Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 6

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, howling southeastern wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: None
ROD USED: None
HATCHES: None
OTHER: It blew and rained all night, with winds blowing a near constant 25 mph, and gusting to 40 mph, with rain all night long. I was concerned about a tree blowing down on the tent! It continued to blow until late morning, and we were preparing to spend an extra night in the wilderness as there was concern about the shuttle boats being able to pick us up. The wind abated slightly about 10:30 AM, we broke camp, and proceeded to the pickup point. About halfway, the wind shifted out of the south and increased in velocity. We hug the south shoreline paddling out, and except for paddling across to the pickup point, made it OK, though taking on some water during the paddle. It took us some 2-1/2 hours in the tow boat, bucking high seas and wind the entire way, and taking water head-on on several occasions. Nevertheless, the paddle was nothing compared to last year. Oh well, another one for the books.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 5

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 7 wt Orvis
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: Ron and I fished together this morning. For us it was a morning from hell as I forgot the flies, and Ron’s spinning reel “bird nested”. Rather than fight the awfulness, we returned to the campsite, did our morning “chore”, and collected our thoughts and patience. We returned to fishing, but the fish did not cooperate. Ron, paddling from the front seat, “guided” me to the point just west of our campsite, and I caught a 6 lb 10 oz smallmouth on a gray/white Clouser using the 9’ 7 wt Orvis.

It was the hardest fighting smallmouth I ever caught, sounding immediately after the hookset. After measuring and photographing the fish, we released it and returned to the camp.
I paddled Joe in the afternoon, all the way into North Bay and near the portage. He caught his first smallmouth on a fly rod, and proceeded to catch several more. While these were little fish to Joe compared to his 7-1/2 pounder earlier in the week, they provided great fly rod action.

He “guided” me as well, and I caught several.
Ron fished for lake trout with Harry, and caught an 8 or 9 pounder. Harry caught two huge fish, with one going about 18 pounds.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada - Day 4

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: An unbelievable morning ensued. I paddled Ed around Big Bass Island. He immediately began catching fish far off the point of the island, and continued to catch fish almost every cast on his spinning rod, including his 2nd board fish in 12 hours. He switched to the 9’ 6 wt Winston with a gray/white Clouser and continued catching one fish after the other, including his 3rd board fish in 12 hours.

It was unreal. As an added treat we observed an otter family of three eating a crawfish or something similar.

Mary had offered to paddle Dave and he graciously gave up his spot to Joe, and Joe proceeded to catch a 7-1/2 pound smallmouth on spinning tackle. That’s the largest our group has ever caught. Outfitted in a Santa hat brought special for the occasion, he had his picture made holding this world-class smallmouth to be used as his 2008 Christmas card. There was considerable discuss about voting Joe off the island, but he's such a nice guy we decided unanimously to make him our camp mascot for the year. If you are keeping up, this makes 6 board fish thus far. Ron, using spinning gear, caught his first board fish as well, making 7 for the group.

I paddled Ron in the afternoon, and we tried the area southeast of the Narrows, but with the same luck as Joe and I had earlier in the week—few fish. John Simank caught his 2nd board fish using spinning tackle, making 8 for the group thus far.
After a hard day's fishing, Ed relaxed in his royal throne, the one and only chair ever brought to the "island", achieved when he surpassed a major threshold which shall remain confidential.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada - Day 3

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: I paddled Joe in the AM; he only caught a few fish, though he fished hard, and we were in a good spot (southeast of the Narrows). It wasn't Joe's fault, the fish were just not cooperating for us. Ed paddled me in the afternoon, south of Blueberry Island; it rained on us the entire time. I fished hard, but only managed 3 fish.
Ed fished off the point just before bedtime Tuesday evening, and did a “George” by catching a board fish, hollering for the net, then hollering for the measuring tape. George may be gone, but he is not forgotten.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 2

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: I paddled Ed in the AM; he caught a dozen or more on a gray/white clouser. Harry paddled me in the PM and I caught about 15 on a gray/white clouser, including 3 large fish, but none over 5 pounds. Harry had one “blow up” on a popper, but no catches. John and Joe each caught “board” fish, i.e. over 5 pounds.
We saw a first on this trip, Mary cooking over Harry's fire. Isn't this a NO NO?

The Northwoods has unexplainable beauty, and just grabs you in the gut. You can't help but feel awed when enjoying the many lakes and islands.

Basswood Lake, Quetico Wilderness, ON

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees

LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake

FLIES USED: #6 Gray Hard Body Popper

ROD USED: 9’ 8wt Winston

HATCHES: Mayflies

OTHER: Harry guided me and Kay this morning, and we fished the south bank across from the camp island. I caught 4 smallmouth bass and 1 pike, all on the popper. It was a very slow morning. This was to be the last fishing for me on this trip as I paddled the remainder of the trip because of wind.

Breakfast: Early morning cookie, followed by fishing, then biscuits, gravy, ham, pork chops, and hashbrowns

Lunch: Snack bars, candy bars

Dinner: Pan fried bass filets, cornbread, mixed beans, and apple cobbler

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 1

WEATHER: PC, Low 70s, light wind
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake, Quetico Wilderness, Canada
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: Boated and paddled into Basswood Lake this morning with our annual crew, Harry and Mary, John, Dave, and myself. Absent this year were Kay and George, both missing their first trip. New to the group were Ron and Joe. Intense rain in September 2007 combined with heavy winter snows, and a 30-inch April snow resulted in the lake being a couple feet higher than we have experienced. Our “island” campsite suffered some damage over the winter.

While Harry and Mary set up camp, we took off fishing. With water temperatures at or near 50 degrees, it was useless fishing a popper, slider, or diver. Since this was Ron’s first trip, I paddled him and he caught 3 smallmouth using a 7 weight Orvis and a gray and white clouser, including one that would easily go 4 pounds.

I fished sparingly from the back of the canoe.