Back to Quetico
by timatkn
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
07/30/2011
Entry & Exit Point:
Quetico
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (19 messages)
Day 4 of 7
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
We don't rollout of bed until 11 am. I think our minor illness has hit it's worst point. We are still exhausted but don't want to spedn any more time at this site. To be safe we decide to head back towards Isabella/North Bay and jsut take a relaxing trip back out. Pack up and take the long way out of Sarah to explore the rest of the lake. As we paddle south along the big Island a tailwind pushes us along at a good pace--I just rudder.
I have my rod out trolling my minnow rap. The rod is in a rod holder. I glance at the depth finder and we are at about 80' feet deep. Just as I comment to Sara it has been a long time since I have had a bite---the canoe coems to a sudden jointing stop and turns sideways in the waves. My pole is bent dangerously low and looks like it could break---before I can grab it the real starts singing as line is stripping out at a rapid pace. As I lift it out of the holder the fish makes another run and practically pulls the rod out of my hand. Unfortunately a wind gust hits us as we are sidewasy and pushes us south as the fish is running north. I fight the fish for 10 minutes and my right forearm is cramping bad---I have never had a fish pull this hard. Sara tries her best to paddle us backwards but the wind is too strong. I am able to gain about 50 yards on the fish as Sara Paddles and the winds dies a little but then another gust hits us and the fish goes on another run----my reel is singing hard line ius stripping out fast I have no control oveer this fish--it just keeps stripping line and wind won't die down---basically the fish strips all of my line and breaks me off. 20minutes total with nothing but a memory to show. The worst part is I feel bad the fish still has my lure--hopefully it can throw the barbless hooks. I have caught several 36-42 inch northerns and trout up to 38 inches NOTHING ever hit or fought liek that before. I assume it was a laker--wahtever it was it was a big fish. If the wind wouldn't have been so bad I am sure I coulod have landed it as I could have played it better. But the wind really worked against me in this case. I am not sure what I could have doen different? I was using 10# test and a stiff Med./heavy rod.I am dissapoointed and excited all at the same time.
We end up camping on the island just as you enter Sarah form Side. Nice swimming, good fire pit but it is a small island with 2 other sites. We get company on one of them tonite. The sites are all close to each other so no privacy :)
We don't rollout of bed until 11 am. I think our minor illness has hit it's worst point. We are still exhausted but don't want to spedn any more time at this site. To be safe we decide to head back towards Isabella/North Bay and jsut take a relaxing trip back out. Pack up and take the long way out of Sarah to explore the rest of the lake. As we paddle south along the big Island a tailwind pushes us along at a good pace--I just rudder.
I have my rod out trolling my minnow rap. The rod is in a rod holder. I glance at the depth finder and we are at about 80' feet deep. Just as I comment to Sara it has been a long time since I have had a bite---the canoe coems to a sudden jointing stop and turns sideways in the waves. My pole is bent dangerously low and looks like it could break---before I can grab it the real starts singing as line is stripping out at a rapid pace. As I lift it out of the holder the fish makes another run and practically pulls the rod out of my hand. Unfortunately a wind gust hits us as we are sidewasy and pushes us south as the fish is running north. I fight the fish for 10 minutes and my right forearm is cramping bad---I have never had a fish pull this hard. Sara tries her best to paddle us backwards but the wind is too strong. I am able to gain about 50 yards on the fish as Sara Paddles and the winds dies a little but then another gust hits us and the fish goes on another run----my reel is singing hard line ius stripping out fast I have no control oveer this fish--it just keeps stripping line and wind won't die down---basically the fish strips all of my line and breaks me off. 20minutes total with nothing but a memory to show. The worst part is I feel bad the fish still has my lure--hopefully it can throw the barbless hooks. I have caught several 36-42 inch northerns and trout up to 38 inches NOTHING ever hit or fought liek that before. I assume it was a laker--wahtever it was it was a big fish. If the wind wouldn't have been so bad I am sure I coulod have landed it as I could have played it better. But the wind really worked against me in this case. I am not sure what I could have doen different? I was using 10# test and a stiff Med./heavy rod.I am dissapoointed and excited all at the same time.
We end up camping on the island just as you enter Sarah form Side. Nice swimming, good fire pit but it is a small island with 2 other sites. We get company on one of them tonite. The sites are all close to each other so no privacy :)
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