Sizzling end to August Fishing and start to Black Bear Hunts

I see Bob hasn't kept up very well with our regular blogs this year, and I know many of you are not on Facebook so miss my regular posts and photos.    So… here is another short update for you.

August has ended with sizzling hot temperatures much to the surprise of everyone.  Two solid weeks of temps in the 90's and a fair amount of humidity greeted the late summer fishermen and the 1st couple of weeks of bear hunters as well.  Good for some, not so good for others.  Overall though, the heat didn't seem to bother the fish or the bears very much.

Guests have been getting great action on the walleyes and smallmouth very close to camp.  1st and 2nd bay have been old standbys, as well as the bay right in front of camp.  Trolling and jigging have both been working well, so it's just been a fisherman's preference.  Crawlers & leeches seem to be best currently.  The shallower waters of 15-17 feet have been very good, with more eater size fish in those depths.  When the guys have fished a bit deeper just off the drop-offs, they have gotten some substantial sized walleyes.  Largest this past week was 28", and many in the 22-26 inch range.
 Smallmouth have been nuts in the rocks.  Northern action has been steady with most catches in the nice eater range of 22-27 inch range, but several have been landed upwards to 38" in the last couple of weeks.  Muskie are starting to get more active as well, so the fishermen coming up over the next few weeks should have plenty to keep them busy.

The bear baits have been very active, and the hunters are doing very well so far. Amazing with that extreme heat.  The hunters were pretty warm in the tree stands, and of course the bugs haven't slowed down yet.  Patience has paid of for many of the hunters.  Largest bear so far was about 340.  Have 2 ladies in this week, and both of them have harvested a bear.
Way to go ladies!   2 more weeks of bear hunts to go, and plenty of great areas yet to be hunted.

The loons are starting to gather in the main lake with groups of 50 or more.  That's a sure sign of the season changing.    

I have been getting photos up on our web album, so check them out when you get a chance.  Maybe your picture is in there too!  Lots more to upload, thanks to so many of you who have shared their pics.

OK OK I'm finally writing something ! !

  This has been a very busy summer, which is all good, and with the standard weather related issues, not a bad one! We are just over the hump in our fishing season and it has been quite a good in all respects for plenty of action. The walleyes have been the number one fish of interest and we have had dozens apon dozens of 28-32 inch fish, photographed and released, and I think it has to go down as one of the top three years for large fish caught and released. The northern fishing is just coming on stron right now with the cabbage weed at it's full potential. The bass are always strong and lots of fun on light tackle. Keep an eye on our web page and look at the photo album for updated pictures.
 Yesterday a guest and good friend of mine, Mike Baumann, checked in to his cabin, and the first thing he said was, where the Hell is the Blog>> then he said Hi good to see you!! This is the reason that I am sitting in the house on a Sunday afternoon doing this. I noticed that on my way up here to write this Blog, I passed his cottage, and he was sitting in a lawn chair with an adult beverage watching his deep fryer full of fish cook!! I bet that I don't get a taste.
  On a more serious side. Gale and I would like to Thank all of you for supporting us this and every year, and we really enjoy the positive comments that we receive online and during the week.
  Next year we are going to be Celebrating our 30th. year of owning and operating Rainbow Point Lodge and we are already thinking of some things that we will be doing each week to celebrate the occasion. It has been an enjoyable 30 years and we look forward to many more, doing what we like to do.
 I will let you go as I am going to see if there is any fish left at the Baumann's cottage, but check out and "LIKE US" on our Rainbow Point Lodge facebook page that Gale looks after as She does a much better job of posting pictures and STUFF, than I do.

Take Care from the Lodge and, we hope to see you again, and maybe for the first time!!!


BOB and GALE

2013 Opening Weekend Fishing on Perrault Lake

Just a few days of fishing in so far here at Rainbow Point Lodge on Perrault Lake for the 2013 fishing season.  NOTHING SHORT OF FANTASTIC!!   Having the ice out was nail biter, but Saturday afternoon our guests were able to get out on Perrault Lake and were not disappointed.  Saturday saw calm winds, overcast skies, but not rainy until evening.  Couldn't ask for much nicer for an opener weekend.  Chuck Hartman from Fort Meyers  FL caught and  released a 31" walleye AND a 30" walleye on Sunday  - talk about his lucky day!  


Ken Sharlein from Arkdale, Wisconsin also released a 31+ incher,  and James Dean from Winnipeg released another 30 incher. 

This doesn't mention the big northerns that are aggressive as always in the spring time, giving all the anglers a run for their money!  Huge perch also being caught.   Thanks to all of the guests for releasing all of these bigger fish to make sure that the fishery here on Perrault remains as great as it for future generations.  This is especially important in a year like this when the spring is so late.  We all want the fish to have a chance for a successful spawn.   Walleyes  are biting really light, so the best success has been with the guys using 1/8 oz jigs with minnows, and letting them take the line for awhile.    Not much time to post, but I know many of you are dying to get some news, so here it was.   Will post more as I have time!  

Still some openings for the next couple of weeks of season, so if you have a few days to spare and you think a fishing trip is long overdue, give us a shout, and we'll see where we can fit you in!

Pictures from Beautiful, Icy Perrault Lake

After a mixed weather bag of a day, cold, warm, rain, wind, sun… we were treated to some fantastic sights.

Right after a thunder storm went through, we had an amazing ice fog roll quickly over the bay.  Bob posted several pictures on our Facebook Page.  If you are not on Facebook, I've added one his shots here for you too.

Then we just had another evening shower go through, and this fabulous rainbow showed up.. It was a double, but I wasn't quick enough. Think the end of the Rainbow is on the best fishing spot on opening day?  The groups coming this weekend will get to find out!

Anxious to see the changes in the lake ice after the winds tonight.   I took a quick trip to Dryden for business earlier today, and by the time I came back, Eagle Lake, Cliff Lake & Trail Lake were open.  Cedar looked to be starting to open up, and our bay on Perrault Lake is looking very close.  It's been quite a few years since we've had ice go out right at opening weekend, and it looks like "maybe??" that is what we might see.  We'll keep you posted!

Ice Prediction

It's 7:00 and we just got in  from working ALL day and this will be a quick comment as we are making supper for everyone. Today started out with new ice on the bay  but it will be gone before the weekend. We put a boat in the water today just to check the ice and, all that is open is 50 feet from the shore, from the rapids to the bait house dock. We ran the boat up on the ice and it held us, but with the warmer weather predicted this week it should soften up quickly. The main lake is always the last to go out in the area and it will be close to the opener. I will give you an update later in the week. If the weather holds out the fishing should be awesome come ice out. Keep an eye on the Blog for further comments.  BOB

Opening weekend Ice situation!

This picture was taken from Cabin 4's point, looking south! This is what it used to look like 25+ years ago before we all got soft with the Global Warming stuff! To make an educated guess at this point would be a mistake but check the Blog later on the weekend. It's going to be close but we need temps a bit warmer than what we are getting along with a nice stiff breeze.
  Keep the fingers crossed and wish us luck with the other stuff like getting water going through the frozen ground and the sewer running and the boats dug out of the snow, etc. etc. etc.
  Talk to you on the weekend.   BOB

I think the WINTER weather is moderating!

  Well:    There sure has been a lot of crumby weather in the mid States and central Canada, but it looks like the weather is moderating a bit so that must mean that spring is coming!! If you have not made your reservations for the summer, now is the time to get them nailed down. We have a few weeks that have waiting lists right now and many more that are close to being full. This is a bit earlier than recent memory, which is a good thing for us, but don't wait until the last minute or you may miss out.
  Our Bear hunts are completely full for this season and our Moose hunts are booked for this season and next! If you still want to do an archery moose hunt in the next few years, get on the waiting list for cancellations etc. Make sure you get in touch with me by next fall to book your 2014 bear hunts early so you can get the week you want without being disappointed.
  Gale and I are still down in the Keys and I HATE to tell you this, as everyone has a hand shaped like a snow shovel handle, and mine is shaped like a beer bottle and fishing rod end (not in that order!) We are actually getting anxious to get back home and start the long list of spring start up jobs, but we can hold out for a little while longer!
  We know that all of our guests enjoy our fish fry very much, and it's a highlight for many.  We also know that we have been doing them for 29 years running, and wonder about a fun way to spice it up. This is where you come in.. We're looking for ideas from all of you. My suggestion was to bring your loudest Hawaiian or Caribbean shirt or dress and we can come up with some sort of prize for best dressed couple or single etc.?? That will mean that i will have to play more Jimmy Buffet music but it seems to go over fairly well as it is. I am seriously looking for ideas "now" so we can get the word out and have a little out of the ordinary fun on Tues. night!  Drop us a note or comment on this blog with your suggestions, and we'll see what we come up with!
  We just got off the phone with "Shorty", who is looking after our house etc. while we are gone, and he said the temperature in the last few days has just gotten above the freezing mark as high during the day. It is going to be a normal spring like we used to see with the ice going out in May instead of April as it has the last few years. I still believe that the global warming phenomena is a fact and who know's what will happen in the foreseeable future.
Rest assured SPRING is coming and will be here before you know it!!!! Take Care till next time.


BOB  AND  GALE

Canadian Super Bowl Contest Winner Denied Entry To U.S. Because He Smoked Pot In 1981

We all have heard the horror stories of US citizens being denied entry into Canada for DUI's and old minor offences in the past, and the Canadian government has made some changes to make these ridiculous incidences less frequent thanks to a huge lobby from the tourism sectors.   Thought I'd pass on this article about how the border can work the other way so you don't think it's just on the Canadian side.  Guess both countries have a long way to go to make border crossing regulations reasonable.

Super Bowl Contest Winner Denied Entry to U.S. Because he Smoked Pot in 1981
A Canadian man who beat out four million competitors to win a fantasy football league’s grand prize of tickets to last night’s Super Bowl was stopped at the border and denied entry because U.S. customs officials discovered he had a minor pot possession conviction on his record from 1981.

New Years Hello!

Hello everyone! Well, we made it through the Christmas season unscratched and through the New Years party ( I haven't stayed up till 3AM in a long time) We went to some friends for the evening and enjoyed the fireworks in the neighbourhood from a roof top deck. I must tell you we were in the Keys and it was 75 degrees :))

On the serious side Gale and I wish you all a Very Happy New Year and hope that a visit to Rainbow is in your plans. We are looking forward to the opening day of fishing as we always do but in the meantime are getting ready to go to Green Bay for the one sport show we are doing, on the 24th. - 27th. of Jan. If you are in the area, or want to bring some friends in to meet us, come on in we would be glad to see you.

By now you have all received our new price list and have had the opportunity to read our Christmas note on the web page. If you have not go to www.rainbowpoint.com. We will be doing all of our Christmas and other promotional information by email from now on so if you don't have your email address with us or would like a hard copy mailed to you just let us know.

Some of the summer weeks are full or near full, so if you know your vacation schedule, give us a shout soon so you know you'll have your week scheduled in.

We have been doing a little fishing of our own down here and so far Gale has me beat in the Big fish category. I must say that someone has to run the boat, reel in the other lines and gaff the fish and guide to the perfect spot etc. so she can accomplish the fish catching prowess that she keeps telling me about. With the big buck she got last fall, and the fishing luck she is having I will probably just hang up my guiding licence. This is a picture of Gales black fin tuna and a wahoo that she caught within 20 minutes of each other.   We enjoy getting our fishing fix in down south since we don't get much time to fish while we are keeping the Lodge running in the summer.    The fish are tasty of course, but you know, nothing beats a fresh Canadian Walleye fish fry!

Happy New Year!

This 4th of July fireworks photo taken of the beach, docks and fish cleaning house at Rainbow Point Lodge last summer looks like it could be a New Year's Celebration.  Beautiful photo taken by Dean Lauritzen.   Thanks for sending it to us!     This picture makes all of us long for the beautiful days of summer on Perrault Lake!

Hope all of you have a Very Happy New Year!   Look forward to seeing you in 2013!

White Christmas? and New Photos!

Well, there is no question about it..  There will be a white Christmas at Rainbow Point Lodge.  The lake is frozen over, and about 6" of snow covers the ground at this point.   Sounds like most of you in the mid-west and central states may have to import some of the white stuff!

We have just popped a quick note in the mail to people on our guest list with some current information, and will be sending out a new e-mail newsletter in the next few days to our subscribers.  Keep in the loop of what's new at the Lodge through a subscription to the e-newsletter.

I have been working hard to get our current web photo album up and running, and hope that you check it out.  We have some great photos there from in and around the lodge from last summer.  Some fantastic wildlife photos, fishing, scenery, and of course fantastic Perrault Lake sunsets!   Maybe you're picture is in there?!  Feel free to tag yourself or comment.    Visit the album!

Have fun with your holiday preparations, and we'll be in touch!

The Lodge is closed for the Winter!1

  I am writing this letter a bit later than usual but our last 2012 guest just departed on Sat. last. The group was doing a bit of fall grouse hunting and some fall fishing for Northern and Smallies. The weather this fall has been pretty standard, for up here, with a few weeks above normal temps. and the last few with freezing temps. over night and mid 40's as a high.
  I could do the usual thing and tell you about the big fish that were caught this summer but I won't say any more than if you were here, you had a fantastic time, and if you missed it, you better get up here next year!!  Seriously, the fishing was as usual , excellent, and the winter letter we send out will have some of the notable pictures in it. You can also go to the website anytime and look at the photo gallery and see for yourself some of the summer action. We are just in the process of updating the last of the fishing pics. and entering the vast number of guest pictures that we received.
  I just finished draining the last cabin yesterday and the motors are all winterized and ready to start next spring. Gale has her store shut down, cabins cleaned and buttoned up, and is already doing some ordering for next year. I wish you could just pull a plug and it would all be winterized but we know it takes a couple of weeks to get it right or you pay for it in the spring.
  Gale just came back from a quick trip to Manitoba to help her Brothers and families celebrate her Parents 60th. anniversary. I couldn't go as someone had to be at the Lodge, but they had a great time. We are also going to her Parents at Christmas time to celebrate her Dad's 90th. birthday. His birthday is the 24th. of Dec.  I always wonder what that was like as a kid, did you double up on the gifts or did you get slighted a bit???  Just a thought!
  We are starting to pack for our trip south and will keep you up to date on our fishing adventures and will post a few pictures without snow for you to look at. Not trying to make a point just saying I don't miss the snow shovel one bit!
  We will be talking to you more regularly as we have a bit more free computer time. Keep an eye on the web page for new and exciting things that are in the works. www.rainbowpoint,com 

Thanks to all and have a Great Fall!   BOB & GALE

Trophy Northern and Muskie rule the fall

Just thought I'd share a couple of pics from a group that stayed with us last week.   They were targeting strictly northern & muskie.  During the week they  landed nearly a hundred northern pike, and only a couple of these would be considered hammer handle.   Many were in the 35-40" plus size range.  

The gang also reported catching several good size muskies, and told us they had the biggest muskie they have ever seen follow up their lure.  

 These guys have fished our waters for 20 years, and are very happy with the quality of fishing that continues to be found on Perrault Lake, and will be back next year to do it all over again.   Many more fishermen enjoying the trophy northern and muskie fishing this week.  Don't miss great trophy action late fall.

Blue Moon over Perrault Lake

Just a quick post so you know we are still out there.  It has been a busy fall here at Rainbow Point, and finding time to keep up on posts is tricky.  We are just winding down our bear hunt today, with great success.  I'll let Bob do his own message on that one.   Moose hunt starts on Sunday.

My post today is sharing a time I had on the lake August 31st during the full moon.  It was a picture perfect evening, with the sunset on one side of me and the full blue moon rising on the other side.   Not a ripple on the water, and not a sound aside from the odd splash from a bait fish on the water, a loon calling, or a bird in the distance.

 Thought some of you might want to experience it with me.

http://youtu.be/AvsjmJZiuBs

Late summer fishing lodge review!

Triple catch by Patterson Family in July

    I have taken a lot of "Flak" lately about my blogging consistency!! I make no excuses, we have been busy and writing is not one of my top priorities but, what do you know, I'm here now. Gale and I have had one of the busiest and enjoyable summers we can remember in recent years. The weather and the fishing have kept spirits high and what more can you ask for.

  A quick run down on the fishing is in order. The walleyes have been very co-operative this summer and as of now are in the 18-25 foot range off a lot of the drops and edges. Many of the mid lake humps are producing nice catches and the size has been excellent. The average walleye is easily the 16-20 inch range with many high 20's and a few released in the 32" class. The other walleye fishery that many people over look is the weed walleyes. We are getting some nice catches reported in the 9-14 foot range and surprisingly on hot calm days! Go figure! The bait of choice seems to be a tie between the leech and the crawler, but don't leave the dock without a few minnows as they are sometimes the deal maker. My favourite method of fishing is trolling a little joe with a minnow but jigging this time of year is also a very effective method.

Steffen Family releasing Perrault Lake Northern

The northerns have been very consistent with lots of 25-30 inch fish to fill in the mid day casting itch. The largest caught and released so far this year was a 43 incher two weeks ago. Almost any top water bait and large spoons cast into the cabbage will do the trick. The bass fishing has been great as usual and the perch fishing has also given us lots to clean.
  George and I have been busy lately out bear baiting and the season looks like a good one.
The only thing we really have to contend with is the blue berry crop that is coming on strong. Some of the crop is small but we have found some patches that are blue as far as you can see. If you ask politely I will show you how to get there.

Black Bear sighted around Perrault Falls
Photo by Jordan Steffen

Gale planted her usual garden and I think it's on steroids. She is going to need a ladder to pick some of the things in it. The one problem is that everything is ripening at the same time, so we have to eat healthy for quite a while. Salads aren't my cup of tea three meals a day!

 I know I promised a web cam this summer and we have had it sitting in the box with the router at the dock for two month's. Due to internet issues it will be another few weeks before it's running (I know it's the end of the summer!) but we will try it out and get some feed back.

 I'm going to sign off but We Thank-you for all your support and we live by our Moto..
 "We Always Remember You Have a Choice" and we hope it will continue to be Rainbow!!

Talk to you soon    BOB and  GALE

Great Photos… Great Fishing…Great Family Times at Rainbow Point Lodge

I just had to take a second to share some pictures a few of our groups from last week shared with us.

Charlie, Gary and Max Triple Slam

This was the 2nd visit from the Meyer family from Wisconsin, and they have had great luck fishing both years.  You may recognize them from our photo album from last year too.

Gary Meyer released this 40" northern pike on Perrault Lake!

Besides the bass and walleye, we are seeing or hearing about a lot of big northern and musky being caught.  Perch are also turning on.

Young Grace and her brother Roger and parents have spent their vacations here at Rainbow Point Lodge for 8 years now. 

Grace Grube's walleye poses for pic

 Cheryl and her extended family have been regulars for nearly 20 years.

Cheryl Prazak with a nice catch

All of these catches represent the kind of great action that our guests were having on Perrault Lake last week, and are continuing to have this week!   (28" walleye yesterday caught by Cheryl Gardebrecht).  Great action all around!It's always great seeing our repeat guests year after year, and to see the kids grow up and enjoy fishing and vacationing with their families.

I'm working on a new album for 2012 guest photos, so will let you know when it is up!  In the meantime, wish you were here!! Maybe these photos will tempt you to make a trip up before the summer is done!

Have a great week…  Drop us a line or visit us on FACEBOOK for regular updates!

Gale

Just a quick note to let you know I have put up a new link on our FAQ's page of our website.  One of the upcoming guests called the other day with a few questions, and I thought it was a good idea to put more information out there for all of you to make your planning easier.   The link on the FAQ page  has a comprehensive list of things you should remember about your trip to Rainbow Point Lodge.  Info on border crossing, lodge services, driving instructions, and much more.  Take a sec to read it if you are planning a trip up to Canada!
Hope to see you soon!
Gale

Grabbed a couple of minutes!!

How is everyone doing this spring? Gale and I are having one of the busiest springs we can remember and that is a" Good " thing. The season started slow but we are in full tilt fishing mode as I write. The fishing has been great and they are showing up in some of the strangest places due to the early ice out and warmer water temperatures.
  Last week the walleyes were in 4-12 feet of water and feeding on the mayfly larve that comes out of the mud on the bottom. This made the fish of all sizes easy to access and they were hitting just about any live bait you would troll by them. Some people said crawlers, others minnows, and also the leech contingent. The largest one I saw was 30" and there were many in the 23-28 inch bracket. Just about 100% were photographed and released, some of which are on our Facebook Page, and many will be put into a new photo album coming soon on the website.  www.rainbowpoint.com

  The rain came down last week and we had 6 inches of rain by Wed. Just by accident Gale knocked over the gauge one day and broke it , so I don't know how much we got after that! I kind of think she might have given it a kick instead of the accident story she tells me.
  I forgot to mention the northern fishing during the past week was real good also with a 40" being the weeks largest C&R. The bass are everywhere, and for the best fight pound for pound in the lake, you must take advantage of it if you haven't in the past. The perch are coming into the weeds as they grow taller and the catches are starting to get real nice. We had a couple of 13's and a 12 in one catch and the average seems to be around the 10" mark. This fishery only gets better as the summer goes on. The numbers of perch seems to be increasing and I think it is due to the possession limits that were implemented a few years ago.
  We are still trying to get our live web cam hooked up and hope to have it in use in a couple of weeks. You will be able to use this feature by going to our webpage and clicking on the webcam link. Our first trial camera will be hooked up a the main dock bait house, with a view of the dock, bay and down the lake, and we hope to have another one put up after we work the kinks out of the first one. The slow process of getting it up and running is not because of the equipment availability, it is trying to get the proper technician here to install the stuff as that is not my expertise!
  I am going to get going now but will try to keep up on a any notable news down the line. Try and make it up this summer if you can and if not keep us in your vacation plans for next year. Take Care and will talk with you later.   BOB & GALE

Early Season Fishing at Rainbow Point Lodge

Can't believe it's already June 8th.  We have already had 3 weeks of camp guests this season, and it's been so busy we have neglected the Blog.  Sorry guys! (& gals)

Bob and his gang had a very busy spring re-building a couple of the docks…then the never ending "honey do" lists from me for misc. cottage repairs.  My gang of staff have been great helping me with all the cleaning and prep to get the cottages just perfect for the 1st guests.  I'm sure many of you will notice the improvements all around camp as you drive into the lodge this year.  Always something to change up to keep things interesting.

The opening week of fishing saw great weather for awhile, then fiercely cold and windy weather too, so a typical May opener I guess.  The fishing was nothing short of outstanding for smallmouth bass opening week which is really kind of odd.  The best smallie fishing that most guests have ever had.  Northern were also very active.  Walleye were smaller, but plentiful opening week, so it was apparent they were still in their post spawn rest period.   Fish were scattered throughout the lake, from the Ord right up to the bay in front of the lodge.  

The 2nd week of season saw really chilly weather, which even included a morning snow flurry one day.  Everybody still went fishing, and it was great that some of the best fishing was just in the bay near camp, and into 1st & 2nd bay.  More action in the walleyes, with more larger fish being reported to have been caught (& released).   The bass & northern still continue to be aggressive

The 3rd week had unbelievable summer weather, with temps daily into the low 80's + and little or no wind.  Everybody had a great time this week in above normal temperatures, sunshine, and great fishing.  Amazing to hear how everyone was actually SEEING the walleye schools swimming in the shallows.  26" walleye I believe was the biggest caught this week, with many fish being caught and released in the low and mid 20" range; 14" perch, lots of bass, and I mean LOTS.  Again the smallmouth seemed to create the most excitement, with one guest commenting that they were nearly jumping in the boat.  Great fun for all!   Regulars had to find new fishing holes since the water temp was up in the 60's instead of the usual 50's or less, but it didn't take long to get into some action.   A soggy day at Perrault Falls today to end off the week, with  2" of rain so far, and a bit more forecast for over night.  Nice to have a rain to dampen down the forests and bring up the lake level after that hot stretch. Should be clear for the new group of guests arriving tomorrow.   I've got a few pictures shared from the guests, but haven't got them uploaded to this computer yet, so watch for some pictures in the next few days when I get caught up.  

Big day tomorrow, so I'll sign off, but either Bob or myself will update you again soon!  If you really wanted to follow us more often, I am keeping the Facebook page up with short posts more often.  "Like us" on Facebook or through our website link, and you'll be able to keep in the loop!

Gale

Quick spring update

Unseasonably cool temperatures have been the norm for the last couple of weeks. Making up for getting so warm so early I guess.   Still sunny, and we are getting lots of work done around the lodge.  Don't want to charge up the water lines just yet though.  Forecast for well below freezing again tonight.

Some of the staff will start up next week, so the bigger projects will be under way.  Have a couple of new staff members coming on board this year, so all you regulars will have some newbies to break in!

Just thought I'd share a couple of pictures taken last week around camp.  So calm and quiet this time of year.   Look forward to seeing you all soon!

Shore line near cottage #11

Looking out from the point

Spring has been here already!!!

  Everyone knows it has been a crazy winter and even more so up north at the Lodge. Gale and I got home a few days ago and found out that the Lake had been completely clear of ice for a week. There is also no snow under the trees or any frost in the ground!  NOW, I know everyone has a story to tell on this topic but since this is my Blog you will have to listen to mine. Let's put this all into perspective, 25-30 years ago when we bought the Lodge we regularly called our opening week guests about the ice situation and sometimes had to cancel the opening week because you could not get out on the Lake (that's the 3rd. week in May), 6 weeks from now!!! The last 10 years or so the ice has regularly been out around the last of Apr. to the first week in May, and I found that a bit concerning. This year may be an anomaly but it sure does make me think that we might be able to plant real palms in a few years besides the lighted ones we have on our deck!!  We will wait and see what happens next winter.
  We still have two days left until ice fishing is legally over and we might put a boat in and see if we can get a walleye dinner this weekend, go figure.
  I had the airplane running the other day and am going to push it into the water, (from it's winter shoreline resting place) , next week and this again will be the earliest I have ever flown on the water in 40 years!
  Enough about the weather!  We are really quite impressed at the way our reservations are looking as the past 5-6 years has been hard on all of us. It sure is nice to have our MANY regular long time guests continue to support us. The in flux of many new guests to the Lodge is also a sign of the economy turning around slowly and that our advertising in many markets is getting the word out. We again thank everyone for the Great "word of mouth" and that also is a deal maker with many new guest possibilities. That's it for the "Mushy Stuff", but it's necessary and appreciated!
  I have to show you a couple of pictures of Gale's different fish she caught in our boat 2 weeks ago down south. She sure showed me up, but someone had to tie on the bait, run the boat, get to the hot spot, clean the fish, clean the boat, and take the pictures-----Right??

Well, that's it for now and I will do another update in the next few weeks with some Lodge pictures and news about new projects. We also have availability the first and second week of the season, with special pricing so if, last minute is your name, call us and come on up!!!!  For now take Care.  BOB and Gale

Border Crossing - Your DUI and what you should know

There is finally some movement on the side of the Canadian Government in recognizing that some of the border inadmissibility rules were far too stringent and were a detriment to tourism in our country.  This was particularly the case for people with a single DUI or minor offence in the past.   Bob took part in a meeting with selected tourist lodge owners and government officials recently to hear about, and discuss TRP (Temporary Resident Permits" and border crossing in general.  

Here is a recent announcement from the office of our Member of Parliament, Greg Rickford

                                         "Tourism Facility Action Plan (TFAP)

• Our Government is committed to facilitating the travel of legitimate visitors to Canada, while protecting the health, safety, and security of Canadians.

·       We are also committed to promoting economic benefits to Canada, such as an increase in trade and tourism with our trade partners.

·       That is why we are introducing the Tourism Facilitation Action Plan, to ensure that those who want to visit Canada, and are approved by CIC and CBSA, can more easily visit our country.

Two part plan:

1)     Visa application centres (VAC)

2)     Discretion on Issuance of TRPs and fees

a.     Public Policy on Minor Criminal Inadmissibility

b.     Transit without a Visa Program

VACs

·       Visa Application Centres are an innovative network of third party visa offices that provide timely visas for those interested in visiting Canada.

·       VACs are run by private companies and international organizations, consequently, they are able to operate efficiently and respond to market demands. New centres open where market demand is high and in areas convenient to individuals applying.

• CIC currently has 60 VACs in 41 countries.  Under the new global VAC model, our government will expand this network to up to 150 VACs by 2014.

·       This is another example of our government’s innovative approach to efficiency, cost-saving measures, and promoting Canada as a tourist destination.

Discretion on Issuance of TRPs and Fees

·       This public policy initiative will provide the CBSA with some discretion in waiving the fee for a Temporary Residency Permit in cases that are warranted.

Minor Criminality

·       Many tourists are stopped and denied entry at our borders because they are deemed inadmissible for having a minor criminal offense on their record. Often, these are outdated misdemeanours or minor infractions that took place decades ago.

·       Particularly, US citizens trying to enter Canada for a family vacation or fishing trip are being turned away.

·       It is a dubious and intrusive rule, and the current process for those refused is overly burdensome and requires substantial supporting documents and records that are not easily available. This rule results in millions of dollars in lost revenue from would-be tourists and has a negative bilateral effect.

·       That is why we have created this public policy option for a one-time exemption to facilitate entry for individuals in this circumstance. Those who meet the security and criminality criteria will then be permitted to enter Canada as tourists.

Transit without a Visa Program

·       Some foreign travellers, due to unforeseen travel circumstances, find themselves in Canada without proper visiting documents. These individuals will no longer be forced to pay the $200 fee for a Temporary Resident Permit.

·       This applies for those who transit in Canada on their way to another country, and those who arrive on an aircraft that is forced to land in Canada under emergency-related circumstances."

We'll update as we find out more.  If you have an issue that makes you concerned about regarding your admissibility to Canada, feel free to drop us a line or phone call and we'll do our best to either answer your questions, or get you off in the right direction for someone who can.  

Full details of this Special Public Policy will be available on the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website on March 1st.  

www.cic.gc.ca .