Forrest Lodge,we're all about Outdoor Adventure

I just checked the weather report on the home page just below this link. You can’t believe everything you read! Right now it is 72f with mostly sunny conditions and a mild nor-wester. The black flies are THICK. Not to bad here on the property with the breeze but if you get into the bush or even in town the blood suckers are in clouds. They are making up for lost time from this summers cool wet conditions. The fishing has remained in a late summer pattern with little change over the last few weeks. Walleye are still holding in the same areas with solid numbers coming in. The big meat is running deep yet and needs a slow retrieve to get the hook up. Bigger minnows are working the best to get these lazy hogs to hit. As the weather cools these lazy lunkers will move into their fall feeding patterns. We are still waiting for a hard freeze to hit and really start to cool the water. The shorter daylight hours help but with the mercury hitting the upper 60′s and 70′s during the day it’s going to be a waiting game. Mixing up the approach and hitting some of the sharper drop offs and deeper rock structures is the trick with these conditions. We fished some new water for the first time the other day. I was mostly just looking for structure watching the radar screen. My fishing buddy was impatient and got out the meat stick and began working the shallow areas and shore lines. She was throwing a Mepps Musky Killer and mixing up her retrieve speed and direction. You can take the girl out of musky country but you cant take the musky fishing out of her. I told her that no big gator would hit that close to the boat doing figure eights, but she gave me her look and just kept on doing her thing. If  looks could kill! So after 4 hook ups with some average size gators I figured I better shut up and let her do her thing. She fishes totally barbless so the release is easy at the side of the boat. She just gives a little slack and the gator does a head shake and away they go. Just one of them needed a little help with the pliers, but he never left the water or was netted or touched. I’ve got most of the boats out of the water and the motors serviced and winterized. All but 2 cabins have been closed for the season. Congrats to Allyn R. from Wisconsin for filling his tag with a nice bull moose, I didn’t measure the rack but it’s about a 36. A very typical bull about 4-5 years old. I’m no expert, but I sure would be proud! Just a few more weeks to go before we call it another season here at Forrest Lodge. Check back again cause we’re going fishing and maybe I’ll share a recipe with you. Surf, turf and feather northern style! Remember…THINK WALLEYE !

Yes, I know it’s been a month since my last report. Everyday I look at the grass and everyday I strap on the big Jonsereds trimmer and give her hell. I’m caught up for the most part on the grass cutting, although there are a few places that escaped the blade. I’ve guided a few times during August and had a few days that MaryJo and I went out. The bite has been solid for the majority of fisherman. One thing that I have seen over the years is a mess of fishing gear. I have a small soft sided kit with a selection of jigs and a few spinner rigs and chain sinkers. When ever I fish new water, whether it be in Wisconsin through the ice or further south hunting for snapper, I always ask around and find out where the bite is and what the approach is. So when your guide or host says that a particular location with this particular rig will get you on the fish it is probably the way to go. I realize that you can lead a horse to water, but generally they will take a drink. Not so much so with some fisherman. OK back to the bite. MaryJo’s island has been producing the usual with some really dark colored walleye and the odd blue walleye coming in. The evening bite at the Narrows has been off and on the last few weeks. The walleyes are in water everywhere from 20 feet to 60 feet. Live bait continues to produce the best results and the artificials in the bucket of scent are working well also. I used some last year and found that by tearing it in half gave me better hook ups. As the weather starts to cool the bigger walleye move into a more aggressive feeding pattern. By next week I hope to see the water begin to cool. The lakers have been coming in but no real braggers, so MaryJo has had the smoker going almost everyday. She did some gators with a cajun spice that went down great with a chilly Blue. Its hard to believe that in the next 2 weeks we will be doing the moose hunt. I did some scouting the other day and found that the moose are still well hidden in the swamps. We have had temps in the 80′s with calm winds and bright sunshine. This morning we had pea soup fog so thick I couldn’t see across the bay. It is melting a little now and the breeze is picking up. Tonight is fish fry, one day early but we have some check ins and check outs so we wanted everyone to get in on the meal. By the end of the month it will be a surf and turf meal, fresh walleye and moose tenderloin. Are you drooling yet? Remember……THINK WALLEYE!

Ok, so it’s not Scott, it’s MaryJo. Scott has been busy getting caught up on yard work since we are JUST getting our summer now, in September. Today he’s on the road to Thunder Bay, one of his favorite things to do, just kidding. It’s hell day for him. The fishing has been so-so, with average size walleyes being caught in the narrows,up by the Beav, North end of Cove and around MaryJo’s Island. Some smaller Lakers being caught in 40-80 ft. A couple of  Northerns pretty much anywhere you go. In the next few days I should have a better report on the fishing. A great group of guys that come twice a season are here for the next week. I guarantee they’ll find out where the fish are hiding. And just maybe, Scott and I will be able to head out ourselves. We’re suppose to have some really nice weather this week, into the 70′s and sunny. Soon we’ll be switching gears getting ready for our Moose hunters. Then the end will be in sight. I will make sure Scott gets back to writing his blogs and keeping his fans up to date.

As Scott say’s,” Think Walleyes!”