2009 Echo Lake Lodge Newsletter

 

     P.O. Box 1137                           8927 North Shore Dr.

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

     807-727-2543                 715-824-5876

      (summer)                           (winter)

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

 

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