The Best Of Both Worlds

Summer has been kicked into high gear in Sunset Country with the opening of muskie season last Saturday.  As luck would have it, my guests for the weekend were hardcore muskie guys!!  We spent the mornings jigging walleye and after shorelunch we were throwing the big stuff till dark.  Three 15-hour days on the water were just what the Doctor ordered for some big muskies and walleye.  I'll kick this report off with a bang and show off the prize catch.  My guest, Rocco, and his new personal best muskie.  A monster 53.5 inch fish caught on Lac Seul. 

Rocco just got home to Illinois and he's already emailing me about another trip in July.  Can you blame him??  The experience of boating this fish is one that I'll never forget.  Rocco put it nicely when he said, "We are bonded by 53.5 inches of muskie!".   

The boys tied into a couple more muskies on their trip and some nice pike too. 

Here's Jake with his first of the season.

Rocco with another one. 

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Rocco adds a 40" pike for good measure. 

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Jake's muskie hit a bucktail but Rocco got both of his on a Jimmy.  They just couldn't resist the slow, enticing movements of that big plastic Jimmy tube! 

WALLEYE

The walleye bite continues to be strong on eastern Lac Seul.  For the most part, I'm fishing within a few miles of Bear Narrows.  As the walleye filter down from spawning areas they pass through this area on their way to the main lake basin.  A prolonged east wind over the last couple of weeks has really helped to stack the fish up, especially on spots with an eastern exposure. 

The best depths vary from day-to-day, but in general 15-feet is a good bet at this time of year.  When conditions are warm, sunny and calm I'm still finding the fish will pulse shallow into bays to feed on mayfly nymphs.  Overcast, with a good chop puts the deeper water bite into high gear.  I've been checking islands and humps in the main lake basins but only with limited success so far.  One thing is for sure, they're on their way and it won't be long until the summer structure is going strong. 

Would you look at that?  Mr. Rocco slams a  beautiful 29" walleye! 

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Chicago John with a beauty!

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The guide even gets lucky once in a while :)

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Looking ahead, more of the same!  Walleye and muskie will dominate the rest of the summer, with a nice side of lake trout, smallies and pike.  Gotta love Northwestern Ontario!!