Red Lake, Ontario P0V 2M0 Amherst Jct, WI 54407

807-727-2543 715-824-5876

(summer) (winter)

www.echolakelodge.com ehr@wi-net.com

The 2008 camp season was rainy and cool until the 2^nd week of August. Ben Ostrowski was the first swimmer on July 5^th and judging by the yelp he gave, the water was not very warm. In fact, summer never seemed to come this year at all. Whenever it wasn’t raining, we quickly started to mow or paint. More firewood was burned from May thru July than in September. The berry season started about a month late this summer, but the raspberries were good, and the blueberries were bigger and more plentiful. Guests in camp during the berry season were treated to many delicious desserts such as Laura Ehr’s Raspberry Upside-Down Dessert.

How long was Gary Dusil locked in the fish-cleaning shack (by Leon Kubiak) before someone rescued him? Craig Singer’s perfect fishing day included returning to camp to “knock the sides off” a fish or two for an evening fish fry. Side-by-side taste tests by many guests (including Larry, Tom, Craig, Jim, and Ben) gave “two thumbs up” to northern prepared without the y-bones. When Doug, Dean, Jake, and “Red” Eggers saw 3 different caribou as well as an otter AND caught 7 walleye over 18 inches, they called it a GREAT day. As they were returning from Detour Lake, Don Karst and Scott Meyer saw and photographed a tornado cloud just beyond Underbrush Lake. Go to our website to see a picture of it. (Thanks for the picture, Don.)

Guests returning next season will see a few changes in camp. Black Bear and Moose cabins each have 2 brand new refrigerators. Moose has a new table and the cabin is almost level! The Lodge has new carpet and a freshly painted floor. The Loon’s Nest has a new roof and a new coat of stain. We cleared out the trees and brush from behind Black Bear and Moose cabins as well as from the Radio Tower/Main Lodge to No Beaver Lodge (Indian cabin). Thanks to the Fall Portage Crew (Doug, Mark, Adam and Greg) the first part of Detour Portage has been completed. Except for some “tweaking” here and there, the Detour portage is completed.

Don Karst shot his bear 5 minutes after he got into his tree stand and said, “That was easy!” Jim Carey (who is a car salesman) said the bear that came into his stand looked “as big as a Volkswagen!” Rick Lueneburg saw an 8-point white tail deer, a moose, a grouse, and a pine martin, but did not see a bear while he was hunting.

The last Loon left Echo around September 20^th, but we stayed into October since it was such a beautiful fall, a picture perfect start to Mitzi’s retirement. Now she can open and close camp with Tom. Camp had lots of critter visitors this summer. Thanks to Mark Ipsan and Doug Eggers’ leftover meatballs, Tom was able to trap a couple of skunks that were rutting up the grass all over camp this summer. Check the website to see pictures of the critters as well as some colorful fall photos of camp.

We would like to recognize these anglers for the nice fish they caught. Northern: 40” Eileen Brown (Congratulations on a successful FIRST ever fishing trip), 38½” Michael Ehr, 36” Gerry Connor. All 3 of these fish were caught on different lakes. Walleye: 30” (9.3#) Jim Patterson, 28½” McCoy Fischer (age 11), 28½” Doug Eggers, 28” Dean Eggers. Lake Trout: 23” McCoy Fischer, 22” Ben Ostrowski.

This season two hunters bagged their bear with muzzleloaders: 250# Don Karst and 325# Scott Meyer. Two bow hunters were successful: 200# Steve Henske and 350# Jeff Jester. Matt Lueneburg’s trophy bear was 400#. See pictures of these bear and 3 that are hibernating until next season on the website!

As of June 1, 2009, a new American law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require U.S. citizens 16 years of age or over who re-enter the United States by land and sea to have a passport or other appropriate secure document like a NEXUS card. Take this into consideration as you plan your next trip to Echo Lake Lodge.

As always, our mailing list guests have priority to make reservations for Summer 2009. We encourage you to reserve your trip to Echo Lake Lodge as soon as your group has finalized their plans. Unfortunately, with the increases in the cost of gas and propane over the past few years, we find it necessary to increase our camp fees. We pride ourselves in being the most reasonably priced lodge in the Red Lake area. Keep in mind that our rates include all government taxes. Please check our brochure for current rates. We require that you put 25% down within 2 weeks of making your reservation and send the balance by April 24, 2009. See you soon at Echo Lake Lodge!

From the Wisconsin Loon’s Nest,

Tom & Mitzi