Big Hook Fishing Report Week 5

Overall, the weather held up well last week. One storm squall brought us ample amounts of lightening and even some hail. Typically, fish will bite like crazy just prior to sweeping fronts. Just keep in mind you should get off the water when you see lightening crashing in the distance.

Water levels finally seem to be topping out. It is amazing how fast the water has shot up in one week. Central is the highest of all the lakes with water almost over the tops of the docks. Cocos is usually the last to peak because the lake is at the end of the river system.

Fishing tip: You have probably heard this before, but while pike fishing don't forget to do a figure eight at the boat every couple of casts. You would be amazed how many fish will shoot up from the depths and slam your bait boatside. Also, if you have a big pike follow your lure, try slinging a jig on a leader immediately after that fish swims out of site. Chances are that timid fish will strike a smaller lure.

Tackle recommendation: Flourocarbon leaders can make a huge difference for fishing. Flourocarbon is a monofilament fishing line thats doesn't reflect sun light, thus making it invisible to fish. 50# flourocarbon leaders are great vs traditional steel leaders for boating timid, lethargic pike.

Central Lake

Central boated and released the largest fish of the week, a beautiful 45" pike. Caught by Wally from the Cook party on his first trip boated the monster just 400 yds from the camp on a small Mepp's spinner. With the high water walleye's are holding tight to all four incoming rapids. Husker rock was a hot spot for eye's bigger than 23". Trolling a silver fat rap through the West narrows was really effective. Other large pike were caught on the west portage and in the north narrows.

South Lake

The walleye's cooperated all week long reported the Brutcher party. Many fish were caught and released over 25". The topside of the rapids on the north end was superb. The narrows just south of camp was also excellent. Weeds are beginning to thicken on the north end of the lake. Water levels have come up about a foot throughout the week.

West Lake

The high water has the waterfalls flowing and the fish holding tight to the current. Don't be afraid to fish well away from the rapids for big prowling pike. The narrows again were the hot spot for monsters. Largest pike topped at 43" with several others larger than 40". The guests managed to net a 40" fish that T-boned a smaller 18" pike at the boat. That is a rare feat, normally the big fish let go. The weed beds in the fish bowl are heating up with thicker foliage holding many fish. The north end of the lake is producing, reefs on the east side are holding large walleyes.

Cocos Lake

The Mroz party submitted an awesome list of pike caught and released during the week. For example here are some of the fish caught. 14 pike caught over 35" and two pike reaching a staggering 43". Several 25" walleye were photo'd and released also. Many of the fish were caught in cabbage beds. Hot lures were doctor spoons and johnson silver minnows. The rapids are still navigable, although more and more water is spilling through daily.

Burnt Lake

The Long party had huge smiles on their faces after a week of great fishing. According to them, fish were holding on points and everywhere the lake narrows. Several large perch were boated. Perch were holding in the weeds. As usual, the narrows held thousands of fish. Pike are prowling between reefs and weeds.

Favourable/Lemonade

Lemonade produced hundreds of walleye along with many perch and saugers. Pike are always striking on Lemonade, however it is typical just to catch fish around 20-24". For pike Lemonade always has the numbers but it is tough to get the size. Nice walleyes between 18-22" are common on both Lemonade and Favourable. Fish are holding both in mud flats and rocky points. The creeks on the "elbow" of Favourable were holding plenty of both species. Pike were a little timid throughout the week, commonly following the lures to the boat. Note the fishing tip at the beginning of the blog. Several nice pike over 35" were boated and released. I'll be guiding on Favourable in the near future and will be able to report specific locations.

Good luck on the water everyone. (Pictured above: A nice walleye boated and released from Burnt.)

Nathan

Big Hook Wilderness Camps

Big Hook Fishing Report Week 4

Two days of solid rain sent the water levels sky rocketing last week. Water levels are now above normal. The rising water has stunted weed growth over the past week. Hopefully, the weeds will catch up to the rising levels with the ample amounts of sun we have been receiving. Overall, the weather has been warm with scattered thunder showers in the afternoon. Water surface temperatures are starting to flirt with 70 degree's. May flies have been spotted on several lakes over the past couple of days. The main hatch still is looming.

A key tactic to combat the may flies is to try scaling down on tackle size. Just switching to 1/4 oz jigs from 3/8 oz can yield great results. Smaller crank baits like baby fat raps and small husky jerks are great for trolling. My favorite colors are blue and silver.

Central Lake

The Walker and Buck party boated tons and tons of 20+" walleye. Lots were caught trolling crankbaits

in about 8-12ft of water. Pike were active on cloudy days, smashing bucktails on the mud flats.

Dave from the Cook party hit the grand slam of fishing boated and releasing one of every species

(walleye, pike, whitefish, sucker and perch) in one afternoon. All rapids are gushing with the high water. Fish are

holding tight to the current. The West and South portages have been amazing according to several

guests. Yesterday, we boated and released 12 walleye between 23-26" in one hour while trolling

over a twelve foot mud flat.

South Lake

Over 40 walleye between 25-30" were boated and released last week. Several pike over 38" were released also. The hot spot was just south of the camp in the narrows. Another hot spot was above the falls on the north end of the lake. Like most other lakes fish were holding in 8-12 ft of water. Weed growth has been minimal.

West Lake

The north end of the lake was surprisingly effective for big walleye. Trolling and jigging in 8 ft of water in the east bays on the north end produced many walleye pushing 25+". The north end of west is usually a slow starter due to the deeper cool water. The fish bowl produced several monster pike. The camp ground hogs kept the Sellner party company.

Cocos Lake

As usual the rapids churned out thousands of walleye. Jigs with flouro orange gulp hammered many larger female walleye. Johnson silver minnows tipped with white twister tails brought in nice pike. A number of larger pike were caught on the north end creeks near duckling island. The water is flowing heavily through the rapids and is getting border line accessible. Please use your best judgement running the rapids.

Burnt Lake

All three species are slamming at Burnt Lake. Fish are beginning to move from the narrows to the main bodies of water. Jigging or trolling any point was effective. Weed beds were holding all pike, perch and walleye. Smaller tackle for perch yields numerous fish. The Koehler party reported many 25-28" walleye along with pike topping 38".

South West

"Thousands of fish!" raved the Smith party last week. When I asked "where did you catch them?"

"Everywhere!" was their response. The popular lure was a 1/4 oz jig with a yellow twister for walleye. Just about anything was effective for pike according to guests. Many spots within eyesight from camp boated the most fish.

(Pictured above: Dave with a nice 25.5" walleye that was promptly released on Central Lake 6-21)

Please remember Big Hook has a no trophy take out policy, which means NO walleye over 18" and NO pike over 27.5" can be kept.

Good luck on the water everyone.

Nathan

Big Hook Camps

www.bighookcamps.com

Big Hook Week 3

Today is a beautiful day here at Big Hook Camps in the Opasquia Provincial Park. Temperatures are hanging around 72 degree's and the sun is shining. This past Saturday brought us plenty of rain to raise the water levels. Finally, water is on the rise at most lakes. Hopefully we have seen the lowest levels of the summer.

Central

Water temperatures should spike drastically with the sunshine we are supposed to receive this week. Yesterday I was marking 58 degree's consistently throughout Central. Walleye were biting light due to the nasty weather pattern. We switched from jigs to crankbaits and the fish were striking much more aggressively. Pike are still holding shallow along with most of the walleye. It seemed any rocky point or mud flat that was 7 ft held fish. The Newburn party last week boated numerous pike between 36-40", mostly on the north end of the lake. The Bunting party found much success for 20-25" walleye within 1/2 mile of camp. Jigging is still the most effective way to boat walleye. Yellow tails and a 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz head were most popular.

Burnt Lake

The boys at Burnt exclaimed they boated over 3000 walleye last week! Fishing was great, walleye and pike are still holding in the "bottleneck" to the NE of camp. Any point was holding fish and the perch are hanging in the shallower weedy areas. Weeds are now becoming visible in shallower areas. The weed beds should spring to life with this weeks sunshine.

West Lake

The falls towards the SE end of the lake held several big pike. The guests were often surprised when a huge pike would T bone a small walleye on the end of their lines. The narrows towards the "fish bowl" still are holding plenty of pike too. The north end of the lake is still slower due to the cool temperatures but that should change quickly. Johnson silver minnows were effective in the shallow weedy bays. Walleye are holding shallow 8 ft or less.

Cocos Lake

The rapids continues to impress guests week after week. Thousands and thousands of walleye continue to hold in the current and should remain there the majority of the season. Several of the rock piles south of the current will hold big prowling pike. Be careful running the rapids with the low water, new rocks are hittable! Weeds are growing quick and pike are finding their way to the weed beds.

Favourable/Lemonade

Guests claimed they the best fishing spot was within eyesight of the dock on the Lemonade side. Fishing in about 8 ft of water, each guest claimed they boated a 100 fish just drifting and jigging within 400 yds from the dock. Favourable produced some great pike action in Pike Alley. The big fish are also holding in the creek mouths chasing suckers and perch. Water on Favourable is about a foot low so keep your eyes open for new reefs. Walleye are hanging around points and around Pike Alley. One of my favorite spots this time of year is Pike Alley for both species.

South Lake

Nice walleyes were being caught in the narrows SE of camp. Pike were in the weed beds around the area also. The rapids on the north end of the lake were holding tons of walleye. Walleye seemed to be favoring flouro orange colors. Guests boated an impressive 38" pike on 6 pd test line and a jig. It never fails to catch big pike while walleye fishing.

Hope all is well with everyone. Good luck in your fishing endeavors! Remember to throw the big ones back.

-Nathan

Big Hook Camps

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Big Hook Fishing Report Week 2

Fisherman had to battle some rough weather last week. Last Sunday brought in a "north easter" weather system with wind and rain. Those who braved the weather for two days did manage to boat plenty of fish. Remember fish don't care if they get wet.

Tuesday morning brought plenty of sunshine for the rest of the week and the water temperatures skyrocketed. Weed growth on most of the lakes is minimal. Fish are still holding in the current or mud flats.

Majority of the fish caught at the outposts last week were in 8 ft or shallower. As usual, jigs were the effective bait for walleye. The johnson silver minnow and Mepps Musky Killer were top baits for trophy pike.

Burnt Lake

I guided at Burnt for three days last week and found some success for both species. The Magna party boated a 40" fish the first night in the narrows NE from the camp. The "bottleneck" as we called the spot was holding thousands of walleye. No kidding, thousands of walleye's would be an understatement. When in doubt, anyone could drop a jig and find a walleye on the end of their line in seconds. Pike were holding on the sides of the "bottleneck" prowling for their next meal. Perch were holding in the shallow mud flats. Small jigs with white twisters, Mepps 0 agila, and beetle spins were great baits. Walleye 14-20" were everywhere in 8 ft of water or shallower.

Cocos Lake

Cocos rapids were unstoppable. Fish were holding all around the current. Many of the bays close to the cabin were hot spots for pike. The key was finding the sun soaked bays. Water for Cocos is still extremely low, approximately 2 ft below normal. Careful shooting the rapids, new boulders are hittable.

West Lake

The narrows to the south of the camp was the spot of the week. The Grady party boated and released many fish from 35" up to 42.5". According to the guests, walleye were holding everywhere and striking just about ever bait. Many of the guys tried every bait in their tackle box and found success. The "fish bowl" is usually the more active end of the lake during the early months of the summer.

Central Lake

The Newburn party boated and released a 41.5" fish on the second cast of the trip. Many fish were holding on the wind blown shoreline, an east wind for the last three days has stacked the fish on the west shorelines. Water temperatures are on the rise with some shallow area's reaching into the mid 60's. .

Good luck on the water everyone. Remember to throw the big one's back.

-Nathan

Big Hook Camps

www.bighookcamps.com