06-04-2004, 10:11 PM
I'll try to do this with pics in the text. If it doesn't work, remember, I'm a moron.
Started the day on Cold Lake in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada on the Reel Deal with Capt. Ron Cooper. Couldn't ask for a better day, flat and about 40 degrees. The ice had been off the lake for 3 whole days when we set off, noone had fished open water yet this year.
Capt Ron warned us it might take some time to find the fish. We took a 30 minute run to the "Spruce", I started to set out the trolling lines. I had 2 lines out and the second one got hit. While it was not his turn, my Lt. (now known as Lt. Fish Hog) grabbed the rod and the fight was on. After about 10 minutes the fish was in the net, a 10#er. The picture is hard to see so you'll have to trust me.
I reset the rods and had 3 of the 4 out and we got hit again. This was Big Ray Lloyds turn. He did a wonderfull job fighting the fish despite the fact he's never even had a fishing rod in his hand before. Of couse the IFG coached him through the whole ordeal. I hear the Jazz are looking at me as the Head Coach after this one. Anyway, Ray's fish hit the net and it was a good 8#s.
Once again mate IFG reset the rods and Earl Volk was next on rod duty. It took a grand total of 10 minutes to get his on. Earl being a veteran of fishing with the IFG ignored my sage advice, put the spurs to his fish and lost it within the first 2 minutes. I reset the rod and he had one on in no time at all. This time he listened to me and put a nice 12#er in the net.
SOOOO, it's finally the IFG's turn on the rod. Of course we can't buy a fish now that I'm on the rods. I quickly set my course of action....I'll suck down a six pack of Molson Canadian, the fish will know I'm drinking and will hit at the most inopprotune time. Did I mention I'm a genious? 10 minutes later IFG's 6#er hits the net.
Things slacked off after I boated the smallest fish of the day. When I catch a Mack you know times are hard. We went in search of fish and got a couple others. Last stop of the day was the "Hump" just off Pelican Reef. The lake goes from 260' deep to 22' in less than 200' horizontal feet. Put the rods out and it was Earl's turn up. The #1 rod got hit and Lt Fish Hog was Johnny on the spot to grab it. I think I saw him throw an elbow at Earl to get to it. I kept telling him to hand off the rod since he's already caught 3, but being an Officer, he said something about my up-bringing, my Mom, and my hygiene habits and held onto the rod like it was Excaliber. The fight was on! He was trying to land the fish too. This one seemed a little better than the rest but it was hard to tell with Earls hands being around his neck and me throwing straight left hands to his ribs, I imagine it's hard to land a fish. I was about punched out when I saw the fish behind the boat and Earl was distracted by the last beer in the cooler. So I figured I might as well put the thing in the net seeing as he went through all the trouble of getting it there. Figures he gets one about 20#s.
Total for the day: 9 Macks boated, 3 lost, IFG least fish and smallest. Great time on the water. I learned a few new Mack tricks and made a new friend in Capt. Ron.
This was the first time he'd ever taken a trip this early and couldn't believe I actually wanted to go explore the lake with him (and pay him to do it). While we didn't catch anything near the lake record of 67#s on rod and reel or 97#s by net. They fish the lake commercially for Macks and are allowed 4,000 kilos (9000#s) per year. We had a great time and Capt. Ron is a good skipper and great teacher. Total cost for the trip was $400 Canadian (about $300 U.S.) for 4 of us for 10 hours. I did a fly in to Little Slave Lake but that is a story for another time. Cause it's all about the Pike baby. You wouldn't believe me if you weren't there. Somewhere in all this, I actually did find time to work.
IFG
Started the day on Cold Lake in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada on the Reel Deal with Capt. Ron Cooper. Couldn't ask for a better day, flat and about 40 degrees. The ice had been off the lake for 3 whole days when we set off, noone had fished open water yet this year.
Capt Ron warned us it might take some time to find the fish. We took a 30 minute run to the "Spruce", I started to set out the trolling lines. I had 2 lines out and the second one got hit. While it was not his turn, my Lt. (now known as Lt. Fish Hog) grabbed the rod and the fight was on. After about 10 minutes the fish was in the net, a 10#er. The picture is hard to see so you'll have to trust me.
I reset the rods and had 3 of the 4 out and we got hit again. This was Big Ray Lloyds turn. He did a wonderfull job fighting the fish despite the fact he's never even had a fishing rod in his hand before. Of couse the IFG coached him through the whole ordeal. I hear the Jazz are looking at me as the Head Coach after this one. Anyway, Ray's fish hit the net and it was a good 8#s.
Once again mate IFG reset the rods and Earl Volk was next on rod duty. It took a grand total of 10 minutes to get his on. Earl being a veteran of fishing with the IFG ignored my sage advice, put the spurs to his fish and lost it within the first 2 minutes. I reset the rod and he had one on in no time at all. This time he listened to me and put a nice 12#er in the net.
SOOOO, it's finally the IFG's turn on the rod. Of course we can't buy a fish now that I'm on the rods. I quickly set my course of action....I'll suck down a six pack of Molson Canadian, the fish will know I'm drinking and will hit at the most inopprotune time. Did I mention I'm a genious? 10 minutes later IFG's 6#er hits the net.
Things slacked off after I boated the smallest fish of the day. When I catch a Mack you know times are hard. We went in search of fish and got a couple others. Last stop of the day was the "Hump" just off Pelican Reef. The lake goes from 260' deep to 22' in less than 200' horizontal feet. Put the rods out and it was Earl's turn up. The #1 rod got hit and Lt Fish Hog was Johnny on the spot to grab it. I think I saw him throw an elbow at Earl to get to it. I kept telling him to hand off the rod since he's already caught 3, but being an Officer, he said something about my up-bringing, my Mom, and my hygiene habits and held onto the rod like it was Excaliber. The fight was on! He was trying to land the fish too. This one seemed a little better than the rest but it was hard to tell with Earls hands being around his neck and me throwing straight left hands to his ribs, I imagine it's hard to land a fish. I was about punched out when I saw the fish behind the boat and Earl was distracted by the last beer in the cooler. So I figured I might as well put the thing in the net seeing as he went through all the trouble of getting it there. Figures he gets one about 20#s.
Total for the day: 9 Macks boated, 3 lost, IFG least fish and smallest. Great time on the water. I learned a few new Mack tricks and made a new friend in Capt. Ron.
This was the first time he'd ever taken a trip this early and couldn't believe I actually wanted to go explore the lake with him (and pay him to do it). While we didn't catch anything near the lake record of 67#s on rod and reel or 97#s by net. They fish the lake commercially for Macks and are allowed 4,000 kilos (9000#s) per year. We had a great time and Capt. Ron is a good skipper and great teacher. Total cost for the trip was $400 Canadian (about $300 U.S.) for 4 of us for 10 hours. I did a fly in to Little Slave Lake but that is a story for another time. Cause it's all about the Pike baby. You wouldn't believe me if you weren't there. Somewhere in all this, I actually did find time to work.
IFG
] Nice pictures!! Sounds like a great trip! Congratulations.