Hello October!

October has surely started with a BANG this year, and I'm not referring to just the hunting.  Just a few short days ago, we saw about 30 cm of snow dumped in the area.  It was our reminder that winter really isn't that far off. (I'm sure the snowmobile enthusiasts were doing a dance of joy!) And during all of that, the unthinkable happened - we lost power for 24 hours. Some homes for almost 48 hours!  It was as if everything shut down. Though being the true northerners we are, it didn't slow us down. After it all, I saw many friends post on-line how they spent their time and share their creative cooking methods. All in all, it gave many families an unexpected opportunity to spend some time with one other and truly reflect and be grateful for what they have. Fitting for a Thanksgiving weekend wouldn't you say? Thankfully, power is restored and the snow has subsided.  Hopefully October won't have any more of that kind of excitement!  Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!


This picture was taken by Janice Bjarnason and posted on the Weather Network site on October 4, 2012.
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/786/7946490/4/caon0578/plpcities/786/

Red Lake Triathlon Set For August 19, 2013

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London will come to a close  on Sunday, August 12, 2012. Let the spirit carry you forward with the Red Lake Triathlon! Visit our web site for registration details. Not on a team but want to join in on the fun? Sign up to volunteer!! Come join the fun!

Click on the image for a larger view.

Celebrating Canada Day

For a larger view of the poster, please click on the image

Red Lake Rocks the Runway!

Join us for the Norseman Festival Fundraiser held at the Red Lake Airport on June 23rd .


The Norseman Floatplane Festival is the time of the year when Red Lake welcomes visitors from around the world to help the community celebrate Canada's iconic bush plane. The event isn't just for aviation lover, events and activities for the whole family.


Ever since the first model of the Noorduyn Norseman took off in Cartierville, Quebec, in 1935, it has been fathering fans from around the world. This tough, single engine, high winged piece of Canadian history can be seen, up close and personal, Red Lake's Rock the Runway.




Click on the photograph above for an printable image.

Red Lake; An Exhibit Features Work of Harriet Carlson at the Heritage Centre

On Wednesday, May 16th, a reception was held at the Heritage Centre to celebrate the launch of Red Lake: An Exhibit by local artist and photographer Harriet Carlson.

The exhibit consists of 13 photographs featuring unique fashion collection with local models and familiar locations and are printed on five-foot canvases.

Residents taking in the exhibit have expressed their delight to have Red Lake represented in a positive light.

Hours of the exhibit will be: Monday to friday: 9-5  Saturdays:  10-4
Admission is $3.00/adults; $2.00/seniors & students
Children under the age of 6 are Free

While you are at the Heritage Centre, remember that memberships are a good deal.

In addition to free admission year found, your membership qualifies for 10% off gift shop merchandise and much much more.

The show will run through June 9th.

For additional information please visit the Red Lake Museum Web Site.

Flappers and Flyboys Support Red Lake Tourism With "...the Biggest Function of the Season"

Flappers and Flyboys flocked to a fun-filled tribute to the Roaring 20's at the Red Lake District Publicity Board's 33rd Annual Sportsman's Dinner and Dance on Saturday, May 5.


Following a scrumptious dinner, a wealth of door prizes from over 100 local business were awarded, and then the sell-out crowd of 450 danced until closing time to live music from Winnipeg's "Almost Famous."


Besides kicking off the summer season right and supporting tourism in the Red Lake region, the annual event is the main fundraiser for the Publicity Board, with proceeds used to send Board members to three U.S./Canada Sport Shows were they promote Red Lake member businesses. As Maureen Pryndik of Golden Hook Camp noted, "Everyone wants to attend the biggest function of the season."


Claiming the brand new Lund Boat (Courtesy of Red Lake Marine & Lund) with a Honda Motor (Courtesy of Red Lake Marine, Honda & Northern Waterworks) was door prize winner Mick O'Shaughnessy, while defying the odds, his wife Brenda took home a Yamaha 2800 Watt Inverter Generator (Courtesy of Lakeside Marina & Yamaha). Other prizes included a $500 Shop Local Gift Certificate, courtesy of Goldcorp Red Lake Gold Mines.


The Red Lake District Publicity Board holds its Annual Sportsman's Dinner and Dance on the 1st Saturday of May each year. We look forward to seeing everyone again at next year's event, set for Saturday, May 4, 2013!

Mick O'Shaughnessy winner of the Lund Boat, courtesy of Red Lake Marine & Lund, and

Honda Motor, courtesy of Red Lake Marine, Honda & Northern Waterworks

Left to right: Don Aiken, Red Lake Marine; Mick; Chris LeBlanc, Northern Waterwaters

Brenda O'Shaughnessy winner of the 280 Watt Inverter Generator

courtesy of Lakeside Marina & Yamaha

Left to right: Mike Smith of Lakeside Marina and Brenda O'Shaughnessy

The lucky winner of one of the $500 Shop Local Gift Certificates courtesy of

Goldcorp Red Lake Gold Mines receives his prize from Chris Cormier (right) Mine Manager

Ice Out on Howey Bay

Ice Out! Marg and Dave McLeod from Howey Bay Resorts & Outposts report Mother Nature is doing an excellent job of getting Red Lake ready for eager resort owners, boaters, and anglers. 

Situated at the east end of Red Lake, usually Howey Bay is pretty stubborn about giving up its wintry grip, but it is now mostly clear, with operators of fly-in outposts already beginning to move their planes out of storage and into the bay, a busy hub of flying traffic all season long. 

Early ice out can be a good thing on Red Lake for both residents and fish alike. According to Marg there’s nothing worse than waiting for the lake to clear in the third week of May; those late ice stories in the coffee shop can only be repeated so many times! With an earlier than usual ice out, owner/operators of fly-in outposts can get a jump on preseason work, making sure their cabins are ready for the first visitors of the season. An early spring also gives walleyes an opportunity to spawn before the season opener, insuring a strong class of fish for the future.

Ice out predictions in Red Lake pools usually range from April 10 to the 21^st, but locals this year are eyeing April 17 or 18 as probable hot tickets for the cash prizes. 

Photo: Dave Mcleod and Lorne Marks give nature a hand in breaking up the ice in Howey Bay. Great to be on the water again!

We Have A Winner!!

The Red Lake Publicity Board is pleased to announce the winner of our $1,000 Travel Voucher Giveaway is Peter Eklin of Homer Glen, Illinois


Congratulations Peter! We look forward to welcoming you to the Red Lake area and know you will enjoy your visit. Looking forward to sharing photographs on our Facebook and blog pages.

Spring 2012: One For The Books!

Record high temperatures have made this March in Northwest Ontario one to remember. Mike Smith of Lakeside Marina reports that on March 11th he ran his Skidoo up a snow bank and down into his truck since the bank was so high, but by March 18th the bank was gone completely!

All snowmobiling in the area has obviously come to a halt because the trails are bare, but fishing has been good, with walleyes making their way into the creeks. ATV's may be the vehicle of choice to reach them, though Mike predicts anglers will be hunting walleyes from boats for the last week of walleye season. Fishermen focusing on trout say fishing has been slow, but some are finding ling in the deep reefs where they come in to spawn.

Giselle Ryczek only needed a one pound walleye to claim the grand prize at the annual Gyro Club Fishing Derby earlier this month. She opted for the $1,000 instead of the fly-out fishing trip. Congrats Giselle!

Thank you Gary Smith for providing photographs of the Gyro Club Fishing Derby!

Let's Go Fishing!

According to Mike Smith of Lakeside Marine in Red Lake, fishing in the Red Lake area has been good to exceptional so far this year, with the longer days of March promising an uptick in the walleye action as the fish begin to find their way to creeks.


Little Trout Lake, about 20 miles south of Red Lake, has been a consistent producer, with anglers having the best luck in shallow water—30 inches of ice, 3 feet of of water! Lake trout fishing on Trout Lake has reportedly been a bit slow, but the smaller trout lakes in the Woodland Caribou Park have been producing nice eating fish in the four to five pound range. Fishermen report good results when using Vexilars, and they are finding fish suspended around 23 feet, though some stick to fishing off the bottom, no matter what the depth.


Mike reports colored jigs and minnows are the baits of choice and noted some camps in the area, such as one on Lake Vermillion, are renting out cabins for overnighters. Area anglers have been looking forward to the Mackenzie Island Gyro Fishing Derby to kick off March. Watch this blog for photos and results!

Photo Credit: Emily Bates

Cute Video of a Pine Marten in Ear Falls

This video of a Pine Marten was posted on YouTube by someone enjoying the terrific hunting outside of Ear Falls. 

Annual Dog Sled Event

Join us for our annual Dog Sled Event! The event will take place at the Friendship Center Site on Forestry Rd. Contact Lori Rolland for additional information.

Red Lake Publicity Board Travel Voucher Giveaway: Now You Can Enter Online!

Earlier this month we publicized a $1,000 Travel Voucher giveaway, with the drawing taking place on April 9, 2012. Entry forms could be filled out and submitted at our Red Lake District booth at any of the three scheduled sports shows listed in our blog post.


We are happy to announce that eligible participants will be able to participate online!


Simply fill out the online request for a map of the Red Lake District anytime before April 9, 2012 and your name will be entered into the Travel Voucher giveaway.


The winner will be able to claim their $1,000 cheque after they submit a copy of their bill from their 2012 stay at any Red Lake Publicity Board Member Camp or Business. The bill reflecting your paid 2012 vacation must be submitted by December 31, 2012.


For all  other pertinent details please click on the photo.

Tourism Red Lake Members Attend January Sports Shows

Several members of the Tourism Red Lake publicity board will be attending several sports show during the month of January. 


"What should I pack for my fishing trip to Canada?"


"What can I expect when I go through the border checkpoint?"


There is no better way to get answers to your questions than to ask the lodge owners at an upcoming sports show. Are any of these shows in your neighborhood? Our members love talking Canadian fishing and hunting as much as you do!


Jan. 16-18, 2012 - All Canada Show, Merriott Madison West, Madison, WI
   Big Hook Wilderness Camp
   Nestor Falls Fly-In Outpost


Jan. 19-22, 2012 - Kansas City Boat & Sport Show, H. Roe Bartle Hall, Kansas City, MO
   Nestor Falls Fly-in Outpost


Jan. 19-22, 2012 - All Canada Show, Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Milwaukee, WI
   Big Hook Wilderness Camp
   Nestor Falls Fly-In Outpost
   Sydney Lake Lodge


Jan. 26-29, 2012 - All Canada Show, Shopko Hall, Green Bay, WI
   Big Hook Wilderness Camp
   Howey Bay Resort
   Nestor Falls Fly-In Outpost
   Showalter's Fly-In Service

Happy Birthday Cochenour Arena

The Cochenour Arena is celebrating 50 years this Saturday, January 21, 2012


Arena events scheduled for January 21, 2012 are:


 9:00  -  9:50 am     Bantam
10:00 - 10:50 am    Mini/Mity Mite
11:00 - 11:50 am   Novice
12:00 -  1:00 pm   Anniversary Celebrations
 1:00  -  1:50 pm   Atom
  2:00 -  2:50 pm  Peewee
  3:00 -  3:50 pm  Girls
  4:00 -  4:50 pm  Figure Skating
  5:00 -  5:50 pm  Midget
  6:00 -  6:50 pm  Ladies
  7:00 -  7:50 pm  Recreation Mens
  8:00 -  8:50 pm  RAMS Alumni


Cochenour Hall Events:
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm  Food & Drinks - RLMPS
8:00 pm - 1:00 am  Social - Instep Dance


There will be displays highlighting the history of the arena.

(Photo courtesy of Red Lake)

Red Lake Publicity Board Giveaway Travel Voucher. Easy as Attending Upcoming Sports Show!

Besides a chance to talk hunting and fishing with some of the best Canadian lodges, camps and outfitters in Ontario you now have another reason to attend a sports shows: a chance to win a $1,000 travel voucher.

For your chance to win, simply visit the Red Lake District Publicity Board booth at any of the following sports shows and fill out a vacation information form and you will be entered into the draw. Vacation information forms eligible for the travel voucher draw can only be obtained from the Red Lake District booth at the three shows listed below:

All Canada Show, January 12-15, 2012
Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center, St Charles, IL

Florida Sportsman Expo (Fishing/Hunting/Boating), February 4-5, 2012
Lee Civic Center, Ft. Meyers, FL

Northwest Sportshow, March 28-April 1, 2012
Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN

A winner will be chosen on April 9, 2012. For complete details please click on the photo. For a complete list of members the Red Lake Publicity Board click on this link.

We'll see you at the show!

Several of the Red Lake Publicity Board Members Head South of the Border

It's true - the next best thing to fishing and hunting in the Red Lake, Ear Falls and Perrault Falls area is talking about it. For many members of Tourism Red Lake Publicity Board, this is the time of the year when they pack up and head south for the start of the sports show season.

First on the schedule is the All Canada Show, the largest gathering of Canadian lodges in the MIdwest United States market. The first show of the season opened on January 6th in St Louis; at the time of this writing is opening in Indianapolis until the 11th of January when All Canada packs up and heads to Chicago, arguably the largest show market on the tour.

Ten of our members will be exhibiting in Chicago which opens January 12th and runs through January 15th. Tourism Red Lake will also have a booth at the show. 

Good luck to the following members debuting on the All Canada Show in Chicago.

Big Hook Wilderness Camps

Canadian Fly-In Fishing

Chimo Lodge

Howey Bay Camps & Northern Waters Fly-In

Nestor Falls Fly-In Service

North Spirit Lake Lodge

Nungesser Lake Lodge

Showalter's Fly-In Service

Sydney Lake Lodge

Viking Outposts & Viking Island Lodge