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August 22nd 2017

The gang was back again today but this time I had four & Don had only one. It seemed that everyone wanted to have a chance at catching their first sturgeon. All but Clayton however as he was happy to be alone, just fishing for bass & walleye.

A later than usual start had us under the wire as there were several storms expected to arrive during the day. We finally got set up in the new area, around 10:00 awaiting our first bite. Although there were fish all around, it took almost 30 minutes before we had an actual bite from a sturgeon. Many nibblers had me checking and adding worms to the hooks prior, as the gobies were like piranhas.

Sam had the honors of battling the beast as I loaded the rod and now they were getting a firsthand look at exactly what to expect. This fish was a bulldog as it remained on the bottom for most of the fight. It lasted almost 20 minutes as well and gave Sam quite the workout! The fish never took to the air but stayed deep making me think he had a really large fish on the end of the line. Eventually he did manage to bring it close and everyone got their first look at a real live dinosaur! It was XXL and the fun was just about to begin! I told Sam that was the easy part, now it was going to get hard! I must admit that it was quite funny to watch as he tried to hoist the beast up for a few pics. In the end, he had to sit for the photos as it was just way too heavy to stand. A great release after and we resumed our quest for another one.

I had hoped to get all four of these guys into a full rotation but the weather wasn’t on our side. The light winds had turned ugly and were now blowing much harder from the south making it tough to stay anchored. For over an hour we battled the conditions and never really felt comfortable in being anchored. The boat was all twisted around and even with the aid of a drift sock, it wasn’t perfect. Eventually the anchor just released and we were now drifting. Time to set up in another location!

I repositioned in another area again in hopes of being able to stay anchored. Although it wasn’t easy, I did manage to keep it stuck and we were able to fish again. I had Anthony and Mat holding their rods and I had the other one in my hand, looking for another fish. We all had plenty of non sturgeon bites that had me re baiting the lines frequently. Just when I wasn’t sure about remaining here, Anthony reeled up on a fish and had a baby sturgeon for his reward. Amazingly enough, it gave quite a struggle as it neared the boat, pulling line from the reel like a big dog. He held it for a few pics but would have rather battled a monster like his uncle had earlier.

For a while we weren’t sure if we would be able to remain here with the strong south winds. There was a storm system coming and it had picked up the blow with the pre frontal conditions. Luckily for us, it stayed mostly north and passed us by with only a little drizzle. In fact, once it was gone, the water flattened out and we were actually able to get the rods back in the rod holders and fish comfortably.

Joe had decided that he was going to let everyone have a shot at the sturgeon first, so Mat was up next. With the conditions almost perfect now, I was sure we would have our chance. One of the rods telegraphed an actual bite and I was on it immediately. I reared back and loaded the rod for Mat to take. He wasn’t sure of the actual size until I realized the line was coming up to the surface and was about to go airborne! We all saw the beast and it was large! It immediately sounded to the bottom again, screaming line from the reel. The fight wasn’t a long one but lasted about 10 minutes and just when he thought it was almost over, the fish went insane again. It leaped and ripped another 75 feet of line from the reel, sounding to the bottom one more time. What comes in, must go out! Mat finally brought his fish close enough for me to net and the battle was officially over. At least the first part! Now he had to hold it and that wasn’t going to be easy!

I prepped the tarp for him this time after realizing I should have done it on the first one. It would be a lot easier on the fish and him as well. He had a little trouble lifting it but with proper instruction, he was able to hold it for several pics before torpedoing it back in the water. Three down, one to go! I had hoped to be able to get into another one foe Joe and reset everything in anticipation of a bite.

We had been anchored for a brief period before I started to see signs of a wind change. It was now starting to blow from the east, signifying another weather change, again! One look at the radar and I knew why! We were going to get crushed in less than 30 minutes and badly. I pulled the lines and cleaned everything up, heading closer to the launch to fish. I also informed Don in the other boat to do the same.

We spent about 5 minutes fishing before we started to hear the thunder in the background. Time to leave! I usually end up running in once the rain hits but this time I was prepared and off the water before anything got really bad. I even had a chance to put everything away properly before the lightning alert siren screamed. It was coming and the lake was starting to disappear! The only thing we saw was a wall of water and huge winds. Everyone was in the truck and safely tucked out of the storm. The waves even got so bad that all we could see were walls of white and the torrential downpour confirmed we had made the right decision.

There’s never any doubt in my mind when I call the day due to storms and this one was very electrical. No fish is worth taking a chance when Mother Nature throws this at you! All of these guys knew the call was the right one and had no problem with the decision either. It poured for quite a while we were sitting comfortably dry in the vehicle. I eventually drove them to a nearby bar where they had a quick drink before calling another cab to take them back to their hotel. Apparently the one they had ordered earlier was too stupid to find their way to the address of the boat ramp. It was over 30 minutes and three conversations with them later that we decided to just go!

Their two days here had proved to be very interesting and although there may not have been that many fish caught, there were some really good ones. They had endured all kinds of weather as well as an eclipse and tasted walleye for the first time. Despite the bizarre weather, we had somehow made it work and their trip was a success. Staying in Montreal was just a bonus as they had access to some of the finest restaurants and took advantage of the great food they had to offer. I’m pretty sure this will become an annual thing as plans of a return trip are already being talked about. Hopefully next year all the stars will align and there will be more and bigger fish landed by all. Either way, we will make it work and everyone will have another great time while here in Montreal!

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A big group today had me requesting the help of Don & his boat. Joe, Sam & Clayton were with me and he had Anthony & Mathew. We hit the water about 8:30 and with the winds looking great, headed to our first spots to fish. I was immediately marking all kinds of fish but for some reason, they weren’t hooking up. Sam did catch a small walleye but it was foul hooked. Clayton was the first to actually hook a keeper and this one went into the livewell for them later. Multiple drifts over this area had similar results and I decided to move quickly to another place nearby.

This new spot had many more fish marking but for some reason, they too were reluctant to bite. Another foul hooked walleye along with a foul hooked carp came in, making me wonder what was going on. I made a pass over the deeper rocks and finally managed to stumble upon several walleye and smallies that actually wanted to eat. We made more drifts over this area and boated several other fish each time. As long as they bit, I kept drifting over the area. Eventually they depleted all the active ones and we pulled out completely and headed to another area further away.

Our next spot was a deep drop that required them casting to open water. I explained how to fish it due to the current and hooked up on a cast presentation. Enough said, time to fish! It took a few casts to fully understand how the baits needed to be retrieved in this current but Sam finally caught on and hooked into a walleye of his own. Several casts later he hooked a smallie and now he knew exactly what to do. Moments later, Joe also hooked a nice smallie and managed to bring it to net. This place had plenty of fish for all of them to get into but it was a small area that required precise casting in order to hit the sweet spot. Unfortunately Clayton was in the back and not able to reach the exact area he needed to throw to. Several more nice walleye and smallies came aboard in the next 30 minutes before we pulled out to meet the other boat for lunch.

Anthony & Mathew had a good morning with Don and managed to catch a number of bass including one really nice one. They also had landed several walleye that were all returned to the water too. It was definitely time for a break and a well deserved one! We drifted slowly while eating and not long after, everyone was recharged and ready to fish again.

I had decided that we were going to try a little trolling so I prepped the boat and set the lines. They had never seen anything like this before and were excited to give it a try. With the chop on the water from the right direction, I was sure it wouldn’t take long! The first reel to fire was a long line and I handed the heavy rod to Joe. He managed to feel the weight and then the line went slack. Very weird as I don’t miss many fish with the rig I was using! We set the rods once again and a little while later, Sam was into a nice northern. I expected more action from the area but wasn’t seeing it. Several smaller fish later, we pulled out and changed up completely. It was looking a little dreary out with the eclipse beginning and I wasn’t sure how it was going to effect the fish. It had obviously had some sort of effect on them earlier however as we had more short rips than actual hook ups while trolling!

I had decided before that I was going to hit a couple of areas that I hadn’t in quite a while and set the lines once again to troll. This was also not great as I had other short rips that turned out to be drive byes too!

In a last attempt at getting into more fish, I pulled the plug on trolling completely and headed back to drop shot. First drift they landed several more small walleye and another smallie but missed more than they caught. One more spot before we called it for the day and a few more fish later we were done.

This day wasn’t what I had expected but there were still plenty of fish caught. Although I would have liked many more, they had put enough eyes in the livewell for a great meal. I had made arrangements at a restaurant and they were going to have walleye for the first time ever. We all piled into my truck and headed home so that I could take care of the fish. A nice cold one was waiting for them while I filleted their fish. Shortly after we were at the restaurant and they were eating the catch of the day! Needless to say, they all loved the tasty appetizers that were prepared and several drinks along with them.

We will be back out again tomorrow for hopefully more action and something tells me that if there’s any walleye caught, they might be bringing them home. I’m just hoping for slightly better fishing as today fell below the standards I’m so use to seeing. Only time will tell as I plan on hitting as many good areas as I possibly can to ensure bigger & more fish landed!

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Dave was back with his son Mathieu again today but this time he brought Otis & his son, Mehki as well. The two young boys were looking forward to catching a few fish, as were their parents. With the conditions not great to be running around I focussed my efforts on drop shitting in 3 foot waves. They had only the afternoon to catch fish and I wasn’t going to beat them up moving all over the place to get it done.

We stopped in a new area that had been producing the last couple of times out and I instructed everyone on what to do. With almost no fishing before, Otis hooked into the first walleye of the day. Mathieu was right there behind him with one of his own too. One fish went into the livewell and the other one was released due to the size. Almost immediately after Otis was back in, he hooked into a nice smallmouth that battled him right into the net. He hadn’t been fishing for 3 minutes and had already landed two different species. His son Mehki also hooked into a really nice smallie but unfortunately it came off on one of the jumps. Not to worry, there were plenty more to come!

With multiple drifts being made, fish were coming aboard often and everyone was catching. Both bass & walleye had been landed and some of the eyes had joined the first one in the tank. It was also a great distraction for the boys as they made many checks on the fish throughout the day.

As the time passed, the winds picked up and the drifts got quicker. They were now blowing 15 to 25 knots from the W/SW and the waves were larger as well. Although we were still catching fish, it did make it a little more difficult to feel the bites. Many fish were lost or missed on the hook sets. Not all of them however as Otis and Dave landed some really large bass and Dave caught the biggest walleye of the day too. It may not have been easy fishing but with the proper boat control and patience, we got the job done.

I shifted locations with the last 30 minutes remaining and although the boys weren’t fishing, they somehow managed to reel in several fish. A couple more walleye made it to the tank for them to cook up tonight! Some nice bass were caught as well and then we were done.

The half day trip this afternoon was filled with plenty of exciting moments. Some of them weren’t even mentioned! High numbers of fish were caught with some really nice fish for the pics. The kids had a blast catching all kinds of fish on their own and with the help of their dads too! Dave & Otis had seen firsthand just how effective fishing in the wind could be with a drop shot rig. It looks like they might come back again this season and with any luck, in less wind. Either way, I’ll put them on plenty more fish for everyone to catch making it another memorable outing. Today was just that!

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This morning I had only one person with me in the boat. Stephen was in from Maryland with his mother, checking out McGill College and wanted to experience some fishing on local waters. I thought what better way to show him than to try for a few dinosaurs! I headed right back to the new area I had fished yesterday but wasn’t sure if I would be able to anchor in these strong winds. They were blowing out of the SW at 10 to 20 knots and seemed barely doable. If they increased, we wouldn’t have a chance! I decided to give it a try and dropped anchor above where I was marking, hoping it would hold. We got lucky as it did and I was excited for him. With lines in, we waited in anticipation for the first bite. Unfortunately this was short lived as the winds started gusting and eventually the anchor started to slip! I attempted one other reposition, unsuccessfully and finally pulled the plug on these fish. It was too bad as I really wanted him to land his first ever sturgeon! Time for plan B!

I headed to open water and informed him that we would be drop shotting for bass & walleye. He didn’t mind at all as he was just looking forward to catching fish! After moving from our first spot to the second one, he hooked up immediately. Although small, this was also his first walleye and he needed a pic. We continued making drifts in the 2 foot rollers and each time he was hooking up. Both bass & walleye were being landed but nothing big. I really wanted him to catch something larger after the disappointing sturgeon start. Although he did manage to get into some good fish, in the remaining time, the bite seemed a little slow. He landed a number of bass & walleye and was quite happy anyway. I had livewelled two of his keepers but found out later that he was staying in a hotel and wouldn’t be able to bring them back. Oh well, the afternoon clients would have a good start to their day!

Stephen may only be in his teens, but has the passion to become a great fisherman. He is already good at handling the equipment and knows a bunch of different techniques. Now he knows a couple more! If he manages to choose a college in Montreal, I’m sure I will be seeing more of him. Hopefully the next time he will get his shot at a real giant! Better days ahead!

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Jimmy & his wife Sheila had booked this trip a couple of months back, hoping for some great fishing. A slight weather delay turned today into a half day due to giant east winds and torrential rains earlier in the morning. We finally hooked up about 10:00 and headed out in a misty rain and 2 to 3 footers from the SE. As I got further out, the waves started to diminish and I decided to try a new area to see if I could hook them up on a really big fish. Sturgeon was going to be the targeted species and I was crossing my fingers, hoping for a few bites.

I hadn’t fished here before and had marked some hooks on the bottom that reminded me of what I’m use to seeing. I thought we’d give it a try and see if I was right. With 3 lines in, we waited with high expectations. Eventually one of the lines was bit and I reared back into heaviness! Jimmy was immediately handed the rod and the battle began. As this was a new area and also the first sturgeon of the year, I pulled the other lines and made way for his battle. This creature didn’t jump but instead stayed deep and gave him one heck of a fight. Eventually he managed to bring it close enough for the net and after almost ten minutes, he had his catch. Neither one of them had ever imagined landing anything this big in freshwater and pics were needed for the proof. Back it went afterwards and back we went to try & lock Sheila up with one of her own.

It wasn’t too long after the first one when we were bit again and this time his wife had the pleasure of her own fight. This one did manage to take to the air not once but three times and the leaps were spectacular! Sheila struggled to reel her fish back many times and each time she thought she was winning, it turned and went right back out again. Another 10 minute battle finally ended and I think she was relieved that it was officially in the net. Jimmy held her catch for the pics as it was a little too large for her to comfortably hold on her own. Once again it was released and we went right back at it, looking for bigger!

This time it really didn’t take long for the next bite and Jimmy was tight to what turned out to be the largest one of the day. His fish fought amazingly and several jumps were also made. Each time it re entered the water, it sounded directly to the bottom, screaming line from the reel. This was a real tug of war! It finally was brought to an end when I slid the net under his biggest fish ever. Pics were taken and he texted some of his friends back home in Texas where everything is bigger. Except these fish of course! Another immediate release and we tried for one last fish for Sheila.

We had the lines in for a while and other than some trash fish nibbles, we hadn’t had a touch from any sturgeon. I was beginning to wonder if we should have left after the third fish but then it happened. Another bite and Sheila was with bent rod for her second time. Although this fish was much smaller than her previous one, it still battled her for over five minutes with multiple aerials & long runs. Once in the net, we realized that she would be able to hold it on her own for some great pics. It was quickly released afterwards and we were out of here. I packed everything up and headed for some northerns.

Both Jimmy & Sheila had never caught pike before and I wanted to tick another species off their lists. I set the lines in and began the troll in an area that had been productive recently. With the winds out of the NE blowing a pretty big chop on the water, I wasn’t sure how these fish would react. One of the long lines was finally hit and Sheila landed her first ever northern pike. Soon after Jimmy also had one on much larger but the hooks pulled out on the way to the boat. No worries, as another reel went off soon after and now he also had his first ever northern. A few more were also landed but I wanted to see if I could get them a walleye and with limited time remaining, I headed out of this area hoping for another species.

The winds were terrible for drifting and I was forced to cast for them instead. About 1 minute in we had a double header drop shotting and one more was ticked off the list. They were also keepers and would be accompanying us to the restaurant tonight. I was planning on having the fish as an appetizer and Sheila & Jimmy would be enjoying their catch of the day. Another walleye was also landed a few minutes later before we ended the day.

What had started out looking like a possible cancellation of the day turned out to be a great 6 hour trip. They had battled monsters and landed three species of fish that they had never seen other than on TV or in magazines. This was definitely a trip to remember! To top it all off, they even had some of the freshest fish they had ever eaten and tasted walleye for their first time as well. All in all a pretty good day if you ask me!