2024 Canada Fishing

 Day 3

There was NOT a lack of food on this trip!  Three full meals a day is more food than any of us normally eat in a day. On Day 3 the feast continued.  Another eggs to order breakfast, bacon, and waffles, and their excellent homemade rye bread.  As we ate, we decided that we would target crappie today. Crappie are a great tasting panfish and are plentiful in Lake of the Woods.

We finished breakfast, and headed back to the cabin to get dressed in our rain gear and an extra layer to combat the rain, wind and cool low 60's temperatures. It appeared that the rain would not stop until almost noon, and we didn't want to "burn daylight", so we headed out.  After a wet, windy, bumpy 40 minute ride to our young guide's secret crappie spot, we finally stopped the boats and tipped our jigs with crappie minnows.  Our reel bails closed as our jigs found the lake bottom, and we waited....and waited...and waited.  We moved to new spots every 10-15 minutes, and waited again while the rain still fell. Situations like this make me glad that this group of guys are so easy going.  

From a fishing standpoint it was a disappointing 2-3 hours. But I did not hear a single complaint from Dad, Tom, or Jim.  In fishing and hunting and the outdoors, weather is going to be a factor.  Attitude is what makes it good or bad. It was a good morning!

Shore lunch spot - Day 3

The rain finally stopped by around 11:00, and slowly but surely the fish started biting again. We caught a few before heading out to a lunch spot midday. Today's lunch was not the traditional shore lunch, as we ordered PB&J's from the kitchen instead.  We all really enjoy the fresh fish, but 3 days in a row can be a bit much.  We found a great spot out of the wind, on a rocky shore. The kind of rocky shore that defines this lake and its stunning beauty.

We spent the afternoon trying to target species that we could freeze and bring home.  The border crossing allows us to bring back 2 walleye, 5 crappie, 5 perch, and 2 northern pike per person....so a total of 8 walleye, 20 crappie and perch, and 8 pike.  We needed 1 more walleye, and lots of the other species.  Tom and I caught our last keeper walleye, along with a bunch more that we released. Including a really nice 23" fish that Tom caught.  We also added a perch to the bag.  Dad and Jim had a fun afternoon targeting pike and catching a bunch of smallmouth instead. Dad also landed a muskie! THus, only a couple fish were added to the take-home cache, but a good afternoon of fishing.

 

Tom with another 23 incher

One of Dad's many Smallies

Jim with one of many Smallmouth

Jerry with the last keeper