Eagle Falls Lodge Art

I hope everyone is having a lovely Easter weekend.  The weather continues to be ridiculously beautiful here in Central Illinois.  I wanted to share some of the art that we have received since taking over the camp in 2009, all gifts from our beloved guests!  I'd like to think that I am someone who appreciates painting and photography and I love having these beautiful AND original pieces of art to show off in our home.

This first picture is of some note-cards that our super close/life-saving/adventure-seeker/makes ANYTHING fun-friend Mary-Jane Owen had made as a Christmas gift.  We are almost out (ah-hem...please give us more, Mary-Jane) and they have really come in handy for thank-you cards, etc.  She took both of these pictures while at the lodge - aren't they fun?

These next two prints were given to us by a first-time guest last summer named Stephen Gorman.  He painted while at the lodge and kept the original watercolors, but sent us very nice quality prints of his paintings showcasing both views of Parker Lake.

When my grandma came up to the lodge in 2010 she took a bunch of pictures to show everyone back in Missouri.  Our relative, Mary A. Shepherd Davies, does watercolor paintings and painted this next piece from a picture my grandma showed her after the trip.  She painted several, and Travis and I got to pick out which watercolor we wanted to have matted and framed.  What a fun present!

This next photograph is our most recent addition to the Eagle Falls Lodge art collection and was given to us by Jeff Zwieg.  He does some professional photography and always has amazing pictures to share each summer after his trip to the lodge.  He even made the frame just for me!  If you look closely at the top he included a view of the camp from the lake as well.

Finally, we have another watercolor painted for us by a very close family friend who traveled all the way from Rhode Island last summer.  Leslie Bostrom is an artist by trade and I was lucky enough to grow up in a house with Bostrom paintings.  We have not done this piece justice and still need to have it framed nicely.  However it is hanging in a position where Cosmo can see it, so he gets a little Eagle Falls Lodge fix during the winter months.  Yeah, we don't baby him AT ALL.

Impressive, right?  We may need to open a small gallery where these can be properly displayed.  We truly do love having them in our home, it makes us feel closer to Red Lake year-round, and it is always fun to show new people what the lodge is like.

Take care,
Carrie

ps.  We leave in 4 weeks!

Eagle Falls Lodge founders

While Carrie and I were in Milwaukee for the sports show in March we had the pleasure of visiting with Walt and Millie Rundle, the founders of Eagle Falls Lodge.  They had the foresight to build the lodge on the unique piece of property between Parker Lake and Red Lake.  The first group was hosted at Eagle Falls Lodge in 1985.  While the lodge has undergone many positive changes over the years we think it still retains the charm created by the Rundles starting in the 1980s.

My first trip to the lodge in 1995 was hosted by Nick and Wendy Mateja, but the Rundles still provided transportation to the lodge at that time on their houseboat.  I have always known them to be great storytellers and this trip was no different.  Walt & Millie both reminisced about their time at Eagle Falls Lodge and their lodge careers prior to that including time spent building Black Bear Lodge in the 1960s.

We certainly have it easier at the camp today thanks to the hard work of the Rundles, Matejas, & Aikens.  It is difficult to imagine building a camp from scratch in the 1960s or 1980s primarily with hand tools, hard work, and plenty of sweat.  Thankfully that's what the Rundles did and we are fortunate to enjoy the fruits of their labor over 25 years later at Eagle Falls Lodge.    

Buster's BBQ

Looking for a pit stop on the way to Red Lake?  Carrie and I have a new favorite - Buster's BBQ located in Vermilion Bay, Ontario.  The restaurant is located on Highway 17 about a mile west of the turnoff for Highway 105 to Red Lake.

My family turned us onto the place after stopping there in 2009 on a trip to the lodge.  They brought us a couple bottles of the now famous Blueberry BBQ Sauce and we were hooked!  If you're thinking that sounds familiar, you're right.  We use and serve the sauce with some of our meals at the lodge.

Buster's boasts an array of BBQ awards including several from the prestigious American Royal BBQ contest.  Growing up in Kansas City, I can tell you that is DEFINITELY a big deal.  The assortment of hardware, plaques, and award certificates in the restaurant is impressive, but don't leave it to the awards.  Go judge for yourself!

Whether you're a fan of smoked ribs, brisket, chicken, or pork you'll find something delicious.  They also serve an assortment of burgers, wraps, and salads.  Carrie and I stopped on the trip home last fall and we can definitely vouch for the Chopped Pork Sandwich and the Brisket Sandwich.  Our only regret is the restaurant isn't closer to Red Lake since we only have the opportunity to eat there twice a year.  For those of you passing through Vermilion Bay on Saturday mornings en route to catch The Barge out to the lodge, you'll be interested to know that Buster's also serves breakfast.  While we can't vouch for the breakfast, if the food is anything close to their lunch it will be well worth your trip.

Give Buster's a try this summer and let us know what we need to order on our trip south next fall.

The sauce picture is courtesy of Buster's website which you can check out here www.bustersbbq.com

Northern Pike Retrieval Patterns

There is plenty of material out there on catching Northern Pike.  Much of it advocates an erratic retrieve to attract the attention of fish in the area.  I won't disagree with the experts.  An erratic retrieve certainly draws fish in, but also leads to a poor hookup percentage especially when fishing topwater lures.

Watching a 40+" Northern boil, swirl, or hurdle your lure is pretty exciting.  An erratic retrieve may have drawn that fish to your lure, but also caused it to miss its target.  Many guests comment on the poor aim of these fish.  One thing to remember is that the eyes of a Northern Pike are essentially on the top of its head, especially on bigger fish.  So when they open those giant jaws to strike at your lure, their vision is temporarily gone since it is blocked by their massive open mouth.  The fish is aiming at the last place they saw the lure and an erratic retrieve will put your bait out of position for a direct hit.

Try a steady retrieve and watch the number of misses drop.  Don't focus so much on either a fast or slow retrieve as that can depend on a number of factors including weather, lake conditions, lure type.  Just concentrate on a steady pattern even if it involves some tricks such as a pause.  You will improve your hookup success if you can find a rhythm that produces strikes.  Crank-pause-crank or a similar rhythm replicated over and over will likely yield more fish than seeing how fast you can crank your reel or popping your rod so erratically that your fishing partner thinks you've gone spastic.  Give it a try this summer and see what you think!

We survived Milwaukee!

Hello everyone!

We got back last night from our big Milwaukee adventure and I thought I would share some photos from our trip.  However, I must share a quick side story from the trip home first.

Travis and I drove separately (an unfortunate circumstance of his work schedule) and we split off near the end of our journey so he could pick up Cosmo while I headed on to the house.  We are spoiled because Cosmo gets to stay at Travis' parents house whenever we are traveling out of town - which Cosmo REALLY loves.  I arrive at the house at 10:30ish very excited to be home at a somewhat decent hour.  Right about the time I turn off the car I remember that Travis has the house key.  Oops.  I figure he is maybe only 20 minutes behind me so I unload my stuff, put it by the door, and sit on the porch swing (which I love) and swing away.  Well, over an hour goes by and there is no sign of Travis.  You are probably wondering why I didn't just call him when I realized I was locked out.  That would require my husband to have charged his phone prior to our journey home.  His cell phone is long dead, while I am swinging away on our porch.  Did I mention that it started raining?  Anyway they finally show up and I ask if something happened to them (in other words: where the heck were ya?)  Turns out he got a nice 30-45 minute visit in at his parents before he headed home.  He is just as curious as to why I am standing in the driveway while its raining at almost midnight.  Good grief.  Makes us excited to be at the lodge - where its next to impossible to be locked out, but very possible to be standing in the rain at midnight.  Can't wait!

Anyway, our trip was really great and the Milwaukee Sports Show was very well attended while we were there.  I started off the show by myself on Wednesday and Thursday (with some help of our loving guests) and Travis joined me Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Black Bear Lodge was also at the show and Jillian rocked her booth alone for all 5 days!  She is a trooper.  I think her husband, Jim, and Travis would definitely agree that we represent the better half of our respective ventures.

We had several guests from the Milwaukee area stop by our booth during the show - which was awesome!  It is so great to see everyone and we appreciate you sharing all the reasons why you have made Eagle Falls Lodge your fishing destination.  Below are some photos we took with guests during the show.

We probably owe Andy and Jeff (pictured below) a special shout out for all of their assistance at the show.  They stayed until the bitter end while we packed up the Eagle Falls Lodge mobile, which was parked on the Milwaukee Mile race track (kinda cool, right?)  We sure do appreciate their help and all of the kindness shown by other guests while we were at the show.  It was a lot of fun to talk shop and think about the upcoming summer.

PS.  We leave in approximately 52 days!! How long until YOUR trip?

Sports Show Season Update

Hello everyone!

Last weekend Travis and I traveled to Des Moines, IA to attend the Mid-Iowa Bass Masters Swap Meet.  This is a fun 2 day show where we are one of the few lodges being promoted; it is a smaller show exhibitor wise, but gets a TON of traffic.

We also got to catch up with some of our Iowa guests and visit some of Travis' family local to the area.

Our friends Mary-Jane and Travis Owen came to help out as well, AND we had surprise visitors.  A group of guys from Sedalia, MO drove up for the weekend just to see us!  How cool is that!

We basically sat back while all of our guests pitched the lodge to everyone at the show.  We couldn't ask for more loyal and kind people that we have come to think of as our lodge family.  Talk about persuasive advertising - having people at the booth to tell prospective customers how great our lodge is and why they keep coming back year after year is awesome.  A big thank you to everyone who has come to visit us at the shows this year and in the past.

We will be at the Milwaukee Sports Show March 7-11, located at the Wisconsin Expo Center.  You can find more details about the show on their website here.  We would love to see any of our guests from the area while we are at the show.

A quick reminder to returning guests who have yet to send in deposits, please do so to secure your week with us at Eagle Falls Lodge this summer.  For new guests, we have some openings left - don't hesitate to email us or call Travis at (417) 522-3163.

Take care,
Carrie

Fishing Traveler Reviews

Thanks to everyone who posted reviews for us at fishingtraveler.com.  This site offers reviews, photos, and stories about the best fishing lodges in Ontario & Quebec.  These reviews are a valuable tool for prospective guests considering a Canadian fishing trip.  If you haven't posted a review, please take a couple minutes to do so.  We certainly appreciate it!  Here is the direct link to our page:

http://fishingtraveler.com/eagle-falls-lodge-fishing-trip-information-and-reviews/

Portaging at Eagle Falls Lodge

I am blown away by how beautiful the wilderness is in Canada.  The infinite beds of moss and rock.  The trees so tall, so green, and aged.  The wildlife that roams its lakes and woods.  It amazes me how wonderful it is at Eagle Falls Lodge.  The two lakes on either side of the Lodge are both fantastic fisheries offering trophy Walleye and Northern Pike.  I've always caught a lot of fish out of both and big fish too.  It's great to be able to pick Red Lake or Parker Lake and just walk out, get in a boat, and go fishing.  I prefer to take a path less traveled by fishermen, though.  A path that consists of not just travel by water but instead an arduous journey over a mixture of both water and land.  It provides a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.  An excursion of epic proportions is always well worth the trouble, sweat, and memories.  I am talking about portaging.

In my many years of going to Eagle Falls only recently have I fallen in love with the idea of portaging.  There is nothing more thrilling than waking up early and working hard to get yourself into a lake that few to none have fished.  I'm all about fishing on Red Lake and Parker Lake, but I'm even more excited to get into the lakes and streams that surround them. I've portaged canoes and I've portaged boats. One is lighter than the other but one is also more comfortable. I'll let you guess which is which.

In any case it takes a certain level of courage to jaunt into the vast Canadian wilderness with whatever vessel you so choose along with your fishing gear. When I pack for a portage I put all my essentials in a waterproof dry sack. The essentials include a flashlight, rain gear, toilet paper, food, water, compass, camera, and a tackle box equipped with my favorite things.  There is one other thing you should also make sure to have.  A portage pal is most definitely necessary.  Try to choose someone that is strong, knowledgeable, knows directions, and is genuinely as excited as you to make the trek with you.  It is important that you have someone to go with as they will help you lift the vessel and gear.  They also offer motivational support, good conversation, and can be a very helpful if you get into some fish.  Having a two person team is vital to a successful portage.  If you are thinking about having more people join your portage may I suggest you portage a boat into a lake not far from Red Lake.

The lake is called Coin Lake and is found off the east end of St.Pauls Bay on Red Lake.  Coin Lake has a lot of good sized Walleye and Northern in it.  I have often gone there when the fishing on Red Lake seems to be slow or just to try my luck.  There is a creek flowing from Coin Lake into Red Lake which provides a good route into Coin.  Recently the beavers have built a large dam across the stream so it is much more difficult than in years past to get into the lake.  Though it still presents a viable option for a portage into an amazing fishery.

One must remember that if they are to embark on a portage they must make time and plan accordingly. I missed dinner once on a portage with Mary-Jane after we crossed 7 bogs and found a road in the deep wilderness surrounding Parker Lake.  I learned my lesson and made a promise to myself to plan my portages with utmost precision from that day on.  It was a good experience that taught me the importance of a portage pal.  I've experienced my fair share of portages and I hope to continue making memories in the unknown and less fished lakes that surround Eagle Falls Lodge.  I have always practiced catch and release from lakes that I have portaged into and will continue to do so.  It is also fun to be able to write your name on the catch and release board with a lake that no one has seen before.  I know not everyone has portaging on their agenda, but for me portaging is one of the foremost parts of my trip to Eagle Falls Lodge.

Guest Bloggers

We wanted to add some additional perspectives to our blog so in the near future you will be able to read posts written by my brother Carson and sister Whitney.  Carson has been a guest at Eagle Falls Lodge for the past 10 years and Whitney has been a guest for the past 15 years.  Both enjoy fishing, exploring, and keeping track of their catches as much as I do.  Hope you enjoy!

Carrie's Culinary Championship

Carrie put her culinary skills to the test this past weekend and ended up winning the Bloomington Chocolate Challenge.  She was awarded 1st place in the amateur division for her dish - Pistachio Chocolate Baklava.  I can attest it does, in fact, taste as good as it looks.  I cannot say whether or not this dish will make an appearance this summer.  It is fairly labor intensive so I suppose you'll have to wait and see.











I should also probably admit I tried to temper her expectations after observing & tasting many other terrific entries.  She certainly showed me.  That's why it's important to never doubt the chef, she knows what she is doing.