We hit the rendezvous point around 6:20 and were soon on our way. Once we got off the beaten path, we weren't in 10 yards and realized we would be breaking trail and clearing trees that couldn't withstand the ice and snow and fell across the trail. It was bad, but could have been worse. The chain saw had to come out for a couple of the blow downs. Marty made short work of it.
Yes this a a skidoo trail!!
Once we were deep in the bush and realized how tough it was going to be to make it to lake Marty had hoped to, he stopped and asked if we wanted to keep on trekking or backtrack to lake we had already passed. Marty is rolling on a tricked out Tundra with 10” wide ski's, a big front belly pan, etc. This thing is a total trail breaking machine and even it was having a hard time. The decision was made to turn around and head back to the lake we had already passed.
We were setup shorty after 8:00 and things were off to a slow start. We had our set lines at verious depths and we were hole hopping with our jigging lines. The first fish came around 9:30 on Rick's set line. A nice 15-16” square tail. Things were slow and we had the lake to ourselves so Marty and I hoped on the sleds with our augers, went to the far end of the lake, and totally swiss cheesed the shorelines right back to where we were setup.
We let that end of the lake settle for a bit and then started hole hopping. Marty and Rick started on foot heading for the far end, and I took the sled down to the far end to work my way back. I was in my 3rd or 4th hole at the far end and got my first fish at high noon. Two seconds later and I dropped a fish at the hole. I went elbows deep and got a grip on it, but it managed to sneak away.
Rick and Marty were called down and for the next hour we pounded out 10 more specs, missed numerous and lost a few. The fish were moving, and we stayed on them. It was a good thing we had pounded so many holes. We covered probably 100 yards, going hole to hole, 10 feet at a time and stayed with the fish as they cruised the shoreline.
All fish came in the 9-13' foot range. I was using my trusty old jig and gulp minnow, Rick was using a small spoon tipped with a minnow, and Marty went back to the basics with a hook and worm. Things slowed at this end of the lake so we finished the day off back where started. Rick picked up another on a set line as we stood around shooting the breeze. We ended the day with a dozen specs and we had each caught 4.
I haven't been back lake trouting since “pre-kids” I believe, and that was 5 years ago. I was more then happy to be back in the bush and bring some trout home for momma.
Here's Marty and Rick with our 12 pack.
Marty and Rick knocking some ice off the Tundra.
I picked up a sled in the fall of the 2015 and didn't get to use it once last winter due to lack of snow around home and no trips north. This was the maiden voyage and she didn't disappoint. The two up seat made for a comfortable ride. Warming up for the ride out:
The ride out was without any issues. We loaded up and said farewell to Marty. He was looking at a short 20 minute drive home and we were looking at a 2 hour tour home. Arrived home safe and sound at 8:05 pm, capping off a 16 hour day trip.
It's always interesting to see what colour your meat is going to be and what your catch was feeding on before it's final meal. Two of my fish were very red, an two were orange. Two had empty bellies and two were full. No correlation between stomach contents and colour of meat.
Thanks again to Marty for the great day. I could tell he was getting stressed out as we only had one fish by noon, and it was going to be too much of a task to go any deeper into the bush for another lake. It all worked out in the end.
Food porn to follow tonight or tomorrow night.
Edit:
Trout fillets skin side down on on a baking sheet, sprinkled with salt and pepper, butter, chopped garlic and onions, fresh dill and smother in cirrus slices.
Topped with a lemon pepper dil, white whine cream sauce with a side of walleye, rice, corn and caeser salad. Early to bed after that plate!!
