by Tammy MacDonald | Jun 25, 2013 | 2013 Season
The seasons are a bit different at the 60th parallel. Spring is usually a three week period between ice out and the first hot, calm period. This year spring lasted five days. We started with cool and windy weather for our first group and then went directly into mid-summer: hot, hot, hot. The 2013 season opened on June 11 with full sunshine and a light breeze. It was in a word: perfect. The first group of anglers kicked off the season with a high level of energy and focus, but that first group had only one of those perfect days, then four days of a cold front, but they came to fish and have a good time and that is exactly what they did. As is typical for early season everything was shallow. Even the lake trout were caught in just a few feet of water. The veteran guide team (averaging 11 seasons at Scott) went to every corner of the sprawling lake to find fish for their clients and they were successful. Everyone caught lots of fish, some of course more than others. The first trophy of the season went to long time guest Doug Roche who landed a trophy pike early on the opening day. Many followed. Over the first ten days of the season 170 trophies were landed, nearly all of them pike. With the cold water temps allowing the lake trout to roam anywhere and everywhere on the lake, trophy trout were scarce, but Steve Abbot landed a 41” beauty and Jamison Viljaste got a fat 38 incher. But the aggressive northern pike were the show: they were angry and hungry after a long winter under the ice with slim rations. As is typical of the early season, they came in bunches—big bunches.
There were some memorable days on the water. Jeff Rennaker got a girthy 45” pike. Rocky Santulli nailed a 44 and a 45 spotted in a shallow bay. Joe Daugherty added a 45 to the second group’s totals. Connie Schmidt put a 44.5 and a 45 into his guide’s hands. Joe Lasnoski took a fat 19” grayling on a four weight fly rod. So many big fish and so many big bunches of big fish. Jeff Berg grabbed a four-pack of trophy pike in one great day. Tom Kehoe Sr. and Jr. had a father/son trip they will never forget. They combined for an incredible 23 trophy pike in their five days on the water including one that stretched the tape to 45”. Mike Sumeraki had an impressive five trophy day. But the single most amazing day of the early season belonged to Mike Rogers and Jameson Viljaste who together brought 14 trophy pike into their guide’s cradle in a single day with four of those fish exceeding 44”. And they kept it rolling throughout the week reaching a total of 25 trophy pike for their five days on the water plus one bonus trophy lake trout. Mike Rogers who has been on Canadian fishing trips for many years called it “the most incredible fishing adventure of my lifetime, beyond anything I could have imagined.” Fishing partner Jameson called their effort an “assault on the big fish in the lakes”, adding that the fish were both eager and cooperative”. He believes that “no other lodge anywhere can provide such a complete fishing experience.” Now that’s a happy customer. And that’s what catching dozens of nice fish a day can do to one’s mind. There were many happy customers in those first two groups, especially in the lucky anglers fishing in the second slot, June 16-21. They had five absolutely perfect days with full sun and hot, hot weather along with hot fishing. Who could ask for more?
by Tammy MacDonald | Jun 10, 2013 | 2013 Season
The battle to get Scott Lake Lodge fully ready for the 2013 season is over: the cavalry has arrived. With the entire Scott Lake team now on the island, the remaining clean up/fix up tasks don’t have a prayer.
There are only 24 hours to go before we greet the first guests of the season and the activity level around the island is intense, but the big jobs all got done and done well. There is no sign left of the devastation that angry black bear unleashed on Laker Lodge except for the claw marks on the ventilation fan chamber, a trophy of sorts. The many challenges of the spring work were all met. The biggest job was the rehabbing of all the guide boats. They now look factory fresh. Guests in Bear and Loon cabins will appreciate the expansion of those cabins. Everyone will like the new flooring in Laker Lodge and the new exterior siding on all of the lakeside guest cabins. The new spruce chips are now being spread around the trails. The place looks great. WE ARE READY!
by Tammy MacDonald | May 28, 2013 | 2013 Season
Here comes the sun! The work crew at Scott Lake Lodge is basking in brilliant sunshine these days. With temperatures in the 70s for over a week the mass of ice is now black and starting to retreat from the shoreline. The forecast shows more of the same for the next week. We will have open water and great fishing for our first group arriving on June 11.
The beautiful weather has facilitated the spring work over the past few weeks. The damage from last fall’s marauding black bear has been repaired: the main lodge has a new floor and new lighting (that was a bad bear). A new kitchen range is being dropped in by helicopter next week—it’s too large and heavy for a float plane. We will have pictures of that. The routine “get the place ready for customers” tasks are being checked off one by one. The fleet of lodge boats has new floors and new interior paint. Wood chips are being laid down for the island walkways. The place is looking great. Plane flights for the Scott staff have been made and everyone will be at the island by June 9th. It is a time of high energy and excitement. The 2013 season is so close the crew at Scott can taste it. It’s almost time for patient Scott customers to take a bite.
by Tammy MacDonald | Apr 21, 2013 | 2013 Season
Report from the North:
Bear Repair
The work has begun to repair the damage that one apparently angry black bear inflicted on Laker Lodge at Scott Lake. For three weeks Chester Porteous (you know him as The Poacher) and our new winter watchman, Tell Keiper, have been cleaning up after our not so friendly bruin friend. The more they looked the more they found. Somehow this determined critter clawed through the floor under our ovens and destroyed all the controls as well as ripping off the doors of an commercial oven that weighs probably a thousand pounds. A new stove is ordered and will be put in well before our June 11 opener. Since it’s too big for the Otter it will make the trip from Stony Rapids dangling from a helicopter, maybe a first for any commercial oven. The lodge floor did not survive the attack either with parts of it ripped out. A work crew will be landing on the ice in late April to tackle all the Laker Lodge tasks, complete the work on reflooring all the guide boats and do the normal annual chores of getting the infrastructure in perfect condition, including the cutting of several hundred trees to create the wonderful spruce chipped trails connecting the guest cabins to the main lodge (Laker Lodge) and the boat docks.They will be essentially be stuck there until lake opens allowing float planes to again take to the air and land on Scott Lake. The job is big but the plan is tight. We look forward to seeing the faces of our several hundred “regulars” when they see all the improvements around the island.
Winter Hanging On
The winters at Scott are always long and cold. This year is no exception. There is a lot of snow which bodes well for a continuation of the high water levels we had last season which allowed the guides to get back into some of their favorite shallow bays. Unlike last winter when the lake just crawled with caribou, they have been scarce this winter with the concentrations to the north and east of Scott. It’s been a relatively quiet winter with a lot less snowmobile traffic on Scott. The Native hunters and trappers are heading further north this winter for their rendezvous with the caribou herds that travel hundreds of miles from the far tundra in late fall to spent the winter near the treeline just above the 60th parallel.
Report from the South
Full House
As we head into the final month of our booking season we are confident that we will have a full house all season at Scott. The number of repeat customers from last season was well over 300 and a lot of new guests have signed on for 2013. We are headed for a record number of guests this season, keeping all of our guides on the water straight through from June 11th to September 3rd. We thank all of our dedicated repeat customers and the new guests for their support and trust. The entire team at Scott is counting down the days to the first day back on the island. It is a remarkable community that develops every season at Scott. We have nearly all of our staff returning for the 2013 season. There will be a lot of hugs on the dock when staff and customers meet again. It’s just that kind of place.
For anyone still thinking about a trip to Scott this summer now is the time to make a move. Their are still some spots scattered through the season and we do get the occasional cancellation. Our Sales Manager, Jon Wimpney, is always close to his phone and laptop, even on the recent Guide Retreat in the jungles of Nicaragua. Give him a call at 306/209-7150- or drop him an email at j5@scottlakelodge.com for the latest availability. Or just call to talk fishing: it’s in his blood.
