Branch's Seine River Lodge
P.O. Box 546 P0T1C0 Atikokan, ON, Canada

Ice fishing starting to ramp up, but still thinking about summer! Going through pics and found a bunch from Cindy Kendrick from July '19. Will miss seeing you all in Chicago this winter - but here's to July!

It sure does! Merry Christmas to all our friends around the world!

For some reason this is really special to me ... (Darcy). Kiana and I found it ... was hard work but so beautiful... first tree in the lodge...

So I'm (Quent) in Fredericton, New Brunswick in the middle of a 14 day quarantine (required for entry), after which I get to visit our daughter & granddaughter for a a while (which is worth every minute of this quarantine!). Now Fredericton is a beautiful city, but my Air BnB doesn't have much of a view. Earlier this fall, we had the pleasure of hosting a lady for her 14 day quarantine when she moved back to Canada. She sent these pics of the view from her cabin window. If I had that kind of view right now, these 14 days would be a LOT more enjoyable! Take care everybody!

Hope everyone is doing well during these crazy times! The hard water is almost ready, but we really can’t wait until spring for some top water action. Here’s a cool fly fishing trick fthat Jenna from The New Fly Fisher demonstrated while at our place a couple of years ago. I know a few people that keep some black Sharpies in their tackle box for a bit of augmenting. After spending some time with Jenna & Colin on the water, I gotta say their little trick works great. ... Anyone else do a bit of customizing your tackle? Thanks to Jenna & Colin and all at the New Fly Fisher for posting this. We gotta have you all back when the world gets back to normal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbbV5PnBM7Q

Wishing all our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!Wishing all our American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!

This might not seem like a big deal to many of you, but, after about 5 years of back & forth with Google, we (they?) finally have the proper location of the camp listed on maps. For years, it directed people to the liquor store in Atikokan (which sometimes was a convenient detour anyway!). I spent several days on the phone with them - plus emails etc....but could not convince them to let me move the location. But finally - it's right! Now I gotta get The Wanigan on the map - ugh...lol

Well, after a really cold couple of weeks, we’re seeing some amazing, unseasonal weather. It’s very much appreciated as we know it won’t last long. Anyway, Darcy got out in the boat today and had some crazy walleye action. But even more intersting, is that he landed this Cisco ( or lake herring). There’s a pile of these out on the Seine, but it’s rare to catch them fishing. So, no doubt you’ve heard me say how the big walleye are chasing schools of Cisco’s- and this is the fish we’re talking about. Find the Cisco’s and you’ll find some monster ‘eyes. This thing likely went 10-12 - so that’s where those big crank baits comes into play. And sometimes you can buy frozen Cisco’s for bait - and that drives the game fish absolutely crazy. Hope everyone is doing well - we’re missing you all!

Chilly morning - especially for October! Posting in Celsius & Fahrenheit for friends in either side of the border.

Extremely happy to announce the (gradual) opening of our new pub here at the camp. We've named it "The Wanigan"....for those of you who don't know what a wanigan is, here's a brief description from waynorthblog.com If you have spent some time canoeing up north, you might have run into paddlers lugging around a heavy wooden box along for the ride. Oddly enough, the paddlers hoisted this box on their back, with a thick leather strap banded across their forehead to support the ...weight. Inside this mysterious box were plenty of camping treasures: pots, pans, lights, games, matches and more. This traditional piece of canoe gear is known as the wannigan or wanigan. Essentially, it is a wooden box that serves as a mini camp kitchen storing cookware, food and goods on a canoe or snowsledding trip. Plus, my father, Carl Branch, lugged a wanigan all around North America prospecting, and i'll always remember boating out to "the wanigan" on the Seine Chain while the log boom was still going on (yes, I'm that old). Jock Dickson always had a muffin or something for me! So, given all that, it'd be pretty hard to call it anything else! We've actually been serving food here at the camp since 1967 - but always just to reserved guests. This lodge, built in 2018, is the 4th different building that we've served meals out of. The room has a terrific view of Banning Lake. It's a cozy place to enjoy the view, summer storms and occasionally the northern lights. With the help of some great friends (as always) we built an awesome lakeside patio this summer. And we're super glad to have Monica Mychasiw back this fall in our kitchen! So we're kicking our new service in our licenced dining room off with a Thanksgiving dinner this Sunday (call or email / text for reservations) . Later on next week we should be posting an opening day and menu for our short order service. Plus we've got some pretty cool things in the works over the next year! Really looking forward to getting this thing going & seeing everyone out here on the Seine! https://www.facebook.com/The-Wanigan-102022501681059

I think I've heard spiritual, but never romantic & sensual - but we'll take it! Thanks Maureen & Serge - was a great visit!

Well, it took 53 years, but we finally welcomed our first guests from Kapuskasing! It was great to meet and spend some time with fellow northern Ontarians' Maureen Dufour Gagne & Serge.....and it was absolutely great getting Monica Mychasiw back rocking in our kitchen & Darcy Pastuck doing a bit of guiding. Feels like May - but it's not, but we're just starting to get going! Thanks Maureen for the great pictures!

Getting pretty close - and should be just in time for the cold weather lol. Might have to investigate patio heaters! #seineriverlodge #banninglake #branchsseineriverlodge #seinechain #sunsetcountry #tourismatikokan

Gave @fishing1976 a break and let him be the tourist rather than the guide and not run the motor. He did really well after he took the plastic guard off his hook. Figured before that, he just wanted a challenge! #seineriverlodge #branchsseineriverlodge #sunsetcountry #ontariofishing #hookumspoon

Beautiful night on the Seine. Lori & I went out late this evening to wet a few lines. Bass were breaking all day, but not too active this evening, so we went after some ‘eyes with some Rapalas. Down Deep Husky Jerks. The only problem we had was getting some under 18 - finally landed one 17 3/4 - good trouble! #seineriverlodge #branchsseineriverlodge #rapala #walleyefishing #canadafishing #sunsetcountry

The patio on our lodge isn't quite done yet, but we still had to throw a couple of picnic tables up on it and have a beer to check out the view and the vibe. Consensus is that it's going to be great!

Had the opportunity to spend some time & chat to Roland Martin this past winter which was absolutely great. Between the Roland Martin TV shows and the Al Lindner magazine (when the Lindners owned it) In-Fisherman I was weaned on the techniques those guys used (if only I would have studied schoolwork as diligently!) I love that Roland is talking about the Devils Horse here. I always used the Devils Horse & Dying Flutter for big pike - and they worked great. I usually went wi...th smaller topwater stuff for bass - Torpedoes, Jitter Bugs, Hula Poppers etc. One night, about 6 or 7 years ago, Lori & I were out at the end of June fishing topwater for smallies. The mayfly hatch was on and they were swirling everywhere. We tried "matching the hatch" - no luck. Then tried every little bass bait and trick I knew and nothing. Big time frustrating - especially as they were breaking water all over - teasing us. And my wife was getting impatient! So I looked at my tackle and pulled out a big Dying Flutter. What the heck - worth a try. Lori's first cast over a reef and bam! A beautiful 20 incher. Then it was on. Tons of action and they were slamming the Dying Flutters & Devils' Horses like crazy.. It was like if they weren't getting bugs, they wanted something big. Clem Charles - one of our regular guests from Illinois - gave me my first Devils Horse when I was about 10 years old and I never looked back. I was doing the dishes from the guests' dinner, trying to get them done so I could go out fishing a bit before dark. Clem, finishing his coffee after dinner hollered over to me "Hey Quent - you wanna catch a big pike?". I went over to his table "Yeah i do!" - he reaches down and pulls out a Devils Horse and gives it to me and points out the window: "Take this across the lake to that bay over there and troll & cast it around" . I did . Within 5 minutes or so I had likely a 35" northern in the boat. I was sold. I likely caught more huge pike on that then any other piece of tackle....and it was so effective for the big pike, I pretty much focussed only on big pike when I used it. But after that night in June, it's become a go to for smallmouth for me. Love the back up senko technique he uses here too. awesome one two punch idea for those missed hits!

Doug with an awesome albino smallie on the Seine yesterday!

Had the opportunity to spend some time & chat to Roland Martin this past winter which was absolutely great. Between the Roland Martin TV shows and the Al Lindner magazine (when the Lindners owned it) In-Fisherman I was weaned on the techniques those guys used (if only I would have studied schoolwork as diligently!) I love that Roland is talking about the Devils Horse here. I always used the Devils Horse & Dying Flutter for big pike - and they worked great. I usually went wi...th smaller topwater stuff for bass - Torpedoes, Jitter Bugs, Hula Poppers etc. One night, about 6 or 7 years ago, Lori & I were out at the end of June fishing topwater for smallies. The mayfly hatch was on and they were swirling everywhere. We tried "matching the hatch" - no luck. Then tried every little bass bait and trick I knew and nothing. Big time frustrating - especially as they were breaking water all over - teasing us. And my wife was getting impatient! So I looked at my tackle and pulled out a big Dying Flutter. What the heck - worth a try. Lori's first cast over a reef and bam! A beautiful 20 incher. Then it was on. Tons of action and they were slamming the Dying Flutters & Devils' Horses like crazy.. It was like if they weren't getting bugs, they wanted something big. Clem Charles - one of our regular guests from Illinois - gave me my first Devils Horse when I was about 10 years old and I never looked back. I was doing the dishes from the guests' dinner, trying to get them done so I could go out fishing a bit before dark. Clem, finishing his coffee after dinner hollered over to me "Hey Quent - you wanna catch a big pike?". I went over to his table "Yeah i do!" - he reaches down and pulls out a Devils Horse and gives it to me and points out the window: "Take this across the lake to that bay over there and troll & cast it around" . I did . Within 5 minutes or so I had likely a 35" northern in the boat. I was sold. I likely caught more huge pike on that then any other piece of tackle....and it was so effective for the big pike, I pretty much focussed only on big pike when I used it. But after that night in June, it's become a go to for smallmouth for me. Love the back up senko technique he uses here too. awesome one two punch idea for those missed hits!

"Not bad for the 2nd cast of the trip!" Nice one Jeff!

One more from Cobi.....so many great pics and comments on her FB page, but I absolutely love her quote about Quetico in this one..... "It’s different. Different from Algonquin, different from Killarney. It will test your limits, it will humble you, it will dig itself deep into your soul. You must go."

It was great meeting Cobi, Bryce & Severn....always great to welcome paddlers from Canada. Quetico seems less known in our own country than it is in the rest of the world. Check out Cobi's pics of their trip on Spark Adventure Photography - her FB page. Amazing pics!

Off the bridge towards camp

Quetico is a lonely place this year without these guys!

Lots of fun with this crew last week! Breathed some life into this quiet camp! Missed Natasha in this - guess she took the pic? Sandy Cenerini Cindy Ellis Cenerini Dean Cenerini Christopher Alan Goodman Andrea Paquette

Our good friend Cindy Ellis Cenerinitook these awesome shots of the camp today from Banning Lake. So glad you’re all here to enjoy it with us! Beautiful summer day on the Seine! #sunsetcountry #seineriverlodge #canada #fishinglodge #atikokan #wilderness #serenity @ Branch's Seine River Lodge

Good night from Sunset Country!

5.6 lbs.... 20.6 inch fat smallie

So with very few guests I have had some time to fish... mostly bass.. and I realized this time of year and into July is the best by far for big fish and a strong fight, I went out for approximately 3 hours in 95 degree weather ... 30 total... 21 were over 17.5... biggest was just under 20.. UPDATE- Darcy came in just as a storm hit - it lasted about an hour. I (Quent) went out right after the storm (in a kayak with an ice fishing rod and about 20’ of line lol) - all the bass had moved about 30’ from shore or further. Once I found them it was non stop and shut off just before dark. Got about 15 or 16 and missed quite a few. And - every one was airborne. Wacky as well. All within eye shot of the camp. Wish all our American bass folks were here right now!

Our daughter Kiana rockin’ the trophy bass tonight! #girlswhofish #trophybass #smallmouthbass #smallmouthbassfishing #ontariossunsetcountry #seineriverlodge #branchsseineriverlodge #ontariofishing #catchandrelease

Never thought we’d see the day we’d get @fishing1976 fishing plastics - but this pandemic is sure creating strange situations! Been doing great with wacky set ups but I think the time for ned rigs is coming soon! He & I went out the other day & caught a pile of pike, walleye & bass using various selections of tackle - but the standouts were the #yumdinger with offsets and 1/8 oz #maraboujigs. Cool that the marabou jigs were from a whole pile that some guests gave me back in the early ‘80’s! Still using them 40 years later! Aside from great numbers, The highlights were a couple of 19 albino smallmouth! Shoulda had a camera, but we’ll get pics next time! #bassfishing #walleyefishing #pikefishing #catchandrelease #ontariofishing #northwestontario

19.5.... 4.8 lbs

Some bass I got today... they’re on fire!

My first client as a guide - my part husky / part wolf - Kook. Paddling the African queen - an old steel boat around Banning Lake! I was 9 years old. A year or two later I graduated to a 6 hp and human clients! They were fussier, but I still loved going out guiding. Often, in June, from the school bus to the boat & fishing until 10 or 11 pm. Now I’m the dock boy again lol. #seineriverlodge #siberianhusky #wolf #ontariossunsetcountry #branchsseineriverlodge #fishingguide #northwestontario #fishing #guidelife #canada

Couple videos... gonna post a lot I hope .. stay tuned

Well, it's opening walleye weekend - and, of course due to COVID, we're not open to the general public - BUT - this guy here thought the restaurant might be open, so we had to remind him that we still have to practice social distancing. He keeps coming back though - must've heard of the great food that Lori Fairweather Branch & Monica Mychasiw serve up! Patience my friend, we'll be open soon!

First small mouth of the season

Self isolation

Hey everybody! Hope everyone is safe and riding out this storm. Wanted to share this video from Matt at Upriver Media Inc. . He solicited (and received) videos from people all across Canada showing how they were social distancing. Some great stuff - and can you ever tell that Canadians are "outdoorsy"! Hope it brings you a smile like it did us. Matt, btw, was here last summer doing the filming for the Catch n' Relief fishing show with Pete Maina, Professional Angler and Muskie Expert & Jordy Nelson & Mike Nelson. He does some awesome work. Still planning to see a bunch of you this summer- keeping our fingers crossed! Stay safe & healthy & we'll keep an eye on the fish up here for you!

Quick pic from our social distancing view. It's pretty easy to do social distancing in these parts! Wanted to reach out and wish everyone well in these uncertain times. We're all good here. So glad to see that Canada & the US are working closely with regard to everything. We're so intertwined economically and socially it's important to work together against these challenges. We'll be catching up work around the camp and are thinking of you all while doing so. In particular, any people who are feeling the physical effects of this virus, but also the people who are feeling stress and anxiety ....even though it's hard, try not to worry. We're so lucky we live where we do. We're a bit over 2 months away from welcoming our first guests - lets all do our part to beat this thing. Stay safe everyone - we got this! Lori, Quent & family

Pretty cool being at a sport show 2100 miles from home & getting a visit from one of our guests a couple hours into it. Awesome visit with Tim - see you in June!

Quent will be at the Fred Hall Show, Long Beach today through Sunday! Look forward to seeing some old friends and meeting new at this massive show! First time at a fishing show in 80 degree weather and the Pacific Ocean steps away!

Figured it's time to post a few #Quetico trip pics from 2019. As always, it was a fantastic year for wilderness trips in Canada's Canoeing Capital! Some nice pike and 'eyes from the Delong & the Wankat groups. I'm sure the barbless policy in Quetico (which I think is great for many reasons), made it a bit tougher to land these pike, but these guys made it happen! If you're into canoeing - no matter where you are in the world, #Atikokan should be at the top of your bucket list. We are a world class wilderness canoeing mecca! #morelakesthanpeople

I notice I've been posting a lot of walleye pics - thought I better show the smallies some love!

These guys starting coming to SRL around 2003 I believe.. Amazing they're still coming - the 1st year they had 9 guys in a 2 BR cabin lol . That was before Lori was as involved - since then I think it's gotten a lot more comfortable! Last year we were able to capture 4 generations in a pic in the lodge (1st pic). The boys with some nice bass on the dock and in the boat (the bass were all released btw) and the whole crew in the last pic!

We've got all kinds of coloration on our fish - here's Jordy Nelson with one of our dark walleye from last summer when he was fishing with Pete Maina, Professional Angler and Muskie Expert !

At the Wisconsin Fishing Expo through Sunday.....then Lori will be back in Madison for Canoecopia in a couple of weeks!

True story. Guides & outfitters. We’re pretty lucky!

Renae with an awesome 28 3/4" mid summer walleye. I don't know how many trophy walleye Renae and her family (& group) have caught over the years here, but it's a whole lot! A couple things (because you know me, I can't just post a pic and not blather on about something lol)....One thing I always preach is that, in order to really increase your chance of quality (i.e. big) walleye - especially in mid summer - is to use artificial baits. That works really, really well ......BU...T - this group, I believe, almost always uses live bait, and well, even though it kinda disproves my theory, it also supports another...... Growing up in a place like this, I've seen every single fishing rule, law, theory blown to bits literally dozens of times. Including all of my own. Basically, when it comes right down to it, there are no rules. It's funny how different things work for different people . You just gotta go with what works for you. Don't be scared to mix it up and try different things - even if they don't make sense. And honestly, you gotta try artificial baits for big mid summer 'eyes.....unless of course you're one of Renae's group - then, well, you know - they kinda have it figured out already doing their own thing! See more

Pretty cool. At the Omaha Boat Sports & Travel Show - messing around in my booth - look up and see Roland Martin checking out our maps & pics. Had a great visit and talked about our waters - and some of the many, many lakes he’s fished. Definitely a fishing legend - and a super nice guy! Learned a lot from his shows. Hopefully someday we’ll see him on the water in our neck of they woods! Sounds like he’s got lots going on!

At the Omaha Boat Sports & Travel Show through Sunday - booth 1228. My first time back here since 1985!

Here's a great clip from Pete Maina, Professional Angler and Muskie Expert from his trip to our place last summer. Great advice - so glad he posted this! Those of you who know me know that I always preach mixing it up and trying different things. You have to have faith that the fish are there - you just need to try different techniques and places. Regarding trolling - again, those who know me know I always talk trolling with artificials - especially mid summer for nice 'eyes.... I was lucky to fish with a ton of different people when I was younger who showed me a ton of different techniques. The guy who sold me on trolling was Bob Murphy from Ohio who came up every August and did a ton of trolling. I fished with him several times and did we ever slam the big walleye - with a few big pike in for good measure. Back then it was Canadian Wigglers, Raps & Lazy Ikes. Those still work great, but so do a whole pile of other baits (we stock all the ones we recommend). That's not to say that casting nearer the shore won't work in a mid summer heat - it definitely will - but not as frequently as early season (except random days when it's absolutely crazy). Pete & Jordy Nelson & Mike Nelson got some good action casting the shallower water, but the day they trolled deeper waters, they not only got some great sized fish, but also some really good numbers. Check out the full show posted on our Facebook page or on Youtube to see what he's talking about. It was a great week and I can't thank Pete, Jordy & Mike enough.... and also Matt at Upriver Media Inc. for the film & production work. Amazing work Matt! Ontario's Sunset Country Destination Northern Ontario https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hcjN94gj3A

At the Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor Show all weekend - great show and a great group of staff & kids running it!

Here's the whole show...some terrific footage that really highlights the NW Ontario scenery. The day when Pete, Jordy & Mike caught a bunch of really nice ones trolling was a great day all around for walleye fishing. Loads of fish caught (& released) and some crazy sizes - and that was the day that Lonnie landed that 33 1/2" monster! Would love to see the outtakes from the fish fry that evening - it was a lot of fun! Pete Maina, Professional Angler and Muskie Expert Jordy Nelson Ontario's Sunset Country https://youtu.be/ID-QTbh5DcE

Loving the first peek at this show - especially some of the wilderness & waterway shots!

As a kid, I grew up going to these sport shows. Been to dozens if not hundreds. I went to a ton of the fishing seminars at them over the years - many presented by up and coming anglers that are huge names these days. Learned a lot. Bits and pieces stuck over the years. Never done learning - especially about fishing. These days, I can't often leave my booth to attend these presentations, but sure would like to hear Gerald Swindle / GMAN speak tomorrow at the Indiana Fishing Expo ! Was great meeting new people & visiting with old friends today - and looking forward to Sunday! Who knows - maybe we can convince him to try some Seine Chain bass fishing!

This weekend! Looking forward to a lot of these tackle exhibitors - plus some great seminars!

Our booths are going to see some miles this year! Here's our 2020 sport show schedule - looking forward to seeing some of you out there! Jan 2 - 5 Milwaukee All Canada Show - Franklin WI Jan 2 - 5 Let's Go Fishing - Collinsville IL Jan 9 - 12 Kansas City (MO) Boat & Sport Show... Jan 9 - 12 Chicago All Canada Show - St Charles. IL Jan 18 - 19 Indiana Fishing Expo- Noblesville, IN Feb 8 - 9 Tinley Park (IL) Fishing & Outdoor Show Feb 20- 23 Omaha Boat Sport & Travel Show Feb 28 - Mar 1 Wisconsin Fishing Expo - Madison WI Feb 29 - Mar 1 Midwest Outdoor Show - Evansville, IN Mar 4 - 8 Fred Hall Show - Long Beach, CA Mar 13 - 15 Canoecopia - Madison, WI Mar 13 - 15 International Sportsman's Expo - Scottsdale AZ See more

Belated Happy New Year! Hope you all had a great Xmas holiday season! We had a great week with 4 generations of our families visiting - 6 week old Aubrey to Great Grandma's Joan & Jackie and all of us in between. But - being early January, it's back to the sport show season! Starting today, Quent is at the All Canada Show in Franklin WI, & Lori is at the Let's Go Fishing Show in Collinsville IL. Lori's booth is lost somewhere in the UPS system, so she'll have a pretty basic set up this year lol. Looking forward to seeing some of you out there!

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all peace and happiness - and maybe some cool new tackle from Santa tonight!

Pic request! Hope everyone is doing well! We've had a busy fall and have been out of town for most of the last month and a half, but are back home now playing "catch up" . Thought I'd post a great pic of Darcy trying to avoid a storm this past summer - quick request for anyone who has some pics they'd like to share from this past summer to let us know. We've got quite a few, but I know there are a lot more out there. Best way is via email ( [email protected] ) as pics sent via Facebook usually have some quality reductions. Getting ready for a busy sport show season - will post schedule soon - hope to see some of you out there!

It was an awesome grouse hunt this season with fantastic people! Great way to wind down a busy season! #hunting #grousehunting #grouse #fallhunting #canadahunting #birdhunting #birddog #canadianshield #sunsetcountry #atikokan #seineriverlodge #northwestontario #ontariohunting @ Branch's Seine River Lodge

Not fishing related, but this was absolutely one of the most amazing things in the long, storied history of our camp. In October 2012, our friends Sunday Wilde & the late, great Reno Jack converted Cabins 7&8 into a recording studio and made Sunday's terrific He Gave Me A Blue Nightgown cd. The album went on to chart all over the world - including #1 on SiriusXM's Bluesville station and win multiple awards. We still have guests talking about hanging out by the makeshift studio and listening to the music. Yes Sunday - we absolutely have to do this again! If any of you out there enjoy blues, you have to check all of Sunday Wilde 's music out - https://www.sundaywilde.com/

Pardon the language from me ... but this is what Quentin enjoys doing.. exploring new lakes

Even though it’s been pretty cool and it seemed like fall came in late August this year, this morning reminded us that much cooler weather is on the way! Still lots of time to fish though!

Went out for a couple of hours late in the evening last night & revisited trolling the current in the narrows with an X-Rap. It’s a lesson in patience but can it ever be rewarding. A bunch of nice, fat walleye in the 20 range - all released. Big bass were teasing me breaking all around the shores and islands - so tonight I think I’ll give my Fat Raps a workout! #rapala #walleye #trolling #seineriverlodge #sunsetcountry #canadafishing #northwestontario #northwesternontario #septemberfishing #fallfishing #fallwalleye

@Penny Ladd - thanks for letting us share this great pic of Abby & her trophy smallmouth! She def takes after you two when it comes to fishing & the outdoors. It's a beast - almost as big as her! Great seeing you all again!

Congrats to Matt Ruston - who some of our guests know from when he guides for us - and Danielle! This is a such cool way to propose - never knew you were such a romantic Matt! Would love to know the conversation in the boat as Matt was twisting & turning around the lake to get the words spelled out on his fish finder!