Fishing in Kenora

Almost as soon as I got back from Alaska, it was time for the annual retreat into the wilderness of Kenora for a week of fishing. And other stuff. But mostly fishing.

Warning: fishing geek stuff ahead.

It was actually a banner year for me, fishing-wise. I caught one of almost every­thing the river has to offer: small­mouth, large­mouth, pike and walleye…even a perch on a lure just a bit smaller that he was, all within about 6′ of the surface if you can believe that. I was concerned because the water was really low this year and all of my go-to spots were too shallow. So I struck new ground and tried some new things.

Specifically, Mepps. I have never caught anything on a Mepps. I have always hated them because they never worked for me. I have Mepps that are at least 15 years old, and they all sucked. But when my Dad was in town he made me promise that I would try the one he gave me (he is a rabid fish­erman). So I said I would, and for kicks I threw in one of my really big old ones.

Well, I am converted.

Between the big red Mepps which the pike loved, the little blue Mepps that the pike also loved (and that I lost when it snagged some rocks but found the next day when I went back for it) it was (to steal from tennis) Advantage: Mike.

Add in the lure that Al (Christine’s brother) discovered, and it was good times all around. Casting these babies against the rocky shores resulted in a ton of quality fish. To whit (and these are all different fish FTR):

That’s the gold and red Mepps hanging out of his mouth there.

This was a total shocker. Usually these babies are really deep, but I managed to get into a bunch of em at the right time of the evening. This one was 18″, and the one below was 23″.

This is the baracuda: the 32″ pike that attacked my Berkley Frenzy. That lure is like magic. One single hook landed this baby, and on a barbless hook to boot!

And on the last day, a large­mouth attacked it as well…he was 16″ (yes, my hands are really big). Now, no fishing trip would be complete without “the one that got away” story. So here it is.

On the last evening I walked down to the dock, and started casting the frenzy around. I quickly got a small­mouth (no photo, sadly) and worked my way down the rocky shore. And then what felt like a freight train hit the lure and just…left. I had 80′ of braided line with 100′ of mono backing, and it took almost all of it with the drag set as high as I dared. I managed to drag it back within about 30′ of the shore, and it took off again. By this time I knew I’ve got some­thing bigger than I’ve ever seen in real life…it would have to be: even the 32″ pike I caught earlier fought for only 5–6 minutes before he was beside the boat, and I was into 10 minutes with this thing and he was on his way out again.

So I yell for Christine to get the camera, and she comes down with it. And so I haul it back within 30 feet of the shore, and there is a huge swirl…and he spits the lure (I use barbless hooks so that is always a risk). I nearly wept.

I have no idea what it was. Christine’s Dad thinks it was a sturgeon. All I know is that I angered the fish gods by calling for a camera too soon. They further punished me by snagging my trusty Frenzy some­where in the rocks, and despite my snor­keling I couldn’t find it again. Christine doesn’t under­stand the bond between a fish­erman and a lure that catches fish…I have jitterbugs that I got from my Mom when I was 15 that I would jump in after in a heartbeat (and I have, in fact, done just that in Rice Lake).

This is it, after one night of being savaged by various and sundry pike and walleye. RIP.

Yes those are teeth marks.

Anyway, lots of fishing excitement. Oh, and we saw other stuff too.

I hope I can make it back next year.

…Mike