IA Born Report post Posted July 24, 2018 A year ago, a buddy back in Iowa sent me a picture of himself with a 3-4lb smallie at his wife's family's cabin on Rainy Lake in Ontario, Canada. His text with the picture said "Would this interest you?" That started a year-long planning process of getting his family's and our family's schedules lined up to spend a week at his wife's uncle's cabin. I haven't been to Canada in 35 years and going back there fishing has been high on my bucket list since the last time I was there. The short version is that all the stars lined up and we got back this past Saturday from a week up there. Fishing wasn't great by the Canada standards I remember, but was awesome by our standards here in northern Arizona. My wife is the only one who didn't catch fish, but she only got out twice and was only half-heartedly trying. She was more intent on getting the kids opportunities and taking pictures. Me, I was the net man, hook-remover, lure changer, hook-baiter, snag remover, new leader-tier, and still made time to fish for myself. I wish my son could have caught a pike, but he loved the smallies and walleyes. I wish my daughter could have caught a walleye, but she loved the smallies, pike, and perch. I ended up with 5 pike ranging from 3-5.5lbs, a handful of smallies, the biggest of which was 3.5lbs, and a couple of eating-sized walleye. My favorite part of the trip was our kids asking when we could go back to Canada, especially after hearing them moan and groan about going and fishing every single day as we were planning the trip. To be fair, I told them they didn't have to fish every day if they didn't want to, but I was going to be fishing every day. Our last night there, my buddy and I took off, kid-free, and had a blast getting into fish. We booked it back in, ate a quick supper, and loaded everyone up on the pontoon to go back to where we finally found the walleye. Jacob hooked a good one, but it broke off at the boat as I was trying to net it. Then he hooked and landed a good eater. Aside from my kids getting hooked on this kind of fishing, my other favorite was catching two pike in 10 minutes on the Savage 3d Suicide Duck lure I bought specifically for this trip. If you've never seen that in action, look it up on YouTube. Its beyond awesome to see in person. After my two, I gave the lure to my daughter. She had a strike, but missed it. It was even more amazing to watch standing next to her. My only goal not met was catching a pike on my 9wt fly rod. I used it a couple of times in the inlet by the cabin, but no pike were hungry. I got better distance and hauls, though, so its still a win for me. Morning view from the cabin First pike in 35 years First smallie in 18 years 3.5lb smallie Syd's first pike Syd's first smallie Jacob with a smallie Jacob's walleye (wiggling the whole time) 2nd pike on duckling lure Bite marks 5.5lb pike (my 2nd best) Syd and I doubled on pike Jacob and I doubled on pike and his first smallie Rainy Lake Sunset Learning to drive a boat Cabin at night 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThomC Report post Posted July 24, 2018 Nice! I have fished Rainy on the MN side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted July 24, 2018 That's awesome. I dont so much love fishing, but I love catching. You have some bigass hands. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted July 24, 2018 Very cool!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted August 14, 2018 Right on! I went last year and fished between every bear stand sit and loved it. I caught so many walleye my arms were sore ate so much fish I think my sweat smelled like fish when I left. Pike were a blast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted August 14, 2018 Looks like a good time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
