Report From Way Up North for Our Yankee Brothers

[StankBait]

This is a report for all you guys who have relocated from the North Country. I had an opportunity to go an a trip that I could not turn down. Bob and Ginny Riege are outdoor writers in the Minnesota area. They needed some photos of forty inch or better Northern Pike for some articles they are writing about Makoop Lake in Western Ontario , Canada. Apparently these are very rare and MaKoop Lake is one lake that holds these large fish. Living in Florida all my life, I had never seen more than the small Pike that tear up baits when bass fishing. Another rod builder friend, Kris Kristufek, told me that he was going and they needed another person to look for these fish. Found out later getting these big fish released healthy is best done with help.

I flew into Brainard, MN and then we drove twelve hours into Canada until the road runs out at Pickle Lake. (526 miles) Took a float plane North to Makoop Lake. The pilot gave me a quick lesson in flying and let me control the plane for about 15 minutes. Yes, I need lots more instruction but for the first time in a small aircraft, Pam the pilot, thought I did OK.

We stayed in some log cabins. The camp is operated by Inuit Indians. There are very few people that far north. There is a community called Bearskin about 30 minutes by plane where the Inuit live. All supplies are brought in by ice road in winter or plane in summer. No phone or cable. Generator for power. No locks on doors because there is nobody to steal your stuff.

We only counted Northern Pike 40 or over and had a total of 17 in six days of fishing. Four people fishing. Stormed one day and we could not fish. Largest was 44.5". We caught hundreds. No way to know how many 39, 38, 37 inch fish that we just measured and said," not big enough", then back over the side. Kris and I think we only lost two that may have died because of damage to their gill by the hooks. They were both smaller fish.

The lake is also full of Walleye which respond well to the typical techniques used for Redfish and Trout. Took some Clark spoons and they worked well especially on Walleyes when bumped along the bottom. Bass plugs work well on the Northerns.
Guess fish are fish no matter where they live.

This is the first fish I caught on the lake. The trip took two weeks. I am tired but it was worth it.

[KINIB]

Nice!! Sounds like a cool trip!

[ledslinger29]

Does any of that fish taste good?

[StankBait]

The Northerns have a Y bone but are suppose to be good. Did not eat them. Walleye. yes we ate them. Very good.

[mmosh]

You missed out on some fine eating. You need at least a 3 footer and fillet from the ribcage back. great taste

[pilingjunky]

Very cool. I'd love to do something like that one day. Thanks for the post.

[StankBait]

Here are some more pics. If you decide you want to go next August I can hook you up with the right people.

[Trollinator]

Outstanding - What a great trip!

[GAMEBRED1]

Beautiful. My oldest son lives in Virginia MN. and I've been fortunate to visit him there every year. It's very refreshing to spend a good amount of time in a place that is so untouched. Just wished it was above freezing the times i get there. It only took one trip ice fishing to figure out I didn't like it.

[creekgeek]

Wow! What an awesome trip! Thanks for sharing. Very cool.