The ice is out!

Greetings from up north!

Travis and I made it up to Red Lake last week and monitored the ice situation for a few days before boating into the lodge from the back end of Parker Lake.  Everything at camp is up and running!  It was incredible to watch the ice melt off of Red Lake from the point overlooking the lake over the weekend.  I am happy to report that Red Lake is open and the ice is gone.  We are busy launching the barge today and getting fuel and the rest of our supplies out to camp.  We have had some unexpected challenges with our phone and internet and are restricted at the moment to email communication.  Hopefully that will all be taken care of soon!  Once we get that all hooked up we have some pretty incredible footage to share capturing the ice on Red Lake and the progression of it melting from the past few days.

Look for a longer post soon!

Playing it safe

Hey everyone!

Travis and I are taking a mandatory vacation in Windsor, Ontario this week.  What the heck is a mandatory vacation, you ask?  This one came about after we were informed that the Transport Canada rules had been changed, requiring us to have a commercial boating certification to operate the Eagle Falls Lodge barge.  Sounds like a good time, right?  I think Travis and I will start going by "captain" this summer.  We will have our small vessel operator proficiency (SVOP) certificate and our Marine Emergency Duties (MED) course completed.  Rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it?

It has actually been very informative (lets hope we each pass the exam!) and a nice refresher as to how to be more aware and operate a boat safely, improve navigational accuracy, identify various vessels by lights and sound, and collision prevention guidelines.

We just sent in our membership renewal to the Red Lake Safe Water Association this week, as well.  This group of volunteers maintain the buoys on Red Lake, and help to monitor the status of lights, etc., on the water to ensure the safety of all vessels.  This non-profit group provides several navigational aids on the Red Lake - Gullrock Lake system and receives most of its funding through membership.

Here at Eagle Falls, we mark rocks, etc. on Parker Lake each spring ourselves.  In addition, we place more markers within the immediate vicinity to our camp on Red Lake to further mark rocks, logs, shoals, etc.  This is important to protect the individual and the vessel.

So when you are out in the boat this summer having fun, keep in mind all the factors necessary to play it safe!

FYI - 11 days until walleye season opener, and it looks like there will still be ice on Red Lake!  Good thing our first group doesn't arrive until the following week.  Yikes!

Sneak a peek at our new EFL merchandise

Hello everyone!

We are super excited about our new t-shirt and hoodie design for the 2013 season.  Travis encouraged me to let it be a surprise, but I can't!  We are impressed (again!) with the talent and service at Bigfish Screenprinting - a huge shout out to everyone there for exceeding our expectations!  You can visit their website here.  Thank you, thank you!  I hope you like them as much as I do:)

Well, what do you think?  If you weren't counting down the days until you get up to Canada to see us (ahem, I mean fish) then I know the prospect of taking home one of these sweet shirts will make you start for sure!

19 days until walleye season opens! 

How Will Late Ice-Out Affect Fishing?

We're almost certainly looking at a late ice-out date this year for Red Lake.  It's hard to believe we're already past the date of ice-out a year ago (April 15th).  That was a record for earliest ice-out eclipsing the average ice-out date of May 8 by over three weeks.

Hopefully we won't be doing this the first week of the season

Red Lake still has 3 feet of ice with insulating snow on top so we'd be pretty surprised if the ice goes out before May 8th.  The record late ice-out date is May 23rd - that fact courtesy of Dan at Bow Narrows.  We are optimistic the ice will be out by then, but we may have a tight window to get the camp up and running.  So the important question is how will a late ice-out affect fishing? 

I've never fished Red Lake on the heels of a mid to late May ice-out, but my expectation is for fishing to be extremely good.  Northern Pike usually spawn first or when water temps start near 40 degrees.  Walleye begin spawning shortly after when water temperatures reach 40 degrees and continue until temps hit the mid 40s.  The smaller males will move shallow first followed by larger females. 

The length of light in the day also can affect spawning times, but the spawn could be pushed back to later in May due to the colder spring weather.  This means we may find Walleye and Northern Pike in very shallow water with healthy appetites especially compared to the early ice outs we've experienced lately.  My other cold water experience would suggest trying smaller baits and slower retrieves.  We'll try pitching jigs near the warmest shorelines in shallow bays and provide a report as soon as we can next month.



Whatcha reading?

Hello to all!

We just had a truly beautiful spring weekend here in Illinois, and boy were we due for one!  Days like yesterday make me so happy to have a porch swing to read on and enjoy the sunshine.

For those of you who know me, I hope my book nerdy-ness hasn't been too blatantly obvious.  I LOVE all things reading and books, and despite how crazy busy we can be in the summer up at Eagle Falls Lodge I still manage to read a fair number of books throughout the summer.  For other bibliophiles headed up to see us, you should know that we have some very interesting books at the lodge for guests to enjoy.  Travis loves books as well, especially history and locally relavant books.  He has been able to build a small collection of books regarding the Red Lake area and northwest Ontario.  Many of them have to do with the float plane industry and the very first expeditions of the area decades ago spurred by gold prospectors, trappers, and traders.

The titles shown above are (from top to bottom):

• Red Lake: Golden Treasure Chest - by Michael Barnes
• Alter and Throne - by Ed Zaruk
• Gold Mining Spurs Air Transportation in Canada, 1926-1936 - by Donald F. Parrott
• Vintage Aircraft in Canada - by Walter Henry
• North for Gold: the Red Lake Gold Rush of 1926 - by Ruth Weber Russell
• Harold Farrington Pioneer Bush Pilot - by D. F. Parrott
• Ghost Towns of Ontario: Volume 2 - by Ron Brown
• Northwestern Ontario Backroad Mapbook: Outdoor Recreational Guide - by Russell Mussio, Trent Ernst, and Wesley Mussio
• The End of the Road: A History of the Red Lake District - by John Richthammer 

One of our dear friends (who is a super amazing librarian!) was able to track down a fairly rare book for Travis that was written by a Red Lake high school student several years ago cataloging a detailed history of the town, titled The End of the Road (listed above).  The book is no longer in print and the local library doesn't even have a copy!  Travis was blown away.  Such a cool piece of history that we hope you all take a look at during your next trip up to Eagle Falls.

Check out the bearded guy on the left.  Look familiar?  That's Bob Aiken, former owner and operator of Eagle Falls Lodge.  His family was included in The End of the Road book.

It might be worth it to look at some of these books either before or during your visit.  They can help paint a much better picture as to what life was and is like in the area.

Until I am able to get back up to the deck overlooking Parker lake our Illinois porch swing will have to do.  Cosmo has been wanting to get outside more as well.  We let him out the front door where he quickly plops down in the grass to sunbathe.  He then looks at us like, "Please, can't I just stay out here?".  Soon, pup, soon.  We are all getting very ready to head up north.  The fresh air and freedom has become a vital part of what spring and summer means to all three of us.

Have a great week!

Carrie

Game Changer?

We just finished our last sports show of the season in Minneapolis.  Thanks to everyone that stopped by to visit!  The Northwest Sports Show is huge and it's always fun seeing guests and getting the chance to chat with other lodge owners and fishing vendors.  After talking to some folks in the Rapala booth, one of the lures we're most excited about trying is the new Rapala series of lures called Scatter Raps. 

According the Rapala rep these lures are going to be game changers.  We obviously haven't had the chance to try them out yet since they just went on sale in March, but the demonstrations we saw were pretty intriguing.  The lures feature the same bodies as many favorites in the Rapala line like the countdown, minnow, and shad.  They are available is several existing colors and some new colors as well.  The difference is a cupped "Scatter Lip" that is wider than the original lure versions. 

The wider curved lip causes the lure to imitate an erratic baitfish and it looked great seeing it run through a tank.  You can still control the lure to some extent by varying the speed of your retrieve.  A slow retrieve will cause the Scatter Rap to run straight, but a speed increase will cause it to dart to the left or right and trigger bites.

We picked up a couple different kinds to try and will report on them after we get a chance to try them this spring.  They retail for $8.99 and should be available wherever Rapala lures are sold.   

Greetings from the Great White North!

Well sorta....

We are heading into our second day of the Northwest Sports Show in downtown Minneapolis, MN at the convention center today and it is FREEZING!  They still have loads of snow up here and my run this morning greeted me with a chilly  -3 degrees.  At least the sun is shining!

We are very excited to be back at this show.  It runs through Sunday, is very well attended, and if you can't find what your looking for at this huge outdoors event you most definitely don't need it and it may not even exist.

For all our readers and guests from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area- we would love to see you!  We are booth number 1248, and as always, we have maple creme cookies to share.

The hours of the show are :

Friday 3/22: 11am - 9pm
Saturday 3/23: 10am - 9pm
Sunday 3/24: 10am - 5pm

You can find more details about the event on the show website.

Crossing the Border with Kids

We know many of you are already working on travel plans for your upcoming trip this summer. There’s plenty to think about when preparing for your trip so we thought it would be a good idea to outline the requirements for crossing the border with kids.

Children ages 16 and up require passports or passport cards. As a reminder the fees for first time applicants are $135 for a passport book or $55 for a passport card. The difference is the passport card is only accepted for LAND travel into Canada and Mexico. This would be an acceptable option for your trip as long as you are not flying. You can find more passport information here http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. The current processing times are posted as 4-6 weeks. You can cut the time down to 2-3 weeks by paying a $60 expedite fee so it is well worth planning ahead.

For children under 16, passports are not required although you can purchase one. Minor passport costs are $105 for the book or $40 for the card, but are only good for five years instead of ten. As an alternative you can provide a certified copy of the child’s original birth certificate. An important note here is the long form or official state document with seal is required. Frequently, the short form or copy you receive from the hospital is not acceptable for identification. For more information about the correct form and how to obtain one, visit this site http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/birthcert.htm. The original birth certificate is also required to obtain a passport so if you don’t have it, you will need it at some point anyway.

The last requirement for minors under age 16 travelling with only 1 parent or adults other than parents or guardians is a notarized letter from the absent parent or parents granting permission for the child to travel to Canada with the appropriate parties during your travel dates. This is simply a protection to cut down on kidnapping cases. The letter should also include contact information for the absent parent or guardian. Divorced parents should also have a copy of custody papers. We have never had a guest turned away for not having this letter, but several have been scolded and reminded of its necessity.

As long as you plan ahead and gather the necessary documents (passport or birth certificate + permission letter) crossing the border with kids is not a hassle and you’ll be helping to create memories that will last a lifetime for your child!

Iowa Sports Show

Hello everyone!

We are headed out of town at the end of this week to attend the Mid-Iowa Bass Masters' annual event in Des Moines, Iowa.

It is a Saturday/Sunday only show and it takes place at the Iowa state fair grounds.  This is a great event for finding bargain tackle and equipment as well as getting valuable information about fishing in the midwest.  You can find more details about the Mid-Iowa Bass Masters and the event on their website here.

FYI:  There is another great event taking place at the state fair grounds this weekend - a huge arts and crafts show hosted by Callahan Promotions.  It is in the building next to our show and is definitely worth checking out.  A great option if you are bringing a friend/family member/significant other who may have more interest in arts and crafts than fishing!  You can find more details on the Iowa state fairgrounds website here.

If you plan to attend, please stop by our table to say hi and grab a delicious maple creme cookie!  We hope to see some familiar faces...

See you this weekend,
Carrie

Can I bring that?

Happy weekend everyone!

We have had a few questions recently regarding what you can and cannot bring into Canada from the United States.  So, being the nice folks we are, we thought we would try and cover the basics here on the blog.

Below we have listed the most commonly asked about items which you may have considered while planning your trip to Eagle Falls Lodge.  Each amount listed is the limit for taking into Canada duty free:

1. Alcoholic beverages -you are allowed to import only one of the following amounts (per person):
    - 1 case of beer
    - 1.5 liters of wine
    - 1.14 liters of liquor

2. Tobacco products (per person):
    - 200 cigarettes
    - 50 cigars
    - AND 200 grams of tobacco

3. Live bait - you can bring night-crawlers into Canada as long as they are in artificial bedding or newspaper.  You may NOT bring live minnows or leeches.

4. Firearms and other weapons - NOT ALLOWED.  We are a fishing lodge only, therefore no hunting weapons or firearms of any kind are allowed at the Canadian border.

5. Food, plant, and animal related products - Please go to this link for up-to-date regulations regarding various products and limits.  NOTE: Our package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the duration of your stay; any food you choose to bring would be for travel time or snacks, etc.

The Canada Border Services Agency provides a lot of helpful information on their website, which you can visit here.  On the main home page they have a link on the left side specifically for non-residents, so far that applies to ALL our guests.  Still waiting for our first Canadian angler!  

For returning guests, what type of questions did you have before you crossed the border the first time?  Let us know if we left something out!

Take care,
Carrie