We woke up to snow showers on Friday, but they only lasted for about an hour. By 10am the sky cleared and the temps moved up. By 5pm it was shirt sleeve weather. This morning the temp is hoovering at 30f with a stiff nor’wester. White caps on the big water and 2 foot rollers in the bay. Not alot of movement around the lodge so far. Its one of those second pot of coffee mornings. Saturdays are busy around here with cabins to clean and boats to wash. Stay tuned for fishing reports.
Tuesday was a wash out. Rain all day and not a chance to get any outside work done. The water is within 4 inches of going over the main dock. Not a good day to fish, but a fine day to stay in and play a few hands. By evening the clouds broke and a few lakers were on the hook. This morning broke clear and fairly calm, everyone was out on the water and we got a great deal of work done. Almost all the work is done with just a few final touches, moving some new furniture into place and a few new barbeque grills on the decks. The fuel trucks arrived today and topped off all the tanks including propane. Tomorrow its rigging the last of the boats and resetting the east anchor for the floating dock. Over the winter the bolt in the chain rusted and pulled through. The anchor is half of a 55g plastic drum filled with concrete and re-bar. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to stay mild, so with any luck we will have some fresh WALLEYE for dinner. Every once in awhile I do get to fish. Just have to tune up the equipment for the season. The frost is still coming out of the ground and the garage doors are giving us thier opinion. Some of the cabins are still on the move, even the heavy log cabins are still groaning and snapping as the ground thaws. Stay tuned for the weekend up date.
We woke up early Wednesday to the sound of thunder and thought it would mean an end to the last of the ice. No luck, it was snowing, yes snowing. It was thunder snow. Not all that unusual this time of the year. Took some lower units to Thunder Bay for repair and made it back to Forrest Lodge around the crack of midnight. The weather broke yesterday with a cool northwest breeze and sunny skies, temps in the upper 50′s. All the ice is gone now with a few floaters and some piles around the shoreline. No report for Lake Trout as everyone is focused on WALLEYE. Lake Trout are still up very shallow but will be moving down as the water begins to warm. Some nice limits of walleye are coming in, mostly small ones but good eaters. The feeder creeks are hot and some of the shallow back water areas are beginning to turn on. As the weather turns warmer so does the bite. No report for northerns, but we are anxious to get the fly rods out for some arm busters. I love to hear the sound of the drag on my fly reel. But I really love the sound of fresh walleye fillets in the fry pan ( and the sound of the cap coming off a bottle of Blue ). MaryJo is working her magic on the cabins, and helping me at the same time with the 2 man projects. She cant quite lift a 30hp yet, but with a little more practice she should be good to go. Who needs a gym!
Another busy day at Forrest Lodge today. Woke up to temps in the mid 20′s. Mostly sunny today with a light breeze. The temp topped out at about 48 by 6 o’clock this evening. The ice keeps moving in circles and is fairly well broken up. Still pretty tight out by the sisters though. I pulled a few damaged lower units today to send for repair to Thunder Bay. Reminds me to remind everyone to please be cautious while moving about on Caribou Lake. Rocks are harder than lower units. And as I always say “it’s and outboard motor, not a rototiller.” We saw a few norhterns up in the grass in front of the sauna. Digger was happy to see us. She got a hand full of carrots and few slices of bread. The partridge are moving around and showing off. No sign of any greening up yet. The spotter plane flew over around lunch time today. Think WALLEYE,WALLEYE,WALLEYE!!! By the weekend I hope to have the boats rigged and in the water. Stay tuned for further updates.
After temps in the upper teens last night and more frozen water lines we woke up to a clear sky and low to moderate nor wester winds. The ice is hanging on in the “big” lake but very dark and broken up close to shore, none here in the bay. A few more days and we should have open water. The planes are flying so open water must be up north. WALLEYE, WALLEYE, WALLEYE……got the fever yet? We are really excited to wet a line and get a boat in the water. Not yet though. With the fair weather we are starting to open up cabins and MaryJo is working her “Mojo” on them. I have my hands full with water lines and docks, and all the boats to rig. We haven’t had any company yet, the peace and quiet is almost ear numbing, only the sounds of the ice and wind and a few ducks. Something about fresh air, sunshine and quiet that’s good for the soul. I have to keep reminding myself to get back to work. Please check back often as we will be posting on a regular schedule to keep everyone up to date on Forrest Lodge. With any luck we will soon have a Web Cam in place so you can be part of the action in real time. Remember to download “Skype” to your laptop if you are bringing one so that you can talk to family and friends. Forrest Lodge is WiFi hot so you can connect from almost anywhere on the property. Finally, check your gear, get some fresh line on the reels, sort the tangle box out, and think WALLEYE,WALLEYE,WALLEYE.
Hello everyone,
We finally made to the lodge yesterday and all is well,sorta . First, it’s a feeling of anxiety to start the season, a time to meet new guests, to enjoy what is around us. Second, there’s a funny feeling in your stomach when it starts sinking in, an overwhelming wave of reality. Now it’s when you get a little depressed, all the work that comes with opening up a seasonal lodge.
Saturday-Opening Day of Fishing! and we are getting a snow storm, ice is still on the lake and we are getting winds from the Northwest, yes, a Nor’Western snow storm. Our water line froze to our little home this morning, are heaters keep blowing the fuses, and now we are putting on long johns to go outside. Fun.
I’m so glad we didn’t book anyone in for opener, after last year of having guests in and and waiting around for the ice to go out, there’s a lot less pressure to get the cabins open and ready to go. A lot of people really don’t understand all that goes into opening up a lodge, lot of work, but worth it in the end.
So, it all begins, another season of fabulous fishing on Caribou Lake, after it melts of course.
Until next time when I will be writing a fishing report, take care and “Happy Fishing”.
Scott & MaryJo Robinson, Forrest Lodge