Well September is almost over and have finally closed things out for the camp.  It has been so busy since we got home.  We went from the camp right to the field swathing and then combining.  A disturbance moved in a couple days ago giving us a chance to regroup and do up some unfinshed business.
We had a very successful summer and 2014 is shaping up to another good year.  We have  quite a few bookings already, infact we are already booked from June 1st until the 13th.
Our 2013 Pike Master was Brett Oldfield from Calgary.  He caught and released a 45 inch pike on June 25th.  This beauty was caught and released at Davin.  Brett has been invited to return to Davin in 2014.  Congratulations Brett.
Once we wrap up the fall work, Irvin will be heading back up to Davin to prepare to put the new dock in.  We are excited about that, it will be so nice.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for being there for me again!!!  I was so busy at the camp last season that Spencer Shout, my oldest son from Tennessee, took over writing my blog.  He did an amazing job and will be asked to do the same for 2014, haven't told him that yet!!!!  Thank you Spence. 
I would also like to thank Melissa Yeager, my daughter for doing all the behind the scenes work at home.  She also is our accountant.  I don't know what I would do without her.
My daughter-in-law, Amy Shout from Oklahoma has been doing out website work and is in the process of building a new site.  Thank you Amy for all your help.  You are all amazing and thank you again.
I will do another posting and hopefully get some pictures to post on the fall trip to Davin.
Until next time.

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Fishing Updates

We have been extremely busy the past couple weeks. The bus trip was a great success again this year. Shirley Geddes was the leader for the free trip until the last day when she was edged out by Lane Therres who will return next year as the bus tour pikemaster award winner. Everyone had a great time.

                                     

Daylene Wallington and her family returned again this year. Tye caught his first lake trout and was very proud. Daylene caught a nice pike again this year.

Irvin had the pleasure of spending some time fishing with his grandson Dawson and his friend Tyler Thevenot. With the summer spent at Davin and winter spent in Alberta working he doesn't get to spend as much time with his family as he'd like to. They caught a few fish to take home with them, but spending time with Grandpa was the most important to Dawson. Both boys sure enjoy the outdoors.

Just a few more weeks and we'll be heading home. We need to thank everyone who has made this summer so memorable. We already have alot of bookings for next year, so it must have been enjoyable for the guests as well!

Until next time

Diana and Irvin

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Marcel Giudicelli

We had a sad day last week and hate to post that Marcel passed away. Anyone who has been to Davin in June or July the past 8 or 9 years has probably had the pleasure of meeting him. Marcel was a commercial fisherman and did fish studies for the United Nations. He had the ability to travel more places than most, and Davin Lake was definitely his favorite. He would spend about two months with us in "the bush" as he called it. It was always great to hear his stories of travel around the globe, and the "Jacks" longer than his leg that swim in Davin. There are many people who enjoy coming to Davin each year but Marcel loved it here as much as anyone. He even built a cabin in France and placed a giant picture on the wall of the view of Davin Lake. He would sit and gaze at the picture and dream of the next summer when he could return to the bush. We will miss him a great deal.

On a happier note our annual bus tour is this week. There's 24 people in camp and we are extremely busy, but it is great to see everyone. Fishing has been outstanding all year it seems, and everyone who leaves says it was the best ever. We believe our catch and release policy and trying to show people proper fish handling, and releasing to preserve our great fishery is really working, and the fishing reports seem to confirm it.

Time for supper!
Diana and Irvin

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We had the first ever supper cruise at Davin Lake.  We loaded the pontoon boat with a grill and some food then proceeded to the Davin River.  We caught numerous Walleye.  The fishing was outstanding!  When our arms got sore from landing so many fish, Irvin made us a wonderful supper.  We then left the river and went to Trout Rock and Five Mile Island and caught several trout.  Around 9 p.m. we returned to the lodge. It was a wonderful evening spent with clients from Hanley, SK - Carol and Wayne Knock and Sandy and Bob McKee.  It was nice to get out of the kitchen for a few hours and enjoy our beautiful lake.

Until next time,

Diana

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Current Pikemaster Leader

We received this picture from Brett Oldfield of his 45 inch pike caught on June 25.

Congratulations, Brett, on an outstanding fish!!!

We also had the pleasure of hosting the Pinnacle Group out of Medicine Hat for the first time.  They flew in on a twin otter.  It's always exciting to see planes land on the air strip.  Here are a couple of pictures.

Until next time,

Irvin and Diana

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Manny & Bob

Our guests that have been coming to the camp the longest sent us this e-mail reviewing their 28th trip to Davin Lake!
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Diana,  Just finished my trip report. Don't let anyone tell you there are not a bunch of walleye in Davin Lake and some are large.

Manny

JUNE 3-8, 2013

Caught  250 Fish

Walleye   137

Pike   85

Lake Trout   28

This was the most two of us caught on a trip in 28 years. This trip will be tough to beat.

I caught three trophy walleye: 32" and 7.4 lb., 23" and 4.5 lb., 22 1/2" and 4 lb. Bob caught one trophy walleye 27" and 5.3 lb. The 32" walleye is one of the largest Irwin is aware of anyone catching at Davin Lake. Most people fish for trophy pike and do not spend too much time on Walleye. We do.

I took George and Irene to the Davin River and they caught a bunch of walleye. The walleye were caught on bottom bouncers and crawlers, bottom bouncers and crawler imitations (power bait), flicker shads, and jigs trolling and casting (white best). Bob caught a bunch off the rock in the Davin River casting a jig and crawler. Walleye were caught at Atwater, the "T" going into Atwater, Molloy, and Davin River.

Most Lakers averaged about 3 lb. and were caught using a Len Thompson heavy spoon at the point going into Cairns Bay. Some were up and some down on the fish finder.

Most pike were caught at the Pink River fishing with Oscar and using spoons and diving lures. 

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We'd like to thank Manny for his e-mail and hope to see him for 28 more trips!!

Until next time,

Irvin and Diana

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Davin Updates

Hello everyone! The weather has been incredibly hot here... but so has the fishing! All three species have been biting well with many trophy fish being caught. 45 inch pike is still leading the pikemaster contest (picture coming soon). We received an email from longtime guest J.T. Dibble which we are including this week. We love hearing from our guests about their success at Davin and Wathaman and will include their stories in our blog with their permission.
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These are photos of the pictograms located near the narrows at Wathaman.  Curtis showed them to us about 10 years ago, and we could not find them since, until this trip.

One shows an animal, perhaps a caribou or moose.   The other two are men, with one missing legs and an arm.  There is a round feature below the complete man.  Maybe, he is dancing around a fire.  Also, included is a  photo of the rockface.

We are researching such pictograms, and if we come up with anything, we’ll let you know.  Enjoy.

Keep your powder dry,

J. T. Dibble
<:((((((><

If we put the constitution on a teleprompter, will he read it?

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Pretty cool deal, thank you J.T. for sharing those with us. There's no telling how many years ago they were created.

We still have some room in July and August if anyone is needing a get-away, and maybe you could find the pictograms!

Until next time,
Irvin and Diana

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Well the month is flying by.  Hard to believe it is already the 20th of June. 
Fishing has been outstanding on all 3 species.  There has been a lot of trophy walleye caught and released.
Trout are down so the hook of choice is buzz bombs with blue being the best color.
Pike fishing has been outstanding with larger than normal average pike size. But haven't, as yet, caught any huge pike.  The largest to date is 43 inches.
All three species of fish are very fat and active which mean the fish have had a good winter.  We are looking forward to excellent fishing all season.

Spencer Shout with his 30 inch Walleye caught on the 14th of June.
Will have another update in a week. or so

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After our first week of fishing, things are a teriffic success.  Fishing seems totally different this year than other years as the water temperature is warmer.  Shallows are 60F and the deeper water is 57-58F.  Trout are in transition which is very different for this time of the year.  Walleye and Pike fishing seems more like the 20th of June.  If must be because of all the sunny, warm days we have had and very little wind.
Walleye fishing is totally outstanding with Manny catching a 31.5 inches.
Pike fishing is excellent but haven't caught as many trophy as usual due to the warmer weather.  Largest pike caught and released is 42.5 inches.
Trout fishing , excellent.  Trout being caught in 12 - 60 feet of water.
Picture if Sydney Shout who caught and released a 28.5 inch Pike, with the help of her Dad.

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Well it is time to do the blog!!  Finished seeding on Thursday the 23rd, loaded up the trucks and left for the camp at 4:00am yesterday.  Got here about 4:00pm.  Another bit of relef to see that no one had touched the camp.  Found it just like we left it in the fall. 
As usual the dock is in touch shape but patchable!!!
Trout are swimming around the dock which is  the norm for this time of the year.
The ice is completely gone and seems like what started out to be a late spring is actually a wee bit early.  The leaves are ahead of where they usually are at this time of the year.
The rush is on to get the boats ready, get out on the lake to put up markers and get both camps ready to go.
Wathaman is going to have the best year it has had in 10 years.  We are full from June 2nd to July 7th and then again the first 2 weeks in August.
We are looking forward to a good year at Davin as well.  There are a few holes but bookings are still coming in.
Just a note to our Texans, it is getting closer to slammer time!!!  Oh yes, water level is a touch above average.
Check back in a week or so for another update.

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Hello to everyone -  Well, it has been a long cold winter here in North East Saskatchewan.  It is now time to start gearing up for a season packed full of fishing.  Bookings have been quite active so we are looking forward to a busy season.  Don't be afraid to call for a booking as we can always get a cancellation.
Something new for 2013 is new regulation changes for fishing licences.  You will now have to purchase your fishing licences on line.  All you need to do is go the the Government of Saskatchewan Environment website, go to licences and follow  the directions.  I have been contacted by a number of fishermen who have already purchased their licenses and it is very easy to do.  If you need further information, contact me and I will be glad to help you.
You can also purchase the licence at The Fishing Hole, Cabellas or Wholesale Sports all in Saskatoon.  I imagine there will be a place in Prince Albert to buy a licence but I haven't been able to establish that as of yet.  Please be sure to buy your licence either on line or before you leave Prince Albert as I have been told that there will not be a place in LaRonge or North of LaRonge to buy your licence.
We plan to make a trip to the camp as soon as we hear that the snow is gone.  Once we have made that trip I will be doing another blog to let you all know what is happening.
Until then stay safe.

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Happy New Year to each and everyone of you. 
It has been bitter cold here in Northeastern Sask. minus 39 with the wind this morning, can't imagine why we live here!!!
For anyone who is interested in booking into Wathaman, please be advised that the outpost is booked from June 2nd until July 7th.  If you are interested in fishing Wathaman, we have openings from July 7th until the 24th and August 10th until the 15th.  Also, bear in mind that we will be closing our camp on August 15th.
For anyone interested in fishing Davin, we are booked from the 9th until the 14th of June and from the 20th until the 28th of July.
I have a report on the conditions at Davin.  As of last weekend there is approx 2 feet of snow and about 14 inches of ice.  When you clean the snow off the ice to dig a hole for ice fishing, there is a layer of slush.  I guess that means that the snow came providing insulation so the ice isn't as thick as it has been in past years.
Hope everyone is doing well and that you managed to get through the New Year festivities. 
Looking forward to hearing from you.

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