2009
Echo Lake Lodge Newsletter
P.O. Box
1137
8927 North Shore Dr.
(summer)
(winter)
We
arrived at camp late this year on May 20th.
We were late due to a snow storm that dumped about 14 inches of snow on
Red Lake. Mother Nature was in
control most of the season, not allowing summer to arrive until September with
one exception. The Barrigars
brought us some very warm Iowa weather the second week of June.
The MNR reported that the summer of 2009 through August was the wettest
and coldest since 1964.
Upon
arriving in camp, we discovered evidence that a bull moose had visited while we
were gone. Besides the obvious
moose droppings, the log swing and the generator shack were overturned and
moved. Both had antler scrapes on
them. Improvements at Echo Lake
this season include: Reinforcement
of the water tower between Black Bear and Moose.
Deck added to Raven (workshop) which now houses a new washing machine.
Double beds in Moose and Black Bear.
All bedrooms now have double or larger sleeping accommodations.
The new table in Moose was sanded, painted, and leveled.
Floors in all the houses were painted.
The plane dock has a new 4’x16’ approach. The Detour portage was completed and the 4-wheeler hill
widened, reinforced and ditched. Most
notable is the “Doug and Dean Party Deck” added to the Bar-B-Q area.
Guests may now sit on 2 benches by the BBQ
pit without the fear of falling backwards.
See pictures of this new addition on our website.
Team
Daredevil
returned to Echo Lake with Chris Casey dominating on the water with the
largest walleye and lake trout as well as winning at Texas Hold ‘Em on the
poker table at night. Linda
got lost one night and had to rely on her husband’s snoring to find her way
back to their bedroom. Jessica
and Jackson found their dad’s prescription sunglasses on the bottom of the
lake using a glass bowl! Tom tries
to keep the motors in good running condition, however, as Joe learned,
you still need a gas tank (in the boat) before leaving the dock.
Four
of
our guests caught 24” Lake Trout on Underbrush Lake:
Jim Jones, Diann Barrigar, Gunnar Munson and Chris Casey.
Many nice Walleye were caught and released this season including:
29”, 8# 11 oz. Sherri Evans; 26˝”
Red Eggers, 26” Jim Jones, Marc Foster, and Peter Ostrowski, 25”
Mark Ipson, Karen Ehr, Doug Eggers and Jake Eggers.
The largest Northern caught were:
41”, 19.5# LeRoy Brown, 40” Marc Foster and Dan Ehr, 39”
Doug Eggers and Gary Pribyl. .
As
80-degree summer weather arrived, so did the annual bear hunt.
Due to the abundance of blueberries and raspberries, and very warm, sunny
weather, hunting conditions were challenging.
A few hunters even wore T-shirts and shorts to their stands.
The following bear were harvested this season: a 425# Boar with a Bow by Jim Carey, 350# Boar with a
Bow by Greg Loeser, 275# Sow with a Bow by Charley Whitmarsh.
Almost every hunter was treated with the sighting of a timber wolf.
Wayne Sparks saw 4 wolves on one night and Peter saw 2.
Next year we will be offering a timber wolf hunt to anyone
interested. Contact us for more
information.
New last year was the requirement for sportsman to have an Outdoor Card. The cost of the card is $9.00 and is good for a 3-year period. As a reminder to our returning guests, BRING YOUR CARD or you will be required to purchase another Outdoor Card. As of June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens 16 years of age or over who re-enter the United States are REQUIRED to have a passport. Also, a new Canadian regulation starting September 15, 2009, requires all boat operators to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or a completed Rental Boat Safety Checklist (available from us). Non-residents can use written proof of competency from their own country such as a boating safety course.
As
always, our mailing list guests have priority to make reservations for Summer
2010. We encourage you to reserve
your trip to Echo Lake Lodge as soon as your group has finalized their plans.
We pride ourselves in being the most reasonably priced lodge in the Red
Lake area. Keep in mind that our
rates include boat, motor, unlimited gas and 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 30, 2010.
See you soon at Echo Lake Lodge!
From the Wisconsin
Loon’s Nest,
Tom & Mitzi
