That’s a Wrap!

It’s said often, but really, “where does the time go?”

Fishing under a rainbow at Southwest Lake

To say our summer, 2026 flew by is an understatement.

We said farewell to our final guests of the season a few days ago. It’s always a bittersweet inflection point; feeling blessed for a safe and successful summer season, thankful for the wonderful memories made, eager to tackle the closings and some camp updates and improvements, and filled with anticipation of future seasons to come.

Since our last update, the second half of summer was marked with great times, dry and warm weather, and monster fish.

I don’t believe that I have seen such a huge swing in water levels – going from a near record high this spring, to marked lows currently. Water surface temps. ran warm, but with significant stratification – dropping 10 degrees or more in just a few feet. Temps. have remained relatively warm, but are sure to drop precipitously with fall weather on the way soon.

Full sized pike at West Lake

Weed growth was slow to develop with our late, cold spring, but caught up by mid-late July.

The mayfly hatch was sporadic and didn’t have a notable effect on fishing – definitely not on the biblical scale it can be some years.

Guests relied on a lot of old, faithful presentations including jigs and plastics, crankbaits, and crawler harnesses to put up some impressive numbers and sizes of walleyes. Spoons, swimbaits, and rooster / bucktails where the dominant big pike lures.

The days are getting noticeably shorter which has led to some spectacular stargazing and northern lights viewing. We’re starting to see some hints of yellow in the birch trees also.

And the mosquitos are all but gone. They seemed to be in step with the water levels through the summer – some of the biggest hatches I have seen up here early in the summer and slowly dwindling ever since. They won’t be missed.

Fat fish!

We had many, many current and former guests reach out regarding the forest fires in Ontario and northern Minnesota during July and into August. Thankfully these were all far away from our locations. Folks’ concern was heartwarming, however, and it was a good excuse to be in touch with some guests we hadn’t talked to in a long while. Our hearts certainly go out to those businesses, individuals, and communities that were impacted.

Maria, pilot Paul, and I have another week or two to spend on the above-mentioned projects. It’s a busy time, but it’s nice not to have hard set pace and deadlines as often is the case with the openings. A little extra effort this time of year goes a long way towards smooth openings next spring, so we’ll be sure to get things taken care of properly and look to depart when the time is right. We usually get to sneak in a few days of fishing ourselves, and a final fish fry or two also. It always gets the gears turning with anticipation of next summer – something to look forward to for certain.

Dandy walleye...

Speaking of, our 2027 calendar is filling up quickly! If you have thoughts about a trip to Big Hook for next summer, please reach out asap for the best possible availability. We’ll be counting down the days and weeks with you.

Our most sincere thanks to all that joined us for our 2026 season! We’ll hope to see all of you in 2027!!

Smiles all around!

Whirlwind...

July?... what happened to May and June?...

To say that the start to our 2027 season has been a whirlwind would be an understatement.

A harsh winter and slow-to-warm spring led the ice to linger at camp far longer than normal, and far, far longer than myself and our first week guests would have liked.

Finally enough open water to land!

In a typical year, the ice gives way to open water in the first or second week of May. We usually plan to arrive on May 15 and that gives up a solid week or more before our first guests arrive.

Not this year.

Lots of back and forths with groups who were supposed to be our opening week guests finally led to forced cancellations for the whole week of 5/24 – 5/31.  

Maria was making daily flights over camp and we finally got a window on Wednesday, 5/27 when there was enough open water in front of camp to get ourselves in.

A Superior Airways Otter was only a few hours behind us. But, in the meantime, ice to the south had drifted into our “runway” and required me to deploy our ice breaker: the SS. 1986 Lund Garbage Boat.

The strategy worked, and Maria, myself, and new pilot, Paul, along with 2000 lbs of supplies were all in camp by late afternoon on 5/27.

Easy enough to tip them back up, the door 
repairs were another story...

The next week’s guests were all still green lit for a Sunday flight in. This left us with 4 camps to open in 3.5 days.

The openings, albeit rushed, were otherwise unremarkable. Things weathered the winter in good fashion. There was just one exception: Apparently a bear decided to forage in the cabin at Southwest for a final meal before his winter’s nap late last fall, or broke in in a fit of rage and hunger pangs early this spring, and got into arguments with several items in the cabin in his journey. He ripped out every screen in the building, knocked over and ripped the doors off the fridges and freezers, then chewed through aerosol cans of bug repellent and oven cleaner. Thankfully those must not have tasted great and he left what was remaining of the cabin alone.

Lake levels were incredibly high to start the season. Obviously water temps were COLD.

Everything fishing behavior-wise has seemed to be about 10-14 days behind "normal" . Guests through about June 12 were finding still milting / egg laden and then post-spawn walleyes. The action was a little slow as the fish had other things in mind, but those wrapped up with the spawn congregated near any moving water in great numbers, as the high water swept down all sorts of forage. Some big pike were found co-mingling with the walleye and some whitefish too. 

To be fair and descript: the Big Hook definition of "a little slow" was 2419 fish for a group of 6 June 7 - 14. But that is down from their recent trips here. 

Contrary to what one might expect, many early season guests were saying fish were most responsive to BIGGER presentations. Using 4-5” tails was secret for some.

A few notable lures that produced: last week’s group at West Lake caught a 44” pike on the trusty yellow and red “5 of Diamonds”. A group previous to them at West boated a 27” walleye on a slightly modified, and no longer produced lime green Erie Dearie. And a mid-June group at South boated 20walleyes over 26” all on 1/4oz jigs tailed with Powerbait Ripple Shads.

As of writing the fish seem to be finally catching up, grouping up, and moving to humps and submerged boulders.

Weeds and grasses are beginning to develop, but still fairly stunted for early July.

Mayflies are yet to make and appearance, but mosquitos sure have. Guests with an upcoming trip are urged to take any and all mosquito measures possible.

We’re so excited to be in the full swing of things up here and settle in a little (finally).

A happy Canada Day to all those north of the border and happy 4^th of July for all of those south!

Good times and good fishing to everyone, R.