I had a group of Nova Scotian bass tournament anglers that wanted to target largemouth. While they were chucking Kermit into the weeds I was throwing a favorite non discriminate big fish bait of mine to the outside. I horsed in a PB musky on heavy bass tackle. I didn't have my muysky net on the boat but my Knipex came in handy to cut the hook.
**click for the video**
I only guide for bass when I get specific requests from my clients. Most people that request to bass fish are frustrated tournament anglers. Ron was no exception. A regular of mine, Ron got skunked at the Lefaivre tournament. I put Ron on the front of the boat and with identical tackle to what I was chucking from the back. As luck would have it the hot pattern included fishing from the back of the boat I guess. No big numbers of fish, but we had a 15lbs bag of smallies fishing from 8am to noon. The one on the left was pretty close to another PB for me at a hair short of 20''.
The Krisko's were vacationing in Ottawa and booked a day with me months ago. After a laid back, easy morning of walleye catfish, the post-shore lunch plan was to sacrifice numbers in search of pike and musky. The term ''feeding window'' was explained and then demonstrated. After a slow couple hours of trolling with only a couple small pike to show for it the Krisko matriarch lets out a screech that can only mean big fish. No monster, but a 36'' musky put smiles all around.
20 minutes later, the rod in the rod holder, a.k.a. the guide's right hand, goes off. 11 year old Sam is the first to have his line in so he grabs the rod. Between: ''I can't'', "it's too heavy", and "I'm gonna lose him" Sam handles the big stick like a veteran and we soon have a 45.5" musky in the net. We are all absolutely radiant and this fish will go down as one of the most satisfying of my guiding career. Mom's excitement that in the way of her photography skills.
Earlier this week, after putting 3 limits of walleye in the well in record time, we switched gears to big Esox. I assured the guys that we will hit a feeding window, and to keep casting their big topwaters with confidence. After a short trolling run to change things up, the first cast on the spot we've been fishing for close to 2 hours is greeted with a furious explosion. Dave got a big surprise with what is surely the plumpest pike I've seen come out of this stretch of the Ottawa. The next few minutes saw us land a handful of smaller pike and miss one musky. A great day on the Ottawa.
Busy stretch ahead after a couple days off. Summer camps and daily evening bookings next week. Let the rods be bent!
Tightest line to all.
Yannick
