adempsey

You can't post that without also including the "Ballad of Bilbo Baggins"!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04

I think if you shop there regularly enough, the worst case is you will break even. I am not sure how much you will save though, it really depends on your shopping habits and what you purchase. Maybe if you have a big family or if you are looking at some big ticket items like TV, computer, flooring, tires it might make it more worth while. I believe they have a good warranty for things like TVs as well.

I've been considering that reel for the past few days. Did the store have many left? Figured I would check out the spring show first.

Does anyone recall if the daily specials at BPS during the spring classic at the Vaughan location are the same as those in the US locations? The website doesn't contain them for the Vaughan location yet, but all the US ones are there. Just curious. Good price on Trilene XT [edit: sorry it's XL, not XT] and Terminator spinnerbaits if it's the same.

Cheers.

You should consider going a bit further to Algonquin Park or up to Temagami or Lady Evelyn =). I'd say it's worth the extra few hours drive.

Besides the crown land, there areparks on Rice, Balsam, Buckhorn, Pigeon and Stoney as well.

Wow, that's a tough one. I spent a lot of time research my last ice fishing trip and never saw anything that even comes close to resembling what you are looking for. I think your best bet is to check out the family day events in Orillia and the Kawarthas. I found this article about a 2-day Hut Hop event on Rice Lake.

Here are some other events going on.

Unfortunately, I didn't see much else. Somewhat surprised and disappointed. Probably a missed opportunity for many communities.

The only other thing I can think of is staying at a resort and hiring a separate guide service. Rice lake comes to mind again, but I have never ice fished there and have no clue if anyone guides there. Simcoe has a bunch of possibilities as well.

Good luck!!

Am I the only one that finds it odd that he claims to have no enemies, but yet has hi-tech security cameras at his house? Maybe that's normal out in the rural areas, I have no idea, but I found that strange.

I can agree with defending himself, his family and property, but I find it hard to believe this is just random violence.

Check out Elmhirst Resorton Rice Lake. They have nice large cottages and rent boats. It's one of the only cottage type places that has fishing my wife will actually go to.

Although, I don't know how close to shopping it is, but Peterborough isn't that far off.

Rice lake is loaded with bass. It has musky, but I haven't seen that many, although the ones I have seen were quite large. I'd say it's not as good as the other Kawartha Lakes for musky fishing, but there are definitely spots to try for them.

Thanks, Mike!! I'll start checking them out when I have a bit of time later today

If you end up having any interest in Happy Day or O'Sullivans I highly recommend calling them ASAP. They book up really fast.

If you're going east to the 400 on the 401 you'll be passing near JB's. I'd take a browse there first. Has decent prices. Although, the store is probably a mess since the Spring Fishing and Boating Show is coming up in two weeks. Actually, you might want to just go to that to find a rod if you can.

Never been to that camp. Have some places you can check out that I marked when I was doing some research. Can't really offer much information since I have not been to them. Many were recommendations from various internet forums though.

These are all in the Chapleau region and I think may meet your financial requirements depending on how and if they discount for children.

http://www.chapleaulodge.com/

http://www.kanipahow.com/

http://www.fivemilelake.com

http://www.bigbearcamp.ca/

http://www.horwoodoutpost.com/

http://www.moosehorn.net

http://www.duenorth.net/prairiebeecamps/

http://www.murraylake.net/index.html

Don't overlook Quebec either. Lots of great fishing to be had up there. I might be headed there for my annual trip this year.

I am working hard to visit as many places as I can, but haven't gotten very far yet. So, hopefully this helps you a bit even if I couldn't offer any first hand experience.

Cheers!

I just discovered that both Horwood Lake Lodge and Camp Lochalsh are on the market. Too bad I don't have half a million $ laying around

Anyone have any opinions [or experiences] on whether or not this has any impact on staying there, good or bad??? I would hate to be at a lodge when it's in the middle of transition.

I picked up two as well. Good price for the amount of light output.

Thanks again for the tip, I wouldn't have even knew about it without your post.

Cheers,

FL

In my area Walmart scaled back A LOT on their fishing sections. Some are non-existent now. I nabbed some good clearance deals because of it too!

Canadian Tires have expanded their selection in my area too. Their prices are very high though and the only time I purchase anything is if I can't find that particular size/color of lure anywhere else. Although, I just picked up a bunch of stuff on clearance at my local CT, which is always nice!

I was also recently told they have done away with any of the unlimited bandwidth packages from all ISPs and now they are required to set maximum limits. Seems to me like the big telecomms have far too much influence on the CRTC.

I put teflon tape on all my jars this season. So far so good.

Nice, was looking for a new flashlight. I saw one today that was going for $349!! Not sure who would need that, but wow....

Camp Localsh is great, Wabatong is a big beautiful lake, but it's not inexpensive.

Even taking the train in it's pretty much on par with the cost of a fly in.

 

The other camps on the lake aren't overly cheap either.

 

Horwood is good. My very inexperienced sister in law and brother in law went last June and had a great time.

 

In the Chapleau area I'd check out Happy Day Lodge on Windermere Lake. It may be difficult to find an opening though as they're always booked:

 

http://www.happydaylodge.com/

 

In the Bisco area check out Ray's camp on Ramsey lake. Getting there entails a boat ride down Biscotasing lake, then overland via tractor and cart to the lodge. Great walleye fishing there.

 

http://www.rayscamps.com/

 

As an alternative if you want to pm me I can give you 3 great options for outpost camps on excellent walleye lakes that are accessed by water, atv, or a combination of both (in all cases the outfitter gets you and yours in and out of the camp).

Thanks for the information Solo.

I did read your previous posts regarding Horwood. I like the idea of going to Wabatongushi, but not the idea of the long gravel road. Not sure if I would train it in or not....might as well just fly. I suppose I am still not 100% on not flying, but I am trying to make some compromises. We went to a fly in lodge last year so I figured I would let my brother pick more of what he wanted in a camp.

I have read a bunch about Happy Day Lodge and I actually tried to get a week there last August but it was booked. I think the idea of hearing a train go by all night kinda turned me off of it for this trip [at least, I think that is the lodge unless I have mixed it up with another], but I did read the fishing was quite good there. I also prefer a Saturday to Saturday trip...I always feel like I will miss out of it's only Saturday to Friday.

I looked at Rays Camps previously as well (in addition to the similar camp on Bisco I think?). I was really intrigued with his approach. However, I thought the fishing was only average there? I better take another look at it because the camp looked quite nice. I think I met the owner Justin at one of the shows a couple of years ago. Nice chap.

I would love to go to a more remote outpost camp, but I just don't think that holds as much interest to the others in my group. You recommended one to me previously and I actually tried to book a week at the main lodge last year, but I lost out at the last minute. I think I need to join a fishing club or something because if I don't I have a feeling I will never be able to hit those outpost camps!

Thanks again!

FL

I've been to Borden Lk, Chapleau Lodge and I wouldn't recomend it, nice lodge, cabins and staff but tough fishing, spoke to some guys who had been going there for years and they said it's only getting tougher, that was about 5 years ago

 

If Paquettes on Wangoon Lk is also known as Como Lk, I'd give it a thumbs down too

 

I'm not familiar with the other places but have always wanted to try Wabatongushi and Horwood, there is a fly-in lodge on Wabatongushi, that's a good sign

 

for trips like this, I like larger lakes with limited access like Horwood and Waba

Thanks Chris. I think I read some info from a previous post from you regarding Borden Lake. Como Lake is actually a larger lake just north of Wangoon Lake. Wangoon is closer to HWY 101.

I also prefer as remote as I can get. Harder to do when you're going to a drive to camp [and you also have to hit those logging roads, blech]. I think Horwood is at the top of the list so far.

Although we are heavy into ice fishing season, it's becoming time to book my summer week fishing vacation and was hoping some of you would be able to provide some feedback on the following lodges and/or lakes:

Cedar Ridge Lodge on Burt Lake near Kirkland Lake

Four Seasons Guiding on Big Pine Lake near Chapleau/Wawa

Horwood Outpost and Horwood Lake Lodge on Horwood Lake near Timmins/Foleyet

Chapleau Lodge on Borden Lake near Chapleau

Northern Woods Lodge on Long Lake near Wawa/Thunderbay

Paquettes Camp on Wangoon Lake near Chapleau

Loch Island Lodge/Camp Lochlash on Wabataongushi Lake near Wawa

Normandy Lodge on Kabenung Lake near Wawa

Although I prefer a fly-in, I have to stick with a drive-to housekeeping lodge for various reasons.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Cheers!!

Corvette1 I noticed on the Luenbergers site you need to provide your own life jacket and boat safety kit. This seems very odd on a fly in.Did you have to supply these items?

That would be for their outpost camps, I am pretty sure it would not be required if you stayed at the lodge.

These are the places I would check out if I had $2k to spend:

http://www.hawk-lake.com/index.htm

http://www.leuenberger.ca/landing.html

http://www.birchislandresort.com/rates

http://www.kesagami.com/

http://www.liddles.com/

http://www.esnagami.com/default.asp

Haven't been to any of them though, but want to go to all of them. There are probably plenty more.

One of my other favorite spots is on Lady Evelyn Lake. Several boat to lodges that are all good:

http://www.garden-island.com/

http://www.island10.com/

http://www.redpinelodge.com/

Good luck!

Try the Kawartha Anglers board.

Symetre for $80? Wish I could find them for that....

I have been using Abu Garcia 101's and 301's for the past couple of seasons and have no complaints. I don't fish in a hut and only get out about 8-10 times a season. I just picked up a Daiwa Regal Xia to try this year (the Abu Garcia's the store had in stock were "acting funny").

You should look into the Tica Cetus reels. Although, I can't say I have ever owned one, people rave about them for ice fishing all the time. The Pflueger Trion and the Shimano Sienna also seem popular. Personally I didn't like the feel of the Sienna, so I went with the Daiwa.

Good luck!

I am not sure if you're looking for fishing+family vacation or not [i will assume you are since you posted in these forums], but I went up to Red Pine Lodge on Lake Ivanhoe near Timmins last summer for a fishing trip. Although it's somewhat remote, it was not what I expected since it was a huge trailer park with cottages - so, not my first choice for a true fishing getaway. That being said, I thought it would be a great place for a family if you also wanted to do some fishing. They have cottages along the lake in front of a really large beach. Probably the nicest I have seen at any fishing destination I have ever been too. The cottages along the lake look nice, but I stayed in an older cottage that was in the centre of the trailer park - ugh.. so I can't really comment on them. Most of the lake is in Ivanhoe provincial park and there is a river flowing out of the lake that is damned up that you can walk to and fish or just take a look. The lake itself is beautiful and is quite unique from my experiences. At the south end the lake "turns into a river" (it's actually still the lake, but it looks like a small river that goes on forever). Very pristine and the fishing is good. This is the only other lake I have ever caught true Jumbo perch.

Of the other family+fishing type places I have been to, there are some on Rice Lake that are nice, although they tend to be lacking in the beach department. Rice lake is great for kids since it's loaded with panfish. Rent a pontoon boat and take them panfishing, lots of fun and they are out of the sun and not in a cramped boat. I typically stay at Musky Bay Resort or Elmhirst's Resort. I have been to several others, but these two are my preference - Musky Bay is the best value I have seen anywhere to date, while Elmhirst's is "fancier" and has an indoor and outdoor pool [kinda expensive though]. Elmhirst's also has a kids program so you can get some free time with your wife [or to fish, lol]. I am not sure if your children would be old enough though, you would have to check.

I thought the beach+cottages at Pleasant Cove in Pointe Au Baril were nice. They also had a kids program. I'd also read the tripadvisor reviews for some additional info.

I have also stayed at some of the nicer places in the Muskokas - Red Leaves, Taboo. They are really nice too, but a little more difficult [or too expensive IMO] to get out in a boat fishing (unless you own your own). My daughter really liked Red Leaves. They have several indoor/outdoor pools and many other amenities/activities. It's a really nice place, although I don't remember how much it costs. Great if you like to golf too. There are other really nice family oriented typeresorts like this as well like Deerhurst, Grandview, Rocky Crest, Clevelands House, Severn.

Anyway, I'd highly recommend a place with: a pool, a beach, kids program and OTHER KIDS. Having other children around for your kids to play with is a nice bonus.

Also, I agree with the above post that they would be happy on any beach or swimming pool. Heck, even staying in a hotel was fun for me as a kid. There are a lot of places in Niagara Falls that they would love as well.