Hello Fisherman & Hunters,

             The 2008 fishing season will be here May 17^thand that means a person needs to get with friends & families to get those vacation plans reserved. Remember these fishing & hunting adventures are all about memories so try bring the youths so they will also have these great memories as they enter into the adult world. After looking at other Resort rates in our area Paradise Cove rates are 20% less than anywhere else I could find. Please pass these brochures onto friends that would like to have a big fish bending their fishing rods also. We again have the weather forecast on the website for those that would like to make a fast trip when the weather looks good for a stretch. Thanks to my mother we have been updating the website a lot so if you got some great pictures e-mail them over and we can get them on the web.

             The Canadian dollar has gotten stronger this past summer, but my rates will still be $40 per night. I will need to make it either Canadian funds or US funds though so whichever is higher. The exchange has dropped by 25% in the past couple years so that is how much less dollars Paradise Cove receiving at the $40 rate. So when the bait bucket and gas tank is running low, please patronize the Marina at Paradise Park. Remember again the more friends a person brings the cheaper the gas bills. Since the bank policies have tightened up Paradise Cove prefers not to accept personal checks, so please bring cash or a credit card so I need not deal with these new policies.

             This past summer again the walleye fishing has been unbelievable. Seems half the fish caught now are over the 17 ¾” slot. Thanks to the catch and release program the lake has never been stronger on all classes of fish. I know when I see people having a fish fry and the plate of walleye fillets hit the dinner table everyone seems to pick those smaller and crisper walleye fillets. So lets use the bigger walleye for reproduction and those bragging rights that are so much fun to have the comradery with. The bass, northern pike & musky fishing is still the best in years also. I have not seen a musky removed from this lake in years. And almost everyday I have a musky follow or nipping at my walleye as it comes to the boat. Remember the passports will be required when driving or flying into Canada by January 1, 2009. To go to Mexico its already being forced in the past couple years. Arlene and I just got back from another great trip to Cabo San Lucas Mexico with my friends Gary Roach, Kevin Kretzman, and John Reed and their wives. Again we had great success by boating 49 Marlin, 10 Dorado, Tuna, Oaho, and Shark. If anyone is interested in a trip there with us, I can arrange it at half the cost then if you booked it. It’s been running about $1,000 a week for two people. The ocean there is mostly calm everyday and I wish I had my own boat down there. There is a great picture of a Marlin catch on the web.

             The Minaki Classic will be held this year June 28^th&29^th. This again is a partner tournament and we have been seeing a lot more new fisherman interested in the format. Rules are three fish under slot size and one over the 27 ½” rule. Anyone can have that big fish bite his bait, but it just takes being in the right place at the right time. The Pro Am was a great success last year when we changed the format where a pro can bring a pro partner and pick one amateur. And if you did not have or want a partner two amateurs will be picked for your boat. It’s a good way to fish with your wife or any great fishing friend. Please enter early, so I don’t have any problems pairing up people the last week before derby. The dates for the Gary Roach ProAm will be August 15^th&16^th  this summer.

             When sending out my newsletter and confirmations this year I have my winter address on the return address on the envelopes. I had a lot of problems with my summer address on them last year when the postal service tried returning some that had address changes back to Canada. So any mailing going to Canada, please send it there after April15^th. I am hearing that the Minaki Lodge is in the closing stages so hopefully the beautiful resort will be open soon. I heard the golf course might be open this summer. We plan on having lots of activities at the Paradise II restaurant and bar. I plan on having pool tournaments and some Texas Hold-Em

Tournaments there nightly. It’s a great place to see old friends and talk about the days fishing even if the stories seem to be stretched a little “ha”.  My new home is finished now at Paradise Park, so when anyone sees my black truck there, stop in and I will be glad to show you around. Most all checkouts will be handled out of Paradise Park Marina this year.

             For those that have not decided on your dates for a fishing vacation, I am promoting free guide service for a day for anyone booking after August 16^that Paradise Park. Remember it requires 6 people for the four bedroom two bathroom cabins. We could also talk about if you bring seven people one comes free. Anytime during the summer I would be happy to have people follow me around to my favorite spots, so you can learn the hotspots faster and what the best bait is at that time. You catching fish is the best advertising I can get.

             The Minaki area has been recognized as one of the best whitetail hunting areas for a buck of a lifetime. 75% of the hunters that leave here have harvested the biggest buck of their lives. We are promoting only harvesting the 120scored class bucks or larger which are usually 3 ½ years old or higher. Let the small one’s grow to keep the trophy deer plentiful. This year I will have baited ground blinds, tree stands, and Island hunts available for a fee of $120per day per person US or Canadian, whichever is higher. I begin baiting a couple weeks before season, so when a lot of does are at the bait pile, those bucks are close by. It’s a great way to see a lot of action and get some good filming from the blind. The blinds are real comfortable and keep a person dry and out of the wind, so your odor does not bother that big boy. A friend of mine, Mike Pinero, from North Star Lodge by the railroad bridge, has bear hunts I can get for you at a cost of $600 per hunt. You just book your stay with Paradise Cove and I can save you half the cost that most bear hunts cost.

             From all of us at Paradise Cove Resort we hope you all have the best vacation of your time and we promise to do our best to make sure that happens. Have a great fishing and hunting season and hope to see you in beautiful Minaki.

                                                                     
Thanks again                             
Duane Hell