The Fishing Day
SCHEDULE:
Breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. (coffee is ready at 5:00 a.m. for early risers). Lunch will be cooked at approximately noon. This will take about 3/4 to 1 hour - our guides try hard to make sure lunch is tasty but fast. Supper is served at 7:00 p.m.
FISHING AFTER HOURS:
For after-hours fishing, the cost is $40.00 per hour (this goes entirely to the guide). Our home bay sometimes has excellent - pike fishing, and you can walk up to the point near the channel to cast for trout and Grayling.
WEATHER AND WAVES:
On a lake as large as Athabasca, you can experience weather but there is always a calmer spot to fish in and around the islands.
STAYING WARM AND DRY:
Bring one complete change of clothing, including a heavy sweater, hoody, jacket, rain coat and pants, and water resistant footwear. The extra clothing should be stored in a waterproof bag (in the boat).
TACKLE:
You are welcome to use our rods and reels, or bring your own reel and use our rods (St. Croix and Loomis). This covers the basics but you are welcome to call or email for more detailed information.
- We do not have camp stock of fly fishing supplies.
- We have some ultralight rods.
- We do have FISHFINDERS.
- We do not use DOWNRIGGERS.
RECOMMENDED TACKLE TO BRING:
If you don't wish to bring your own gear, we have plenty. Otherwise, the following guidelines should help.
- Casting rod - 6 - 7 foot med. heavy fast action able to handle 25 pound test line.
- Casting reel - Amassadeur or Shimano, etc. With enough capacity to handle 25 pound line.
- Spinning rod if needed. Able to handle 17 pound line.
- Spinning reel - Shimano 4000 is enough.
- Lures for Lake Trout-Eppinger Huskie Devles, Huskie JRs, Yakima's T-60/T-55 flatfish, hoochie squids, size 0 dodgers.
- Line - For trout, 25 pound. For Pike, 17 pound. For grayling, 6 pound.
- Braided line- we like to use 50-65lb
- Fluorocarbon leader material 80lb for Lake Trout along with no less than 80lb snap-swivels.
- Pike - Mepp's maribous with a Colorado blade, spoons, Eppinger or Len Thompson's 1-3/4 ounce. Leaders are very important for pike. The snaps should be cross lock or coast lock and the breaking strength of the wire no less than 40 pounds.
- Wire or Titanium leaders with heavy ball bearings and snaps
- Grayling - Small Mepp's, blue fox or my favorite, Panther Martins. Small flies like black gnats are hard to bear for Grayling.
Fly Fishing
Look for Al Noraker's great article about us in the September special issue of Fly Fusion Magazine - here's a taste!
My fly hit the water, I made three long strips and an underwater monster tried to rip the rod from my grasp. Fly line was peeling off the reel while making that wonderful sound that every fisherman loves to hear! I spun around in the boat and with wide eyes looked at my buddy John. He had this huge smile on his face and said simply, "I told you". John Cleveland had experienced September fly-fishing on Athabasca in the past and was responsible for my journey north - Thank You John! The power this fish possessed was impressive! I was 10', 20' then 40' into my backing before I could say Holy Fish Sticks. I'll never know how big that first fish was because it wasn't long after that impressive first run that he came unclipped. I had just lost my first Lake Trout on a fly rod and I was totally bummed! John just looked at me and said, "don't worry, there'll be many, many more".
… After losing that first fish it didn't take long to re-group and get back in the water. For the next two days, we hooked, landed or lost so many Lakers I'm afraid you'll call me a liar when I tell you. OK, call me a liar if you want but I know we landed over 100 Lake Trout on our fly rods in two days and lost many more. If you don't believe me, I guess you'll just have to make the trip yourself and you'll soon be singing with the choir! This place in off the hook in September for shallow water Lake Trout.
Come visit us soon and experience your own trip of a lifetime!
