The Frazier Fish Report

Jim Frazier, aka Stainless, has been coming to Viking Island since my kids were babies. He came originally with Frank Reams from Hudson Wisconsin. Over the years, he introduced Viking Island to his brother in law, Dave Wiseman, his sister, Deanna, and his older brother, Garry. Now they come as a group and end up with a great visit and great fishing rolled into one.

Garry's Fishing Report: Normally they fish during the Labour Day weekend so July fishing is new to them. Jim and Garry estimate that their boat caught between 200 and 300 walleye during their five day visit. The walleye were bigger than usual, averaging between 20- 25 inches. They could find smaller "eaters" if they went to certain spots. On the rock piles the fish were at 19- 30 feet and in other spots only between 20-25 feet. They used a 3/8 ounce jig, perferably with a green head, a small piece of dark plastic worm and then a salted frozen minnow. The weather was sunny with either thunder storms or flat water. (Good to know that fishing is fine on a nice sunny day.)

Garry's quote for the week:

When you are out fishing,

remember you are matching brains with a fish.

His brain is the size of a pea.

Sunrise from the Eagle's Nest

Sunrise from the Eagle's Nest Cabin on Viking Island (photo by Erik Roys)
This is the time of year of hot days and welcome breezes, cool nights and thunder storms...... those lazy hazy days of summer. Sometimes it can be too hot in July but for the past 5 years that has not happened. It is very pleasant out here.

Sunrise and sunset from the deck of the Eagle's Nest
with some fishing in between

Oh life is good.

A Full Moon lights up the Night

This photo was taken by Erik Roys at 11 o'clock last night. The moon comes up, a huge orange ball, and then would light your way if you needed to portage to the next lake or just make it to the outhouse.

Bill brings his Girls Fishing

When Bill Scott brings his daughters, Emily and Taylor, up to Viking Island, he just enjoys their company. Somedays the girls sleep in, play cards, help in the kitchen, but usually they are off on an adventure somewhere. Emily even got roped into helping with Patrick's aquatic plant and fish collection









Hey, Patrick, is this small enough to pickle?
This year they were caught in a hail storm when they portaged over to Peterson Lake. They returned soaked to the bone but still smiling!

OK Rachael WHERE ARE YOUUU!

Sucks to grow up and get a real job!

We miss You

July 1 has its Own Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Viking Island is so important. It is determined by the combination of all the guests, so each week is different.

Mike Vandini with his deep loud Chicago chuckle is the highlight of July 1 on Viking Island. He has come fishing here since my kids were little and he was a single guy. Over the years he made friends here. Arthur Anderson from Hartford, Kentucky, and Art's brother from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania make sure they come up the same week as Mike. Joe and Sue Pleskac from Centuria Wisconsin do the same. This year Harold Miller, from Port Barrington, IL, brought his new girl, Barbara. Barb has fished all her life and the couple fit right in. I expect to see them added to this group.

They have decided that the fishing on Douglas Lake is just as good as anywhere sooo why portage all over the place. They may take a detour over to Peterson or maybe over to Caribou but mostly they fish close to home and come home for homemade soup at lunchtime.

5 Days and every one an adventure

Brad Blomquist and Howard Grace brought their sons, Ryan and James, to Viking Island for 5 days of adventure. They were up and at it early each day (even though teenagers don't really like early morning stuff.)

One day on Douglas, where they found a few walleye. Howard almost lost his rod and reel when a second fish came to check out his hook. They cooked their own shorelunch of walleye and beans.

One day to Peterson, where they checked out the geocache and tried fishing for lake trout and northern.

One up the creek where they pulled boats over rocks and beaver dams, watched for moose and fished for walleye.

.

Lots of fish,

lots of travel,

lots of fun

At Camp by Myself

Life has been hectic. Nothing unusual, the cook quit, the water pump won't start, I forgot to order bacon and beer......stuff like that. There is something to do every moment of every day.
Now for just a few days, the camp is empty. I'm here alone and the paperwork is a huge creepy stack calling to me. Paper is the hardest part about summer. I like the fishermen, I like cooking, I have great staff, but that paper just won't take care of itself.

Hugh is coming to get me tomorrow,

but I will try to stay here another day or 2 or 3.

Fishing in Newfoundland Canada

I like this video about fishermen in Newfoundland. The song is great and the pictures awsome. I can imagine how tough these fishermen must be.

Justin and John return to Viking Island

Justin Knoelk comes up fishing with his Dad, John. It is their time to spend together. John is a very enthusiastic fisherman but his old legs won't carry him as far as he would like to go. Justin needs to slow his Dad down sometimes, ice up his knee and sit awhile.

One day, Patrick and Justin took the canoe and went up Onnie Creek on their own. I'm sure they had a good time and no doubt had a good laugh at the expense of all the old farts back at camp.

I sure do like to see these young guys heading out on their own

and enjoying fishing like their dads before them.

Could be I need a Day Off

Today I went up to my cabin for a break around noon and fell fast asleep. When I came back down to the lodge, I found my staff hard at work. Mary Jane and Doreen decided to just go ahead and make the butter tarts!!! How wonderful!!!! I could not ask for better staff and friends than these two.

Camp life is a style all its own. When you are working at a fly-in fishing camp atmosphere is everything. All of us work long hours and never go home at the end of the day. We become our own group, have our own humour and end up with earned nick names. I am very honoured to have just the best of people working here. They are always ready to go the extra mile, help each other out and enjoy each day.

Thank you to

Mary Jane, Joe,

Patrick, Jean, Doreen,

Lisa and Brett

Walmart sells a better Lure??

The guys in camp right now swear by a lure they found in Walmart for $1.85 a piece...... a Renegade. It seems to dive about 10 feet and then stay there. They use it to troll at a nice high speed, just like Hugh recommends with a Rapala.

They challenge Hugh to a fishing match. They swear they will win 3 fish on a Renegade to 1 on a Rapala.

Hmm how many Cents per Fish for a Renegade versus a Rapala?

Is Money the Issue here?

P.S. Hugh, a swivel works fine with these lures.

Dave brings his grandsons fishing

When a grandfather dreams up a vacation, it might include his son, his son-in-law and his 2 grandsons. For David Fayram from California, this is the case. Originally Dave came from Wisconsin and is happy to bring the boys north for some real fishing.It is great to have this three generation group in camp. They all like to fish, and they are off exploring in a different direction each day.
On Peterson Lake, they came across this caribou swimming across the narrows.

Drew Fayram comes with a Mission...Lake Trout

He is after the elusive lake trout. At Viking Island, most fishermen are after walleye and northern. They ignore the lake trout lurking further below especially as the water warms up and the trout swim deeper. Drew comes equipped with lures and rods to get down about 40 feet. He persuades his group to head off to Peterson, then lures them on further to Paige Lake. Next day he is off to Hatchet. Later in the week, the group is off to Embryo with a stop on Caribou.

Few people fish Caribou Lake. They just travel across it on their way to Embryo, but Drew plans for a long stop and, boy, they are rewarded with many dark black healthy lake trout. By the end of the week, he has found the lake trout on Douglas and Embryo too.

All his lake trout are carefully released to swim again.