Thanks from yet another guest

Mike,

Just wanted to let you know that I had a great time. You and your staff do a wonderful job. My son and I had a great experience and we are looking forward to next year. Please extend my gratitude to your partner and staff (especially Mary!)

Best Regards,
Anthony Perna MD

Mid-Week Update

I was guided by long-time guest Roger Merics last night, and was led to a nice 31" pike and also had a 40-inch muskie blow up on a topwater lure.

Roger has only been in camp for a few days and has already made some great catches. This 29" 10lb. walleye was caught on Sunday. He and fishing partner Bill have been reeling in walleyes all week.

Also in camp this week are Ed Kickler and Gary Hutchinson. They have been catching bass and nice walleyes on slip bobber's. Here are some of the photos from the first half of their week.

Another guest writes:

Hey Mike:

I wanted to thank you and the crew for a very enjoyable week.

I must add that you have a group of very nice folks that work for you. Anything that we needed was taken care of right a way. I'm sure you have heard it many times before, but a special thank you goes out to Mary for a job above and beyond for the fabulous food and service.

From the northern side of some place special,

Rudy

Kudos from Tim

MIKE,

I HAD A GREAT TIME AT LUNGE THIS YEAR AND I WILL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR, FOR SURE.

I’M GLAD I CAME BACK AFTER 2 YEARS [AWAY] BECAUSE YOU GUYS CAN NOT BE BEAT, YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST!

Tim Endler

PHOTOS FROM THIS WEEK

Tim Endler with 3 nice fish he caught this week: This larger muskie (41") was caught on a "Baby Loon" Top Raider. The Pike was 39" .

Tim is the manager for the Gander Mountain store in Moon Township (Pittsburgh). So if you live in the "Burgh", and need tackle, stop by and see Tim.

Brian Bernhardt with a nice Walleye. For those who don't know, Brian produces our Promotional DVD

Jeff Bryndal photos

Hey Mike,

Here are the BIG FISH pictures I promised you.
Paul and I caught these in Satchels Bay.



Thanks for a great week.

Jeff Bryndal

Lunge Lodge News

Todd and I managed to get out for a few hours of fishing on Friday. We ended up enjoying one of those rare times where everything lines up. We fished a spot on Satchel's bay, that in the past, was good to us. We set anchor in 18ft, in front of a weed bed, and proceeded to catch fish after fish for an hour straight. When the frenzy ended we counted 8 walleye, 14 smallmouth, and a 30 inch pike. Our largest walleye was 5lbs, and our biggest bass was 4lbs. We also caught a fat 20 inch Blue walleye. Todd proves once again we are a full service Lodge as he wrestles with a Black bear for the guests.

Overall the fishing has been good. The walleyes are still in 25ft or less. Due to the cooler weather, the surface temp remains in the low 70s. Smallmouth are in 10 -16 ft in front of the weed beds. The muskie fishing is slow but will pick up with the arrival of August. The pike are being caught in cabbage weed beds that are near deep water.

Brian Markewinski and Jen Kroniser

Brian (B.J.) Markewinski and his girlfriend Jen Kroniser enjoyed their visit to the Lunge this past June. B.J. writes, “We both had a blast and we want to return next year, but for a full week."

"See you in the fall have a great season - B.J."

Compliments from a recent guest

Mike,

Just wanted to extend our appreciation for your efforts after a great stay. Our group from Cleveland was there over the first part of the week of the fourth. My son Evan and I had a fantastic time and are looking forward to planning another trip up. You and your staff were wonderful hosts. Mary did a great job and we felt immediately at home.

My only regret is that I didn't plan on a full week, or at least check out the rigs of the other more successful boats earlier in my stay. Next time I'll have a much better idea of how to catch more fish! I'm not complaining, but I'm not leaving without at least one Northern landed next time!

Keep up the great work. I'll have no trouble endorsing your place and promoting more traffic from Cleveland. Hope to see you all next year.

Dean Frazier

New photos

Ed Kimmich with a nice 48" Muskie Lunge Lodge Pro Staff Member

Mark Martinez with a 4 pound Small Mouth he caught on a rattle trap.

Kevin Grupp and Jack with 3 walleyes over 7 lbs.
Guide Billy Commanda with a rare "Blue Walleye". The fish measured 29 inches and we are getting it mounted for the Lodge. Blue walleyes are not related to the "Blue Pike" of Lake Erie. They are a genetic mutation, or color phase of the common walleye. We see a few come into camp each season.

Thanks for the compliments

From Dean Danielson:

Mike, I would like to thank you and the camp staff for producing another fantastic trip to Lunge Lodge. Even though the weather did not exactly cooperate (we even had sleet on the 1st day in July) we had fun and caught fish. The camp staff was at the top of their game and the food was great. I can't wait to get back up in the fall and catch more fish. Thanks for another great trip.

Dean Danielson
Denton, MD

New Photos

Evan Schoss with a nice Largemouth caught on one of the portage ponds.
Jake Eicher remains the Sheephead King in his family.
Just kidding Jake!

Sheila & Ernest Ungerank pose with two nice walleyes they caught while fishing with guide Billy Commanda.

The surface temperature remains in the low 70's. Weed beds are just below the surface. Twilight, Hardy's, and Satchels' bays are the hot areas for pike. The walleye fishing is still great. The reefs between Hardy's and Satchels are productive.

Tips for holding the variety of species caught on the French…

Most anglers have seen the best way to hold a bass; largemouth or smallmouth, as well as crappies and bluegills (as long as your thumb is small enough), can be “lipped” by inserting your thumb in the fish’s mouth and latching onto the outside with your remaining fingers.

Rock Bass are an exception, though. Lip locks tend to cause them to gyrate; better to hold them up-side down in the palm of your hand (after you fold the spiny dorsal fin back!). This method works well on White Bass, too.

Did you know that you can also cup a fish under its belly and it’ll calm right down? Walleyes are especially receptive to this technique - they usually raise their dorsal fin for an even better picture.

Pike, Musky, and Walleye can be held (with practice) by the jaw. Slide your index and middle finger under the gill plate close to the mouth, but don’t reach in too far and grab the gill rakers, as this can kill the animal. You can feel for the jaw bone and grip the fish accordingly. It’s also a good idea to support bigger fish with your opposite hand.

If you're not comfortable with the jaw-hold, try 'cradling' the fish by holding onto the tail and supporting the forward section with your other hand.

There are a variety of opinions against suspending fish vertically, but catch-and-release studies suggest the tactic is not necessarily detrimental to the fish.

The “gill pinch” should be avoided, while the old-fashioned “eye-socket” hold, practiced in the ‘70s, should never be used if the fish is intended to be released.

Catch-and-release has proven to result in an improved fishery for all game species. Proper landing and holding techniques are essential to a quality release:

(don't forget to get a good picture and send it to Mike so it can be posted here).

Another e-mail to share...

Randy Roberts was in camp last month and hooked into this nice largemouth.
Mike,

Attached is the pic as promised of the large mouth bass.

It was caught in T-bay, in pouring rain, in about 4 feet of water off of a rocky point, on a blue/green/white buzz bait. It measured 19½ inches.

Jim Jordan's 52" Walleye?

Earlier this season, Jim Jordan was out trolling for walleye in the weeds of Hardy Bay and this big gal latched on. The ensuing battle, landing, and release is a story for the ages. Next time you see Jim, let him know we appreciate his sharing this 35mm picture!
(Jim - you've got to go out and get yourself a digital camera!)

Let us share your e-mails

Ted McLaughlin, a recent guest of the Lodge sent this follow-up email and pictures:

Mike--hey what's up? Thanks again for a great week! We really enjoyed ourselves, yet again.

Just wanted to pass along what the new guys on our trip thought...John's comment was: "I have been going to Canada fishing for over 40 years and have stayed at about 20 different camps...by far Lunge Lodge is the most well run camp and nicest facilities, dining, boats...etc." He went on and on about how great of a job you guys are doing and how he can't wait to get back next year.

I just thought you would like to know, what new guys to camp were thinking.

I have attached several pictures...a couple big bass

as well as a nice pike

and that smaller musky I caught. The markings on the musky are very interesting.

Enjoy the pictures and have a great summer! Thanks again! Ted

Our thanks to you, and your group, Ted!