“Another Year of Heavyweights, Haymakers, and Hooksets”

The bell rang on the 2025 fishing season at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, and once again our anglers stepped into the ring ready to throw down. From opening day to the final round, the action was relentless, the fights were legendary, and the fish showed up ready to spar.

The Champions of the Ring

This season delivered a full card of heavyweight performances, with anglers landing absolute title contenders across multiple species:

Walleye Heavyweight Champion:
29.5” Walleye — landed with authority by Wayne Galligani after a fight that went the distance.

Northern Pike Co–Champions (Split Decision):
43” Northern Pike — monster knockouts delivered by Marc Maynard and Matthew Tweedy, proving the pike division is stacked.

Lake Trout Title Holder:
36” Lake Trout — Scott Skowronski stayed patient, worked the corners, and finished strong.

Whitefish Technical Champion:
26.5” Whitefish — a smooth, skillful performance by Leanne Werschler, showing finesse beats brute force.

Burbot Brawler of the Year:

31” Burbot — Chris Ferguson went toe-to-toe in a gritty late-night bout and came out on top.

Perch Featherweight Co-Champions:
13” Perch — landed by Liam James and Brent Peshina, proving big things come in small packages.

Final Bell

Every cast in 2025 felt like a puncher’s chance, and Aikens Lake once again proved why it’s a world-class arena for freshwater fishing. Whether it was explosive top-water strikes, deep-water slugfests, or technical finesse battles, this season delivered non-stop action from start to finish.

As we hang up the gloves and prep for the next round, one thing is clear: Aikens Lake isn’t just a fishing destination, it’s a championship venue.

We’ll see you back in the ring in 2026.

2025 Fishing Season Report