While most of you were attending fireworks during the first week of July, guests here in Canada were making fireworks of their own. Although the temperatures (a few days in the low 90’s) have heated up, the fishing has NOT slowed down. Overall our weather has been a mixture of some hot days, and few unusually cold and nasty days. However, our guests continue to report both good numbers, and good size. But the patterns for the pike have changed a bit.

Dick and Doug Wenzel, of Wisconsin were tearing it up at Whitewater Lake. These twin brothers come to Whitewater Lake’s Strikers Point (our full service lodge) every year, and their cumulative knowledge and experience on the big lake has paid off. They not only caught good numbers of great Walleyes, but Dick became a Northern Pike Master Angler for his 42” big boy. They were fishing deep, 14’ or so, with flashing spoons when the strike came. This seasoned two-some didn’t take a photo, and didn’t want their photo taken, but did share a few tips with Canadian Outdoor Journalist Gord Ellis who was in camp.

John Roche of Ontario caught his 42” pike deep on jig and twister tail. He and his parents were at Dawn Lake outpost cabin. Larry Schei, of Minnesota reported his 28in walleye while fishing on a most “un-summer” day last Sunday (40 degrees, high winds, driving rain). His was on a jig and leech combo. He said he came to fish, and fish he did. Congrats to all of these “catch and release” anglers.

So what did these anglers have in common? Well they were patient, and regardless of the weather stayed on their fishing plan using tried and true lure combinations, and practiced presentations. They Showed Up! Sure that sounds funny, but “if you don’t go, you’ll have nothing to show”. In fact, Larry had never been to Wilderness North before, and John only once. To help, we spend time with our guests before they head out to their fly-in adventure. We provide maps marked with recent success patterns, we make available the lures and bait that are producing good results, and we make sure every guest – first time or 20th time- has everything they need for a successful trip to our remote lakes and streams. And, we stress conservation fishing. We want today’s guests, and those coming in the near and distant future to experience outstanding fishing. So we provide “catch, photo, and release” fish handling guidance, and we pass along information about our fisheries from area fish biologists and MNR officials. And we strongly recommend barb-less hooks.