Knee Lake or Kesagami???

[Luke 5:5]

For the spring of 2006 I am planning my FIRST fly in trip for monster pike but am undecided on where vtwo go and it boils down to Kesagami or Knee Lake, which would you choose???????????

[Moosebunk]

For you, living where you do and considering costs and options, Kesagami. You'll probably find several thousands of dollars difference between the two places, and Kesagami has the pike.

[Muskiemagnet]

I agree with Moose. If you're after Pike Kesagami is the place to go, way cheaper. There is a Provincial Park on the lake so you can camp there, just need to rent a boat and charter your plane.

Knee Lake may be the better choice if $$ is not an issue, more fish to try your luck at. You may have a greater average size as well.

[Manny]

If this can help your choice a bit, I have guided at Kesagami for 3 summers so I could give you a detailed map(s) of that lake including the best weed beds, strategies, milk-runs etc etc. Could be worthwile cause you won't need to rent a guide (130$ a day) and you won't have to wander around on this lake trying to figure anything out. Cheaper too.

I don't know Knee lake though, other then what I have seen on TV, so I can't give any insights.

Manny

[Moosebunk]

If this can help your choice a bit, I have guided at Kesagami for 3 summers so I could give you a detailed map(s) of that lake including the best weed beds, strategies, milk-runs etc etc. Could be worthwile cause you won't need to rent a guide (130$ a day) and you won't have to wander around on this lake trying to figure anything out. Cheaper too.

I don't know Knee lake though, other then what I have seen on TV, so I can't give any insights.

Manny

Now this offer is valuable, a guy who knows such a big lake. Other outfitters can get you in besides having to go with Kesagami Lake Lodge for about $2000+ US for a week. Although, the best beds and meals and boats and folks in the know are at the lodge every day all soft water fishing season long.

It's a catch and release fishery with I think a couple eyes for shore lunch or perch or whites. Single barbless if at the American Plan lodge, but I'm not sure if it's that way if you're in there on your own. From the 652 Road North out of Iroquois you could also get onto the lake by taking the Kesagami River in by canoe. A real bushwhacker experience I've read.

[Manny]

My suggestion is that if anyone plan on going to Kesagami lake, the lodge would be the only way to go. Reason being is that Kesagami lake lodge is that they have the big cargo canoes (23 feet long) that is the only safe boat really for this lake. This lake being so shallow (95% of the fishing is done in water 7 feet or less) makes awesome waves with the slightest breeze. Being in another boat other then those cargo canoes would not only be dangerous but would confine a group to a very small region of the lake.


I myself have tried to come up with ways of going out there without going through the lodge but always get stumped by the same detail, the boats.

Manny

[scuro]

I was out at Kesagami last spring with Gardiner air.
http://www.gardinerairservice.com/

You have to boat from your cabin to a bog path and then walk ten minutes to get to your boat on Kesagami. My brother in law sunk about three feet into the bog with gear and skeeters a buzzing and then stated, now I see why Gardiner Air is so much cheaper.

We had sixteen foot boats and we were okay. It is flat up there so you can see whats coming and take shelter. We did that once. Loved the walleye fishing but the Pike was off, nothing over 35 in. It could have been the late spring last year or simply not having a guide. My biggest complaint would be the boaters from the lodge. They were about as friendly as death warmed over. Few would return a wave, often they would use binocs and eye you for a period of time from a distance. We would look at them and then at each other and say, f$uck em.

[Moosebunk]

those cargo canoes
Manny

The North West Canoe Company freighter canoes. The staple of northern Canadian water travel. Cedar Canvas.

When I move south in a few years I might just keep mine. They're better on the rivers than they are in the lakes, but great all around.

[Moosebunk]

Luke. Just to note this

Over the last 11 years at Kesagami Lodge the largest pike for all years recorded were between 48 and 54 inches. Walleye have been caught at their largest at 31". Those are really impressive fish.

Knee Lake does offer brookies and lake trout, something that Kesagami doesn't. Otherwise the fishing for walleye and pike are available at both.

For comparison sake though...

7 days at Knee Lake (may-june) $4350 US, or about $6500 CAN. plus tax. And you'll need to get your butt to Winnipeg to catch the flight to the resort.

7 days at Kesagami (may-june) $1599-1949 US, or about $2400-2900 CAN plus tax plus $130 US (?) a day for a guide. And, you'll need to catch the bus or drive yourself the 7-8 hours from Renfrew to Cochrane.

Knee Lake would be well more than double the price in the end, and for what??? The big pike are about the same size at both. 50 inchers are 50 inchers

[Luke 5:5]

Thanx for the imput guys I think I will talk to my brother in law and tell him what yall told me and we will see where we go.

Manny, thanx for the map offer, I would greatly appreciate the maps. I have only been able to find one lodge is that because its the only one!

Thanx Luke5:5 (Steve)

[Smitty]

I think if I could afford it - I would go to this place....

http://www.anglerskingdom.com

Looks as good if not better than Knee lake and the other one...

Smitty

[spanky]

Manny- do they still offer the portage into that little lake? We were there in '97ish and were the 2nd ones to fish that lake (that they knew of), was a nice 10min walk.... was along the same shoreline as the lodge was. everyday we went out we were witha guide (Greg) and never had a day with less than 100fish between the 3 of us... and never anything smaller than 15" for walleye and nothing smaller than 25" for pike.... love fishing the bay (michelbobs?) with buzzbaits...

Was a beauty place to go, friendly staff, incredible food... met some locals, well, the firechief of moosefactory (Cheechoo) if he counts as a local

was only $5500. for the 2 of us including meals/guides... once in a lifetime thing, that you're always gonna dream of repeating!!

[Manny]

I was out at Kesagami last spring with Gardiner air.
http://www.gardinerairservice.com/

My biggest complaint would be the boaters from the lodge. They were about as friendly as death warmed over. Few would return a wave, often they would use binocs and eye you for a period of time from a distance. We would look at them and then at each other and say, f$uck em.

Boats from Gardiner have been a huge complaint from the guest at Kesagami lodge as well. You'd be fishing a point or weedbed then all of a sudden you'd be surrounded by 10 boats. Or I would have a convoy follow me around the lake all day or have them troll right trhough a cabbage bed. I have even had to tow some a few times. This lake seems big but is actually to small for 2 operators.

If someone were to go with Gardener, wait 1 week after the Lodge closes and then go (season ends at the end of July). No lodge boats around, diminished fishing pressure and at that time of year, the best cabbage beds are up (they are only starting to peak when the lodge closes )and the pike and walleyes are stacked tight inside ten yards strips of cabagge beds. Also the best time to search for a 50 incher.

Manny

[Manny]

Manny- do they still offer the portage into that little lake? We were there in '97ish and were the 2nd ones to fish that lake (that they knew of), was a nice 10min walk.... was along the same shoreline as the lodge was. everyday we went out we were witha guide (Greg) and never had a day with less than 100fish between the 3 of us... and never anything smaller than 15" for walleye and nothing smaller than 25" for pike.... love fishing the bay (michelbobs?) with buzzbaits...

Spanky, last I was there, that little lake was available and is awsome. Best lure for walleyes were spinnerbaits and they hit like a ton of bricks. Me and a guide had to go back there to fix the dock. Had the day to do it. We packed 2 ice fishing rods down our pants so we wouldn't get caught, spent 30 minutes on the dock and caught a pile of fish for the rest of the day. Casting buzzbaits with a 30 inch rod is fun . The walleyes in that lake averaged 21 inches and were pretty much all clones of the same size.

As for Michelbob's bay, it was my favorite bay early in the season, in front of the outlet. Was with an older gent one day and we managed 7 fish over 40 inches. Even got a double header, 44 and 42 inches.

This thread has got to disapear, man, it's gonna make me wanna go back and lose my gf at the same time.
Manny

[scuro]

I haven't booked with Gardiner Air yet this year but I am considering booking in August simply because the lodge will be closed and we would have the lake to ourselves. Of course the best fishing is in the spring and Gardiner Air has a right to fish that lake anytime of the year. He was the first outfitter up there and while I can appreciate that the lodge feels the lake is not big enough for two outfitters, they should be more accommodating.

Gardiner boats may intrude on other fisherman's territory but I doubt that it is ever done maliciously. Kesagami lake is huge. It's 20 miles by 10 miles. Ron Baron of Gardiner's air service told us not to fish on the right side of the whole right side of the lake to give the lodge "room". In effect the lodge has exclusive rights to a 20 mile by 2 mile strip of water. I'm sure Ron also made this rule to save on gas.

It’s not like we got close to lodge boats often anyways, mainly in the narrow channels. Ron doesn't have 10 boats. The party before used 2, we used 2 and the party after us used 2 boats. He couldn't accommodate more then 5 boats nor does his licence allow for more then 5 boats. If the lodge wanted to make the fishing experience seem more exclusive, perhaps the lodge should talk to Ron to informally divide the lake. He doesn’t need the headaches and everyone would be happier.