Hawk Lake Lodge

June 28, 2009 Update.

2009-06-29T10:46:00.002-04:00

Hello again from Hawk Lake Lodge. Since the last update we have have experienced some extreme weather shifts. May and early June saw unseasonably cold and very rainy weather. This was followed by nice, typical summer weather - 70s and low 80s with lots if sun. Starting June 28, however was something rather different. Quite a few checked out to return home on the 27th and those were lucky that they did. Temps plummeted to the low 50s, the wind roared like a hurricane, and torrential rain all occured at the same time. Docked boats almost sank from the heavy rains and the road and grounds appeared similar to an extended high hurdles track. We are just now working our way out of this mess. The good news is that good weather is just around the corner.

Throughout all this folks were still fishing. All returned to the Lodge drenched and cold, but most all were catching fish. We are currently in the post spawn for the bass, with a few beds still active. Only time will tell the success of this year class. It has been too nasty the last few days to see the amount of fry that you would expect to see around the shoreline at this point. Fishing is doing quite well on many of the portage lakes and the main lake is good as well despite the unstable weather. Pike fishing is doing well in Paddy and Portage Lakes. The largest to date is a 23 pounder from Cliff Lake. Walleye fishing has been spotty to date. However, it must be said that only very few anglers have been fishing for walleye in a concerted way.

As stated before, please call for more precise locational and presentational patterns. Overall, the bass fishing has been farily easy most days both as to location and tactics.

So long for now. Please be sure to call us.

June 15,2009 Update

2009-06-15T17:08:00.002-04:00

Hello again from Hawk Lake Lodge. Just when you thought that the hope of a nice late Spring were gone, hope has sprung for the "Warmies". To the heretofore uninitiated, the "Warmies" are all true believers, led by the high priest Mr. Gore,
who reckon that the world is indeed warming at a calamitous pace. The only problem is, these folks are considered an endangered species in this part of the world. Just imagine minuscule and ever shrinking groups of true believers in these parts, assembled at one of many public venues, staring at the heavens and chanting, Al Gore, where are you now?

Well, as they say that is a deep subject. This coincides exactly where the fish have been have been holding throughout our extended chill. The good news is that, thanks to the return of warm weather, all sceptics have been forced to return to the fold. That's right, where just a few short days ago we witnessed snow, now we have to wear t-shirts. Sun, calm winds and warm temps are just too much to take (?). This change occurred just in time for me. You see, I had developed a truly menacing case of the "claw". The claw is where a confluence of factors; such as cold damp - weather, gripping a fishing rod too tightly and arthritis conspire to turn your hands into, well a claw!

Let me tell you all these mysteries sure have jump started both the walleye and bass fishing. While the progress of the season lags behind by 2-3 weeks, things have really started to pop. Following good legal precedent, you know the line - some exceptions have occurred, your results may vary, side effect have been observed to happen such as the public consumption of alcohol (yikes!) etc, etc. - I am swooning in my beer for all this, consumed of course in my private chambers.

Please call me for the full scoop. Seriously, the fishing is good, easy and predictable at this point. All these overwhelming conflicts have almost made me a believer - almost.

May 31, 2009 Update

2009-05-31T12:35:00.002-04:00

After several really nice Spring days; during which the fishing was fantastic on Hawk, Mud, Portage and Wolf Lakes today was very cold and windy. With the winds out of the northwest and completely sunny skies, it was everone's nemesis - the dreaded cold front. Maybe we should take a stab at a new rendition of an old angling theme - the "Cold Front Blues". Upon further thought, best to abstain from that idea lest the loons leave Hawk Lake and environs in disgust.

We did find a reminder of springs past. I refer to the first appearance of the beginning stages of spawning beds on the main lake. You might have know, they were right where they have been for the last seven years. Perhaps they have been there far longer. This is unusual. We had not seen during the prior several days any signs of beds on Wolf, Mud or Portage Lakes. Strange as these normally warm up first and have the earlier spawning activity. On the other, hand Hawk Lake is cold, really cold, damn cold depending on who you talk to and where they came from. Yesterday while making the rounds,we experienced several "wake-up calls" of water splashed on the face - enough to buy into the "damn cold" description.

On other fronts, loons seem everwhere. John and Pam from LaCrosse, WI happened upon a nest on Portage Lake. The Poplar leaves are finding the courage to peer out of their buds, but only reluctantly it would seem. The eagles, osprey, common mergansers are all, as they say here, "oout and aboout". The lovely, but largely unseen, white throated sparrow with their lovely song are ubiquitous. Sorry foks, but no moose, deer, lynx but one impoverished bear have showed up to date. One very spent hummingbird did take up temporary residence in cabin #2. Poor thing was so tired that the legitimate and duly registered occupants were able to pick the bird up in their hand and take outside. I have been told, the the bird in question made a complete recovery.

Call us and we can go over the specifics of the fishing. Suffice it to say here that the bass fishing has been great all out of context given the frigid nature of the water. Odd but fish of 18 and 19 inches seem to be outnumbering the lesser fish.

So long for now.

Spring Newsletter.

2009-05-29T12:11:00.003-04:00

MEET THE 2009 STAFF

Please meet the Hawk Lake Lodge 2009 Season staff. I am sure that they will work hard for each and every one of you this year. What we have found here is that we recruit people as they are starting their university and college training. We train them and they return anywhere from two to four years until they complete their education. Most staff depart at that point to get a job in the “real” world.

This is where we find ourselves at this point in 2009. We have three returning staff members from last year. They are Angelo and Sandy Foglia, who return to us from 2009. Angelo is the fellow in charge of maintenance and repairs as well as the men’s staff supervisor. Sandy is the primary housekeeper. Sandy and Angelo come to us from Thunder Bay, Ontario. Paul Brunet is also from Thunder Bay. Paul has worked for other lodges in the past. He will be working for us this year as a guide and dock hand. Albert Smith, along with his brother, Jonathan Smith hale likewise from Thunder Bay. They both are or have been students at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Albert will serve you this year in the capacity of guide and dock hand. Jonathan will work as our portage man. Krista Mouck will work this year as a combined housekeeper/server in the dining room. Krista is originally from Winnipeg but currently is a psychology graduate student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Adam Strey is from Thunder Bay as well. Adam has considerable experience in the food service industry. He will work this summer as server and kitchen assistant. Last, but certainly not least, Annie Hillier from St. Johns, Newfoundland returns from 2008 as our chef and kitchen manager.

I am sure that the 2009 staff will be eager to introduce themselves to you at their first opportunity. Along with them; Mari, Sam, and myself look forward to welcoming one and all to the Lodge this summer.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FISHING ROD

Choosing the right fishing rod is often made out to be something purely subjective. This is usually expressed in hip terms by saying the “right rod for you”. While subjective considerations may play a part, such as in rod color and/or graphics. However, most serious anglers are not interested in such criteria. These folks want a fishing rod for one thing – a tool to help them catch more fish.

Of course, there are other considerations for most of us. Price would be one such consideration. Price is one of the poorest considerations though. As far as fishing rods are concerned, the cost of the rod is one of the worst things to skimp on. Does a good golfer buy his clubs at a garage sale or a pro shop? Of course not. You almost always get what you pay for in everything that you may buy. A good quality (middle to upper price ranges) fishing rod does a number of things for you. It is much more sensitive. It is also much lighter. It sets the hooks with more authority. It increases the enjoyment of fishing. These are among the reasons we should choose our next rod, not stylistic considerations. Remember, a rod is a tool. Beauty is as beauty does. You don’t drive a nail with a screw driver handle, at least not very well.

Consider sensitivity. There are a good number of fishing techniques which demand a high level of sensitivity. These are basically any manner of fishing where the bait or lure is not worked horizontally through the water. Horizontal presentations, such as crankbaits – minnow baits – spinnerbaits – in line spinners (Mepps/Panther Martin, etc.) or trolling techniques do not demand sensitivity. Almost everything else does.

Sensitivity is chiefly a function of construction – low weight, rod guides and rod materials. Rod materials are usually measured by the modulus of the graphite used to make the rod. Modulus refers to both the type and quantity of graphite fibers in the material. The higher the graphite modulus number, the more sensitive is the material. The more sensitive the material, the more you feel what is going on at the end of your line. Beware, however, as cheaper rods may boast of high graphite numbers. The real rub comes from the amount of graphite in the rod as well as the modulus rating. Cheaper rods have much less graphite in them and are actually composed largely of epoxy filler material which is not conducive to sensitivity. Again, graphite construction is costly and you get what you pay for. Rod guides also have an effect on what you end up feeling. Costlier guides have harder ceramic guides and stronger retainers, both of which augment sensitivity. Light weight is achieved by quality rod materials and guides. How does this gobligook translate into better fishing? Well think of it this way. Most anglers would say they are thrilled by the feel of a strike. Now imagine the effect of having that sensation much magnified through the use of a quality rod. The smallest tick is magnified by the “wow” factor into some much bigger and exciting. In addition you can much more easily feel the bottom, and especially the bottom type and structure with a quality rod. Consider such a thing as a more efficient telegraph. The better the telegraph, the more information transmitted. The more information you receive, the better you be as an angler. These things translate into more fun and more efficient angling.

Lack of perceived weight or lightness does not only contribute to sensitivity. It also reduces the strain on the arms during a long day of fishing. I find myself with each passing year the rude ravages of time and age. I really appreciate the way a light rod helps me enjoy with less pain a day on the lake. This keeps one sharper so that when that big one strikes at the end of the day that I am more ready to take ‘em on and less likely to miss or lose it.

One last thing a quality rod can do for you is that it enables you to set the hook with more authority. Hooks are set more by the speed of a rod in the hook set than by brute force. Speed is accomplished by using a lighter and therefore more costly rod. Your fishing partner can stand a little way out from you holding the lure between their finger and thumb and you will not be able to retrieve it try as you may by setting with a normal hook set. Set the hook fast and it likely will come flying back at you. Try this some time. How do you help set the hook faster? Simple – use a longer rod. The trend in most types of fishing these days is to the use of longer rods. From where I set, I would not purchase any new rod less than six and a half feet long. For many applications a seven foot or even longer is better. It is a matter of simple physics. The rod is simply a lever arm. The longer the rod (within reason), the more line you move and the faster you move it. In addition you gain extra power behind every hook set. This is an extension of the “lever” principle.

Nobody likes to spend money needlessly. How high a quality do I actually need? How much should I pay to ensure buying a quality rod, one which will realize the benefits listed above? As indicated above, most good rods come in the mid to upper price ranges. Let’s take St. Croix Rods as I am most familiar with them. You could specify a number of companies that also build good rods. No need here to buy a top of the line item on the $300 to $400 price range. I would be afraid to take these in a boat for fear of damaging them. But the mid range Avid series is a fine rod in every respect for around $150. There are no flies on the lower cost Premier which is also a fine rod which sell for around $100. If you go much below this in any product or brand line and you sort of fall of the table quality wise in most cases. The rods have either inferior modulus graphite, or a lower percentage of graphite and inferior guides and rings. All these deficiencies will set you back. Your enjoyment and effectiveness as an angler will suffer as a result. I am all for enjoying my rare opportunities to the utmost.

HAPPY HOUR

All of our returning guests have come to enjoy immensely our nightly happy hour observance here at Hawk Lake Lodge. The refreshments, but especially the camaraderie, the fish stories – both the truthful as well as the over processed all make the Happy Hour what it is. However, changes to this format are imminent. Late last year the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) informed us of changes in enforcement practices which will greatly alter Happy Hour.

For the 2009 season the following changes will be instituted to makes us compliant with the new enforcement of regulations. As I currently understand the new regulations, the following changes have to be made. First, alcoholic beverages are still allowed within the guest cabins. They are not to be available in the main lodge, tables or happy hour areas. All alcohol must be consumed in the private cabins of the guests only. Guests may, however, invite other guests to their cabins for a drink. Hawk Lake Lodge may no longer comp or buy any beverages for its guests. All wine, beer and liquor must be bought by the guests or a designated third party such as friends who will be met here.

Happy Hour will still go on with appetizers, cold drinks, fruit juices, and water. Most of all, the camaraderie, stories and fun – these no government can as yet take away from us.

Please forgive us for any pain these changes will make. We are compelled to follow these regulations or risk being closed. When I mentioned that these changes are in force for 2009, changes may occur in 2010. For one thing we are trying to get a special circumstances waiver. Another possibility is that we may succeed in obtaining a license to serve. This, however, will take time. Certainly this will take more than this fishing season. It is also not clear that even if we applied that we will be successful since the local community has a strong say in the matter. Another point to consider is that if successful, Hawk Lake Lodge would have to serve anyone from the general public both in the dining and bar areas. Many have expressed the sentiment that this would indeed change the character of Hawk Lake Lodge. Please let me know your thoughts on all of these changes

PASSPORT DEADLINE

It should come as no surprise that as of June 1, 2009 that all US citizens traveling to Canada will be required to have a valid U.S. Passport in their possession. This requirement will then be extended to those traveling by surface transportation as well as air or boat transport which had already been covered by this regulation. It should be noted that this is a requirement of the U.S. government in the interests of “security”. The Canadian government is in no part involved in this matter and has actually argued in vain against these changes to long established travel practices between the two countries. The current deadline only applies to those who drive into Canada from their homes or from the International Falls, MN airport.

Applying for a U.S. Passport has never been easier. All you have to do is to go to your local post office. Bring with you an embossed (not photo copied) birth certificate along with a couple of passport type photos which you usually can obtain in local drug store. The applications themselves which are short and easy can be found at the post office. All you have to do then is write a check to good ole Uncle Sam for his time and effort (?). As of 4/22/2009 the lead time to get you new or renewed passport is from 4 – 6 weeks. This time can be cut in half should you be so moved to pay a premium of $60.00. The return time can be further cut should you wish to pay for Express Mail (usually overnight) for both the outbound and return mailings. We have found that as in most things, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. You can usually get quick customer service consideration should you need it. Just call the number listed on the application.

Please let me know if you are in this boat. Just look at all this as your passport to a much more fun Hawk Lake Lodge boat. I have on file contact numbers and special case application procedures for those who require very short term consideration.

May 2009 Update

2009-05-29T08:09:00.002-04:00

Hello again from Hawk Lake Lodge. We welcome all of you to the 2009 season. So far it is shaping up to be a cold spring. The ice went out prior to our arrival on May 8. At first the weather seemed promising. However, things soon changed. We had several snows and persistent cold weather. The weather seems to be on a slow, but sure warming trend as of late. Translated into fishing, the shallower and more stained portage lakes are doing well on all species. Things are definitely pre-spawn for the bass. No signs of nesting activity have been noted on any of the lakes as of May 25. The best presentations are simple, like a jig and grub, and slow. The more clear, especially, Hawk Lake are completely different matter. Due to their relative deepness and also because clear water absorbs less heat, these lakes are lagging behind for bass and walleye. On the other hand, the Northern Pike and Lake Trout fishing has not been affected by the cold. Please note that from now on I encourage all of you, especially those who are soon to visit the Lodge, to contact me prior to your arrival regarding the fishing. I say this because I can be much more detailed in my recommendations (I type slowly!) and we do not wish to share this information with anyone but our friends. Only very general information, henceforth, will appear in the updates that is of a fishing nature. Please keep in touch. So long for now.

Fall 2008 Newsletter

2008-12-28T18:51:00.006-05:00

Observations 2008

Each fishing season is different. The variables – weather, forage base, water temperatures, water levels, population cycles, spawning success – the list goes on and on all impact the fishing each and every season. Putting the pieces together are some of the most rewarding and challenging things about fishing. Many would have all the pieces of the puzzle put together for them. Perhaps others are only interested in converting fish to food. The truth is the best part about fishing is the satisfaction obtained is making sense of all the variables, of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.

The biggest mistake all of us make is to assume that the same patterns (a combination of location, presentation and environmental conditions) will work season after season with little or no change. Not only do these patterns change from season to season but also within each season and to a lesser extent at times within the same day!

In each of the seasons we have been privileged to spend at Hawk Lake Lodge, I have tried to keep detailed journals of fishing related things such as ice out dates, weather trends and fishing patterns. The one characteristic that stands out for the 2008 season is that in many respects it is like no other season that we have seen at Hawk Lake and the surrounding portage lakes.

Let’s take the weather as an obvious example. Once we arrive in the spring of the year in Canada, you can usually see a fairly rapid progression from late winter to warmer weather. This year, we were greeted on the night of our arrival with a winter storm which dumped in excess of a foot of snow. Now we have seen snow fall before this time of the year. But 2008 was different in that the snow and cold persisted well into the month of May. This caused a much later than normal ice out. When the ice finally did release its grip, the water temperatures stayed colder than usual well into the summer. Air temperatures also were below normal for much of the summer, but especially in that critical period (for spawning fish) of late May and early June.

This disruption of normal weather patterns wrought havoc on the spawning cycles, and by association the location and feeding patterns of almost all species of fish found here. The lone exception is the lake trout, which spawn in the fall of the year.

The northern pike usually spawn at the time of ice out. These fish generally have much time to recover by the time we get to fish for them. This year time frames were much compressed. Ice out occurred this year at mid-May, up to a month later than normal. Rather than finding well recovered and actively feeding fish during the prime part of the season for trophy pike, the fish were still struggling to recover at this normally favored time. As a result, the success on trophy pike was somewhat disappointing.

Walleye were similarly affected. Walleye generally have finished their spawning by mid-May. This year found the lakes just becoming ice free at this time with water temperatures much colder than required for the walleye to spawn. The first week or so of the walleye season saw many walleye caught in typical staging areas outside of their spawning sites prior to the spawn. The difference this year is that the spawn took place during the open season, not well before it. The fish had little to no time to recover. There was also much less of a tendency for the fish to remain around their spawning sites where we are accustomed to fish for them, neither on the way in nor on the way out. With the colder water, the fish seemed to immediately leave and suspend over deeper and more stable water. The result of all this is that fishing for walleye became inconsistent. Presentation methods and locational patterns differed greatly from what would be encountered in a normal season.

The smallmouth bass were also adversely affected. The smallies spawn during a few weeks from late May to mid-June. The water is too cold earlier to successively reproduce and spawning later results in fry that are too small to survive the next winter. The fry must grow to around 3+ inches to survive the winter. This really puts the pressure on bass to get their spawn successfully done in a small window of opportunity. It is for this reason that we vigorously promote not fishing for spawning bass. Time is already working against them. Any disruption by us, whether for fun or to fill our stomachs, really tips the scale against them. As the Canadian biologist, Gord Pyzer, has said - if we persist in exploiting the bass we will reap the type of fishery we deserve.

Given a much later than normal ice out, and unseasonably cool weather, the spawn period was thrown way off base. As a consequence, bass could be found during much of June and July in pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn condition all at the same time. We must remember that all those fry hatching out after mid-June, would in all probability not see their next spring. The result of this is that we often find one or more gaps in the year classes (size) of the smallmouth bass. The uncertain association of numerous factors that effect the bass populations should impress upon us at least two things. One is that robust fish populations and consistently high levels of success are not a given certainty. We must all do our part to help out in the process. Secondly, conservation must be embraced by one and all.

One final observation that was very evident in 2008 had to do with the type of presentation methods we all use to catch fish. In previous year notes, I find that in the course of the season vertical presentations – things that are fished mostly on or near the bottom – worked best about 75% or more of the time. Presentations that move horizontally through the water, regardless of depth, make up the balance of presentation types. This trend has held consistently over the five years of record keeping. This season was, as you may guess, different. This season the horizontal type of presentation won out by a wide margin. Not that vertical techniques did not work; they did. It is just that the horizontal offerings worked better. Very odd! I am still researching possible explanations for this. I will endeavor to share this with you at a later date. By the way, should you wish to know more of what types of lures we are talking about and how and when to use them, please give me a call. So long for now. We hope to see you next season.

To Keep or Not to Keep

I like simple, direct, comparisons such as the one above. They cut to the chase. They avoid beating around the bush. They may even offend some folk’s sense of PC (as in political correctness). They do, however, get the point across in a direct way. And directness is a very important, yet sadly lacking commodity these days in many ways.

By “to keep or not to keep”, I refer to the juxtaposition of the ideas of “harvesting” fish to eat and catching, then releasing all fish caught. Now let me say, that I am rapidly becoming old. Because of this, I can vividly recall the time when to toss a fish back was simply thought insane. To take a fish legally caught from an angler’s hand, was just like confiscating a hand gun…..you would have to pry it out of the owners dead and cold fingers as the saying goes. I like most others of these bygone days were true believers.

The reason I write these words, is that we need change today more than ever. Many in the press promote the notion of sustainable harvest, sort of like you can have the best of both worlds, that you really can have your cake and eat it too. Not a few of our guests ask sincere questions as why catch and release is so important. Many of our neighbors here are of the same persuasion. Let me add, that catching and eating what we manage to catch harkens us back to a time much more ancient than recorded history to a time when we indeed did live in this manner. For this reason, it all seems so natural and pleasurable. In doing so, we feel that we can throw off the fetters of our current existence and return, if only for a moment, to a simpler past.

Yet time changes all things. Water resources are being degraded, habitat is being destroyed and fish stocks are dwindling worldwide. On the other hand, the human population of the world is exploding. Thus, there are two vise jaws clamping down on the natural order of things. There was a time, when people could live off the land. When resources were exhausted, people could just move on. The trouble is, is that we are running out of land to move on to. Can more (and growing) continue to live off less (and declining)? The answer is self-evident.

What can we then do? What part can we play in this? Indeed, time changes all things. But people can change too. Reflection, knowledge and adaptation can go a long way in changing the way all of us look at these things.

First, let us all reflect. By reflect, we all need to think deeply about what we want in our fisheries both in the short and long terms. None of us can proceed along this path unless through thought we become convinced of the need to do so. Do we want to preserve what we now possess, or in a longer term for our children and grandchildren? What decisions, practices and sacrifices are we willing to make to this end?

Second, we all need to arm ourselves with a little knowledge. Much of the knowledge of the science of fisheries has accumulated on recently. If we have not kept pace, chances are that we do not have the right knowledge tools to form our opinions. We could go on for an extended period in this area. Please feel free to contact me should you so wish as I would like to explore these matters as your fellow student. We can sum up by quoting the famed Canadian biologist, Gord Pyzer, if we fail to practice these things, “we will have the type of fisheries we deserve”.

Committed to the need and armed with factual knowledge, we become prepared to move forward adapting to the changes we face. We must understand that the negative trends we mentioned are growing with each passing year. There will be many opposed to this thinking and unwilling to consider change. Yet move ahead we must.

Fall 2008 Update

We trust that this update finds all of our guests and friends well. We wish to thank each of you who visited us at the Lodge this season. We hope that you enjoyed your visit. We can assure you that we enjoyed spending time with each of you.

To many of you who visited earlier in the season, it comes as no surprise that this has been an abnormally cold year. The ice out came about a month later than normal. The weather did not show its normal progress toward summer. Water temperatures lagged far behind where they should have been. More importantly, these weather factors directly contributed to the unusual fishing patterns that persisted for much of the season.

It is not that the fish were not available or did not bite. Rather, the fish did not behave as they normally do. Patterns, locations and lure presentation were all thrown off. Those who were able to maintain an open mind and adapt continued doing very well. We will dive into this subject in our next article.

As everyone knows by this time, the economic times are really tough at present. I find it nothing short of amazing as to the depth and breadth of the changes in a few short months. Many of us are struggling and those who are not struggling are nonetheless very concerned. Hawk Lake Lodge is no different. We battle sharply escalating costs, especially in Canada. The US Dollar is passing through an historic weakness worldwide. Business in the Lodging sector is at or near historic lows. For this combination of reasons, many lodges are in poor condition. The one sure thing, however, is that tough times do not last, but tough people do. One day we will look back on these times much like we look back at 1973-1975, or 1979-1980, or 1987. The only thing to do is to support one another during the interim as best as we can.

One good economic item at present is the relatively low cost of gasoline. Last summer in Canada we flirted with prices approaching $6.00/gallon. Perhaps this will cause the airlines to roll back airfares and add-ons?

Speaking of airfares, we have received special fares from Prelude Travel (800-561-8907). I am including them here, not so much to push Prelude, as to let everyone know what is currently out there. The key word here is “currently”. We have been told that these fares are strictly limited. It may be worthwhile to consider purchasing tickets while these fares are still available.

We believe that bookings will be down this year due to the economic factors we have just mentioned. We are working hard to maintain and even expand all that Hawk Lake Lodge has always been. We do however need and deeply appreciate any support that our guests and friends may be able to lend us during this difficult times.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you the very best of Holiday Seasons. May the spirit of this time abide with each day of the coming year.

Below please find the airfares currently being offered:

Prelude Travel Inc. 426 2nd St.S. Kenora, ON P9N 1G6Phone: (807) 468-1928 . Toll Free: 1.800.561.8907 . Fax: (807) 468-9729
IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!!!It is time to start thinking about your upcoming fishing/hunting trip. The airfares are out and space is limited. The prices below reflect the lowest possible fares, based upon availability. Book early to get the dates and times that you want.
STATE WINNIPEG INT’L FALLS
ND $388.00 $460.00
MN NE SD $405.00 $480.00
CO IA IL IN KS MO MT WI $455.00 $521.00
AR ID KY MI NM OH OK PA RI TN UT WV $476.00 $567.00
AL CT GA MD MS NC NJ NV NY OR SCTX VA WA $504.00 $605.00
AZ CA FL LA MA ME NH VT $531.00 $639.00

**A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED WHEN FLYING INTO CANADA** **ALL TRAVEL MUST BE VIA NORTHWEST AIRLINES**** THE ABOVE FARES ARE IN US FUNDS AND DO NOT INCLUDE APPLICABLE TAXES**

Please remember that all folks entering Canada this year will need to present a valid US Passport. I just renewed mine and it only took about 3-4 weeks with regular processing. Express processing is available with a much shorter wait time. The process is easy and is available through most local post offices. Please let me know if you need any assistance in this regard.
Frank Walker
Hawk Lake Lodge
800-528-9045 (USA)
807-548-5606 (Canada)
www.hawk-lake.com

August 6, 2008 Update

2008-08-06T17:27:00.002-04:00

Greetings from Hawk Lake Lodge. It is hard to believe that we already find ourselves in August with but a few weeks remaining in the 2008 season. The weather still remains unusual and unsettled as it has for almost the entire year. Fishing patterns have not followed their usual progression during the season. Even now, it is difficult at best to deduce a pattern that can be applied to other lakes or different parts of the same lake for that matter. Every time out, you have to force yourself to be open -minded and flexible. Experimentation is the order of the day. Fish are still being caught, trophy fish as well. Three days ago Wolf Lake yielded up 22" and 23" bass on the same day and in the same area to Lou and Linda from Pecatonica, IL.. A week earlier a 20.5" specimen was taken by Blake Ponist from Brownsburg, IN. in the general vicinity. Two of these fish were taken on unweighted Senkos and one on a Mepps spinner. Grubs threaded onto 1/8 oz. jigs are catching quite a few fish. Texas rigged soft plastics such as finesse worms and Smallie Beavers work well for some anglers. The timeless Beetle Spin seems to be very effective as well. The best thing is is that topwater lures are doing well most nights and mornings - mostly Tiny Torpedoes and Skitter Pops. Fun fishing - a lot of different things seem to be working. You just have to keep at it until you find the key for that particular lake and day. Walleyes are still spotty, although a number were caught by Bob Nelson's group from North Dakota up to 32" in length. Phil from Toledo, OH caught a 42" Northern on Mud Lake. A couple of gentlmen from Michigan even caught a couple of trout on Wolf Lake (weird) in no more than 20 feet of water. As you can see, it has been a strange season with respect to the weather and the fishing. So long until next time.

July 22, 2008 Update

2008-07-22T07:43:00.003-04:00

Welcome again to the seasonal update page of Hawk Lake Lodge. Fingers crossed, it appears that summer has arrived! With so many days in the 50s and 60s this summer, it feels good to have some 70s and low 80s for a change. The rain, however, continues. We have had to make major repairs on the road 4 times now. The lake level is up 6"-8" since May. Plant life has that bright green look. Grass has to be cut twice weekly. A function of long days and direct sunlight, water temps in the main lake hover in the upper 60s for the most part.
The fishing for bass has been up and down, a function of the unstable weather. For the last week or so, things have been very good on the bass front. This is true despite a moderate, but prolonged, mayfly hatch. Most all fish are in a post spawn mode by this point. Many are fully recovered and on their summer ranges. Besides leeches, topwater and Senkos have been doing well. Beetle spins and Texas rigged plastics have also taken their share of fish.
The walleye are starting their post spawn bite. They are starting to show up in some numbers in their normal, structure oriented locations. Live bait (leeches) rule the presentation roost here. A good number of pike have been caught very recently in the 30" to 38" range on things from leeches, to Texas rigged worms, to swimbaits.

June 26, 2008 Update

2008-06-26T07:42:00.002-04:00

Summer finally has arrived! The effects, though, of the late and cool spring are still being felt in all of nature. This has been especially true of the fishing with respect to the smallmouth and the walleye. The walleye have yet to hit their summer peak, which occurs about 3-4 weeks after the conclusion of their spawning period. A few walleyes are being caught, but in strange places with even stranger methods. Most walleyes have been caught recently in very shallow water on Texas rigged Senkos! Although some bass have already spawned, most are doing so at present. This is 3 to 4 weeks later than ordinary. Most bass are being found and caught in shallow areas adjacent to their spawning areas. While most fish have been caught on 4" Senkos (Watermelon and Purple colors), a great number of fish have been caught on various topwater lures. Topwater lure include such items as Tiny Torpedoes, Jitterbugs, Skitter Pops and buzzbaits. A few fish continue to be taken with bottom referenced techniques with jigs and Texas rigged lures such as Bitsy Bugs, 4" lizards, and Smalley Beavers. On a conservation note, with the marginal bass spawning conditions this year, it makes it especially important to do all we can to help the bass who do spawn. We can do this by not fishing for any bass on their spawning beds. so long for now.

June 14, 2008 Update

2008-06-14T15:05:00.002-04:00

Not much has changed since the last post. The weather continues unseasonably cool and wet. This has raised havoc with the spawning seasons of the Northern Pike, walleye and especially the smallmouth bass. While the bass fishing is considered good or better most days, the walleye fishing continues in its post-spawn slump. Bass are being caught presently on topwater items such as Jitterbugs, buzzbaits, popper type baits and floating Rapalas. The 4" Senko in any color that includes watermelon has been the most consistent producer of late. While the bass are being found in the shallow water areas associated with spawning sites, very little beds are seen with male bass acting as sentinels. The obvious conclusion is that this strange spring has the bass more confused than everyone with the exceptions of the weatherman and Al Gore who seem even more at a loss. While wild flowers, lilacs and deciduous trees show the promise of a new season; we can't seem to get over the hump weather-wise. The long range forcasts suggests that this may be about to change. Let's hope these forecasts are not fueled by wishful thinking along with a good dose of Labatts Blue. Until then, may your jacket be warm and rain gear well sealed. So long for now.

Season Update May 29,2008 Con't.

2008-05-29T21:04:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the 2008 Season Updates. As many of you may be aware, Spring 2008 has been colder than usual in much of the northern USA and Canada. This has been especially true at Hawk Lake Lodge. This is evident by the heavy snowfall and the late ice out this Spring. What this means is that the whole progress of a normal season is as much as two weeks behind schedule. Conditions generally present by late May in a normal year, will present themselves two weeks later.

The Northern Pike of trophy caliber have been rare to date as they are still recovering from the spawn that has only very recently concluded. Although Ron from St.Louis caught a 45"specimen, most have been smaller. The walleye should have concluded the spawning ritual by the time of the season opener. In reality they have only started by the time they would normally be concluding. The result is a very good Spring for the walleye fishing. Many fish have already been caught in the 31" to 33" range, with most anglers having caught at least one 30"+ fish. All in all, not too bad given that only until very recently the ice of winter release its grip.

Season Update - Posted 5/29/2008

2008-05-29T07:42:00.003-04:00

Due to cold and windy conditions, the smallmouth fishing has gotten off as well to sluggish start. The fish would trickle in to the drop off areas in 10-15 feet of water only to retreat after a short stay. This resulted in spotty fishing where only a few fish were encounted at any one time. The fish caught were caught mainly on the bottom. Nonetheless, some nice fish were caught. Among these were a couple of 20 inch fish caught by Jim from North Carolina. Quite a few fish in the 17 to 19 in size range were also caught. One remarkable thing about many of the bass was their girth. Most females caught were 3-4 inches across, obviously being full of eggs.

The past few days have seen the bass fishing really heat up. The fish have started to move up shallow and have become much more aggressive. Many bass have started to chase horizontally presented lures for the first time. Some have even been caught on topwater lures.

I hope you have enjoyed this report. Be sure to catch us again in the coming days. Take care.

2007-11-30T19:05:00.001-05:00

Reflections from Hawk Lake.
A twice yearly chronicle from The Walker's.

Hawk lake Lodge, box 142, Kenora, Ontario P9N3X1 800-528-9045.

SOFT PLASTIC LURES – ANOTHER LOOK
There can be no doubt that the fortunes of soft plastic fishing lures have been ascendant for much of the past 10 years or so. These lures as a class have taken much of the bass fishing world – both largemouth and smallmouth bass – by storm. Tournaments have been won, professional fishing careers have been enhanced and countless anglers like you and me have seen their fishing become much more productive through the use of this class of lures.

Some go so far as to consider soft plastics a panacea, an answer to every question, a piscatorial slam dunk.

The truth is that lures, all techniques and all equipment have their respective places and uses. Some things work much of the time. Almost all things work some of the time. Nothing works well all the time. If one set of anything worked all the time, we would not be met with all the confusing array of things each time we visit Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, etc. If fact, these places depend on all the loose ends that represent the plethora of fishing lures, tackle and accessories available today. The only ones wishing for the one set scenario has to be our wives!!

Soft plastic lures are subject to the above limitations just like every other lure. Sure they work great. But they are not answers to an angler’s prayer. We see this all being played out in all the time in Canada. Once upon a time, we all thought that jig worms or grubs were the best thing since the invention of cheeseburgers. Could'nt hope to catch a fish without them. We could say the same thing about in-line spinners, crankbaits, you name it. Then the Senko craze hit. I/we became true believers. We all swooned into our beer mugs at the very mention of the name. We were looked upon with pity by wives, family and non-fishing acquaintances as we talked about these things with wide open and crazy looking eyes. These funny looking things must have surely fallen from heaven just as the manna had of old.

As things turned out, Senko's had their limitations. They do not work all the time. Fish often strike short with them. Other times they swallow them. If you make a habit of biting them off to dress them up, they have enough salt to give you high blood pressure. They have service life of 0.2 nanoseconds. If a fish so much as looks at them they rip off the hook. You go through them like crazy. All of this must be very gratifying to one Mr. Yamamoto.

Next came the Smallie Beaver. These sort of resemble a cross between a crayfish and something from Star Wars. Just like the Senko, these had their time in the spot light. For a while they caught fish like nothing else, or so we convinced ourselves.

What I am trying to say is this: all things have their time. Fish do become educated to any lure, however. Then something else takes their place. The most recent renditions look very odd indeed. They sort of remind me of something you read about and see in National Geographic about the odd little creatures on the deep ocean floor! These , too will have their time under the sun before sliding into oblivion.

One of the most important shortcomings possessed by all soft plastic lures is that they can be hard on the fish who ingest them, whether it be off the bottom or off our hooks. It is quite common to catch smallmouth which have one or more soft plastic lures lodged in its throat. Evidently, these fish had not been able throw these lures. I have also seen fish with problems at the other end. These fish were lucky as we were able to extract the offending objects with little difficulty. There is no doubt that these fish may well have been lost without our intervention on their behalf (we did bill Medicaid).

What is the answer to this? Shall we stop using soft plastic lures in general. In my opinion, the answer is no. All fishing techniques and lures have the capability to kill fish. However, we can minimize greatly the damage. With respect to soft plastics, the salvation comes in the way in which we rig them, specifically in the hooks we use.One approach would be to use a little drop of fishing glue on whatever hook we happen to be using just prior to threading the lure onto the hook. Even better would be to use one of the specialty hooks developed to deal with this problem. Gamakatsu now makes a worm hook designed to be used to skipping lures under docks and such. It come is all the normal sizes. These tend to hold lures better than regular hooks. When used with fish glue, one really sees a reduction in plastic lures torn off hooks by fish. An even better way was shown me by fishing friend Larry Johnson. Larry introduced me to Owner brand worm hooks with a sort of cork screw wire near the eye which really hold tight to the lure. No need for glue here. These hooks represent a quantum leap with respect to keeping our soft plastic lures from littering the bottoms of our lakes as well as preventing fish from ingesting these lures off our hooks.

Remember, the strength of any lure, or any technique lies not with that which is inherent with that lure or technique. The strength lies in our brain intelligently applying those lures and techniques to the task at hand under the circumstances we encounter. One final thought, remember that a fish has a brain less than the size of a dime. Checkmate!

THE LINE ON LINES (FISHING LINES, THAT IS)
One of the greatest blessings about my time at the Lodge, besides the obvious things such as the guests/friends, the beauty of the surroundings and the fishing; is the many things that I learn from almost everyone who visits Hawk Lake Lodge. This knowledge concerns many different areas, but none more than of all subjects concerning fishing. The reason is simple. I get to observe and listen to many different people about widely variable subjects and conditions almost every day of the season. The resulting information is predominantly positive – as in things that I should do differently, things that I should adopt into my personal angling repertoire. There are also negative things that I see, pitfalls to be avoided. One of these positive /negative issues is the whole subject of fishing lines. Specifically, what line to use or to avoid in different situations frequently presents itself as an issue.

While this may seem like a little thing, I am convinced that the little things done correctly and taken in aggregate separate the average angler from the exceptional angler. Let’s dedicate this article to both sides – positive and negative – of fishing lines leading us all to some conclusions which might make us all better anglers.

All fishing consists of is the proper introduction of two parties – the fish and the fisherman. If we put the angler and his rod on one side and the hook and the fish on the other, the only link to effect this introduction is the line.

To do its job, a fishing line must therefore efficiently and quickly transfer the energy from arm and rod to hook and fish, also know as the hook set. The key word is “efficiently”. A number of things can detract from this efficiency. Someone could mishandle his/her line – called slack, which takes away this efficiency. The line itself can also destroy this efficiency because it breaks or stretches too much, transferring little to no force to the hook set and the fish. It is in this act of setting the hook quickly and efficiently that I see the number one mistake that most anglers make. Many times the source of the problem can be traced to using the wrong fishing line.

How, then, do we insure this vital connection, this hook set? (1) Choose the proper line for the task at hand, and (2) maintain a balance between rod, hook and line.

What is the proper line? Naturally, there exists a divergence of opinion here. But lets return to the idea of efficiency to shed light on this question. To successfully and consistently hook fish the line we choose must quickly transfer the energy transmitted to our fishing rod from our arm to the hook and then to the fish all without breaking or stretching too much. Stretch takes away from quickness and force of a hook set much as if we are late setting the hook. This is easy to see. If we push slowly against a wall with a hammer, say with 20 pounds of force, nothing much happens to the wall. Why? The force is applied slowly over a period of time. Take that same wall and the same hammer with the same 20 pounds of force and apply that force in a quick blow and the hammer puts a hole in the wall. The difference is in a quick and efficient transfer of force to the wall. The same principle applies to setting the hook when fishing. Catching a fish means putting a hook through the mouth of the fish.

Which line to choose then? All monofilament, co-polymer or fluorocarbon type fishing lines inherently have stretch. We can manage that stretch by choosing heavier lines of these types. Instead of 4 or 6 pound test lines, use at least 8 and preferably 10 or even 12 pound test lines. Stretch is greatly reduced. Hook sets are much quicker. More energy gets to the hook and is not lost in stretching out your fishing line. Line break offs are greatly reduced. Most proficient anglers I know adopt this approach. This is especially true if you prefer to use light to medium light power fishing rods. Heavier line transmits more energy in any situation.

Someone may say at this point that heavier lines are more visible to the fish. I can only answer yes, in most instances. If fish are put off by heavier line (I have not observed this at Hawk), then use fluorocarbon lines. These closely match the refraction index of water and so are much less visible to the fish.

What’s more is that yet another option remains, which may be the best choice for many of us. This option is braided fishing line. Braids work very well with light spinning rods. This is because braids offer virtually no stretch. Whatever smaller level of power a light rod may offer, all of its gets to the mouth of the fish and is not lost to stretch. Braids also feature no memory, no coiling off spinning reels, and offer unparalleled sensitivity. Braids are also very strong. A 6 pound diameter braided line will be around 30 pound test. Ten pound test braid will be the same diameter as 2 pound test regular line. Braids are unaffected by the sunlight and can last for multiple years. No matter how far you cast or how far back you troll, the hook set will be as strong as if you were right at the boat. Braids are opaque, so the possibility exists that the fish may shy away from them. I have not seen this. If this is a concern a monofilament or preferably a fluorocarbon leader can easily be attached. Should you buy the Power Pro brand of braid, a little booklet comes with each spool showing how to tie all the required knots for attaching leaders.

Give the subject of fishing lines a thought. This little subject could make a world of difference in your fishing.

FALL 2007 NEWSLETTER – ITEMS OF INTEREST
We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our guests and friends who shared the beauty of Hawk Lake Lodge with us in 2007. We sincerely trust that you all enjoyed your visit here as much as we enjoyed being your host.

Some of you may know this already. This past season has truly high- lighted the great fishery that we have at Hawk Lake Lodge. For 2007, not one but three Catch and Release world record book entries were made. For walleye, the line class (12 pound test I believe) and overall world records were established here. This walleye crowded the 20 pound mark in weight. This specimen was caught in late June on Hawk Lake. Another line class world record was set (14 pound test) in late season for smallmouth bass in the above- mentioned record book. This specimen was caught on Bass Lake. This fish was over 24 inches in length and weighed around 8 pounds. We must remind ourselves that while the other record book (catch and kill) may contain fish that may be larger than those caught here, the fish caught here are still swimming these waters! I do not know about you, but this gives me a thrill to know that each of us still have chances to hook into fish of this caliber.

Other news worthy items include the launching of our new website and the future posting of future Newsletters, beginning with Fall 2007, on the website. From now on all, Newsletters will be available there for your review at any time. Newsletters will no longer be sent out via the post. Please be sure to let us know what you think about the new website. We consider this a work in progress that has not yet arrived at its final form.

By now most of us already know that the US Dollar has been greatly weakened relative to a number of foreign currencies, including the Canadian Dollar. The value of the Canadian Dollar has a huge impact upon all Americans doing business in Canada. This is especially true concerning American fishing lodges operating in Canada. Lodges that largely do business with US fishermen charge their rates for the most part in US Dollars. However, operating in Canada, the vast majority of operating costs are incurred in Canadian Dollars. Whereas, just a few short years ago, one US Dollar would yield 1.3 to 1.5 Canadian dollars; the US Dollar is currently trading at around 0.98 Canadian Dollars. The bottom line is that the US Dollar buys a lot less Canadian Dollars. This means that operating expenses have soared not only because costs of things have gone up steadily but also because you need more US Dollars to buy everything in Canada.

Lodges are doing many things to compensate for this. Charging in Canadian Dollars might help with further erosion's in value but do nothing to help the current situation and are a pain for US citizens to pay the bills in. Others are radically changing their business plans deleting anything that might drop their exposure to costs paid for in Canadian Dollars. Others are charging steep price increases in attempt to generate what they need to remain solvent. We are taking a different approach. We are adopting an approach that will maintain the best possible combination of minimum price increases and traditional Hawk Lake services. This will maintain the best combination of price and value. By supporting each other, we will make it through this difficult time.

For those of you who already hold dates, the deposit letters should be in your hands by the time you read these words. For those of you who do not yet hold dates, we urge you to contact us at your earliest convenience. This will insure you the dates of your choice.

The airline industry continues to grapple with the changes which are currently confronting them. While no changes are expected with respect to Northwest Airlines, there are rumors to the effect that a merger may be in the offing between Delta and United Airlines. At present, there is no certainty that this merger would take place at all. However, if it was to take place, it is possible that service and/or connections might be enhanced for those of you who currently fly United to Winnipeg.

At present, we have no information regarding rates for 2008 from either Northwest or United. Should we come into the possession of any information to this effect, we will be sure to let you know on the website. For the present, check out http://www.nwa.com/ , call your favorite travel agent or call Prelude Travel at 800-561-8907.

We look forward to a great 2008 season. We can’t wait to welcome everyone again to Hawk Lake Lodge this season.

The Walker's