Ice Fishing Done For The Season

As promised, we thought we'd give you a little report on our ice fishing. We had a great time during the latter part of March and early April fishing various spots around the area. Good friends and good fshing are a great combination. It was fun for all.

We had good success on all species this year. The perch and walleye were fat with spawn, and we had fun catching and releasing quite a few. The northern were very active, and we were catching mostly large guys, so that was a blast of course. We had a several exceptional fish in the mix.

Bob caught a 30" walleye, which of course was photographed and sent back down the hole. Gale caught a 35" northern (she has the cuts on her hands to prove it), and also sent him back down the hole. What a blast seeing these monsters come through the ice. Besides that, we kept a few for a couple of very tasty fish suppers! It was fantastic weather, and we all managed to get some sunburned faces.

The ice fishing season ended on the 15th, and now it's watch and wait for the ice to leave. When we were fishing we still had over 3 feet of ice, but since then the sun has taken the snow down a lot, and is able to get right at the ice. Like all of you, we can't wait for spring! Speaking of which, have you got your spring/summer fishing plans made yet? If not, give us a shout. We have some openings for early season for last minute trips (maybe the Memorial Day Weekend is a good time for you?), and have a few great cottage vacancies during our prime mid summer period. You can still get a fantastic vacation here at Rainbow Point Lodge without breaking the bank! Check out the website rates today!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Owls & Eagles at Perrault Falls

Just touching base quickly with everyone on a beautiful sunny day at Rainbow Point Lodge in NW Ontario. Temps today are about 3 deg. C (38 F).

Thought I’d share a picture of this northern hawk owl that made an unexpected stop at our living room window the other day. While he was probably a little starry for awhile, he seemed no worse for the bump, and flew off in just a few minutes. Besides the owl, we are enjoying hearing our local eagle pair chattering away up behind our house. All of the area bald eagles seem to have returned over the last couple of weeks. On a tour around the lake the other day on snowmachine, we sited 4 different pairs for sure – busy getting settling into their nests, and waiting for some good fishing at the river, creeks and falls, just like us land dwellers. We know there are several other nests down the river and the tributary lakes, but we won’t be going down the river unless it’s in a boat!

Thing spring everyone! It’s on it’s way.

Have a great day!
Gale

Will" SOMEONE" tell the weatherman it's SPRING!!!!

Well: Gale and I just got back from a once a year vacation and the weather was great when we arrived home. The weatherman must have known we were back and decided we had missed some of the Feb. weather! I just got back in the house from shoveling 10 inches of snow off the deck and driveway. It rained a couple of inches before it got cold or that moisture could have been a LOT more snow. The temps. are around -6C (20F.) so not real bad but it ain't melting!

We are going to get a head start on a couple of building projects in a week or two and you should be pleasantly surprised with the results!! The summer looks like it is going to be well represented from all over the U.S. and Canada. The global recession has taken it's toll but, there are those that are coming to Canada for the first time and have done the math and have figured out that the Country next door offers many new, exiting, and reasonably priced vacation possibilities.

If you are reading this blog for the first time or would like a quick link to our web site it is http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ so feel free to have a look, or sign up to our online specials section, for one of a kind specials that come along.

I was going to give you an update on my ice fishing adventures but I have not had any time to do much with a few parental health issues we have been dealing with the last while. I do plan to go out and fish a few day's in the next few weeks before the ice fishing season closes and hope to post a few pictures from our adventures.
I will say bye for now but will keep you posted on the melting and ice condition's as they become more apparent. Take care and Merry Christmas (That's a snow joke--Bill!) EH!!

How about that weather??

As I indicated in the last Blog, we are back at the Lodge and are finished shoveling for the 99th. time, and also getting caught up on all the mail and bills etc. I make it sound like I do all the book work, WRONG!, if it wasn't for Gale and her accounting ability we would be doing our work out of a shoe box!
In all our travels we did not get into any bad weather or were lucky and just left before a storm hit in the various cities that we did sport shows in. On the last day going home we got stuck in Grand Forks North Dakota with the roads into Canada closed due to ice accumulations on the roads. I was able to find another "Cabelas" store so it was not a complete loss of time. Gale will be glad not to have me see another one of those signs for a while.
Our youngest Daughter Karla is coming home from her Chef's job in St. John's New Foundland, for a week starting tomorrow. We have not seen her since late last summer so we are looking forward to her visit. One small item is that she is also bringing her Boy friend!! I am presently going through all my knives to make sure they are sharp and that all my guns are oiled and in proper working condition. they will be strategically placed throughout the house just to make him feel comfortable while visiting. I understand that he is dreading the first meeting and I just want him to feel a home!!!!!
I will be doing a bit of ice fishing next week and will let you know how we did and hopefully post a few pictures for you to see. It would be nice just to have a small walleye or northern, fresh, fried for dinner.(doesn't that make you hungry?).
Anyways take care and if you haven't made your summer vacation plans yet take some time and visit the website www.rainbowpoint.com and we may see you this summer or the first time or as a repeat guest.
Have a great week. Bob and Gale

Sportshow's Wind Down!!!!

Well: Gale and I have just made it home after a 28 day grind to 6 different sport shows from St. Louis - Green Bay and in between. We are home for two days to catch up on the mail, snow shoveling, laundry, etc. etc. and will be going to Des Moines for our last show this weekend. It was sure nice to see all our friends in the various cities and to see what the various places do when they think they are cold!! As we left home the temp. dropped to -43 and stayed there in that area for a week, as we were told many times, by our friends that looked after our house.

We found the response at the shows was favorable but the economy is sure scaring a lot of people. I have had many chats with ALL types of people regarding the economy, as we all do, and firmly believe that the news media has given us all the impression of total financial loss and hardship that we are not going to move or do anything that may require some financial output. To be a little more specific, when it comes to a vacation we are just not going to go or we are just going to wait and see! If you look outside you will see that the sky has not fallen and that spring is coming, and that you can still pay your bills, and to the main point that you can still afford to vacation with us at http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ . HOW"S THAT FOR A RANT AND SEGWAY!!!!

In all seriousness there are some great vacation deals out there and a trip to Canada is one of them. If you are thinking about it but just need the extra little push, grab a cup of coffee and look at our photo gallery, and just put yourself in the pictures that you see and that may be all you need to have the summer trip taken care of.

I am posting this Blog after we got back from Des Moines as I forgot to do so just after I wrote it. I will work on another one today. It was pointed out by a good customer of ours, Norm Stine, that some people actually read this stuff so if you all could send a little comment after you read one of the blogs it would help me to write a few more knowing that they are actually being read. Till net time. BOB

Plan your Summer Vacation Now

Bob & I are in the midst of our sport show travels, currently in Madison for a 3 day show and then off to Green Bay and Des Moines. We thought maybe we would have a break from the cold weather up at Perrault Falls, but even down here it has been much cooler than usual, so we haven't been able to put aside those winter coats. Show attendance has been very good for the most part so far & the interest and response from people that have come to see us has been great. If you are considering a trip this summer, don't delay. Contact us today to ensure a spot is available for your week.

The website has been updated recently with additions to the FAQ's, fishing licence information, and more, so if you haven't visited the site lately, stop by and see what's new.

Hope to talk to you soon!

Gale

On our way South!!!!

Happy New Year All!!
Gale and I are on our way to Chicago on Wed. for the first of our Sport shows. We sure hope the weather is going to be a bit warmer than it is up here this winter! We have a couple of feet of snow and 16 inches of pure blue ice as of our ice fishing trip yesterday. We are trying to get as much fishing in as we can because we will be on the road for the better part of a month living out of hotels and restaurants. If you would like to see our Sport show schedule please go to our front page @ www.rainbowpoint.com . If you can come in and see us we sure would love it. With all the turmoil in the world these days we have tried to keep our rates trimmed to the best of our abilities. We are all in this together but I for one am not going to let the economy ruin my vacation time.
If last years fishing was an indication of what is to come in the future we are in for nothing but better numbers and quality of all species.
I thought I had enough firewood for the year, plus some, but it has been sooo cold that I may have enough for a week after we get back from shows. Guess what I'll be doing for a few days in Feb.
We have a couple of stories in the Jan. and Feb. Midwest Outdoors Newspaper that were written about our Lodge and lake. We are getting good responses to the articles and look forward to the extra exposure that they bring to the area.
I must go and pack for the trip but just wanted to remind you of our travels and hope that you will look us up at the shows and make another Rainbow Reservation for the summer of 09!

Take Care BOB&GALE

Do I Need a Passport to Travel to Canada?

With everyone busy making their plans for fishing and hunting trips next summer, the question of "Do I Need a Passport" comes up quite often. There have been a lot of changes in the last few years regarding border crossing requirements between the U.S. and Canada. Air travellers have required passports for some time, but The US Dept. of Homeland Security regulations affecting land border crossing will require everyone to have a passport to re-enter the United States starting June 1st of 2009.



Passports have long been the best form of identification for crossing the border. We encourage everyone to get their passport applications in early to avoid any last minute hold-ups on your trips. Youth under the age of 16 are exempt from the passport requirement, but again, we do encourage everyone to get the passports regardless, both for safety and for ease of travel.



There is a less expensive PASS (People Access Security Service) available in the US as well, which will suffice for land crossing from Canada, but not for other travel you may need to do in the future.



We have some excellent links on our website to provide you with full information on passports, and travel information in general. Visit our FAQ page to get started.



Don't forget to contact us for your reservations before the New Year to avoid disappointment. We start our sport shows start early in January, and many weeks will be booked up by then.



For our guests and friends..... Watch for our annual letter and information in your mailbox next week.



p.s. We can hear the lake making ice like crazy the last few days. Always neat to hear though - like thunder. Brrrr .. it's cold outside.

A Fish Story

Well, we did have our 1st snowfall of the year, and the highways department were out in full force with their salt and sand trucks already. Thankfully it was just a one day wonder, and we got a couple of fantastic (above normal) days just after that to bring us out from the downer of seeing that 1st snow. We're taking advantage of the great weather, and now that that the woods are a lot quieter, will be spending some time getting the winter firewood, and hunting for our moose. Freezer is empty, so we're looking forward to some success. We can hunt until mid December, and so there is no rush. Will keep you posted.

We were going over some photos from the summer, and I thought I'd give you a good look at the biggest walleye for the season for 2008. This is Jason Rosonke with a 32" (10 lb) walleye caught the last week of August this year.

He and his wife Suzanne did exceptionally well this week. Besides this trophy walleye, Susanne caught this 41"(14 lb) northern. She also caught a 40" (17 lb) muskie, and another 35" (12 lb) muskie. Way to go girl! This type of success is what we like about mid/late summer fishing. The numbers are not as fast as the earlier weeks, but the quality can be fantastic. Congrats to The Rosonke's from Urbandale, Iowa on another great year.

We'll try to update you on some other great fish stories through the winter just to tie you over for your fishing fix until you can get up to Perrault Falls yourself next season!

SINK or FISH & HUNT!!!!!!

Here is my "Rant" for the month!
As outdoor folks we are all in the same boat, or so to speak!! We seem to be bombarded on a daily basis with bad news about our troubled economy and possible world recession. There are still plenty of places in the world where your hard earned vacation dollar can go a long way. Why not take that well deserved break and treat yourself to to our N.W. Ontario treasure, that being, Rainbow Point Lodge! Everyone we talk to these days keeps telling us about all the bad things that are going on in their part of the world, (as if we are not affected up here in Canada!!) All I want to say to that is, try and spend a little time finding the good things in life, as it goes by way to fast to waste it moaning about the negative! ( Now I'm Done)
Our season is fast coming to a halt and with the threat of light snow flurries tomorrow, I guess we will have to face the inevitable Winter. I am really looking foreword to doing a little ice fishing later on and will be going out moose hunting in a few weeks after there is some snow on the ground.
The fishing was above average this summer as we look back at the overall success. Take a look at the picture page on our website@ http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ to get a feel for the different species and sizes of fish that Perrault Lake has to offer.
Our fall hunts for Bear and the Archery Moose hunt have just been completed, and as success is not always measured in taking meat home, we had a some nice animals taken. Our blueberry crop was one of the best in years and this made the baiting challenging and, with respect to the hunter, the control of your own personal scent and movement even more critical. We had a very diverse group of hunters this year with some of the hunters learning for the first time what Bear hunting is all about (nothing like deer hunting!!!!) and many return hunters that know that bear hunting is not always having success with sightings of animal or seeing the size they are looking for. All in all it will go down as one of the more interesting ones I've seen in 30 years with referring to the many different types of personalities we met. Thank-you to you all!
We are going to a few sport shows this fall and will be letting you know which one's in our annual fall letter. I hope that you can come and see us next year up at the Lodge or at least drop into one of the shows and say Hi
Keep checking in our Blog as I now have a little more time to write my monthly Rant! Whether you agree with it or not, it is not meant to offend just meant to let you know what I am thinking at the time and to let you know that we are constantly working on trying to make Rainbow Point Lodge a part of your yearly must do things.
Until next time thanks for the feedback but if you want the comments posted you have to let us know who you are to be published!
Stay warm. BOB

Peak Summer Fishing!!!! ( O.K.Bill I'm Writing!!!)

The weather is finally acting like summer! The fishfly hatch is over! The fish are acting like they haven't eaten for a month and lots of nice catches of walleye, northern, perch and bass are coming in quite regularly.

Over the last two weeks our guests have had much to smile about! The walleyes can be found in various depths depending on the prevailing wind and time of day. Our home bay is fishing as well as many down the lake. The eyes are active along the weed line at 14-16 feet and if you try mid to high 20's you will be rewarded with some beauties. First and second bay are regular spots but Bob's island and the Sand bar are fast becoming favorites. Yesterday we had a 27" and a 27.5" walleye and a 39" northern. The bass in the 14-18" range are very aggressive and are a nice change from one species action. The use of leeches and crawlers are the bait of choice lately but the big walleyes were caught on minnows "go figure!"


Shown here is Rick Niewald from Missouri with his 38" northern pike caught on July 21st.
The northerns are always in the summer weeds but the larger ones are in the cabbage in 15+ feet of water. A few of the monsters have been caught suspended just off the reefs. The use of large spoons and jerk baits are causing quite a commotion. Guests going for musky are not disappointed, with plenty of action on that front.

The perch are finally being boated in the weeds, that were slow to show their face, because of the high water levels and cold weather this summer. The standard bait of choice is the small chunk of a crawler and jig head.

Last week Gale and I did our yearly golf outing with our good friends Bill and Marge from McHenry Ill. We go to Ear Falls golf course and have lunch and then do 9 holes with carts and that usually takes the rest of the day??? If you are a golf Pro and interested in fishing there are three of the four of us willing to work out a DEAL!!!! We also went fishing for a day with Bill Marge and their son Mike"Little Stick" Bock! and cooked a shore lunch the old fashioned way and it was lots of fun!!

Our bear baiting for the fall season is well under way and we are hoping for as plentiful season.
George and I hope that you will recognize us the next time you see us as the bug bites should be gone by next season HAHA. With the standing water and the 80+ degree temps. the baiting has been pretty bad for bugs. The blueberries are hit and miss so far in our areas. We are finding that the ones up in the open and are able to catch any of the sun are probably a week or so from being ready to pick, but the ones with some cover and are not getting a lot of sun are suffering so far and will be a bit longer.

As I am running out of things to talk about I will just throw in our plug for any of you that are in need of a last minute trip to give us a call. If you need a bit of help making your decision take a look at our photo gallery @ http://www.rainbowpoint.com/.

Thanks to all of you that take time to read this stuff, and I only hope it helps bring back memories of your trip, and helps you look forward to the next time we have the pleasure of seeing you. Take Care. Bob & Gale

Fishing Pictures are up

Just a quick note for all of you who have been anxiously waiting to see your photos up on our 2008 fishing photo album. I spent the morning uploading some of the photos that many of you have left with me, so feel free to check yourselves out! There is a comment option on each photo, so if you have some good fishing story or details to add, go ahead. We'd love to hear from you! Also, if I've gotten any names or details mixed up, drop me an e-mail and I'll fix it up! Here's one of the shots we received from Courtney, Shawano, Wisconsin. Thanks Courtney!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your pics of your trips to Rainbow Point Lodge with us. Enjoy!

Gale

Summer's Half over Let's get Fishin!!!!!

Well we just had a very busy week with a few shy of 100 people at our fish fry! The over all fishing last week was nothing short of Great. There were a few days at first, where everyone was learning the patterns, but after that we saw many BIG fish being caught and also plenty of eaters and smaller. We are uploading the pictures to our photo album in the next few days so be sure to visit our home page at http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ . Over the weekend we had 4 inches of rain and the ground is totally saturated along with the extremely high water. I know we are not anywhere near the torrential amonts of water in the mid States but a few weeks of nice warm dry weather would be nice about now.

(Shown above is Dan Pecard from Wisc. with his 41" northern caught June 27th.)

With respect to the specific species- the walleyes are being caught in two depths, from 4-12 feet early in the day and up to 17+ feet when it's sunny and hot. Last week the bait of choice was either minnows or leeches with the night crawler not as productive. There will always be someone that will swear by a certain bait but I am just reporting on the over all trend. The northerns are starting to become a little more aggressive as the cabbage weed tops out and a combination of large spoons and spinner baits is working well. The smallies are being caught in all areas of the lake by casting almost up on shore and retrieving in a pumping manner with mepps spinners, jig and a tail, and small rapalas being the favorites. The bay just in front of the Lodge is really becoming a hot spot that most are overlooking but as they see limits come in they are giving it a try.

If there are any of you that think they need a quick fishing/vacation trip Now is the time so give us a call and make it a reality. We still have plenty of late season openings and we would love to be your hosts this summer.

If there is any thing that you would like e to address in any future Blogs please repy to the blog or send me an e-mail and I will be glad to talk about it. If any of you that have been here lately would like to post a comment on our blog please feel free to write about your trip and we can get some chat going to make this that much more interesting

Take Care and hope you have a Great 4th. of July as we are celebrating our Canada Day today July 1st. Talk to you soon. Bob and Gale

Alright "NOW" I have a minute !!!!!! (mike)

How is every one doing these days? Looks like lots of us are sitting at home complaining about the gas prices, "that we are all dealing with". Those of you that are able to make the trek north are being greeted with fantastic fishing and great deals that go the distance to help with the SMALL extra fuel cost. I am doing a small rant about the gas cost and am pointing out that we are NOT charging extra surcharges for your package plan gas as some lodges are and therefore the only difference to you is your fuel up and back. I say BIG DEAL! We don't like it but we are not going to let a bunch of speculators and camel jockeys ruin our already short lives! NOW I'm finished with the rant and I feel better
On a lighter note we have seen plenty of rain, and I know that many of you are dealing with even more of it at this time. The summer has not really hit us yet but the long range forecast says we should see a warm day or two by August. With all the rain we have a lot of run-off that has slowed down the "jump in the boat" spring fishing a bit, but there are still Great catches of Walleye and Northern being brought in daily. We have had many large walleye released this spring with a 33 incher witnessed by two other boats being released last week. The sucker fishing for Big northerns has been extremely productive with a number of 40+ inch fish being released this spring so far. The small mouth have been coming on strong as the spawn is close at hand and they are very aggressive in their pre-spawn setting. Two days ago I measured a perch at 14 inches and that is the largest one that I have legitimately seen in years. Granted they are not all like that but the size and numbers are getting better as the years go on. The final species that I will report on is the white fish, and they are being caught by a few people that are using the BOB method of fishing for them. It takes some patience but can produce very nice results.
We just had our first fish fry last night and it was a Blast. We had guests from Arizona, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Tenn., Wisc, Minn, and a few others so you can imagine the different dishes and flavours that were there!! No septic problems for a few days!!!! The Canadian "RINGS" champions are still going strong (BOB-GEORGE) so any time you would like to give it a go we are ready!! Your losses can be put on your bill!
I am going to sign off but, I sincerely hope you like to read what comes out honestly, and that you read these blogs with a sense of humor and realise that life REALLY is too short to waste your time complaining about things that really mean nothing.
We have had a few serious Parental health issues lately that make the above paragraph something that we realise more now.
Gale and I sincerely Thank-you for your continued support and every week look forward to seeing old friends, and new guests that will turn into old friends.
Till next Blog. Take Care

Ice Out 2008!

Finally!!! The ice is out on Perrault Lake this afternoon!

Had a good steady rain, and a good heavy wind, and the ice all blew up on the far shore of Perrault (away from our docks!!). Great news for all of you coming up this weekend for some fantastic walleye and northern fishing!

See you then!

Bob & Gale

Thin ice.....

I know you are all anxious to hear what's happening. Today Old Man Winter was trying to show his face once more, giving us quarter size snowflakes for a few hours, mixed with some rain now and then. Dispite this, the thaw has had some progress over the last few days. Our bay is 1/2 open, but the lake is still iced in today. Still project an ice out on Perrault for Thursday or Friday. Had to go to Dryden today, and neighboring lakes just south of us are just starting to open, so we're not far behind. North of us will be just that much more behind. Lac Seul and north are very questionable for opener.

Anyway, it's looking good for opening day fishing for 2008 on Perrault Lake this Saturday. The northern fishing will be fantastic! Can't wait for some fresh walleye too. The guests that are coming the first couple of weeks of season are in for some great action. We'll see many of you this weekend. We have all been busy getting the camp ship shape for opening day, and things are looking great.

Happy travels!

p.s. remember if you haven't made your plans yet, and want to fit in a last minute trip for a few days or a week, give us a call. Have a couple of spots open in the near future. Toll Free: 1-800-282-9039

Ice Condition Update May 7th

Sorry to say, we're still iced in here at Perrault Falls. Some lakes around the Kenora area are opened up, but everything from around Vermilion Bay north is still socked in. Cool temperatures have not helped our spring thaw. Things are slowly going though. Still snow in the bush areas, but the open spots are clear. The ice is pulling away from the shoreline around the Lodge. I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that the ice should be out by Wednesday or Thursday next week. Opening day for walleye season is May 17th. Some areas up north of Red Lake will probably not be open for that weekend, but our area should be all opened up by then.

Still some openings for the 1st couple of weeks of season. Should be some FANTASTIC walleye and northern action, so if you're in need of a good fish fix, give us a call toll free today! 1-800-282-9039. Don't forget our weekend special if you don't have a lot of time to spend this year.

Updates in a few days.

Gale

Ice and Weather Updates after Late Spring Storm

During the week of April 19th to 23rd we had pretty nice weather, a good rain, and some real progress towards spring. The ice was starting to pull away slightly from the shore, and there were just a few odd snowbanks, and snow accumulation left in the woods. Then came a freak storm on the 23rd that closed the schools just north of us, and on April 25th, and the biggest snow storm we have had for quite awhile really socked us in. We received a new dump of about 18"+ of snow. EVERY road in NW Ontario was closed from early Saturday morning until Sunday. There was not much anyone could do but keep the fire stocked and keep warm. As of Monday morning, Hwy 502 from Fort Frances to Dryden was still closed up. On the TransCanada Highway 17 on Sunday after the roads were opened, the semi trailers were lined up for miles. Quite the site. This TransCanada highway is the only main trunk highway from East to West, so when a storm like this hits and closes the roads, it has a huge affect on the country. Not like some areas where there are alternate routes to take.


So, back to winter we are, and again looking forward to seeing the grass show itself. Ice-out will definitely be delayed from what it was looking like earlier last week, as the temperatures are well below freezing at night, and only in the mid 40's in the day. Will keep you updated.

Ice Condition Update for Mid April

We still haven't had much in the way of warm weather, but it has been above freezing, and we have still dodged all the big snowstorms! The wind has been a big factor the last few days, and it has cut the snow down considerably. There is no snow left on the lake, and there is about 1.5-2 of ice right now. There's still a fair amount of snow around the bush and the yard, but a good steady rain today, and warming temps over the next few days should help knock that down some more.

Spring is definitely coming!! Walleye season closed on April 14th, and will re-open on May 17th. Northern is open throughout the year.

Will keep you posted on the ice/snow conditions over the next couple of weeks, as we know all of you spring ice-out fishermen are anxious!

Still some openings for the early weeks for your information, so you are not too late! Also have a special running for the 2 long weekends in May if you can just spare a weekend. Visit the website for details!

April Snow Storm Misses Perrault Falls

We are hearing a lot of bad snow stories from around the province and the mid-west U.S., but are happy to say that so far we have "missed the bullet" and the heavy snows that arrived the last couple of days in many places has missed Perrault Falls! Just south-east of us, they really got a dumping on Sunday, and many schools and roads were closed.

Today at Rainbow Point Lodge in Perrault Falls it is a sunny day, with temp warming up to about 42 degrees or so. It is still dipping well into the freezing mark during the night, but the sun is trying it's best to cut our snow levels down. Much the same forecast for the rest of the week.

Hope the rest of you are able to dig yourselves out alright today!

Ice & Snow Conditions, April 1/08

I know many of you starting to get pretty anxious for spring and fishing season, but unfortunately it's still a little bit away right now. This picture was taken yesterday (April 1st) at Cottage #1. There is about 2.5 feet of ice on the lake, and there's still a good 2'+ of snow on the ground. It's not all that unusual for this time of year for this area, but after such a hard, cold winter, we are definitely anxious for it to be over too!

The ice is not the best this year; with all the early snow, there is a lot of slush on the lake, and the ice layers have slushy sections. When the temperatures really start to warm up, it "should" go out fairly quickly. Right now, it's getting to just a few degrees above freezing during the day, but dipping well below overnight. We'll wait and see what the weather does, and we'll keep you posted!

There are still a few vacancies for early fishing weeks at ice-out. We also have a long weekend special going for the Canadian Victoria Day Weekend, and the US Memorial Day Weekend. Check out the website for details! If you can't sneek away for a whole week, a long weekend might just tie you over and help get the fishing itch scratched!

Sights & Sounds of the Falls in February

In between the bitter cold and wind we've had so far in 2008, we finally had a perfect sunny day for a nice long walk. I ended up eventually over near the Falls, which looked and sounded fantastic in the sunshine. The animals were out enjoying the day too, but I wasn't able to get the camera out to catch them. There's a pair of otters living right in front of the Lodge at the top of the Falls, there was a muskrat at the falls, and I was excited, but leary too, seeing a wolf trotting off down the ditch past the lodge.

Thought I'd share this video clip of Perrault Falls in the winter with you. It was beautiful in person, & I hope you enjoy it in video too!

Testimonial at Green Bay Sport Show

We had a great trip down to the sport shows in January, visiting Milwaukee, Madison & Green Bay, in a 10 day sport show circuit. The shows were very well attended, and we got to visit with many of our past and present guests. Thanks to everybody for coming out to see us.

One of our visitors was Larry Wetenkamp, and his son Dave. He was kind enough to let me try out my new video option on our camera, and tells everybody about his trips to Rainbow Point Lodge. Thanks Larry! Look forward to seeing you and your group this August in Cabin 11 as usual.



It's not too late to book your late summer fishing trip. Don't forget our fall special rates start August 2nd. Great deals to end of the season!. Visit the website for details.

Spring Fishing Trip Still Possible!

Bob & I are back home after our 10 day sport show circuit. We travelled to shows in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay. Aside from an 8" dump of snow in Madison, we managed to miss most of the bad weather, and managed to miss the worst of our Canadian cold while we were gone. We are still in a deep freeze like most of you in the midwest are right now, with temps in the range of -30 and down to -45 with wind chill. Brrr...

The shows were very well attended, and it was great to visit with many of our guests at the various shows. We also met many new people who will be making their 1st Canadian fishing or hunting trip to Rainbow Point Lodge this season. Bob & I are excited to show them a wonderful time at the Lodge this coming summer & fall!

For those of you who haven't made their fishing trip plans yet, we have a couple of odd cottage openings the 1st couple of weeks of season shortly after ice-out (Mid May into Memorial Day weekend). The fishing will be fantastic that time of year, so if you have a chance to get away for a few days, give us a shout and we'll see what we can do for you to get the spring fishing itch scratched!

Shown here is Kurt Carlson with one of the many northern pike caught during opening week. Fast action and plenty of numbers this time of year!
Call us today Toll Free while vacancies last! 1-800-282-9039.


Talk to you soon!

New U.S. Passport Card Update

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE WILL START TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW PASSPORT CARD, BEGINNING FEB. 1st.

While passports are still the best form of identification when traveling in the world, we have received word today on details of the new U.S. Passport Card implementation. For those of you who have not gotten or applied for your passports, this may be a good option. This card will suffice if you are travelling back from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda, by LAND CROSSINGS ONLY. If you travel by air, a passport is still a requirement.

Follow this link for complete details.

US Department of State Passport Card Information

A reminder that passports will not be required until 2009 for travel back from Canada if using land crossings.

Hope this info helps! We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more.

Join us on Facebook

For all you savy internet users, and Facebook fans.......
Our daughter Karla was kind enough to help us get a facebook group set up over the holidays, and we'd like to invite you to find us there, and join the Friends of Rainbow Point Lodge group on Facebook. Share your photos and fish tales on our site. It'll be great for our guests this summer to be able to post their pictures and stories about their Canadian fishing trips. See you there! Don't forget to check out the website from time to time too -- we've made some changes over the last little while, and have some great links to help you plan your fishing or hunting trip.

All Canada Sport Shows coming up

Hi everyone.

Just a heads up that we are going to be attending a few of the All Canada Sport Shows starting next weekend. If you're around any of these cities, we'd sure love to see you!

Milwaukee - Jan 18, 19, 20
Madison - Jan 21, 22, 23
Green Bay - Jan 24, 25, 26, 27

We'll have a busy trip, so help us break it up a bit and come down for a visit! Hope we don't run into any terrible weather like happened this past week!

And Remember everybody -- You DON'T NEED A PASSPORT to come into Canada by land crossings this year! Take advantage of this extension, and get your trips arranged while we still have vacancies. Also, remember that you can look after getting US Passport applications started while you are at the All Canada Show, so you're ready for next year! Visit our Links page on the website for great information sites on this & other important topics.

p.s. -- can't wait for fishing season!!!

Gale

Good News on Passport Requirements!

Anyone that flies into Canada has already had to get used to having a passport handy to travel between Canada & the U.S.

Great News though for those of you traveling through land border crossings!

YOU DO NOT NEED A PASSORT TO TRAVEL INTO CANADA by auto.
There is a tentative date of June, 2009 when the US Department of Homeland Security will require passports at land crossings. We will keep you posted as we hear more. We urge all of our U.S. customers to take advantage of the extended time to go ahead and get their passports so when the regulations come into effect, your travel won't be disrupted.

Visit our links page on our website for access to the US Dept of State Passport site, and many other helpful sites to keep you informed.

Fire Destroys Workshop at Rainbow Point Lodge

The year 2007 didn't have a very good ending for us at the Lodge. During the early morning hours of December 31st we were awoken by loud popping and banging sounds, and looked out to see fire and sparks coming from the back of the Lodge workshop. By the time Bob ran down to check it out, the other half of the building was ablaze. Without a winter fire department in this neck of the woods, we could only call some neighbors, armed with shovels and snow. There was not much we could do but watch, as the fire quickly engulfed the building.

This building was a vital part of our lodge. It was Bob's workshop and tool shed, loaded with more spare parts than a small hardware store, and a lifetime of tools, not to mention the million other things he had collected over the years. It was also Gale's storage room, with a treasure trove of spare household items to keep the cottages well stocked, as well as many personal momentoes. It was also Gale's laundry room, and linen storage building. Needless to say, this was a tremendous loss for us.

We are thankful that this wasn't our home and that no one was hurt, and also thankful that this did not happen during the summer. Not only would it have made camp operating extremely difficult, it would have posed a serious threat of fire spreading to other buildings or the surrounding forest. We have a new understanding what people must go through when they lose their homes.

Click on the photo album link below to view larger images of some photos taken of the fire that night, and the remains later:

View Album

Get your own

Many a good time was had visiting guests, and sipping a cold Labatt's Blue under the shade of the willows at the workshop. We'll miss that particular spot, but 2008 will be a new year. We'll have to build a new favorite deck, and start some new memories for Rainbow Point Lodge.

So, if anybody has a line on some good deals for hardware, parts, tools, linens, dishes, you name it, keep us in mind. We'll have lots to stock up on and get ready for, before we open up next spring. Gale will have an excuse to go to some garage sales!

Looking forward to sharing better news next time! Happy New Year everyone.

Happy Holidays from Rainbow Point Lodge

It's been great hearing from so many of you over the last few weeks. Thanks for your holiday wishes, and for scheduling your fishing trips for next summer. We're looking forward to seeing you!

It is a busy time of year for everyone, but don't forget it's also the time of year you need to be thinking about next summer. If you haven't made your reservation for next year, it's a good idea to contact us as soon as possible, as some weeks are at or near capacity. With everyone getting together over the holidays, that's the perfect time to get your plans made.

We're looking forward to celebrating Christmas with all of our family, and are especially looking forward to having both of our two girls, Amanda & Karla, with us. None of us have seen Karla since March, so we are very anxious.

Highway 105 celebrates 60th Anniversary

2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the official opening of the Red Lake Road. Many of our regular guests are familiar with the commemorative rock/plaque located just across from our Lodge entrance at the Perrault Falls park signifying this opening.

I recently came across this photo in the local newspaper, and thought I'd share it with all of you. (Photo originally provided by the Dupont Family) Besides the fantastic cars, it was exciting to see the bridge in the background, which would be the Perrault Falls bridge right before our entrance. You'll notice nothing but forest to the right of the bridge. This area is now the store and entrance way to Rainbow Point Lodge.

We'll give you some more great history in the weeks to come!

Canadian Fishing Vacations at Perrault Lake, Ontario

Bob & I have been experimenting in how we can make our fishing & hunting blogs more interesting for everyone. Here is one of our 1st attempts at a short video show showing some of the fishing and vacation images from the lodge. These are camp images we chose randomly to practice, but I think they show a pretty good representation of the lodge, and the fishing we have here at Perrault Lake in Ontario. Let us know what you think!

Guests at Rainbow Point Lodge

Fishing, Hunting & Vacations at Rainbow Point Lodge

Bob & I are trying to catch up with technology, and are learning how to upload our fishing, hunting & vacation photos a bit better. Check this out!! We're excited to be able to share our lodge photos with you all so much better, and faster. Hope you enjoy this little sample, and we'll be doing some exciting things with our website photo albums in the near future.



Let us know what you think.

Winter at Rainbow Point Lodge

We had a fantastic warm fall, extending well into mid November, but Old Man Winter has definitely arrived now. The last couple of weeks has seen a steady cooling of temperatures, and we have had plenty of snow. There is about 10" on the ground already as of December 1st, and temp is more like what we get in January, at about -10 F. Bob has the wood stove a pumpin!

I took a nice long walk today & it was pretty pleasant all considering, decked out in my hunting boots, snowsuit, scarf & touque (or as you guys call it -stocking cap). The falls looked just amazing with the thick coating of frost on all the branches. I'm not the best picture taker, but this gives you an idea.

Bob & I have not done nearly enough hunting this fall, but are going to have to get at it now. Bob likes to wait until there is a snowcover on the ground, and he definitely has it!

We've been busy getting the Christmas mailing ready and out to everyone, and I'm sure many of you have your copies already. If you didn't receive one by the 5th or so of December, give us a shout, and we'll make sure we get the current info off to you.

We'll be talking to you soon (hopefully with news about our moose!)

Bye for now

Gale

Grouse and the Fall!!

The past few weeks we have had a fair number of grouse hunters in camp. As with other years, the hunting seems to get better after the low lying leaves fall off and we get a frost. With the ever warming seasons that we all seem to be getting, the first hard frost is coming more in the last week of Sept-the first week of Oct. This year we are seeing more birds and it is not very hard to get a limit of 5 in a short walk. You can have a three day possession of 15 total which, combined with a little fishing, makes for great fall get away. You do not need an ATV but it gives you a little extra versatility.
Amanda was home for our Thanksgiving weekend, (Canadian Thanksgiving was October 8th), and for some family fun the 3 of us went grouse hunting. Amanda was the sharpshooter of the day, and we had a great time.
We did already have a little snow, as is depicted in the picture from October 9th, but it obviously did not last. The weather has just touched the freezing mark, for the last few weeks at night, and up to mid 50s-mid 60s during the day.
Gale and I have got the bulk of the shut down work done but it will be another week until we can finally say it's complete.
We are presently working on the fall rate schedule and advertising avenues. Once all these are finalized we will be posting them on our web site http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ for ALL to view.
I was lucky enough to be drawn for a Bull moose tag for our area and will be working on that the next month or so. I usually like to wait until the bush quiets down from the bird hunters and we have a little snow on the ground. I will keep you posted as to any success.
Keep the Blog comments coming as I will write about anything you would like to hear about as it is very hard sometimes to come up with topics that we think you'll be interested in.
Take care and look forward to seeing you all in the near future. BOB and Gale!!

Moose Hunt

Im on a roll.... Two Blogs in one day, and maybe a third, depending on the two finger typing speed. We have completed the Archery moose hunt and had a few resident gun moose hunters through the lodge. The archery moose hunt went well with a small bull being taken in each of the two weeks this year. We had other moose called in with no clean shot, and a great video taken by one of our hunters that showed a 50+ inch bull with a cow and calf that would just not come close enough to the hunter to get a shot. As with bow hunting, a big percentage of the hunt is the thrill of hearing an animal call back and the anticipation of him breaking through the bush at 15-30 yards!
Our second week of the archery hunt saw the hunters take a bull after a grueling ten minute hunt!! They called twice and just about got run over by the bull but were able to take him vey easily.
The gun hunt is comprised of Ontario resident hunters from southern Ont. that apply for their own tags in the resident only catagory. They are not outfitted by us other than the accomodation but they were also succesful. They took three small bulls and a few calves. A great time was had by all.
I am posting a picture of one of the bulls that Ted and Tom Coon took. If you ever have the opportunity to talk to these two about their hunt, the story is great and I can back it all up. They had such an experience that they don't even need to embelish it to make it good!!!!! Guys I had a great time, see you in G. Bay and next fall on the bear hunt.
I think I am good for one more post so read the next one on the current grouse and fall situation. Talk to you soon. BOB

Bear hunting news!

Well: I am getting down to writing the blogs that I should have written a while ago, but the drive was not there, and we were busy through out the day and night with the bear hunt. The hunt on the average went as I expected with some VERY nice sized animals taken. I think that the average size was up from past years. This can be attributed to hunters being very selective of the animals before they take their shot, and also the feed conditions this past summer. The FANTASTIC blueberry crop helped the animals build the fat that they need for the winter, but as I have found in the 30 odd years of doing this, it makes them very skiddish when it comes to hitting the bait. If there is a smell or a sound that they don't like or are curious about, they will quite often not hit the bait until after dark. In years that the main source of food, being blueberries, is poor they tend to be a little less cautious and are more willing to hit the bait during shooting hours, as their metabolism needs nourishment. I used a few trail cameras and found this to be the case.

I am posting a couple of pictures that we have and as of this writng we are waitng for a few more hunters to send us the promised pictures.

We are presently setting up our fall web site changes and one of the new additions will be a page devoted to hunts only, and we hope you visit it. If we have not posted you picture from a recent hunt, e-mail it to us and we can have it up in no time. Please visit http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ to see the upcoming changes.
On to the next Blog MOOSE!

FALL IS UPON US !!!!!!

How is everyone enjoying the end of the summer? I can't believe that the last day of Aug. is tomorrow. This seems like a very quick summer to me and the weather is starting to turn to cooler nights, which is great for sleeping, but a sure sign of Fall.
We are right in the middle of our bear hunt and and also have a pile of late summer fishermen. The fishing has been a little challenging the last week as ALL the lakes are turning over but this is coming to an end. The northern and bass fishing has been good, the walleye have been down in deep water (25-35), but the patient fishermen will have good success with all species. Normally the fall fishing picks up from the turn over and we expect the fishing to be fantastic in the next week or so. Life is too short to say "I should have done a fall trip " so why don't you enjoy the fall colors, low numbers of people, great cool fresh air, good fishing and reduced rates and make a call now or go to http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ and see what you are missing!
O.K. the sales pitch is over but we enjoy Rainbow as a home and want to share it with you!
The weather has been 45- 55 over night with the day time highs reaching 70 -99 <(just trying to see if you are really reading this) actually the highs are around 75. We have seen the lake go down about a foot, to just below the norm, as we had fairly high water this summer with all the rain this spring. All in all, the fall weather is starting off great.
Bear hunting has been going very well. We are seeing a large number of Grouse in the bush as we are bear baiting this year. The bird numbers have been down the last few years, but as they do in their cycle, the population is increasing quickly! The nice thing about hunting birds in the fall, is that you have vast roads and logging areas to hunt, and can also enjoy the fall fishing at the same time. The bird season starts on the 15th. of Sept. and goes on and on past our closing date!
I am going to sign out again, but hope you all have a great Labour Day weekend, and we hope you will keep us in mind for a Spontaneous Fall trip or next summers vacation. Talk to you soon and Fins Up!! BOB
I really appreciate the comment to the blogs so take a minute and type a reply. Thanks!!

Bob & Gale Go Fishing Too!

I am so excited, I had to throw in a blog for a change myself. We have found a couple of days where we could actually get out on Perrault Lake for some fishing, and it was great. July 23rd we took a trip out on the lake, shore lunch pan in hand, and tried some of our old hot spots. Dispite the heat (mid 90's and sunshine that day) Bob's island produced quite a few bites, a few northern and bass, but we were catching too much "Canada" for our liking that day, so moved on to try some of our old haunts. Grassy Bay produced pretty well, and we caught a couple of nice northern that we put on the stringer for our shore lunch. Then off to try a point that Bob liked just south of Bass Island, where we found a nice walleye honey hole. Between 16 and 20 feet of water we landed two walleyes in short order, one 21" and one 22". Plenty of good hits there. Then it was shorelunch time, and we enjoyed the company of Bill & Marge Bock from McHenry, Ill for lunch. We wanted to pass some fresh walleye on to our parents who can't get out this year to fish, so mission was accomplished today.

Another great day was had on July 29th when Bob took me all the way down to the end of the Ord River, to the rapids that empty in from Ord Lake. I hadn't had a chance to get down there for quite a long time. Such a fantastic ride down the river. Water level is up quite high, so aside from a few rocks to watch out for, it wasn't too bad getting in. We caught quite a few small northern and bass below the falls, and then carried on into Turtle Lake, and then on into Lost Lake. Lost Lake is one of my favorite places, with it's high cliffs.

We spent the day seeing the sites mostly, enjoying the many eagles and loons on the lakes. The water lillies, one of my favorite sites, were in full bloom, and I absorbed as much sunshine as I could handle for the day.

All in all we had a great relaxing day. We weren't trying too hard in the fishing department, but got quite a few we just caught and released during the day.

The guests in camp did very well fishing today as well, catching more than enough to eat, and putting some away for the trip home.

That's my brag of the week. Hope I can get out on the lake again soon!

Bye for now,

Gale

p.s. Still some cottage space left for August & September. If a last minute trip is in the cards, give us a call at 1-800-282-9039, and we'll see if your schedule can fit ours!.

The Heats On, but the fishing is GREAT!!!!

We were in a heat wave last week with 3 days at 95-100 degrees-----NO KIDDING!!!!! The temp was up but the hardy fishermen that went out early and late had good success. The perch fishing has been very good with lots of nice 9-12 inchers (after the cull) being the norm. The walleyes have been in surprisingly shallow water for this time of the year but the mid twenties have produced many larger ones. The northerns have been the most productive with a 43 incher being the largest lately.
This coming week the forecast is for some more warm weather but it is sure better than we had earlier this summer with all the rain.
Make sure you check out our late season specials at http://www.rainbowpoint.com/ if you think you can make a short notice holiday.
We are hard into our bear baiting for the upcoming season but would like the heat to drop a bit as the lack of wind in the bush and the heat is killing us.
The BLUEBERRIES are fantastic this year and we have the INFO on the easy picking.
Please send a comment to the blog just to let me know that someone is reading these things and I will have more drive to update them more often!!!!
Take care and we will talk soon!

OK! OK! I know it's been a while!!!!!

The answer to ALL your questions is YES!! the fishing is still GREAT and the weather has been co-operating fairly well.
The walleyes are in the mid teens in the morning and some of the larger ones can be found in the 20-25 foot range as the sun comes up. We are using everything from jigs and minnows,when you know you have a school grouped up, to spinners tipped with either a minnow leech or crawler. The choice of bait does not seem to be the critical point but the color and presentation still are the main points to remember. CONSTANTLY, my biggest observation of many fishermen (and Gals) is that they are trolling way to fast! If you would slow down your presentation all of a sudden,to your surprise, you may start to catch more walleyes. The second biggest problem is patience, don't leave it at home, as sometimes the fish are not biting and if you work an area for a while you will find that they have just moved a little deeper and may start biting again. Full throttle running from place to place is not the way to fill the stringer. The northern fishing is starting to get"Mid summer good"as the cabbage weed is coming up in some of the deeper bays and the casting of large spoons and spinner baits has seen some beauties caught and released.
The fish flys are just about finished hatching and really had little effect of the numbers of fish being brought in. The perch fishing has been very good with many people spending quite a bit of time cleaning their limits.
Gale will be putting some more of her many pictures on the web page for you to view @ www.rainbowpoint.com . She has been putting in many long days in the store as this is not her lucky year with staff! Life goes on and we are enjoying it so when her free time permits you will see more pics. Please send the pictures that you all promised to send as soon as you get home and we will put them up on the web.
Make sure that you are signed up for the web only specials that we offer from time to time as you never know when a time sensitive special will pop up, and you may have some time to take advantage of it!
Take care and enjoy the summer and if you have the urge we are just a call away 800 282-9039. Til next time. BOB

Had a few minutes for some quick news!!

It's June 18th. and we are into the summer with a splash! We started the summer with drought like conditions and through some pretty steady rains have got the lake back up to what I would call fairly high water levels. Last night we had another major down fall of rain during the 31/2 hour thunderstorm. I noticed this morning that the road seemed awful quiet and I was to learn that the highway between the Lodge and Vermillion Bay was washed out in one spot and that early estimates were that it would take at least 24 hours to repair. The rest of the week looked fairly nice with a small chance of showers but starting to moderate towards the weekend. As you know with weather predictions it could be snowing by then!
The fishing last week was excellent with many large northerns being caught, especially by the Oberers in cabin 9, as they mastered the sucker fishing like pro's. We had some very nice walleyes taken and the perch fishing was nothing short of fabulous. The walleyes are still scattered a bit with nice fish being caught in shallow bays in the early and late times of the day, and also some beauties now being found in 20+ feet of water.
Gale just posted some more pictures on the web site www.rainbowpoint.com if you want to have a look. We would love to be more current with the news and pictures but the day to day running of the resort keeps you going from morning til night and any free time you have, writing a blog is the furthest thing from my mind.
Hope this info helps you keep in touch with the Lodge and reminds you of some great memories in the past and makes you want to create new one's in the future.
Hope to see you all up here sometime soon!!!!! Take care Bob and Gale

Summer's Picking up Speed!!

Hi Everyone: We are getting a reversal with the weather the past few weeks as we have had a BUNCH of very needed rain. The lake level has risen a good foot over the last two weeks but we are still a foot from what I would call normal. As I am writng this (Thurs. afternoon) we are getting more rain (surprise)! We get the odd day that the sun shows it's face and all we can hear is the sound of the Grass Growing!!
For those of you that are coming up this weekend the weather is supposed to moderate quite a bit and the temps are going to be from the high 70's to the 80's. Just to be sure, you may still want to bring your ice fishing clothing and shorts as our weathermen are NO DIFFERENT than yours and have been known to make the ODD mistake in predictions!
We have been getting many pictures that we are starting to load on to our web site @ www.rainbowpoint.com and as we have time in this busy part of the season will be adding more so keep watching.
Our first fish fry of the season last week was a rush to cook as I was trying to beat the oncoming rain. For those of you that have joined us at one you will know that 10 gallons of hot oil combined with rain DOES NOT mix!! This weeks fish fry on Tues. night was picture perfect with all attending and WOW what a spread! We had the usual Rings games going and a few dollars I'm sure changed hands as the players became more????
Gale has sure got the store looking Great and we hope you will take advantage of the discount you will recieve as our guests and check out the items we have to offer.
The fishing for walleyes and northerns is still fairly shallow and I expect this to change in the next few weeks as the weather warms steadily. We will direct you to the fish if you give us a few minutes of your time when you arrive. Minnows and crawlers are the bait of choice at this time but we will soon see leeches come into play as it always does at this time of the year. The large sucker chubs have, and are still producing some monster northerns ( 99% released) and we will only carry them for two more weeks as they are hard to come by after that.
Gale and I hope you have a safe trip up for those of you that are coming up to spend time with us this summer and for those of you that have the urge GIVE US A CALL and we will take care of you. Till next BLOG (soon) BOB and Gale!!!!!

Opening Day WOW!!!!!

What a great opener! On Friday morning the temperature got up to the high 70's and throughout the day we started putting layers on instead of normally taking them off as the day warms up. By the end of the day Fri. the temp. was 35F and when we went down to the dock yesterday morning, Sat. the temp was 24F. with the wind blowing a light snow around. NOTHING like spring in Ontario! All the fishermen put everything on that they owned,and I'm sure even doubled up on the underwear to keep warm, and headed out to catch the first walleye of the season. By lunch time we were seeing some very nice catches of walleye and smelling the unforgetable smell of hot oil and frying fish. I was walking around hoping to get a taste from someone but I guess they were all scared to open the door and offer any for fear of losing any cottage heat!! Today the temperature is a balmy 24F with a forecast high of 45.
I will post some of the pictures of the fish caught this week when we get a hold of the digital pictures from the fellows as they check out. Yesterday there was a 44" Northern and a 38" released out of the same boat on film, along with some beautiful bass and 20+ inch walleyes. I have seen these and the shots are great. I have talked to all the other groups and they are very happy with the first day totals.
The last month has given us great weather with the chance to totally paint all the buildings so I guess this little delay of summer is giving us a chance to slow down and enjoy the surroundings and our guests a bit more.
I've got to get going but will post the pictures a the end of the week at www.rainbowpoint.com for all to see at the end of the week.
Take care and hope to see you up here this summer. Bob and Gale

Fire Under Control

Just a quick update to let everyone know we haven't gone up in flames. With the good work of 4 water bombers, and a couple of helicopters, 30 + ground crew, and a wind the finally slowed up, the fire was brought under control. Today the fire crews that were camped out here packed up, leaving a smaller ground crew to continue on the hot spots. They have been using our boat ramp for the last few days as a good access to fill the pumper trucks for the ground crews to use. It's always an uneasy feeling when things hit close to home, as many of you in the States are finding out these days with all the major storms happening. We hope that none of you that we know from the lodge have been affected by these.

Bob has been busy with his crew painting on the cottages today since we finally got a nice calm day. Got almost half of the buildings painted today, and the rest should go tomorrow. Then comes the trim. Might have to issue a paint brush to each of the 1st guests to finish it off! l.o.l. Next is to get the bait house & docks ready, and finally - getting the boats in the water for you!

Everyone has been busy getting things ship shape for the 1st guests to arrive the Canadian long weekend which is May 19th. (Victoria Day holiday May 21st - Queen Victoria's birthday). About 3/4 of the cottages have had their spring cleaning, and we are busy getting the store up and running for next week.

Sure looking forward to seeing everyone again this summer!

Wish for some rain for us, and till next time,

Bob & Gale.
http://www.rainbowpoint.com

Ice Out 2007

Sorry -- we've been so busy getting the camp in ship shape for the season, we neglected the Blog!

With the help fo heavy winds, the ice on Perrault Lake went out on April 30th this year.

The water level came up slightly with the ice out, but we are still down considerably. Some area lakes are in much worse shape than Perrault. We are able to use our docks at least, where some places have their docks high and dry.

We have had no rain to speak of for a long time, and the forest fire situation is extreme. Yesterday a fire broke out just south of us from a tree hitting a power line. With very high winds to flame the blaze, it quickly spread north-westerly, endangering cottages and a tourist camp on Wabaskang Lake. The water bombers were using Perrault Lake as their pick-up location, and we watched them come directly over camp for about 8 hours yesterday. The fire crews camped out at Rainbow Point Lodge last night, with about 16-18 firefighters, each with their own individual tents. It was quite a sight this morning. They were out on the front line about 6 this morning, and are using our lodge for their refuelling on pumper trucks that working the ground. Let's hope the wind dies down, and they keep this 1st blaze under control.

We'll update you later on the progress of this fire, and try to post up some photos of the bombers when we get time.

Only 12 days till opening of walleye season! Still a couple of cottages available for the 1st 2 weeks of season, so if you are getting the fresh fish urge, give us a call right away!

Till next time,
Gale

Springs Pretty Close!!!!!

Well the winter is pretty close to history and we are getting geared up for the spring fishing guests. The grounds are full of leaves and last of the snow banks will be gone in a day or so.
The ice will hang on for a little longer than the last couple of years but, compared to five or ten years ago it will be gone early. It is very black right now. If the weather continues the way it is now, we should see the ice move out in a couple of weeks.
All the lakes up in N.W. Ont are in drought condition water levels. Perrault is not as bad as some, only down about 2-2 1/2 feet but that is quite a bit considering we normally only fluctuate by a foot or so. We're hoping we get some rain to bring things up, and water down the woods. We're planning some outdoor painting this spring, so that will surely bring on the rain!
We'll be posting some early spring pictures later this weekend, so if you want to see for yourself how things look, go to www.rainbowpoint.com and click on the photo album (06 tab for now).
Hungry for some fresh walleye? Need a break from it all? A trip to the lodge this year may be just you need. If you haven't booked you're trip yet, give us a call toll free (1-800-282-9039) or e-mail us back. We have had a couple of early season cancellations, and still have some later openings, so you're not too late to get in on a great spring or summer vacation.
Opening Day - May 19th! Can't wait!

Late Winter----Spring is NEAR!!!!!!!

Well! : In the last 2 month's we have stayed in more hotel rooms than I want to remember doing the never ending list of Sportshow's that we took on this year. It was sure nice to see all of you at the shows and we appreciate your continued support.
After almost 25 years at Rainbow Point Lodge we still love the job and hope that you continue to appreciate the time and effort we put into your stay with us!
While we were gone to the States for the shows the weather went below the -45 degree mark for a week and a half, and since we have been back it is starting to warm up a bit which makes us feel like we are getting closer to spring. We are doing a little ice fishing and getting our lists of spring projects together to do prior to opening up. When American Idol is the one thing you look forward to each week you know it's time for spring!!!!
We are sure glad that everone is finally understanding the passport information correctly and if you still need clarification go to our web site www.rainbowpoint.com and link to the border crossing information tab. In the short-term, you DO NOT require a passport to cross into Canada by land this year, but will require one for 2008. Kids under the age of 16 will not be required to have a passport.
While you are in the website make sure you sign up for our news letter for our WEB ONLY specials that will come up from time to time. These specials are time limited and need to be taken advantage of immediately and cannot be combined with any other offers.
Without giving away any ideas, to the rest of the reading world, of things that we are doing to improve the quality of your stay lets just say that we are planning some changes to the bait house and are looking at some changes to the Fish Fry to spice it up a bit. Exterior paint will be the big spring job so we are hoping for nice weather.
We also challenge you remember that when you are comparing prices of lodges MAKE SURE you are, above and beyond the price, considering all the service and amenities that we provide in trying to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible!
Remember our mottow : " We always remember you have a choice" and we strive to show you the best vacation for your dollar!
Take Care and Look forward to seeing you!! Boband Gale

Mid show report!

Gale and I just got back from 5 Sport Shows and will be in Des Moines,Omaha and St. Louis starting next week to conclude our early spring show season. We sure loved seeing all of our old guests and had a great time making new contacts as well. We are looking forward to a busy spring and summer and warm weather. For those of you who have not looked at the web site in the past while you can do so at www.rainbowpoint.com Make sure you visit often as there is lots of info and also from time to time some on line only specials if you sign up for the e-mails. Well , got to go but will write another longer one when we return from the last show. Take care and stay warm. Hi: Mel!

Passports at the All Canada Show!!!!!!!!!!

I'm just going to give you a quick paragraph regarding the bare bones of what you need to do to conveniently get your passport at the All Canada Shows that we are attending. Please note that you do NOT need a passport to return to the U.S. by vehicle until Jan. 2008. Do the smart thing and get one now as it is quick and painless, and if you were to travel by, AIR, anywhere, you need one NOW!
You need to bring a Birth Certificate(it has to have a raised seal, embossed, highlighted or multicolored seal) from county or state government (not a hospital document) and your current, valid drivers lisence. A government I.D.,State I.D. or military I.D. may be used for those who do not have a drivers lisence. Cash and check are the only forms of payment the State Dept. will accept. It is my understanding that the fee is $97.00 not including the photo fee done at the All Canada Show of &15.00. It seems very easy to do and I wish our Canadian Gov. made it as easy, so take advantage of this opportunity. Also the passports are good for 10 years (by the way our Canadian ones are only good for 5 years and then we have to do it all over again so the U.S. ones are not a bad deal at all!) If you have any other questions refer to our website at www.rainbowpoint.com for more info, or e-mail us, or better still come and see us at one of the shows. Hope this quick info helps and that you will take advantage of this opportunity not put it in the same pile as your New Years Resolutions, that never get done!! See you soon . Bob&Gale

Hope you all have a Great NEW YEAR!!!!

Well; We hope you all made it through the Christmas and New Year season. Gale and I are looking forward to getting back to normal and preparing for our sportshow season. As a reminder, look at the dates of the shows we are doing this year on our website @ www.rainbowpoint.com and if you are able to come in and see us, please do! We are really getting excited about the upcoming summer and have a few new things up our sleeves that we hope you will take advantage of. This is looking like a real busy year and we see that the travel into Canada is seeing an upsurge as we are all getting used to the new world that we all live in. The best to you all and we hope to see you SOON at a show near you. Take Care Bob&Gale

Dec.?? Already??

It just seems that the Fall ended yesterday and that we have a couple of months till we have to worry about Christmas. WRONG!! Gale and I have been extremely busy for almost two months working on our new brochure, between set up and proofing etc. We hope you like the look of it and that our time was not wasted. We have sent out our new price list and brochure to you all last Tues. and if you are on our mailing list you should have it any time soon. For those of you ,and you know who you are!!, we have now published the rates on line for you to see @ www.rainbowpoint.com .

We are looking forward to having our girls, Karla and Amanda back home from school for Christmas. Gale and I have not quite got the empty nest stuff accepted yet but we are working on it. We are also getting anxious to get on the road after the new year to do the few sportshows that are listed on our home page. We would love to see you at any of them.

The lake has finally frozen over out on the main part just last week. The wind would open it up one day and then freeze over the next for the last few weeks but it's done for good now. The temperature is a balmy -24 C right now and no real warming trend in sight. I hope it warms a little around Christmas as the house gets a little smaller with all the LAWS around if you know what I mean.

I won't take up any more of your time but hope you all are having a great holiday season and are finally getting over Thanksgiving. Give us a call if you want to make a reservation for the New Year or, do as a few have already and, give a trip to a loved one for a present at Christmas. We make up a nice letter and gift box for you, if you want to present it on Chrismas morning!

Make sure you sign up for the online only specials as there may be some stuff coming up in the next little while or in the New Year, you never know.

Take Care until the next burst of writing energy!!!!

Checkin In !!

Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that winter has arrived (at least up here) We have had a couple of snows and the first one dissapeared but this one is here for the duration I am afraid. The bay in front of the Lodge just started to skim over but we are not getting the real below freezing temps. yet to really make her solid.
We just came back from a quick trip out to Prince Edward Island off the east coast of Canada to see Karla for her birthday. She is enrolled in a Culinary School to become a Chef and is really enjoying it and doing well. Amanda our older Daughter is in Winnipeg Manitoba at the University and also doing well.
We have just finalized our new brochure for this year and I think you will like the New updated pictures and we should have them in our hands from the printer in two weeks or so. We will be mailing out the 2007 Price List at that time so look for them in the mail around the end of the month or early Dec. We will also be posting the 2007 Rates on our web site in the near future for you to look at. We have made some small changes to the packages and also put in some early booking discounts that you should take advantage of.
With the two girls gone to school this year Gale will be joining me at a number of sportshows and they are listed on the front page of our web site www.rainbowpoint.com Make sure you take advantage of our website and sign up for the free news letter for online only specials that will occur from time to time. As we get closer to Christmas we will be updating our Blog more often and into the new year while at the shows we will be running regular updates on our web newsletter that will only be seen by signing up.
Gale and I have really enjoyed your support and friendship over the last 24 years and hope that we can continue to find ways to improve and make your stay enjoyable every time you come. Take care for now and we are always looking for interesting things to write about so if you have any questions or comments be sure to let us know. Bye for now Bob&Gale