| Imagine planning a fly-in fishing trip
| |
| | off deeper bottoms or cast and retrieved
|
| for walleyes and northern pike then
| |
| | steadily over shallow (6 to 10 feet)
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| discovering that not one, but two of this
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| | bars. On our sidetrip to Hiawatha Lake,
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| province's premiere fishing lodges are
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| | drifting a jig & worm combo proved the
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| situated on that very lake. Furthermore,
| |
| | undoing of scores of walleyes. Our best
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| indulge in the fantasy that both of those
| |
| | catches (biggest fish) came off the head
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| full-services lodges have made a
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| | of the Banana Shoal where we carefully
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| commitment to providing your fishing
| |
| | located and marked a "bite" out of an
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| party with a memorable, relaxing,
| |
| | otherwise regular edge. Everytime we
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| trouble-free angling vacation on a
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| | drifted to that spot we picked up fish,
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| little-known, top-rated wilderness lake.
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| | including the three largest fish of our
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| Yeah, right. Can't be, you say. Verify
| |
| | stay and the largest caught at camp that
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| this data at Nagagami Lake.Big Nagagami
| |
| | week. A tiny "something special"
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| Lake first drew my attention several
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| | spot.Don't overlook weedbeds and
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| years ago as we drove north of White
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| | weedlines as good spots for walleyes. One
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| River on highway #631 toward Nagagamisis
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| | party at camp ceremoniously located,
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| Provincial Park. Considering its sheer
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| | marked and fished a weedline at The
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| size, relative isolation and proximity to
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| | Meadows and consistently caught limits of
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| Hornepayne's many air services I thought
| |
| | better-than-average walleyes. Fish were
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| it might have some potential for fishing.
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| | right in there, at the base of the weeds
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| But, it wasn't until March '90 at the
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| | in the only cover in that part of the
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| Toronto Sportsmen's Show that two very
| |
| | lake. To get these fish, baits had to get
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| reputable fishing lodges - Nagagami Lodge
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| | right in, amidst the stems and stalks;
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| and Timberwolf Lodge - were associated
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| | sometimes only to be grabbed first by
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| with the lake. Thereupon, like an
| |
| | Nagagami's opportunistic pike. Hey,
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| arrangement of dominoes, everything
| |
| | that's OK, too!While at Nagagami, don't
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| systematically fell into place and before
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| | pass up the incredible shore lunch fish
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| the show ended, an August booking was
| |
| | fries put on at midweek by Nagagami Lodge
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| mine. And, in order to get a broad view
| |
| | and daily (weather permitting) by
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| of Liddle's 2-lodge Nagagami Lake
| |
| | Timberwolf Lodge staff at the Twin
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| operation, the trip would see us split
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| | Islands. The great outdoors, good friends
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| our time and fishing between the two
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| | and a hot shore lunch - "It doesn't get
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| camps. Dave Sauve, Ontario Fisherman
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| | any better than this"!NORTHERN PIKEDuring
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| field editor and a regular fishing
| |
| | our stay at Nagagami, one thing became
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| sidekick, eagerly agreed to accompany me
| |
| | abundantly clear:pike fishing was given
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| on this rather unique angling
| |
| | high priority by visiting anglers,
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| adventure.NAGAGAMI LAKENagagami Lake,
| |
| | especially "repeaters" who were not only
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| located approximately 15 air miles
| |
| | familiar with the lake's pike hotspots,
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| northwest of Hornepayne, is a
| |
| | but also very much aware of the potential
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| medium-sized, kidney-shaped lake
| |
| | for a mammoth northern pike-fish in the
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| measuring 8 miles in length and 2 to 4
| |
| | 20 to 30 pound range. In fact, while
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| miles in width. The lake shows three
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| | having dinner at Timberwolf Lodge one
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| distinct areas - the eastern basin, a
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| | evening, one of the "regulars" made a
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| shallow (20 to 40 ft. ), smooth-bottomed
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| | point of coming over to us and showing us
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| area; the western basin, a deeper (10 to
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| | pictures of past catches of huge Nagagami
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| 90 ft. ), irregularly contoured area with
| |
| | pike. This was prompted, no doubt, by her
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| islands, rocky shoreline, shoals; a long,
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| | excitement over having just caught a
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| narrow, deep (10 to 70 ft. ) northerly
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| | magnificent 44-inch, 20-plus pound pike
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| arm. Unlike many large, diverse lakes,
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| | at The Meadows, an extensive weedy area
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| Nagagami Lake has excellent angling in
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| | off the Nagagami River outlet. Not an
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| all three regions:particularly for
| |
| | uncommon fish out of Nagagami Lake;
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| walleyes and northern pike (although
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| | uncommon just about everywhere
|
| there is a healthy whitefish population
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| | else.Because pike, like walleyes, are
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| and some perch in the lake).The lake is
| |
| | predatory fish, their seasonal movements
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| most unusual in that, in the large
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| | and feeding habits often parallel those
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| eastern basin, a very narrow but
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| | of walleye. Very often, where walleyes
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| productive weedline can be found far
| |
| | are caught, big pike are caught, even on
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| offshore where the lake bottom falls from
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| | the same baits. Resultantly, Nagagami
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| 8 to 12 feet. Because it is well out in
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| | northerns are fished with live baits
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| the lake and not continuous, finding it
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| | early and late in the season and with
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| becomes on of the keys to the lake's
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| | artificial baits or lures through the
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| great pike fishing. More on that
| |
| | warm-water months.Come spring, pike are
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| later!The water is stained from the ever
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| | the lake's first spawners and most
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| present tannins leaching into the lake
| |
| | aggressive fish. Immediately after the
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| from surrounding timber and soils. The
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| | spawn, pike will begin taking live-bait
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| lake warms up early for this part of the
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| | offerings at typical springtime
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| North and because of its size, can get
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| | sites:weedy back bays and creek/river
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| very rough when the wind blows. There are
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| | outflows. Top spots at Nagagami Lake
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| few boating hazards in the main lake,
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| | include the Pody Creek area and a channel
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| except along the rugged north-arm
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| | nearby appropriately dubbed "Pike Alley".
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| shoreline and amongst the island
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| | Large live baitfish, especially suckers,
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| clusters. Isolated hazards are marked by
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| | regularly produce the biggest pike in the
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| the lodge staff and have been carefully
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| | early season, although occasional
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| pinpointed on a very detailed,
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| | monsters will be caught by walleye
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| hydro-contour map of Nagagami Lake
| |
| | fishermen, too.Once the water warms, pike
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| produced by the lodges for their guests.
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| | will scatter widely throughout the
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| Key fishing areas are highlighted.Also
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| | lake-to weedbeds/weedlines, shoals,
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| accessible (via short, easy portages) are
| |
| | current flows and deep-water basins -
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| two small lakes:Hiawatha and Pody. Both
| |
| | wherever their forage, oxygen and
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| offer excellent walleye and pike fishing.
| |
| | temperature requirements are met. It is
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| At Pody Lake, a catch & release lake,
| |
| | at this time that fish start chasing down
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| monster northerns and bigger than average
| |
| | larger, faster-moving baits - e. g.
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| walleyes are caught
| |
| | spinners, spoons, bass spinnerbaits,
|
| regularly.WALLEYESWith lots of water,
| |
| | bucktails and jerkbaits. At Nagagami,
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| diverse structural elements and several
| |
| | this period puts fish in the weeds and
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| incoming & outflowing major rivers,
| |
| | anglers looking for the lake's strange
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| Nagagami is a walleye factory. And,
| |
| | offshore weedlines. Once found, these
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| because several lodges and camps operate
| |
| | weedlines consistently produce lots of
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| on the big lake, a river mouth sanctuary
| |
| | healthy northerns:fish averaging 5 to 8
|
| policy is in effect on the Foch and
| |
| | pounds. Both our hosts knew these
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| Obakamiga ("Buck") Rivers until mid-June.
| |
| | weedlines well and unerringly kept us
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| Walleyes are found throughout the lake:in
| |
| | near them and "on pike". Ron is a
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| current flows at river sites, along
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| | diehard pike fanatic and spoke constantly
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| weedlines and in the larger weedbeds, off
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| | of the lake's bigger northerns:historic
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| islands and pointes over gravel bottoms,
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| | catches, fish hooked and lost, the
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| and on mid-lake structures including
| |
| | season's best, the lake's potential for a
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| several classic shoals, humps, sunken
| |
| | 50-inch, 30-pound gator!The 44-inch fish
|
| islands, drop-offs and bars.As suggested
| |
| | mentioned earlier was caught on a bass
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| earlier, the spring walleye fishery
| |
| | spinnerbait, yet we took our best pike on
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| focuses on post-spawn (male) fish, near
| |
| | spoons and spinners. However, Ron
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| river outflows. It is not unusual to see
| |
| | insisted that, if you were to fish
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| a pack of boats in a small area with all
| |
| | strictly for a trophy, a jerkbait worked
|
| anglers catching limits of walleyes and
| |
| | over and near the weeds would be the most
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| releasing many fish. Springtime is minnow
| |
| | productive lure. To be sure, he had a
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| time and Nagagami is a "minnow lake" all
| |
| | collection of these wooden freaks - baits
|
| season long. To protect the lake, minnows
| |
| | in the 7 to 9-inch range worked best. Oh
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| are carefully collected and sorted before
| |
| | sure, he had a couple of "baseball bats"
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| being flown into the camps for fishing.
| |
| | in there, too. Proven choices at Nagagami
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| Rigged on small snelled hooks, live-bait
| |
| | Lake include Suicks, Teddy Baits, Reef
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| rigs or tiny jigs, minnows are fished at
| |
| | Hawgs and Hi-Fin Foolers. Casting and
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| the mouths of rivers where deeper areas
| |
| | working these baits is hard work, so if
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| have been created by the current or along
| |
| | you troll try a Believer, Swimm Whizz,
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| current breaks/eddies. Other productive
| |
| | Magnum Rapala or huge, jointed Kwikfish.
|
| springtime/early summer walleye locations
| |
| | Make sure that your equipment can handle
|
| include the island group out from Pody
| |
| | this kind of tackle and strain before
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| Creek, an area designated "The Flats" and
| |
| | experiencing a day of frustration or
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| the upper portion of the out-flowing
| |
| | worse, losing the fish of a lifetime.As
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| Nagagami River (as far downstream as
| |
| | stated a moment ago, Dave and I
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| Moose Lake).Summer walleyes are widely
| |
| | successfully pitched #4 or 5 Mepps Agilia
|
| scattered and predictable, low-light
| |
| | Long/Giant Killer spinners and large
|
| feeders. Three approaches are commonly
| |
| | spoons (Daredevle, Five Diamonds) to the
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| used by Nagagami & Timberwolf Lodge
| |
| | lake's weed-oriented pike. By simply
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| guests:stillfishing minnows, backtrolling
| |
| | moving around the perimeter of the
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| with live-bait rigs, and jigging.
| |
| | eastern basin, fishing the intermittent
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| Standard, forward trolling with wobbling
| |
| | weedline, we enjoyed fast-paced pike
|
| plugs or body baits is almost unheard of
| |
| | action throughout the afternoon. When
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| here.For both experienced anglers and
| |
| | fishing pike like this, please equip
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| vacationing families with kids at
| |
| | yourself with proper tools for extracting
|
| Nagagami Lodge, stillfishing minnows was
| |
| | deeply taken baites from cavernous,
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| a popular and effective technique.
| |
| | toothy mouths - a "gag" to hold the
|
| Whether anglers positioned themselves out
| |
| | fish's mouth open, long-reach hookouts,
|
| from a weedline or weedbed, along a
| |
| | pliers or cutters. The careful and quick
|
| dropoff that fell to 20 or 30 foot depths
| |
| | removal of hooks and immediate boatside
|
| or atop the sunken islands and shoals,
| |
| | resuscitation will insure a successful
|
| limits of great-eating walleyes in the 1
| |
| | release of fish not intended for the
|
| to 3 pound range were the rule-day after
| |
| | dinner table. Sensible catch and release
|
| day. Best times included the early
| |
| | is an art form as much as it is a
|
| morning hours, but the twilight times
| |
| | science.Two other areas deserve special
|
| were tops. Daytime fishing was given over
| |
| | recognition when it comes to Nagagami
|
| to pike. Dave and I took a lot of kidding
| |
| | pike fishing:The Meadows and Pike Alley.
|
| about our fishing off the dock at night
| |
| | With current flows and plenty of weed
|
| with floats/bobbers. That's OK. Each
| |
| | cover, these areas consistently produce
|
| night without fail (about 10:30) we'd
| |
| | lots of pike as well as trophy-status
|
| slip down to the camp dock and catch 3 or
| |
| | fish. Bass spinnerbaits, jerkbaits,
|
| 4 good walleye for breakfast. By 1:00 or
| |
| | spinners, spoons and bucktails will get
|
| so we'd caught our fish and were enjoying
| |
| | plenty of attention from big, aggressive
|
| no-less-than-spectacular displays of
| |
| | northerns. Hang on!WHITEFISHAlthough many
|
| shimmering Northern Lights. Those
| |
| | northern lakes have very healthy
|
| evenings may have been the most enjoyable
| |
| | whitefish populations, they are pretty
|
| I spent all summer; they certainly were
| |
| | much underfished. At Nagagami Lake during
|
| unforgettable!Get a second opinion - ask
| |
| | late August through mid-September,
|
| Dave!Both Mike Bauer and Ron Dunn,
| |
| | whitefish action is outstanding and the
|
| managers of the two lodges, effective
| |
| | lodges offer a continuous smokehouse
|
| fished walleyes the same
| |
| | service to their clientele. Smoked
|
| way:back-trolling across mid-lake shoals
| |
| | whitefish makes for great eating, keeps
|
| with live-bait rigs dressed with minnows.
| |
| | well and increases each angler's legal
|
| For this approach a depthfinder/flasher
| |
| | "keep". With generous limits and
|
| graph is a must for locating the
| |
| | regulated dip netting practices to
|
| structure and then systematically working
| |
| | supplement angling, "whitefish-ing"
|
| the bait rig up and down it until fish
| |
| | should be added to the itinerary for
|
| are contacted. Favourite spots included a
| |
| | late-season guests at Nagagami and
|
| large, marked shoal northeast of the Twin
| |
| | Timberwolf Lodges.NAGAGAMI LODGELocated
|
| Islands, the "Banana Shoal" beyond that,
| |
| | on the northern arm of Nagagami Lake,
|
| and isolated humps in the main-lake basin
| |
| | this 2-star housekeeping resort features
|
| including one off Chuck's Point and
| |
| | superb facilities:spacious, modern log
|
| another in the midst of the lake's
| |
| | cottages, generated hydro, sturdy 19-foot
|
| eastern basin. The latter spot is tough
| |
| | Powassan cedar-strip boats, reliable OMC
|
| to locate. Mike put us onto it in a
| |
| | motors, a central recreation lodge
|
| driving rain one morning. S ure that he
| |
| | meeting area with VCR/movies/TV and a
|
| was "testing our resolve and mettle", we
| |
| | pool table, guide service, bait,
|
| dutifully backtrolled this spot in the
| |
| | fish-cleaning station, smokehouse, etc.
|
| middle of nowhere. Bingo-several larger
| |
| | Cabins feature 2 or 3 bedrooms, bedding &
|
| walleyes! Touche, Mike, but couldn't it
| |
| | liner service, modern full-size
|
| have waited?Although live-bait fishing is
| |
| | appliances, wood-burning heaters, 3-piece
|
| the norm at Nagagami, jigging accounts
| |
| | bath (shower, flush toilet, sink),
|
| for excellent catches of "yellows".
| |
| | running hot and cold water, electrical
|
| Location is the key to successful
| |
| | lighting, complete kitchens.Air Service
|
| jigging:over shoals/humps/sunken islands
| |
| | to Nagagami Lake is provided by Horne-Air
|
| or along weedlines and dropoffs. Any
| |
| | (Hornepayne, Ont.) via Beaver
|
| significant change in depth, bottom
| |
| | aircraft.This article was written after a
|
| content or cover will attract and hold
| |
| | visit to Nagagami Lodge where I did some
|
| walleyes, especially during feeding
| |
| | Northern Pike Fishing as well as fishing
|
| periods. For Nagagami Lake walleyes,
| |
| | for Walleye and Whitefish.Online since
|
| pink, white and yellow jigs in the 1/8 to
| |
| | 1998 by long-time OFM field editor, Bill
|
| 1/4 ounce sizes are recommended with pink
| |
| | Rivers, the Ontario Fisherman is now
|
| getting the nod most times. Tipped with a
| |
| | taking on a new look, but remains
|
| small piece of worm or a lively minnow,
| |
| | committed to showcasing "the best of
|
| jigs should be cast and worked down
| |
| | Ontario sportfishing".
|
| ledges and humps, jigged in short hops
| |
| |
|
