Minor Bay Lodge, Wollaston Lake
2008 Season
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008
We are now into our third trip of the season, with our opening trip going ahead as scheduled on June 7th.
While ice on Wollaston limited the areas our guests could fish on the first trip, our flyout lakes were all ice-free. Guests took advantage of our on-site DeHavilland Beaver float plane to access our flyout lakes and they weren't disappointed as the fishing was fantastic right from the first flyout.
As our temperatures warmed and the ice receded, pike fishing quickly picked up on the main lake. Now, in mid-June we are seeing increased feeding activity by the big pike.
Some of our guests have been catching 8-10 trophy pike a day, but on average guests are each catching 10 trophy pike above 36 inches on their four-day trips and catching 150-200 total during their stay.
Guides Tony and Jeff had a couple of 100+ fish days when they were finally able to get into the Loranger area several days ago.
There have already been good numbers of big, fat pike over 44 inches caught and released, with the largest of the season being a 50-incher, followed by a 48 inch hog. Repeat guest, Jerry Schmutte caught the 50-incher at our Cairns Lake flyout. He and fishing partner Ron Weick recorded 33 "board" fish measuring over 36 inches that day.
The south end of Wollaston, which is the prime pike habitat on Wollaston, and where we primarily focus our angling activity - since it is "right in our back yard", is now entirely ice-free.
Our guides and guests are able to visit all our traditional trophy pike haunts - plus we are always discovering promising new areas on Wollaston that we may have overlooked in the past.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008
The south basin has been completely ice free for the past while, allowing the guides to access almost all of the prime spots. Both the fly and the smaller lures are catching huge fish right now. Spinners and rattle traps have been among the top producers. Our largest pike of the season so far is a 48" caught on Wollaston on a mepps spinner. Low and slow has been the ticket.
Walleye action has also been quite good over the past four days with the flyouts being particularly good.
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008
Pike action on Wollaston has remained consistent with a number of 40+ inchers. Biggest of the past week has been a fat healthy 47". The rare monster walleyes of Wollaston have also been making an appearance with a 29" and a 30" being caught on the fly in each case.
Top water has been working quite well, particularly smaller baits like the Buzzin Frog. Aglia and Vibrax spinners have also continued to work their magic. As for the flies, we've been doing well on the fish hair streamers and the always reliable whistlers. Hugh Langevin worked his magic with his foam head poppers, which are probably the finest you'll find anywhere.
Our weather has continued to be rather inconsistent, but certainly tolerable with normal highs in the 60's.
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2008
Our weather now seems to be stabilizing and warming up to more normal summer temperatures. With the warmer weather we are seeing an increase in the numbers of larger pike being caught. Last week our guests caught and released five 45-inch, four 46-inch and one monster 49-inch pike, numerous pike over 40 inches, as well as a 30 inch walleye in Minor Bay on a fly, plus a number of lake trout in the 27-29 inch range.
We hosted two sisters, Maxine Steelman and Virginia Allen for four days and they had the whole camp in stitches for the entire period. Both ladies are in their eighties and if only the rest of us can reach those milestones in life and still be able to enjoy remote fly-in fishing, that would be amazing. Virginia, who is 3 or 4 years older than Maxine caught more fish than her sister because in her words: "she has more experience". Best regards from the entire staff to both Virginia and Maxine. Way to go ladies!
August 7, 2008
The cabbage bite continues on Wollaston with plenty of big fish coming in. Some of the most impressive over the past weeks have included Jason Copestick, Mike Faria, Dusty Leatherwood and Fred Loef all with 47 inchers. Farokh Noria pulled in one of the years biggest with a huge 48.5".
The top lures have continued to be the Aglia and Blue Fox spinners. Others have had success spoons and soft plastics.
We'll keep you posted on this page as we receive updates from the lodge.
If you are taking a trip to Minor Bay and want to check the weather conditions just follow this link to the Accuweather weather forecast for the Wollaston Lake area:
http://www.accuweather.com/canada-weather-forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&postalcode=S0J%203C0&metric=0
AUGUST 22, 2008
The lodge closed for the season on August 15th. We would like to thank all our guests for their patronage this season. We wish you a good fall and winter and look forward to seeing you again next summer!
Wishing you tight lines & fair winds!
Randy Duvell
We are now into our third trip of the season, with our opening trip going ahead as scheduled on June 7th.
While ice on Wollaston limited the areas our guests could fish on the first trip, our flyout lakes were all ice-free. Guests took advantage of our on-site DeHavilland Beaver float plane to access our flyout lakes and they weren't disappointed as the fishing was fantastic right from the first flyout.
As our temperatures warmed and the ice receded, pike fishing quickly picked up on the main lake. Now, in mid-June we are seeing increased feeding activity by the big pike.
Some of our guests have been catching 8-10 trophy pike a day, but on average guests are each catching 10 trophy pike above 36 inches on their four-day trips and catching 150-200 total during their stay.
Guides Tony and Jeff had a couple of 100+ fish days when they were finally able to get into the Loranger area several days ago.
There have already been good numbers of big, fat pike over 44 inches caught and released, with the largest of the season being a 50-incher, followed by a 48 inch hog. Repeat guest, Jerry Schmutte caught the 50-incher at our Cairns Lake flyout. He and fishing partner Ron Weick recorded 33 "board" fish measuring over 36 inches that day.
The south end of Wollaston, which is the prime pike habitat on Wollaston, and where we primarily focus our angling activity - since it is "right in our back yard", is now entirely ice-free.
Our guides and guests are able to visit all our traditional trophy pike haunts - plus we are always discovering promising new areas on Wollaston that we may have overlooked in the past.
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008
The south basin has been completely ice free for the past while, allowing the guides to access almost all of the prime spots. Both the fly and the smaller lures are catching huge fish right now. Spinners and rattle traps have been among the top producers. Our largest pike of the season so far is a 48" caught on Wollaston on a mepps spinner. Low and slow has been the ticket.
Walleye action has also been quite good over the past four days with the flyouts being particularly good.
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008
Pike action on Wollaston has remained consistent with a number of 40+ inchers. Biggest of the past week has been a fat healthy 47". The rare monster walleyes of Wollaston have also been making an appearance with a 29" and a 30" being caught on the fly in each case.
Top water has been working quite well, particularly smaller baits like the Buzzin Frog. Aglia and Vibrax spinners have also continued to work their magic. As for the flies, we've been doing well on the fish hair streamers and the always reliable whistlers. Hugh Langevin worked his magic with his foam head poppers, which are probably the finest you'll find anywhere.
Our weather has continued to be rather inconsistent, but certainly tolerable with normal highs in the 60's.
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2008
Our weather now seems to be stabilizing and warming up to more normal summer temperatures. With the warmer weather we are seeing an increase in the numbers of larger pike being caught. Last week our guests caught and released five 45-inch, four 46-inch and one monster 49-inch pike, numerous pike over 40 inches, as well as a 30 inch walleye in Minor Bay on a fly, plus a number of lake trout in the 27-29 inch range.
We hosted two sisters, Maxine Steelman and Virginia Allen for four days and they had the whole camp in stitches for the entire period. Both ladies are in their eighties and if only the rest of us can reach those milestones in life and still be able to enjoy remote fly-in fishing, that would be amazing. Virginia, who is 3 or 4 years older than Maxine caught more fish than her sister because in her words: "she has more experience". Best regards from the entire staff to both Virginia and Maxine. Way to go ladies!
August 7, 2008
The cabbage bite continues on Wollaston with plenty of big fish coming in. Some of the most impressive over the past weeks have included Jason Copestick, Mike Faria, Dusty Leatherwood and Fred Loef all with 47 inchers. Farokh Noria pulled in one of the years biggest with a huge 48.5".
The top lures have continued to be the Aglia and Blue Fox spinners. Others have had success spoons and soft plastics.
We'll keep you posted on this page as we receive updates from the lodge.
If you are taking a trip to Minor Bay and want to check the weather conditions just follow this link to the Accuweather weather forecast for the Wollaston Lake area:
http://www.accuweather.com/
AUGUST 22, 2008
The lodge closed for the season on August 15th. We would like to thank all our guests for their patronage this season. We wish you a good fall and winter and look forward to seeing you again next summer!
Wishing you tight lines & fair winds!
Randy Duvell
