Smallmouth Bass at Beaverhouse Lake
We thought the spring bass fishing was good in Beaverhouse, where we had trouble going more than three minutes between bites on topwater baits. Well late summer proved to be almost as good - lots of fish in the 14” to 16” range and several over 16” up to 18+”.The Jim Zimmerman party, two seasoned fishing buddies, told us the story of Jim, who got a backlash. While he messed with his reel fixing it Arvid K. caught and released over 30 bass in that short time. The fish were in the mouth of a fast moving stream and you could not get a hook in there without getting a bite. Even many of these late season fish were very active on topwater baits, with a nice northern taking one every once in a while.
Big Smallmouth and Largemouth in Nickle Lake
Everyone who likes to catch big smallmouth should watch for the Wilderness Journal show on PBS. Host Kyle Randall and his brother Mark spent some time at Ajax and Beaverhouse this spring and got a couple of great shows. Nickle Lake, a portage lake off of Ajax was really hot, with the big bass just coming in to spawn. Kyle and Randy’s boat caught 20 smallmouth from 18 to 21 inches, one 21” largemouth, several northern and lots of walleyes for dinner in just a morning of fishing. Mark, a confirmed northern pike addict, may have been a convert to B.A.S.S. by the time he left Beaverhouse two days later. We visited Nickle again in early October. Again some big fish - Dale a 21” largemouth, Paul a 25” walleye, Randy a 21” smallmouth, all released.
Great Fall Fishing on Lake of the Woods
It was a great season of fishing for all species. The fall not only produced some nice fish but really good numbers of fish. The walleyes moved (as did the baitfish ) into the deeper fall spots in late September and cooperated with anglers right through the end of October. Of course along with walleyes we had northerns, muskies and some crappie all mixed up in many of the seasonal fall spots. This created quite a smorgasbord of opportunities but also tough decisions for fishermen. All of a sudden while jigging for walleye something really big would grab your hook. If you were lucky and the northern or muskie did not cut your line, you often got it in the boat, but sometimes after the burst of adrenaline caused by your drag screaming you would come away empty with your hook gone - now what to do? Put on that leader and maybe not catch as many walleye, or take your chances?
Ducks and Grouse Plus
While the ruffed grouse were plentiful in some areas we hunted, you were not always guaranteed a feed. On the other hand the bluebill and other ducks provided some of the best shooting we have seen in the last several years. Steve’s hunters from Louisville had great shooting all week the third week of October. Geralds hunters as well a week earlier and the boys from Springfield produced some startling results after two of them spent the summer at the trap range. All these groups combined fishing and duck hunting for a great fall experience.
Whitetail Deer--- What a way to end the season!
The opportunities to hunt whitetail in Ontario is expanding with some new archery and muzzle loader seasons. Our OFAH group from eastern Ontario took advantage of that and resident antlerless tags to bag some game before the rifle season started. Steve and Byron did some drives when the rifle season opened and not only pushed out some deer but a big bear that squirted out of a den under Steve one day (can you say “HOLY *&%$) - a nice big ten point buck came off the same drive.Our Vermont and Minnesota hunters did well later in the season, passing on quite a number of smaller bucks. Several of them found what they were looking for, a big Ontario buck of over 250 pounds. Mike Adam’s was a bit far back, 1.3 miles, but thanks to Byron and Steve he came out on the pack frames.Our late resident hunt is not quite over (Dec 15) but you may want to ask Steve about the “Three Buck Drive”. It includes running out of shells, a bucks ventilated ear, a big ten pointer and a lot of work.We still have some shed hunting to do and will keep you posted on what we find.
Spring Opener to Beautiful Beaverhouse Lake, May 2008
The Bass were in full swing as Randy and Marty hit Beaverhouse Lake for the first time of the spring. Lucky cabin set-up was so easy since there was very little maintenance to do on the cabin itself, just a quick turn down and a pilot light lit and we were ready to hit the water. Beautiful weather was complimented by a bevy of nice smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike. Throwing some rubber and some shallow diving wally divers we were able to pluck the bass right as they were starting to sit on their beds.
Day two was highlighted with some cooler weather (Like much of the spring, as you from the upper Mid-West will attest to!) but saw much of the same action from the friendly critters we were so eagerly seeking. Double-header after double header, highlighted with a 34" Northern caught by Randy in the shallow water.
A heavy fog lifted and our first guest of the season, Sarah and Terry Fischer, were on our dock ready to get their very own adventure started and were eagerly anticipating getting out on the lake. Can't wait for close-up so we can get back up there again!
Sarah and Terry Fischer's Beaverhouse Lake Adventure
Sarah and Terry Fischer have been visiting Getaway North Adventures, as well as Hideaway Lodge and King Island Lodge, for some time now. We always enjoy seeing their smiling faces grace our docks and hope that their tradition of joining us continues for some time to come. Maybe we'll see them in the 40 year Eagle Club some time!
This transmission came to us via email upon Terry's return to the "real world" after their trip to Beaverhouse Lake:
"Maureen and Randy,
Made it home okay even though we ran into some serious thunderstorms in Wisconsin. Got home to find out that Bloomington had received 4 inches of rain in about two hours on Wednesday/tremendous amount of flooding………and then we received another 2 inches last night……..so we are kind of soggy right now.
Another great trip to Beaverhouse! Different weather than we’ve ever had before…………..cold, very windy……..never wore shorts one day which is a first for us. I forgot to give Randy our “fishing chart” so I’m sending it to him……….will also email you some of the pictures we took of the fish we caught. I always look forward to this trip every year and unfortunately, it always goes by too quickly. For Sarah and me, Beaverhouse is a very, very special place. The cabin is wonderful, the serenity is something we always value, and the fishing has always been good and appears to be getting even better. It is definitely a “smallmouth” lake. And all of the work you did “clearing” around the cabin outside looked just tremendous.
I know that we’ll definitely be coming back around the same time next year and as I told the two of you, I truly hope to be able to make a late summer/early fall trip to Beaverhouse too. I’ve always wanted to see the lake at the end of the summer/ see what the fishing is like and next year I’ll be 60 years old (can’t believe it) and I hope to make this my birthday present to myself. I’ve always said that just once in my life I’d like to go to Beaverhouse twice in one year and my goal is to make that happen next year.
Thanks again for everything and I hope you have a very successful summer.
Terry"
We hope that you can experience the beauty and simple serenity with us such as Terry and Sarah have discovered.