Instead of the 8 am start today here at Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge, Granny and I told our guide Marcus yesterday that 9 would be better. At that time we were counting on another late night of the Northern Lights. They didn’t happen, however, that extra hour was nice for getting some email and blog work done in relaxing fashion sipping coffee next to the fire in the lodge. The 9 am start also worked out like a gem because I ran into Ken at 8:30 as we were getting ready for Egenolf Lake. Ken asked, “Do you and Granny want to fly again today? And hunt for lake trout?”
Obviously, I said yes and soon after we were airborne in another of the Gangler’s de Haviland Beavers headed for Adam Lake, also known as Dog Shit. Adam Lake is actually awesome but it is crystal clear and often times fishes like dog shit because the fish spook so easily. No worry for us, we love an extra fishing challenge.
We’re so far north in Manitoba that fall is in full swing. Each day the leaves are changing before our eyes. The day warmed up to the 70°s again but the morning was crisp. Though this was a lake trout day, Marcus prefers pike for shore lunch so he took us directly to one of his pike spots named, Frustration Bay. Granny went to work.
Well, it didn’t take long for us to understand why the bay we were fishing was named Frustration Bay. We saw a lot of pike hunting over the sandy bottom in the crystal-clear water, but other than two very small ones, the eating size and bigger wanted nothing to do with us. They could see us and they were smart.
About this time I asked Marcus, “If this is a lake trout day/lake, why don’t we catch a couple lakers for lunch?”
Marcuses response was, “Pike taste way better”.
Ok, we kept on trying and nitpicked every inch, every corner, every weed bed we could find in Frustration Bay. We picked up one more tiny pike but those perfect 26-28 inchers for lunch were not around or they swam away from us before you could even cast.
We finally gave up and Marcus gave in to the idea of eating a couple lakers for lunch. But as we were leaving Frustration Bay, I spotted one last weed bed. “Hang on Marcus, let’s hit that last spot”. He agreed it was a good idea.
It turns out the spot had nothing. We met the open lake next and I made a couple casts into the abyss. Nothing. Nothing. Then on my last cast, as I was reeling in, I noticed a shape following my fly. I kept reeling and when it was close enough, I saw it was an enormous pike. Doing my best not to panic I kept reeling and as the chartreuse concoction got to the side of the boat, the massive fish engulfed my fly. We all witnessed the toothy jaws slam shut.
I strip-set strongly at least three times. The pike thrashed at the side of the boat. He was like a windup toy ready to explode. Then he did and the pike ran almost to the backing (a rare move for a pike). The run caught me completely but surprise but the crystal-clear water was likely the reason. That pike saw us and knew he was attached to trouble.
I’ve mentioned it before this week; pike are the perfect game fish for me. Less than three minutes later we had this mighty pike in the net and he was a lunker. A special fish. Far too big for a shore lunch but big enough to put on the waders and hop into the shallow water to make some very nice photos. The massive pike was a tad under 44 inches.
One of the great things about catching big fish, is that they often catch you by surprise. They come when you least expect them. And that’s why you never give up and always keep that fly in the water.
That pike led us to one more pike spot. Perhaps we could still get a couple for lunch. We ended up at one of the prettiest spots I’ve ever been too in Manitoba. A small and mostly shallow bay. We couldn’t see bottom in the middle but it wasn’t more than 30 feet deep. And there was a beautiful little stream pouring in, floating brightly colored birch leaves into the bay. It was gorgeous.
Like at Frustration Bay, the pike were here but they could see us. Granny had a few follows. So did I. We got one pike that was too small. Then I heard a splash behind me. More to the middle of the bay. I launched a few casts. On one, as I was stripping in, I was daydreaming staring into the dark water when I spotted three strange white things. At first I couldn’t make it out. Maybe weed tops? But it was to deep for weeds on this side of the boat. Then it moved. I was looking at the white tipped fins of a 35 plus inch lake trout! He was staring at me probably thinking I couldn’t see him. I stripped as fast as I could and when my fly came into his view he raced for it. But something was awry. Maybe the color of my fly. More likely, the wire bite tippet we use for pike. The dream laker on fly refused and swam away.
That big laker swam away but it was the beginning of a full-on lake trout pursuit. I grabbed my other Winston 7-weight rod with a fast SA Sonar sinking line on it and started working the area. First try I hooked up. I landed a smallish laker around 20”. Then another. And another. I handed the rod to Granny and she caught one every cast as well. But almost all were in the 20 to 25 inch mark. At least we had our shore lunch fish!
Granny caught about ten in a row then handed me back the rod. It was getting about lunch time and we had the two lakers on the stringer. But I couldn’t give it up. I knew there was at least one really nice laker in the bay and I was determined. When I finally hooked into a larger one it was this. A lighter colored 31 incher. Not bad but not “The One”.
The nearest beach for lunch was at least a mile away. Marcus pointed out a much closer hill and asked us if we minded trapsing up to it. This way we wouldn’t waste time on a long boat ride and could get right back our fishing. The hill was no problem so we went for it.
While Marcus built a fire to cook on, I went for one of my wanders. This was an absolutely beautiful spot and one of the higher points around Adam Lake. From the very top I had an amazing view. Paradise! By the time I caught up with Granny and Marcus, the fish was on.
Well guess what, Marcus likes lake trout from Adam Lake. He actually said, Wow! on his first bite and said it was far better than the ones he catches at home on Reindeer Lake. Personally, I’ve been eating and loving lake trout my whole life. Especially when I used to jig them from the deep beneath the ice.
Nothing fantabulous happened after lunch. Believe it or not, we went right back to where it was a lake trout per cast and there were none. Perhaps they moved but more likely, the bite was off. Lake trout are one of the moodier fish when it comes to time, weather and barometric pressure. That’s why you can’t give up on them too early in the day. We did manage a few random ones when we hit new places on our way back to meet the plane. Our Haviland Beaver was right on time to get us at 3 pm.
Man, what a day. Huge pike. Numerous lakers. When we got back to Gangler’s it was much cooler than it’s been the last few days. Word has it some bad weather is moving in. This means tomorrow we’ll definitely be fishing from the Lodge. But that’s ok, I’ve caught some mean pike in Egenolf Lake in past years. Tomorrow should be good. 1919 beer and dinner time!
A special thanks goes out to our buddy Ken Gangler. Ken makes this adventure to Gangler’s North Seal River Lodge possible for Granny and I. Every angler should try to make a point to fish trophy pike and lake trout on the fly at least once.
A 31 inch laker is “not the one” and you land a 40+ pike! Ha ha. You are spoiled Currier!