Feb 16, 2010 UPDATE
“Family Weekend,” Feb 14, 2010 provided many pleasant memories for all of the Lodge guests.
Most were ever-active members of the “Toronto Outdoor Adventurers Club.” And amongst them, they must have participated in every outdoor activity possible within a half-hour’s drive of Haliburton. (The lazy ice fishermen on the property got tired just watching them.) Unlike the last time they visited Haliburton, no injuries were sustained, so I guess their Haliburton adventure could be considered a total “success.”
Kashaga Lodge was, for the fifth year in a row, proud to accommodate and sponsor Bob and Jinette Sabourin, from Gatineau Quebec who had some of the fastest 4-dog, 6-dog and 8-dog teams in the annual Haliburton Dog Sled Derby....only one podium finish this year, but won enough of the $12,000 total purse to keep their ever-hungry open-class racedogs fed at least until next weekend's race.
As for the walleye hunters, the score this weekend was Fishermen - 9: Walleye - 0. Other than the usual 20 or so perch, Bill from the Bykeman group, managed to get this season’s third muskie into a hut long enough for a quick photo, before sliding him back down the hole to complete his daily ration of perch (and anything else that moves.)

Feb 9, 2010 UPDATE The weekend of Feb. 6 was very pleasant out on the ice, as the sun was shining and the temperatures were quite seasonable, with no wind. The bad news is that the walleye bite was lousy.
The “Four Season Fishing Club” representing the Molsons brewery beside the Toronto Airport had an awesome weekend, and although only Steve managed to ice a keeper, Ken Durno’s group of hardcore anglers know well why “fishing” is called “fishing” and not “catching.”
Meanwhile, Wayne Farrell’s group of drunken ass-holes had their own definition of “ice-fishing” which included: using more than 2 lines per person, leaving unattended lines out overnight, having a bonfire out on the ice, trying to party out on the ice after mid-night, and generally pissing off not only the other fishermen on the property, but neighbours as well. Fortunately the ministry’s Conservation Officer lives on Lake Kashagawigamog and is only a phone call away 24/7. These idiots won’t be back to Haliburton!
It would be great if all ice fishing groups were like the Khena Rate, (including Chris and friends) group who are hoping to make a career out of outdoors management. This group of 5 students from the ‘Fisheries and Wildlife’ program at Fleming College in Lindsay were out on the ice by 5:30 am two mornings in a row. Although they only had this 10 inch walleye (but lots more emties) to show for their dedication, Kashaga Lodge was privileged to have hosted their Haliburton experience.

Feb 3, 2010 UPDATE
After a relatively productive walleye and perch weekend for Kashaga Lodge guests on Jan 23, the super-cold front moved in on Friday Jan 29 and slowed down the bite considerably. Only the experienced walleye fishermen who knew enough to have their lines in the water by no later than 6:30 am, and then to be out there again between 4 and 6:00 pm, had any success to speak of. Other than a handful of smallish walleye, a few serious break-offs, and the usual bunch of small perch, this rather goodly-sized musky caught on a ¼ oz pimple, tipped with a pinhead shiner generated the most excitement of the day before being eased back down the hole.
After the barometer had stabilized a bit, just before sundown on Tuesday Feb 2, this 19 incher was tricked (with some very patient jigging) to go for a shiner-tipped jigging Rap. ALthough other than one puny perch, it was all that Justin and his dad had to show for putting in at least 15 hours on the ice. But apparently that unsurpassed pickerel fillet taste was more than worth it, according to Justin's mother (who was just glad to have a couple of days to herself, away from her husband.)

Kashaga Lodge offers 8 heated huts, all within a 3 to a 10 minute walk from the cottages, and located on what is arguably the best walleye bay in Lake Kashagawigamog, or the whole five-lake chain for that matter. Other than the accommodations the package includes a heated hut with augered holes in and around it, and the hut fee is only $10 per person per day. Minnows are available on site at $5 per 20. All the cottages have a barbecue, and the operator can help you transport it to your hut if desired. There's a plowed walking trail to all the huts, and transportation is provided for those who need it.

 
Kashaga Lodge’s ice fishing package includes a wide choice of housekeeping cottages and suites as well as use of the heated huts. Larger groups may be interested in renting the entire five units of the lodge at a special discounted rate.

Since Kashaga Lodge is the closest resort to the town of Haliburton, just 4 km up the highway, fishermen are never far from the conveniences of town. Groceries, coffee shops, beer and liquor stores, restaurants and bars as well as fishing supplies are just a five minute drive away.

December /09 was the most productive hardwater walleye month ever from the Kashaga ice huts. Since the introduction of the this most popular game fish to Lake Kashagawigamog decades ago, the fishery gets better every year.
NOTE: Haliburton is a unique part of Ontario, relatively unspoiled by over-development or over-fishing. It's lakes are pristine, and benefit from various MNR lake management programs. Any violation of hut rules or other irresponsible fishing from Kashaga Lodge huts will not be tolerated. Conservation Officers frequent the huts, and the hut operator does not hesitate to report violators to the authorities. Be aware that the new Fishing Regs for 2008 (and 2009) are now in effect. These include 3 significant changes for Lake Kashagawigamog:
Lake Kashagawigamog is now a TWO-LINE LAKE, not one-line as before. So bring your tip-ups along with your jigging rods!!!
Limit (with a sportsman's licence) is 4 walleye, only one of which may be over 18 inches. (Otherwise, no slot.)
The walleye season now closes March 15, (not March 31 as previously.)

In Haliburton County, the towns of Minden and Carnarvon offer some really good laketrout fishing. But the village of Haliburton is located on a a different chain of lakes fed by a different watershed. And it is this Lake Kashagawigamog chain that provides some of the best hardwater WALLEYE fishing south of highway #17. Zebra mussels do not propagate in these lakes, and unlike most other Ontario lakes, the walleye fishing actually improves from year to year. And Kashaga Lodge has the only walleye ice fishing operation in the County of Haliburton.

One of the reasons for the popularity of Kashaga Lodge's ice fishing package is that the huts are within easy walking distance of the cottages, enabling anglers to fish when the bite is on, and eat, snooze, play poker, or watch the hockey game in the comfort of their comfy heated cottage. Each cottage has fully-equipped kitchen, 4-pc bathroom, cable TV, and barbecue on a deck overlooking the huts. And don't forget your laptop so you can use the free wireless internet at your cottage to e-mail pictures back to your buddies whose wives actually think that household projects are more important than scientific research with different colours and jigging techniques.