Fish Catching Travel
It is 5:30 am and the knuckleheads are all still sleeping. I on the other hand am wide awake. I have this internal clock that plagues (or helps) me on trips like this. If it feels like daylight is out there somewhere I am awake.
Yesterday was tough with the rain. One of those days that you had to fight through it to keep your concentration. We should have boated several more big fish, but it is hard to concentrate in a driving rainstorm.
This morning the wind is howling at 20+, it is still raining, and here I am wide awake trying to decide what the day will bring. Luckily the weather is set to clear and Friday is going to be perfect. Today – hard to tell. So as soon as these panty waists get up plans will be made and who knows, it may be a put on your big boy pants day, or it may be a little sightseeing. I vote for fishing and I will bet you the boys will too.
You can not believe the tackle that 4 hardcore fisherman bring on a 2 week trip. Totes, bags, tackle boxes, it is amazing. We easily have over 50 rods and reels, it is just plain crazy. Somebody will say anyone got a blue jerkbait? Of course we have lots. Need some plastics, how about 50 bags. Line? Spool after spool. Want braid or mono? We got it, tons of it. With the price of baits up here it pays to be prepared. And it is great to be fishing with guys who will give you their best bait, maybe.
I do want to say a few words about Ontario and their regulations. I do have a little experience at reading the law, but the fishing regulations are something, It is great the way they are protecting the resource, and what a resource it is, but there has to be a better way. Maybe they could simplify the regs. If you come here to take fish, you can have some. But this is not a harvest trip, what makes it what it is is the quality of the fish.
If you have never been up here before there are multiple open and closed seasons on the fish depending on species. Right now muskie is closed. It is illegal to pursue them. I understand that, and we are not targeting them. Same with bass in some areas, wish I could figure that one out. but I have one word for you – jerk bait. We have caught bass, walleye, pike, muskie, and lake trout on them. You do not have to pursue anything – just toss it out, jerk it some, and hold on.
And with that comes what happened yesterday. Though none of them ate, for me the real crux of the deal is watching a huge muskie follow a bait. What a predator. I mean some of them were those real giants you see in the pictures. While I did catch a big one last time, 3 or 4 of them that followed our baits were monsters. And the one that rolled on the small pike I was bringing in was an apparition, so big it could not have been real. Top of the food chain, no enemies, unafraid, They remind me of the lions of Africa. Regal, royal, and downright deadly. Show a little weakness – to bad, you are lunch. What a fish. They are a fish that dreams are made of.
Of course we are sending a few pics to friends to harass them. And on that note thanks to our families for being so understanding. The 4 of us, who have been fishing together for 30 – 50 years are all afflicted with the disease. Nothing can cure it so they understand. Thanks.
Think I will step outside, check the charger, make sure all the stuff we got ready last night is ready to go. maybe bang a couple of doors. We are about to find out who the big boys are. You would think with over a week yet to go a day of rest would not hurt any of us. Not! Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
