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NEWS OF THE WEEK

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Group Comaraderie

I just love the camaraderie amongst a group of fishermen. And there surely are as many fishing traditions as there are groups of fishermen. Here are some of the ones I’ve encountered here at the lodge.
  
There’s the t-shirts made for the occasion whether it’s a guys’ annual trip or a special one-time event...

There’s the home-made spoon competition.


















The guidelines are this. You must make your spoon from something out of your kitchen. Prizes went to the best looking spoon and to the spoon that was used to catch the biggest fish. Frank & Uncle Whitney Corrick’s group presented their spoons here recently.





















There are trophies. They come in many shapes and sizes. These are hand crafted for the Clay group that fishes together each year.





This year we were happy to host their trip!


















There’s the plaque:


















The Mistol group records the largest walleye and pike each year. They bring along their plaque with the names of the winners for each species’ size. They hold their ceremony on the deck before they leave each year.

The honor for the most unique trophy goes to the Mistol group! It’s for the largest number of northern pike in a specified time frame. The person with the most pike in that hour or two wins the cup. Only the most hard-core of anglers could be proud of this title:


Monday, June 20, 2011

Rainy Day Fishermen

Rainy days have a tendency to dampen the spirit. But after about 6 weeks of virtually no rain and a fantastic start to the season, we finally got what we needed. Rain! And lots of it! We were certainly glad to get some of the wet stuff but we're good for a bit now. You really need to be careful what you wish for, huh?

Usually accompanying rain there’s the ugly half-sister called wind! Over the past week we encountered rain and wind but I’m writing today, not to complain, but to commend the folks who kept smiles on their faces and took whatever came at them with grace, understanding and a gentle acceptance that only comes from true character. Hats off to all you rainy day fishermen! When I count my blessings, I count you twice!

Here are some of the shots I received this week.

Jackie and a lovely walleye!

Another nice walleye!

Olson/Williams/Nelson group after a few rainy days. Good times!

No amount of rain can stop Chuck or wipe that smile off his face!

Pete & Jenny show 'em whose boss!

Pete rounds out a great trip with his lunker!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Best Fishing Ever!

"We've been coming to Winefred Lake for 34 years and this week has been the best fishing we've ever had!" says long-time Winefred Lake angler Grant Simmons when he checked-out earlier today. With a 10 day total of over 800 fish including over 200 walleye, Grant and his wife, Sherrill shared their records of species, weights and lengths. Quite impressive!

Grant with a rotund northern!








Sherrill and one of the 12 pike they caught over 100 cms

Jim & Garnett with a beautiful double header!





And, not to be out-done, Jim & Grant with another righteous double!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Nice fish!

We meet some pretty nice "fish" here at the lodge!

Fishing buddies Dad Dennis and Daughter Kate exemplify the fishing experience. Always a pleasure spending time with you both at the lodge! See you here next year!



Dennis with a lovely walleye! 


















Another beaut for Kate!


Dennis with the catch of the trip. Northern Pike at 42 inches and 21 lbs.























Friday, June 10, 2011

Canavan Clan, June 8th

Brian And family on a June trip to Winefred Lake Lodge. Great trip had by all and some real lunkers found!













Thursday, June 9, 2011

Winefred Lake Traditions

Not many groups can say that they have fished together for 22 consecutive years at the same lake. However, there's a motley kind of crew who have made Winefred Lake Lodge one of their traditions. It is our pleasure to be here for it each year and to share some of their pics from their visit last week...year 22.

2011 "Fishing with G.O.D." (Gleboff. Oberg. Daymond.)




































Monday, June 6, 2011

Here's the skinny

There’s a kind of urgency about people who are late in booking their spring fishing trips so it didn’t appear to be out of the ordinary when I received a reservation request in early May 2010 for 4 people for the prime fishing season in June. The email was not unlike the hundreds that come in during the pre-season so I responded with a simple request for dates. The email I received back though was quite different. In the first line was the phrase “Here’s the skinny”.

We all know that when we hear this phrase, there’s inevitably a bare bones, no nonsense truth coming. And so it was for me in May 2010 with the second email. The gut-wrenching truth for this family was that the trip was a bucket-list wish for a husband, a father, a grandfather who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It was clear that he might not have another season of health so we had to make it happen straight away.

It is no secret that my husband Gary and I came to Winefred Lake Lodge in 2009 with little experience to manage a fishing lodge. In fact, we had little knowledge of fishing in general, and even less experience. I must say that we learned an awful lot from some mighty fine folks who have come to be our guides, our counselors and our friends. But to be honest, with two years under our belts, I learned so much more than the mechanics of managing a lodge or pulling a trophy from the lake. I found out that fishing is a vehicle for spending time with someone you care about whether it’s with your best fishing buddy, your children or your family. Of course, it’s best if you mutually enjoy it but there’s so much more to fishing than just fishing.



And so, the goal last May was to make sure one man’s lone bucket-list wish was realized. They came and they fished. They caught some trophies and they took home loads of pictures. On one particularly quiet afternoon while his sons and grandson were either fishing or resting, he and I talked. I discovered that this trip was actually his gift to them. I believe that he knew there would be lots of tough times ahead with his illness and its inevitability. And when things would get really difficult, they could escape to their memories of a time together without illness or stress. This fishing trip was a time to make these memories. I am told that he talked often about this trip until he passed.

One year ago today, I met a fine group of men who came to a fishing lodge on a quest for something more than fish. It has been my distinct honor to just be witness to such a special and intimate gathering. I will take the lessons I’ve learned from it with me for as long as I live.















When you strip it all down, take away all the tackle and the techniques, the theories and the smack, you realize that two anglers in a boat are there for the love of the sport and the memories they create. It just happens that they are fishing. If you ask a fisherman about the largest fish he ever caught, he could tell you about its species, length, weight, the weather, the wind direction and a detailed account of how he managed to catch it. He would also be able to tell you, without hesitation, who was there in the boat with him. It’s just that way, when you’re fishing.

So, here’s the skinny:
Go fishing! But remember it’s not just about the fish!



Dedicated to the memory of
Victor B. Leatzow Jr. of Kalispell, Montana
June 24, 1944 - March 3, 2011
for his contribution to my life.

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70 kms East of Conklin, Alberta, Canada
Northern Alberta's Favorite Wilderness Resort with World Class trophy fishing for Monster Walleye and Northern Pike