A short collection of some odd and exciting catches that stand out from a career in guiding
Over the course of a fishing guides career there will certainly be fish that stand out from the rest. It isn’t always the biggest fish that stand out the most either. Big fish are certainly memorable but sometimes its the circumstance or they way the fish was caught that make them special and worthy of note regardless of size. Guides may handle thousands of fish for their clients each and every year so it can take something special for one or two to stand out from the rest. Here are a few of the many stories of the fish caught on both fly and conventional gear that stand out over one guide and his cohort’s career’s.
Two fish for the price of one:
Oner story stands out though which involves one lure and two giant trout.
The story belongs to a fellow guide named Stu and his two guests, it occurred when they travelled by Turbo Otter float plane to one of Wollaston Lake lodges fly out destinations. The lake is known to have some big Lake trout in it, the plan was to spend some time targeting them in the afternoon after a morning of pike fishing. Bringing along some heavy duty trolling gear and large plugs, they began their afternoon troll. Unfortunately there was a technical issue with one of the trolling rods, which may or may not have been self induced, and they replaced it with a much lighter spinning rod by comparison. When your on a remote fly out trip, sometimes you just have to make due with what you have to keep fishing.
With the rods back out, their trolling resumed when eventually there was a good hit on one of the rods. Now remember, they were down to one heavy duty trolling specific rod, and one lighter much smaller spinning rod, that was already shaking violently just from pull of the lure! Want to guess which rod got struck? Yup, that spinning rod started screaming line! Right away the guest and guide both knew there was a big trout on the other end, quickly peeling line. The guide who is an established big trout veteran started to notice this one was fighting different somehow. At times the rod would just violently shake and wobble with not much line would be going out, but acting different than what would be expected from typicial headshaking. The shaking would stop and in next instant, line would be going out so fast, they thought the reel might implode from the strain. On and on this went, as the light rod was no match for whatever was attached to the other end. The angler kept his composure and slowly, inch by inch started gaining line. The water of the lake was gin clear and as the guide peered into it, eventually he was able to see a flash from the fish as it came close.
“Its a giant, it’s huge”!
It got closer to the boat yet, and still the guide peered into the water as the angler struggled while trying to keep up the pressure.
Another flash and the guide exclaimed, “I think you have two giant trout on!”.
This is a good moment for a side note to the story. When you fly out to remote locations there is a limitation on how much you can bring with you. Space is limited. Pots and pans, the shore lunch kit, tackle, rods, extra clothing and rain gear can add up in a hurry. Sometimes there isn’t room for everything, like say a net for example. When your an accomplished fishing guide with thousands of great big fish landed, mostly by bear hands under your belt, a net can seem overrated at times. This was not one of those times…
It became apparent in that moment of realization, with what was happening on the other end of the line, that this was going to be unchartered territory for both the angler and guide alike. Landing one big trout, attached to one lure or fly is a challenge in and of itself, but two giant trout attached to the same lure?! Maybe through sheer determination, eventually the angler kept gaining line and gaining line, even after each blistering run. Finally the time came for Stu, the stalwart guide, to just go for it once the fish neared the boat! With both trout finally tired and brought to boat side, Stu leaned over and slid a hand under the plate of each fish, and lifted them in the boat. Realizing he was now essentially handcuffed, the guests had the honors of removing the barbless hooks. The measuring tape came out, the first Lake trout was a healthy 39″, the second was 41″, for a combined total of 80 inches and likely over 60lbs of trout in one swoop.
Afterwards, Stu the guide explained what was happening when the client was fighting, what at the time was an unknown fish. “When the rod was just buckling and bouncing in place the big trout were trying to head in opposite directions but the lure kept them pinned in place together, just violently shaking”. “But at times they would straighten themselves out and both start swimming in the same direction. When they got lined up and going it was crazy how strong they were as a pair!”.
Trailer Hook pike:
One of my own most pike remarkable catches was very much by accident. I was fishing my home waters for pike and found myself casting towards one of my favorite fallen trees. I had caught many giant pike and musky from this particular piece of submerged lumber over the years, it was a particularly favorite spot. I was casting an in-line bucktail, trying to weave it around the underwater branches that extended out over deeper water the pike and musky would often use them as ambush cover. Unfortunately I very quickly snagged my spinner on one of said branches. Not wanting to move closer with the boat to retrieve it, for fear of spooking any fish, I tried giving the line a good few yanks in an effort to free. Rather than freeing my lure, the line snapped about two feet up from leader. Anyone who grew up in the era of Dacron line might understand. Fortunately the lure was less than a foot under water, and I knew I could easily retrieve it after I finished casting the submerged tree. Knowing this, I tied on a new leader and choose a slightly less snaggy safety pin style spinnerbait and proceeded to continue casting and working over the tree.
I hit every inch, every limb, fluttered and jerked, ripped and twitched and worked the tree as best as I could. Fortunatley this time I avoided any of the snags, but also avoided any fish too as nothing moved or showed itself. On what ended up being my last cast, I brought the spinnerbait near the limb with the lure I had previously lost, still attached to it. Now this is where luck came into play, as the lure I was now casting came by the snagged lure, the spinning blade caught the bit of line still attached to the snagged one. Somehow, even though I had yanked on it prior resulting in breaking the line, this time the snagged lure popped free much to my surprise. Even more surprising was that the snagged lure stayed firmly attached and was now trailing about 3′ behind the lure attached to my rod, both lures were now spinning away perfectly.
I had made an additional 20+ casts after the initial snag, I had changed the style of spinner but the size and color were otherwise identical. It was fairly sunny out and I hadn’t seen any fish hiding in the limbs. So when a pike came rocketing out of nowhere I was surprised, when it inhaled the trailing spinner I was even more surprised, when the both the trailing spinner and pike stayed both stayed firmly attached to my main line well, I’m not sure how much more surprised I could have been at that point! At 35″ inches it wasn’t one of the biggest pike I’ve ever caught, but it certainly is one of the most memorable, as all these years later I have never come close to replicating that scenario again, and don’t think I ever will!
Two flies one pike:
Catching 1 fish on two flies or lures is a rare feat to achieve! Over the course of my fishing career I have only witnessed this one time, making it an absolute rarity among my personal fishing experiences. In order to to catch one fish with two flies, you will need two anglers, obviously. I fondly recall having a wonderful father and son flyfishing duo in my guide boat when this experience took place. The scene took place in a small crystal clear bay in Northern Saskatchewan a few years back. I was in the back of the boat working the big tiller, the father was in the middle, making nice high casts over his head, keeping the other boat occupant’s safe, while his young son worked from the bow of the boat.
Kids are great fun to fish with, and even better when they are catching fish, but they can tend to get distracted a bit. Getting distracted is not unique to kids, we well all tend to loose focus at some point over the course of a full day fishing. Clouds, waves, trees, birds and other boats all serve as a good distraction in between fish. I’m not sure which of the many distracting options caught the young boys eye in the moment, but I do know that when stripping his fly to the boat, he did not see the pike eat his fly lees than 10′ feet from his rod tip. Being the guide, it is my job to notice things like a pike eating a clients fly, this one was no different, I watched it follow and eat in the clear water.
I want to explain something in another side note here before proceeding. When I have new or returning guests arrive to fish with me again, we have a chat as soon as we are in the boat prior to fishing. I explain some safety topics, try to learn about what they want to focus on during their trip and son and so forth. I always finish off by explaining my single biggest rule while they are in my boat, if i say “set the hook“, your one job is to set the hook! Don’t ask questions, don’t turn and look at me, don’t say you don’t feel anything just set the hook! I tell all my guests, it is the only time I will ever yell at them. I really enjoy yelling “SET!” at my clients, I kind of think they do too as it usually leads to good results, but I miss the odd call here and there. In this instance, I was slow on the draw…
I watched the son’s fly get eaten, even though he didn’t see it or feel it himself. No problem, I’ve forewarned them of my inevitable verbal outbursts while fishing together in regards to hooksets. However, when this particular pike ate, it immediately notice the fathers fly, which was also right at the end of its retrieve, within easy striking distance. I didn’t have time to get the word, “SET”, out of my mouth as the pike ate the first fly, then in one smoothly executed double attack, ate the fathers fly in a flash. I couldn’t help but laugh when I finally got to yell “SET”, and both the father and son simultaneously struck their hooks home. Comedically, neither the father or son realized they had just hooked the same fish, just in opposite corners of it’s mouth. Confusion ensued as they both urged the other to get their own fish out of the others way. It didn’t take long before they realized what was happening, as if their lines going in a direct V to the same spot wasn’t enough of a giveaway already. I have to say it was one of the finest father son moments I’ve ever witnessed as they tag teamed what turned out to be a low 30″ pike to the boat, laughing their heads off all the way. It is a fond and funny story to tell for the 3 of us, probably less so for the pike though, who seemingly got carried away with his feeding binge. I’m not sure I will ever experience this again and if that ends up being the case that’s ok because once is enough to make a lasting memory.
