I have been lucky enough to do this trip a half dozen times now, a blessing and a curse. It becomes hard not to generate expectations, or to best previous catches.
The lodge has a greater capacity than when I first came, which creates added pressure on the fish. As my partner said “the fishing was good, but the catching was just okay”.
We keep returning because of the opportunity to sight fish northern pike, and the incredible sunsets. Lake trout and walleye are targeted as well, but not by us on this trip. The trout are usually too deep to target with fly rods, but I think we could have this year as I saw quite a few smaller ones in shallow bays.
We were blessed with good weather and flat conditions on the lake. Made for easy travel and good sight fishing conditions. We had our chances for big fish every day, most were parked on the bottom and not interested in eating. I blew a couple opportunities - took me until the last day to realize I was putting more force on them than I should… set the hook and let them run.
This should have clued me in faster
They occasionally open a clip when they chomp, this broke on the head shake after the hook set - #100 cross lock.
Fortunately there is more to a good trip than landing a trophy. We saw lots of pelicans, nesting bald eagles, terns and gulls, quite a few Sandhill cranes, a beaver and an otter. The scenery did not disappoint
Shore lunches of course
Sunsets from our deck
And “trophy” bycatch
A good trip with a good friend!
The lodge has a greater capacity than when I first came, which creates added pressure on the fish. As my partner said “the fishing was good, but the catching was just okay”.
We keep returning because of the opportunity to sight fish northern pike, and the incredible sunsets. Lake trout and walleye are targeted as well, but not by us on this trip. The trout are usually too deep to target with fly rods, but I think we could have this year as I saw quite a few smaller ones in shallow bays.
We were blessed with good weather and flat conditions on the lake. Made for easy travel and good sight fishing conditions. We had our chances for big fish every day, most were parked on the bottom and not interested in eating. I blew a couple opportunities - took me until the last day to realize I was putting more force on them than I should… set the hook and let them run.
This should have clued me in faster
They occasionally open a clip when they chomp, this broke on the head shake after the hook set - #100 cross lock.
Fortunately there is more to a good trip than landing a trophy. We saw lots of pelicans, nesting bald eagles, terns and gulls, quite a few Sandhill cranes, a beaver and an otter. The scenery did not disappoint
Shore lunches of course
Sunsets from our deck
And “trophy” bycatch
A good trip with a good friend!
