We have seen more water this year than ever before. Water levels are about 18 inches higher than the previous record! While this is great for the fishery because of expanded spawning areas and increased survival rates for fry, it has also meant much work for us with the docks (which are mostly underwater) and shoreline. As you can see above, the beach is completely underwater and the bank has started eroding into the lake! However, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. With a nice dry spell in the past week, the water level has finally started dropping. It has gone down nearly two inches in the past couple of days.

A tradition was started way back in 1995 when the staff organized the “Little Hammered Olympics”… named then after the Lillehammer Olympics that were held in 1994. The staff would create teams, find a theme and get dressed up, then compete in various events such as volleyball, tug-of-war, bat twist, relay races, can toss, etc. The Olympics were held yearly until 2001 - at which point they tailed off. Tonight, the tradition returned after a three year hiatus! Four teams competed, and here were the final standings: 1st - Tonya Harding and the Hitmen (Pat, Tim, Jenna, Andree) 2nd - Snowboarding Sasquatches (Devon, Pit, Dave, Colin) 3rd - Socialite Serial Killers (Stacy, Andre, Diesel, Richard) 4th - Jacqueline and the mullets (Jacqueline, Turbo, Dan, Kik)

Muffin Reef is a relatively new spot on our lake. We have only been fishing this little-known reef in the past 4 years. However, the walleyes don’t usually arrive there until the end of August. However, tonight Pat was able to get things kick-started at Muffin Reef. It was a great bite and his guests Bob Sharanowski and Todd Walker each caught trophy walleyes! Their three day trip has been a great success, with three trophies landed between the four of them. Congratulations!

With no guests in camp tonight, the staff got creative and had a theme party! The girls had prepared for this party a long time ago… by buying all the costumes and decorations while in Winnipeg a couple of weeks ago. The boys had no idea! It was a great party. With some pre-mixed margaritas, umbrellas for the drinks, and leis for everyone! Kik got creative when he found out he would need to dress up as he turned one shirt into a whole outfit! Thanks for the great party girls!

As an aside to the tournament held these past few days, the guides also competed in a seperate category. After day 1, Turbo had a commanding lead on everybody. However, Diesel made a huge comeback in day 2. Diesel was fishing with tournament champ Chris and they were catching slot after slot including three 27.5″ walleyes. Near the end of the day, Diesel finally surpassed Turbo to take a lead! They were fishing side by side in the Saddle at the time. As 5:00 neared, Turbo would not be denied. He was reeling in a small walleye when this monster pike hit it! After a nerve-splitting few minutes and a couple of missed nets, the pike finally made its way into the boat. The 42.5″ pike (pictured above) pushed Turbo back in the lead and gave him the top prize in the tournament!

Today concluded the second and final day of the First Annual Tournament hosted by our new partners, the Jensens. They have been coming up with groups for over 15 years, but this year they decided to have a formal tournament! A field of 13 fishermen competed in the event. Points were kept each day and were based on the six largest fish in the boat each day. The big points started at 25″ for the walleyes. The runaway winner in the event was Chris Jensen! Having already fished tournaments in the past, he stuck to a strategy of staying in one spot and waiting out the big ones. It paid off, as he called the Saddle home for two days in a row and caught dozens upon dozens of scoring fish. Second place went to CJ’s day 2 partner, Jon Hesse… third place went to his day 1 partner John McGowan.

Last year, we began a new partnership with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. By donating a trip to their charity, the Field of Dreams Foundation, we were able to raise thousands of dollars by raffling off a trip for two to fish with Paul Edmonds Goldeyes fan favorite player Donnie Smith. Paul Edmonds is the radio voice of the Northern League’s AA Winnipeg Goldeyes. He can be heard throughout the summer on CFRW 1290 in Winnipeg. The trip was such a success that we decided to repeat it again this year! Tony Brunette, a Goldeyes season ticket holder, won the trip and is accompanied by his son Mike. Paul is an avid fisherman and loves his time at Aikens (which is conveniently scheduled during the league’s all-star break). This morning, he set into a hefty 28″ walleye. It’s his 5th trophy walleye which means Paul will soon be receiving his Walleye Specialist Badge from the province! Congratulations Paul!

The Outdoor Canada article (see other news posting) has certainly sparked some debate and now some new information has come out! Apparently there have been several strange happenings around the lodge this year… although no actual sighting has been reported. Tim reports of an incident a few weeks back. One night, after the power went out in the Portage, he went outside to flip the breaker. He saw a quick moving white shadow in the woods which rattled him a bit. He continued on his way into the workshop where the circuit box was… He was inside the shop in darkness and was fumbling around for the box when he heard a knocking on the back window of the workshop (a window that has no outdoor access to it!). Tim fled back to his cabin and was so shaken that the story had to be practically beaten out of him! Another incident happened just last night when Andre was sleeping alone in the Portage. His radio, although it wasn’t even on, was emitting static and strange noises! The guides are on high alert and an actual sighting seems imminent! The picture above was taken by Pat about two weeks ago. It’s a picture of the trail near the generator in the middle of the day. We have no explanation for the white marks on this digital photo! If you come to Aikens, just ask the guides about Elsie and you are sure to hear alot of stories like these!

Outdoor Canada is a popular outdoor magazine sold in Canada. It has been around for three decades and offers stories on Canada’s best fishing and hunting adventures and destinations. Last year, one of it’s contributors named Krista Foss came to Aikens with a group of writers. Krista decided to write a fantastic article about Elsie Carlson, our resident ghost! The article appears in the current issue of Outdoor Canada. Elsie and her husband Eric were the ones who built the lodge in the late 40’s. She lived year-round at Aikens in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. In the article, Krista quotes some ex-guides such as Gil Lavack. She also interviews our longest standing client, Mr. Tom Greteman. Tom has been coming to Aikens with his family since the 50’s! If you live in Canada, you can pick up a copy of the issue at any newsstand. Alternatively, if you cannot obtain a copy or live in the USA, just send us an email and we’ll send you an electronic version of it. Enjoy the read!

With no guests and the staff all back at home, the lodge has been quiet in the past few days. This is the week of our annual break where everyone on the staff gets to go home to reunite with family, friends, better halves, and they get to spend all the money that’s been accumulating in their bank accounts! As you all know, the water has been very high this year and the docks have required weight (in the form of heavy barrels) in order to prevent them from floating away! The end of the dock where we land the planes was already about 10 inches under water… Well, a HUGE storm hit this past weekend that added 6 inches to an already flooded lake! The only people there right now are Gerry & Lorraine along with Maurice & Jeanne. They have been working frantically to bail all the boats that were nearly sunk! Also, several things are now at the water’s edge including the Lone Coyote and Fox’s Den cabins (the ones down the path behind the sawmill)! Hang on, as the reinforcements will be returning at the end of the week!!!