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outdoors a fishing thread
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I don't know if you guy's are into reading a lengthy report so I'll try to keep it fairly short. Just got back from a fly-in trip in North Western Ontario on Trident Lake/Esnagami River. Trident Lake is a decent sized lake with somewhere in the area of 850 acres, however it is a very shallow lake for the most part, in fact you can say it is a widening/flood plain of the Esnagami river. The main target in the lake would be Walleye followed by Pike. For the Walleye angler this lake provides weeks upon weeks of endless action. Most fish caught were between 16-20" with some larger & smaller of course, biggest caught (with picture) was just shy of 25"
This being the first trip into the lake since closure last year, as expected the fish are on the skinnier side due to winter but these Walleye put up a fight you rarely get from them. They came in fighting unlike the wet socks they usually are. Now the Pike are a different story. I have no doubt there are some big guy's roaming this lake or its adjacent lake (Marr lake is just north & you have access to it) but on this trip we didn't tie into anything bigger than a 33" & again on the skinny side. Tons of hammer handles & juvenile's make a fun day.
But we weren't really there for either of those species, we were there for the world class Brook Trout fishing in the Esnagami River, & this my friends is where this place shines for guy's like me. Most Brookies caught will be between 1-3lbs a very respectable range. A few will be between 4-5lbs which puts them into a class by themselves & if you're lucky you find yourself tagging a 6+lbs that you only find in a few places on earth. Water was low this year everyone was saying, so most groups in other parts/lakes/rivers had very little to report. We on the other hand did exceptionally well, but we did have to work for them. I love wading rivers, its something I live for, having said that we did tie into some from the boat.
Look at this piggy, unbelievable
& tons more!!!!
This is a trip that will live on forever with me, not only the quantity but quality of fish caught was superior. The group in after us was a group of Americans that had fished this lake many times in the past. They were there really for the Walleye & had never travelled beyond the lake itself (which I had a hard time computing) but once they saw the Brookies we were nailing well that may change.
This trip couldn't have happened without a great angler's help/guidance/friendship. There will be a full report up on his site in the near future, & if anyone both south & north of the border needs help in picking that special trip do not hesitate in contacting him. A extremely gracious guy that will go to the ends to help you!
http://www.canadafishingguide.net/
And of course it would be nothing without the outfitter's camp. It is a well established camp by it's previous owner but these new guy's are putting in the time to make it just that much better
http://nakinanorthoutfitters.ca/
I would whole heartily recommend this camp if you are the right guy who loves to work hard & reaps it's rewards, brilliant stuff
This being the first trip into the lake since closure last year, as expected the fish are on the skinnier side due to winter but these Walleye put up a fight you rarely get from them. They came in fighting unlike the wet socks they usually are. Now the Pike are a different story. I have no doubt there are some big guy's roaming this lake or its adjacent lake (Marr lake is just north & you have access to it) but on this trip we didn't tie into anything bigger than a 33" & again on the skinny side. Tons of hammer handles & juvenile's make a fun day.
But we weren't really there for either of those species, we were there for the world class Brook Trout fishing in the Esnagami River, & this my friends is where this place shines for guy's like me. Most Brookies caught will be between 1-3lbs a very respectable range. A few will be between 4-5lbs which puts them into a class by themselves & if you're lucky you find yourself tagging a 6+lbs that you only find in a few places on earth. Water was low this year everyone was saying, so most groups in other parts/lakes/rivers had very little to report. We on the other hand did exceptionally well, but we did have to work for them. I love wading rivers, its something I live for, having said that we did tie into some from the boat.
Look at this piggy, unbelievable
& tons more!!!!
This is a trip that will live on forever with me, not only the quantity but quality of fish caught was superior. The group in after us was a group of Americans that had fished this lake many times in the past. They were there really for the Walleye & had never travelled beyond the lake itself (which I had a hard time computing) but once they saw the Brookies we were nailing well that may change.
This trip couldn't have happened without a great angler's help/guidance/friendship. There will be a full report up on his site in the near future, & if anyone both south & north of the border needs help in picking that special trip do not hesitate in contacting him. A extremely gracious guy that will go to the ends to help you!
http://www.canadafishingguide.net/
And of course it would be nothing without the outfitter's camp. It is a well established camp by it's previous owner but these new guy's are putting in the time to make it just that much better
http://nakinanorthoutfitters.ca/
I would whole heartily recommend this camp if you are the right guy who loves to work hard & reaps it's rewards, brilliant stuff
I hope the thread watchers don't get sick of seeing pictures of bluefish, as it is quite likely that I won't catch much of anything else this season. I caught these 7 fish two weeks ago. I took a break from trying to catch blues last weekend, and mostly a break from fishing. I did try some bottom fishing for blowfish and had one on the line, but I lost it.
I havent seen a bluefish in so long. Used to go fishing off the coast of Jersey for them on my grandpas boat years back. set crab traps and also caught fluke. Those look great!
Chris Kewley said:
Look at this piggy, unbelievable
Wow! Those are some fatties!
Where do you fish? Are you in the city?dragon49 said:I hope the thread watchers don't get sick of seeing pictures of bluefish, as it is quite likely that I won't catch much of anything else this season. I caught these 7 fish two weeks ago. I took a break from trying to catch blues last weekend, and mostly a break from fishing. I did try some bottom fishing for blowfish and had one on the line, but I lost it.
Sea Robin:
I hadn't intended on catching these ugly MOFOs. I was bottom fishing for blowfish, but caught only seaweed, so I changed gear to a shiny Kastmaster lure and caught these scary looking things. They were abundant, as somebody next to me, bottom fishing for Fluke, caught a number of Robins as well. I grilled the fish with olive oil, salt, and Pepper. They were delicious—soft and buttery like blowfish.
I hadn't intended on catching these ugly MOFOs. I was bottom fishing for blowfish, but caught only seaweed, so I changed gear to a shiny Kastmaster lure and caught these scary looking things. They were abundant, as somebody next to me, bottom fishing for Fluke, caught a number of Robins as well. I grilled the fish with olive oil, salt, and Pepper. They were delicious—soft and buttery like blowfish.
Got out today and did pretty good.
hogleg said:
Yup
Headed up north to one of my favourite areas looking to connect with some Brookies. Like a lot of folks around here, I've scoured over the stocking lists for Ontario lakes, & like a lot of folks my main target is Trout. I recently bought myself a used ultra light canoe so I could enjoy the backwoods without borrowing someone else's stuff. A Nova Craft 15' Bob Special, Kevlar/Spectra blend & the spec sheet tells me 43lbs...I don't know but its hella light. Now I have a list of lakes that are calling but the first one is one I've had my eye on for a bit. A buddy has fished it before & gave me some pointers for the lake but high summer is a big gamble. Plus for my new canoes first trek I wanted something not to challenging in terms of portage to feel her out.
A 3hr drive up + a long slug into the first puddle we go. Portage our way to the first lake we come across a snarling dog, don't know the type but all teeth. The owner catches up about 1/2 a minute later & the hair & teeth becomes Lassie, not quite the start I was looking for. Not a big lake buy any account but a really picturesque puddle all the same.
This was the main body, a small shoot off to my left put us into a fairly narrow part of the lake where the trail to the next lake is. After installing the horse blinders we paddled around for abit looking for the opening, Finally found it after trekking through frog water, quite a nice & not to challenging of a trail.
it is roughly 1/2-3/4 km to the next lake & although you know you have a canoe on your shoulders, man I really didn't feel it, super light! Skeeters were out but not to bad, horse/deer or whatever you want to call them sumabitches, thick as thieves.
The sight that meets us on the other end. Fantastic place!, I've put away my camera at this point when Ed was about to take a step into the lake & shuddered, "look at the size of these ^&%*ing leeches" , there were about a half dozen or so 6" leeches just begging him to stick his sandled foot in there. They buggered off pretty quickly, but it wouldn't be the last we see of them. Launch the canoe & start to pick apart this lake. Come fall or spring this place will no doubt produce numbers in some areas but today they were on island time.
A beautiful rocky shoal that went from about 20" up to 12' or so then back down to 20 (see that orange/white thing under the seat, kinda a sonar, doesn't work to good) but it did produce our only fish we would catch this day, small guys but fun times.
Not the lunkers we were hoping to (but know full well we wouldn't) catch, but a awesome day away from the city for some beers/whiskey good friends & laughs & a dunk of the canoe to end it off, brilliant stuff !!!
A 3hr drive up + a long slug into the first puddle we go. Portage our way to the first lake we come across a snarling dog, don't know the type but all teeth. The owner catches up about 1/2 a minute later & the hair & teeth becomes Lassie, not quite the start I was looking for. Not a big lake buy any account but a really picturesque puddle all the same.
This was the main body, a small shoot off to my left put us into a fairly narrow part of the lake where the trail to the next lake is. After installing the horse blinders we paddled around for abit looking for the opening, Finally found it after trekking through frog water, quite a nice & not to challenging of a trail.
it is roughly 1/2-3/4 km to the next lake & although you know you have a canoe on your shoulders, man I really didn't feel it, super light! Skeeters were out but not to bad, horse/deer or whatever you want to call them sumabitches, thick as thieves.
The sight that meets us on the other end. Fantastic place!, I've put away my camera at this point when Ed was about to take a step into the lake & shuddered, "look at the size of these ^&%*ing leeches" , there were about a half dozen or so 6" leeches just begging him to stick his sandled foot in there. They buggered off pretty quickly, but it wouldn't be the last we see of them. Launch the canoe & start to pick apart this lake. Come fall or spring this place will no doubt produce numbers in some areas but today they were on island time.
A beautiful rocky shoal that went from about 20" up to 12' or so then back down to 20 (see that orange/white thing under the seat, kinda a sonar, doesn't work to good) but it did produce our only fish we would catch this day, small guys but fun times.
Not the lunkers we were hoping to (but know full well we wouldn't) catch, but a awesome day away from the city for some beers/whiskey good friends & laughs & a dunk of the canoe to end it off, brilliant stuff !!!
Well the list of lakes was pulled out again & this time we were going to step up to something a little more challenging. 4am rolls & I'm off to pack the canoe then off to pick up my bud, we make great time getting up to the Haliburton Highlands but the trek into the first lake was long & slow. After taking it easy the first time out with the new canoe we wanted to put some KMs under the her belt so the first lake is a rather long lake with a lot of sheltered bays that we were going to hit on the way out, time permitting, for Bass, as there is supposed to be some decent ones in there if you can find them, but we were on mission fish'n for Brookies! 5km in we find the right bay for the first portage.
Just love the scenery in these Shield lakes
The first portage while still in the easily doable range was a lot more challenging than the last outing. There was signs of bears all over the place so was on higher alert.
Arrive at the second lake & was met with this sight
The action here would be fast & furious. Nothing of size but tons of action.
So after running the clock at this lake, but who could you blame with more double headers than I ever witnessed, it was time to move on to the real destination. Another decent trek through the bush put us on this beautiful lake.
The day would just melt here. 4-5-6 times the size of the last little lake, but man what a lake. We would wrap this lake catching a few here & there. Then something strange happened, started hearing a seagull squawking overhead, this MF started dive bombing us. One pass nearly making us tip over. We B-line for the shore away from it thinking maybe it's protecting a nest but no matter where we went this dude was still at us. Once on shore he would still hover about but stay well above paddle swinging distance, so we turn to shore fishing. Now maybe this bird was trying to guide us to a spot or it was just luck but man fishing from this spot was spectacular. Again nothing to big, maybe 3/4lb being the biggest we'd land this day but numbers. They were hitting any & everything we threw out there. The Spinner bite was by far the best.
My battery died shortly after this picture was taken but ended our day on a seriously good note. A ton of Brookies caught, a few beers were drank, whisky that burns you in a good way (66%) a few more KM added to the list & time shared with good folks.
Just love the scenery in these Shield lakes
The first portage while still in the easily doable range was a lot more challenging than the last outing. There was signs of bears all over the place so was on higher alert.
Arrive at the second lake & was met with this sight
The action here would be fast & furious. Nothing of size but tons of action.
So after running the clock at this lake, but who could you blame with more double headers than I ever witnessed, it was time to move on to the real destination. Another decent trek through the bush put us on this beautiful lake.
The day would just melt here. 4-5-6 times the size of the last little lake, but man what a lake. We would wrap this lake catching a few here & there. Then something strange happened, started hearing a seagull squawking overhead, this MF started dive bombing us. One pass nearly making us tip over. We B-line for the shore away from it thinking maybe it's protecting a nest but no matter where we went this dude was still at us. Once on shore he would still hover about but stay well above paddle swinging distance, so we turn to shore fishing. Now maybe this bird was trying to guide us to a spot or it was just luck but man fishing from this spot was spectacular. Again nothing to big, maybe 3/4lb being the biggest we'd land this day but numbers. They were hitting any & everything we threw out there. The Spinner bite was by far the best.
My battery died shortly after this picture was taken but ended our day on a seriously good note. A ton of Brookies caught, a few beers were drank, whisky that burns you in a good way (66%) a few more KM added to the list & time shared with good folks.