With the ramp still closed, I had to find an alternate place to launch again! Normally it wouldn’t have been a big problem but today I had two half day bookings and needed to pick up the second couple, while dropping off the first one. Fortunately everything went well, including the fishing!

I picked up Bryan and launched, heading to a place that had been on fire only a few of days earlier. What a disappointment to see the water color & temp from the days before. We tried regardless, but without any success in the first half hour, I pulled the plug quickly. We made a long run to a backup area and were immediately on fish. Although mostly pike, there were several walleye in the mix as well. The water temps weren’t great at 53 degrees but the colour was definitely better. After getting his fill of the northerns, I decided to try another area closer to where we launched. We trolled the shallower rocks and found a few more fish for him to play with. No  pike but several walleye and a couple of bass! He had never caught a smallie and was amazed at how hard they fought. We were actually trolling our way back towards the ramp when I got the call. One more fish and I was on my way for the second set of clients. Bryan had managed to catch plenty of fish this morning, despite difficult weather conditions from the previous days. He left quite happy with the results as he had mentioned that he’s usually very unlucky when he fishes. Not today buddy!

Back at the ramp I made the exchange and was right back at it hard! With the sunshine upon us and the temperatures quite a bit warmer, I decided to try the first area one more time. When I arrived I found the water to be a few degrees warmer but still pretty dirty. With lines in, I started the troll and not long after a reel fired. Finocchio was into his first ever walleye and it was a decent one. Being from Italy, he was use to catching pike but had never seen a walleye before. Obviously the fish were here and I fished hard to try & get more bites. We covered plenty of water and picked at them, but not with the consistency I wanted. Eventually I was forced to move and made another long run to cleaner water. Right on cue, it didn’t take long to get the first bite, with another northern falling victim to a slow trolled lure. We remained here for most of the day and he fought many fish in the process. A combination of pike & walleye were landed before we headed to the last area of the day. Back in the shallows, more walleye were caught and Finocchio even hooked into a couple of smallies as well. He too was amazed at how hard they fought as he had never caught one before. Time flew by today both in the morning as well as the afternoon. Before we knew it, 5:00 was upon us and it was time to go! This was a treat for them as it was a stopover on their way to Mexico. It was their honeymoon and they had spent a few days in the Laurentions at a beautiful resort up until today. Finocchio loved fishing so much that he managed to squeeze a half day into their tight schedule. I would have done the same! Although his wife wasn’t much into fishing, she thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon watching him land fish after fish. Plenty of pics were taken by her ensuring many memories of their time spent in Montreal. Hopefully this is only the start of a lifetime of memories to come!

Who would have thought two months back when this trip was booked that it would turn out like this. You couldn’t have asked for a nicer day! Denis, Bob & Terry experienced flat calm conditions and a really smooth ride to where we started. It was a long run with the ramp still closed but at least it wasn’t hell like I’m use to. We set up and started trolling in 53 degree water and managed to pick at the fish pretty steadily throughout the morning. It was so calm that the Dog Pecker Knats were out in full force, for the first time this year! Early in the afternoon I decided to make another long run to a place in hopes of finding warmer water. With the sun shining and no wind, I was able to find considerably warmer temps and this is where the reels really started firing. Numbers of pike and walleye were landed and Bob even got to catch the fish of a lifetime. A visit from a big toothy critter blessed him, but a quick release was had boat side, as it wasn’t in season. Plans of remaining here briefly soon changed when the fish started cooperating. I wanted to hit another area closer to where we launched but you never leave fish to find fish! We stuck it out for the remainder of the afternoon catching plenty more fish and finished with another over walleye before heading back. Despite the overly high, dirty water conditions, the fish cooperated once we found warmer water. Great day with an even greater bunch of guys. Who could ask for anything more!

Our day began with a long run in 20 knot NE winds and big waves. I wasn’t sure how we would make out as it was my first outing for pike, this season. Flood waters surrounding Montreal had the lake much higher than any springtime level I’ve ever experienced. I was literally fishing areas that were usually land! To make matters worse, the water temps were only 48 degrees! I don’t even like fishing for trout and salmon in these temps! We remained shallow for a while slow trolling the lures and were eventually rewarded. John & Pascal had brought a couple of coworkers that had never caught pike before. They both managed to get their first fish, almost minutes apart! I covered water hoping to find some warmer areas but the best we could locate was 48.7 degrees. These fish were post spawn and should have been feeding heavily, but every hit was a grind. Bites were few & far between until I ventured slightly deeper. It was here, later in the afternoon that the action picked up. Everyone managed to fight fish multiple times in the last couple of hours. Several drive byes were also had throughout this afternoon trip. The short 5 hour day produced a decent number of fish and was still better than golf. These guys had the option of doing one or the other today and were just happy to be on the water. Catching fish was a bonus! I’m sure there were many more pike in the area but with the conditions we were faced with, they just didn’t want to move. Water temps can only get warmer in the coming weeks and the fish can only get more active. I will be back out plenty and hope to have more of those banner days I am so accustomed to at this time of the year. Bring on the heat!

Extreme high water levels have caused major issues for many home owners this spring. Flooding in low lying areas and waterfront has only benefitted the media! Destruction always makes the news! Roads all over have been closed due to the flooding. Even places like main streets, that should have been far enough from the river are now under water!

With walleye opening soon, trying to locate a launch has become an issue as well. Plenty of ramps on both sides of the lake, are closed due to high water. My regular entry remains blocked, unless you’re “Transport Canada”! Barriers are blocking the drive to the lake, but launching is obviously doable. I don’t understand why they haven’t removed them yet! I’m hoping that they are gone before the end of this week. With any luck, the water will have receded enough, otherwise I will have to travel to take clients fishing.

Despite all these minor headaches, I’m still fortunate not be living close to the flood areas. I feel for everyone dealing with major water damage and possibility of losing their homes! Mother Nature definitely rules!