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Winter 2006 / Spring 2007 |
Volume 13, Issue 7 |
WAVELL LAKE – new cabin for ‘07
Would you believe a cabin (24’ X 32’) that has separate bedrooms, knotty pine throughout, solar lights, indoor shower, screened-in porch, deck over looking the lake and a floating dock? Well, let us introduce you to the new cabin on Wavell Lake. The cabin is a beauty and sits on an island in the northern part of the lake with easy access to the rivers flowing in and flowing out. Fishing? Outstanding! Particularly for walleye. Give us a call and give it a try in the ’07 fishing season.
COMMUNICATIONS
Satellite telephones were in demand during the 2006 season and will be available in 2007 at $30/day + $2/minute/call + taxes. We would recommend that you RESERVE NOW – we have just 2 of them!
PASSPORTS/BORDER ISSUES
Beginning on January 23, 2007 all persons entering the USA by air will need a passport. If you have questions about passport requirements call the U.S. National Information Passport Center at 877-487-2778 or visit their website (http//travel.state.gov). With respect to entry into Canada visit the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) website (www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca). We will repeat what we said last year about crossing the border: be prepared & be truthful. If you have any questions about crossing into Canada please call the CBSA (807-274-3818).
Cost of Business
We talk about the cost of business going up every year; well, the 2006 season was not any different. The “big ticket items” (e.g., aviation gas, outboard gas, insurance, new construction, dollar exchange rates, etc.) rose dramatically over the course of the season and, as a result, we have had to adjust our pricing for the 2007 season. THANKS for your understanding.
Lakes & Descriptions:
Try going to our website (www.kabeelo.com) and “click” on individual lake videos. This will allow you to experience a tour of the lakes(s) while at the same time give you a good overview of the wilderness landscape. If you think of any questions, please let us know.
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !
“Daily Fly-Overs”: They will be random!
For the 2007 floatplane season we will continue our fly-over policy but on a random basis. This acknowledges our continued commitment for the safety of our guests while at the same time dampening the outlays for costs for escalating aircraft fuel prices.
BIG FISH
Would you believe a 50” northern pike? How about a 30½”walleye? These were the largest fish caught & released during the 2006 fishing season. John Barkmeier (Wisconsin) caught the biggest walleye & Scott Raedel (Washington) caught the largest northern pike. Steve Wehling (Chicago) is on front cover of 2007 brochure. Each of these gentlemen deserves a vote of THANKS as well as hearty CONGRATULATIONS!
Ah, those “rock piles”
You see them everywhere on your drive up from the Canadian border to KaBeeLo Lodge. They are called “inukshuks” (ee-nook-shook) and mean “ something that acts or performs the function of a person.” In the Canadian Artic (now called Nunavik) the inukshuks are milestones or markers used by travelers navigating the tundra . They are also viewed in the Inuit culture as symbols of safety, hope, and friendship. Now you know!
Destination Marketing Fee (DMF)
Recognizing that NW Ontario must compete in the world marketplace for “new customers” the resource based tourism industry (lodges & camps) may be planning to institute a DMF of approximately 1% on customer invoices. Once collected these fees will be allocated to marketing efforts for NW Ontario and are intended to increase awareness of NW Ontario to those living/working in the Midwest part of the USA (i.e., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, If you have questions about these fees please talk to your lodge or camp owners.
Lake Designations (see brochure)
When you have time, take a look at the inside of the current brochure and notice the “numbers” above each of the lakes. These numbers are the global positioning system (GPS) designation for each of the lakes. Ask your pilot and he may show you how the “waypoints” are entered and how a GPS functions in the floatplane.
Logging Logging Logging
In NW Ontario, logging is a fact of life as well as a major contributor to the local economies. This will not be changing anytime in the near future. As best we can tell (and as far as we know) wood harvesting will continue into the foreseeable future. This means that on your fly-out trips you may see barren plots of land resulting from wood harvesting and/or roads being carved out as they are winding their way northward. In each and every instance we have on-going assurances from Weyerhaeuser (holder of the harvest license for our area) and accountable government agencies (Ministry of Natural Resources) that harvesting activities will not impact our fly-out lakes or fisheries.
BE READY! BE READY! BE READY!
Our floatplanes may be at your outpost camp as early as 6:30 a.m. on “pick-up day.” Flying schedules, weather, passenger loads & seasonality effect daily flight schedules. So, BE READY! We do THANK YOU!
Moose Hunting in 2006/2007
For your information the local government “controls” the number of non-resident moose hunters an outfitter can accommodate each and every season (for us, nine hunters during the 2006 season). The season generally runs from the last week in September until the middle of November. Most moose hunters prefer the beginning of the season because the animals are in “rut.” During the 2006 season, among a total of eight (8) hunters we harvested four (4) bulls and one (1) cow with the biggest rack measuring in at about 44+inches. If you are thinking about reserving for a future hunt, NOW is the time to do it. We operate on a “first-come, first-serve” basis in terms of the type of tag (bull or cow) and the locations of the hunt. Call us now and reserve your hunt for the coming season.
H A P P Y N E W Y E A R ‘ S !
FISHING
We would like to go out on a limb (on a line?) and say the 2006 fishing season was probably one of the best in the past several years. Why? Based upon our discussions with governmental fisheries biologists, local fishing guides & “hundreds” of guests the answers became obvious: there were more fish in the lakes, they were easier to find & our guests used the “perfect presentation” virtually all of the time. Of course, other factors contributed: early ice out, early walleye spawn, warm air temperatures, virtually no bugs, gentle winds, lots of live bait and the perfect “fishing cycle” compliments of Mother Nature. As reported earlier in this newsletter about BIG FISH, while they were the biggest walleye and northern pike of the season, there were many, many, many fish caught which exceeded everyone’s expectations. We quit counting the number of reports of northern pike caught and released that were over 40” as well as the number of walleye over 24” caught and released. In short, a GREAT FISHING SEASON.
Upgrades
In an effort to continue the modernization of all things KaBeeLo we would like to identify the steps we have taken in this effort: built a new outpost cabin on Wavell (see 1st item in the newsletter); traded-in forty older outboard motors for forty new ones; completely renovated Bertha Lake cabin with new porches, doors, windows, siding, roof and solar system; new dock and walkway on Jeanette Lake; twelve new boats flown out to various lakes. While up-grades, renovations and trade-ins are a way of life in the lodge/hospitality business we continue working towards making significant changes on a seasonal basis so that KaBeeLo Lodge continues to be, or becomes, your destination of choice. [NOTE: During the 2006 season several guests asked why we traded 9.9 hp motors for 8 hp motors. The primary reason was cost, given that repair of a 9.9 hp motor is twice as expensive as an 8 hp motor. Related factors included: latest technologies in motor performance; increased fuel efficiency; unit pricing; and, stricter emission standards. Some temporary inconveniences may be encountered using 8 h.p. motors (versus the 9.9 hp) but it has been our experience that, overwhelmingly, the majority of our guests greatly appreciated newer, modern equipment].
FAMILY NEWS
We have a new Erik in our family (son-in-law, Erik Arntzen). You can see his picture (along with our daughter Kristin) in the Personal Note section of the brochure. The wedding took place in November 2006 in the Chicago area. He is a welcome addition to the Lohn family.
OVERLOADS!!!!
This is always a touchy subject and always will be, but as our guests you need to ADHERE TO THE 40 LB. LIMIT of personal gear. Overloads will be charged or gear will be left behind!
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