September 2008 Newsletter

Hello All,

Another fishing season is coming to a close. The fall colors are starting to show and the weather is starting to cool off. (but then that is not much of a change since we had a cool, wet season overall). But it won't be long and we’ll start to see the white stuff (snow) showing up here.

We wanted to write this fall with a few updates. The next newsletter we plan to send out will be after the hunting season is completed. Our hunting stories will soon be unfolding and we’ll let you all know how the season goes. We are anxious to get started.

It takes a lot to sum up the 2008 season. In terms of fishing, fishing was good. Many satisfied clients once again fishing at our cabins on the fly in lakes. Just as fishing goes, some weeks are better than others.

In other terms, the 2008 season was a trying year. Late ice out to start the spring out, which is not normal most years. The weather threw a damper on the season. We had lots of cool temperatures, LOTS of wind and rain. The high fuel prices, sluggish economy, and weak US dollar in terms of exchange rate made for an interesting and more trying season. We do want to say THANKS to each and every customer who came with us in 2008. If it wasn’t for each and every one of you, we wouldn’t be able to do the job we love to do. That is to provide you a good and enjoyable fishing trip.

As mentioned in an earilier newsletter sent out, we’ve been doing some remodeling projects this year. Otatakan was re-done and we are glad to announce we have made a decision on the indoor toilet at Otatakan Lake. We are going to be putting one in. This is just for Otatakan Lake at this time and we will have it ready to go for the 2009 season. This will be a "trial" year. See how it goes in 2009 and if it goes well, we will keep the toilet in the cabin and think about adding more to other lakes. If it does not go well, we may take the toilet back out and go back to the standard outhouse. Again, this is just for Otatakan Lake and will be a trail year for 2009. We know to NEVER say NEVER. This is one thing that Larry always said he would NEVER do, but here we are doing it. Hoping it is the right move for the outpost cabins. We will see.

The other project, Fishtrap lake cabin. This turned into a much bigger project than first thought. After we tore into the project, we thought of other ideas to do which each and every one of them added time to the project. We are still working on completing the project during our free time now. The project will be done and ready for the spring of 2009. When it is completed, it will be worth the effort, as it will be up to L & M standards. The cabin is looking great!!! The picture of the cabin on this newsletter is an outside shot of Fishtrap lake cabin.

One important item many of you would be interested in hearing about. The satellite phones we have used for many years have been giving us problems with getting calls to connect this year. No sugar coating it, the company we had our contract with is having big problems and were not realibale this year at all. The only calls being able to be made, were dire emergency calls to 911. We fixed the problem late this summer by converting to a new sat phone provider and leasing new satellite phones. We are using a totally different phone and provider. The same deal with these as the old phones that you need to be concerned about. L & M does NOT charge anyone who calls made to L & M with the phone. We want to know if there is a break down at the lake or if anything needs attention. We want people to call us and tell us if the next time we are up in the area we need to have replacement parts or tools on the plane with us to fix a potential problem at the lake. However, any calls not made to L & M on the sat phone during your trip (personal calls), the rate with these new phones we are charging will be $4.00 per minute. We want to thank Gino from Florida in aiding us to the new phones and getting us set up on this program. He has great patients in aiding our questions as we needed some help in setting these new units up at the lake and how the new system works. One nice feature of the new phones, you are able to use the phone from right inside the cabin unlike the other phones where you needed to go outside to get signal. They are more or less like your home phone, as they are hard wired right into the solar system and having an antenna mounted in the window for signal. You will each be shown how to use the phones when we fly you to the cabin.

The 502 road from Fort Frances to Dryden, as you all drove coming to our place. This past summer the 502 had road construction fixing the bad spots. The good news is the construction has been completed and the road is in good shape. This should help make your next visit to L & M a little easier. I'm sure many of you will enjoy the ride even more now with smooth payment under your cars now.

2009 rates and specials.

With the costs of everything, prices do have to go up as everyone can understand and relate in some way. We are not going to raise as much as we should to keep the same bottom line considering the higher cost of doing business these days. We hope this helps to keep our trips yet affordable to you. We will be raising $30.00 per person next season to the trip for the 2009 rate structure. We feel this is necessary, yet a fair raise.

One special that can save you $300.00, is the L & M referral program. You sending L & M a new customer. Review our rates/special page for details/rules pertaining this special, this can save you $300.00 towards your next fly in fishing trip with L & M. We have had a couple of people take advantage of this new program. Who will be the next? This is a way to help you and to help us with reservations.

Couples….1/2 price to wives at Austin lake May and June or Otatakan during July or August. This by far has been our most popular special amongst our clients, if your wife likes to fish or wanting to try a fly in for the first time, here is your perfect chance for your next fly in. Not too often taking your wife can cost you less money, but this is one case it does. We have heard in the past that many of the guys would bring the wives on a fishing trip, but they, the wives, refused to go on a trip with out an indoor tiolet, so no more excuses now as Otatakan will have one for 2009.

Please review our specials page as there are other specials too.

We hope everyone has a nice fall season. Whether it is still catching a few days fishing before freeze up, or gearing up for the hunting season or watching the fall sports. Fall is always a enjoyable season that many of us all enjoy. Feel free to drop a line and say hello. We always enjoy hearing from all our valued customers.

We will stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Larry, Mary and Shane

L&M Fly-In Outposts

www.LMflyin.com