Silver Water Wheel Lodge
Lac Seul, Ontario
June 25, 2022
Noah Lindquist 29
I closed last week’s fishing report with a prediction of change. Truth be told, that is a pretty safe bet for every third week of June. What I did not expect was massive winds and dramatic changes in weather. Early in the week it was flat out Hot. In the middle of the week, we dealt with sustained winds approaching 40 mph. By the end of the week, nights were once again cool and felt more like June. The old Joke applied. If you are in Northwest Ontario, and you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.
We were so close to hitting the peak of the smallmouth bass bite at the beginning of the week. Surface temps were approaching 70 and the smaller bass were moving into the shallows. All we needed was one or two days of blazing sunshine and it was going to be perfect for our Texas bass fishing guests. Instead, we almost got blown off the lake, but then the high water combined with monster winds, left entire regions of Lac Seul with super dirty, clay-stained water.
The bass that were moving shallow left or staged one level deeper. We caught smallmouth bass this week and it was fun, but the top end size and the volume for big fish was significantly lower than what our long-time guests were hoping for. I always try to tell a straight story on this report and even though my boat caught some nice bass, there is no way around the fact that it was a little disappointing. On the plus side, those groups scheduled for next week will have a once in a decade window to catch numbers of really big smallmouth bass.
For the week, we caught and released 25 smallmouth bass over 19 in., including one 20. For the casual reader, that sounds great. We expect double those numbers for this week. To clarify the bite, it was all tubes and plastics. There was not near enough activity to warrant any crank bite, let alone a top-water bite. What we know tonight is that the peak of the smallmouth bass bite on Lac Seul is 4 – 7 days away.
The big winds and dirty water that I mentioned earlier were a boon for the walleye anglers. Volume and size were excellent this week, with 45 walleyes over 27 in. including 9 – 28s, 5 – 29s, and 1 – 30. Guide sheets averaged over 40 walleyes over 18 in. per boat per day. The most significant trend identified is that many of the bigger walleyes were caught in 12 ft. or less in the wind blown, dirty sections of the lake. The high water still changed some of the key big fish locations, but overall, walleye volume and size were well above normal for the week.
Jigs and minnows edged out Gulp by a slight margin, but the clever guide switched his guests’ multiple times every day to stay on top of the changes in the walleye bite. Walleye anglers were jacked about this week’s results.
With all of the focus on bass and walleyes, there wasn’t much effort applied to chasing big pike this week and there were almost no results to show for it. The big pike are in transitions and can be anywhere. I do not expect to see guests targeting big pike for at least another week until the cabbage weeds top out.
It appears that the lake level has crested at 1170.67 ft. above sea level. There may still be some small changes based on precipitation, but the overall trend appears that the lake levels should begin to slowly fall in the coming weeks.
As a final thought for the week, I cannot over emphasize how significant the dirty water was for this week’s results. For those of you who haven’t seen the milky, clay-stained water on Lac Seul after a big wind, It can be a shock. It was a definite negative for the bass bite, but it was also a huge win for walleye anglers. Don’t bother fishing the edge of the dirty water, get right in it with confidence and you will be surprised at how many big walleyes move shallow when the water is stirred up.
June 18, 2022
Nick Sigurdson 28.25
Apart from the lake level, it was a very normal week for the middle of June. There were some rainy days, some sun, some wind, and some flat calm. Despite some fairly significant rains, it feels like we may be close to the peak and that water levels may begin to fall in the near future. Tonight, the lake is at 1,170.7 ft. above sea level. We still have 4 – 6 inches before it goes over our fixed docks and I am hoping that this is as high as it gets.
The big pike bite was once again very strong this week, although it did taper off quickly at the end. For the week, we caught and released 21 pike over 37 in., including 3 – 40s, 2 – 41s, 1 – 42, and 1 – 44. The big ones were still shallow at the beginning of the week, but several major weather changes sent them into transition by the end. Spoons and big cranks were the top producers.
One of the big questions that is yet to be answered is what the high-water level is going to do to the cabbage weed growth this summer. Surprisingly, we are already seeing 2 – 3 ft. of weed growth on our electronics in 8 – 9 ft. of water. The cabbage may not top out by July 1, but my feeling is that the weed growth is going to be pretty normal, despite the high water.
As production began to decline for big pike, the guides shifted gears and began to focus more on hunting big walleyes. This week, we caught and released 40 walleyes over 27 in., including 7 – 28s, 2 – 29s, and 1 – 30. The pattern is that there was no pattern. We caught some big ones pulling big gulp at speed in the shallow, warm water areas we typically fish in spring and we caught big ones dead sticking light jigs and minnows on main lake points and transition zones. The quality of the bite often changed drastically from one area to another on the same day. The best strategy, was to continually experiment with different presentations, speeds, locations, depths, and regions. With that many variables in play, there was a difference in volume and production from boat to boat. Overall, guide sheets averaged 35 walleyes over 18 in. per boat per day.
As a walleye guide, the first question that I want to find an answer for every day is the key depth. Again, there wasn’t one. We found some active fish and some big walleyes shallow (4 – 10 ft.) We found just as many walleyes, including big fish and walleyes that were not active in deeper water (14 – 24 ft.) The key this week was to keep an open mind, regardless of the results and to continue to experiment.
The bass are pulsing shallower, but there is still no major push into the spawning bays. We are still catching many random bass while walleye fishing, but most efforts to target big bass have resulted in modest returns. For the week, there were usually 4 -5 bass on every guide sheet, even when they were not being targeted. We did release 5 over 19 in. with 1 – 20.
June is a major month of change and I will not be surprised if next week’s synopsis is very, very different from this one.
June 11, 2022
John Futterer 43
The big story of the week is the water level. In the 24 years that I have been on Lac Seul, the highest water level that I have ever seen was just over 1171 ft. above sea level. At that time, the water level was just an inch or two above our fixed docks. The floating docks were riding higher. Tonight, the water level is 1170.55 ft. above sea level and the Lake of the Woods Water control board is predicting that Lac Seul is likely to rise another 2 -3 inches over the next week. All of the controlled water outlets in Northwest Ontario are wide open. Without another unexpected major rainfall, it looks like we will probably not reach 1171. All of our structures are well above 1175, so we have no concerns about our buildings or operation. But the high-water levels have made a big impact on how we chase our favorite fish.
The high water has been a huge advantage for guides and anglers focused on big pike. I have never seen the super skinny, back water bite for big pike last so long. The low water throughout the entire 2021 season resulted in a ton of grass growing in what used to be the back bays. That grass is now flooded. Pike are green colored, ambush feeders and now they have a ton of bait swimming around submerged grass in the shallows. These conditions have prolonged the backwater big pike bite and SWWL guides have capitalized on it.
For the week, we caught and released 26 pike over 37 in., including 5 – 40s, 2 – 41s, and 1 – 43. With most of our return guests focused on walleyes and bass, this is a significant change in what we consider normal big pike production for the first 2 weeks of June. Spoons, cranks, and spinnerbaits were all affective. Location was the key.
Guides with groups targeting walleyes had to be much more flexible. Sunny afternoons with light winds sent the walleyes shallow. The problem is that what we used to consider shallow is now 8 ft. deep. Knowing your structure was critical. Finding the new productive shallow vs. the new unproductive shallower was tough. The pieces of the new puzzle are beginning to come together and we share our information every night. With that insight, we have begun to narrow down the new normal.
After adjustments, walleye volume was good this week with guide sheets averaging 30 fish over 18 in. per day. The increased volume eventually led to better numbers of big fish. For the week, we caught and released 25 walleyes over 27 in., including 7 – 28s, and 2 – 29s. Jig size was 1/8 or ¼. Most production was with minnows, but there were quite a few caught pitching the shallows with Gulp or twister tails. Several of the biggest walleyes this past week were caught on the pitch in 2 – 5 ft. of water.
I spent the last half of the week on advanced guide training. Our bass groups are scheduled to arrive soon. Some of our favorite spots are still good and others are not. We invested a great deal of time and effort trying to locate bass in the new high-water conditions. As we did, it feels like the smallmouth bass bite is going to be as good or better than previous seasons. Even though most surface temps are barely scratching the low 50s, we still caught and released 27 smallies over 19 in. including 2 – 20s. We won’t know until it happens, but the guide crew is looking forward to the peak of the bass bite that should occur in the next week or two.
The Take away – we are all hyper-focused on chasing down the next big bite. Species doesn’t matter. Just like the good old days, there is no guide discussion about anything related to covid. We are happy spending hours debating how to adjust to high water and how to find the big ones.
June 4, 2022
Matt Mitchell 43.75
It was a cool and rainy week in Northwest Ontario and water levels are still going up everywhere. Lac Seul is not at a flood stage like many of our neighboring bodies of water, but the lake is at the highest level that I have seen since 2014. In the 23 years that I have owned the lodge, we have never seen water levels this high in spring.
The high-water levels have changed some of the spring spawning areas for pike. The newly submerged vegetation and cool conditions were likely the reason that many of the big pike remained in or near the shallows this week. There were not that many anglers chasing big pike, but those that did, absolutely smashed them. Both numbers and size were big with most caught on large spoons and cranks. The 6 in. Jake was a favorite.
For the week, we caught and released 35 pike over 37 in., including 6 – 40s, 4 – 41s, 1 – 42, and 2 – 43s. Volume was also extremely high. The past 2 weeks will likely be some of the strongest big pike results that we have seen for some time. Mike and Nick Cochran fished hard for the big gators through some tough weather conditions and were responsible for catching more than half of the fish on the photo board. I joked about needing to charge them a photo paper surcharge. What is most surprising about those big pike results is how few anglers were chasing them. It was an exceptional week of pike fishing.
The weather and water conditions were a little trickier for the walleyes. The sun is powerful in the north this time of year and it only takes a few days of sunshine to heat the surface. Areas that are protected from the main lake often warm more than 5 degrees in one day. Usually, the warm water draws baitfish and the walleyes are right behind them. As a benchmark, we like to see 50 degrees, 55 is better, and at 60, the bite can be on fire. With almost a full week of cool showers, the main lake remains in the high 40s and many areas that are normally in the 50s are stuck in the high 40s as well. When the surface temps are similar across the lake and from top to bottom, there is no motivation for groups of walleyes to concentrate in the shallows. We caught walleyes from 4 – 24 ft. this week. There were some caught on the main lake, some in the back water bays, and some in transition areas. The guides worked hard to find good bites.
It was primarily a jig and minnow bite with most boats using 1/8ths and 1/4s. There were a few fish caught on plastic, but most of those were earlier in the week before the real cool weather set in. Volume was down a bit from last week. Guide sheets averaged 20 – 25 walleyes over 18 in. per boat per day. For the week, we caught and released 25 walleyes over 27 in., including 4 – 28s, and 2 – 30s.
We did see a few random bass in the mix, but it was not quite time to focus on them just yet. For the week, we had 7 over 19 in. including 1 – 20.
The Take Away – Given the same water and weather conditions, our results 15 years ago would have been much more modest. The accumulated knowledge of 20 years of exceptional guiding, helped our current crew make the most out of a tough bite. The foundation of our guiding program is shared knowledge and that is the only reason we were able to turn good results out of a tough bite.
May 27, 2022
Larry Owens 40
I am happy to be writing the first fishing report of the 2022 season. It has been a very long and difficult 2 years and despite all of our efforts, we are still feeling the pain of late cancellations. At the risk of being repetitious, I will write again that you will not be allowed across the border if you are not vaccinated. I received another full and 2 partial cancellations yesterday.
Official ice out on Lac Seul was May 20. What first appeared to be a potential record late ice out was broken by heavy and persistent rain. The runoff and spring melt were off the charts. Every lake, pond, stream, and puddle are filled to capacity. On a normal year, Lac Seul is right around 1165 ft. above sea level in late May. Today it is fast approaching full pool of 1170. I have never seen the lake this high in spring time. This evening you can step from the fixed dock to the floating dock without a step down. We are way better off than many of the lodges in Northwest Ontario that are dealing with flooded camps, docks under water, and roads washed out.
I did end up cancelling the groups scheduled for walleye opener on May 21. We knew it was going to be close, but having done this for a long time, we also knew that walleye fishing the day after ice out on the main lake basin of Lac Seul can be challenging at best. We have had fairly sunny and warm weather since the ice went out and the fishing improved rapidly. Our first guests of the year arrived on May 24.
We were able to target groups of main lake spawners as well as the first wave of walleyes migrating back to the main lake basin after spawning. The main lake surface temps are still in the mid 40s, but some of the back water bays have already warmed into the low 50s.
Considering that the ice went off the lake just one week ago, the walleye fishing has been very good for both volume and size. Looking at the guide sheets, we averaged between 20 -30 walleyes over 18 in. per boat each day. For the week, we caught and released 21 walleyes over 27 in. including 2 – 29s, and 1 – 30.
There was a fairly even balance for walleye production between 1/8 oz. jigs and minnows, Husky Jerks (size 12 and 14), and jigs with plastics pitched shallow. Most of the numbers were caught shallow between 2 and 10 ft., but some of the bigger fish were found just one level deeper in 10 – 16 ft.
We didn’t have as many groups chasing big pike this week, but those that did were very successful. The high water has flooded some of the grassy areas at the back of the warm water bays. We have found many big pike in new areas spawning on the submerged vegetation. Spoons, cranks, and spinnerbaits were all effective. The trick was to find a presentation that you could work around the weeds.
I knew it was a good week as it happened, but I didn’t realize how good of a big pike week it was until we did the numbers. Our guests caught 33 pike over 37 in., including 7 – 40s, 3 – 41s, 2 – 42s, 1 – 43, and 2 at 44.5 in. The number of pike over 30 was also off the charts. May is a gamble, but when you hit it right, it can be some of the best fishing of the year. The Ed Rosenow group has been fishing for big pike on Lac Seul for almost 30 years and this was one of their all-time best weeks.
The Take Away – Opener is always a gamble, but when you hit it right, it can be some of the best fishing of the year.
Another take away – I have been calling and emailing groups on my waiting list all Spring. This year is also off the charts for cancellations. My waiting list is no longer as deep as it usually is. If you want to hear about possible openings from cancellations, please do not hesitate to email me.
NOTICE: If you are not vaccinated, you will not be allowed to cross the Canadian Border!
NOTICE: If you are not vaccinated, you will not be allowed to cross the Canadian Border!
I don’t know if I can be any clearer.
Even after contacting every group several times over the Winter, I continue to have multiple groups give me surprise notice that they are dropping anglers from their bookings. The excuse is that they were hoping that the Canadian govt. would relax the rules at some point in time this summer. They will not.
The long waiting list of groups hoping for a cancellation doesn’t do me any good, because the group of 7 that turned into a group of 3 is still holding that cabin space. I have had several groups express their hope that their partial cancellation won’t be an “inconvenience” to us.
As a lodge owner, I am always ready for problems. We don’t complain, we just solve the issues. This year we are battling a hard winter, tons of snow, late ice, and record high gas prices. Oh, and we have not been able to operate for the last 1.5 seasons.
If it was just one group, then that would be an inconvenience. With multiple groups calling with partial cancellations, it is brutal for business. Throughout the pandemic, we have made every effort to take the high road for our guests. We did not take away anyone’s deposit when the border was closed. We transferred every deposit or refunded anyone who asked. We opened the lodge the day that we were allowed in 2021 even though many lodges chose to remain closed. Unlike other lodges, we are trying our best NOT to have to implement a fuel surcharge for this year’s bookings despite the financial beating we are taking.
We are struggling to get back to normal. Please help us out by making sure that all of your group members understand the stakes at hand. It is much more than an inconvenience.
Long Winter at the Wheel – April 27, 2022
Most of the upper Midwest has been experiencing a cooler than normal spring, but recent photos from the lodge show that Winter still has a death grip on the Lac Seul region. I have seen snow on the ground at the lodge in April and May before, but I was shocked at how much snow there is yet to melt. There is currently a 2 – 3 ft. base of snow everywhere along with multiple drifts that are 5 – 6 ft. deep.
Even after the snow melts, we still need to thaw 3 ft of ice from the lake. I bought the lodge in 1998 and through those seasons, the latest complete ice out was May 26 in 2014. I am guessing that we are going to break that record this year.
I am usually arriving at the lodge by this date. This year we are pushing back and I expect to arrive now on May 9.
I have been in contact with almost all of my first week guests to let them know that their walleye opener fishing plans are going to need some modification. I am hoping not to have to cancel the second week as well. I will have a better feel when I get up to the lodge and see the details for myself.
Eventually, the ice will melt. When it does, we are going to be thrilled to get back to the business of chasing big walleyes. We can’t wait to see you soon.
Mike Willems
ArriveCAN Information for Entering Canada
You must use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information before your entry into Canada.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html
Pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada by land, air or water.
You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada. You will not be able to complete the form prior to the 72 hour time frame.
Fully vaccinated travelers are not exempt from mandatory randomized arrival testing. This is not a big deal. We can help you through the testing process.
Who is exempt from arrival testing?
Already recovered: Travelers who provide a positive COVID-19 molecular test result, conducted at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. Counting starts the day after the test is taken.
- for example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, then January 11 would be the first day you could use it
If your positive proof is accepted, you won’t have to take arrival or Day-8 tests
How to use ArriveCAN
All travelers, with limited exceptions, whether entering Canada by air, land, rail or marine vessel, must use ArriveCAN.
The app will ask:
- Reason for entering Canada – TOURISM
- How are you entering Canada – Air, Land, or Marine
- Port of Entry and Date of Arrival
- Contact Information – including government travel document number (passport/advanced driver’s license)
- If you are traveling with multiple people in (1) vehicle, you can have multiple people on (1) ArriveCAN form
- Travel details
- The mailing address for the lodge is PO Box 723, Dryden, ON P8N2Z4
- The physical address for the lodge to use in your quarantine plan is:
Location RK 911, Part 1,
Plan 23R-3752 Lac Seul
Perrault Fall, ON
P0V 2K0 (the postal code is letter, number, letter, number, letter, number)
- Vaccination information
- including which vaccine(s) received (manufacturer)
- country where vaccination was received
- dates received
- You will need upload proof of vaccination – either take a photo with smart phone or scan vaccination card to upload on PC.
****Saved traveler feature****
The ‘saved traveler’ feature is optional for all travelers. It saves travel documents and proof of vaccination information in ArriveCAN for re-use on future trips. If you don’t use this feature, you’ll need to enter this information for each ArriveCAN submission. You can add, edit or delete travelers at any time.
When you have completed the form, you will receive a “receipt” in the app and by email. You will need to present this receipt to the border officer at your port of entry. You can show your ArriveCAN receipt from:
– the app – a screenshot – your email – a printout
Traveling With Children
Children who are under 5 years of age
Children under 5 are exempt from vaccination requirements. They are also exempt from pre-entry testing, arrival testing and quarantine, without any limitations on their activities.
These exemptions apply only to the child, not to the parents, guardians or family members travelling together. Children who are 5 on the day of their travel are not exempt from testing requirements.
Children aged 5 through 11
Some federal rules for children entering Canada may be different from the provincial or territorial rules. In this case, you must follow the stricter rules.
*Fully vaccinated children
Adults travelling with fully vaccinated children should upload their children’s proof of vaccination into ArriveCAN. As fully vaccinated travelers, they aren’t required to provide proof of a pre-entry test result. They are also exempt from quarantine, without any limitations on their activities.
Arrival testing for children who qualify as fully vaccinated:
must be tested if they are selected for mandatory randomized testing but are not required to be tested if their accompanying parent is selected for mandatory randomized testing
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children 5 through 11 years old
Your accompanying unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 5 and older must provide a valid pre-entry test result.
Options for providing proof of a valid pre-entry test
They will be exempt from quarantine, without any limitations on their activities. This means, for example, they don’t need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare. However they will need to wear a mask in public settings for 14 days after arrival to Canada.
Arrival testing for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children 5 through 11 years old:
must be tested if their accompanying parent is selected for mandatory randomized testing
Youth aged 12 to 17
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated youth 12 to 17 years of age must complete the 14-day quarantine, and all testing requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 tests, even when they are accompanied by travelers who qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler.
March 21, 2022 – Good News!
As of April 1, travelers to Canada will no longer be required to provide a negative result from a pre-travel Covid test.
When the border opened last summer on August 9, there was a tremendous amount of anxiety shared by all of the anglers that traveled north to fish with us at Silver Water Wheel. We were able to get everyone across but for many guests, it was a hassle. Getting the timing figured out for a PCR test 72 hours before an arrival at the border was problematic, especially for our groups from smaller home towns and more rural areas. Many had to travel to get a test and often the cost was between $100 – $200.
I am happy to report that all of those concerns and headaches are gone.
Traveling anglers are still required to be vaccinated and I personally do not expect that rule to change for this summer. Anglers are considered fully vaccinated if they have had 2 shots of Moderna or Pfizer or one shot of Johnson & Johnson. Booster shots are not required. Your CDC card is considered adequate for proof of vaccination.
The only other requirement is to fill out the ArriveCan app. This is a screening tool that you fill out 3 days before your trip up north. It is easy to navigate and pretty straight forward. Most fisherman have reported that it takes about 5 minutes to fill out. There is one tricky question on the app – “What is your quarantine plan?” Your answer is the address for Silver Water Wheel Lodge. If anyone has a question, please feel free to call us and we will be happy to walk you through it.
There will be the usual questions about alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, but this latest announcement from the Canadian government means that it will be much easier to plan and to cross the border this season.
We very much look forward to welcoming all of our friends – old and new, to the Wheel this summer!
Friday, September 24
John Freeman 30.25
Our 2021 season has come to a close this week. We had fewer anglers in camp and we averaged less than 4 boats on the water per day – but for those boats overall production was good. Our daily guide sheets averaged 35 walleye over 18 inches per day, and we caught and released 15 Walleye over 27 inches, including three 29’s and a 30.25 incher.
Our guide crew shifted over to live bait this week. Whether we were moving fast or slow, the walleye preferred live bait and we caught almost no fish ‘Gulping’. Having just 3 or 4 boats on the water means not as many experiments are tried out there each day, so there is less information gathered than would be on a regular week in the summer with a full crew. But the daily reports we did have all agreed the walleye were trending strongly to live bait. Sand structures were the high-volume producing spots, especially on warm weather days. Though most of our big fish came from rock structures, at mid-range depths this week, not the widely variable depths from weeks past.
Looking back through our guide sheets this week there were no guided days spent pike fishing, that’s pretty unusual for us in the fall. We did boat 4 over 37 inches and a 39 incher, all caught while walleye fishing.
On a personal note, every year when I look back the season has seemed to fly by. Far more so with the abbreviated season this year – heck, it still feels like we just got started! Even with a season so short, I’m just very glad we got a chance to open up and see so many familiar faces back in the boats and fishing with us again. Until we managed to open back up again in August, I did not realize just how much I missed being on the water and hunting for fish with our guests each and every day. Already looking forward to next year and a brand-new season at ‘the Wheel’, hope you all are too!
Brett
