Fishing with my Dad
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DIGGMy dad and I have fished many areas of Canada, dating back to the early 1970s. In or around 1981, my dad had been researching the northern part of Manitoba for fishing. I was 14 years old, and always looked forward to my two weeks a year fishing with my father.
This is where my memory fails me regarding location. I know we had been about 30 minutes south of Thompson, and stayed in a small campsite across the street from a lodge (that may have also been a motel) that had been run by the nicest lodge owner we have ever met.
Not that it matters, but I think he originally came from Russia – I only put that information in there so that maybe somebody can help me relocate my past so I can continue with my wife and children.
OK, now the story…
We left Chicago and drove straight through, (26 hours… OK, my dad did all the driving). I woke up in Fargo, North Dakota. I mentioned I was hungry, so we found this little campsite about eight hours north of Winnipeg – I believe on Setting Lake? We set up camp and rested the first day.
The next day we went out fishing in the morning after renting a boat and motor from the lodge. We caught plenty despite having no barbs on the hooks. We decided we would start fishing later in the evenings due to the heat. Anybody that knows the area knows to call and find out when the ice has dropped, because not all summers had been the same.
The bonding I had with my father was priceless – memories I will try to pass on to my children. I learned outdoor survival, common sense, fishing techniques and even that the water runs north and not south like back home. It was the quiet days and nights, all the great fishing, nature, and little conversations we had that made the trips so enjoyable.
The one thing that I’ve tried to explain to friends and family is how the Northern Lights appear once it became dark (around 11:30 p.m.). I don’t know if that’s a big deal for the locals, but I’ve never seen the start of the lights until I was there. It’s like a huge circle of light spinning slowly at first, but with tons of little fingers in the center that would spin faster and faster and faster until an explosion in the center of the circle. Then huge beams of light – I’ve seen very small glimpses in northern Wisconsin, but they don’t even come close to the experience I had in Manitoba.
All these things have been a big part of my life, especially since my father is gone as of 2003. I would love to have my wife and children experience the same types of moments that I have cherished since that first trip to Manitoba
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to tell my story, I would love for anybody with information on the campsite and lodge I have mentioned to get in touch (Hd85anniv@yahoo.com).
I would think the person who owned the lodge would no longer be with us or would be retired. Any information on him or his family would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time
Sincerely, Daniel J. Schwendinger
