Just got back from Minaki Ontario. First time trip for my dad, friend John, and myself. We had originally booked a guide for the first day or 2, but then some scheduling conflicts and date changes occurred so we hit the water blind and self-guided and started eliminating water.
The first day and a half of fishing was hard, hard work. Pounded the water from 4:30-10 p.m. the first afternoon and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. the second day and only turned one fish. By the middle of the second full day though we were starting to figure things out and seeing fish. Boated 4 nice muskie and several nice pike in the next day and a half. We had several near misses and blow-ups and even had an unprecedented (at least for me) muskie double in which John had hooked a 47 incher and while he was fighting it, a 45 swam right past the outboard and away from the boat. My dad thew a cast beyond it and I’ll be darned if the fish didn’t wheel and eat. Over 90 inches of muskie battle going on all at once. Pretty interesting being the net man when that’s going on. Which one to net first! In the end we netted John’s fish, popped hooks, threw it in the livewell and netted Dad’s fish. What a great memory and photo opportunity!!
It’s been 10 years since my dad and I have gotten to share the boat on a muskie hunt together. Time, kids and competing priorities have taken us different directions. I can say that we both were “re-bitten” hard by the muskie bug. Looking forward to planning our next adventure. maybe in days or weeks instead of years this time!
Hope you enjoy the pics half as much as we did taking them.
