O.K.,O.K. I know it has been over a month but I had my 50th so I slacked off. There has been alot going on here at Forrest Lodge. First things first, the bite on Caribou remains as solid as ever. Walleyes are hitting in all the usual spots, just rig up with a jig and rubber tail and sweeten it up with live bait of your choice. The artificial stuff that comes in a bucket of liquid scent has been working well. Stick with the chartreuse color or the natural minnow color and just use a small piece on your 1/4 oz jig. This is the time of year to fish the deep dark holes at about 40+ feet to pull out the monster walleye. Trolling with stick baits or the bead filled baits has produced some impressive hogs. By changing speed, direction, using electronics and some fish savy you can get some rod busters hooked up now. The night temps are dropping into the upper 30′s while day time temps are hanging in the 70′s. This cooling effect triggers the fall feeding patterns, and when this happens hang on. The hogs are fun to catch, just remember to that growth is slow in these cold waters, so snap a picture and let ‘em go back to make more hogs. Which reminds me about a fish fry we did a few weeks back. I tried to make fish balls with a cajun dipping sauce. While it sounded good I didn’t get it right. They were edible but if you have a recipe your willing to share just post it here. By this time of the year we are always inventing new ways to eat walleye. So the other morning while we were servicing boats MaryJo lets loose with an ear busting scream. Turns out a mink had made its way into a minnow bucket and when MaryJo went to open the little fellow surprised her. Not the first time this has happened to her but always entertaining for me and anyone else that is up that early on the main dock. She can move pretty fast. By the way please salute MaryJo when you see her. A big congratulations go out to my fishin buddy, she is now an officially lisenced USCG OUPV Captain. Way to go MaryJo! That might make us the only husband and wife USCG Captains in Northwestern Ontario. Yes, I know, the credential is useless here. But not south of the border. Just be patiant as we make our future plans. We may see some of you on the salt water during the winter months. Forrest Lodge south? Let us know what you think and remember……..THINK WALLEYE

What a bang we had on the 4th. After running crazy for the last 6 weeks we are finally getting a much needed break. Only 3 partys in this week so we had a chance to get out on Sunday. We hit a few of the usual spots and looked at a few new areas. The sun was straight overhead with some HEAVY storm clouds moving in fast from the west. We hit the end of  MaryJo’s island and kept a few for dinner. I pulled up a 24″ that had fresh teeth marks on the tail end. Thats a big gator that will attempt to take a 24″ walleye. About that time the thunder told us to get moving in. We just got the Ranger on dry land when the sky opened up and the wind hit. We had 40-50 mph straight winds across the lake and 4-5′ white caps in the bay. It rained so hard with the wind driving the rain that we could not see the end of the main dock. It really sounded like a freight train. Several trees down on the road and across the bay, but we dodged the bullet here at the Lodge. Just one tree down on the point that caused no damage. The blow lasted for about ten minutes then turned to steady rain. The water remains somewhat low compaired to previous years although it did come up a bit after the storm. The bite remains steady in all the usual places. Still the best approach is tossing out a 1/2 ounce jig tipped with live bait. Fish about 20′ for the good eaters, a little deeper for bigger fish. We had some fella’s a few weeks ago that where stuck in a rut. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make em a margarita. So again, when the rest of the pack is hauling in fish and they all tell you where, and how and with what, it is probably a good bet that it’s time to think out of the box. Caribou lake is a walleye factory. You guys that use the counters and keep track of every hook-up know what we are talking about. Just ask the guys from Merrill WI about it. You can’t miss them. They have ice packs on their elbows. Most impressive was the Lake Trout that were caught during the middle of the day using long lines and trolling. I know a young fisherman that hooked his biggest walleye the first evening out. And the Sunday curse has been broken for Andy and Bob. The girls may have had something to do with that. So with that mouthful, today is fishfry. That means that me and my fishin buddy get to head out here shortly and get our 3 fish for dinner. The blue cheese coleslaw has been made and the jalepeno corn bread will go in the oven about an hour before supper time. If there is room, strawberry shortcake to top it off. Remember……THINK WALLEYE

After many e-mails and phone calls I finally got the message. It has been very busy around Forrest Lodge lately. The bitehas been HOT,HOT,HOT. The narrows continues to produce huge numbers of walleyes as they move into the deeper water. Average size eaters in the 16-20 inche range. We haven’t seen anything over 26″ yet, but it is early and the hungry fish are still shallow. Live bait still continues to produce the best bite. I have been suggesting that artificials should be used to mix it up a bit. When the bite is this hot it is a good time to try new tactics and improve the learning curve. The scented stuff in the liquid is a great alternative and is easy enough to use, just rig it up like live bait. One thing I like to do is just use a small piece as an attractant. Just put a little piece on what ever your throwing out. Big bait equals big fish. Granted the little guys will shy away and the action will give your arm a break but just be ready when the reel starts to sing. This time of year hanging a big minnow on a treble with a stinger in the tail suspended under a bobber will give an interesting menu. The Lakers will grab a big minnow and head for the bottom, just hang on and hope they don’t roll. Of course the big Canadian gators will grab this rig and run at full throttle, use heavier gear for this battle and have your buddy man the camera for some action shots. The big walleye like to look at this rig for awhile. They need to think about it, but when they bite you can count on a hefty fish. Today a high pressure system has moved in and the clouds have moved out. Most of our guests are heading for the north end this morning, taking advantage of the calm clear conditions. I hope to hear how the bite is in some of the back bays and reef and rock piles in the open water. My plan today is to get the pump replaced in the Forrest Lodge Ranger and do some other minor repairs so that my fishing buddy and I can get out for her birthday. Th grass can wait another day, besides it will only grow back again. Remember…..THINK WALLEYE!

We have been very busy getting Forrest Lodge ready for the arrival of our first guests of 2010. MaryJo has been doing her magic on the cabins and I have been rigging boats and setting the floating dock. Along with all the little things, cleaning up downed trees, fixing broken water lines, repairing electric service lines, generator repairs. Its all good work! The temps have been well above normal, yesterday I had 90f at the motor shop while I was rigging boats and MaryJo had well over that while cleaning the beams in the log cabins. We had some very strong thunder storms move through the other day and through the night. While we have not had a chance to fish yet, we have had several reports come in from some of the regulars. The bite is sloowwwww……the warm water and strong thunder have brought the fish to a slow feed. I saw a few May flies today and I think we may be well into a late June pattern. I asked some regulars about the water temps and they said it was around 62f already! Hard to believe, for the last three years we have had ice and snow well into May. This year we had clear water in April. Until we get out to fish and see what is happening I can only give hear say and offer experienced suggestions to hunt for the walleye. Remember no weed beds in Caribou, we are fishing the mud flats and the rocky structure. I dont know if anyone has been in Cactus yet, the Boot has produced some fish. The water is low compared to previous years so access up the Sturgeon is out unless you want to get out, get wet, and pull over the rocks. No report on the Pike or Lakers. We have the usuall northern around the dock and a few hammer handles up in the shallow grass. Some regulars that were after walleye picked up a few Lakers yesterday. Hopefully by Monday I will have a better report for you. MaryJo needs a break and I need some fish. They say fish is brain food so I’m thinking we should all eat more fish. If you are coming this way we have a request for Reeses Pepperoncini and Marconi Hot Giardiniera, and MaryJo really likes Cazadores Reposado Tequila. Dont forget the limes! We are looking forward to our first fish fry of the season. Check your gear, put fresh line on your reel and sharpen your hooks, and try a different bait this year. Remember……THINK WALLEYE!

We arrived to Caribou Lake Tuesday afternoon. We made it through the winter with several trees down and a power line pulled from a cabin. The ice is completely gone and the water level is about normal for this time of the year. There is shore line showing for a change. The weather is typical, today it is cool breezey and scattered showers. Lots to do so the report is short. Remember….think walleye!

Northwest Indiana Steelheaders Spring Fever Outdoor Show
Porter County Fairgrounds Expo Center
Route 49 and 30
Valparaiso, Indiana

Saturday    Feb. 28th      9 :00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday      March 1st     9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free Seminars and Special Events

Sports retailers, Boat Dealers, Conservation Organizations, tackle reps, fishing Charters, Rod Building, Specialty Shops, Campers and Equipment, Taxidermist, Decoy and Painting, Turkey and Deer Hunting.

Door Prizes!  Refreshments!

FREE PARKING

Check the Weather in Valparaiso before you leave.

Saturday Seminars

10:00 a.m. The Underwater Realm
Catch More Fish
TV Host Krieg Adkins

11:00 a.m. Indiana Musky Techniques
Webster Lake Guide Service
Chae Dolson

11:30 a.m Outdoor Hunting Retrieving Dog
Kankakee River Hunting
Retreiver Club

12:00 p.m. Calling All Kids
Let’s Go Fishing
Northwest Indiana Steelheaders

1:00 p.m. Trapline Tactics
Brother Nature Charters
Mike Schoonvelt

2:00 p.m. Calling All Gobblers
Spring Turkey Hunting
Team Unstable

3:00 p.m. Lure Colors Underwater
Spring Salmon Fishing
Rich Holmes – Seaquest Lures

4:00 p.m. Stream & Shore Steelheading
364 Days a Year
Northwest Indiana Steelheaders

Sunday Seminars

10:00 a.m. The Underwater Realm
Catch More Fish
TV Host Krieg Adkins

11:00 a.m. Indiana Musky Techniques
Webster Lake Guide Service
Chae Dolson

11:30 a.m. Outdoor Hunting Retrieving Dog
Kankakee River Hunting
Retreiver Club

12:00 p.m. Calling All Kids
Let’s Go Fishing
Northwest Indiana Steelheaders

1:00 p.m. Finding ‘Em
Kankakee River Fishing
Ed Mullady
Sportsman Letter

2:00 p.m. Let’s Go Quackin
Waterfowl Hunting
Waterfowl USA

3:00 p.m. Perky Perch
John Galambos

Accommodations in Valparaiso

Holiday Inn Express Valparaiso

Best Western Expressway Inn Valparaiso

Super 8 Motel Valparaiso

Take in a movie!

Cinemark at Valparaiso

Explore Indiana! Take your family on Vacation!

Website

So here we are in the middle of January! Wow, what a year we had at Forrest Lodge. The summer that never came until September, the huge walleyes, and what about the gators! And the hunting season when we needed bug dope and SPF30. As I sit in front of this computer and think about last summer I can almost taste the walleye from any particular fish fry. I can also remember the friends that we all made at any particular fish fry. While I stood over the fryer and talked to our friends I recall how everyone had a fish story to tell. It didn’t matter if it was about a certain bait or presentation or a favorite spot or even an event from years gone by at another fishin’ hole, these are the things that cement us all. Any one moment in your life that you can recall and smile about and share is what makes us all brothers and sisters. And what a better way than to go fishin’. Talk about comradery! Someone once said “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a life time”, or something like that. As we progress through these “economic uncertainties” just remember the cement. When you go to the local Mega Mart think about where that coffee maker was made or where that LCD TV was made or where the produce came from. Now think about where that fishin’ reel was made, or the fishin’ rod, or the tackle. Even the gas that you put in the car that was made from parts from where? When you are at the Mega Mart does the guy behind the counter know where the bite is hot? If not then tell him. Cement. Just something to think about next time you spend a few bucks. Down the road from us are few local bait shops. I can spend hours looking at stuff and another few hours talkin’ about stuff. Cement. I get a mail box full of catalogs. Every body has the best prices or the best deal or the biggest discount. The more you buy the bigger the discount. So I call these guys and start talkin’. Cement. I don’t buy much cuz’ most of the product is made somewhere else. I guess I like to talk. And sometimes it gets me into trouble. The other day I spent about an hour on the phone talkin’ to a friend about about ice fishin’. Cement. If you haven’t hard water fished then you owe it to yourself to go give it a try. Oh, and take your best fishin’ buddy with you. Cement. There is something about fish through the ice that puts the experience and the taste of the fillets in a whole’ nother world. Go to the local pond with your fishin’ buddy, snag a few blue gills, clean em’ up and get them in the fryer while your hands are still numb and savor each bite as though it was your last. Cement.  While the weather outside is frightful, get together with your fishin’ buddy and look at your tangle boxes and talk about fishin’ and stuff and tell stories and jokes and remember….THINK WALLEYE!…..cement.

Adventures In Travel

Sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, in one month from today the Travel & Adventure Show 2010 begins!

Travel & Adventure Show at a Glance

February 13 – 14, 2010
Los Angeles Convention Center
Travel Trade: Saturday 8 – 10 am
Public: Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

With the turn in the economy, this year’s marketing is going to be more important than ever.

In good economy and bad – some businesses manage to weather the storm and keep sailing, while their competition flounders, seemingly without a rudder. Success depends on many factors, to be sure, but so does Failure!

What boat are you in this year?

2010 Sport Show Season

Sport Show season is Sales Season. If you don’t want to watch all the customers and sales going to other booths, get prepared!I recommend that you read this quick, powerful book several times. Bring it with you to Sport Shows for a Re-Brief each day before you hit the Booth. Yes! You Can Learn How To Sell Far More Effectively! – written by Peter Lowe.

In addition, I recommend that you learn all that you can from Barry Siskind

Below I’m republishing an article I wrote in March of 2008 – Making Trade Shows Work

One Month From Today!

Minneapolis All-Canada Sport Show

All-Canada Show- Minneapolis

Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403-2781
(612) 335-6025

February 5-7, 2010

The All-Canada Show attracts over 300 of the finest lodges Canada has to offer…and our show is the largest gathering of Canadian lodges to appear in every one of our nine great Sport Shows!

Take in the displays and attend the FREE seminars:

Hours:

Friday            3p.m. To 9 p.m.

Saturday        10 a.m. To 6 p.m.

Sunday          10 a.m. To 4 p.m.

2010 GRAND PRIZE - for all eleven markets

Anthony J. Padgett original work of art, PLUS a Cabela’s Gift Card valued at $1,000.

U.S. PASSPORTS
The United States Postal Service is accepting passport applications at all our events including taking passport photographs. Apply at the show!

TEST YOUR SKILLS ON CABELA’S HUNTING SIMULATOR

Hunt big game at the show with our FREE Cabela’s hunting simulator.
Kids love to test their skills on this life-like hunting machine. Hunt for Bear, Whitetail or Elk.

Directions to easily locate the Convention Center

Driving Directions to Minneapolis Convention Center

Parking Facilities at the Center and in the City

Parking at the Center

Parking in the City

Metro-transit delivers you care free around the city

Travel easily with Metro-transit

Hotels in Downtown Minneapolis

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Marriott Minneapolis City Centre

Hilton Minneapolis

Weather in Minneapolis

Check the Weather in Minneapolis before you leave

Shopping is a premium in Minneapolis & her twin City St. Paul

Mall of America

Southdale Mall

Restaurants:

Reviews and photos of Minneapolis restaurants

Include Minneapolis Entertainment and night life in your weekend

Minneapolis Entertainment

Visit Minneapolis All- Canada Show Website

Take your family, enjoy the City hospitality as only Minneapolis can offer!