Every Dog Has Its Day

     The past couple of weeks, I have put trout fishing aside besides for a couple of trips to some brown trout water. The extreme heat and low stream levels have put a hurting on area trout streams. My last two outings, I ventured out from 7:30-9:15 pm with only two little browns to hand. I have been throwing Panther Martins, X-Raps, Countdowns and Floaters with no takers. I did not have any access to a nearby feeder stream and perhaps that is the missing component? With the extreme temps and humidity I have explored plenty of new water catching Smallies, and my first ever walleye a couple of weeks back. My purchase of a new Old Town Saranac 146 XT canoe awhile back has allowed me to fish a wide variety of species. I have come to realize that in the larger rivers you have no idea what you are going to hook into.

     Today, I left the canoe behind since I did not have anyone to float with. My goal was to target a major river that has a couple larger trout streams flowing into it. I was hoping to hook into a large brown sticking its nose into at the mouth of the feeder. I started off at a spot that is known to have its fair share of nice Smallies and I thought my chances of hooking into a brown were quite good. I waded out into the river where the feeder stream dispersed its cold oxygenated water into the larger body of water. I was able to walk out about 20 yards into the river. I started off throwing a gold Rapala Floater Size 9, with no takers. As I was reeling in and turning back to shore to switch lures, I noticed several large fish swimming in place a pole length away. I splashed the water with my rod after a few casts with my Rapala and three large Carp darted in front of me. However, one large fish 40-45” didn’t move an inch. I took a step back and the fish jetted directly in front of me hanging tight to the rivers bank. About 5 yards downstream the fish exposed itself for the first time with a gigantic leap out of the water, a MUSKIE!!!! It was absolutely going crazy swimming in circles and making one leap into the air after another! The fish had its nose right where the trout stream fed into the river, hunkered down in 3 feet of water. I was unaware that so many species hunkered down near the colder water during the summer months.

     I exited the water and went back to my lure bag to tie on a leader and the biggest bait (Mepps Aglia Size 5 with a silver blade). My instincts told me to climb up the bank and make my way downstream where the fish was last seen. I was now standing directly above where the Muskie and the 3 large carp were swimming. I looked over the edge of the bank to see the 3 carp back again, but no Muskie. I made one cast downstream of the carp and about halfway into my retrieve an immense strike was felt down my rod into my hands. I was certain that I had either hooked the Muskie or a Carp that was originally unaccounted for. After a loosening of the drag, I was able to bring the fish to the surface as a got a bird’s eye view of the fish from the bank. I was shocked to see that it wasn’t the Muskie or a Carp, but rather an enormous WALLEYE! I slid down the bank into the feeder stream to get a better angle on directing the fish. After a couple of minutes the fish was in my net and a quick measurement indicated 29.5 inches! I was absolutely sick to my stomach as I had never thought in my wildest dreams that today would one of the greatest fishing experiences of my entire life. After getting the fish under control, I was able to get a more accurate measurement of the fish and the tip of its tail brushed the 30 inch mark. Follow the link to my blog page to see photos of the Walleye. Also, feel free to follow my blog page as I try to update my page on a bi-weekly basis.