NG REPORT wrangle in some incredible trophies (including the biggest pike and lake trout of 2021). While Martin’s summer story may have been unique, our skilled pro-staff guides and faithful guests also had the opportunity to experience the bounties that Aikens Lake had to offer. was there in under an hour to snuff it out with a firefighter crew and a water bomber. They also put out a few other spark-ups within 5 miles of Aikens throughout that time. This was noteworthy because all of their resources were tied up about 50 miles NW of us where three giant fires combined into an incredible inferno that burned over 500,000 hectares of forest. A huge thank you to the province and crews that kept us safe. It was a tough stretch of the season for us, but the skies finally opened up on August 10th and 3”+ of rain fell over 48 hours. By 9 am on August 12th, we had already greeted 4 planeloads of staff, guests, and family. We were back in business! At the time, we didn’t realize how busy the next 6 weeks would be. The effect of pushing back trip after trip because of border restrictions, health restrictions, and finally travel bans made it so that there were no holes in the bookings calendar. We extended our season an extra week in September to accommodate as many displaced groups as possible. How to describe the busiest 6-week stretch we have ever had to finish a season after restrictions had wiped out 7 of the first 12 weeks of our summer? Well, it is nothing short of a miracle. It’s the kind of outcome that makes your eyes watery and helps you believe that karma is real and hard work truly does pay off. Busy outpost camps, boats zipping across the lake, a jovial vibe in the bait shop and around the dock every morning, a bustling main camp with multiple planes landing daily, full dining rooms on a nightly basis, hearing American accents again for the first time since 2019 (We Canadians don’t have accents, do we?), Big Molly’s Bar once again staking its claim as the best meeting place for everyone after a fun day on the lake, an army of extra staff and guides flying in and out constantly to help cater to everyone – this was truly the blitz that made our season. In the end, we are extremely grateful to everyone for working together and helping us put on an unforgettable 2021 season. This year will be remembered as the most challenging one in the past 30 years. Despite that, everyone ensured that we could operate and provide the experiences and “joie de vivre” that has become our signature. So, thank you to each and every staff member, they all worked so diligently to provide an Aikens Experience that was incredible despite the circumstances. Thank you to Bluewater Aviation and their ace pilots who shuttled people and supplies all summer and kept us going through the shutdowns. Thank you to our volunteers who were so understanding when we had to cancel Molly Week for the 2nd year in a row – we will be back in spring 2022, so be ready! Thank you to the Canadian and Manitoban governments for the great programs put in place for the tourism industry and for the fire protection. None of this happens, however, without our biggest supporters – our guests. Thank you to all our guests who traveled to see us from near and far. We know that logistics and travel requirements were different than in past years, so we are appreciative of the effort you made to make it to the dock. It appeared to all be worth it once you could kick your feet up in the boat and just enjoy the natural beauty all around you. To those that have to wait until 2022, a massive “thank you” for being so accommodating in rebooking your stay with us – we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet this upcoming season. The past few summers have had their share of turbulence, but there is an immense optimism as we move into a post-pandemic era. The pent-up demand for travel is real. The stars shine brightest after the storm. Thanks for being a part of this unbelievable chapter, and we can’t wait to write many more stories in this book with you all! Congratulations to all these lucky (and obviously skilled) anglers for their outstanding trophies. Aikens Lake is bestowed with an astounding bounty of fish. While catching the big one is always a blast, our lake also gives its visitors a rare freedom to enjoy a breath-taking granite and pine swathed body of water that has been left untouched since time immemorial. Get those reels oiled and spooled up, knock the rust off your hookset and buckle up for what will be a standout 2022 season at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge! 1 3a 2 3b ty and benefit wherever it may lie. 1 29” WALLEYE CAUGHT BY: Mr. Gordon Brown of Carman, MB 2 44” NORTHERN PIKE CAUGHT BY: Ms. Natasha Turenne of Winnipeg, MB 3a 38” LAKE TROUT (TIE) CAUGHT BY: Mr. Joel Tetrault of St. Anne, MB Here are our 2021 season’s BIGGEST fish caught: 3b Mr. Jager Buekert of Steinbach, MB 19.5” SUCKER CAUGHT BY: Mr. Pit Turenne of Winnipeg, MB 24” WHITEFISH CAUGHT BY: Mr. Cory Froehlich of Winnipeg, MB
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