Better Late Than Never… 

Big Hook, 2022 is underway! While not the easiest of openings, all the camps are now bustling with guests. The purr of outboards and bent rods are now taking the place opening paraphernalia like hammers, vacuums, and chainsaws.  

A brutal winter in the north carried on into a stubborn spring. Big snowfall accumulations through the winter along with heavy, wet snows this spring led to an extremely late ice out and all-time high water levels. Currently the water at Central is about 2 feet above normal – and that is down a good foot and a half from when we arrived on May 21.

Our first flight into camp revealed a great deal of ice lingering on all the bigger water, fortunately the narrower passageways closer to camp were free and clear – of ice at least; all the highwater has led to numerous floating obstructions like logs, sometimes whole trees, and even a dock or two.

With the historically high water and an east wind as the ice went out several of our docks were mangled messes. They have since been cobbled together, but we are awaiting a few more degrees of water temps before we begin swim season / crib repair.

The weather since our opener has been variable to say the least. Our first week’s guests faced a brutal nor’easter that lingered for most of the week. There was more than 3 inches of rain, even snow and sleet at times. Oh, and plenty of wind just for good measure. A LOT of firewood was consumed. People were all still grins, however, and the fishing really seemed to turn on the second half of their week. Predictable given the late Walleye spawn in relation to the cold spring.

Guests were nailing hungry, post-coital Walleye in 4-7’ of water. Small and slow presentations were definitely the ticket. Casting light jigs with smaller tails, letting them sink, and then a quick jerk or two seemed a surefire way to elicit a strike.

 We weren’t able to do much flying in the weather described and when the weather proved nice enough to fly, it was also nice enough to be out fishing – we found mostly empty camps on our visits, so I don’t have too much more in the way of fish tales from week one.

On to week two… what proved to be one of the most idyllic early summer weeks you could imagine. Pleasant sunny days and comfortable temps abounded. Instead of burning firewood, guests were burning boat gas, and a lot of it, traveling to the far reaches of each camp. I missed the groups at Cocos, Burnt, and West on our mid-week camp checks, but did run into the guys at South Lake who reported numerous trophy catches, including a half dozen walleye over 25”, and two of which almost breached the 30” mark – all at a small, windblown inlet they found towards the north end of the lake.

In weeks 3-4 the fishing has continued to be phenomenal. A group at West really got after ‘em, with a father and son boating a 42.5” pike and a 31’ walleye! A couple at Burnt Lake averaged more than 200 fish / day with their total catch count of 1439. The guys at Southwest’s description of the fishing was “Out of this world.”

We are starting to see more and more fly rods up here – and maybe for good reason. The 31” walleye was caught on a top-water frog imitation.

As the water warms, the fish are now going a little deeper. Slightly larger jig head sizes have been taking favor. Little Cleo’s and Lazy Ike’s have also been producing.

For those with upcoming trips, it won’t be long before the top water season really takes root.

While the excitement of opening and anticipation of peak summer months is heartening, on a more somber note, I must share the news of Tom Brotherston’s passing. Tom, who for all purposes was the founder of Big Hook, passed away last month, when the single engine plane he was piloting collided with a communications tower in Sandy Lake. So sudden and unexpected, I think many in the Big Hook and Sandy Lake communities are still in disbelief – I know I am. Having spoken to him by radio minutes before, I can say he was his own special brand of happy, jovial, yet ornery right up till the end. He will be missed by many and his legacy at Big Hook will live on.  

 

Godspeed, Tom.