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I had a last minute booking Friday evening for a half day morning trip today, with a pair of Mike’s. They needed to be back in the city before noon so we hooked up at 6:00 instead of the usual hour. We would fish until 11:00 giving them plenty of time to get back.

I wanted to get them into some drop shot fish right away but the light NE wind had other ideas. We tried to drift but the direction was making it next to impossible to get a proper presentation. Although they did manage a few small fish, I wasn’t satisfied with the results and moved to where there was more current. We spent over 2 hours making multiple drifts and they managed plenty of quality walleye and some average smallies. They had a good bet going on and one of them had a walleye close to 4 pounds in the lead. I was making great drifts in this area and returning back each time with the small engine to look for more fish. Unfortunately this changed after about 6 drifts when the gear linkage popped out locking me in neutral. Although this wasn’t the first time it had occurred, it was the first time I couldn’t fix the problem on the water. The plastic piece that held the shifting rod had worn down too much to hold in place and we couldn’t use the kicker any more. We were planning on spending the last couple of hours trolling for pike as neither of them had ever caught one, but had to change those plans. This was not going to happen and I made an alternate decision and brought them casting for bass instead. This adjustment was definitely the right decision as the remaining time was spent catching all kinds of smallies on soft plastics. In fact, the big fish bet was also won here as the other Mike (aka Pitch) landed a nice bass over 4 pounds and took the lead with only 15 minutes to spare. They had caught all kinds of fish in only a half day of fishing and the minor adjustment had kept them catching throughout the entire time. The decision to go for bass when we weren’t able to troll for pike was a backup plan when the motor issues occurred. Decisions like this are why I am always able to keep clients on fish and I wasn’t about to let a little problem like that stop them from catching.

From the time we started until the time they ended, the action was pretty much non stop. There were lots of fish landed and another high numbers day was had. They also missed plenty of others either on the hook set or while fighting them to the boat. This was one of those days that they will be talking about for quite some time! More great fishing days ahead!

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Steve, Andy & Paul joined me this morning for a half day trip. The conditions were horrible to do what I had hoped but we gave it a try regardless. It didn’t take long to realize that wind against current was not going to allow us the drop shot drift that I needed. Time to go to plan « B » once again! I headed elsewhere and opted for a troll instead. With 4 lines in, I knew we would have more action than we had at the start. Within 3 minutes, reels were firing and we spent about an hour pounding on the northerns before switching to a casting bite. I prepped the other rods with soft plastics and we headed to a bass area a little further away. With a few quick instructions, Andy locked up on the first good brownie. The action was great with many fish being hooked by everyone. They enjoyed the hard fighting smallmouth and we stayed in this one area for the remainder of the morning. Although there were many fish missed and lost during the battle, they still managed to bring to net over half. We ended the day with a few more quality bass before returning to the dock.

Despite another curve ball from the old reliable biotch, « Mother Nature », we still pulled off a win. A few minor adjustments had them into fish pretty much all morning, Although they enjoyed catching plenty of pike, it was the raw power of the smallmouth that liked the best. Pound for pound there’s not a stronger fighting freshwater fish around. Who wouldn’t love catching them all day long!

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This year I have had the pleasure of taking out many families with their kids and today I did it once again. Flora brought her three children as well as her husband for an action packed morning of fishing. With this many bodies in the boat, there was really only one safe method for catching fish and it was to troll. We headed on the water shortly after 7:00 and directly to an area that would surely keep everyone interested. Pike was the targeted fish and with any luck, a few walleye as well. With lines in, I began the search for these toothy creatures and it didn’t take long to find them. The first reel fired in about 5 minutes or less and it was game on! For well over three hours, the children landed so many fish that the parents even had a few turns. I had found an area that was loaded with exactly what I had hoped for and the action was non stop. One fish after another with very little down time in between. There were plenty of doubles and even one triple header that got the adrenaline pumping in everyone! Although most of these fish were pike, it was a great fish for the kids to fight and made for loads of fun. I knew they weren’t keeping any of these fish and were looking to take one walleye home so I slid into an area that was sure to get them dinner. Almost immediately one of the reels fired and it was exactly what I expected. A perfect high end keeper was boated and placed in the livewell for the kids to view. In fact they also landed another one not long after and it too went into the tank. We continued landing pike for a while longer, but once the wind died, moved to another area in hopes of a few more walleye too.

The long run felt good and it got rid of all those pesky midge that had gathered where we previously were. Unfortunately we were now in an area now that had tons of floating weeds and a new batch of those little bugs to contend with. I would now have to monitor the rods more often and clean the lines if we were going to get bit. This last area was fished for about 45 minutes with only one hard rip that ended in disappointment and we were done.

The morning had passed by so fast with all the fish they had caught and before we knew it, it was over. I don’t think they could have ever imagined a fishing day filled with so many incredible moments. Flora had taken all kinds of videos and pics that they will be able to relive it over & over again. Great kids and great times were had by everyone today. All but the fish of course! I think they’ll be talking about this day for quite a while too!

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As usual, every time Hugues is scheduled to fish with me, we have nasty weather. Last year was an over 10 year exception with the beautiful day but every other time it’s been hell. Today we began in a light misty rain that eventually became just clouds, but the best was yet to come. He brought along his son Oliver as well as his sister in law Patricia hoping to get them both into good fishing. A 7:00 meet time had us on the water shortly after and Oliver drew first blood, so to speak, with a small walleye. They were drop shotting an area that had produced in the past and the conditions looked great for us this morning. We had a pretty good wind out of the SW, creating a two foot chop on the water. Perfect for drifting in the current! Hugues managed to get into some good bass as well as small walleye but Patricia was having a little difficulty understanding the technique and missed several chances at hooking up. Oliver was also catching plenty of walleye but for some reason this morning, they all seemed to be on the small side. We made several drifts over various areas and the results were pretty much the same. As I wanted to get them some keepers to bring home, I switched gears a bit and went to trolling in order to cover more water. Unfortunately the only time the reel fired, it turned out to be a northern and we were forced to change back with all the fish I was marking. I literally was seeing all kinds of hooks, both on the bottom as well as close to it and thought we needed to slow down. Once again we drifted drop shot rigs across the spot with similar results. This was a new area and seemed loaded with fish but we just couldn’t seem to make them eat! I switched up different baits and with the exception of a couple of small fish, we came up empty. It wasn’t until the sun came out and the winds layed down that we started to seen any significant changes in their attitude. We went back to the original area and began getting multiple hookups on each and every pass. Keeper walleye and big smallies were getting caught and even Patricia was able to catch her first bass of the trip.

Just when you think everything is going good, something always seems to go wrong! With what looked like there was absolutely no other boats around, out of nowhere one appeared. Of course they had to fish where we were as well and see what we were doing. They made a half assed attempt at trying to drift but were out in no mans land! Eventually after drifting away, they decided to move and ran by us like they were leaving. Well that wasn’t the case as they turned around and started to line up with our path. I was ready to run back up for another drift but decided to just go past the area completely. I didn’t want to show them what we were doing and ran to another area much further away. This seems to be almost a daily thing but I’ll never understand why!

Back to the fishing and on our first drift, Hugues hooked into something huge! I wasn’t sure exactly what he had but it was giving him quite the battle. Finally after several minutes we saw that he had a small musky on the drop shot. Elephants eat peanuts! I eventually was able to get the fish into the other net and after a few quick pics released it unharmed. It’s always a surprise to get something like this while fishing for bass & walleye. We mad a few more passes over the area to let the other boat drift far away and eventually returned to where we really wanted to be. Almost immediately they were into fish and they had a double with one walleye and the other a bass. Each pass yielded multiple hookups and many more fish were caught.

It wouldn’t be a fishing trip with Hugues if we didn’t have some sort of weather system move in. Off in a distance I could see the heavy band of rain coming and our sunshine soon turned into cloud. Not long after we had a torrential downpour and had to get back into the rain gear once again. This is quite typical when he comes out but at least this time we didn’t have an electrical storm!

Once the rain passed, the sun returned and the winds changed to the west and increased. Our drifts were becoming different and I moved to find the fish once again. I was fortunate to stumble on them right on the drop and for the last hour of the day, all three pounded on bass & walleye. Every few minutes, someone was hooked up! There were even three doubles, bringing the numbers way up for the day. By about 4:15 we were done and called it quits.

Although we were dealt a variety of conditions today, I stuck to the plan and was able to make minor adjustments to stay on the fish throughout. By the time it was all over they had their dinner and plenty more good fish were released. I think everyone was satisfied with the outcome of today and Patricia now has a better understanding of fish behaviour. Overall a really great day to be fishing!

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Nathan & his son Drew hit the water with me this morning a little later than usual. We met at 8:00 and immediately went to an area to drop shot. For the first time this year, I knew exactly where I was going long before I arrived! A light wind from the SW made our drifts just about perfect and Nathan was locked up on the first one. He landed a nice smallie and another almost right after. Drew was having a little difficulty getting use to this method but rebounded fairly quickly with fish of his own. They were now into both bass and small eyes and multiple fish on each drift was becoming the norm. At one point, they doubled up and Drew had a monster on the line. His dad landed a nice bass while I focussed on whatever Drew was fighting. I really didn’t know what to expect and thought it might be another small musky, until I got a visual. Turns out he had been battling a huge freshwater drum or sheephead! This thing was a beast and made for some great pics before being released. We made several more drifts and they landed a pile more fish before relocating when the wind shifted south. I headed over to an area to see if I could get them into some sturgeon but unfortunately I never even dropped anchor. The bottom was void of the fish but there were plenty suspended. We moved out quickly and made a run to another part of the lake to troll.

With lines in, I began covering water in search of some good walleye but came up empty. Another move had me setting the first reel without even being able to drop the second line in the water, before it screamed. Although it was the right species, it was the wrong size. A typical over had to be released after a couple of pics and we carried on. Many pike were landed and another over walleye in a short period and I decided to go somewhere else to cast up some bass. It was difficult to find areas to fish today. Everywhere I went, there was a boat already fishing either on or near the spot. I finally settled in one place and they landed several nice smallies before moving again. As the day was drawing close to the end, I headed to open water to resume what we had began the day with. We decided to go back to the drop shot and in the last hour or so, managed to land another half dozen or more fish.

I had covered plenty of water today and they had fished several techniques to land all their fish. Drew had also managed to acquire his first « Grand Slam » consisting of; bass, pike, walleye and of course the drum! I even think he had out fished his father which I’ve heard, happens often. Either way, they both had a great time and reeled in a good number of fish throughout the day. They left a little tired but absolutely fulfilled with the outcome of this day. I can’t wait to get them back out again!