2012 Trip - Stats, Highlights, Awards

Participants:                                                                                                                                    

• Bill
• Joe
• Mike
• Matt
• Andy

Rating:  9.2

Destination: Flindt Landing Camp

Dates:  Friday, June 8 – Friday June 15

Highlights:

• Matt's return to the fold
• Spectacular last day of fishing up North - over 100 walleye caught
• Record pike - Bill's 35"-er
• Matt's record-tying 7# walleye
• More 19"+ walleye caught than can be remembered
• Joe's seven 18" walleye evening
• No need for sunscreen all week

Awards:

            Walleye King:  Matt - 26.5" (7#)

                        Silver:  Bill and Andy - 22" (4#)

                        Bronze:  Matt and Andy - 20.5" (3.25#)

            Pike King:  Bill - 35" (12.5#)

                        Silver: Andy - 30" (7.5#)

                        Bronze: Andy - 28" (6.5#)

            Walleye/Pike Composite Index*:

                        Tie:      Matt - (2 X 26.5) + 26 = 79

                                     Bill - (2 X 22) + 35 = 79

           

            Perch King:  Andy (2)          

            Species:  Andy - Walleye, Pike, Perch

                        Silver: NA

                        Bronze: NA

         * (2 X Length of Biggest Walleye) + Length of Biggest Pike

Finally We Motor to The North

Best North End Fishing Ever!

Waiting until the last day to make the run North is risky, but weather gave us little choice, and the wait was well worth it. There was no disagreement that this was the best North fishing ever. Easily over 100 walleye caught between the two boats [Matt and Andy had 35 in the first 2 hours alone] - at least 20 being 18"-ers or more:  Bill (22", 20", and 19"), Joe (19"), Mike (20"),  Matt (20.5", 19"), and Andy (22", 20.5" and 19"). All released safely. Almost all caught in the first bay - and primarily straight off the little island (fast water coming on both sides this year).  Fishing at the creek entrance was pretty slow - a few walleyes - plus Matt's 26" (5#) pike!

Starts to rain just as we land for dinner, but the fire is started and kept alive - great, great walleye meal.  Headed home around 4pm - end of the fishing for this year - a great way to end the trip - with tremendous fishing and an early end to the day.

In the book for next year - arriving on June 8th - reservation for 7 (hoping that Matt and Matthew D an come) including 7 seatbacks.

On Our Way Home

Plane scheduled to arrive at 5:15am - actual is 5:30. Clear weather. On the road at 6:28am.

Mixed Bag

Continued Brrrr!

So much for a trip North - awake to 50 degrees and rain.  Will have to wait until the last day for the traditional trek North.  Stay in, play Wizard, eat Chimis. 

Super Afternoon and Evening

By 2pm the weather looks tolerable, and Mike and Andy set out for what they thought would be a couple of hours fishing event.  Seven hours later, they return to the cabin having caught 56 fish - 8 in Big Bay including Andy's 30" (8#) pike; 3 at David's Den; 27 (count 'em) at Matt's Cove (Mike's decision to stop there); 2 at Rock Face; zero at UDHH; and 16 at Bill's Bay/The Shore.  Weather varied from rainy to pleasant - 55 degrees - really not bad for fishing.  Obviously, since Mike and Andy spent 7 hours straight out on the lake!

Weather Turns Cold, Run to The North Postponed

Brrrrrrr!!

Awake to 40 degrees - as predicted. Original plan was to go North today, but weather is not friendly for that, so will stay in, eat fish (baked) today and again tomorrow (shore lunch).

Boats are commissioned to bring back best 3 fish, and there is success. Joe and Mike continue the harvest of Bill's Bay (right cusp). Bill and Andy, having little luck there, move on to Marie Bay in Big Bay. Slow action, but enough to bring back three walleyes needed - plus Andy's 28" (6.5#) pike.

Experienced at least three seasons on the lake today - cold, rain, wind, sun.  Tough morning.

Dinner is absolutely outstanding. Corn Flakes encrusted baked walleye, fried potatoes, salad with tortilla chips (with lime).

Bill's Bay Stays Hot, UDHH Awakens

Evening fishing is good.  Joe/Mike/Matt (in the 2-man boat - Matt made a last minute decision to go out - but the 3-man boat was already gone) work the Bill's Bay area. Couple of 18" walleyes, 30 total. Bill and Andy explore. UDHH yields half a dozen walleyes, including Andy's largest of the trip thus far - a 19"-er (3.5#). Also stopped at All 4's, The Side, Rock Face, David's Den, Bill's Bay and Matt's Gateway.

Hoping to go North tomorrow - we'll see.

Wind, Wind, and More Wind

Monday Fishing Dominated by Wind

Heavy wind and some rain overnight. Awake to cold cabin - hot porch (80) and cool outdoors - with wind (more about that later).

Bill, Joe, Andy head out with Bill at the motor. First stop, Marie Bay in Big Bay - some fish, but hard to hold the boat against the wind. Around the corner, where water comes in (Duck-a-le'-Rock), Bill lands a 27" (5.5#) pike. After checking out a few spots on the way out of Big Bay, Bill heads to Rapalla Reef. In spite of heavy wind conditions, several fish caught - and put on stringer. Trip back is on the extreme side - with white caps and heavy wind. Last stop is Bill's Bay - wind pushing into the bay - fish caught drifting into bay. Heading home a bit early - tired and wind burned.

Mike and Matt adventures included Bill's Bay and Narrows. Had "pike-on-pike" event in The Narrows. While reeling in a small pike, Matt's line is attacked by a larger pike. Both netted. Brats for lunch. Early groups went out to the culvert for fun.  Too windy.  Anchored but no luck that way either. 

A Near "Triple", Bill's Rod Retrieval Adventure 

Joe/Bill/Andy to Echo Bay. Andy lands his second perch (a fat one)! - then a walleye. But his attempt at a Triple (three species in a row in the same location) does not materialize, although the pike that he needed was being caught right along side of him by his good friend Bill!! Adding insult to injury, Bill not only kicked Andy's butt fishing this day, he "delured" him. Explanation is in order - Andy's rod was laying in the boat and Bill reached back to cast and somehow, somehow, his lure cut Andy's line and tossed the lure into the lake - no kidding.  Beat the rain back to camp.

Fishing Holding Up Pretty Well

Checking Out Usual Spots

Best sleep all year. Awaken to the sound of thunder in the distance. No early start due to weather concerns.  Bill, Mike and Matt off to All 4's where many  pike caught (9 for Bill and 15 total). Then to Big Bay - bay where  Maria Lake inlets. Joe and Andy already there. Was their first stop of the day.

Weather: Overcast, menacing at time, mid-60's. Started in the deep end of the bay - heavy wind - hard to hold the boat in position. Trolling up the right side to the point produced good action. In the end, Andy landed several keeper walleyes and a perch!! Also a 28" (6.5#) pike - takes early lead in the Species race.

Bill's rod story: Was fishing with "old reliable" (has used for 22 years).  napped the line  so put it down and started using other rod. Not sure how he did it but his cast caught the resting rod and tossed it into the lake. Gone for sure. But wait, later, while trolling, Bill saw a flash in the water behind the boat. The rod and reel was caught on the back end of the motor. Reached down and saved it! Great job, Bill!

Storm threatens but passes - in at 1pm for first fish dinner (fried). Mike and Andy fillet fish to take back home - nothing under 16".

Joe's Good Fishing Evening

For evening fishing, the weather has warmed to the low-80's, but returned to overcast.  

Joe heads to The Shore (where evening action is often good), and it is better than good this day, even great - - for Joe. In the end, 7 walleye on the stringer, all Joe's, and all 17-18".  Andy had one on the stringer for awhile, until we filled the stringer and Joe's next catch bumped Andy's off the stringer. Best spot was the right cusp of Bill's Bay. Only downside is the mess of bugs that descended on the boat and its occupants.

Boat race back to camp.  Faster 3-man boat is defeated when Bill's hat flies into the lake and has to be retrieved. Well on our way to a nice sized keeper limit.

First Day of the Trip 2012

Matt's 26.5" Walleye / Bill's 35" Pike

Trip Preliminaries

Time since the last trip seems to have passed more quickly this year than in past years.  Changes this year include Matt rejoining the group and Mike living in Oak Park - only person requiring air travel this year is Andy.

Andy going through a transition - selling house in CT, moving into townhouse in Greenwich, until retirement next summer.  Closing is July 3rd, move to townhouse is end of June.  Kathleen managing the process - allowing Andy to go on the trip.  Many thanks, dear.

Key documents this year are (1) passport, (2) renewed Ontario Outdoor card, and (3) fishing license obtained and printed from webpage.

Ace Rental has moved to new quarters - south of O'Hare - much improved.  15 passenger van with 5000 miles.  Ready to depart Joe's just after 2:00.  Easy traffic. Arrive at float plane base around 7:15.  Low ceilings delay flights.  Group ahead of us going to Allenwater has to abort and return to base. Our group waits it out in van.  Black flies are thickest we have seen in these parts. Plane this year is an Otter that easily holds the entire group - plus two of the pilot's children that take a ride with Dad. Finally arrive at camp late morning.  Water is very high - almost to the top of the dock. Patsy says that fish seem to be holding where water is coming in to the lake.

Weather

Not as warm as predicted.  In the mid-60's and overcast.  After setting up the cabin and rigging up, Mike, Matt and Andy take the 3-man boat (Patsy is letting us use her Dad's 15 HP Mercury engine) with Joe and Bill in the other.

Matt's Big Fish - Walleye

As tradition dictates (although M/M have to overrule A who would otherwise have headed to Kent's Korner), fishing begins at M/M/A Matt's Gateway - and what a beginning. After having to miss 3 years of fishing, and raring to go, Matt catches the first fish - and it is a whopper.  26.5" walleye (7#) caught near the turn to the narrows.  Apparently having lost none of his fishing prowess, Matt plays the fish very well, with expert netting by Mike.  Matt's biggest career fish, and matches (have to check the record books) the largest walleye caught by the group.

Later that session, there is a pike-on-walleye attack - not the typical encounter where someone hooks a walleye and during landing a pike hits the walleye and both are netted.  This one was a pike hit on a walleye on the stringer!  With firm prompting from Matt and Andy, Mike (middle position) grabs the net and collects both fish.  The pike measures 27" (5.5#) - and the debate begins (and will continue) as to how to record this "catch".  It is entered as a "boat catch via stringer/net".  Don't think we've seen that one before.

Bill's Big Fish - Pike

Meanwhile, back at the culvert, Bill and Joe are having a similar experience - this time on the northern pike side.  Bill hooks and lands a 35" pike (12.5#) - easily the biggest pike (make that - biggest fish) on record for the group!

Bill and Joe continue to fish the culvert, while M/M/A move around a bit in the Classics - with stops at the Narrows, Kent's Korner, the entrance from Amber, and Dave's Shore.  All in all a pretty good start with several 16-17" walleyes.

Dinner is pasta with garlic bread, corn and red wine.  Consumed with gusto.

Evening Fishing

In an obvious "switcharoo", B/J off to The Island and M/M/A to the culvert.  Walleyes are biting.  Matt lands a 20"-er (3#) and Mike a 19"-er (2.5#).  Andy finally gets on the board by landing a (barely) 16"-er.  Believing that there are about 12 walleye in the live well, the tired but satisfied group hits the sack.  In the morning, there are only 7 fish in the live well - have to check its integrity.