GANGLER’S North Seal River | 2010 Season Review

2010 SEASON REVIEW

2010 was a great season, with excellent, consistent fishing and lots of world-class angling to report. The North Seal definitely showed its advantages, especially for the Canadian Grand Slam. The season started on an odd, backward note. Normally we arrive to warming temperatures and the ice beginning its spring process of breaking up . Instead, we were greeted with open waters, cold temps, and 3” of snow on the ground. This was not only a 180 degree departure from what we were used to, but created an operational nightmare as the first days of opening depend on getting the airstrip ready for incoming supply flights. The opening onslaught includes large Hawkers and ATRs carrying over 20,000 gallons of fuel and 36,000 lbs. of supplies. A dry and well-compacted strip is crucial to landing these planes and they are in high demand, one must book their use months in advance. Instead of rolling and firming up the strip after 8 months of dormancy, we found ourselves scratching our heads trying to figure a way to remove the 3” of snow covering it without turning the strip into a mud pit. The time frame was tight, very tight, but our crew worked overtime , chewing up the snow with our packer. The advantage of our almost 24 hour days let the sun work its magic and amazing drying powers . We had to constantly monitor and assist water drainage but 3 hrs. before the first plane arrived, the strip was deemed by the powers-to-be in excellent shape and the 2010 season was off and running.

Ironically, 2010 was a very dry season. That opening snow was one of the few bouts of moisture we saw all summer and 2010 turned out to be a very dry with little rain. Water levels had receded from the record highs we had seen when we left in the fall of 2009 and continued to recede as the summer progressed. They were among some of the lowest we have ever seen. We saw only a half dozen good days of rain throughout the summer and no real sustained rainfall until fall arrived. In the fall, lake levels began to rise again.

The fishing was amazing. If there is one plus to lower water levels, it is that fishing can actually improve as the old adage ,’ the fish have no where to hide, ’ proves true. High water brings flooded shoreline and pike hiding in inaccessible areas, plus hinders summer weed growth. Low water levels, the opposite. It would be impossible to list all of the outstanding catches from 2010 and we do highlight many of the individual stories through our email stories (which post on the website). Over 1500 Master Angler fish were caught and released in 2010. Biggest pike was a beefy 49.5” landed by main lodge guest John Lessner. John and his wife Carrie returned for their second visit to the North Seal. Close behind in 2nd place was a 49” pike from David Huggins that was as wide across the back as we have ever seen. The biggest lake trout was a 45" fish over 40 lbs. caught by the Darrell Baker group at Bain. Darrell's group actually had two fish this size. Don Barry's group was also at Bain and they had three lake trout approaching this size. Honorable mention goes to trout master Helen Warren. This was Helen and husband Jim's third trip to the North Seal, Jim’s fifth trip overall. They always do well on big lakers. Over 3 dozen Master Angler walleye were caught and released including Jerry Norek’s three Master Anglers, the largest at 32”. Biggest Arctic Grayling measured was at 21” and guest Pete Dezell landed one estimated at 22”. His friend Blake Drexler had just landed a 19 ½” before Pete. We’re sure there may be even bigger fish of all species C&R in 2010 that we don’t even know about, as many guests don’t share their stories and pictures until we see them at the sport shows.

The best thing about great fishing trips are the great memories they leave behind. Great lodges are about people, fun, and atmosphere and we have countless memories from the 2010 season. There are several that standout. The Tanner party, always a fun bunch and major stockholders in Labatts, getting into them thick and introducing new member Mark Krainnock into a level of fishing he never knew existed. The group took turns daily fishing a lake with a bay chalk full of big walleye. John estimated they caught between 200-350 walleye per day per boat averaging 18-26” and all by casting. Bob Rudisill ran into the big Kahuna pike and had a big 1 ¼ oz. Johnson Silver Minnow smashed so hard it bent the spoon in half. Les Salminen and DJ Hare got into the grayling at the outflow of the Laurila River, with over 70 fish averaging 16-18” in 4 hrs. including at least 12 doubles. First-timers father and son Sam and Paul Russo enjoying the North Seal at its finest after wondering if Ganglers and the North Seal could live up to its name. Days later, they had their answer ! Switching from big trophy pike one day, to wrapping into a school of big walleye, to jigging a ridiculous school of lake trout, and enjoying constant doubles, they said it was better than they could possibly imagine. Dr. John Krahnert Jr., a veteran North Seal angler, added another 7 Master Angler pike to his resume, including a beefy 45”. The Krahnert group took over 43 Master Anglers. Jerry Orgler and Richard Wedgebury, along with Dave Knox’s party of 4, got into a laker hole at Maria that was the best fishing they had ever experienced. The trout were stacked in 50’ of water, averaging 25-30”, and so thick they filled the depth finder screen. All reported it was impossible to get their lure to hit bottom before a fish would grab it. The next day they returned and experienced more of the same. Jerry and Richard lost count after hitting 20 doubles and there were 5 occasions when all six had fish on at the same time. At Clifton, it was a rare day when a boat didn’t catch over 100 walleyes and the pike fishing was outstanding. Greg Engel said it was some of the best he has ever seen and he is a veteran Canadian fisherman.

At Bain, Mike Tolley and Steve Mahoney reported one afternoon in the ‘J’ bay catching over 200 walleyes averaging 24-26”. Bain produced some real nice pike ad lakers in 2010. At Stevens, their party had over 16 MA pike, many on the fly. Speaking of flies, the master Bob Clouser joined us and took some beautiful MAs along with his friend Scott Mutschler. A very special trip was the Nelson family, all 10 of them, granddaughters and all, enjoying a great trip to Maria arranged by grandfather Bob. Unfortunately, Bob passed away before the trip took place but his clan carried on the family tradition admirably. This family is right at home in the Northwoods. He would have been proud and we were certainly honored to have them. They are returning in 2011. Super guide Darrell Baker and his hosted group had another phenomenal trip to Bain and we’ll have more later in another Ganglers emailing. It was nice to see the Henshaw group back at Maria and they worked their fishing magic again. That crew is a fishing machine.

Ganglers is blessed with the highest repeat clientele rate of anyone in the Canadian fishing world and many of our guests have become good friends, We apologize to those we haven’t mentioned and want all of you to know how deeply we appreciate your support and friendship.