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2011 is gone, hello 2012!
It's hard to believe, but 2011 is over and done. Another fun filled season is behind us and we are well under way planning for 2012.
2011 started with a fairly normal spring. Unlike the last three or four years, the ice went out on May 8th. That's the first day we were able to get to Loch Island from Camp Lochalsh. There were still large sheets of floating ice for a few days up by Twin Rocks, but a strong southwest wind took them out quickly.
Snow pack was low last winter but our water level was nice and high and remained so for the entire season. No complaints here as it made loading and unloading goods much easier for us up on Loch Island.
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Our first guests arrived in late May which gave us plenty of time to sand and varnish the boats and take delivery of three new Mercury outboards. Our fleet of boats and motors is quite extensive now. We have two more boats on order with Giesler Boat Builders for next spring and we are planning on purchasing more Mercury 15 h.p. electric start outboards as well. Sanding and Varnishing 40 cedar strip boats can be a tedious process and takes several weeks with at least two people working full time on the project. It takes another two weeks after they're done to get the varnish out of your nose hairs and any clothes you've worn will be stiff as a board! Last year, we used a higher quality varnish that went on really well and seemed to last better than previous years.
Warm weather came in quickly, but we never really got the hot stuff up in our neck of the woods. We were all thankful for that! The fish followed their traditional migration routes, starting up at the narrows and working their way down the lake into deeper water by early July. Lots of bigger walleye were caught in late July and August. We had a number of really nice Pike caught and released this year with many in the 40" plus range.
 Daily shore lunches started in late May at our usual spring location, Tee Pee Island. Great times were had by all who attended and the supply of fresh Walleye was consistent throughout the season. Our batter mix (secret formula hand made in our kitchen every couple of days) has been requested many times by guests and this year we finally decided to send some home with a select few. Perhaps we may see it for sale in the tackle store next season?
We are booked into five sport shows right now and as usual, if you would like to stop by and say hello, bring your trip photos with you! At this time, we are filling up fast, so if you have a specific date in mind, it may be best to get a hold of us before the shows. Have a great winter and we'll see you all at shore lunch in 2012!
The
2011 Morel Mushroom Hunt!
Sometimes,
you can just feel that you're in morel country. Up here, in
the late part of May and first week or so of June, the elusive
Black Morel Mushrooms produce their highly sought after fruit.
It's during that time that morel fever strikes!
You can't compare any other kind
of Mushroom hunting with that of morels. The excitement builds
when you come across one, because you know that there are
more in the immediate area. We've been hunting black morel
mushrooms in our region for over 15 years now, and every
season (thanks in part to our consistent sporing) it gets
better and better.
Unfortunately, 2011 was not a very good morel year. Just like 2010 we had a few really good nights, then nothing. This has been two years in a row with just mediocre morel hunting. I suspect that in the next year or two, we should get a "bumper crop" to make up for lost time.
A
Triple Play!
With a wet winter forecasted for our area, we are hoping for a much better 2012 and are anxiously awaiting our first hunt of the season!
A lonely, but tasty black morel.
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New Mercs for 2011!
Once again in 2011 we purchased more 15 h.p. Mercury Electric start Outboard motors to add to our fleet. These motors have been phenomenal in both performance and reliability. We have no complaints other that their sheer size and weight make them hard to put on and pull off the boats with just one guy!
JP with one of our new "Mercs"
Camp Lochalsh Housekeeping!
This year, we'll be running deluxe housekeeping operations at Camp Lochalsh, with a full time caretaker on premises. This should really help out with the operation down there and with the increase in bookings for 2012, we are well on our way to expanding our Lochalsh operations. The caretaker at Lochalsh will be doing some much needed renovations. Due to a struggling economy we have had Camp Lochalsh closed for the last two seasons.
In addition to running our housekeeping plan fishing trips out of Lochalsh, we will also be operating the Camp Lochalsh Bear Hunts in 2012. Our good friend and caretaker, "Big Dave" Bogue, will be overseeing the bear hunt and day to day operations at Camp Lochalsh. With over 20 years experience in running bear hunts, Dave is well qualified for the task.
Bob Buist with a nice Pike! (released)
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One
of our daily Shore Lunches at Tee Pee Island, springtime location.
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Thanks
to being inside the largest game preserve in the world,
pictures like this are possible!!! |
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One of Amy's fine deck flowers
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A great close up Bald Eagle shot!
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Schaefer and Altes coming back from Shore
Lunch!!! |
Here
is a list of just some of the new items purchased in 2011!
- New dock at Camp Lochalsh
- New docks on Loch Island (airplane dock, "L" dock
- New roof on Cabin 2- Camp Lochalsh
- New deck and barbeque on Otter Island, big cabin
- 3 New Mercury 15 h.p. electric start outboards
- Extensive log work on Cabin 3, Loch Island
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Here's
a look at two of our portage lakes as seen from the air:
Glasgow
Lake Just
south of Wabatongushi Lake, below the spillway and a short
quarter-mile portage, is Glasgow Lake. At first, the lake
seems pretty small, but when you venture out in our aluminum
boat and traverse through the narrows, it opens up into
a larger body of water. The narrows, with their swirling
eddies and turbulent water flow, offer a perfect environment
for Smallmouth Bass. The lake is filled with monster Pike,
feisty Walleye, and hyperactive Smallmouth Bass.
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Loch
Katrine
A
large lake accessible via a one-mile portage behind Kathleen
Bay, Loch Katrine's hike is not for people with heart
conditions! The long trek is definitely worth it, though.
Connected to Meath Lake via a short portage, Loch Katrine
is shallow for the most part but does have an occasional
"hole" that drops off to 30 feet. It contains
great Walleye and Northern Pike fishing! |
With
up to 10 different lakes to fish in addition to Wabatongushi,
the angling and exploring opportunities are limitless! These lakes
and streams are all in close proximity to Wabatongushi Lake, require
no flying to get to, and have no accommodations on them. Each
lake has a small aluminum boat or canoe, equipped with either
an outboard motor or—in the case of Andy lake—oars.
All
of our portage lakes are strictly catch and release!
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No
new changes in fishing regulations for 2012
For
2012, the possession limits in our area have remained
unchanged and are as listed below:
| Species |
Regular
License |
Conservation
License |
| Walleye |
4
fish, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm. (18.1 in.) |
2
fish, not more than 1 greater than 46 cm. (18.1 in.) |
| Northern
Pike |
6
fish, not more than 2 greater than 61 cm. (24 in.),
of which not more than 1 greater than 86 cm. (33.9
in.) |
2
fish, not more than 1 greater than 61 cm. (24 in.),
and none greater than 86 cm. (33.9 in.) |
| Perch |
50
fish |
25
fish |
| Brook
Trout |
5
fish, not more than 2 greater than 30 cm. (11.8 in.),
of which not more than 1 greater than 40 cm. (15.8
in.) |
2
fish, not more than 1 greater than 30 cm. (11.8 in.),
none greater than 40 cm. (15.8 in.) |
Please
note that the Brook Trout (Speckled Trout) season now
ends on Labor Day instead of September 15.
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A nice Pike, caught and released!
Two beautiful mid-summer Walleye!
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Many of the fishboard fish were caught and released. Congratulations to all who made the board in 2011!
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ATTENTION!
The
US Department of Homeland Security is requiring
all US citizens re-entering the US from Canada
at land crossings to present a passport or passport
card as of June 1, 2009. To get a passport card,
click
here to visit the Department of Homeland
Security's passport card website.
Also,
for those of you flying your own aircraft into
Canada, be aware that the Department of Homeland
Security (US) is requiring all private flights
to notify DHS 2 hours prior to departure from
the US via eAPIS for permission to leave the country.
You will still need to contact CanPass for clearing
Canadian Customs.
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Now that's a face only a mother could love!
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Sport Show Lineup - 2012!
-
SCI "Michigan Chapter" Banquet
Pinnacle Center - Hudsonville, MI - February 10 - 11
Suburban Collection Showplace (formerly Rock Financial Showplace) - Novi, MI - February 23 - 26
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Ultimate Sport Show Grand Rapids
Devos Place - Grand Rapids, MI - March 15 - 18
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Traverse City Outdoor Show
Howe Arena - Traverse City, MI - March 23 - 25
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A good place for a Bear to be!
Just off the Water!
A Mother Loon on her nest
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2011
Hawk Air Rates
Cessna
180 (2 people) $542.40
Beaver
(3-4 people) $813.60
Otter
(5-8 people) $1356.00
Please
note that these rates are round-trip, for the entire airplane,
including HST in Canadian funds.
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Name
the Spot!
Can
you name this spot on Wabatongushi Lake?
If
you think you know where this is, e-mail us at NorPike22@aol.com
and let us know. The first three correct answers get a
free T-shirt or coffee mug!
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