Friday, June 24, 2016 The last day. We get going early as we have about 8 miles to go and will be picked up at "4:30" - let's hope we make it. We fish a bit then haul it out across the big water before the winds start up. Once we are safe, we fish all through Stanton Bay. This is where some of the fun starts. You see, my friends have told me about pike they swear would be a world record, caught while landing a 20" walleye, but so big and so cumbersome that you couldn't actually land it while in a canoe. And I believe them! I have seen pictures of 48" pike they have caught up here. But where were we... oh yes. Stanton Bay. Seemingly a little back water bay, not anyone's "fishing spot" and more of a place you pass through. But we had a couple hours to kill and we were here to fish! Out goes a little crank bait on my partner's broken pole (snapped on the windbound day). WHAM! Holy socks batman! That is a big fish. Like stripping drag big. After a 10 minute fight, another 40" + pike shakes its head and spits the lure. My partner is devastated. Like in tears. Oh man I feel bad... "Hey, just keep throwing" I say to try to offer some words of encouragement. So, after a brief recovery, on go the frogs. Braided line, Gamakatsu 4/0 hook. I kid you not, 3rd cast... WHAM! FISH ON IN THE FRONT OF THE CANOE! It's another big one!!! (I am catching hammer handle pike from the back at this point). Fish is landed after a long fight, it's a 46" pike. Somehow we have blown and paddled over to a little tiny rock in the middle of the lake. That is where it was landed!  Could not believe back to back fish like that. What a way to end the trip!!! We fished our way right back to the landing and caught several other nice fish.  What a trip. So great of a trip. We caught our ride and they had 4 cans of cold beer for us... like mana from Heaven I tell you! I can't wait to go back, it's been a year and I have the fever. Ate some great pizza in town, everyone is so nice, swapped fishing stories with the next groups going in, zonked out in the bunk beds and drove 17 hours home the next morning. I'd do it all over in a heart beat! I hope you like my story and maybe you even learned something. Quetico is a system flush for the soul. I recommend you get out there and make your own!!!

Things that worked: Planning your route ahead of time Bear barrel for the food pack (nice to not worry) even though we saw no bears Plenty of bungee ties to hold the rods to the canoe during portages Bug spray of many varieties (I used Repel lemon eucalyptus), head nets, permethrin treated tent/hammock, pants & shirt Mountain house chili mac, instant potatoes, Cliff bars (with caffeine), GATORADE Bandaids, cloth tape (fishing in the rain will wear your thumbs out!) A nice pair of Merril or Keen sandals Canoe seats Sven saw Tarps - we had 6x8 but bigger would be even nicer Plenty of para cord Wide brimmed hat, good shades Leatherman or other multi-tool Lots of zip lock bags to keep things organized and dry

For next time: We took way too much fuel (only used two 8oz cans) Each person needs a map and compass and should be checking the route Balance all your gear before portaging Single portage everything Take less fishing equipment - jigs, crank baits, top waters and spinner baits should suffice (we had oodles of rubber doodads)