August 2004, God’s Lake, Manitoba

As I planned for my 1,500 mile canoe trip through the heart of the great north woods, I could not help but feel that the best part of my journey would likely be the final push from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson’s Bay. For this final leg, I had a choice of routes. After leaving Lake Winnipeg and traveling a short ways up the Nelson River I would branch off the Nelson River and pick up the famed Hayes River. Not far from the headwaters of the Hayes River is a height of land crossing that leads to the God’s Lake and God’s River drainage. At this “fork in the road”, I could continue on the Hayes River all the way to Hudson Bay, or I could take a longer excursion through a series of lakes and rivers that would bring me to God’s Lake and on to the God’s River before meeting back with the Hayes River.

From this trips inception, God’s Lake and its namesake river has been a source of constant intrigue and curiosity for my adventure lusting spirit. As I sit here in the rustic comfort of Healey's God's Lake Narrows Lodge and reflect on my experiences over the last two weeks I am left with no reservations as to my decision to branch off the Hayes River and pursue “God’s Country”.

God’s Lake is often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of Manitoba’s lakes. This royal designation is so bestowed due to the lakes diversity of fish species, spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, and low fishing pressure. At nearly seventy miles long and 30 miles wide, God’s Lake is the fifth largest lake in the province. It provides ideal conditions to produce prolific numbers of trophy size Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Brook Trout (God’s River). Unlike other fisheries, God’s Lake has been able to sustain its status as top producer of trophy fish. Due to its size, remote location, and low local population, God’s Lake continues to provide some of the best angling action in North America.

The province of Manitoba is keen on protecting its world class fisheries and regulates its waters accordingly. On God’s Lake, barbless hooks are mandatory and possession limits promote continued maintenance of trophy size catches. The few lodges on the lake are also restricted to the number of fisherman they take out in any given day. God’s Lake is included in Manitoba's "High Quality" management system and all “trophy-size” fish must be released. Anglers are encouraged to participate in Manitoba’s "Master Anglers" program which officially recognizes fisherman for catching and releasing trophy fish. It is common for anglers to gain “Master Angler” status for multiple species in a few days of fishing on God’s Lake.

If you have been following my fishing reports, you know that I have prescheduled stops with local fishing experts. On my way through God’s Lake, I was fortunate enough to spend a few days at Healey’s God’s Lake Narrows Lodge and fish with lodge owner Sam Healey. When I first called Sam back in May and told him of my plans to paddle 1,500 miles from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay, he said if made it his way he, would take me fishing on God’s Lake. I think he figured if I paddled 1,200 miles to his lodge, I had earned a days fishing!

Healey's God's Lake Narrows Lodge has a long history. The original part of the existing lodge was built in the early 1900’s as a Hudson Bay Company trading post and was the cornerstone of the settlement of God’s Lake Narrows. In the 1950’s, lodge developer Barney Lamb purchased the building and property and opened the lodge for business as a sport angling destination. In 1987 John and Marigold Healey purchased the lodge and continued the tradition with their two young sons’, John and Sam. Today, Marigold, John, Jr. and Sam still welcome fishermen to enjoy all that God’s Lake has to offer.

Fishermen arrive to the God’s Lake Airport on a direct flight from Winnipeg on a commercial air carrier (unless you have your own float plane, or paddle 1,200 miles by canoe) and are picked up by lodge shuttle. Guest’s stay in private cabins with full bath facilities and dine in the main lodge. Due to the size of God’s Lake and its many unmarked reefs, all fishing is guided. All guides are Cree Natives and have spent a lifetime learning the lake. Healey’s Lodge has a fleet of custom made Lund boats with large decks, comfortable seating and 40 horse power, 4-stroke Yamaha’s.

I arrived to Healey’s Lodge late in the evening after a 30 mile paddle from the Mink River. The dock was a bustle of activity as two private float planes had just arrived. I was immediately greeted as the “canoeist from Lake Superior”. I was a bit overwhelmed with the attention as I had spent the last ten days traveling through the bush without seeing another soul. Marigold Healey gave me a warm welcome and showed me to my cabin and invited me to dinner in the lodge. After washing off the trail dust, I enjoyed my first real meal in nearly two weeks.

Although I spent several days as a guest at Healey’s God’s Lake Narrows Lodge and pursued a variety of species, I sampled only a fraction of what this remarkable fishery has to offer. Read on for a brief look at some of my fishing experiences on God’s Lake.

WALLEYE:

After a nights rest and a hearty breakfast, Sam and I headed to the “narrows” to see if the Walleye were biting. After a boat ride of about 30 seconds we were dropping our jigs in the current water that flows through the narrows and separates the southern and northern sections of the lake. This spot is famous for its fast Walleye action and is right around the corner from the lodge. Fishermen either Jig fish or Troll. Jigging typically provides the faster action but trolling deep diving lures provides better odds of lunker size fish. Healy’s Lodge is privileged to have instant access to “narrows-Walleye” fishing. After catching more than a dozen fish a piece in an hour and half, I was surprised to hear Sam remark that the fishing was kind of slow. When I asked Sam what “fast” fishing was, he said we would be up to 20 or 30 fish apiece. It seems to me that fishing the narrows is more a “right-of-passage” for a God’s Lake rookie than anything else because we caught Walleye just about anywhere we fished.

LAKE TROUT:

Later in the afternoon, Sam and I headed further into the lake to try our luck for Lake Trout. We fished for Lakers in the same manner that I have used on Lake of the Woods and elsewhere. We used two-ounce jigs with a hair skirt and single hook with a trailing treble hook attached by a short steel leader. We used a 20 to 30 pound test line and large spool capacity bait-casting reels. The approach is simple; drop the jig over the up-wind side of the boat and let it sink to the bottom, then real it up as fast as you can. Of course you want to start your drift so that any wind will push you over the fish holding hole. Fish usually take the lure on the retrieve but will also hit it on the way down.

When a Lake Trout strikes you know it! Your jig just stops, and your rod strains as the fish begins to fight his sudden predicament. When a big Laker hits your lure in 100 feet of water you have your work cut out for you. It is paramount to play, land and release the fish quickly as they are coming form such depth. The “net-man” should be ready and net the fish as soon as it gets to the boat as they are likely to dive again. If you plan on keeping a fish, Sam suggests you keep a fish of twelve pounds or less as larger fish maintain a strong gene pool and should remain in the breeding stock.

We hit it at a good time and were hooking a fish every five or ten drops. Average catch size was around 8 to 10-pounds. Sam landed a beauty at nearly 20-pounds. Action can be faster or slower depending on the “bite”, but I fished for Lakers several times over the course of my stay and we averaged a fish about every 20 minuets if you subtract the time it took for landing and releasing.

BROOK TROUT:

I had the rare privilege of fishing God’s River Brook Trout with Sam Healy and his good friend Dennis Mckay. From the lodge, we climbed in John Healey's Cessna 185 float plane and made the short flight to the head of the God’s River. After we landed and unloaded gear, Dennis met us in his motor boat and we headed down the God’s River in pursuit of a potential record catch Brook Trout.

The upper God’s River is fast and furious with powerful current and menacing rapids. To navigate a motor boat through class III rapids strewn with submerged boulders and reefs is a skill that is only acquired through time and tutoring. It is an art that is passed from man to man and only a handful of God’s River Cree Natives (and Sam Healey) are capable of. We snaked our way through rapids and between submerged rocks that allowed only a foot or two of tolerance. One wrong move and say good-bye to your prop or lower unit. The amazing part is that most of the rocks are completely covered by the fast moving current. In order to pilot a boat through this obstacle course, you just have to know where the rocks are. Use the Force Luke!

Before continuing, I must provide some background on the God's River Brook Trout. These very special Brook Trout are native to the God’s River and grow to mammoth proportions in the cold clear waters of this wonderful river. Although they are present from the head of the God’s River to its mouth at Hudson Bay, they thrive most abundantly in the fast moving waters and deep pools of the upper God’s. Their red-rust color and vermillion spotting make them, in my mind, one of the most beautiful game fish in all of North America. At lengths of up to 28 inches, they inspire awe to anglers accustomed to the 10 to 14 inch Brookies typical of western rivers. Here in the God’s River, these fish are seldom pursued. The most common presentation is a #2 spoon, but they are also taken with flies and custom rigs.

After progressing several miles downstream, we began our hunt for the world famous God’s River Brookie. After catching a small Northern Pike and filleting it into narrow strips, Sam explained to me how his Dad, John was most passionate about the God’s River Brook Trout. As a boy, Sam would spend hours upon hours with his dad, fishing for Brook Trout and learning about the special techniques his Dad had developed. As Sam placed a small strip of pike flesh on a rig called a “Healey Special”, he told me his Dad had invented the rig and if used properly it could land more Brookies than any other method.

As Dennis piloted the boat against the current and adjacent to some good fishing water, Sam gave me a quick lesson on technique and we began fishing. The idea is to work the lure along the bottom structure while bouncing it off the rocks. The current is swift and it takes a soft touch and just the right amount of line tension. If the proper finesse is not used, snags occur often. The skill is an acquired one and some people just never get it.

Sam landed the first fish, and the second and the third and so on. I continued to practice my technique. After working up-stream and playing several spots, I finally hooked one. They hit hard and fight harder. I landed the prize and she measured out at 22”, a Master Angler fish! Like all the Brookies we caught, I gently released her back into the clear, cold water of the God’s and watched her swim back into the rocks below. What a thrill. We caught several more of these beauties before days end.

As we climbed back into the float plane after an incredible afternoon of fishing, I couldn’t help but think that in a few days I would be back on the God’s River as I paddled its length towards Hudson Bay. Hopefully I would catch many more God’s River Brook Trout.

For more information on Healey's God's Lake Narrows Lodge, just click on the lodge name for a direct link to their website, www.godslake.com. Or give them a call at 1-800-353-9993

July 10, 2004

Now that my brother let the cat out of the bag regarding the capsize of my canoe, I suppose I should tell the entire story for the sake of posterity.

I was on a back bay of one of the many lakes that lie along the Winnipeg River.
The evening before the disastrous morning, I had experienced some of the best, no, the best Northern Pike fishing of my life. For those of you who have been following my fishing reports, let’s just say, I got the Big One! And his brother, and his sister, and his cousin! I caught over 60 pounds of pike in 5 fish in less that 2 hours.

My plan for the day was to pack and load camp, fish the first half of the day in the same area, then move on. It was a cloudy, calm, cool morning. I had the canoe loaded and a strong cup of coffee to go with a virtual guarantee of good fishing ahead of me. I starting casting in the weeds towards the back of the bay working my lure just below the surface.
It is hard to describe the anticipation you feel when you know big Pike are all around. Any second one may strike. I tossed my lure to land in a pocket of clear water surrounded by weeds. Three or four cranks of the reel and the calm surface of the water exploded as a monster pike struck my lure. As I set the hook, I could feel the power of my opponent through the bend in my rod. He made his first run, and I adjusted the drag on my reel to match the zeal of the fish. I retrieved line and closed the gap between the fish and myself. He came just close enough to the canoe that I could get a good look at him. He was a pig! Twenty-pound fish!
He made several more runs and was strong enough to pull the canoe (I am not kidding). Once he was tuckered, I pulled him along side the canoe and gently slid my hand under his gill plate and lifted him into the boat. I quickly attached the camera to the tri-pod and, using the timer, was able to get a good photo of the fish and myself. I was so anxious to get the fish back in the water that I set the camera and tri-pod on my pack. The canoe moved, the camera fell overboard; I jumped over after the camera (I had all my fish pictures in there and figured it was worth a swim) and the canoe tipped over. Just like that.
There I was, in the water 200 yards from shore, my canoe upside down and all my gear floating around me. The Pike was tired from the play and floated there for an instant, looking at me, before diving below the surface. Oh the irony.
I grabbed my life vest and began to put it on. I tried to kick with my legs as I worked my arms thorough the vest, but something was wrapped around my ankles. I reached below the surface and discovered the 20-pound test fishing line was wrapped around my legs. I freed myself from the line and donned the life vest. I picked the nearest shoreline grabbed a paddle and the canoe and started swimming. I kept saying out loud “my camera, my camera, I lost my camera”.
This is when it started to rain. Big, heavy, thick streams of rain began falling and pounding the lake so hard that it was splashing back up into my face. I could not make it to shore because of the dense Alders growing out into the lake. I climbed half into an Alder and was able to dump the water from the canoe and climb back into it. I looked out onto the lake at my gear floating like jetsam. I quickly paddled out and began scooping up the precious items. The two large packs were too heavy to hoist back in the boat so I lashed them to the thwart, one pack on either side. With the two large packs in tow, the canoe moved like a tugboat. It seemed like forever before I made it to shore.
Once on shore, I began to take inventory and tally my losses. At the bottom of the lake was; my camera and tripod, one 256 MB memory card with all fish pictures, my portage yoke for carrying the canoe, my main tackle box, one small cooking pot and my spoon.
I went through my packs and remaining gear and put on some dry clothes. I couldn’t believe I lost the camera. I was thoroughly depressed. As I sought some consolation for this recent turn of events, I considered that I was healthy and fortunate enough to be here in the first place.
I didn’t want to stay there but I was no longer in the mood to travel. As I considered what to do, I gazed the short distance across the bay. A mother bear and two cubs had come out of the bush and were patrolling the shoreline, working their way around the bay. I took this as a sign. I packed my gear, loaded my canoe and paddled away.

Rainy River through the Lake of the Woods Pictures updated July 11th

To be honest, the fishing this past week has been, well, mediocre. Yes, I have caught fish everyday including some nice pike and bass. I could dissertate about the various components of structure and presentation, the metamorphic habits of maturing pike, the association of smallmouth bass to local food sources, etc. What is really on my mind, however, has less to do with current events and more to do with what is to come. I can feel the presence of a dark, looming creature of the deep. Esox lucius. a.k.a. northern pike, a.k.a. jackfish. Water wolf, razor face, hook stretcher, line breaker, slime slicker, weed whacker. You see, part of the allure of this trip for me is the imminent possibility of a close encounter with a trophy size northern. I’m talking 15 pound minimum, 20 pounds is better.

My leverage in this pursuit is diligence. At any given time, as I paddle along, I have my rod in the holder with 100 feet of line behind the boat, trolling some type of lure. I’m figuring that somewhere between here and Hudson Bay, the big one is going to strike. At this point, I am 465 miles into a 1,300-mile trip. Statistically, I should be one step closer to “The Big One” with every stroke of the paddle. I will gamble, if the odds are in my favor, and I think I’ve stacked the deck pretty well on this one. It could come at any minute. I can picture the scene; crossing a weedy bay as the last drops of water pepper the lake surface after an evening rain. Sun low in the sky, the clouds on the western horizon begin to glow purple, pink and orange. A loon cries somewhere off in the distance. My rod tip quivers slightly as the lure dances at the end of the line. All is calm. And then... all hell breaks loose! The rod bends backward and jerks from the cradle. My paddle clangs on the bottom of the boat as I exchange paddle shaft for rod and reel. Battle Stations! The fight is on.

I have played this seen out many times in my imagination. The power of positive thinking, right? It helps pass the time anyway. I may be letting the allure of this encounter get to me though. I have developed rituals and behaviors that some may consider a bit odd. For example, I have started talking to my lures. I will give them little pep talks before sending them out as decoys for the ensuing attack. “Come on little buddy, be brave, run true and don’t forget to dance!” As I watch them submerge and fade from the boat as I let out line, I feel that sense of pride that I am sure a coach feels as he watches his players take the field. Game On! I even started talking to the illusive fish, “Come on Baby. Hit it! Hit it, you M*****!”

I also find myself contemplating a normally casual decision a bit too long. Lure selection is a good example; #7 Shadling or large jig with rubber baitfish, flashy spoon or weed-less spinner-bait? Color choice is another consideration; chartreuse and green or black and orange, silver-flash or dull-gold, green jig head with white trailer or white jig head with green trailer? And of course location is also critical; skirt the big island or take the inside channel, dip into the bay or cross over the rocky point, cruise the open water, or follow the weed line? Earlier in the trip I would not paddle out of my way unless to inspect a bay for a portage trial. Now I find myself zigzagging to potential pike water without even thinking about it. “That water is a little off color, probably a nice pike holding on that reef! Better jog over to that point, seems to fade nicely towards that island!”

I suppose it all depends on your perspective of fate versus circumstance, but I often wonder what the “Big One” is doing right now? Maybe he is down in some deep, black recession of the lake bottom, napping in the ice cold water after a hearty meal of his younger cousin, twice removed. Or maybe he is cruising the weed line of the bay just off my campsite, sneering, as I snooze in the tent? Wherever he is, he is out there.

Sure, I’m a bit overboard in my personification of this aquatic predator, but as a predator myself, is it not my nature to identify with the object of my pursuit? Am I not more apt to be successful if I look for behaviors in my prey that parallels my own personality? Isn’t this tendency ingrained in our human psyche? The pictographs I see along my journey were made by primitive hunters of long ago, but their artistic renderings of hunting scenes are right in line with my apparent obsession with a mega-pike. They simply took it one step further and transferred their mental images to the granite rock faces along their turf. The only difference, as I see it, is that survival depended on the outcome of their struggle, whereas mine could result in the satisfaction of a trophy catch, a nice picture, and a lasting memory.

Whatever the case may be, the possibility of meeting up with my toothy nemesis just adds to the mystery of my north-woods journey. It is motivation enough to press on and continue the pursuit of distant waters and new horizons. A fresh knot, a wet line, and a little luck. Wham!

Rainy Lake, Minnesota - June 21, 2004

Today I had the pleasure of fishing Rainy Lake with one of the areas most experienced and reputable guides. Mike "One-Doggie" Lessard is a life-long resident of the Rainy Lake area. As legacy to his father, Butch Lessard, Mike comes from a long line of fishing gurus. A twenty-plus year veteran of Rainy Lake guiding, Mike has developed the “sixth-sense” instincts that are a requisite for day-in, day-out success on Rainy.

We fished from Mikes 20-foot “Crestliner 202 - Tournament Series” boat. The outfit is powered by “Suzuki” 115 hp and 9.9 hp outboards, with console steering. The boat was clean, well maintained and smelled like fish (always a good sign).

Weather was touch and go and made for a tough day of fishing. Partly sunny to mostly overcast cast skies brought passing rainsqualls and fluctuating temperatures. At times, our breath was visible. The barometer was dropping and winds gusted from 10 to 15 miles per hour. The combination of erratic rain and wind blown chop made quality rain gear a must.

Rainy Lake is a diverse fishery that can challenge even the most savvy of anglers. The frequent changes in weather and shear volume of structure and habitat can make locating active fish tricky. Walleye will respond to different patterns and presentations as conditions rapidly change. It is not uncommon to find fish ranging in depths from 3-feet to 40 -feet of water all in a single day. Adapting to changes in fish behavior and movements is a daily challenge. For this reason, it may be a good idea to hire a guide for at least the up-front portion of a fishing trip to Rainy Lake.

Mike and I began our excursion by jigging and drifting in flowing channelized
water. We tipped our “Lindy, Max-Gap” jigs with minnows and chucked them upstream into four to six feet of water. Lifting the jig off the bottom gave active fish the opportunity to strike and we pulled a hearty batch of good eating size Saugers from the drink. Feisty Smallmouth Bass were not shy and provided some fun action. We had a good time horsing in these sandwich size eaters but we were ready for some open water fishing. We headed out to the main lake for the “money-shot“.

We prowled around some points and island channels looking for good size, active Walleyes. We trolled, using #13-Floating “Rapala’s” and Deep Diving “Shad Raps”. Darker colors such as blue and Black and Grey are the local’s choice on Rainy and suit the stained waters well. I borrowed Mike’s bait-casting set-up and was impressed by the smooth action of the 3-bearing “Copperhead 300-R” by “Mitchell”. This reel has a bombproof housing with chamfered edges that fits the hand nicely. Once I get back in the “black” after my trip, I’ll add one of these reels to my arsenal. After a few uneventful passes, we decided to get busy and switch up our approach. Mike knew of a sharp break that extended from the mainland to and island that has produced for him in the past. It was an off hand shot that fish would suspend there so early in the season, but Mike had a gut feeling and it was worth a chance.

It didn’t take long to prove Mike’s theory correct. I felt a strong strike the first pass and pulled in fat 25" Walleye. We took a picture and then cleared the decks to finish the pass. Mike landed a hefty Northern. Each consecutive pass resulted in another nice fish. All the fish we caught were suspended over 30 to 40 feet of water off the sharp break. From my experience, if you can locate active fish in this pattern, you have good odds of taking some big ones. Purely speculation on my part, but I feel that a fish needs to work his way up the food chain before developing an open water, suspended feeding pattern. Northern Pike are territorial and can be carnivorous. Although they have preferred prey, they will eat any fish that fits down their gullet, including their own kind. If you’re not a big dog, it’s wise to stay in the weeds.

I had a great time with Mike and would love to fish with him again. If you’re headed to the Rainy Lake area and want to contact Mike regarding his services, give him a call.

Mike “One-Doggie” Lessard
4210 East County Road #3
Ray, Minnesota 56669
Phone: (218) 875-2412

Thursday, June 17, 2004 – Saganaga Lake, Minnesota (Pictures now posted!)

After leaving Gunflint Lodge, I paddled down the Granite River to Saganaga Lake. The following morning Bob Baker met me at my campsite for a day of fishing. I first met Bob back in 1995 when I worked as a guide at Gunflint Lodge. Bob has been guiding fishing trips on the Gunflint Trail lakes since the late 80’s. He and his wife Shari are owners and operators of “Gunflint Pines Resort” on Gunflint Lake. They offer a variety of activities and services at their year round resort. Take a minute to check out their website at www.gunflintpines.com.

Bob and I fished from his 16-foot Alumicraft, V-hull boat. It has a roomy and comfortable flat bottom deck and is powered by a 25hp, 4-stroke Honda outboard (the max HP limit on Saginaga is 25) and is also equipped with a rear mounted electric troller.
The weather was cooperative with mostly sunny skies and 10 to 20 mph winds from the southeast.

We were in pursuit of Walleyes and used two methods of presentation, controlled drifts and anchored bobber fishing. When drifting, we presented a leech on a #10 hook with a small red bead resting at the top of the hook. From the hook we had a 18” lead tied to a swivel which acted as a stop for our ¼ ounce egg sinker threaded through the main line. When bobber fishing, the set-up was the same with the addition of a slip bobber and a thread bobber stop. Bob likes to use six-pound test “Maxima” monofilament for this type of fishing, as the line is practically invisible. We used a longer rod with a softer tip for the bobber fishing as it reduces resistance for the fish on the “take” prior to a hook-set.

Bob noted that the cool spring was keeping fish less active and holding relatively close to spring spawning areas. As water temperatures warm, these fish will progress into a summer pattern and move further into the lake. We fished wind blown bays, points, reefs and islands, concentrating on areas that indicated fish and offered snag free drifts.

When fishing, Bob is methodical and exact in his method. He knows the lake in a way that can only be learned from years of experience and many seasons of fishing. For him, it is as if the water is invisible and the lake bottom and structure are as clearly read as the shoreline. We wasted no time in our day of fishing.

When I say we were drift fishing, we were actually using the motor at low rpm’s for fine control of drift pattern. We would often quickly reel in and re-cast at pivot points so as to keep our leech set-up directly behind the boat. Precise location of bait is key, as 10 feet one way or the other can mean all the difference. Many times we would run a drift over the same piece of structure from different angles. Two or three drifts over the same spot was the max if we were not taking fish. We moved locations often but never traveled for more than about two minutes from spot to spot. If we marked fish at a certain location, but had no strikes, we would change locations and try that same spot later in the day. Bob’s knowledge of locations that typically hold fish is impressive. His mental image of the lake terrain and how shifting winds affected each spot was key to our success.

When bobber fishing, we would drop two anchors (bow and stern), concentrating our casts to corners of small islands and submerged reefs. Bob noted that he will often try some casts to deeper water off these structures as the boat entry and anchoring process can temporarily spook fish off their preferred holding position. When fish would take our bait, we would give a little line and then slowly retrieve to the first indication of resistance (this is where the softer rod tip helps) and set the hook.

Bob hooked the first fish, a 22 inch walleye. I caught the biggest walleye at 26 inches and we each caught several others, none smaller than 19”. We did not catch huge numbers, but the action was steady and all the fish were nice size. We released all fish.

Thanks Bob, for a great day of fishing!

June 14 - Dan is on the water 8 to 12 hours a day now, making his way to meet with Bob Baker at the Gunflint Pines Resort and Campgrounds. Bob and Dan will be doing some fishing on lake Saganaga. At his current rate of travel, he should be there by the 17th when he'll be sending me his latest fishing reports. He'll also report on lake Saganaga before he leaves.

Fishing Report from Moose Lake through South, Equipment Selection

June 3 through 6

Thanks to those of you tuning in to my fishing reports. When I decided to create a website for my trip, I thought it would be a great idea to include a fishing report. I consider myself an “avid” fisherman but certainly not an “expert’. Like most fishing enthusiast, I do my best to apply a method to my madness. I study the habits of my prey, make educated guesses about location and presentation and make adjustments to my technique as I gain information. And more often than not, I catch fish and have fun doing it.

These reports will allow you to follow my fishing adventures throughout my trip. I will be moving through some of North America’s most pristine fisheries. I’ll be meeting up with area fishing guides along the way and gaining valuable insights to what’s working in their “neck of the woods”. Although I will be going through some very remote locations, you may be surprised at how accessible most of these waters are. Fact is, with a little extra effort, you can find yourself in many of these same, seldom touched fishing locations that I will be visiting.

Some of the major bodies of water that I will be traversing include: the border lakes of Minnesota and Ontario including, Saganaga Lake, Rainy Lake and the Rainy River, and Lake of the woods. I will follow the Winnipeg River from its source at Lake of the Woods and follow it as it crosses into Manitoba and on to Lake Winnipeg. I will also be moving through Gods Lake and the Gods River and the Hayes River just to name a few.

Thanks to “In-Fisherman” for sponsoring the fishing report and “Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle” for providing much of the tried and true tackle I will be using. Take a minute to click the links to their websites for more, valuable information.

Equipment

When considering what fishing tackle to bring on this trip, I had to be somewhat frugal with my choices. Everything I bring with me on this 1,300 mile trek must be carried in my canoe or on my back. Needless to say, I needed to find that fine line between too little and too much. Here is what I decided upon.

For this trip I selected a “Quantum PF 300 C” baitcaster reel and “St. Croix” 6’ 6”, Med-Heavy, Fast Action rod as my main setup. I have an aluminum cast rod holder that I attach to the front thwart when trolling from the canoe. I modified the rod holder slightly to get a “custom” fit for my particular rod. To keep the rod in the boat during aggressive strikes, I took an emergency shut-off bungee cord from a boat motor and attached one end to the rod and the other end to a bracket on the canoe as a lanyard. This still allows plenty of room to handle the rod and land fish. I am using 20lb “Spiderline” that boasts a 6lb test diameter. When meeting up with local guides, we will fish from a motor boat.

As a back-up, I have a “Shimano 2000” open face, spinning real and a “Quantum” 6’-0”, med-heavy action rod. But I like the baitcaster as my main set-up because the push-button spool release allows me to easily let out line when the rod is cradled in the holder. A quick, 1/4 spin of the crank locks the spool and the large drag control is easily accessible. Check out the photo-gallery for pictures of the main set-up and a look inside my tackle box.

Moose Lake through South Lake

I did not fish until the third day of my trip, not by choice but rather by necessity. I spent the first day hiking up the Grand Portage from Lake Superior and the second day paddling up-stream on the Pigeon River. By the time I hit the first lake of my journey, I was anxious for some good fishing.
The first few hundred miles of my trip follows the oligotrophic border Lakes between Minnesota and Ontario. This section begins at Lake Superior and runs the length of the border to Lake of the Woods.

Generally speaking, these lakes fall into one of two categories; “clear water” lakes and “stained water lakes”. The discoloration in the “stained” lakes is a result of high mineral content in the surrounding soils. Interestingly, one lake can fall into the “clear water” category and the next lake a short portage away can be a “stained water” lake. Of course there are many variations to these types of lakes. Conditions such as depth, shore line features and drop rates, bottom structure, and spawning habitat all have their effects. So, in the course of a day’s paddling, I can encounter an array of different lake types and habitats.

My first few days of paddling were a textbook example of the situation I just described. Being an optimistic fisherman, I took full advantage of this opportunity to practice my fishing prowess and encounter as many of the northern fish species as possible. I landed several nice Walleye, Lake Trout and Small Mouth Bass in the few days of paddling my way to my first checkpoint at Gunflint Lodge on Gunflint Lake.

When planning for my trip, I called Ted Takasaki at “Lindy Legendry Fishing Tackle” and quizzed him about tackle. I asked him, “If you were doing this trip, what tackle would you take?” Ted agreed to send me a variety of Lindy tackle, but when I got more specific about species oriented lures, he kept coming back to his “Max-Gap” jig, tipped with a “Munchies, Thumpin’ Grub”. I must say, I was a bit skeptical about the versatility of this set-up, but I caught fish of nice size including Walleye, Lake Trout and Small Mouth Bass, all on this same set-up. Now, perhaps I hit the solunar calendar just right or the spring feeding frenzy could have played a role, but I was laughing fish into the boat on several occasions. I do like the “Max-Gap” jigs because they have an ultra-hard paint coating that won’t flake off. You can completely clean the eye-hole on the jig with a knife without leaving sharp paint edges or destroying the finish on the rest of the jig head. The “Munchies” grubs also held up well. I was able to catch several fish on the same grub
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I did, of course, alter my presentation depending on conditions and species. On the “stained water” lakes I would patrol for Walleye in the 20 to 30 foot depth range. Any place where the bottom surface contained medium to large (refrigerator) size boulders, I was hooking Walleye. As the depth came up to the 10 to 20 foot range with similar bottom conditions I was hitting the Smalleys in both the “stained water” lakes and the “clear water” lakes. I stayed away from the areas where the Smallmouth were schooled for spawning in shallow bays.

I could easily control the depth of my jig by adjusting my distance from shore, the speed of my troll, and amount of line out. On the “clear water” lakes, I could move a bit further from shore and nail those mid-size Lakers that are not yet the deep water creatures like their older siblings. It was after hooking one of these mid-size Lakers, that I decided to add a lanyard to my rod! I kept one Walleye for a meal and released all other fish.

My next fishing report will include fishing with owner of Gunflint Pines Resort and long time, local fishing guide, Bob Baker. Bob will meet me on Saganaga Lake at the top of the Gunflint Trial.

May 27, 2004

In-Fisherman, www.in-fisherman.com, has generously agreed to sponsor a fishing report for the expedition. In-Fisherman is the source for the serious fisherman. Dan will be paddling through some of the best and most unique fishing in North America. Some locations are accessible by road others, by airplane, or floatplane, but many areas will be accessible only by canoe. In these backwaters, which have scarcely felt dip of a paddle or the whirr of a reel in 100 years, I'm sure there will be some fishing experiences that you'll want to read about. I feel that fishermen experienced with the more accessible areas of the route will be intrigued by the hidden treasures that are just a bit deeper into the woods than they might normally go. In addition, Dan will be meeting many expert fishermen along the way and highlighting fishing opportunities offered by some of the regions many fine lodges. Fishing tackle will be supplied by Lindy Fishing Tackle www.lindyfishingtackle.com.
The official start date for the expedition is June 1st. Dan will be submitting fishing reports via satellite phone so I’m sure you’ll want to check back often.

Superior to Hudson - Editor