left to attend their 50th high school reunion and weave a few fish tales for an unsuspecting audience.

The boys from Missouri ventured up to Halverson Lake to fish for small mouth bass. They also acted as backwoods search and rescue personnel for a couple stranded without a propeller. Herb dove into the 8 foot water to retrieve their lost, sunken treasure.

Dolores Willee snagged her own treasure this week -- reeling in a 39 1/2 inch northern. Cousin Shirley matched that with a 40 inch Pike on his line. Although early in the week the fishing chilled just like the NW winds, by mid-week everyone was enjoying a bountiful catch. Chris VanHorn and Don Foshe both found trophy walleyes at 27 and 26 inches in length. Jake landed a 28 and 29 inch Laker and Grandpa Dick played with three different colored lures to attract three different trout in a row ( 25", 26 1/2", and 27").

Fred Bear, the legendary old-time archery hunter of the 1940's, shot his first black bear on Wine Lake in 1946. You can read about his exploits in Hunt with Fred Bear. He understood the immense draw of Northern Ontario when he said, "When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values and with the proper hunting ethics.... that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." For decades folks have ventured beyond the rocky portage on Wabaskang Lake to experience the natural beauty of Wine Lake and a northern spirit which is hard to beat. The NORTH SYMBOLIZES SURVIVAL and CHALLENGE. This week, Wine Lake continued to offer both.....

August Fishing is HOT, HOT, HOT!

2010-08-16T04:09:00.000-07:00

Early in the morning, Harry stood casually smoking his cigarette on the deck of his cabin... surveying over the lake. The misty morning air was cool. Within hours the temperatures would climb into the 80s -- leaving a sweaty band on Harry's forehead as he guided Matt to the rocky point in Turn Around Lake where the 42 inch Pike awaited his line. It was Matt's first trip to Wine Lake and he didn't know if all the stories told by the Wine Lake veterans in his party were true or somehow greatly exaggerated. Uncle Dick, and his buddy Paul, fished hard for walleyes. Dick's first cast landed him a 23 incher. However, their stories sometimes turned 19 1/2 inch walleye into 29 1/2 inch ones after a few too many beers in the evening. But Matt, who won the fishing tournament this week with Harry, now believes most of the tales his family tells about Wine Lake Camp.

The Carr family returned to Wine Lake after a 15 year absence. Eighty-three year old Dr. Carr was amazed at the quality fishery. As he sat on the front deck of his cabin, enjoying the cool breeze after a sticky day, he revelled in the day's catch for his group. "I can't believe it. All seven of us limited out on walleye today -- even the two nonfisherman among us caught 25 walleyes in two hours in Dynamite Bay." Dr. Carr landed a 28 inch walleye and had fun finding the lakers with his sons and grandsons. Now he understands what a Catch and Release Policy of all broodstock can do to turn a lake around. Wine Lake has both QUANTITIES of eating-size fish dabbled with plenty of QUALTIY trophies in all species.

Bud and Tim were echoing these same praises. On Monday morning, they limited out on keeper walleyes within 15 minutes of leaving camp. They easily supplied walleye for a tasty shorelunch and tried to keep most northern off their lines. "Pike are the sluts of the lake -- they will hook up with anything," smirked Tim. But Pike were just what the guys from Ohio were after. Lots of monster pike made the Brag Board this week. Chris, Dale, and Ken flung steel at a 28 1/2", 29", three 30 inchers, a 31 1/2", two 32 inchers, a 35", 36", 38", and 41 inch Northern. Northern tangled with treble hooks and spoons and one rapala found it's way into 18 year-old Mikey's toe. After 2 hours of minor backwoods surgical procedures (mostly spent in the waiting room), Mikey began to understand that a few minutes spent pinching the barbs off his hooks might improve his chances for escaping future catastrophes. Grandpa Phil calmly schooled Mikey on controlling his catch by keeping his line taunt with a barbless hook on board. It's easier on the fish and far easier on the toes!

Joe and his gang from Iowa couldn't stop talking about the phenomenal fishing they had all week. "Wine Lake Camp is as good as any fly in resort and much more affordable." said Joe. And the food their group consumed would surely be rated as Five Star Camping Cuisine. Chefs Joe and Leon baked up hot blueberry/peach cobbler in their dutch oven after their crew picked bags full of wild blueberries on Ghost Lake. On Sunday evening after a rainstorm, "17" - 18" walleyes were practically jumping in their four boats", said Vern. The Schwartz family found success most evenings on the north end of Wine Lake. But Joe held onto his secret spot at the rock pile outside of Beaver Lake which produced 50 walleyes for him one day. "That was the best fishing day I've ever had," beamed Joe. Not bad for a hot week in August!

The hot sticky dog days of summer may soon be behind us. The loud thunderstorms that break the muggy heat still seem to bring up the water level. The school year is about to begin for barefooted, suntanned wilderness kids, but the memories of summer on the lake return whenever we close our eyes and quiet our hearts. Heavy rains in their home state of Iowa may have flooded the corn fields and basements while they were on vacation, but Dick made it clear to all.. "Don't call or email me while I'm in Canada. I mean it. Don't mess with me while I'm fishing." This is MY TIME. This is MY LAKE......

In the Heat of the Summer ( August 2010)

2010-08-09T06:06:00.000-07:00

A misty fog hung over the lake with the sun's rays gently poking through. At 6:30 am, the freshness of the day on the lake feels like the morning has broken in the garden of Eden. The clatter of coffee pots and skillets has not yet broken the stillness or ushered in the 80 degree day.

Earlier in the week, a powerful wind and rain storm plowed through the camp at 2am. John "the storm chaser" Betterton went outside to observe the forces at work. He and his wife actually enjoyed watching a tornado spin over their house in Iowa a few years ago, so he marvelled as the winds blew sideways from the dark western sky. Almost everyone else in camp tried to sleep through the crackling electricity and Jamacian-like drumming overhead. All this moisture from on high has meant we have been able to perform the roller coaster rides up and down the waterfalls.... and probably will continue to do so for awhile longer. Environment Canada indicates that NW Ontario has received twice the typical rainfall this July, and wet and warm weather is prediced for August as well. For the moment, everything is still lush and green. Fall is just barely peeking it's head around the corner in this part of the world.

Lucy, the cow moose, and her twin calves poked their heads out into the bay on Sunday morning. Guests in pajamas, toting cameras, and shushing each other, snapped pictures as she filled her belly with aquatic plants. Even though her calves have grown considerably in the last month, she still keeps them tucked back in the willows and mostly out of sight from wanna be photographers.

The fishing success has held constant throughout the summer. This week was no exception:
** Gary Kincaid enjoyed catching 20"- 24" walleye while his wife Kathy fed the family with plenty of eating-sized golden eyes.
**First timers, Larry and Tim from Oklahoma, consistently caught ten walleyes and 20 northern every morning. Tim hooked up with 26 1/2 inch walleye and Larry released a 36 1/2 inch northern pike before the week was over.
**Loren reeled in a rock and Derek snagged a decaying moose antler as a souvenir with his fishing line.
**Two young lovebirds won the tournament with 10 3/4 pounds of walleye and pike. They enjoyed fishing in the evening as the sun dipped behind the trees in Dynamite Bay -- perhaps contemplating a lifetime commitment together in this romantic setting .
**Eleven-year-old Kelsey used a Mepp's spinner to catch a 40 inch Pike.
**Children giggled while they chased bats in the evening hours or poured salt on baby leeches stuck between their wiggling toes.
**Father Jack and daughter Emily released a 27 inch and 26 1/2 inch walleye.
**Derek cradled the LARGEST NORTHERN PIKE to date this season at 44 inches. It's still out there waiting to surprise someone else.
**Twenty-five year veteran Rich Proney, along with his buddies from Illinois, found 25 to 28 inch Lake Trout down by Alcatraz Island. A rainbow spoon and silver cowbells at 40 feet did the trick on a sunny day.

Amy celebrated her 40th Birthday at Wine Lake and John celebrated his 67th year while out in the wilderness. What a great place to ponder what the next year will bring. Wine Lake -- a week of reflection, serenity, and adventure!

Canon Balls Off the Dock!

2010-08-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

The last week of July 2010 felt like our first true stretch of hot weather since the freakishly warm period back in early May. Young and old sported swim trunks and took turns diving and jumping (and riding a bike!) off the dock. The more energetic swam out to the floating swim dock for additional displays of canon balls and belly flops.

But sticky hot days were tolerated when all twelve of the Oberkirsch clan limited out on walleye within an hour and a half on the north end of Wine Lake. Even 10 year old, Drew Knese, proudly grinned about releasing a 26 inch Golden Eye and Grandma Peggy landed a 27 inch Walleye while the rest of the group caught plenty to eat all week. First timer, Jim Hancock, reeled in a 38 inch Pike and Dave and Brendan Salls narrowly won the fishing tournament with 10 lbs. Other first timers, Father Paul and son Eric, adventured out from dawn until dusk and enjoyed learning the nooks and crannies of Wine Lake.

A violent storm on Monday night shook the tent flaps and rattled the windows of the cabins. Sara and Kevin, from Colorado, braved the early morning storm in their pup tent, and fished heartily with father Mike (who accidently caught a 27 inch Walleye on a Daredevil!) Pink clouds dotted the morning sky after the rain and winds had subsided. The lake was calm and once again inviting.

A red moon rose in the Eastern sky that night and ushered in a robust full moon. Giggles could be heard late into the night along the shoreline as 10-year-old boys caught 50 crawdads and discussed how best to grab them without being pinched.

John Baer, from California, was pleased as punch to receive the FREE TRIP sweepstakes prize for releasing a 30 inch Northern Pike last year. He continued to utilize his fly rod to entertain himself this week and landed additional hungry fish. John was joined by brother Ron and four of his grown sons who gathered from the east, north, south, and western United States to create more family memories and pursue lots of eating-size Walleyes.

Thirteen-year-old boys played basketball and yelled from the tree house. Nick caught a 14 inch Small Mouth Bass and a 30 inch Northern Pike just by fooling around from the shoreline at the moose cabin.

With a severe thunder storm brewing over Mean Lake and a tornado watch in effect, our family huddled at the portage for a half hour during a lightening storm. We waited for the hail and heavy rains to subside in order to complete the supply run to town. We are always in awe at the power of Mother Nature to change her moods within a few minutes.

Sixteen-year-old Thomas graduated to driving his own boat this year while Father Tom and younger brothers trolled along beside him. He soon learned that it is a full time job maneuvering the boat through waves and past boulders to situate yourself on a honey hole. His younger brother Matthew tangled with a 12 inch Perch and other brother, Andrew, caught and released the largest fish of the week: a 39 1/2 inch Pike. But the feel of mastering Wine Lake is now in Thomas' blood....

Fish sizzled in the frying pans, pancakes browned on the griddle, smoke bellowed from the barbeque grills. The sounds and smells of summer mingled with the freedom of the out of doors. The flowers are in full bloom. This year's crop of baby squirrels scamper in and out of the woodpiles and taunt our dog. The bears are foraging the blueberry patches which are at their peak. Big, plump berries are the reward for a consistently wet and warm season. We are reminded once again that FRESH FISH and BLUEBERRY PIE are the gifts of the NORTHLAND......

Star Tipping and Summer Love

2010-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Imagine being 15 years old and vacationing at Wine Lake Camp for a week with your family. Imagine staying up late at night, so late that the sky turns pitch black and a million stars dazzle in outer space around you. Standing at night on the dock, it feels like you are the only person left in the whole world. You never get this feeling at home where sirens scream, street lights glare, and TVs blink neon colors in every living room up and down your street. But for seven short days you enjoy the sounds of laughing loons, raindrops falling on the roof, leaves rustling, and water sloshing. You begin to dream in color and imagine a simpler, more carefree life.

Now you are standing on the dock with twelve other kids who are also vacationing at Wine Lake. You take turns each picking out a star, spinning around 15 times, getting a flashlight shone in your eyes until your knees buckle and your body goes limp. It's a crazy game.... this STAR TIPPING.... but it's incredibly exciting on a crisp, clear night during a waxing moon in Northwestern Ontario.

Your grandma said the week would be memorable. She and Grandpa gathered most of their clan together to begin celebrating the year of their 50th anniversary. Grandma's eyes moistened with tears of anticipation as she boated across Wabaskang Lake. Then her heart soared as they pulled up to the portage and heard the call of the white-throated sparrow sing out, welcoming her brood to the wilderness. The water level is now above average and we are able to drive the boats up and down the forceful waterfall as onlookers "oohhh" and "aaahhh" at this daring feat.

The FISHING IS JUST A BONUS in July. The camp is filled with families and laughter. While a 20-year veteran of Wine Lake (Mike) shows others how to rig up for lake trout fishing with 10 oz. of weight interspersed with red beads and off set with a five of diamonds, everyone finds a special memory for the week:
**Fish fryers sizzling and shared meals,
**A new woman friend to share Wine Lake with,
**Early morning private fishing trips for each child with his or her dad,
**Women versus men and brothers versus sisters competing on tournament day,
**Grandpa swimming in the cool evening with his grandson,
**Landing a 25 1/2 and 28 inch laker in the evening hours,
**Walleyes in garlic and butter,
**Bathing in the lake at the Ranger Cabin,
**Fat cigars and euchre games,
**Feeding Jake the snake and Pete the pike,
**A special guided session with Herb,
**Tangling with a 16 inch smallie as it leaps into the air,
**Winning your first ever tournament with 10 3/4 lbs,
**Landing a 32 inch Northern on Ghost Lake,
**Untangling your children's lines for the gazillionth time,
**Catching your biggest walleye at 28 inches,
**Learning to set up a reel on "gals day out on the lake",
**Kids having summer crushes and then saying goodbye to new friends,
**and one last run on Friday which landed a 34 inch Lake Trout for Jake.

These are GLIMPSES FROM JULY AT WINE LAKE -- where sun and showers dot the 70 -75 degree days. Bruce Waller said it best after his first day here, "This place is absolutely enchanting." It draws you back again and again.

Garret Keizer, author of The Unwanted Sound: A Book About Noise, argues that man-made noises drive us crazy. Doctors claim our industrialized, decibal-blasted lifestyles lead to depression and rage. So come to where the sounds of humans are few and far between, but the many noises of nature delight your senses, calm your spirit, and make you want to try "STAR TIPPING"......
**

A Dying Breed?

2010-07-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Anishinabi Falls gushes over rocks next to a well worn clay path. If you listen with all your senses, you can still visualize the smoldering campfire of the Ojibway clan camped overnight there after a productive wild rice harvest. Centuries later, tough adventuresome Europeans would portage through the area to find pristine lakes to explore. I'm afraid these pioneer spirits are a dying breed. Those were the days (not so long ago) when six inch round logs were jaggedly cut and laid on the muddy path, several guys would grab hold of a scarred up metal boat and utilize the logs as rollers over the 20 foot incline of a hill.

Boots slipped in the clay, muscles strained with the weight of the task, teamwork engulfed the mission to advance into unchartered, desolate areas. The effort landed the boat feebly on top of the rushing waterfall where the force of the water tried desperately to return the vessel to it's original parking space below. Careful manuevering of the motor past jutting underwater logs and boulders allowed the group to traverse up the shallow Anishinabi River that leads into Halverson Lake and beyond.

Few modern day campers come close to mirroring this day trip, even though a boat and motor now rest above the Falls for easy access to Halverson and Anishinbai Lakes. We enjoyed a day trip this week to the lakes west of Wine Lake. The boat meandered past endless patches of water lilies -- bursting forth with tight yellow buds and expanding white blooms. The two foot deep, weedy river opens into Halverson Lake where 16 - 21 inch small mouth bass hide out in the mouth of the river and along the bays and points on the right hand shoreline. The day was picture perfect -- clear blue skies and barely a ripple of wind. Over 40 smallies were caught and released in a few hours.

A quick, easy hike from Halverson into Duck Lake opens up the possibility of a walleye lake all to oneself. Bottle brush plants and huge mushrooms speckle the 1/4 mile trail into a secluded area where another boat and motor await.

As the sun heated up, we motored over to the southeastern inlet to Anishinabi Lake. Shallow, warm waters with a sandy bottom invited us to take a mid-day plunge. Having the whole lake to ourselves, it mattered not what form of bathing suit adorned our bodies.

On the northeast side of Anishinabi Lake ( meaning the "First People"), a new outpost cabin sits hidden on the rocky point. The original owner of Wine Lake Camp, Art Williams, built the first outpost camp there in the 1950's and it stood the test of time until the words scribbled on the beams could no longer hold up the walls by 2006. It was at that point that we passed on the outpost site among the cedars to another owner.

A delightfully new Wolf Cabin also now overlooks the bay back at Wine Lake Camp. See video tour of the cabin on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy2ewbzPkPI The finishing touches were placed on it this week. Savannah wood burned a howling wolf sign to christen the doorway. Herb worked diligently to create another sturdy enclavement for all to enjoy. The large south facing deck hangs over the water and stares out at the narrows beyond. Although it sits on the water, the cabin has level access from the main dock and first priority booking will be given to those who require some easy terrain. Some of those "old timers" to Wine Lake are truly members of a "dying breed". The rough and tough elders, like Bill Thorne, began exploring these backwood waters 60 years ago. We bid farewell to Bill on July
4th, 2010-- a month before he had planned to return to Wine Lake.

We also bid farewell to Shannen and Jamie, our two hardworking, passionate staff members. They left mid-season but did not leave empty-handed. Jamie's boyish dream was to catch and release a 35 inch or larger Northern Pike this summer. Every night after work he fearlously drove off in pursuit of "Psycho Pike". He watched folks from Wisconsin and Minnisota land one large pike after another last week, but the monsters avoided his line. As a tribute to his perserverance, Jamie finally snagged onto a 30 inch walleye. Now this lifetime achievement will don his wall as a work of art. Shannen and Jamie will not be forgotten, nor will their memories fade of the nine week stint at Wine Lake Camp.

Our staff quickly learned the fishing necessity of "getting horizontal". Time and again we see vacation photos of guests holding their catch vertically for a quick snapshot. Unfortunately, this position creates undo stress and internal damage in the fish -- causing 70% mortality rate in released trophies. If you are going to release a fish, the MOST SENSITIVE LANDING TECHNIQUE is to Keep Them Horizontal at all times, supporting their bellies for the proof that Kodak allows. A wise angler not only utilizes the knowledge of lake structure, water depth, and lure presentation, s/he masters the landing technique that insures survival and longevity of the species. We don't want the Trophy Fish of Wine Lake to become a dying breed.....

Worth the trip......

2010-07-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

Why does the weather have to be especially challenging on a Saturday when our guests are travelling across Wabauskang Lake to reach their final destination on Wine Lake? One thunder boomer after another rolled from the western horizon sending lightening bolts sprawling across the wide open skiy and zapping down toward the water. Everyone packed their supplies in garbage bags and desperately hoped that duffle bags laden with clothing would keep the raindrops out. They waited at the landing, or half way across Wabauskang on the shoreline, and at the rocky portage for the electricity to subside. Once everyone eventually arrived safely at Wine Lake, the ambiance favored a refugee camp with clotheslines full of wet shirts and socks, smoky fires burning in the woodstoves, and folks sharing the sense of community that develops after a survival story.

Connie and Charlie looked around their cozy new log cabin and she exclaimed, " I feel like I'm camping at the Ritz Carlton!" Several groups quickly ventured out to land the first fish of the trip. The "trout slayers", Dale and Elmer, who hadn't been here in 12 years, helped give a tour of the resort to their buddies, and marvelled at all the improvements made in the last decade. (All these folks travelled the EXTRA MILE to get out on the edge. And even after dealing with the elements, everyone thought it was "well worth it." All is soon forgotten when the sun comes out and the wind lays down its weary head. There are downriggers to assemble, tackle boxes to organize, and depth findeers to set up. The water is calling....

It was a WEEK of many FIRSTS:
**Nine-year-old Nick, and his dad Chris, brought another young lad and his father to Wine Lake for the first time. As they pulled up to the dock, proud young Nick squealed with delight as he yelled to his friend Braydon, " I told you this place was awesome!" Braydon would later agree after landing a 28" and 28 1/2" Laker.

**Chris Howard was astounded by a huge bull moose in Turn Around Lake. His 50 inch plus rack was all draped in velvet and sparkling in the sunlight. When spotted, he powerfully leapt into the woods, crashing and pushing everything in his way.

**A big grin adorned Sam Stewart, and his sidekick Caleb, when they won their first ever fishing tournament with two pike and one walleye totalling 10 lbs. They matched the Elwood stringer, but won the "length off" by a mere 1/2 inch of flopping fish. Sam's use of a white twister tail grub proved sucessful for several species all week long.

**James Oyler, a first time visitor, photographed two stately bald eagles scooping up a dead pike, a mother loon and her baby, sunsets on Dynamite Bay, and lots of fishing successes (Kale's 38 inch northern and James' 17 inch smallie).

**Thirteen-year-old Tate Dempsey was eaten by a barricuda and spit back out! In the midst of landing his brother's 30 inch northern, the pike leapt out of the cradle, and with mouth open wide, clamped onto Tate's arm. Bandaged Tate now has four teeth marks as souvenirs, but kept fishing with Kale as they pulled perch, smallies, large pike, and a 25 inch walleye out of the very same fishing hole.

** The Dempsey's secret weapon to ward off biting flies -- Peanut butter and jelly. Don't ask, just try it smeared on your boat!

**After trying a fly-in resort with little success, Chris reveled in catching and releasing 27 inch lakers, a 26 inch walleye, and four northern pike from 36 - 41 inches in length. "Best trip ever!"

**Bill and Sam explored Halverson and Anishinabi Lakes in pursuit of Northern and Small Mouth Bass. "What a beautiful lake -- we will definitely do that day trip again," Sam said.

Thrity-three year-old Chris Elwood remembers visiting Wine Lake for the first time when he was 10 years old back in 1989. He and his two brothers piled into a boat with mom and dad and spent 12 hours/day on the water. Now, as a father himself, Chris brought 11 year-old son Brady to experience the magic and wonder of a fishing vacation in the wilderness. Whether it's filling Coleman lanterns together outside on the deck, carrying pails of water to the cabin, drifting off to sleep to the eerie call of a loon, waking up to coffee and hot chocolate as the still lake beckons, or watching your son's eyes light up when he hooks into a 27 inch Walleye, a 28 inch Lake Trout, and a 36 inch Pike, Chris is reliving the memories that bring him back again and again.

Many families have created a special get away at Wine Lake Camp. Young ones are christened into the experience when they reach a golden age; older ones are helped across the slippery portage and in and out of boats so they may still join in the fun. (87 year-old Elmer and 83 year-old Charlie were troopers this week!) The traditions continue.... Fathers and sons, Husbands and wives, Uncles, Aunts and cousins, Grandparents and grandkids....these are the bonds that grow deeper with each trip northward.

Celebrating the Freedom nature provides.....

2010-07-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

This week we were visited by "Johnny MacFarlane and the Early birds." I know this sounds like a bad Texas swing band, but these guys from out west built their fishing strategy around being on the water by 6am every day. It seemed to pay off nicely for these first-timers to Wine Lake Camp.... like the day when John and Ben caught 70 walleyes on Ghost Lake. As brother Paul left for the week, he told everyone that a hot orange Little Joe spinner was what produced untold excitement for him all week long.

On the other end of the musical fishing spectrum, we hosted "The Nightowls". This father and son duet from Minnesota howled at the full moon, had the lake all to themselves in the twilight hours, and cleaned many a fish by the twinkling LED light at midnight in the fishhouse. They surfaced by mid-day in pursuit of Lakers, finding many in the 26 to 30 inch (20 year old) range.

Inlaws, outlaws, and relatives of all sorts from Iowa piled into the Moose cabin this week. Between a monsoon rain on Sunday and bright sunny days, these farmers and businessmen skirted the lakes for walleye and played games and told stories around the campfire late into the night. John Mattson was personally able to catch and release fourteen walleye from 20 - 26 inches by trolling every shoreline at a galloping speed.

Smitty and Darin were off to an Indy 500 start on Saturday when they quickly hooked up with a 35, 36, and 43 inch Northern Pike. It was no small task to gently land the 43 inch Pike which Smitty lovingly described as "an alligator with the face of a Doberman."

During the previous week, Joel and five other guys from Iowa clocked in 1000 walleyes during their week. This week five guys from Indiana were steady and true -- consistently finding and catching a string of walleye every single day. Paul Offerle caught and released a 28 incher. His grandson, Ben, often stayed behind to build tree forts and put the sneak on ground squirrels with Caleb. All the kids gathered round for a CANADA DAY fire works display and cake-eating contest around 10pm. With the sun lighting the skies for 19 hours/day, and the full moonh peeking in the windows all night, it was hard to find a dark enough hour for proper illumination of the magical firey fountain display.

It is that time of year in Canada and the United States -- early July when folks celebrate Independence and Freedom from Tyranny. Fisherman are no different. They come to the backwoods to escape honey do lists and overly critical bosses. They desire a week of freedom. And they find it at Wine Lake Camp -- seven days of sheer bliss with otters frolicking on a rock, gentle breezes slapping the side of their boat, all-you-can-eat greasy food and chilled beer that their doctors don't know they are consuming, and the undisturbed near silence of mother nature. Oh ya, they also find enough fish to make a grown man smile.....

Adopted by a Moose?

2010-06-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Moose, by instinct, can be secretive and cautious of humans (especially when protecting their young). But for whatever reason we do not fully understand, a cow moose and her two little twin calves have become the camp mascots this week (June 19-26,2010). She led her healthy youngins into our bay on Tuesday and has hung out ever since filling her belly with underwater vegetation. Her offspring primarily stay camouflaged in the willows and tall grasses, sleeping away much of the day. She softly grunts and nudges them -- speaking the illusive moose talk in order to position them where they are the least vulnerable. She has completely ignored the standing line of eager photographers, puttering boats, and roaring power sprayer as she wades through the shallow bay and devours her meal of greens only 20 yards away. Lucy the Moose has adopted us all as extended family and onlookers while she raises her frisky children in the bush.

In the other world of calendars and palm pilots, we were celebrating Father's Day this week with beautiful weather in the 70's. And what a perfect place to spend Father's Day -- at Wine Lake, in a boat, at a secluded location with DAD. The hidden bays of Wine Lake provide the backdrop where sons, on the cusp of manhood, are forced to spend quality time with dad -- hearing his stories, observing his personality quirks, and watching his wisdom unfold on the water.

Byron and Scott spent Father's Day drifting for Lakers on Little Trout Lake. After Byron waded through kneehigh bog that acted like quick sand, they were able to hook into four trophy lake trout from 24 -26 inches in length. Steve, and son Ben, were awarded a Father's Day Special of catching and gently releasing a 31 inch Walleye. Jeff and father Ron, and Mike and father Joel, all enjoyed hooking up downriggers and trolling for Lake Trout at 35 foot depths on Wine Lake. Mike says they have doubled their catches from the days when they only jigged for Lakers. The foursome were rewarded with brag board entries of 24 trout.

Unpretentious Joel, who has enjoyed fishing on Wine Lake for 30-some years, says the fishing here is so good that "even a moron can now catch trophy fish on Wine Lake!" Another 35-year veteran, Bill Welch and son Stephen, joined 25-year veteran Bill Burke, his brother and son, for a week of walleye fishing. The Burke party put in some long hours on the water enabling Bill to Catch and Release six trophy walleyes from 6 to 9 pounds in seven days.

Some young lads in the Moose Cabin were not pleased that several boats from another camp were venturing onto Wine Lake for day trips and crowding their boats as they fished. To them, this remote lake was their personal fishing hole, so one boldly dropped his drawers and saluted some neighboring anglers passing by. In the
"civilized world", every territory struggles with humanitarian responses to immigration issues. However, we've never heard of any political group suggesting "mooning" as a stop gap measure to stem the tidal wave of day visitors within their borders! ....And maybe there really are enough fish and private fishing spots to accomodate us all?

One guy forgot his passport and spent the week worrying what would happen at the border when he tried to return home. As of June 2009, everyone over 16 years of age needs a passport to reenter the United States. Please wave at Josh when you head home from Wine Lake. We figure he is still standing on the Canadian side.....

OUCH! We were visited by two polite and professional Conservation Officers this week. Two groups learned a painful lesson about daily limits, proper measurement of fish, and keeping careful track of the fish in their possession. Fines were charged when officers determined that one group had eaten fish for shorelunch that day and had another stash of walleye saved to "take home." A DAILY LIMIT means if you've eaten walleye that day, you can't keep another limit of four in the same day. A limit is a limit is a limit.....
When large groups combine their stored catch, it is imperative that someone in the group count the fish in their possession every day and clarify to each boat what their specific limit is to keep for that day. Everyone wants to "catch their own fish", so bringing in a limit for someone else in your party is unwise and often illegal. Finally, keeping an inch of skin on all fillets until you consume it is a necessity. MNR officers must be able to determine the species and length of the fish in your possession. Holding the fish still and pinching the tail for accurate measurement is a must. One group inadvertently had a 28" northern (in the protected slot) because of inaccurate measurement. You can stop brushing your teeth, shaving, and changing your underwear while vacationing. You can refurse to respond to voicemail while at Wine Lake. But there are still some rules that must be followed for a painfree fishing trip!

Approaching the Solstice on Wine Lake 2010

2010-06-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

The previous owner of Wine Lake Camp, Tommy Williams, once told me to be wary of the wild winds that will dance on either side of the approaching summer solstice on June 21st. As if just like clockwork, this week started out like a lamb and ended with a lion's roar on Thursday night the 17th. Nine folks clad in raincoats held lanterns and ropes, flashed headlamps, bailed boats and resecured ramps in the wee hours of Friday morning in order save Peppler's and Kennedy's boats from going completely under. The strength of nature can seem overpowering when she blows in gusty southern waves at night, but the unity of purpose among the gang from Colorado made the fearsome job light work. However, it is strongly recommended that Rick Thoren be granted his boyscout badge for "Most unusual knots tied in the course of a crisis."

When the knock came at the door at midnight, we hurriedly donned raingear,and grabbed buckets and lights to save the sinking boats. Kent Kennedy and sons had been bailing for half an hour before I joined Kent on the ramp that barely held his boat. He stood far enough out that the lake water was up to his crotch as he balanced untethered on the end of the slippery ramp in the pouring rain. With adreniline pumping, I began to furiously empty buckets of water from his sunken boat and fling them to the side. It took a few minutes for Kent to realize he was getting wet from the lake below, from the skies above, but most mysteriously from my buckets of water sloshed from the side! We all worked together to prevent our own personal wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and laughed as we bailed and tugged.

Earlier in the week, Lynn had quickly saved Mike Pasini's plump wallet (unknowingly perched at the edge of the outhouse toilet seat)from diving down into
the hole of no return. And we all cheered as newbies Jeremy Odle, and friend Chris, miraculously won the fishing derby with a whopping 13 pounds wrapped up in two fat pike and a walleye! It is amazing what first timers to Wine Lake can pull off in a pinch.

Salt and pepper clouds dotted the bluish skies for most of the week. There have been several mayfly hatches as the temperatures have stabilized in the 70's. This competing food source usually slows down the catching, but it didn't seem to lessen the enjoyment of Glen and Rachelle, Rick and Gary, Doug, Connie and Danny catching lots of trophy walleye up to 29 inches in size. David Schultz and the Pasini family also reeled in Lakers from 26 -30 inches in length. Daryl, Jay, and Patrick tried their hand at catching walleye, smallmouth, and pike with flyrods. And Herb had to help thoroughly exhausted, old Uncle Al hold his 25 pound Northern for a picture after fighting the Pike for 20 minutes on 4 lb. test in Dynamite Bay. Pictures don't lie.... but where is the guy who really caught this monster, Al?

In honor of grandpa Arlo, Mark and Al often snuck out at 4 or 5 am to find endless walleye ( 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 inches in length) in Mud, Ghost, Turn Around, and secret spots on Wine Lake proper. Al swears this was " the best fishing I've had in 40 years!" and Mark saved some 16 and 17 inch walleye for making homemade cerviche salsa.

After a hot day on Wednesday, Savannah and Shannon swam from camp to the island (at precisely the same moment that a cow and her two calves decided to swim the other direction!) But, as Kent and Lynn Kennedy fished near the Bay of Pigs, they were able to capture a cow moose joyously bathing and eating while her calf slept on shore. The tone soon changed when a bear came charging out of the woods on the heels of the scared little calf. Mama moose hurled around and stampeded the attacking bear while the young one fled. In all the commotion, the young calf swam away and the mother later frantically tried to track the scent of her little one.

Daryl cooked Greek fries and Cajun Walleye while Josh serenaded on guitar around the campfire. And as the week wound down, Doug and Connie fed their crew bacon-wrapped fish kabobs on the grill. See this delicious recipe below and start planning your next fresh fish meal on Wine Lake!

** Chunk walleye, pike, or ling fillets into 2 or 3 pieces.
** Tightly wrap each piece with 1/2 a piece of bacon
**Skewer with wooden kabob, along with peppers and onion
**Season with Louisiana brand Cajun blackened seasoning
** Grill on tin foil for up to 10 minutes
YUM!

Check on Road Conditions before heading north

2010-06-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you would like to check to see if Hwy 105, Hwy 502, or Hwy 17 have any delays or closures, please call 1-416-235-4686.

There have been reports of 1 - 2 hour waits crossing the border into Canada this June. Give yourself plenty of travel time to make it to the landing between 10 and 11 am.

SAFE TRAVELS!

Attack of the Dogfish Warriors (June 5-12th 2010)

2010-06-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Dogfish Warriors from Wisconsin took the bait thrown out three weeks ago by the Hanson party from Iowa. These six weekend warriors incredibly snagged over 1000 walleye this past week, inspite of the fact that they took a day off to portage into Little Trout Lake ( where 19 Lakers awaited their lines). The Wisconsin Warriors were able to surpass the Iowa standard in sheer numbers of walleye caught, but they respectfully "tip their hats" to the Hansons since they fell 14 short of surpassing the 35 trophy walleye caught over 6 lbs. in size. However, exhausted Redbeard kept whispering "Dynamite" after releasing a 32 inch Marble Eye on Thursday. Chris caught 50 walleye at the Falls one day and then swore he saw a caribou in the river??? Go figure.....

Fathers and sons from Indiana trolled the lake assessing what is really important in life. Tuesday was the "best day of my life fishing at Wine Lake for 24 years", grinned Mark Mace. Mark now believes he suffers from "Walleye Carpol Tunnel Syndrome" after he, and son Sam, had nonstop walleye fishing action for four hours on Ghost Lake. Sam ended the feeding frenzy by releasing a 28 inch walleye. Together, this week, they caught and released 15 walleye from 25 to 30 inches in length. Adam, Jonathon, and Junior looked through binoculars and watched in awe as a cow moose and two small calves bedded down on the shoreline across from the camp. Fathers and sons, mothers and young..... both bond on the shores of Wine Lake.

Ray and Gus from Illinois collected old photos of themselves vacationing at Wine Lake Camp in the 1960's and we assembled a page in the Wine Lake 25ers Club Album. We all enjoy reliving their Glory Days when they explored Duck Lake, caught fish left and right, and accidently lost a boat on the hillside to Little Trout Lake.

Maria Moslander set the fashion standard this week with her hot pink, polka-dotted rubber boots. She finally was able to join her family and friends from Illinois and Missouri to troll for lakers and cast for northern. Father Tom and brother Tom Jr. caught and released a 27 inch and 29 inch laker.

We're considering renaming Wine Lake Camp as "Steve's Camp" since he spends more time here than at home these days. His photos dominate the album and don the boathouse walls, his stories of the 41 inch Northern he landed this week are all the rage on the dock, and his recipe for fish tacos with chipotle sauce are to die for.

Travelling Hwy 502 this weekend was tricky with two washed out areas narrowing the already skinny road into a single lane. Taking 11 West out of Fort Frances is still the best detour available.

The MIST, FOG, and RAIN have been punctuated with just enough sun and warmth to keep everyone's spirits high. Minnows, scented grubs, and nightcrawlers share the boats with cigars and sunflower seed snacks. This is the feel of June on the lake...........

Buckets of Rain.... Buckets of Fish (5/29-6/4, 2010)

2010-06-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

We thought the top catches of last week (a 39 inch Pike by Denny Pavloski and a 28 inch Walleye by Nate Walker) were going to be hard to beat. But the week of May 29th through June 4th, 2010 wasn't any different. After visiting Wine Lake for 35 years, Frank Burk from Texas, was able to land the catch of his lifetime -- a 28 1/4 inch Walleye. And Mike Mann, from Kansas, quietly smirked when he caught and released the biggest Northern Pike he has ever caught (42 inches and 22 lbs.).
This was finally a TYPICAL JUNE WEEK with "buckets of rain" and "buckets of fish". John Foat caught and released trophy fish in four different categories: Pike, Walleye, Whitefish, and Perch. By week's end, Rick Parsons from Arizona, swept away the family's "Trophy Walleye Pewter Cup" from his cousin Dave by landing a 27 incher. After visiting Wine Lake for 17 years, Jay Dorsey from Colorado, was able to win the weekly fishing tournament with 9 1/4 lbs of flopping fish. And honorable mention in the tournament goes to the Burk brothers,Toby and Ryan, who were awarded a new measuring device....
Chris and John Foat watched two hungry wolves chase a cow and calf moose from the thick bush into the water on Beaver Lake. The wolves then paced along the shoreline licking their lips in anticipation. But the moose escaped the snarling predators while Chris captured it all on film.
"It takes a village" to portage a boat. The water is rising, but everyone's help is needed to quickly and safely pull the empty boats across the slippery rapids. Bring rubber boots and a willing spirit! The protest toll booth in Fort Frances is down and will no longer slow your trip on Hwy 11 East.
Plenty of fish and an adventure is waiting at Wine Lake Camp....... just ask Mike Mann who was accidently handcuffed, interrogated, and surrounded by armed border agents on his return home. Opps.... wrong Mike Mann.... sorry.

Best walleye fishing in 43 years!

2010-05-31T06:21:00.000-07:00

Take it from the old pros that come to Wine Lake: Jerry Becka has been exploring these waters for 43 years and commented this week (May 22- 29th, 2010) that this was definitely the "best walleye fishing we have had in all the years I've been coming to Canada." A three generation vacation by the Beckas is always a special pleasure.

It was a fantastic week of fishing with cooler temperatures and a good walleye chop on the lake. The crew from Iowa attempted to set a new Wine Lake record. They brought clickers along to keep track of every fish caught. The Hanson group of six reeled in 862 total fish in 7 days of hard fishing. About 100 of those were Small Mouth Bass and another 50 were Northern. A few whitefish over 22 inches and several nice 12 -13 inch perch were included. But about 700 WALLEYE were in that total! About 35 trophy walleye from 25 inches to 28 1/2 inches were caught and released by these ecstatic guys. The Wine Lake Catch and Release Policy is really paying off for this fishery. Half of the walleye caught were over 19 inches long. However, there seems to be few in the 17 - 18 inch range this year due to a poor spawn about 5 years ago. It is easy to see the impact of nature and proper fish management on the lake when you fish every day. Bob Capp, from Indiana, currently holds this year's record for largest Lake Trout caught. Bob was able to land a 31 inch Laker on Friday before he left.

Wildlife sightings abounded this week. "Last night as six guys sat around the campfire watching the moon come up, they noticed a large black bear walking on the shoreline across from camp. The bear entered the lake and swam for a 1/4 mile west towards the closest point to camp. Two boats who were returning from late night fishing noticed the bear and pulled up to take pictures as he climbed out on shore." Dennis and George Pavloski were fishing in Turn Around Lake when a whitetail deer jumped from a 12 foot cliff into the lake. It did a nice, loud belly flop and then swam across the channel. And finally, a large, sweet man was seen by his son tumbling from a rowboat on Tipover Lake. The pretend reinactment of that splash will provide memories for the Indiana crew for years to come.

And that's what vacationing at Wine Lake Camp is all about.... creating unforgettable memories to share with family and friends. Come back and make some more!

It's been a long time.....

2010-05-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

It's been about 20 years since opening week of May has brought such unseasonably warm and dry temperatures to NW Ontario. They predict this trend will last all summer long. I can remember it reaching 90 degrees in the late 80's as we barged fuel out to the campin May. In 2010, the wool hats, gloves, and insulated coveralls adorned by anglers were stripped off by 9am and the sunscreen and caps were sported for the rest of the day. Still days and temperatures in the 70's and mid-80's followed us all week long.

Surface water temperatures climbed to 55-57 degrees. The spawning walleye have already pretty much scattered throughout the system. Perch are a little hard to find. Lakers are still in the shallows despite the rising surface temps.

The largest trophy walleyes were caught by Bob and Jamie -- reaching 25 - 26 1/2 inches. Steve K. had the week of all weeks on Friday when he caught 25 walleyes in an hour and topped it off with a 29 1/2" trophy walleye! Twenty- four to 30 inch Lakers danced in the shallows for Steve K., Bob M., and Steve L. The largest pike
(34 -38 inches) were caught and released by Dick, Kevin, and Steve L. Jumbo perch
(12 -13 inches) and Smallies ranging up to 17 3/4 inch surprised Sari and Bob.

It looks like light winds, some rain, and cooler nights are returning this week to put us in our place and get fishing conditions back to normal for this time of year. See you on the lake!

Spring 2010 Wine Lake Camp

2010-05-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

What an interesting spring this has been. NW Ontario had a very mild and dry winter. So the ice melted off Wine Lake in the middle of April -- about three weeks earlier than is typical. This meant that we could easily access Wine Lake Camp by water and get everything ready for Walleye Opener on May 15th. The weather has been mild, but the water is currently about 3 feet lower than last year. This will require boots to portage the boats, and slowing down to get into Beaver, Mud, and Ghost lakes. The river to Anishinabi Falls is low too.
We shall call this the Year of the Beaver. For the first time that we can remember in 25 -30 years, several big, fat beavers attacked the foilage at camp and brought down several trees in the yard for their lodge in the bay. We are lucky that none fell on the cabins or gas tanks. The beavers are busy at the entrance to Beaver Lake and elsewhere. Get ready to have their tales splash you as you drive by.
We eagerly await the first guests in a few days. Get your fishing poles rigged up! The fish are waiting!