Ontario's Sunset Country

Connect with Ontario's Sunset Country online

2012-01-07T10:36:00.000-06:00

Do you need a quick question answered? Want to see inspiring photos of Sunset Country? Need up to date information?

Follow Ontario's Sunset Country on one of our many social media avenues.

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View inspiring photos of Sunset Country

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Watch Sunset Country videos (more to come in the future)

You can also view our main Sunset Country website which links to over 400 Ontario lodges, resorts, hotels, local travel centres, businesses and more. Looking for something specific? Try one of our many product specific websites. Ask questions about traveling to Ontario's Sunset Country via email.

It's Sports and Vacation Show Season!

2012-01-06T10:19:00.000-06:00

The Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association will personally be at 5 sportshows this winter. Come on by to pick up our brand new 2012 Travel Guide & Fishing Map and our new Sunset Country Hunting Brochure. We also bring many of our members' brochures to the shows as well. One stop shopping!! The Sunset Country brochures will also be available at the Travel Center at all the All Canada shows as well as at the Northwest Ontario booth at the All Canada Shows.

Minnesota Sportsmen's Boat, Camp & Vacation Show

Where: St. Paul River Centre, St. Paul, MN
When: January 12-15th, 2012
Show Hours:

Thursday January 12 - 2 pm - 9 pm
Friday January 13 - Noon - 9 pm
Saturday January 14 - 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday January 15 - 10 am - 6 pm

Visit the show website for a $2 off coupon, schedule of seminars (including ones from outdoor pros such as Tony Roach, Jason Dommeyer, Jason Mitchell and Todd Amenrud), and more.

Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre, Rosemont, IL
When: January 26 - 29th, 2012
Show Hours:

Thursday, January 26 - 2 pm - 8 pm
Friday, January 27 - 2 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, January 28 - 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday, January 29 - 10 am - 5 pm

If you buy your tickets online ahead of time, they are $2 cheaper and you get a free magazine subscription to Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Islands or Transworld Motorcross (one per household). See the website for details.

Cedar Rapids Sportshow

Where: Hawkeye Downs Expo Centre, Cedar Rapaids, IA
When: February 10-12th, 2012
Show Hours:

Friday February 10 - 2 pm - to 8 pm
Saturday February 11 - 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday February 12 - 10am - 4 pm

Visit the Cedar Rapids Sportshow website for prices, to print a coupon and for more information. Visit the "Ask the Pros" Info Booth where Fishing and Hunting experts are featured throughout the show. Stop by, ask questions, get great tips.

Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show

Where: Fargodome, Fargo, ND
When: March 1-4th, 2012
Show Hours:

Thursday March 1 - 5 pm - 9pm
Friday March 2 - Noon - 9 pm
Saturday March 3 - 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday March 4 - 10 am - 6 pm

Come to the 47th Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show, North Dakota's largest sportshow. In addition to all the exhibitors, there are tons of seminars to see including some by Frank Addington Jr., Ted Takasaki, and hunter Todd Amenrud. There is a trout pond and a Kids Fishing Workshop with the pros from Scheels. Visit their website to see a complete list of seminars.

Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show

Where:Tri-County Arena Neenah, WI
When: March 9-11th, 2012
Show Hours:

Friday March 9 - 2 pm - 9 pm
Saturday March 10 - 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday March 11 - 10 am - 4pm

Visit the Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show website for more information and coupons.

Stop on by at any of these Sports Shows and pick up some brochures to help plan your trip. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more updates on the Sportshows.

If we aren't heading your way this year, order your free 2012 Travel Guide & Map online and have it delivered to your door.

2011 Weather Great for Vacationers, Not So Great for Our Forests

2011-11-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

Extreme Fire Behaviour Sioux Lookout Fire 35

Monday was the official end of the forest fire season in Northwestern Ontario. While vacationers and residents alike enjoy the sun and high temperatures this summer, the same dry, hot weather wrecked havoc on our forests. The 2011 forest fire season recorded many more fires in Ontario than in 2010 and affected a much greater area. As of October 31st, the official end of the fire season, 1,330 forest fires were recorded affecting 632,533 hectares. This is the largest area burned in the last 50 years.

Waterbomer dropping water on Red Lake Fire 59

Unfortunately a lot of the area burned was due to a handful of fires which happened to be in Sunset Country. Sioux Lookout 70 was the largest fire recorded in Ontario history burning 141,000 hectares. Another fire, Sioux Lookout 35, reached 112,000 hectares making it the 8th largest fire on record. These 2 fires accounted for approximately 40% of the total area burned. The 2011 fire season was extraordinary because of the concentration of difficult fires in the northern parts of the Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Nipigon districts. Smoke from these fires disrupted the lives and businesses of many in the northern communities. 4,476 people were evacuated from 11 northern communities between July 21 and August 9th.

Red Lake was just one of the communities to see smoke most of the summer.

Of the 1,330 fires in 2011, causes have been identified for 1,210 fires. Of those 1,210, about 62% were caused by lightning and 38% were caused by human activities.

Thanks to the efforts of the MNR fire fighters and other provincial fire fighters and many others various workers, most of the fires have been put out completely. Although there are about 15 active fires in Northwest Ontario. July 22, 2011 saw the busiest day fighting fires. To put things into perspective, the resources working that day included:

21 waterbombers
96 helicopters
91 Type-2 sustained action crews
639 out of province staff
2,823 total personnel

You can see on the right hand side just how close the fire got to Thunderhook Fly-ins' cabin

There are many fly-in outpost cabins up in our northern woods. Normally one is grateful for the peacefulness and the remote wilderness. When there is a huge forest fire at your doorstep in these remote areas though it is hard to save some of the buildings. Thunderhook Fly-ins which fly out of Armstrong saw a lot of fire action this summer. In the heat of the summer, fire fighters were able to save their South Shab outpost cabin. Later in the season though they weren't so lucky. Their cabin on McKinley Lake was totally destroyed. The only thing left standing was the dock, water heater and stove. The canoe's were melted away to nothing. For more photos of the fires at Thunderhook Fly-ins, visit the Thunderhook Fly-ins Facebook page.


Fly-in outpost cabin on McKinley Lake was unfortunately burned to the ground.

A special thanks to all the fire fighters and support workers. It is very hard work and your help is much appreciated. To see more photos about the forest fires in Northwest Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources has posted many photos depicting the fires. The MNR also has a neat tool on their website that shows all the active fires in Northwestern Ontario. Viking Outposts from Red Lake also have a few more stories and photos of the fires in Northwest Ontario on their blog. You can view them here and here.

Our boreal forest is meant to burn. Jackpine cones only open with the heat of a fire. Hopefully though next year Sunset Country won't see as many forest fires near our communities and camps. However, this dry fall is probably not helping the cause.

4 Shows the Whole Family Will Love

2011-10-18T16:29:00.000-05:00

Flyin' Bob opens the Children's Entertainment Series circuit in Northwest Ontario. Atikokan's Children's Entertainment Series, Dryden's Children's Delight Series, Fort Frances' Kids and Company, Kenora's Sunday Smiles, Red Lake's Family Entertainment Series, and Sioux Lookout Kids Kaleidoscope have been offering four, high quality performances that focus mostly on dance, music theatre and puppetry for children and their families Sunset Country.

The 2011/12 performances are as follows:

Flyin' Bob

From the rainbow skywriter, to a dramatic and nearly disastrous finale on the 9 foot high, 20 foot long tight-wire, Flyin' Bob; balancer, wire walker, professional idiot and highly skilled goofball, takes you on a visit to the one man three ring circus in his mind. He views the world as filled with toys, and tries to convince his audience to see it the same way. The most common reaction after seeing the show is, "This guy has too much time on his hands!". Flyin' Bob considers this the highest possible compliment.

October 20, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout
October 21, 2011 at 6:30 pm at New Prospect School in Dryden
October 22, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Red Lake District High School in Red Lake
October 23, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Lakewood School in Kenora
October 24, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances
October 26, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Atikokan High School in Atikokan

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Based on the book by L Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, this exciting story follows the early life of Santa Claus from being abandoned in the forest and adopted by the wood-nymphs, through to making and delivering the very first toys. Meet the original reindeer Glossie and Flossie as well as the chilly rogue Jack Frost and find out the answer to lots of Christmas questions! Why do we hang stockings? Where the first Christmas tree was decorated? And finally how he came to be known as Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. Packed with funny jokes, inventive puppets, enchanting songs and tons of opportunities for the audience to join in, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is both a beautifully crafted story and an engaging piece of theatre.

November 17, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout
November 18, 2011 at 6:30 pm at The Centre in Dryden
November 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Red Lake District High School in Red Lake
November 20, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Lakewood School in Kenora
November 21, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances
November 23, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Atikokan High School in Atikokan

Anders Magic

Winnipeg magician Anders has been performing and astounding audiences professionally for over 10 years. Anders' show is an interactive combination of magic, juggling, comedy and pick-pocketing. The kids will be glad to know he uses plenty of audience participation but watch out for Anders' 2 animal co-stars Rocky and Vinnie. A true entertainer, Anders strives to make your experience memorable and magical. This 60 minute show is sure to impress and delight all ages.

February 23, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout
February 24, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the New Prospect School in Dryden
February 25, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Red Lake District High School in Red Lake
February 26, 2012 at 2:00 pm at Lakewood School in Kenora
February 27, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances
February 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Atikokan High School in Atikokan

Project Soul

Project Soul was created to share the love and passion of hip hop. It shows the positive impact it can have on communities and how it connects/identifies with so many of today's youth. The group is made up of individuals who each specialize in different genres of street dance: popping, locking, hip hop, street jazz and breakdance. The show highlights these individual lives and how they came together as Project Soul.

Project Soul begins with the opening of their current touring show: how music gave them the gift of dance. This leads into each individual performer's solo that include biographical voiceovers expressing how they got involved with street dance culture and what impact it has on their lives. In conclusion they end with how hip hop has brought them together as a group, a community and given them much more understanding of their own identity.

April 19, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout
April 20, 2012 at 6:30 pm at New Prospect School in Dryden
April 21, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Red Lake District High School in Red Lake
April 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm at Lakewood School in Kenora
April 23, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances
April 25, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Atikokan High School in Atikokan

For more information and ticket prices, please visit:

Atikokan: Atikokan Children's Entertainment Series or call Kathy at 807-597-4306
Dryden: Children's Delight Series
Fort Frances: Kids and Company
Kenora: Sunday Smiles or Sunday Smiles on Facebook
Red Lake: Family Entertainment Series
Sioux Lookout: Kids Kaleidoscope

Tips for Crappie Fishing in Sunset Country

2011-10-15T17:50:00.001-05:00

Fall crappie fishing at Arrowhead Resort in Nestor Fall

As the summer ends, crappie fishing heats up Sunset Country

Fall is one of the best times of the year to go crappie fishing in Sunset Country; the weather is cooler and the mosquitos are gone. September, right through until the end of October is when you'll find the black crappies biting. Often anglers like to fish for crappie in the deeper holes; jig in the 20 - 40' depths and you'll find the crappies in huge schools. Small jigs, tipped with live bait or small tubes is the best way in the fall. The schools can be 10 feet thick at this time of the year.

Winter ice fishing for crappie is fun as well. You'll find the black crappies large in size and in good numbers. Often, the outfitters will set up ice huts right over where schools of crappie tend to gather. Combine your crappie fishing (and walleye, trout or northern fishing as well) with some snowmobiling. Stay in a winterized cabin and cozy up beside a fire after a great day of crappie fishing and snowmobiling.

Ice fishing for crappie at Gateway North Outfitters

Crappie fishing in the Spring is the best through the ice or just after ice out, when they move inshore to feed on schools of bait. In most cases, you'll find crappie in shallow bays or suspended along deep weedlines. Live minnows on a small (1/4 to 1/8 ounce) jig work great.

Black Crappie Found in Northwestern Ontario

Black crappie are a favourite of panfish anglers. A schooling fish, crappie are not always easy to find but when you do locate them, you're usually over a lot of fish. This popular pan fish can be found in large numbers in certain lakes such as Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods, Off Lake and the Winnipeg River System. A true delicacy, crappie make for some of the best eating if you love to eat fish. Black crappies are generally 7-10" (18-25cms) long and weigh between 0.5 and 1 lb. They have 7-8 dorsal fin spines; 6 or 7 anal fin spines and an irregular mosaic of distinct black blotches. Black crappie can be found in Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Zones 4, 5 and 6. Crappie fishing season is open all year round. The crappie limit is 15 with a Sportfishing license and 10 with a conservation fishing license. You can download the Ontario fishing regulations to find out more about the rules of fishing in Ontario.

Link to Ontario lodges and resorts to inquire about crappie fishing opportunities available at their location.

Top 5 Tips When Planning a Canadian Hunting Trip

2011-10-11T10:29:00.001-05:00

Make sure you are prepared for your hunting trip

When planing a hunting trip to Canada, you should really plan in advance as some of the following tasks will require some time. Whether you are planning, a bear, moose or whitetail deer hunt, not adhering to these rules can put a trip on hold and cost losses of fees. When planning a hunting trip to Canada, here is a list of the top 5 basic things to know:

1) Remember your Passport
A passport is required to enter Canada by car, sea or air. If you don’t have one, get one as soon as possible. You can apply for your U.S. Passport online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html

Tip: Make two colour copies of your passport before you travel. Carry one each in different luggage or firearms case in case you lose your original. Always carry your original passport with you at all times when you travel internationally.

2) U.S. Customs Form 4457
You will need to have a U.S. Customs form 4457 filled out with a list of items of value as proof you owned them before you entered Canada. It is best to list your firearms, spotting scopes, riflescopes, video cameras, etc. This is usually any item of value that contains a serial number. Failure to obtain a completed U.S. Customs Form 4457 before you leave may end up costing you Duty (tax) at the Canadian Border as you enter back into the United States. The customs agent may think you bought your hunting equipment in Canada and therefore charge you duty. The online form can be accessed at: CBP website. Fill in the form and bring it with you to the border crossing where it will be stamped with the official customs seal. DO NOT SIGN IT until you meet the border crossing officer.

Tip: Make 2 extra copies of your Form 4457 and keep them with your extra passport copies.

Sample Form 4457

3) Canada Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909
Hunters must fill out the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909 before leaving for Canada. Don’t try to fill it out at the border, as it will delay your trip. Do not sign this form until you are at the border and the officials there ask you to sign it. You will need to present the form with your passport. There is a fee for the permit and it is approximately $25 CDN. You can pay for your permit in Canadian dollars or by MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Canadian Customs does not except U.S. Currency. Remember to always carry your firearms permit and identification while you are hunting. Do not bring any handguns on your trip as handguns are prohibited in Canada. Obtain your firearms application at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/num-nom/909-eng.htm

Tip: Fill out the form online and then print 3 copies. Double check your firearms details, especially the serial number, before you hit the print button.

4) Denied Admission to Canada
Visitors may be denied admission to Canada if you have any of the following convictions on your record:

Minor offences (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.)
Indictable Criminal offences (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.).
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Successful Moose Hunt at Thunder Hook Fly-ins

5) Bringing back your Canadian Hunting Trophies
There are 3 different ways to get your coveted hunting trophies back from Canada into the United States:

(1) Bring them back with you by car or airplane

To bring back the raw cape, rug and/or antlers/horns home with you, you will need to fill out U.S. Fish & Wildlife Form 3-177-1. This form appoints you as the owner/broker of the animal parts you will be importing from Canada into the United States. If you use a hunting consultant, they should fill this out for you. If you booked your trip direct with the Outfitter, you will need to fill it out yourself. This form can be a little tricky and will require some research as you will be required to list the common name of the animal you are importing as well as the scientific name. Remember to present your Canadian Hunting License and tags with this form to prove that the trophy was taken legally. You can find the application and instructions at http://www.fws.gov/forms/serachdata.cfm and typing "3-177" into the search field.
Tip: Fill out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Form 3-177-1 before your hunt.

(2) Have the cape, rug and/or antlers/horns shipped

Bring back your raw trophies by having them shipped to you. Your Canadian outfitter will bring your hunting trophy to a taxidermist. An export permit must be filed in Canada to export the hunting trophies to the United States. The hunting trophy must be shipped to a USDA Port of Entry and received by a US Brokerage Company and inspected by the U.S. Wildlife Department to make sure the contents and the export paperwork match so that the hunting trophy may legally imported into the United States. Once the hunting trophy clears the U.S. Port of entry, it must be shipped to a USDA Certified Taxidermist. This process can take up to 6 months and cost upwards of $750 or more depending on how many trophies you are importing.

(3) Have the trophy taxidermy mounted and shipped back to you
Have your hunting trophy taxidermy mounted in Canada. This entails you to trust the outfitter to choose a taxidermist for you. You will not have to run the taxidermy trophy through process #2, but you will have to pay shipping and customs fees.

Being prepared for your Canadian hunting trip can make all the difference! For more information about hunting in Sunset Country or to connect with other hunters, visit HuntSunsetCountry.com. For more information regarding non-residents having firearms in Canada, visit the Canadian Firearms Program.

What's the difference between American Plan & Housekeeping Packages

2011-10-03T09:01:00.000-05:00

Rent a Housekeeping Cabin

Confused when booking a fishing or hunting vacation in Northwest Ontario?

If you are planning to stay at a resort or lodge in Sunset Country for your family vacation, weekend get-a-way or your annual Canadian fishing trip, your accommodation choices are wide and varied. Many of the fishing and hunting outfitters in Sunset Country offer different packages including American Plan and Housekeeping cabins. Do you have to be an American to have 'American Plan'? No. I'm not sure where these terms came from or if they are even used in other parts of the world. In general, American Plan means that your meals are included and Housekeeping is where you make your meals in your rented cabin. I say 'in general' because each outfitter has various packages. Some will include everything in the American Plan Packages such as meals, baits, guide service, boat rental, gas and more. Some lodges include only the meals in their AP Package. Modified American Plan usually includes dinners. To save a bit of money you can rent a housekeeping package and make your own meals. The majority of the resort and lodges in Sunset Country offer separate cabins for every party. There are however, some American Plan resorts that offer you a room in the lodge itself.

American Plan Dining Room - Courtesy of Tom Thomson

Usually the Ontario fly-in outpost camps are just like renting a housekeeping cabin except that you fly into a remote area not accessible by car. There are also fly-in American Plan Lodges that offer you the seclusion and the luxury of hot, home cooked meals.

With all the options available when booking your Canadian vacation in Sunset Country (meals or no meals, boat rentals vs bringing your own boat, guide service, etc.) it's lucky we have the Internet! The lodges and resorts in Sunset Country describe their different fishing and hunting packages on their websites. Visit the Ontario lodges and resorts to start planning your vacation today. Order the free Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide & Map that has all of our accommodation members dotted on the map with a useful directory on the back.

Do you have more questions about visiting Ontario's Sunset Country? Feel free to call us at 1-800-665-7567 and we'll do our best to help you out.

Grand Opening of the HarbourDome Tonight

2011-09-16T18:09:00.009-05:00

The new Harbourfront Tent is up in Kenora! After planning for a year or two and actual construction since last fall, the new Harbourfront tent (HarbourDome as some are calling it) is up and will be used by Canadian legends Blue Rodeo tonight, September 16th, 2011. Below are some progression photos I've been taking during construction. The first photo is of the old tent which is to the left of the new tent if you are looking at it from the water.

Kenora Harbourfront - The old yellow and white tent


Kenora Harbourfront - Just before the top is to go up

Kenora Harbourfront - Lifting the tent

Kenora Harbourfront - Top of tent is attached

Kenora Harbourfront - Top of tent is up!

Kenora Harbourfront - Tent sides are up.

Ready or not, here we come! Tonight Blue Rodeo will christen the Kenora Harbourfront tent. Kenora's own Fat City will open for Blue Rodeo. See you there!

UPDATE:

So back from the concert. The tent is awesome! It's way bigger than the old yellow and white tent. I was near the back and the sound was great even back there. Only draw back is that they ran out of beer too early. lol. It looks way bigger inside than it does from the outside. Great job Kenora! Here's a photo of Blue Rodeo and inside of the tent. I didn't bring my good camera, so it's iPod quality. I'll see if I can upload a video tomorrow.


Blue Rodeo rockin' it in Kenora.

Get Hooked on the Rainy River Walleye Tournament

2011-09-07T14:09:00.003-05:00

Who will catch the biggest walleye in 2011? Courtesy of Gateway North Outfitters

The Town of Rainy River is looking forward to the Rainy River Walleye Tournament held September 22-24, 2011. With an overall purse of $43,450.00 and a champion prize of $15,000 you can have fun and maybe win some big money too! The tournament is not only of interest to anglers but has a schedule of events that is for the entire family.

The Parade of Boats kicks off the tournament on Thursday at 4:00pm. The tournament anglers are treated to a Fisherman's Dinner at 5:00pm on Thursday with an Official Tournament Rules meeting afterwards. Beer gardens open at 7:30pm. There is a traditional fish fry on September 23th, a steak fry on the 24th that are open to the public. New for this year will be a market under the tent; you can do a bit of shopping while waiting for the anglers to weigh-in. The daily weigh-ins are the highlight of this event. See some big fish caught by tournament participants and experience the anticipation and excitement this always brings.

Anglers take off on Friday at 8:45, 9:00 and 9:15am. Saturday they leave a bit earlier, at 7:45, 8:00 and 8:15am. Watch the weigh-ins on Saturday beginning at 3:15pm and then stick around for the Awards Presentation and the Rainy River Junior Curlers Boat Draw. Tournament Boundaries will be from markers at Wheelers Point at the mouth of the Rainy River to markers at Long Sault Rapids east of Stratton on Canadian Side of Border

Brian Ney and Jim Ney won the RRWT in 2011 - Courtesy of the RRWT

Last year Brian Ney and Jim Ney won the Rainy River Walleye Tournament. The top 15 anglers in the Rainy River Walleye Tournament win cash prizes. There are also prizes for 2 different hidden weights on both days, a parade prize, River Champ, Day One and Day Two Big Fish and the Lionel Roberts Memorial Award Largest Basket of Tournament.

Watch the Rainy River Walleye Tournament's Facebook page for updates and results or visit the Rainy River Walleye Tournament Scoreboard. Visit Sunset Country's website to see a listing of other fishing tournaments in Northwestern Ontario.

UPDATE:

Rainy River Walleye Tournament Top Ten Results Day 1:

Oliver Gibbins & Jason Gibbons - 15.48 lbs
Christian Armstrong & Mark Nault - 10.61 lbs
Dave Armstrong & Darren Armstrong - 10.55 lbs
Troy Kreger & Doug Kreger - 9.37 lbs
Harvey Cochrane & Peter Gushalak - 8.60 lbs
Michael McQuaker & Matt Ivall - 8.40 lbs
Dean St. Pierre & Brian St Pierre - 8.22 lbs
Doug Jorgenson & Allan Wolanicki - 7.90 lbs
Lisa Stone & Raymond King - 7.77 lbs
Kirk Wood & Jon O'Conner - 7.7 lbs

UPDATE 2:

Oliver Gibbons & Jason Gibbons win the 2011 Rainy River Walleye Tournament!!! The top ten after day two are as follows:

Oliver Gibbons & Jason Gibbons - 22.96 lbs
Dan Armstrong & Sean Kilpatrick - 19.16 lbs
Lisa Stone & Raymond King - 18.00 lbs
Christian Armstrong & Mark Nault - 17.75 lbs
Dave Armstrong & Darren Armstrong - 15.65 lbs
Kirk Wood & Jon O'Conner - 14.47 lbs
Doug Jorgenson & Allan Wolanicki - 13.83 lbs
Kevin Marchuk & Tom Briggs - 12.46 lbs
Troy Kreger & Doug Kreger - 12.27 lbs
Sean Westman & Dave Oldakowski - 11.01 lbs

For complete results see the Rainy River Walleye Tournament Facebook Page

Red Lake Fall Classic

2011-08-28T22:47:00.065-05:00

Red Lake Fall Classic on Red Lake in Ontario - Courtesy of RLFC

The catch & release walleye tournament is held In Red Lake on September 3rd and 4th, 2011. The Red Lake Fall Classic is held each Labour Day with the top anglers taking home cash, merchandise and some bragging rights. Last year's winners of the Red Lake Fall Classic were Joe Barron and Lonnie Lundmark. With a day one total of 14.22 lbs and 13.70 lbs on day two, the 27.92 lb total was enough for first place. The big fish of the walleye tournament came on day two and was a nice 7.82 lb walleye caught by Wayne Cerven and Stan Cerven.

2011 Red Lake Fall Classic prizes, based on 140 teams, are as follows:

First $11,000
Second $5,000 & 2 Humminbird Trolling Locators
Third $3,000 & 2 MinnKota Trolling Motors
Fourth $2,300
Fifth $1,700
Sixth $1,300
Seventh $1,200
Eighth $1,100
Ninth $1,000
Tenth $900
11th - 15th $300
16th - 20th $200
21st - 25th $100 & 21st - 24th get a tackle box

There are also prizes for Mystery Weights, Big Fish each day, Mixed Team & Ladies Team Big Bag each day, Low Weight with Ten Fish, Team Finishing in 51st Position - Randy Brownlee Memorial Award, Big Fish Over All, Big Bag each day and Overall Big Bag, Big Charge to the Top 25 placings, Big Charge Award, and Top Team with Lund Boat.

Here's a short clip of anglers waiting to weigh in at the 2010 Red Lake Fall Classic. Courtesy of L.A. Varga. If you like to watch the boats take off or come in, the anglers leave in 3 flights between 7:00 and 7:30 am. Saturday they come back between 4:00 and 4:30 and Sunday anglers arrive to weigh in between 3:00 and 3:30pm.

There is a Junior Championship on Saturday September 3rd from noon-2pm at the Government Dock. All participants win prizes. Last year Isabeau Laverdure won first prize with a 0.72 lb Rock Bass. The Kids Tournament is open to children under 12.

Check back next week to see updates on who won the 2011 Red Lake Fall Classic Catch & Release Walleye Tournament. Visit Sunset Country's website to see a listing of other fishing tournaments in Northwestern Ontario.

UPDATE:

Red Lake Fall Classic Day 1 Results as per the Red Lake Fall Classic website:

Top five anglers

Dave Cryderman & Dan Daciw - 17.53 lbs
Dennis Wintle & Kevin Szachury - 17.06 lbs
Dominic Dodic & Andy Willis - 15.35 lbs
Doug Skomoroh & Keith Rutter - 15.19 lbs
Kevan Bassingthwaite & Harry Spence - 14.83 lbs

UPDATE #2, September 4th:

Unofficial results of the 2011 Red Lake Fall Classic are:

Dennis Wintle & Kevin Szachury D1-17.06, D2-14.89, Total: 31.95
Dave Cryderman & Dan Daciw D1-17.53, D2-13.34, Total: 30.87
Patrick MacMillan & Catherine Farley D1-14.54, D2-13.99, Total: 28.53
Kevan Bassingthwaite & Harry Spence D1-14.83, D2-13.27, Total: 28.10
JP Kennedy & David Koss D1-13.92, D2-13.53, Total: 27.45
Dean McDonald & Scott Gardiner D1-14.45, D2-12.58, Total: 27.03
Dominic Dodic & Andy Willis D1-15.35, D2-11.54, Total: 26.89
Doug Skomoroh & Keith Rutter D1-15.19, D2-11.62, Total: 26.81
Jerry Woods & Jake Teichroeb D1-13.79, D2-12.69, Total: 26.48
Jason Leblanc & Tim Szaflik D1-14.58, D2-11.80, Total: 26.38

Big Fish Day one: Dave Cryderman & Dan Daciw with a 8.72 lb walleye.
Big Fish Day two: Warren Kujansuu & Ron Kujansuu with a 6.19 lb walleye.
Junior Championship: Garrette Peloquin won the Kid's Tournament with a 1.46 lb Northern Pike.

For a complete list of winners, please visit the Red Lake Fall Classic website.

4 of the Best Hunting Opportunities in Sunset Country

2011-08-25T16:17:00.002-05:00

Sunset Country consists mostly the boreal forest and thousands of freshwater lakes. The cities and urban areas are sporadically placed within the forests. Northwest Ontario is ideal for hunting; the area is large and the animals are abundant. Four of the best hunting opportunities include Black Bear, Moose, Deer, and Birds (Waterfowl, ducks, grouse etc).

Ontario Black Bear Hunting:
Ontario has to be one of the most accessible areas in Canada for quality black bear hunting. Our forests and lakes make it a perfect habitat and a plentiful food supply for these industrious animals. As a result, Ontario has one of the largest black bear populations in North America. Since it is hard to accurately count bear populations, estimates as to their numbers vary widely. In the southern part of Sunset Country, around Rainy River, Fort Frances and Atikokan, there are about 40-60 bears/100 sq. kms. Around Kenora, Dryden, Ignace, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout, there are approximately 20-40 bears/100 sq. kms.

The opening of hunting season for black bears in Ontario is in the late summer and fall. Season opens on the 15th of August for most Wilderness Management Units and September 1st or 7th in others. Consult the MNR Hunting Regulations Summary for open season dates for the area you plan to hunt. Opening day may be different for residents and non-residents. Non-residents of Canada must use the services of a licensed tourist outfitter with two exceptions. Non-residents are not required to use the services of a tourist outfitter if they own property in the WMU they are hunting and if that WMU has an open black bear season for non-residents or, if they are hunting with an immediate relative who is licensed to hunt black bears in a WMU with an open season for non-residents.

In Sunset Country, the bear hunting is excellent and our Travel Association has many tourist outfitters who have rights to Bear Management Areas (BMA) and who can offer guided or un-guided hunts. Bow and rifle hunts are the most common and non-residents obtain their licenses and access through the tourist outfitter. There are a wide variety of accommodation choices from fully-guided American Plan hunts to un-guided hunts where you rent a housekeeping cabin. You can also fly in to a remote outpost cabin and hunt in BMAs that have no road access into them. Whatever package you choose, your chances for a successful hunt are very good. For more information on fall bear hunting packages visit our special website dedicated to Ontario Bear Hunting.

Ontario Moose Hunting - You won't be disappointed!

Ontario Moose Hunting:
Northwest Ontario's Sunset Country has more moose than any other region in Ontario. Moose are the ultimate in big game with many bulls sporting 50 plus inch racks. Fully-guided moose hunts are available from our member outfitters. Bow hunts as well as traditional rifle hunts are available or, for something uniquely different, try an old-fashioned black powder hunt. Non-resident moose hunts are available based on tags allocated to our individual outfitters - a system that ensures stable and healthy moose populations while affording hunters the opportunity to bag a trophy bull. Cow and calf tags are also available.

There are few settings as wild or as beautiful as Northwestern Ontario to come moose hunting. Endless tracts of boreal forests, rock ridges and wide open meadows make up the topography of this 60,000 square mile area of Ontario. As you hunt, you'll find the setting to be to your liking and in itself a big part of the experience. Your accommodation choices are many and varied. Full American Plan lodges where meals are part of the package are available or for the more independent hunter, a housekeeping package where you do your own cooking is the best choice. Many hunting lodges are accessed by car or boat or you can try a fly in moose hunting trip in remote parts of Sunset Country. Our member outfitters offer both guided and unguided hunts. For more information on moose hunting in Northwest Ontario, visit our website dedicated to Ontario moose hunting.

There are numerous Whitetail Deer in Sunset Country

Ontario Deer Hunting:
Large populations of whitetail deer can be found in the southern end of Sunset Country. They are mostly found around and below the Trans-Canada Highway which runs across Sunset Country. This is the part of Ontario where the famous "Dryden Buck" was shot at the end of 2003. The illegally shot deer was an Ontario record with a score of 223 gr 199 7/8 net green score. The deer in Ontario are large-bodied and can be found in great numbers. Hunters can access the services of a deer hunting guide if they wish or venture out on their own (some areas must use a guide if you are a non-resident). The biggest bucks are generally deeper in the bush so if you are thinking of going after the real trophy animals you should be prepared for it. There is also an excellent population of does.

Deer hunters enjoy a high success rate with full support services from our hunting outfitters. You can stay at a full-service hunting lodge or rent a housekeeping cabin for your Canadian deer hunt. For more information on deer hunting in Northwest Ontario visit our website dedicated in Ontario Whitetail Deer Hunts.

Duck decoys on Rainy Lake

Ontario Duck, Bird and Waterfowl Hunting:
The sheer numbers of ducks, Canadian geese, other waterfowl and game birds in the Sunset Country region of Ontario, Canada make it a bird hunter's paradise. Located directly north of the State of Minnesota and with its thousands of lakes and water systems, Sunset Country is along a major migration flyway for several species of waterfowl. Extensive beds of wild rice on the many lakes provide important forage for hungry, migrating birds and the ideal setting for a fall waterfowl hunt. Bring your hunting dog, hunt remote areas accessible only by hovercraft and enjoy the natural beauty of the backcountry areas of Northwest Ontario. In addition to several species of ducks, there is also excellent hunting opportunities for Canada Geese and game birds such as Ruffed and Spruce Grouse.

The options for a great hunt are virtually endless! You may want to even combine your hunt with a fall fishing trip. For more information on duck hunting in Ontario visit our website dedicated to Ontario Duck Hunting Trips.

You can download the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary off the MNR website. It's nicely broken up into species so it's easy to find what you are looking for. They also have a link to a Map of the Wildlife Management Unit Boundaries in Ontario. If you want additional information on hunting, the Sunset Country Travel Association also produces a 84 page Travel Guide that includes a poster-sized map of the area. Click here to order your FREE copy or call us toll free at 1-800-665-7567.

Visit our newest hunting website - huntsunsetcountry.com where you can link to hunting outfitters and suppliers, get information and tips and strategies on hunting in Sunset Country and more. You can even show off and upload photos of your prize. We love seeing photos.

What do Mike Richards and Chris Pronger have in common?

2011-08-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

Chris Pronger Playing for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Courtesy of www.VancityAllie.com

They both come from Northwestern Ontario! With a small population to choose from, Sunset Country has a surprisingly high number of great athletes. Not surprisingly though is the fact that we produce great hockey players up here in the Northwest. Many children learn to skate almost before they can walk. Two of the best are Chris Pronger and Mike Richards. These two hockey greats even had the chance to play together on Team Canada and bring home Olympic Gold at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Duncan Keith who grew up in Fort Frances also played alongside the pair ensuring Northwestern Ontario was well represented at the Olympics. Sunset Country even can boast having won the Stanley Cup. The Kenora Thistles won the Stanley Cup in 1907. Read on for more hockey great hailing from Sunset Country.

Chris Pronger hails from Dryden, Ontario. Chris began his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes). He was Hartford's first pick and #2 overall in the 1993 Entry Draft. In 1995 he was traded to the St. Louis Blues for Brendan Shanahan. Chris won the Hart Trophy and the Norris Trophy for the 1999/00 season, the first defenseman to do so since Bobby Orr in 1972. Chris has helped Team Canada to win Olympic Gold twice, once in 2002 and also in 2010. Pronger played for the Blues until the 2004/05 NHL lockout. He was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers for defencemen Eric Brewer, Jeff Woywitka and Doug Lynch. In 2006, Chris became the first player in NHL history to score a penalty shot goal in a Stanley Cup Final game. In 2006, Chris was traded to the Anaheim Ducks and played an important role for the Ducks as they won the Stanley Cup that year. At the end of the 2008/09 season, Pronger was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and consequently played alongside fellow Northwest Ontarian, Mike Richards. Chris Pronger is a member of the prestigious Triple Gold Club - hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.

Mike Richards was raised in Kenora, Ontario. The Kitchener Rangers picked Mike in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. Richards began his OHL career in 2001/02 and helped win the Memorial Cup in 2003. He led the team in scoring during the regular season with 87 points. Richards was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers Round 1 #24 overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Level draft. Mike scored his first career NHL hat trick, which included two shorthanded goals, against the New York Islanders in 2006. In 2008, Richards was named the 17th Flyers Captain. He played for the Flyers in the NHL from 2004-2011. Philadelphia traded Mike Richards (the Flyers Captain) and Rob Bordson to the LA Kings for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a second-round draft pick in 2012. Mike played in the 2010 Winter Olympics and helped bring home the Gold for Canada.

Mike Richards playing for the Philadelphia Flyers - Photo taken by Rhys Asplundh

Duncan Keith moved to Fort Frances, Ontario when he was just two. His father was transferred to British Columbia where Duncan earned a spot on the Penticton Panthers. Keith played parts of two seasons with the Michigan State Spartans before joining the Kelowna Rockets in the early parts of 2002/03 season. His last stop before playing for the NHL was playing for Norfolk of the AHL. Duncan Keith started with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2005/06 season. Keith won gold in the 2010 Olympics and then returned to the NHL to go on to win the Stanley Cup during the 2010/11 season. He was playing against Flyers Mike Richards from Kenora in the finals who was also hoping to win a Gold medal and the Stanley Cup in one year.

Sean Pronger first played with Kenora's Boise Cascade AAA Midgets and the Thunder Bay Flyers. He played next for Bowling Green State University in 1990 and was then picked up by the Vancouver Canucks in the 3rd round of the 1991 Entry Draft, going 51st overall. Signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, he joined their AHL farm team, the Baltimore Bandits. A standout player, he was called up to the Ducks for seven games during the 1995/96 season. He moved into the NHL for 39 games in 1996/97 and remained with the Ducks for most of the 1997/98 season. He also played for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets. He ended his hockey career after the 2004/05 season with over 700 professional games to his credit, including 260 regular season and 14 playoff games in the NHL.

Cameron Mann was raised in Balmertown Ontario. Mann first gained attention as a top player for Kenora Thistles in 1992/93. Next he played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL and was selected 99th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1995. He returned to the juniors and helped the Petes reach the Memorial Cup final in 1996. Mann was named to the tournament all-star team, voted the MVP of the Memorial Cup, and placed on the OHL first all-star team in 1996 and 1997. Mann appeared in 94 NHL games with the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators. Since the 2003/04 season Cameron has played professional hockey in Europe.

Mike Allison playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs - Courtesy of the Northwestern Ontario Hall of Fame

Fort Frances' Mike Allison was the number one OHL draft pick for Sudbury in 1978. The fan favourite was selected 35th overall in the 1980 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Rangers. In his first ever NHL appearance, Mike made a goal with his first shot on net just 46 seconds into his first shift playing in Boston against the Bruins. His second NHL game was even more spectacular as he made a hat-trick against Toronto at the Maple Leaf Gardens. That first season with New York Mike broke a Rangers' record for most points by a rookie with 26 goals and 38 assists in 75 games. Mike was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1986, then was traded to Los Angeles during the 1987/88 season. He played for the LA Kings for three seasons before retiring with a 10 season NHL record that included 102 goals and 166 assists in 499 regular season games.

Mark Vermette played youth hockey in Cochenour, Ontario until age 15, then playing for the Notre Dame Hounds. Mark's hockey career took off while playing for Lake Superior State University in his third year when he scored a circuit-leading 45 goals in just 46 games.
Mark went on to play seven years of professional hockey including 67 NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques.

Rick St. Croix started his hockey career by being one of the top goalies in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playing with the Kenora Muskies for three seasons. Next, Rick played in the OHA for the Oshawa Generals. The Philadelphia Flyers picked Rick as their third choice in the fourth round of the 1975 Amateur Draft, going 72nd overall. After signing with the Flyers in 1977, Rick played for the club's AHL Affiliate, the Maine Mariners. During the 1979/80 season, Rick was named to the AHL First All-Star team was the co-winner of the Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Trophy for outstanding goal tending in the AHL. Playing for the Flyers in 1980/81, Rick appeared in 27 games posting a 2.49 goals against average. He also recorded his first NHL playoff shutout against Calgary. In 1983 Rick was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs where he played until he retired from professional hockey in 1985.

Wayne Muloin was the first hockey player from Dryden to play in the NHL. After developing his skills in the minor leagues in Dryden, Wayne joined the Edmonton Oil Kings Junior A Hockey Club in 1959. He was made Captain in his third and final season with the Oil Kings. Wayne enjoyed a successful professional hockey career that saw him play for the Edmonton Flyers, Cincinnati Wings, St. Paul Rangers of the Central Professional Hockey League, Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League, and the Providence Rhode Island Reds American Hockey League Club. He joined the NHL full-time in 1969, at the age of 29, with the Oakland Seals. He was was traded in March of 1971 to the Minnesota North Stars. From Minnesota, Wayne went on to the Cleveland Barons of the AHL, then to the Cleveland Crusaders of the newly formed World Hockey Association. After a season with Edmonton he returned to Rhode Island in the AHL retiring with them in 1977 rounding out close to two decades of a professional hockey career.

Wayne Muloin Playing for the Oil Kings - Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Keith 'Huffer' Christiansen played Junior Hockey with the Fort Frances Royals and then continued on to play at the University of Minnesota in Duluth. He was named the Bulldogs Rookie of the Year in 1963/64 and went on to become the team's lead scorer in all of his 4 seasons. The 1966/67 season was stellar; he was a WCHA first team all-star, scoring champion, league MVP, NCAA All-American and named UMD's Outstanding Senior Athlete. He was a member of the US National Hockey Team from 1969-71. In 1972 he was named co-captain of the US Olympic Hockey Team and helped his newly adopted country win silver at the Olympics that year.

Gary Bergman, born in Kenora in 1938, played intermediate hockey with the Kenora Thistles and then played for the Memorial Cup champion Winnipeg Braves. From 1960-64 he played with Buffalo, Cleveland and Springfield of the AHL, then moved to the NHL's Detroit Red Wings in 1964/65. Bergman was a defenceman with the Red Wings for 10 seasons and was voted their most valuable defenceman from 1971-1974. He was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for the 1974/75 season, but returned to the Wings later that season. In 1975/76 he jumped to the Kansas City Stars of the World Hockey League where he played out the rest of his hockey career. He is also remembered for being selected as a member of Team Canada for the epic 1972 Canada-Russia series.

Ed 'Sonny' Kryzanowski was the first hockey player from Fort Frances, Ontario to make it to the NHL. After a season with the Fort Frances Canadians senior team, Ed played defense for the Varsity Blues at the University of Toronto from 1945-48. Ed joined the Boston Bruins in 1948. He was a versatile hockey player and played every position but goalie while service in the Royal Canadian Navy, Ed played defense for the Varsity Blues at the University of Toronto from 1945-48. Ed was such a great hockey player that he joined the Boston Bruins in 1948. He was a versatile hockey player and many every position but goalie while he played for the Bruins. He was acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1952 and then afterward played in the AHL with the Providence Reds and the Hersey Bears.

Johnny Gallager played defense for the Kenora Thistle Juniors from 1925-29. Next Johnny played for Montreal AAA and in 1929/30 claimed the illustrious Allan Cup. The Montreal Maroons, having sponsored his senior team, felt that they had first claim on him. Johnny, however, had entered into negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs and it cost the Maroons $12,500 to get him on board for the 1930/31 season. This was the beginning of his 7 year NHL career. After a serious injury, Johnny played in the IHL during the 1934/35 season. Moving back into the NHL for the 1936/37 season Johnny's dream became a reality, winning the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. Not bad for a guy who started out as a mascot. He played his final two years in the NHL with the New York Americans, retiring in 1939 with a NHL record of 205 games played, 14 goals and 19 assists.

Charles 'Rabbit' McVeigh played with the Kenora Thistles Senior team in 1918/19 before making his way west to play for the Winnipeg Victorias, Moose Jaw Maple Leafs and the Regina Capitals. Charley joined the Pacific Coast Hockey League in 1924 playing for Portland Rosebuds in Oregon. When the PCHL disbanded, the Rosebuds became the Chicago Black Hawks. In 1926 the Black Hawks were admitted into the NHL and Charlie played for them until 1928 when he was traded to the New York Americans. Charlie's nine seasons with the NHL included 84 goals and 88 assists in 397 games.

1907 Stanley Cup Champions

The Kenora Thistles Win the Stanley Cup in 1907

In January of 1907 the Kenora Thistles challenged the Montreal Wanderers for the Stanley Cup. The Thistles traveled to Montreal and won both games to claim the Stanley Cup. Kenora was the smallest town to ever win the Stanley Cup and boy, were the townspeople ecstatic. People across Canada were awed by the performance of the small-town boys. Visit the Lake of the Woods Museum website to read some of the Newspaper excerpts after Kenora won. Some of the local men on the Thistles winning team were Silas "Si" Griffis,
W.G. 'Billy' McGimsie, Tom Cooper, and Tommy Phillips.

Blue Rodeo to Christen 'HarbourDome'

2011-08-15T08:46:00.004-05:00

Blue Rodeo will be first concert at Kenora's HarbourDome.

Blue Rodeo is playing for the opening of Kenora's new Harbourfront tent. The yellow and black tent that has been a staple on the Harbourfront for many years is no more. Last Monday a strong gust of wind lifted the tent and down it came. As I walked by a day or two later it was a sad sight to see the tent laying in a crumpled heap. The end of an era I guess.

Luckily for Kenora residents and visitors, contractors have been hard at work last year and this summer building the new 'HarbourDome'. The new permanent, year round tent will be bigger and better. The tent is one part of the massive renovation down at the Kenora Harbourfront. I for one can't wait to see it completed. This is the second phase of the downtown revitalization. The first phase was done a few years ago with Main Street being gutted and the roundabout being built.

Blue Rodeo is set to christen the tent performing live on September 16th. Tourism Kenora is selling tickets online and you can either get them mailed to you or you can pick them up at the new Discovery Centre on Lakeview Drive. Tickets are either $50, $70 or $90 plus a $4 service fee and tax.

Kenora, often promoted as the 'Events' city has just announced that the Stampeders are booked to play two weeks later on October 2nd. The Juno Award-winning classic rock group is best known for it's 'Sweet City Woman' hit. Tickets are $45 and can be bought at www.mygolive.com It looks like the new tent with a capacity of 2000 people will be bringing bigger names in the future. Personally, I am hoping for the Tragically Hip one day. The Stampeders are also set to play in Fort Frances and Dryden. On September 30th you'll find them belting out tunes at the Townsend Theatre in Fort Frances and then at the Dryden Cultural Centre on October 1st.

For other events in Sunset Country visit our Events Calendar on our Facebook page.

Where Does One Find Stock Car Racing and a Horse Show?

2011-08-10T23:35:00.000-05:00

Stock Car Races at the Emo Speedway - Courtesy of the R. R. Valley Agricultural Society

At the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair! Catch the action in Emo, Ontario August 18-20, 2011

The Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair takes place at the Fairgrounds in Emo. There is so much to do at the fair this year. The popular Stock Car Races run on Friday and Saturday nights. Hotlaps start at 6pm and racing starts at 6:30pm. Racing is held at the Emo Speedway. The Borderland Racing Association holds a Pancake Breakfast August 19 from 7-10am where the members serve up a great breakfast of pancakes, and sausages with coffee or juice.

The Horse Show at the Rainy River Valley is one of the few horse shows in the area. So if you are a horse lover, be sure to make your way down to watch. There are a variety of classes and events including miniature, draft and light horses. On Friday the Horse Show starts at 9am and Saturday it begins at 8am sharp. Look for the horses in the northwest corner of the Fairgrounds.

Rainy River Valley Fall Fair Horse Show - Courtesy of the RRVAS

As for the exhibitions, anyone can be an exhibitor. Just become a member of the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society and then you can enter lots of your great handiwork, garden produce, chickens, goats, rabbits, homemade delicacies and much more. Download the Fair Book to see what you can exhibit. There's a whole lot more to do than enter or view exhibits. See the 4-H displays of completed projects in the 4-H Exhibition Hall. Enjoy a beef burger, homemade French fries or locally grown corn on the cob at the 4-H Food Booth. Take a walk to the barns to visit the animals and pets that the 4-H members have raised as 4-H projects this year. The motto of the 4-H Club is “Learn to do by doing".

The Beef Show has been a tradition since the very beginning of the Fall Fair. It's great competition and a good time. Often there are exhibitors not only from Rainy River Valley, but Dryden, Thunder Bay and Manitoba as well. There are classes for all age of cattle, male and female including a Jackpot Heifer Class and Open Showmanship (if you are walking through the barn and decide you would like to try showing you just need to ask to borrow a animal and you can compete in this class), Breeders Herd, Andy Carpenter Memorial Herdsman Award, and a special class for kids that are too young for 4-H. Ever see a cow have a bath and a haircut? Take a few minutes and visit the barn to see this spectacle.

Midway Rides for the Young and Young at Heart

Select Shows brings their midway to Emo from Thursday to Saturday. Thursday the midway runs from 2pm-midnight. Friday and Saturday the rides are open from noon to midnight. There are rides for both young and old. Younger children will enjoy the smaller rides while the older children and adults can feel the exhilaration of a larger, scarier ride. I find if you are stressed, a fast-paced scary ride where you yell at the top of your lungs always helps. Everyone will enjoy some of the treats like a candy apple or cotton candy.

The RRVAS Parade held on Saturday at 12:00pm sharp. The Parade route begins in front of the Emo Hospital then follows Front Street, turns onto Queen Street, then crosses Highway 11/71 and ends at the grandstand. This year's parade theme is anything Disney.

The Loggers Competition is sure to impress. All events are in front of the grandstand. Competitions include speed power saw, 2 man cross-cut, chair carve, pole felling, buck saw, axe thros, pulpwood toss, axe chop, tea boil and Jack & Jill events.

What would a Fall Fair be without a Queen? You can meet the Queen candidates at a supper and fashion show on Monday August 15th starting at 6pm. This year's contestants are Chelsey Mosley, Kaylee Heyens, Sarah Glover, Hailey Trimble and Liz Steele. The crowning of the RRVAS Fall Fair Queen takes place on Thursday.

Mini King & Queen Contest - Courtesy of the R. R. Valley Agricultural Society

Each year the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 99, Emo, sponsors a Mini-Queen and Mini-King pageant. Several boys and girls compete in the Mini-Queen and Mini-King pageants ages 3-6 years of age. The pageant takes place Thursday at 7:30pm in the arena during the Queen Contest.

The Song Star Showcase is an amazing lineup of 12 local singers from the Rainy River District. They will be preforming on the small stage from 2-5pm Friday and Saturday. Come out and enjoy what the local singers have to offer. Saturday night Centreline takes the stage performing hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s. The dance will be from 9pm-1am.

Visit the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair's website for a complete list and schedule of events and attractions. For more information on Emo, visit the Township of Emo's webpage or go to www.ontariotowns.net/Emo/ for things to do and places to stay in Emo.

"The Funnest Bass Tourney in the Northwest"

2011-08-09T12:53:00.002-05:00

Boats waiting to take off in the morning. Courtesy of the ABC.

The Atikokan Bass Classic is held on August 12-13, 2011. Last year's $10,000 first place winners of this fishing tournament were Darwin King and Guy Legarrie. The pair were eighth place after day one and then catapulted into first place with a huge catch of 20.04 pounds on Saturday. Who will come home with the big prize this year? Payout is 96% of Team Entry with the first place finish netting approximately $10,000. Besides the top 10 teams, prizes will also go to the best Parent & Child, Grandparent & Child, All Women, Male/Female Teams and for the biggest fish. There are four flights each day. The tournament fishing hours on Friday and Saturday are:

First flight: 7:00am to 3:00pm
Second flight: 7:15am to 3:15pm
Third flight: 7:30am to 3:30pm
Fourth flight 7:45am to 3:45pm

Access into Marmion Lake is at the Anderson Dam Landing. Anglers must fish the Upper and Lower Marmion Reservoirs in accordance with the Official Tournament Map. Entry fee is $500 per team, maximum two (2) people per boat. Competitors are provided a free steak supper the Friday night of the tourney. The Atikokan Legion Branch #145 and Legion Ladies Auxiliary are catering the meal.

Nice bass caught in the Atikokan Bass Classic - Courtesy of ABC.

Besides the fishing tournament, Atikokan goes all out and has a Bass Classic Family Fishing Festival. Some events started on August 6th but there is still a lot going on. Tuesday night there is a camp-out at the Atikokan Public Library from 6:30-8:00pm (registration required, ages 10-12), the Atikokan Bass Classic Dart Tournament at the Legion and a Poker Bike Ride at the Charleson Recreation Area. On Wednesday there is a Pow-wow under the Big Tent, Couples Golf, Game Night at the Atikokan Public Library from 6:30-8:00pm for ages 12 & up and fireworks at dusk at the White Street Ball Park.

Atikokan Bass Classic Boat Parade. - Courtesy of ABC.

Thursday is jammed packed with activities: A Farmer's Market at the Atikokan Foodland Parking lot from 10am-5pm, Artisan Tent at the greenspace beside CIBC, Funtastic Castle Kid's Event, Outdoor Games at the Library, Beer Gardens, the Parade of Boats on Main Street at 6pm and the ANFC Fish Fry under the Big Tent and more. The actual Fishing Tournament is on the Friday and Saturday (August 12-13). Friday also has a Bake-off, Beer Gardens, Movie Day at the Library and Country Singer Chris Janson in the evening. Day 1 weigh-in is at 3pm under the Big Tent. The festival ends Saturday with a day of fishing, Jumper Fun at the corner of Main & White Streets, Beer Gardens and a Street Dance featuring Night Train. Day 2 weigh-in for the Atikokan Bass Classic is at 3pm. For a complete schedule of events and more information on each event visit the Atikokan Bass Classic website.

With so much going on, there's surely something that will peek your interest. For more information on Atikokan or places to stay, visit the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation, the Town of Atikokan, the Atikokan Chamber of Commerce or www.ontariotowns.net/Atikokan

Stay tuned for the 2011 Atikokan Bass Classic Results!

UPDATE: Results of the 2011 Atikokan Bass Classic

Kevin Rissanen of Atikokan and Cory Nephin of Geraldton blew the competition away with a total of 42.62 lbs. Second place went to to Kim and Aaron Wiens of Atikokan with 36.54 lbs. It was a fairly close race from second place all the way to sixth place. The big fish on day one went to Doug and Greg Sampson with a 5.75 pounder. Day two had a heavier big fish with Ed Gouliquer and Jim Bauler bringing in a nice 6.19 lb bass. The big fish on day one helped Doug and Greg Sampson to catch the biggest bag the first day. Their total was 22.09 lbs which would be the biggest bag of the fishing tournament. The biggest catch of day two went to winners Kevin Rissanen and Cory Nephin with a total of 21.21 lbs. Consistency was key for Rissanen and Nephin as the first day they also had a good day of bass fishing bringing in a total of 21.41 lbs.

The top 10 anglers at the 2011 Atikokan Bass Classic:

Kevin Rissanen, Cory Nephin - 42.62 lbs
Aaron and Kim Wiens - 36.54 lbs
Joe and Rick Machura - 36.34 lbs
Doug and Greg Sampson - 36.2 lbs
Leroy and Mike Wilson - 36.08 lbs
Shane Manford, Cuffy Kehl - 36.01 lbs
Glenn Leroux, Trevor Zimak - 35.64 lbs
Dave Williams, Scott Manford - 34.99 lbs
Pete Politis, Shawn Anderson - 34.69 lbs
Kevin and Curtis Ritchie - 34.06 lbs

2011 Category Prizes:

Best Parent & Child under 16 - Jody and Jeremy Shypit
Best Grandparent & Grandchild under 16 - Austin and Larry Loew
Best All Women Team - Debbie Coulson and Cathy Dayman
Best Male/Female Team - Rene and Deb Cadence
Hidden Weight Day One - Dave Galusha and Vic Alberts
Hidden Weight Day Two - Jody and Jeremy Shypit
Young Angler Award - Jeremy Shypit

For more results visit the Atikokan Bass Classic website.

Bennett and Libitka Win the 2011 KBI

2011-08-06T22:50:00.002-05:00

The KBI, which is now actually the Shaw Kenora Bass International, so the SKBI wrapped up with an exciting finish. The two leaders after day two were only 0.01 lbs apart. They were the last two in the parade of boats and the anticipation of who would win was high. Both teams seemed happy with their catch and both said they caught some largemouths. Dave Bennett and Mike Libitka were first to weigh in. They had a total of 17.91 lbs. Jeff Gustafson (Gussy) and Chris Savage were next, would they have enough? The bass were weighed and the crowd watched on. It was not, however, enough to topple Bennett and Libitka from top place which earned them over $22,600.

Anglers on Lake of the Woods Waiting to Get Weighed-In

Day one started out to be a beautiful day. However as the morning progressed ominous clouds began to appear over Lake of the Woods. The rain came and pounded the lake for a few hours. Not to have their spirits dampened by the storm, the anglers pushed on. The afternoon in Kenora cleared up and it turned quite hot. I thought maybe the weather might have really made the fish hard to find but as the anglers started to weigh in I saw they made out just fine. Many familiar names were found in the top 10 on day one. Alex Keszler and Wayne Wagner were first after the first day of bass fishing on Lake of the Woods. Gustafson and Savage who have won top place in the KBI twice before were in fourth place. Brian McNanney and Matt Rydberg of Sioux Narrows who won the KBI in 2009 were in second place with 18.76 lbs. A total of 1551.43 lbs of smallmouth and largemouth bass were caught on the first day the Shaw Kenora Bass International. The biggest bass of the day a 5.05 pounder was caught by Behn Carlson and Jon Pearson both of Kenora. Alex Keszler (Winnipeg, MB) and Wayne Wagner (St. Andrews, MB) had the biggest catch of the day with 18.79 lbs.

As it does in most fishing tournaments, the leader list changed after day one. Gustafson and Savage had a second solid day with 16.42 lbs, enough for them to take the lead. They took the lead by only 0.01lbs though! What a close tournament so far. Friday was a hot day in Sunset Country and the total amount of fish caught was slightly down with only 631 compared to 657 the day before. The biggest bass of the tournament was caught on day two though. Joe Pritchett of Kenora and Hiram Archibald of Sioux Narrows landed a 6.02 lb largemouth bass to have the honour of biggest fish for day two and the biggest fish to come out of the tournament. The catch also pushed them into having the biggest catch of day two - 18.33 lbs.

Catch of the day!

Day three of the Kenora Bass International started out cooler than the other days and was cloudy and probably very comfortable on the water. There was chatter about town today. Who was going to win today? I know there were many friends and family hoping for their favourite to win. The crowd was larger today down at the Harbourfront and the tent was jam packed as the anglers were having their bass weighed. Jess Swenson and Mike Reid had a great day with a catch of 18.68 lbs and a three day total of 47.83 lbs. They were in the hot seat, the ones to beat, as the boats paraded into the tent. Boat after boat weighed in and they were still at the top. It all came to an end though as the last two boats pulled through the tent. The Bennett and Libitka team took the top seat after weighing in at 17.91 for day three. Gustafson and Savage came up short with a total of 17.76 lbs. The lost by 14/100 of a pound. That must sting, but not as much as in 2009 when they lost to McNanney & Rydberg by only 0.02 lbs. They are all good sports though and seem to wish the best for each other. Bennett and Libitka's three day bass total was 50.67 lbs. Bennett and Libitka had the biggest bass of the day, a largemouth weighing in at 5.44 lbs. Jay Samsal of Kenora and Troy Norman of Fort Frances had the biggest catch of the day (and of the tournament) with 18.92 lbs.

There's a friendly competition between Team Canada and Team USA each year. This year, Team Canada took top honours with 210.41 lbs. The Team USA had 206.86 lbs. Better luck next year guys.

All Bass Are Carefully Released Back into Lake of the Woods

During each day of the tournament 83 children participated in the KBI Kids Fishing Tournament. Day one's fishing was cut short by the storm, but the following two days had great weather. There were lots of prizes for everyone. It really is a great time for the children - the future of SBKI was right there on the docks on Lake of the Woods. I am sorry I don't know the name yet of the boy who won, but he has taken top honours 3 times at the Kids KBI. Look out Gussy!

One last thing to note is a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers. It is a huge effort to put a tournament on of this size. Great job Directors and volunteers. The Top 10 Boat Parade was televised live today on Shaw. You can see it again on Shaw Sunday evening in case you missed it.

Visit the KBI website for a complete listing of the overall standings and tournament results. If you are interested in other fishing tournaments in Sunset Country, visit our fishing tournaments in Northwest Ontario page.

Ontario Provincial Parks in Sunset Country

2011-08-04T16:27:00.001-05:00

Ontario Provincial Parks in Northwestern Ontario

Aaron Provincial Park
Aaron Provincial Park is located on the Trans-Canada Highway east of Dryden. Whether you are just passing by or staying for a while, the park offers camping convenience and active outdoor adventure. Hike through the white cedar and aspen forest, splash in the waves of Thunder Lake or picnic on the grass. Thunder Lake is a distinctive reminder of the ancient glaciers that covered Ontario thousands of years ago. Be on the lookout for an impressive number of nesting birds. In late afternoon or early evening, the haunting call of the loon provides background music for tall tales around the campfire.

Enjoy the summer pleasures of swimming and boating in the warm waters of Thunder Lake, hiking the tree-lined trails and picnicking by the shore with friends and family. Take the children to the beach near the picnic grounds where the clean, shallow water is perfect for the whole family. Launch your boat at the ramp in the north end of the park to or cast a line for lake trout, walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Pick up self-guiding trail brochures at the park office for background information on the sights and sounds of nature.

There are 98 campsites. Electrical hookups are available at 39 of them and all sites are suitable for tents or trailers. Choose a private, wooded site or spread out in a spacious, open area. Picnic tables and fireplaces are provided at each site and a central comfort station with toilets, showers and laundry facilities makes you feel at home. For more information on Aaron Provincial Park call the park office direct at 807-938-6534 (May to October) or 807-223-7535 (November to April).

Blue Lake Provincial Park
Blue Lakes's crystal clear water and sandy beaches offer a wide range of choices for a fun-filled vacation. Special geological conditions have combined to give Blue Lake some special features: water so clear you can see the bottom of the lake at a depth of six metres (20 feet) and an abundance of fine sand on a beautiful beach. Stop by the Visitor Centre located in an old log cabin near the campground to view displays of plant, rock and animal specimens. Sign up for other interpretive programs including environmental games and conducted hikes, provided by park naturalists. Launch your boat from the ramp in the park, or rent a canoe from the nearby store. Cruise through Blue Lake's numerous connecting waterways while fishing for walleye, lake trout, northern pike, muskie or bass.

Camp at one of 196 tent and trailer sites - 104 of them have electricity. The beach, firewood, a shower building and comfort station are all nearby. Each site has a parking space and a picnic table as well as an individual fireplace for barbecueing your day's catch. Blue Lake Provincial Park is located on Highway 647 nine km (5 mi) north of the Trans-Canada Highway and Vermilion Bay and 48 km northwest of Dryden. For more information call the park office direct at 807-227-2601 (May to October) or 807-223-7535 (November to April).

Caliper Lake Provincial Park
Camp amid a stately stand of red and white pine, explore the rocky outcrops and picnic in the gently sloped open fields of this remote northern wilderness.Caliper Lake rests in an environment of natural northern beauty. Its 147 hectares are characterized the the lush woodlands embedded in the rich soil left behind by glacial deposits. The diverse natural habitat shelters many plants and animals. Squirrels, rabbits and groundhogs live in the forests and fields of the park. See white-tailed deer bounding towards the trees for cover.
Keep an eye open for interesting birds too. Eagles and osprey soar overhead and grouse race across the forest floor - its muted colours camouflaged by the vegetation. Spot the loon resting on the shores or listen for the hoot of a barred owl. White pelicans are seen more frequently these days and are sure to be a highlight of your visit.

You can pitch your tent or camp your trailer at any one of 83 campsites - 27 with electrical hookups. For your comfort, there are showers, toilets and a modern comfort station nearby. Organized groups of up to 40 people can take advantage of the group camping space available - call ahead to reserve the space. Recreational opportunities in the park include boating, canoeing, swimming and hiking. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats are available to rent. You can also enjoy a wilderness picnic with your family or friends. Fishing on Caliper Lake is excellent - smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye can be found in large numbers. Caliper Lake Provincial Park is located just off highway 71 and is south of Nestor Falls and northwest of Fort Frances. For more information call the park office direct at 807-484-2181 (May to Sept.) or 807-468-2669 (Oct. to April).

Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
Known as the "Niagara of the North", Kakabeka Falls located just west of the City of Thunder Bay are truly a marvel of nature. The park itself provides you with breathtaking scenery where you can camp, cycle, hike or just enjoy the region's sheer natural beauty. Located in a gorge on the Kaministiquia River, Kakabeka Falls plunge 39 metres (about 120') over a cliff of slate into the river below. The rocks of Kakabeka fall are like a stone book. The youngest stones (several millions of years old) are at the top of the falls. These rocks get older and older as you descend down the falls to the bottom. Rocks along the base of the falls are over a billion years old! Each layer of rock tells its own story and some of the fossils discovered here are the oldest found anywhere at 1.6 billion years.

Aside from the falls, the park offers many other opportunities to explore nature. Beyond the developed area of the park are large tracts of forest and fields that are home to many species of birds and animals. Woodland flowers blossom in every colour imaginable. The park's two campgrounds have 169 campsites. The 90 campsites with electrical service are located in Whispering Hills Campground where there are also several pull-through sites to accommodate large trailers and recreational vehicles. Picnic areas on both sides of the Kaministiquia River offer spectacular views of the falls. Bring your bathing suit for a swim at a third picnic area further upriver. For more information on Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park call the park office at 807-473-9231.

Ojibway Provincial Park
Ojibway Provincial Park on Little Vermilion Lake, offers good swimming, a sandy beach and fine musky fishing. Trails weave through pine forests carpeted with lady’s slipper orchids and along shorelines past wild rice. There are several walking trails - from an easy 30 minute walk to a 2.5 hour hike.There are 45 camping sites, including 26 electrical sites. Have a picnic and spend the day at the beach where children can swim and play in the sand or climb the nearby play structure.

The park has one group camping area that can accommodate 10 tents or anywhere from 20-25 people. Water and toilets are available on site. The site is located just minutes from Little Vermillion Lake and the Boreal Walking Trail, a 1.5 km trail leading to the island. Fish for lake trout, muskie, bass, walleye and perch in Vermilion Lake, Minnitaki Lake and Lac Seul. Two boat launches provide access to Little Vermilion Lake. If you feel up to a paddle, the lakes in the park link to several district canoe routes. Venture into the park interior and you might see moose, black bear or otters. Ojibway Provincial Park is located on Highway 72 north of the Trans-Canada Highway and Dinorwic and southwest of Sioux Lookout. For more information call the park office direct at 807-737-2033 (May to September) or 807-223-7535 (October to April).

Pakwash Provincial Park near Ear Falls

Pakwash Provincial Park
Secluded and serene, this northern park has a sandy beach and shallow, warm waters ideal for swimming, fishing and canoeing. Watch for birds and other wildlife on a 5.1 km (2 hour) nature trail that meanders past beaver ponds, through wetlands and forest. Nine interpretive stops along the way explain the flora and fauna. Pakwash Lake is teeming with smallmouth bass, walleye, whitefish and northern pike. Park staff will point out the best canoe routes in the area. Ask them about Canoe Route 74, a 233-km route paddled by natives, fur traders and prospectors. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, black bears, deer, otters, minks, bald eagles and ospreys. The shallow, clean waters of Pakwash Lake and the park's 1.5 km sandy beach are ideal for family swimming. Play soccer or baseball on the large playing field in the day-use area or take the children to the playground.

There are 69 camping sites, of which 26 are electrical sites. Pakwash Provincial Park is located north of Ear Falls on Highway 105. For more information call 807-222-3346 or 807-223-7535 (October to April).

Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park is a protected, pristine wilderness retreat of international acclaim just north the Canada-U.S. border above Minnesota's Boundary Waters and south of Atikokan, Ontario. The park's tangled network of lakes once formed water routes traveled by Ojibway and fur traders. Now it is primarily the destination of canoeists seeking solitude and rare glimpses of wildlife by cascading waterfalls, glassy lakes and endless forests. The park is accessible at four points by canoe and two by car (Dawson Trail Campground and Lac la Croix Ranger Station). Motorized boats are not allowed into Quetico, ensuring that you will have a peaceful, serene wilderness canoe trip. The interior of the park is home to 2200 backcountry campsites.

In this article I will refer to the Dawson Trail Campground at French Lake. It is the only entrance in Quetico Park for drive-in camping. My next article in this blog will be about camping in our Wilderness Provincial Parks where I will go into more detail about backcountry camping in Quetico. The 107 campsites, 49 of which have electricity, are close to comfort stations, showers, a laundromat and other amenities.The Dawson Trail Campground has a Picnic and Day Use area, showers, flush toilets, a laundromat, a playground in the Pickerel Beach day-use area, a park store and a Visitor Centre. You can cool off in the summer months at the beaches along French Lake. The Quetico Information Pavilion at Dawson Trail provides information and large-scale maps to help you plan your canoe trip. Nature lectures, slide shows, displays and other programs are offered regularly at Dawson Trail throughout the summer.

Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-888-668-7275. Ontario Parks has a great webpage showing you the two camping areas within Dawson Trail Campground. You can see which campsites are available, and which ones you can and can't reserve ahead of time. For more information on Quetico Provincial Park call 807-597-2735 ext 223.

The Falls at Rushing River Provincial Park

Rushing River Provincial Park
Rushing River officially became a Provincial Park in 1958. The park is very family-oriented offering a wide variety of activities for children and adults alike. Kids will love the Natural Heritage Program which offers a variety of nature-based activities designed for young people. Activities all about bugs, bats, wolves, canoeing and more are part of this program. The intention is to get children to learn about nature through active, sensory-oriented activities. The main goal is for children to have fun! At Rushing River Park, something happens every day during July and August. All the activities in the park are free to those with a camping permit or day use fee.

High above the lake in a grove of jack pine, pitch a tent or park your trailer on any of 217 campsites - 84 with electrical hookups. Washroom and shower facilities are conveniently located in the campgrounds. Group camping can be arranged by contacting the park office in advance. While your morning coffee is perking, take a refreshing dip in the clean waters of the lake. Four sandy beaches provide excellent swimming areas, one with a shallow roped off section for children. After breakfast set out for a scenic walk along the Beaver Pond or Lower Rapids Trails. Take along a blanket and picnic basket and stop for a leisurely lunch at one of the picturesque points along the way.

Set out by canoe to paddle among the many islands of Dogtooth Lake and Rushing River. A short portage leads to an extensive system of interconnecting lakes. Three canoe routes are easily accessible from the park and printed guides are available. You can launch your boat from two ramps located in the park. Bring along your gear to take advantage of the fine fishing - walleye, pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout inhabit the nearby waters. To complement your visit, park naturalists organize a variety of programs such as guided nature walks and evening films in the park amphitheatre. The Visitor Centre also features a series of exhibits that introduce you to the area's notable features. Rushing River Provincial Park is located on Highway 71, southeast of Kenora. Groceries and camping supplies can be purchased in nearby communities or at facilities closer to the park. For more information call the park office direct at 807-548-4351 or 807-468-2669 in the winter.

Sandbar Provincial Park
Sandbar Lake, the largest of 10 lakes in this park just off the Trans-Canada Highway, has a fine sandy beach with spotted sandpipers, and excellent walleye and pike fishing. The lakes in and around the park are filled with northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass. A fish-cleaning station, with lights, running water and cutting tables, is located by the boat launch. All boats are allowed on Sandbar Lake with this caveat: high winds turn this shallow lake into choppy waters. From Sandbar Lake, you can paddle numerous challenging canoe routes, including the 160-km Sandbar-Press Lake Loop, which takes between 9 to 12 days to complete and passes several pictograph sites. You can rent canoes at the park.

For those that like to hike out into nature, there's the Silhouette Trail a 1.5 km (1 hour) moderate trek. This trail weaves through jack pine woods, aspen forests and wetlands. A short side trail (0.7 km) leads to Savitsky Lake. Keen-eyed visitors have glimpsed the elusive lynx as well as the more conspicuous moose, white-tailed deer, beaver, otter and painted turtle. Watch for spotted sandpipers darting across the beach, loons on the lake, grouse underfoot and Canada jays, red-winged blackbirds and woodpeckers above. A sandy beach, shallow water and a buoyed area make Sandbar Lake ideal for family swimming. There are 74 camping sites, of which 37 are electrical sites. Sandbar Lake Provincial Park is located southeast of Dryden off Highway 17 (Trans-Canada Highway). For more information call the park office direct at 807-934-2995 (May to September) and 807-223-7535 (October to April).

Sioux Narrows Provincial Park

Sioux Narrows Provincial Park
Visitors flock to this park on Lake of the Woods for some of the best fishing in Ontario. Fish for walleye, northern pike, lake trout, muskie, bass and more. The area is also great for boating, swimming, sailing and canoeing. A sandy beach slopes gently into the clean, cool water of Lake of the Woods. Launch your boat at the park ramp for cruising, fishing or waterskiing. A 10-minute cruise down the lake takes you to centuries-old native pictographs and petroglyphs. Lake of the Woods was an historic water route travelled by parties of explorers on their way west. Paddling on the lake is fantastic. The Sioux Narrows Loop is 96 km (6-8 days) with 12 portages. This flat water route is 5 km south of the park. For land lovers, there's a 2 km nature trail starts at the beach and loops towards the lake shore and back. Chipmunks, squirrels and snowshoe hares populate this park along with white-tailed deer or a few black bears. Bald eagles, ospreys and cormorants breed on the nearby islands. The beach and shoreline are good places to spot loons, great blue herons, white pelicans and sapsuckers.

There have been many upgrades to the park in recent years. There are 56 campsites including 19 electrical sites. Half of the sites are situated along the shoreline of Lake of the Woods. Sioux Narrows Provincial Park is located south of Kenora on Highway 71 in the community of Sioux Narrows. For more information call the park office direct at 807-226-5223 or 807-226-5241 in the winter.

For more information on any of the Ontario Provincial Parks you can call 1-800-ONTARIO. You can make reservations online or call 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).

There are also Wilderness Provincial parks in Sunset Country, but I'll save those for another blog post. They include Albany River, Brightsand River, Kopka River, Opasquia, Otoskwin-Attawapiskat River, Pipestone River, Quetico, Turtle River/White Otter, Wabakimi, Winnange Lake and Woodland Caribou Wilderness Park.

There are also many of our members that offer camping. Whether it be tent camping or RV/Trailer camping, there are plenty to choose from. There are stand alone campgrounds as well as many of our resorts and lodges also offer campsites. Summer camps for children are also popular in the region. Please visit www.ontariocampgrounds.net for a complete list of campgrounds in Northwest Ontario.

12 of the Best Golf Courses in Northwest Ontario

2011-08-02T15:13:00.001-05:00

Beauty Bay Golf Course on the shores of Black Sturgeon Lake

Northwestern Ontario has some excellent golf courses, many of which give a whole new meaning to the saying "play it as it lies". With our Canadian Shield topography, the courses out here wind through craggy rocks, pine trees and border the Boreal Forest with all it's potential hazards. Here you may take a swing from the tee and not see where your ball landed because of a large rolling hill. If you are going to shoot a low score, you need to be on your game.

Here's an overview of some of the Sunset Country Golf Courses:

Ear Falls Golf and Country Club
Great little 9 hole course located in the Township of Ear Falls, Ontario on the shore of beautiful Lac Seul. This challenging course, amid stunning scenery, is located just minutes from downtown. It features medium-sized greens that occasionally offer some slope and has narrow tree lined fairways that are generally flat. You can stay at area lodges or at the local motels.

Red Lake Area Golf & Country Club

Red Lake Area Golf & Country Club
Known as the most northerly 18 Hole golf course in Ontario, the Red Lake Golf and Country Club will challenge the most accomplished golfer. The course measures 6359 yards from the blue tees and has a slope rating of 68.8. The course is situated on the scenic shores of beautiful McNeely Bay on Red Lake. The Red Lake Area Golf & Country Club is a great combination of rolling hills, tree-lined fairways and breathtaking lake vistas. Find local accommodations in the Municipality of Red Lake.

Sioux Lookout Golf Course & Curling Club
This beautiful and strategic 9 hole course has stunning visuals and some very challenging holes. The most challenging hole is also the most scenic, the par three 8th at 181 yards from the back tees. This tee shot is over water to a large green and plays longer than the length on the score card as it is uphill and into the prevailing wind. Water will come into play on 3 holes and the greens roll between 8.5 and 9 on the stimp meter. The Club dates back to the early 60s. The Municipality of Sioux Lookout is a recreation seeker's dream. There are many places to stay in Sioux Lookout.

Sioux Lookout Golf & Curling Club

Beauty Bay Golf Course, Kenora
Known locally as the "Diamond in the Rough", Beauty Bay is located along the shores of Black Sturgeon Lake and offers a real challenge. Over the last several years the golf has been nurtured into of of Northwest Ontario's best 18 holes golf courses. It's rolling terrain and numerous water hazards combine to make breathtaking scenery. Carved out of the Canadian Shield, this course is a true test for golfers of all levels. Visit the Beauty Bay Golf Course's website to see each hole and the scorecard. This Par 72 golf course is located just 15 minutes from downtown Kenora, Ontario where you can find accommodations.

Kenora Golf & Country Club
Situated only minutes from downtown Kenora on the shores of Lake of the Woods, the Kenora Golf and Country Club boasts a challenging 18 hole course accessible by land or water. From the higher elevated holes, you can see beautiful views of the lake as you play. Don't be surprised if you see wildlife on the course. Whether it is a deer, bear or fox sighting, it just adds to the total golf experience. The course's terrain varies from level to hilly. Tall, mature trees outline the fairways and water comes into play on 7 holes. There are 3 sets of tees with distances ranging from 5206 to 6333 yards.

Dryden Area Courses
Dryden has three courses you can choose from. Eagle's Landing is located on the shores of Wabigoon Lake. The 9 hole, Par 36 course is set in scenic surroundings. Every hole has at least one sand trap and 4 of the holes contain water hazzards. The Evergreen Golf Course on Wabigoon Lake Road is a fully licensed 9 hole golf course. It is an excellent facility to host golf tournaments for 35-70 people. Anderson's Homestead Golf Course is the third golf course in Dryden. There are lots of hotel and motel accommodations in Dryden to choose from during your stay.

White Moose Golf Course in Sioux Narrows

White Moose Golf Course, Sioux Narrows

The White Moose Golf Course is a 9 hole, Par 35 course and is located about 7 kms north of Sioux Narrows off Highway 71. Like many other golf courses in Sunset Country, many holes overlook the lake. If you are fishing Lake of the Woods and want a break from the boat, come in and play a round of golf. Call 807-226-5319 for more information. Visit Sunset Country's website to find out more about Sioux Narrows.

Spruce Creek Golf Course, Morson
The Spruce Creek Golf Course is Morson's newest recreation opportunity. This 9 hole course, designed by Grant Golf of Winnipeg, Manitoba is a Par 36, 3397 yards from the blue tees, 3218 from the white tees and 2767 yards from the red tees. The course has rolling fairways set amongst the rugged terrain of the Canadian Shield. The course is 2.6 kms east from the junction of Highways 621 and 619.

Kitchen Creek Golf Course, Fort Frances
Great course set up with a length of 6424 yards from the Blue Tees and Par 72 with a 68.9 rating. This 18-hole first opened in 1976. At Kitchen Creek, don't expect the rock outcrops that you see at most of the golf courses in Sunset Country. Most holes, particularly the front nine resemble a prairie course with flat fairways and wide open spaces. The creek comes into play on 12 out of the 18 holes and with a good selection of sand bunkers you will encounter a variety of tactical challenges during your round of golf. Accommodations available in nearby Fort Frances, Ontario.

Heron Landing Golf Course, Fort Frances
The Heron Landing Golf Course is located just minutes from downtown Fort Frances and the International Bridge. It is located on the east end of Fort Frances on Couchiching First nation 3.1 kms (2mi) down Frog Creek Road on beautiful Rainy Lake. This 18 hole course is one of the newer golf courses in Sunset Country. The sixth hole is a tough par 3 that requires an accurate tee shot over a finger of Frog Creek to an angled green protected by a large bunker to the left and a severely slope grassy swale to the right. The eleventh hole is probably the most scenic hole on the course as it overlooks Rainy Lake. Long-iron tee shots must be played to a large green that has deep bunkers on 3 sides. The green crowned in the middle makes the back right tee position hard to find. For a complete description of all the holes, the Heron Landing website has great write-ups of each hole.

Golfing in Sunset Country

Little Falls Golf Course, Atikokan
The Little Falls Golf Course in Atikokan is frequently described as the most challenging course in Northwestern Ontario. It is a double teed nine-hole course carved out of the boreal forest. Water can come into play on six of the nine holes and one tee is elevated some twenty meters above the fairway, providing a spectacular view of the course and of the waterfalls. This course has a tight playing layout with narrow fairways framed by dense trees. Failure to keep your ball straight will add strokes quickly to your score. The well kept greens are some of the finest in the Northwest. They are small in size and have slopes that deliver interesting breaks and tend to putt true. Little Falls welcomes all to play on it's beautiful golf course located in Atikokan.

Ignace Golf and Country Club
The Ignace Golf and Country Club is a 9 hole golf course with a driving range and is located in scenic Ignace. They have a new 2,500 sq ft club house that will also double as a year-round, multi-purpose recreation facility. For more information call 807-934-6871.

Sunset Country is known for it's fishing and hunting, but once you've played golf here, you won't forget it. You'll be talking about your golf game and the course almost as much as you talk about 'the one that got away'. The courses are anything but boring and all have a great view of the area. You can easily spend a week touring beautiful Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario and playing some challenging golf at the same time. If you are heading to Sunset Country, bring your clubs along with your fishing gear and play a round of golf. Most golf courses rent clubs in case you didn't bring yours along. If you require any more information you can call the Sunset Country Travel Association at 1-800-665-7567.

Catch The Trout! Trout Forest Music Festival

2011-07-28T11:28:00.002-05:00

Montreal's Juno award-winning folk group Chic Gamine

Music in the Woods! August 12-14, 2011

Meet up at the Ear Falls Waterfront Park for the 16th Annual Trout Forest Music Festival. The festival has become a favourite annual summer festival getaway for music fans. The bands are roots-based solo artists and groups. One of the festival's mandates is to try and have the most diverse collection of musicians, both geographical and genre speaking. The small size of the music festival appeals to many. It creates an interactive atmosphere between the audience and the musicians. Unlike other folk festivals across the country, attendees don't have to worry about dealing with large line-ups and overbearing crowds. While it is a smaller event, the talent is not small. Performers include Victoria, BC's alternative country singer-songwriter Carolyn Mark and Montreal's Juno award-winning folk group Chic Gamine.

This year's line-up consists of 30 must-see musicians from across Canada. In addition to Carolyn Mark and Chic Gamine the other musical acts are Don Amero, Vince Andrushko, Big Boogaloo, Allison Brown, Crooked Brother, Cris Derksen, Deep Dark Woods, Matt Epp, Jean-Paul De Roover, Lindsay Jane, Little Miss Higgins, Marc Merilainen, Andrew Neville and The Poor Choices, NQ Arbuckle, Andrew Queen, Mark Reeves, Jess Reimer, Righteous Ike, Ben Sures, Sweet Alibi, Tannis Slimmon, The F-Holes, and Bob Wiseman. See more about the musicians and a confirmed list of the bands on Trout Forest Music Festival website.

Kenora's Big Boogaloo

The music festival is held in Ear Falls, Ontario which is located on Highway 105 approximately 110 km north of the Trans Canada Highway at Vermilion Bay. Ear Falls is approximately 2 hours from Kenora, 1 1/2 hours from Dryden, 4 1/2 hours from Thunder Bay, and 4/1/2 hours from Winnipeg. Once in Ear Falls, on the right just past the Hydro Dam, you will see the Ear Falls Waterfront Park, the home of the Trout Forest Music Festival. Parking is on the west side of Highway 105, opposite the festival site.

If you are coming from out of town, you can camp in the area. There are Quiet Camping Only Sites available at the Baseball Fields. Tent Camping Spaces are limited and available on a First Come, First Served basis. RV Sites are limited and available on a First Come First Serve basis. RV Overflow Sites have no facilities or security crew. Camping opens at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 11th. Each member in your group/family must possess a valid camping pass. Shower and restroom facilities onsite. Free firewood. Children under 12 are free.

There are off-site accommodations that offer camping or if you are lucky they may have a cabin or hotel room left open. Here are some of the the facilities offering off-site camping accommodations during the Trout Forest Music Festival: Lac Seul Evergreen Lodge, Pine Ridge Campground, Little Canada Camp, Lac Seul's, Golden Eagle, Rainbow Point Lodge, Goose Bay Camp, Trillium Motel & Restaurant (807-222-3126), and Hotel 105 (807-222-3374).To find out about any other accommodations or about Ear Falls, please visit www.ontariotowns.net/EarFalls/

Tickets are available at Stems ‘n Such in the Ear Falls Plaza, at The Northern Sun News in Red Lake, the Q104 FM Office in Vermilion Bay, the Golden Nectar or CKDR 92.7 FM in Dryden, HoJoe’s Coffee & Books or Fragile Glass Studio with Charm in Kenora, and at the Winnipeg Folk Festival Store or Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club in Winnipeg, MB. You can also buy tickets online at Ticketbreak.com. A full list of ticket prices, which range from $22 day passes to $70 3-day weekend passes, are available on the festival's website www.troutfest.com. If you require further assistance, contact the office at: 807-222-2404 or toll-free @ 1-866-TROUT33.

For information on other musical events or festivals in Northwest Ontario, visit the Sunset Country Events Page or the Events Calendar on Facebook.

Come Celebrate Kenora’s Biggest Summer Party

2011-07-27T11:35:00.002-05:00

Kenny Shields & Streetheart play Friday night

July 29th to 31st are dates to mark on your calendars if you love to hear great bands and party the night away. Kenora's annual Harbourfest takes place over three fun-filled days and you do not want to miss it. Located under the big tent on the Kenora harbourfront, where else can you enjoy great music and a great view of beautiful Lake of the Woods at the same time?

This year's line-up of bands are as follows:
Friday Night: Kenny Shields & Streetheart, Aldo Nova, Honeymoon Suite, A Flock of Seagulls
Saturday Night: Doc Walker with Special Guest Big Boogaloo
Sunday Night: Sloan with Special Guests The Watchmen, Ian Thornley & Big Wreck

Harbourfest isn't just for the adults though, Harbourfest has something for everyone. During the day there are also a number of other events suitable for the entire family. Both Saturday and Sunday there is the Kidzone from 11am-5pm which includes carnival games, face painting, bouncy rides, and pony rides. Wristbands for rides and games are $8 per child per day. The wristband also gets you into the Brian Glow Illusion show Sunday July 31 at 1:30pm under the big tent on the Harbourfront.

Kidzone includes all sorts of children's activities such as the bouncy castle

Other Events on Saturday include:

Under the tent:

11am-3:30pm - DCPro artist search, Kenora’s version of Canadian Idol. Judges decide the winners with input from audience ballots.
11am-3:30pm - Photo contest slide show. Sponsored by the Hardwear Company and Chow Time Pet Supply.
12-2pm - Kenora’s hip hop dancers will perform between musical acts in the DCPro artist search.

Outside of the tent:

10am-6pm - Aboriginal Art Show & Sale, ‘on the green’ next to Blue Heron Gift Shop. Free admission. Sponsored by Seven Generations Education Institute.
11am-5pm - Crafters kiosks beside the big tent.
Noon - Kinect contest at Lake of the Woods Museum. The museum's interactive exhibit called "From Pong to Kinect - The History of Arcade Games” also includes vintage arcade games that you can actually play. For more information, contact the museum at 467-2105.

Brian Glow's Amazing Illusion Show

Sunday Events include:

Under the tent:

11am-3:00pm - Photo contest slide show.
1:30pm - Brian Glow’s amazing illusion show. In honour of Harbourfest’s 20th anniversary, this show is bigger and better than any afternoon family show there's ever been at Harbourfest. Sponsored by LOWBIC. Free entry with Kidzone wristband.

Outside of the tent:

7:30-9:30am — Pancake breakfast at Jubilee Church on First Street, just one block from the Harbourfront. $5 per person.
10am-6pm - Aboriginal Art Show & Sale, ‘on the green’ next to Blue Heron Gift Shop. Free admission. Sponsored by Seven Generations Education Institute. It is also there on Monday 10 - noon.
11am-5pm - Crafters kiosks beside the big tent.
11am-4pm - CarFest classic car show on the greenbelt between the Harbourfront and Huskie the Muskie.
12-2:30pm - On the water. Wooden boat parade and display. Sponsored by Two Bears Marina
10:30pm - Fireworks extravaganza

For more information and to find places to stay you can also contact Kenora Tourism or visit the Harbourfest website to purchase tickets. Tickets are going fast. You can also pick them up (cash only) at Donny B's. Nibblers nook and Two Bears Marina in Kenora.

A Whole Festival Related to Blueberries? You Betcha!

2011-07-27T10:20:00.002-05:00

Over 110 Events at This Year's Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout

Blueberry Festival, Sioux Lookout, Ontario

The Blueberry Festival is a 10 day festival celebrating the community of Sioux Lookout. It runs from July 29-August 7, 2011. With over 110 events this year, the Blueberry Festival has become a grand summer celebration attracting thousands of visitors from around the region and around the world. Blueberries are abundant in Northwest Ontario so it only seems fitting to have a Blueberry Festival. Wild blueberries are one of my favourite fruit and my mouth is watering a little bit as I write this. Starting on the Friday of August long weekend and lasting for ten days, residents and visitors come together and form a bond of great communal spirit. Many of the events encompass the beauty of the area, allowing participants and spectators to enjoy the plentiful lakes and beaches. From the very young to the young at heart, and from the athletically inclined to the most sedate sport enthusiasts, there is something for everyone at the Blueberry Festival.

The festival starts with the Blueberry Festival Opening Ceremonies taking place at the Town Beach from 3:30-6pm. There will be face painting, free balloons, speeches, Kenora Scottish Pipes & Drums performance, entertainment by Edible Rex, presentation of the Jack McKenzie Memorial Award, and the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon and cake. This sets the scene for the next 10 days in Sioux Lookout. Many of the restaurants even get in on the action by offering blueberry themed baking, meals and even Blueberry Mojitos at Foxy's July 29th from 5:30-9pm. Visit the Forest Bar & Grill at the Forest Inn from July 29-August 7 and receive a piece of blueberry pie with the purchase of any entree after 4:30pm. Drop by the Mayfair Theatre for a blueberry snack. Blueberry cheesecake ice cream, blueberry milkshakes, and blueberry sundaes will be available all week. Visit Dick & Nellie's Restaurant for a taste of blueberry spirit. The menu features Homemade Blueberry BBQ Pork Ribs, Cool Summer Blueberry Soup with Creme Fraiche, Blueberry Panna Cotta Cream Dessert, and more! The Dick & Nellie's blueberry inspired menu is available from 4:30pm to closing until August 6.

Some of the other events include a Blueberry Window Painting Contest, a Bannock Bake-off, Blueberry Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament, the Annual Roy Lane 10K Road Race, Family Fun Day, Wagon Rides, and much more. Get a bird's eye view of Sioux Lookout with a Slate Falls Town Tour. There are also golf, beach volleyball, bocce, tennis, road hockey, dodgeball, hockey, basketball tournaments.

Sioux Mountain Music and Cultural Festival is held on July 30-31. Saturday is a day of live music at the Town Beach featuring local artists and more! From noon to midnight, come and enjoy music, workshops, vendors, and food!   Visit the Blueberry Festival website to see the complete Sioux Mountain Festival Line Up. There will also be a BBQ, Sioux Mountain Festival t-shirts, draws, raffles, give-a-ways and the Taste of Sioux Lookout (local chefs offering their signature dishes). On Sunday, come to the Town Beach from 12-6pm and experience all Cultural Day has to offer. Featuring workshops, music, booths, demonstrations, and other fun activities such as snow shoe making, tie dying,  dance workshops,  craft booths  and so much more!

August 7th is the Annual Childrens Festival. Take your kids to the Town Beach from 10am-2pm for the 5th Annual Childrens Festival featuring a Dog Parade, Comic Book Workshop, Diamond Dogs Show, Cedar Bay Wagon Rides & much more.

With over 100 events, I can't list them all! See the Blueberry Festival for a complete listing of events. For more information on Sioux Lookout, please visit the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce or www.ontariotowns.net/SiouxLookout/

UPDATE: A list of all the winners at the various events at the 2011 Blueberry Festival can be found on the Blueberry Festival's website.

Angler Young Angler Introduces Kids to Competitive Fishing

2011-07-26T13:08:00.003-05:00

Focus on Kids at AYA Tournament!

Dryden AYA 2011 Winners John Butts, Aidan Butts and Luke Turcotte

The Angler Young Angler program takes place in Red Lake, Dryden and Thunder Bay Ontario as well as many other cities in Canada and the U.S. This year's Championship is in Kenora on Lake of the Woods. The Angler & Young Angler Tournaments started in 1998 with the intent of giving youth the opportunity to fish in a Competitive style tournament. The main objective is to introduce young anglers to competitive sport fishing in a fun environment surrounded by family and friends. Kids get to spend time with their parents fishing together. The memories created will last a life time.

This year Red Lake held their event on June 5th on Red Lake. Dryden's was on July 9th on Wabigoon Lake, Thunder Bay's was also on July 9th on the Kam River and the National Championship is being held held on Lake of the Woods in Kenora this year taking place on August 13th. The 2011 winner of the Dryden AYA was John Butts, Aidan Butts and Luke Turcotte. Gord Ellis along with team members Austin Ellis and Landon Brochu won in Thunder Bay this year. The 2011 winners from Red Lake were Ed Goulet, Jenna Goulet and Brett Kreiger.

Huge walleye from Dryden's AYA Winning Team

Each team consists of 1 adult angler and 2 young anglers under the age of 17. Since fishing is the main attraction in this part of Ontario, the tournaments are one of the highlights of the summer and a fun family event! There is an official weigh-in, prizes and a BBQ to follow a day of fishing. The winner of each regional event qualifies for the opportunity to participate in the International Championship. The first place team wins the title of 'Angler & Young Angler International Champions' as well as an all expense paid trip for 4 to Walt Disney World. The second place team wins a fishing trip for 4 to a Wilderness North lodge. Past years have seen trips include Knee Lake Resort, Plummers Lodge, Totem Resorts and to Arctic Adventures.

In March 2012, there will be the Third Angler Young Angler Ice Fishing Derby. The 2011 Ice Fishing Derby was held on Lake Winnipeg. Carter Johnson, an 8 year old angler stole the day catching a huge 12.08 greenback walleye. For his catch, Carter won a trip to God's Lake Lodge.

The AYA events are filmed and presented on TV. The series is broadcast throughout the country, reaching millions of children who do not have the chance to participate in the tournaments. A goal of the AYA Fishing Tournaments is to expand the exposure of youth fishing throughout Canada, by participation in the tournaments and reaching them through TV. Go the Angler Young Angler web site to see video clips of excited kids and families fishing across North America. You can also find out information on how you too can become a part of the AYA experience.

For a list of other fishing tournaments in Northwest Ontario, please visit our list of Fishing Tournaments in Sunset Country.

UPDATE: August 16, 2011
The winner of the 2011 Angler Young Angler Championship on Lake of the Woods was John Butts of Dryden, a former Professional Walleye Tour angler, his son Aidan Butts and friend Luke Turcotte (pictured above after winning the AYA in Dryden earlier this summer). The Dryden Team won the tournament by 1.22 lbs, with a total of 46.41 lbs. Second place winners were Ed Goulet, Jenna Goulet and Brett Kreiger from Red Lake, Ontario. The winners win a trip for four to Walt Disney World and the Red Lake trio win a trip for four to a Wilderness North fly-in lodge.

How to Win $20,000 Fishing

2011-07-17T13:55:00.002-05:00

Anglers waiting to weigh in at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is set to take place July 17-23, 2011 on Rainy Lake. If there's a full roster, the top prize is $20,000. Not bad for a couple of days fishing. The total prize package with a full roster is $102,000. There are prizes for daily top top catch, biggest daily fish, and more. There is even a top 2011 Rookie Team prize. The best rookie will have entry into the 2012 tournament.

But besides the payout there is lot's of reasons why to experience a fishing tournament. The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship goes all out and has a major celebration. The event starts with the Safeway Kid Pro fishing July 17th from 7am-3pm. On July 19th, there is a Much Music Video Dance Party. The Boston Pizza Parade of Boats begins at 3:00 and then at 7pm the Quest for the Best begins. July 21-23 the fishing starts with the Flight #1 departing from the Government Dock at Pithers' Point Park. Thursday the anglers return at 3:30pm. There's a Chicken 'n Ribs dinner from 4:30-7:30pm. Friday the dinner is Floppin' Fresh Fish Dinner and then Kartune Kriminals and Bed of Roses (Canada's #1 Bon Jovi Tribute Band) hit the stage. Saturday the excitement grows as people wonder who will come in with the biggest catch, who will win? The Top Ten Boat Parade begins at 5:00 and the Angler Awards presentation begins at 7:00. There is a Kiwanis Streak Fry and in the evening Borderland's favourite local band, Thinking of Pinky takes the stand. For more information visit the FFCBC website or visit their Facebook page.

The 5th Annual Friends and Family Bronze Back Classic is held from July 23-24, 2011 on Lake of the Woods. The entry fee is $400.00 and there is a 100% pay out on entries. The focus of the Bronze Back Classic is to get families, friends, local anglers, long time summer residents, and especially youth involved in this boating event.

Angler showing his bass to the crowd at KBI

August begins with another big bass tournament. The Kenora Bass International (KBI) is held on Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario from August 4-6th. If there are 150 entries, the top place receives $25,000. There are many other ways to win as well. There are 10 big catch prizes, biggest smallmouth, biggest largemouth, prizes for the top 30 placing in the KBI, adult/youth team, man/woman team and more. See the pay out schedule for complete prize estimates. Every year a battle wages between Canada and the U.S. along the shores of Lake of the Woods. 5 teams representing Canada and 5 teams representing the USA compete against each other for the honour and glory of being crowned the winner and for the Frank Townsend Can-Am Challenge trophy.

Anglers will fish Thursday to Saturday. Delicious dinners and beer gardens welcome anglers and the public in the evenings. Saturday is the big finale with the top 10 boats parading through the tent to an exciting finish. There also is a KBI Kids Tournament that is open to kids ages 4-13. The children will be fishing off the Kenora Harbourfront docks. There will be a prize presentation at the end of each flight, loot bag and t-shirt for every child who participates. A trophy and a special prize will be awarded to the male and female anglers with the biggest bass on each day! There is also free kids entertainment including Minnow Races from 11:30am - 2:30pm. For more information on the Kenora Bass International visit the KBI website. With Shaw as a major sponsor, the tournament can now be viewed on TV. Current standings can also be found on the KBI website once the tournament starts.

Next in the line-up of Sunset Country Tournaments is the Atikokan Bass Classic August 12-13. It is touted as the "Funnest Bass Tournament in the Northwest". Payout is 96% of Team Entry with the first place finish netting approximately $10,000. Besides the top 10 teams, prizes will also go to the best Parent & Child, Grandparent & Child, All Women, Male/Female Teams and for the biggest fish. Access into Marmion Lake is at the Anderson Dam Landing. Competitors are provided a free steak supper the Friday night of the tourney.

Fishermen bringing in their bass to get weighed

The Morson Bass International is held on Lake of the Woods in Morson from August 27-28. This Catch and Release Bass Tournament starts at the Government Dock in Morson. View a video of the Morson Bass International. Like many of the other fishing tournaments in Sunset Country, the MBI has a kids fishing tournament, yummy dinners and entertainment. You can download an Entry Form or get more information on the Morson Bass International website.

September begins with the Red Lake Fall Classic Catch & Release Walleye Tournament on the Red Lake Chain of Lakes on September 2-4. Based on 140 team entries, the top prize is $11,000. Second prize is $5,000 & 2 Humminbird Trolling Locators and third is $3,000 & 2 MinnKota Trolling Motors. See the Red Lake Falls Classic Prize structure for more prizes. Both days the 3 flights leave between 7 and 7:30am. Saturday there is a free supper for tournament participants where they can see the posting of first day standings. Sunday around 6pm you can visit the Red Lake Legion to see the prize and trophy awards. Saturday afternoon also has a Junior Championship at the Government Docks. Prizes for all children.

Perch Lake Bass Challenge is held on the Seine River Chain of Lakes September 4th. Meet at Homer's Cabins on Perch Lake 20 minutes west of Atikokan. Top prize is $1000 & possession of tournament trophy for 3 months. Top 5 win cash prizes. There are also prizes for the biggest fish, Top Lund team, top young angler and top couple. Rules & Boat Checks at 8am, fishing between 9am to 3:30pm. The 2011 PLBC is now full. To get your name on the waiting list, email info@perchlakebass.com

Bassin' for Bucks is a fishing tournament on Lake of the Woods from Sioux Narrows September 9-11. The Sioux Narrows Bassin’ for Bucks tournament format is a two person team, fishing for 3 days, daily and total combined weight, live release tournament. Besides prizes for the top 6 each day, the grand aggregate weight prizes are as follows: 1st place is $6000, 2nd is $5000 and 3rd is $4000. There are also prizes for Tournament Big Fish, Big Smallmouth each day and Big Largemouth each day. Prize structure based on 120 entries. The flights leave between 7:30 & 8 each morning. Must fish these areas: Red Cliff Bay, Yellow Girl Bay, Whitefish Bay, Lobstick Bay, Regina Bay, Cross, Knickerbocker and Blueberry Inlets, and anywhere else accessible by boat that is within the boundaries. Out of bounds is all waters West and North of the longitudinal line #25’ that runs from the Northwestern tip of the Eastern Peninsula, South to the West side of Ferrier Island to the Aulneau Peninsula.

One of the Top 10 anglers parading through the tent

Crow Lake Classic Bass Tournament is held on Crow Lake September 16-17. Held at Hansons Hideaway Lodge on Crow Lake (Kakagi lake). $350 entry fee per team. Download registration form at the Crow Lake Classic website. Based on 50 entries, the top prize is $4,000. The top ten get cash prizes ranging from $4,000 to $350. New in 2011 are first, second and third top daily bag prizes. There is also a team draw for 2 Shimano Rod & Reel Combos, a Secret Number Placement and Closet Team to 10lb Daily bag prizes. The top 2 placing Princecraft boats powered by Mercury motors win 24 volt trolling motors.

During the fall the Ontario walleye tournaments start up again. The Rainy River Walleye Tournament in Rainy River is held September 22-24. The overall prize purse will be $43,450 with the champion earning $15,000. There are prizes for the top 15, 4 hidden weight prizes, a parade prize, River Champ, Day 1 & 2 Big Fish and the Lionel Roberts Memorial Award Largest Basket of Tournament $1,000 prize. Thursday has a parade of boats at 4pm, Fisherman's Dinner (contestants only) and then beer gardens open to the public. Friday, anglers leave between 8:45am & 9:15am. Saturday anglers leave between 7:45 & 8:15am. 3:15 the anglers weigh in and then the Awards Presentation and the Rainy River Junior Curlers Draw follows. There is a Weekend of fun and excitement for the whole family under the Big Tent on the shores of Beautiful Rainy River! Visit the Rainy River Walleye Tournament website for more information.

The Last Chance Bass is held on Shoal Lake September 24-25. Contact Randy Paishk 807-733-3940 or or Vern Fair 807-733-3191 for more information.

The Whitefish Bay Fall Bass Classic is held in Nestor Falls on Dogpaw, Caviar and Flint Lakes. The tournament runs October 1-. For more information call 807-226-5411.

The third annual Lake of the Woods Walleye Challenge will be held on Lake of the Woods in Morson October 7-8. It is a 2 day fishing tournament. $300 per team. Cash and merchandise prizes to anglers and spectators. Last year 21 teams participated for $6,500 in cash and prizes with 100% of entry fees going back to the top placing entries and prizes for hidden weight, top finishing husband/wife team and top finishing parent/child team. Spectators and anglers are invited for a dinner at the Morson Hall. For more information call 807-488-5905.

So, while it may sound easy to win 10 or 20 thousand dollars, it is far from it. Sure, there's a lot of luck in fishing, but there is a lot of preparation. Many anglers spend time and money pre-fishing a lake before a tournament. All in all though, a fishing tournament can be quite fun to participate in. Some anglers do the circuit and fish tournaments all summer long, some just do one in their community. The fishing tournaments I have listed here are coming up in the rest of 2011. For a complete list of fishing tournaments in Northwest Ontario, visit our fishing page on Sunset Country's website. Maybe next year I'll be reading about you winning the jackpot.

How to Find Out What Species of Fish Are in a Lake

2011-07-13T12:26:00.001-05:00

MNR's New Fish ON-Line Tool

In April 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) launched an awesome new Fish ON-Line tool. Anglers no longer need to visit Ministry of Natural Resources offices or find an in-the-know local fisherman to gather information about the various fishing opportunities in Northwest Ontario. It provides a lot of information that used to be hard to find. Now information about the various species of fish found in a certain lake, fish stocked in lakes and some information about the lake itself is available at ontario.ca/fishing.

The MNR used a Google map and overlaid provincial fisheries data on top of it. The ministry then gathered on-hand information on about 13,000 lakes and has made all of that available as well. On those lakes, Fish ON-Line will let you see what fish species are available, the regulations for the lake and if there has been any stocking. Some lakes have the maximum and average depths of the lake. For many more bigger, popular waterways such as Eagle Lake, the depth contour information has been overlaid as well.

For example, take Wabigoon Lake. If you click on the Lake Depth Contours in the left hand column, you can see the contours of Wabigoon Lake. Click the fish icon and you'll see the surface area of the lake is 9922 ha, the maximum depth is 14.6 m, the average depth is 6.1 m and it's in the Fisheries Management Zone 5. Click on the Wabigoon/Dinorwic Lakes Fact Sheet and you'll see specific Wabigoon/Dinorwic Lakes fishing regulations and lake facts. Under the Fish tab you'll see that Wabigoon Lake has Black Crappie, Whitefish, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

You can quick link to a popular waterway or search by lake, fish species, stocked water body, GPS Coordinates. Use the Get Directions Tool and you can find your way around quite easily. You can also link to Licence Information, the Fishing Zone Regulations and the Lake Fact Sheet. The ServiceOntario offices are dotted on the map if you are looking to buy a Fishing Licence. You can also type in your location and getting directions to the ServiceOntario.

All in all, it is a pretty impressive fishing information tool. If you are planning a fishing trip to Ontario, check out the Fish ON-Line website to find out more information on the lake you'll be fishing on. If you are looking for a fishing resort or lodge to stay at in Sunset Country visit www.ontarioresortsandlodges.ca

10 Reasons to Shop at Your Local Farmers' Market

2011-07-07T15:54:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I finally made it down to Kenora's Farmers' Market. I can't believe it was the third week of the market and I just got to it this week. Going down to the Harbourfront on Wednesdays is one of my favourite things to do in the summer. During the winter the fruit and veggies that are available in Northwestern Ontario have come from far away and are not very fresh by the time they get here. But come summer, the local farmer's bring their goods down to the tent so we can have fresh vegetables just as if we had grown them ourselves. For me, there's nothing as good as biting into a freshly picked carrot. Since my failed attempt at gardening a few years back, I really look forward to biting into the fresh locally grown veggies and fruit.

Jewelery is always a hit.

The Farmer's Market has grown over the last few years to include much more than the fruit and vegetables that I so desire. There are food vendors, Aboriginal Arts & Crafts, Meats, Preserves, Honey, Baked Goods, Arts & Crafts, Sewing, Spices. My dog Reuben loves me every Wednesday as I bring him home a beef bone from one of the vendors. Each and every Wednesday I say to my co-worker, I am not buying any baking this time. But, wouldn't you know it, I get down there and the smell of freshly baked goods gets to me every time. Yesterday a delicious pecan brownie from a new company called the Kenora Brownie Company kept calling my name. It definitely hit the spot. The Kenora's Farmers' Market is on the Harbourfront every Wednesday from 9am-2pm.

Many other communities in Sunset Country have Farmers Markets as well. There's the Northwest Farmer's Market in Sioux Lookout. The next one is on July 15th and then runs bi-weekly until the end of September. The market is from 10am-2pm at Centennial Park.

Cloverbelt Country Farmers' Market strives to have only local produce represented, giving you a taste and experience unique to Dryden and its surrounding area. There is also farm fresh produce and meats, home made preserves and baking, and handmade arts and crafts. The Oxdrift Market began June 18 and is located in the Oxdrift Hall. It is open Saturdays 9am-12pm. They also have a second location starting July 7th in Dryden. You can find the Dryden Market in the Dryden Arena parking lot every second Thursday from 3-6pm.

The Clover Valley Farmers’ Market (CVFM) has operated a successful Farmers’ Market for over 22 years. From May to October it's open from 9am-1pm. November and December the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market becomes a local foods and craft store running multiple days a week. The market is housed in a distinctive red building located at 411 McIrvine Road (right behind Canadian Tire) in Fort Frances.

Red Lake Farmers' Market is held once a month from 10am-2pm in the Legion parking lot. Look for products from local farms on July 23, August 20 and September 24. In Sioux Narrows there is a Fresh Vegetable Stand next to the Boutique Soleil on Highway 71 near the Travel Information Centre. It is set up every Wednesday from about 8am until 11am. Rainy River Farmer's Market is held Wednesdays from 4pm-6:30pm at the Heritage Square on Atwood Ave.

Pick up some plants for your garden or homemade preserves.

Why should you visit these Farmers Market? Here are the top 10 reasons.

Taste real flavours of fruits and vegetables. There is no doubt that locally-grown foods just simply taste better.
Meet the farmers who grow your food. You can ask for advice when it was picked, how it was grown or ways to prepare it.
Protect the environment. The closeness of the farms does not require us to waste energy and gas to ship the food half-way around the world.
Support local economy by supporting the farmers, artists, bakers and other vendors.
Eat seasonally. By shopping at local farmer's markets you are eating produce at it's peak. They are fresh and ripe and loaded with nutrients.
Home-made baking. Do I need to say more?
Connect with your Community.
Meet up with friends, old and new. Chat with seasonal visitors.
Pick up some perogies and you don't have to cook supper tonight.
It's just plain fun!

For more information on these towns and cities listed above, please visit our website focusing on the communities in Sunset Country.

Summer Heats Up in Sunset Country

2011-07-01T12:42:00.007-05:00

Summer is finally here! Happy Canada Day everyone. Throughout Sunset Country today there will be many celebrations to celebrate Canada. Each community holds unique festivities. Most will top of this day with fireworks that are not to be missed. There is something to be said about fireworks on Canada Day. It's a time I reflect and get somewhat emotional and am really happy to be a Canadian.

The rest of the summer in Sunset Country is filled with lot's of special events, festivals and things to do. Moosefest in Dryden started June 15th and runs until July 17th. There is a variety of events such as the Dryden Truck Show and Strongman Competition, the Children's Services Fair, National Aboriginal Day, Soap Box Show and Shine, NWO Canoe Races, Dragon Boat Races, fishing tournaments for both adults and kids and the list goes on and on.

The 4th Annual International Tug of War will take place on July 2 between Fort Frances, Ontario and International Falls, Minnesota. Come out and cheer on Fort Frances as they fight to regain the Tug of War Trophy. The friendly tug of war (Pulling for Peace) held between the two cities is in celebration of International Peaceful Borders Day. It's a very unique event that can't happen just anywhere, a 1,200 foot rope is strung across the river for the pull.

Pickle Lake's popular Black Fly Festival is held every year on the July 1st weekend. Enjoy the beauty of the vast wilderness in around Pickle Lake during a float plane ride, take in the children’s activities, take part in the horseshoe or Cribbage and Euchre tournament and enjoy the beach BBQ.

White Otter Days in Ignace is a month long celebration in July. Kick off your Canada Day celebrations in Ignace with the Canada Day Parade. The rest of the holiday is filled with various fun filled events at the Tourist Information Centre and Agimak Beach. Throughout the rest of the month take part in different events which include the Men’s Hockey Tournament, the Childrens' Festival, the Annual Mixed Slo-Pitch Tournament, Agimak Fish Derby and more.

Rainy River holds it's annual Rainy River Railroad Daze July 15-17th. Some of the events are Cardboard Boat and Duct Tape Races, a CCR Tribute Band at Hannam Park and Inflatable Bounce House “Wacky World” on 4th Street.

Harbourfest in Kenora July 29th to 31st are dates to mark on your calendars if you love to hear great bands and party the night away. Kenora's annual Harbourfest takes place over three fun-filled days and you do not want to miss it. This year's line-up of bands include Kenny Shields and Streetheart, Aldo Nova, Honeymoon Suite, Doc Walker, Sloan, The Watchmen, and more. There is something for the entire family including carnival games, face painting and bouncy rides, petting zoo, and pony rides. For more information contact Kenora Tourism or visit the Harbourfest website to purchase tickets.

Sioux Lookout hosts the annual Blueberry Festival July 29th to August 7th. Many of the restaurants in town have cooked up special blueberry themed items on their menus during the festival. There are actually over 100 events that take place including the Sioux Mountain Festival, an art show, tennis, volleyball, golf and bocce ball tournaments, and much more.

The 50th annual Sioux Narrows Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, July 30th and 31st in Sioux Narrows. The art show has booths from local artists including sculptors, painters, and other mediums. Their talent is quite spectacular. July 31st you can attend the Nestorfest Pig Roast Picnic in Nestor Falls.

Atikokan hold many events during the year including the XY Company's 30k Pursuit-Pro Canoe Race on July 1st, Mudslingers 4x4 Races at the Charleson Recreation Area on August 6-7 and the Atikokan Bass Classic Boat Parade on August 11th.

The Trout Forest Music Festival is held August 12-14th in Ear Falls. It's music in the woods! There currently is 26 bands or solo artists signed up to play including Don Amero, Vince, Andrushko, and Little Miss Higgins. A full line-up can be found at the Trout Forest Music Festival website.

There are many fishing tournaments in Sunset Country. You may want to take part in a tourney, myself I love watching the weigh ins. The final top 10 weigh ins on the last day is so exciting. July and August are mostly Bass Fishing Tournaments and the Walleye Fishing Tournaments start again in September. The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is held July 17-23 and the KBI (Kenora Bass International) is held August 4-6th. September starts off with the Red Lake Fall Classic Catch and Release Walleye Tournament on the 2nd to 4th. Visit the Sunset Country website to see a list of all the fishing tournaments in the area.

There are a ton of events to watch, participate in or volunteer at this summer. There are really too many too list. Visit the Sunset Country Events page or visit www.ontariotowns.net to see events listed under each community.

Come to Canada and Catch the Big One

2010-07-12T00:34:00.001-05:00

Canada is the promised land for muskie anglers and Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario has some of the best known muskie waters in North America. At the top of this list is Lake of the Woods but it is not the only destination. Lac Seul, Eagle, and many others harbor large fish the biggest over 50 inches in length. The Canadian wilderness back country and incredible lakes provide a setting you can't get anywhere else. Stay at a lodge, rent a houseboat, or try a fly in outpost to catch that trophy fish. Visit our website focusing on Ontario Muskie Fishing Trips and plan your fishing adventure today.

Campgrounds - the Great Outdoors in Ontario

2010-07-05T23:07:00.004-05:00

Go Camping in Ontario

Northwestern Ontario - better known as Sunset Country - is one of the funnest places on the planet to go camping. There are after all, 70,000 freshwater lakes and thousands of square miles of Boreal Forest. Amongst this grand setting are many private and public campgrounds for you to choose from. Related activities include hiking, nature photography, swimming, canoeing, boating, ATV riding - the choices are endless.
Request your Free Ontario Campground Guide.

Lodges, Resorts & Outpost Cabins in Ontario

2010-05-08T14:20:00.004-05:00

Vacations in Ontario, Canada

Everyone needs a vacation and if you are looking for a great vacation idea then we have one for you. Sunset Country is a travel region that covers most of (north) western Ontario. Situated above the State of Minnesota, this is a land with thousands of lakes and endless tracts of northern Boreal forest. Within the region you have the choice of staying at literally hundreds of different lodges, resorts and oupost cabins.

If you want to go fishing then you're in luck as that is the "star" attraction we have to offer. Lodges and Resorts in Ontario's Sunset Country provide a number of packages that you can choose from. For the more independent vacationer, one who does not want to follow a meal schedule and who wants to do what they want when they want, we recommend you look to rent a housekeeping cabin. This is where you rent the cabin only - a fully-equipped one mind you - but the key is you do your own cooking. These cabins come with complete kitchens so you can really whip up a good meal if you are so inclined. For those who really just want to relax and not worry about having to cook, then you should choose the American plan package where the lodge staff look after meal preparation for you. The American plan often includes extra amenities such as a boat and motor included with the package.

To truly escape from civilization however, there is no better choice than a Canadian fly-in outpost cabin where it is you and your party, the cabin and the lake - no neighbors! The experience of "owning" a freshwater lake for seven days is truly something else. You can fish, hike, swim - whatever you want - this is your vacation and there is nobody else around to bug you!

If any of these sound like fun to you then we have information to help you plan your vacation - enjoy!

Events Highlight a Summer of Fun!

2010-05-06T23:07:00.008-05:00

Let's Party

Summer is party time in Ontario's Sunset Country and there are a boat load of events in the towns and cities across the region. In Red Lake you can take in the Norseman Festival and experience the lore of the Canadian bush plane. Dryden, Ontario is hosting the 2010 CMWA Canadian Championships in windsurfing and it promises to be an exciting event. Kenora's annual Harbourfest is a rock and roll party you don't want to miss. Dance the night away on the shores of Lake of the Woods under the big tent. Fort Frances, Ontario has its 2nd annual Folk Festival this summer and you can also listen to music at the Trout Forest Music Festival in Ear Falls - on beautiful Lac Seul!

Wherever you are this summer you can find a community event going on. There is always something to do! Here is a list of 2010 festivals and events in Sunset Country, Ontario

GPS and Waymarking

2010-04-13T08:54:00.004-05:00

Explore Northern Ontario's Sunset Country

Are you an explorer at heart? Do you like to go on back country expeditions in search of the unknown? Then Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario is the ideal destination. The past few years have seen an explosion of interest in navigation and trekking - using GPS devices to find your way around.

The rugged landscapes of Canadian Shield and the many thousands of lakes present a multitude of navigation challenges. You can start off slow and navigate down abandoned logging roads or for the experienced, go on a week long "in and out" trip into the real wilderness - an authentic bush experience. When you embark on your trip, always ensure you bring a good topographic map with you. This is a good back-up for orienteering as well as being useful for the identification of interesting landscape features that can be your "destination targets".

Make sure you bring your camera as there will be numerous wildlife viewing opportunities along the way. From a safety perspective, it is also a good idea to let someone know where you are headed and when you are expected to return - why take chances? Sunset Country was made for the GPS enthusiast. We have a free travel guide and map of the region available to get you started.

Spring Ice Fishing Trip

2010-03-22T21:50:00.009-05:00

Ice Fishing in Sunset Country, Ontario

One of the perks of being Executive Director of the Travel Association, are the invites I get to experience what we have to offer here in Northwestern Ontario. A great winter experience is ice fishing. I was lucky enough to have Kenora area guide Jeff Gustafson ask me to go try an evening out on the ice.

Getting out there around 5:00 PM the fishing was good right from the start. There were 6 of us fishing - Jeff and I, Jeff's dad, two friends from Minnesota and another local like me. Just about as soon as I arrived one of three "pop-ups" set with a cisco and targeted

at big pike sprung up. I had the honour of pulling in the fish - a small northern this time - unlike the 15+ pound fish they had caught the day before. While this was going on, one of the Minnesota anglers pulled in about a 10 pound lake trout - in the same area. This was followed by some large walleye, one over 28 inches. This all paled in comparison to the 40 inch lake trout pulled in by the lone lady angler on the ice - what a fish!

Here I am with the 27 inch walleye I had the opportunity to pull out of the ice. I really thought the fish would have fought harder given its size. She was beautiful and after this picture, I returned her back down the hole and into the lake. Needless to say the pace of the action was crazy from the get go - and a tremendous amount of fun! Thanks to Jeff Gustafson for the great day on the ice.

Ice Fishing was a great way to end this year's winter. Now it time to start planning your 2010 summer vacation.

Time to Start Planning Your Fishing Trip

2010-01-18T00:05:00.006-06:00

Where are You Going Fishing this Summer?

Well it's January and the days are short, the temperature outside is chilly and there isn't much on TV. This makes it a perfect time to plan your Canadian Fishing Trip. While we admit to bias, we think you should be looking to Ontario's Sunset Country as your destination. We have 70,000 lakes for you to choose from and a list of over 260 lodges, resorts, campgrounds and other places you can stay. We have information on the towns and cities in Northwestern Ontario and we're here to help you plan your trip. The fishing of course is great and so are the people. Enjoy a Canadian fishing trip that you'll remember for years to come.

The best place to start is to order your free travel guide and fishing map which is loaded with helpful trip planning information including a directory of resorts and lodges in Ontario.

Festivals and Events - Party Time in Sunset Country

2009-07-30T22:11:00.012-05:00

Festivals a Big Part of Summer

Summer is celebrated in a big way in Ontario's Sunset Country. It is the true "tourist season" - the time of year when visitor numbers are at their highest. Folks from the United States, Europe and as far away as Asia and the Pacific flock to this part of Canada. Why you ask, because they want to enjoy the incredible outdoor travel experiences we offer!. Set in the boreal forest and with 70,000 freshwater lakes Sunset Country attracts fisherman, hunters, campers, wilderness canoeists and families who can find unique and fun things to do.

In this post we want to focus on the festivals and events taking place in our towns and cities. It's summer and we're in a partying mood and you can always find something going on. In Red Lake, Ontario for example the Norseman Float Plane Festival is a great time and it takes place the last week of July. Vintage bush planes are the star attraction but stage entertainment, and many family activities also occur. Ear Falls offer one of Central Canada's best outdoor music experience at the Trout Forest Music Festival. Listen to major acts and enjoy a great camping trip at the same time.

Dryden's major summer festival is Moosefest with 9 days of exciting activities going on. A major windsurfing regatta one event you won't want to miss. Kenora has the big party along the shores of Lake of the Woods - Harbourfest - features major rock bands, and with the Agricultural Fair, going on at the same time, it is an event you don't want to miss.

Meet Blueberry Bert at the Sioux Lookout Blueberry Festival. This event begins at the end of July and celebrates the harvest of a wild blueberries in the area. Many family-oriented activities make this a great idea for your family vacation - stay at nearby Ojibway Provincial Park or right in town. Pickle Lake laughs at one of the region's pest at the Black Fly Festival. If you are "at the end of the road" when it's on you'll find a wide variety of things to do and see.

Atikokan celebrates it reputation as a canoeing destination each year at Canoefest. Quetico Park just turned 100 years old in 2009 so there is lot's to celebrate in this great town west of Thunder Bay.

Family Fishing Vacations

2009-03-28T20:06:00.012-05:00

Take Your Kids Fishing in Sunset Country

Between video games, Internet chat rooms, television and mp3 players, kids today don't get to experience the outddors the same way we did. Yet, it is the outdoors and the activities you can do there that will teach them lessons no electronic device ever will. The simplest of pastimes - fishing - is probably one of the best activities you can do with your kids to get them away from the TV and into the great outdoors.

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario, Canada is an ideal destination for a family fishing vacation. With thousands of lakes, beautiful forests and hundreds of lodges and resorts to choose from, you can be confident a trip to our travel region will make your kids say "I can't believe this place". This is even more the case if your family lives in a big city where concrete is the dominant landscape feature.

Your children will be in awe of the birds and wildlife in our area and they will see things that just are not available back home. Maybe it will be a moose feeding in a shallow bay or a bear along side of the road as you drive to your destination. These experiences are invaluable for kids whose understanding of nature is limited because they seldom get to experience it.

As for the fishing, well it is simply second to none up here in Canada. Your kids won't complain that fishing is boring or that it takes forever to catch something. Within minutes your kid could land a beautiful Ontario walleye, a trophy northern pike, a smallmouth bass that jumps a foot above the water's surface or who knows, maybe even of of our famous Ontario muskies that will make their eyes open wide and their insides stir with excitement!

In addition to great Canadian resorts and lodges, there are over 100 RV Parks and campgrounds you can go to if you want to experience something different. For true adventure, consider taking your children on a Canadian fly-in fishing trip where you'll be the only people on the lake. The ride in on a bush plane will only make it that much more exciting and memorable for your kids. Catching over 100 walleye in a day may also stick in their minds for a while....

In addition to the great fishing your kids will enjoy swimming in the lake, hiking down a nature trail or just riding in a boat across the water.

Sunset Country Travel Association is a non-profit organization that promotes travel to our part of Canada. We have all the information you need to plan your trip so contact us and we'll be glad to help.

Sunset Country - A Place Like No Other

2009-03-23T22:57:00.010-05:00

Wilderness Next Door

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario really is a place like no other. Located in the central part of North America, Sunset Country offers thousands of square miles of wilderness, much of it pristine and untouched by modern civilization. This is a landscape with almost 100,000 lakes rivers and streams, vast stretches of woods and abundant wildlife and fish.

You can see the likes of moose, deer, and bear in our forests as well as dozens of species of songbirds and large birds of prey such as bald eagles and osprey. We can offer you some of the best freshwater fishing on the planet with trophy-sized muskie, pike, walleye, trout and bass in our lakes. Bring your camera to catch images of the area's wildlife, scenery and of the many big fish you'll catch.

For those who want to paddle across the water, Sunset Country was made for the wilderness canoeist. Do names like Quetico, Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi conjure up dreams of a trip you always wanted to take? These are only three options and with many qualified and knowledgable canoe outfitters, your trip planning can be relatively simple.

Cruise vast lakes on a houseboat. Lake of the Woods is located in Sunset Country are Lac Seul and Dog Lake. You can rent a houseboat on any of these lakes and take your floating cabin to a different location each day. Experience tremendous fishing, find your own secluded beach and relax in the beauty of the Canadian outdoors.

For the family that loves to go camping in Ontario, Sunset Country is the place in the Province to go. You can choose from a variety of private campgrounds across the region or stay in a Provincial Park. Bring your RV or your tent no matter, the guarantee we can provide is you will have a fun time!

Fishermen and familiy vacationers have a choice of many resorts and lodges in the Sunset Country travel region. For a truly unique experience, why not consider a trip to a remote fly-in outpost or lodge? You'll step aboard a bush plane and fly to a lake that has no roads into it and best of all, no other people!

If you are just traveling through Sunset Country on your way to another destination, then make sure to go through the many small towns and cities along the way. In these towns and cities you'll find a good selection of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities.

What really makes our part of Canada special is how close we are to you! If you live in the U.S. Midwest, Western Canada and Southern Ontario, you can get here easily and in good time. For more information on how we can help you make it all happen, order your free Ontario Travel Guide and Map for Sunset Country, the Great Canadian Experience!

Time to Plan Your Summer Vacation

2009-03-09T23:16:00.016-05:00

Vacations in Ontario's Sunset Country

Hey we know the economy's a real drag these days but perhaps a vacation would make you feel better? Sure it costs money to go on a trip but the great thing is there are loads of great resort and lodge packages, campgrounds and hotels up here in Ontario's Sunset Country. Your visit can be for a week renting a cabin along the lake, fishing and exloring the surroundings. Bring your trailer or RV and explore the many campgrounds and parks we have. Go hiking, swimming or canoeing. The great outdoors offers a wide choice of activities for the entire family.

To get you started you can use the links to the right to find the website with specific information on the vacation you are planning. All of the Travel Association's member business are listed on these websites so you have instant access to the people with the packages and services you're looking for.

Here's a list of some of the things you can do:

Rent a Cabin, Boat and Motor and Go Fishing

Rent a Houseboat

Go Camping

Take a Fly-in Fishing Trip

Go Canoeing in a Provincial Park

Try Scuba Diving in a Freshwater Lake

Sailing

Rock Climbing

Mountain Biking

Nature Photography and Wildlife Viewing

Experience Festivals and Go Shopping in Town

Enter a Bass Fishing Tournament

Wayfinding With a GPS

and lots,lots more...the key thing to remember is that a grand vacation is not far away from home - especially if you live in the Midwest States, the Prairie Provinces in Canada or right here in Ontario. We offer great value, great fun and great memories in Ontario's Sunset Country.

What Can I do in Ontario's Sunset Country?

2008-11-02T21:42:00.018-06:00

What can I do up there in Canada?

For someone from the USA who's never been here before, that is a really good question to ask. The simple answer is LOTS! Our part of Canada is an outdoor paradise plain and simple! With our 70,000 freshwater lakes and thousands of square miles of Boreal forest, you'll see some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in North America.

The family will love a trip to our area. Go fishing on Canadian lakes where you can catch trout, walleye, bass, crappie, muskie and pike. The fishing is truly legendary and you can stay at a beautiful Canadian lodge or resort while you're here.

If you happen to own your own camper or RV, then Sunset Country is the "promised land" for the family or couple who love to camp. There are many campgrounds and RV Parks to choose from. Another option for the camper is to stay at one of our many Provincial Parks in the region.

Speaking of our Provincial Parks, if you always wanted to go on a wilderness canoe trip in Ontario then they are the destinations you should have in mind. There are many excellent Canadian canoe routes that wind their way through Sunset Country. Don't forget to bring your fishing pole and your camera!

If you love the lake and have always wanted to go on an extended cruise then you can realize that dream by taking advantage of the many houseboat rental businesses that are members of our Travel Association. This is the equivalent of renting a lakeside cottage with the exception that it floats and you get a different view from your deck every night of the week.

There are many interesting towns and cities you can visit in Northwestern Ontario. While visiting, make sure you take in all the action at a local festival or event as there is always something going on. Spend a few nights in town and stay at a local hotel, motel or B&B. Make sure you stop in at the local gift and souvenir shops so you can take home that special momento of your visit. There are also many good restaurants and eating establishments to please any palette.

These are just a few examples of the things you can do when you take a vacation in Ontario. We can help you plan your trip and answer any questions you may have. The best place to start is by ordering your free Ontario, Canada Travel Guide and Map. You can also call us on our toll free vacation information line at 1-800-665-7567.

See you next summer up in Sunset Country!

Summertime is camping time

2008-07-14T23:29:00.007-05:00

Go on a Camping Trip to Northwestern Ontario

With the height of summer it's time to get outdoors and go camping. Northwestern Ontario offers easily some of the most accessible campgrounds to people in Manitoba and the U.S. Midwest. These camping sites cozy right up to a wilderness lake and offer excellent fishing and watersports for the kids. Take in the fresh air experience we offer and enjoy the comfortable and well-serviced campgrounds you can stay at. Hook-ups for larger Recreational Vehicles (RVs) will be available at the majority of locations some capable of taking the biggest of rigs. You can also pitch a tent or use one of these campsites as a base from which you can canoe, boat or fish.

Provincial Parks

With Provincial Parks such as Quetico, Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi, Northwestern Ontario is truly a wilderness canoeists paradise. You can get full canoe outfitting from our members to safely access these wilderness gems. Route planning, canoe rentals and even guides are available. See wildlife such as moose or whitetail deer, bald eagles, great blue herons and much more. Access areas along the lake shoreline with native American rock paintings that are many centuries old. Imagine the stories they were trying to tell so many years ago. For family campers there's parks like Rushing River near Kenora, Blue Lake north of Vermilion Bay, Aaron near Dryden, Ojibway near Sioux Lookout and Pakwash near Red Lake. All these Parks have shower and toilet facilities and some even have interpetive programs and exhibits you can go see.

Please use this link for a complete list of Northwestern Ontario Campgrounds. With summer here now is the time to make the trip. Be sure to stop in town for shopping and to pick up needed supplies such as fishing tackle, groceries, camping supplies and souvenirs. Eat at local restaurant or come in for a full day of shopping. The people in Northwestern Ontario are very friendly folks so get to know us better! Create great vacation memories with your entire family this year. We're only a few hours drive so why not get in the car and come stay for awhile?

Ice-out trout fishing - a ritual of Spring in Northwestern Ontario

2008-05-04T19:45:00.012-05:00

Get out and Spin Cast for Lakers

As the ice slowly melts away (and boy is it taking its time this year), the ritual known as ice-out trout fishing is set to commence. Arguably one of the seasons most enjoyable fishing pursuits, fishing for lake trout just after the ice goes out is a real treat. Normally, these fish are down deep below the first and often second thermocline any where from 50-100 feet below the surface. While you can still catch them fairly easily at these depths (with the right equipment and a little know-how), it is just not the same as spin casting for them in 10 feet of water.

The charm of this time of year is there is NO thermocline on the lake right after ice out - the temperature of the water is uniform throughout the water column and the lake trout can roam at any depth they choose. At this time of year you don't even need a boat to catch lakers, just cast your line from shore and you may have a 10-pounder bite your hook. While what lure to use is often a personal choice, we recommend you have lots of "flash" in your presentation - silver and gold are probably the best choices but bright yellow or black and silver combos also seem to work well. You may also want to rig up a spinner "train" and put a frozen cisco on the end of the line - the lake trout just can't seem to resist it!

Whatever rig you decide to use, the idea is to just get out on the lake for the first time after a long winter, enjoy the warmth of the sun and catch a big fish. These ice-out lakers have beautiful firm meat and they taste excellent when you have them for shore lunch. There are many great trout lakes in Ontario's Sunset Country so finding a place to go fishing will not be a problem. Many camp owners still have good cabin availability in the latter part of May so it is not too late to book your ice-out trip for 2008. If you want to access some great trout lakes then we recommend you check out this list of tourist outfitters who can set you up quickly so you can catch these critters.

Ice-out trout fishing is just one of the many reasons anglers from across North America and even Europe visit Sunset Country. We really are Canada's premier fishing destination when you consider the number of lakes we have (70,000+), the multiple species of fish you can catch here - trout, walleye, bass, muskie, pike, crappie, whitefish, sturgeon - and the natural beauty of the area. We are relatively close to home for all you fishermen from the U.S. Midwest so if you've got the time this spring we've got the fish - c'mon up!

Winter fun in Northwestern Ontario

2008-03-05T13:32:00.010-06:00

March is a Great Time to Visit

It's early March and still no real signs of spring in Northwestern Ontario. Yes, the sun is warmer and the days longer which is great, but the temperatures have not been very spring like so far. February's average temperature was almost 3 degrees celsius colder than normal - which is what they said it would be. No matter, March is the best winter month to visit Ontario's Sunset Country. The weather is usually ideal for outdoor activities like ice fishing, snowmobiling skiing or just taking a winter hike. The white glitter of winter is still here, but it is actually nice and comfortable to be outside.

The fishing is really "hot" at this time of year and the cold water makes those walleye taste even better than usual. Get out on the ice, catch some fish and enjoy time with your friends or family. We have pretty good snow depths in most parts of the region - a little below normal but not too bad for the snowmobiler. You can run your machine for miles and miles on our great wilderness snowmobile trails. The cross-country ski trails are also in prime shape if you like to get out and see the wilderness in winter.

Rent a Houseboat and Explore Magnificent Lakes

2008-02-07T21:22:00.002-06:00

Houseboat Rentals

Northwestern Ontario is home to 70,000 freshwater lakes and three of them, Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul and Dog Lake have houseboat rentals. These lakes are all large in size. Lake of the Woods for example has a surface area of 1 million acres and is dotted with over 14,000 islands. Measure the shoreline of Lake of the Woods and all its islands and it exceeds Lake Superior. It's true, the lake is a paradise for a houseboat vacation. You can rent boats out of Morson, Sioux Narrows or Kenora and chart your way through this maze of forests and water. Wildlife is every where as you'll see white pelicans, bald eagles, whitetail deer, bears and maybe even a moose!

Lac Seul is another immense lake as well stretching from Ear Falls in the west all the way to Hudson and Sioux Lookout on the east. Lac Seul is a massive reservoir of the English River which eventually flows west into the Winnipeg River and then Lake Winnipeg. Fishing on Lac Seul is some of the finest in Ontario. Walleye fishing is almost legendary and the muskie fishing on the east end of the Lake may be the best anywhere. You can rent houseboats from operators in Hudson or Ear Falls. Enjoy a week on the water that you'll never forget.

Dog Lake near Thunder Bay is not of the scale of Lac Seul or Lake of the Woods, but is still a huge lake that has major channels that are great to explore. A week isn't long enough to explore the entire lake but you will see wildlife and enjoy great fishing, swimming or just relaxing. Houseboats are often booked by groups of friends or family and make for a very memorable vacation choice.

Remember that you can order our Free Travel Guide and Fishing Map a great trip planning tool for your Ontario vacation.

Canadian Canoe Trips - Outfitters in Northwestern Ontario

2008-01-27T21:37:00.000-06:00

Northwestern Ontario is without a doubt one of North America's premier paddling destinations. The many thousands of lakes dotting the wilderness of the Canadian Shield make it a mecca for canoeists. Provincial Parks such as Quetico, Wabakimi, Woodland Caribou and the Turtle River-White Otter Wilderness park offer thousands of miles of canoe routes. Wildlife is abundant in these regions of Ontario and you may see a moose, bear, deer, otter or other creature. Fishing is spectacular especally for walleye, bass and pike. Bring your camera, as you'll paddle by some of the continents most beautiful landscapes, untouched and pristine.

Get Outfitted!

The best thing is you can get fully-outfitted for your trip and it is highly recommended that you seek the services of a qualified canoe outfitter. They will be able to ensure you a safe and high quality canoe trip experience. With equipment packages that meet your specific needs, an outfitter offers trip planning assistance, maps of the canoe routes, obtaining your park permits and getting you to and out of the park are all looked after. With an outfitter there's no worries - put their knowledge and experience to good use.

Vacation Idea # 2 - Big Game Hunts

2008-01-08T21:26:00.000-06:00

With 65,000 square miles of forest lands, Sunset Country offers some of Ontario's finest big game hunting opportunities. Up here there are the "big three" species you can hunt - whitetail deer, moose and black bear. Local outfitters offer guided or unguided hunts depending on the species. For non-residents of Canada, some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) require that you hunt with a guide but this varies across the region.

Whitetail Deer

Over the past few years, Northwestern Ontario has become one of the Canada's premier destinations for whitetail deer hunters. The bucks up here are large-bodied with big racks and many hunters have probably heard of the famous Dryden Buck harvested illegally in 2003. This deer scored gross 217 7/8 and had a net score of 192 7/8 - a truly remarkable animal. Since news of this animal came out, our region has become a very popular destination for Americans who love whitetail deer hunting. Yet with our vast size and extensive hunting land available, you can still come up here and hunt in relative isolation in most areas. Click on this link if you want to find out more about the great Ontario whitetail deer hunting we have to offer.

Black Bear

It is estimated that the black bear population in Northern Ontario is anywhere between 75,000 to 100,000 animals and the Sunset Country region is probably home to at least half of the population. Bear hunting is done primarily from baited stands done with either archery or rifle -depending on the hunter's preference. Big boars can weigh up to 700 pounds - belly draggers for sure - but more commonly mature males are around 400-450 pounds. Unfortunately, the Ontario Government cancelled the Spring Bear hunt in 1999 so the season now runs from August 15th through to October. Local outfitters manage large hunting spaces called Bear Management Areas (BMAs) which have a set number of animals available for harvesting. Careful management ensures a sustainable population and excellent success rates for visiting hunters. Click on this link if you want to learn more about bear hunting in Ontario, Canada.

Moose

Moose hunting in Ontario is often a once in a lifetime activity for a big game hunter from the United States. While the increase in the whitetail deer population has put some pressure on moose numbers in recent years, there are still plenty of animals available. Most popular are hunts for bulls and these grow to very large sizes in the Northwest. Moose and calf tags are also available. Non-residents are required to be guided by a local outfitter who is allocated tags by the Ministry of Natural Resources. If you want to participate in a moose hunt - especially if you are after a big bull - then we advise you to book your trip early - a year or more in advance - as the number of bull tags available is limited. Just click on this link if you want to visit Ontario on a moose hunting trip.

Duck and Grouse Hunts

While not in the big game category, Northwestern Ontario is also a great destination for duck hunters or for those who like to hunt grouse. Our many lakes offer excellent resting areas for many different species of waterfowl on their annual migration south. For the upland bird hunter, the numerous abandoned logging roads in Sunset Country allow you to access areas loaded with ruffed grouse. Click on this link if you want to embark on an Ontario duck or grouse hunting trip.

You can also visit this website for more information on Hunting trips in Ontario, Canada.

Vacation Idea # 1: A Canadian Fishing Trip

2008-01-01T15:18:00.000-06:00

Fishing you say? Well with 70,000 freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, Ontario's Sunset Country can only be described as an angler's paradise! That's right folks our area of Ontario encompasses about 60,000 square miles of wilderness landscapes. Within that area live approximately 65,000 people. With 70,000 lakes you can do the math - that makes more lakes than people! Now that is a situation any serious angler would want to find themselves in. We know the State of Minnesota for example, is very proud of the fact it has 10,000 lakes and that is quite a thing. But in Sunset Country, we are even prouder to boast one of our Provincial Parks alone - Wabakimi - has almost 12,000 lakes in it and is about the same size as the State of Connecticut. It's all a matter of scale then isn't it?

Not only do we have tens of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams, but we also have an excellent variety of fish species you can go after. For most (but not all) anglers, walleye is the fish of greatest interest and for good reason. These beautifully colored fish are great fighters and they probably taste as good as it gets. The Canadian shorelunch was built on fresh walleye and it is a treat you do not want to miss. Go out in the morning and catch your dinner, pull your boat up on an island in the middle of the lake and start cooking - mmm..... we bet you can taste those fillets right now and along with the beans and potatoes, it is truly a quintessential Canadian fishing experience. For more information on our great Ontario walleye fishing, visit our walleye website at http://www.ontariowalleyefishing.ca

Large and smallmouth bass are probably number two on the list and we have an excellent population of both species in Sunset Country. We are at the northern limits of this species' range so the fish grow slower but live longer in our waters. Smallies average in the 2-3 pound range but fish between 4 and 6 pounds are definitely available - and in numbers you won't believe. Largemouth bass are found in a smaller number of lakes but they can grow a little larger than the smallies - probably 7 pounds is the upper range for this fish. Use the same baits you use back home including plastics such as twister tails, tube jigs or flukes. Spinner baits also work well under many conditions and many resident anglers use live bait such as minnows, leeches or nightcrawlers with a great deal of success. Don't take our word for it, just read the In-Fisherman Magazine to see what their Pro Staff think of Northwestern Ontario as a bass fishing destination. To find out more visit our Ontario bass fishing website at http://www.ontariobassfishing.ca

There of course, are many big northern pike lurking in our waters and Sunset Country is definitely a "Grade A" pike fishing destination. Northern pike are distributed across the region and they grow big up here. Fish over 45 inches long and 30 pounds in weight may just bite your hook and if they do, be prepared for a long and arduous battle as northerns are great fighters. Just about any lake up here has a good population of northerns so come on up and enjoy the experience of catching them. Find out more about our fantastic pike fishing by visiting http://www.ontariopikefishing.ca/

For the trout angler, Sunset Country really has no equals unless of course, you are willing to travel just south of the North pole or somewhere close to that. Seriously, our region has several thousand spring-fed, clear deep trout lakes that are loaded with lakers. Catching them is also relatively easy if you know what you are doing. In the early part of the season, just spin cast along the shore line and since the ice-out occurred just a few weeks ago, the lake trout are in shallow and they are very hungry. This "ice-out trout fishing" is something every serious trout angler should try. During the summer, lake trout hold in large schools in much deeper water so if you want to catch them, you'll need to bring tackle and equipment that can get you down anywhere between 40 and 100 feet of water - downriggers work great for this when slow-trolling over a big school of trout. For fly fishermen, the treat that awaits you in our arctic watershed rivers are trophy native brook trout, with fish averaging 3-4 pounds and trophies hitting the 8 and maybe even 9 pound range - truly spectacular! Find out more about the excellent lake and brook trout fishing we have to offer by visiting http://www.ontariotroutfishing.ca/

Last but certainly not least is the mighty muskie - the species some people call "the fish of 10,000 casts." While that line may be the case in many areas it certainly does NOT apply when you fish the lakes in Ontario's Sunset Country. Northwestern Ontario is probably the number one muskie destination in Canada if not all of North America and famous musky hunters like Joe Bucher would be quick to agree with that statement. Fish over 50 inches and weighing in at over forty pounds are, if you can believe it, not uncommon. So if you are a muskie fishing addict or you just want to try catching one of these monsters for the first time then Sunset Country in Northern Ontario is where you should go to wet your line. Find out more by visiting http://www.ontariomuskiefishing.ca/

After all is said and done, if you have always wanted to experience the super freshwater fishing that Canada has to offer then the place you should do it in is Ontario's Sunset Country. You can visit any of the websites we have provided here to find out more info and to link to the many lodges and resorts that you can stay at while on your Canadian fishing trip. Alternatively you can also visit our general fishing website at http://www.canadafishing.ca/

Basic Travel Tips - Visiting Sunset Country

2007-12-28T20:46:00.000-06:00

We thought it would be wise to post some tips for anyone who will be traveling or who may be considering a trip to Ontario's Sunset Country in 2008. First off for our American friends, you are all probably wondering what the scoop is regarding whether or not you need a Passport in 2008. Here's what we know as of the date of this post:

Air Travelers: YES - if you arrive from the United States by air you do need a Passport and have needed one since January 2007. Just to clear things up, this is an American Law and you need it to return to the USA not necessarily to come into Canada. However if you want to return home by air after your visit, your Government requires you to have a Passport so make sure you get one if you are flying.
Land Travelers: NO - you do not need a Passport in 2008 to travel to Canada and return to the USA by land - i.e. in an automobile or RV. However, you must be able to prove you are a U.S. Citizen (you need a birth certificate or a Passport to prove this) and a valid photo identification - such as a driver's license with your picture on it. Children under 16 are excepted from the photo requirement. Again, this is a U.S. law to return to the USA after visiting Canada - not a Canadian one and since we as Canadians have to ensure that you will be allowed to get back home to the United States after visiting Canada - our Customs officers will ask you to present this level of Identifcation when you cross the border. U.S. citizens who are traveling by land will be required to have Passports to return to the USA in June 2009 - please plan accordingly for this eventuality.
For more information about new Passport rules for U.S. citizens retuning home after traveling to Canada, visit the U.S. Government's State Department website at this link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

U.S. Citizens - What can you Bring?: Canada allows you to bring in a set limit of certain items such as liquor and tobacco duty free. There are also other regulations and restrictions on certain food products, on firearms and other commodities. The best resource to answer these types of questions is the Canada Border Services Agency website under their Frequently Asked Questions page. Here is a link to that page: http://cbsa.gc.ca/help-aide/faq1-eng.html

DWI and DUI: Some U.S. Citizens with DWI (also called DUI) offences may not be allowed into Canada. The decision to let you in is based on Canadian laws as they apply to these offences not American law. Driving while impaired is considered in Canada what Americans would know as a felony conviction - or what we call an indictable offence. Any American who has a DWI or DUI offence is therefore considered to have a criminal record under Canadian laws. The decision to let you into Canada if this situation applies to you is based on how old the offence is and if you have more than one offence of this nature. For more detailed information on this issue as well as info on general admissabilty to Canada you can visit this website: http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/minneapolis/home_page/inadmissible-en.asp

Speed Limits: Speed limits in Ontario are posted in kilometers per hour (kmh) as opposed to miles per hour (mph). Here are the approximate equivalents for U.S. travelers:

100 kmh = 62 mph
90 kmh = 55 mph
80 kmh = 50 mph
60 kmh = 36 mph
50 kmh = 30 mph
40 kmh = 25 mph

Currency: Although U.S. currency is accepted just about anywhere, we advise American citizens who will be traveling to Canada to exchange their U.S. dollars for Canadian currency prior to their visit or as soon as you get in to Canada. If you will be exchanging your money in Canada, we strongly recommend you go to a Canadian Chartered Bank, a Credit Union or a Duty Free Shop to make the exchange - this will ensure you get as close to the actual official exchange rate as possible. Credit cards are another option albeit you generally get charged more by the credit card companies than you do at a bank. Recommended cards for travelers are Visa and MasterCard. As of January 2008, the current exchange rate is about par - meaning one U.S. dollar is worth about one dollar Canadian. This can fluctuate however so check before traveling as to what the current offical exchange rate is so you get the most value for your money.

Health Insurance: It is imperative that you check with your health insurer in the United States whether or not your policy covers you and your family while traveling in Canada. In most cases it does not. We strongly advise that you purchase additional travel health insurance prior to crossing the border so that any unexpected medical costs or costs related to emergent care are covered while you are here.

Fishing and Hunting Regulations: The high quality of the fishing and hunting experiences in Ontario are because of our careful fish and wildlife management strategies and regulations. Make sure you inform yourself and everyone in your party as to exactly what the regulations are for both fish and wildlife species - ignorance of these laws will not be accepted as a valid excuse by a MNR Conservation Officer. Some lakes and certain wildlife management units have specific regulations that apply to specific species so if you are unsure what these may be, ask your outfitter or call the Ministry of Natural Resources directly. You can find the current fishing and hunting regulations on the MNR website (and download a copy if you wish) at this address: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html

We hope this information is helpful to you but acknowledge we may not have covered everything you wanted to know. If this is the case please call us toll free from the USA at 1-800-665-7567 or email us at info@sunsetcountry.net

Enjoy your stay!

Come Discover the Great Canadian Experience

2007-12-23T23:24:00.000-06:00

As you go through life, never forget to take time out for yourself!

Vacations are important for many reasons but probably the most important one is the opportunity that time off from your job represents to rejuvenate yourself. Others of course, are to spend time with your family, your friends or your partner. When you make the decision to visit Sunset Country, it's because you want to experience Canada's Great Outdoors. Located in Northwestern Ontario, north of the State of Minnesota, Sunset Country is definitely one of the most beautiful of all places on our planet. This is a land of 70,000 lakes and rivers, 60,000 square miles (100,000 square km) of Boreal forest and a place best defined by its wilderness landscapes.

We are famous for among other things, our spectacular freshwater fishing, and we can offer anglers from the United States, Canada and around the world some, if not the best fishing Canada has to offer. For over 70 years, fisherman and families have trekked north to our area to enjoy the bountiful harvests available from our many lakes and of course, the sheer natural beauty of the land. On the list are walleye, northern pike, bass, trout, muskie, crappie and several other species of fish. Up here, the fish stories really are larger than life! You may just catch that "fish of a lifetime" during your stay.

For those who just love the outdoors, then this is the place God had in mind for you. Much of the region is untouched by humans and looks essentially the same way it did 500 or even 1,000 years ago. The rugged landscapes of the Canadian Shield are some of the most scenic in the world and there are endless places where you can go camping, hiking, swimming and wildlife viewing. The air is super clean, no exhaust fumes up here eh! You can visit several locations on an RV tour or come and pitch a tent in one of our many Wilderness Provincial Parks.

If you want to get away but are not too keen on roughing it then no worry, Sunset Country has many great resorts and lodges where you can book a room or a whole cabin. Located on a gorgeous freshwater lake, your stay will be comfortable and most importantly relaxing. You can choose from meal plans or do your own cooking - it's up to you. For something completely different, why not rent an outpost cabin where you either fly or boat in to your own private piece of paradise. At one of these locations, you can literally "own" the lake for the week of your stay. There are literally no other cabins or people to worry about - the true definition of "getting away from it all!"

This is just a sample of the many vacation experiences you can enjoy in Ontario's Sunset Country. If you want to order a free travel guide and map we would be happy to send you one. You can also call our toll free line at 1-800-665-7567 if you want to speak to one of our staff members in person.