Dear Clint and Laurie,

You both know how much I like Waynorth so I decided to share some thoughts with others that might be exploring your new and spectacular website. I wanted to tell everyone how wonderful Waynorth has become. I started going there back in 1993 after trying several other Ontario and Minnesota resorts with my two teenage children. Now that they have to work for a living I've been returning to Waynorth with a group of 4 to 6 guys. So I count sixteen summer fishing trips and seven fall moose hunting/fishing trips visiting Waynorth so far. Over those years I have been there in every month from May to October.

You are the third owner of Waynorth that I've known and each year the fishing, accommodations and meals continually get better. Your philosophy of protecting the larger fish makes a lot of sense but we still get a lot of fish to eat and take home. You and Laurie know what the client wants and you deliver - in fishing opportunities, new equipment, better staffing, better meals and the personal touch that the two of you bring to the resort. Things just function correctly.

The customer comes first and you go out of your way to make sure we have a wonderful vacation. Too many camp owners don't seem to realize that we dream about our fishing and hunting trips for a full year and we only have six days to realize our dreams of big fish and adventure. So things have to go right to obtain full enjoyment. I think your personal touch and honesty in what you can deliver is what sets your camp apart. Your latest idea of limiting the camp to 16 guests is wonderful. I've been there when 24 to 28 guests were in camp in early June and the operation cannot support that many fishermen at one time. This smaller sized group gives each of you more time to give personal attention to your guests.

Clint has guided me for bull moose and fall fishing the past five years and I've also been fishing with him as my personal guide on at least three other summer fishing trips to Waynorth. Clint is one special guy. He is outstanding as a guide, outdoorsman, tent-camp and shore-lunch cook and wants to see his guests have a great trip. (However, don't let Laurie leave her kitchen as she is a great cook.) Lately, he has had the camp to run so I rely on him to select fishing guides for my group since we like the convenience of having someone else to handle our boat.

If you are interested in moose hunting, explore the Waynorth website for "A Hunter's Story". That story will give you a sense of the adventure available around Waynorth and tell you the story of my first two moose.

There are many lakes to fish at Waynorth and you really don't need a guide except maybe for your first trip or two to Favourable or Setting Net Lakes. During the past five years the fishing on South Trout (4 miles long) has become outstanding for huge walleyes in addition to the many lake trout we have always caught there. North Trout (5 miles long) continues to produce bigger lake trout and we have found more success on large northerns there in recent years. Favourable Lake and the Severn River (about 20 miles of winding, island-filled, water) remain consistent producers of large walleyes and giant northerns. During late July and early August catching northerns over the weed beds is something special though they can be found throughout the season. If you want a special fishing adventure, try Setting Net Lake which is large like Favourable but with fewer fishermen. We can now get in there by four wheeler, thus avoiding the cost of a ten minute flight. Setting Net has not been fished much and large northerns and walleyes are easy to find. Of course there are other fly-in trophy lakes to consider and some areas on Favourable Lake that are seldom fished. Remember the old rule, 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water, so you still have to find them but there are really a lot of fish up at Waynorth.

Another reason to consider Waynorth is the beauty of the area and the sense of exploring areas seldom visited by others. Favourable has several picturesque waterfalls and interesting creeks to explore. Setting Net also offers a lot of adventure. Then there are the towering rock cliffs on North Trout and the abandoned trails around the old gold mine on the way to Setting Net Lake. Along many shorelines are mineral out-croppings showing gold, silver, fool's gold, and lots of other minerals that will fire your imagination. Actually, Waynorth Lodge sits on rich deposits of gold and silver but keep that a secret!!!!

While fishing you will see many beaver, bald eagles and loons. You will hear the raucous calls of ravens and see truly wild ducks and geese. On the trails, ruffed grouse will allow you to get much closer than you might expect. During shore lunch you will see Canada jays showing why they are called camp robbers. If you are lucky while fishing, you might see moose, black bear, river otters, trumpeter swans, or hear the howl of a wolf pack.

Another special show many nights are the northern lights filling the skies. Blue and green light showers occasionally become deep blood-red shafts of light shooting across the sky. Orion, the hunter, will march across that night sky in search of his trophy. Most nights you will see more stars and planets than you ever can in the urban areas most of us live.

I think the drive up to Red Lake is also special. I've seen many moose, deer, black bear, wolf, fox, lynx, and eagles along the road. There are several beautiful water falls and lots of gorgeous lake views. However, I don't drive Hwy. 502 or 105 after dark as moose on the road are a real night danger.

Waynorth can be whatever you want. I've seen people with difficulty walking enjoying the fishing and less strenuous portages. Families with children enjoy the easy spectacular fishing, great meals, swimming (when warm) and boat rides to remote spots. My son and daughter started with me as young teens (11 and 14) and repeated for over ten years. My beautiful blond daughter joined me on one too many fishing trips however, and is now completing her PhD in fishing (it's really aquatic ecology) at Michigan State.

So, wives, daughters - be sure to come along if you like adventure. If you worry about the elements, by July the weather is warmer, the bugs are mostly gone, and the fishing remains terrific. A trip to Waynorth can be easy and fun.

For those that want a more strenuous, more adventuresome, trip - the possibilities are there for you also. During my first moose hunt out of the Lodge years ago, I visited areas around North and South Trout, Favourable, and the old gold mine that no-one ever sees. Those spots are nearby, remain untouched and are available with a short boat ride and hike. There is even a gorgeous little lake with an overlook a short walk off the Favourable portage. Ask Clint and if has time, he will show you.

So, come on up. See Waynorth for yourself. It is a special camp run by special people.

If you need more information, send me an email at Dougjaeger@hotmail.com and we can exchange phone numbers for further discussion.

Laurie and Clint, thank you for making my trips enjoyable the past five years, for the fish, the great meals, and the trophy moose. I will see you again next June and September and if my kids can find a week I will bring them up this summer.

Doug Jaeger