bigcreekdad

Was in the British Virgin Islands a few weeks ago. Usually we go in April, and most fishing is done in a boston whaler offshore, with an occasional tarpon shot at night off the dock. However, we arrived to find scads of baitfish well inshore and tarpon feeding on then literally within yards of the beach. I took on this challenge with my trusty 9 wgt fly rod, and a sinking line, which is great to cast into wind, and some streamer patterns I tied up. Final score....Tarpon 10...Me 0. About half threw the hook on a jump, and half broke me off....usually on a jump as well. My last tarpon was on for 33 minutes. I hooked him within 10 yards of shore, and when broke me off he was likely 250 yards into my backing. What bruisers!! I've fly rod tarpon fished before, and landed a few, but have never been this badly thrashed. You really need a boat to chase them, get them back on the fly line, and exert enough continuous pressure to get them too turn their heads....only way to tire them out. Obviously, beach fishing for them not the best way to go with a fly rod. However......IT WAS A BLAST!! Mont Gay Rum was good too.

The guy in the bottom pic looks delusional

With no disrespect intended.....his friend is delusional. That pic's been around for years.

That pic of the guy with the monster pike has been posted in various places on the net for many years. Every time it pops up it's caught on a different lake just recently. I believe it was actually caught somewhere in Europe.

I have a Magnum 165 in tiller model. I bought it new about 12 years ago. Great boat....likely my last. Great ride, even in chop, lots of room, and stable as hell. Mine is powered by a 60 hp Yam 4 stroke. That's the largest the tiller model is rated for. Top end speed is about 35mph, which is fine for the water I fish (mostly French River and small inland lakes). As others have said, I would be concerned about the motor size for that model. I like the idea from others about buying it and replacing the motor via trade or resale. The boat itself is great. Also, smaller motor will save you a little gas money.

Been fishing the upper for 15 years now. I think the fishing has been on a slow decline. Thinking about trying the lower. Any thoughts?

I was fishing a bay off the Little French River, staying at Casa Blanca Lodge on the upper French. Brian and Liz, proprietors, approached us with the news that America was under attack. They took the time and trouble to try to notify everyone on the water. We, along with most everyone else on the water, immediately headed back to the lodge and were glued to the satellite TV. I'll never forget that day. Dinner at the lodge that night was a pretty pissed off and surly crowd. But yet, often subdued for periods. I'll never forget how appreciative we all were at Brian and Liz's efforts to notify all of us. I won't forget my drive home thru Michigan. Wile I was southbound on US 23 north of Ann Arbor, a motorcyclist going north had an American flag waving behind him that must have been 4' x 6'......goddamned choked me up. Where is that spirit today?

Wow! After reading the Chapleuea post, I am determined to take me son, and another father/son team on such a trip next year. Please give me any thoughts you may have. My only limitation is that it must have indoor toilet facilities. Don't care about hot water, It's a long story, but I could never get my son to an out house. Thanks in advance.

loop to loop, or surgeons knot

Lousy weather here, so I've been surfing the web. Looked up Lunge Lodge site, as well as their blog, and it looks like that place has really been updated. I used to boat by there back in the late 90's and it looked a little worse for the wear. Anyone been up there? Also, used to go to Casa Blanca. Their website still shows 2008 rates. Does anyone know if it is still in business?

Sorry for your loss......he looks like a fine pal. I lost my flatcoat Seamus in June. I wept like a child. Amazing how much dogs can become such an important part of your lives.

After a week at Fireside Lodge on Little Vermillion Lake in NW Ontario, I crossed the border at Sault Ste. Marie at 7 AM this morning. I take 3-5 trips to Canada a year, and this was my 4th this year. I've been questioned by many different border agents, and, by and large, they have been decent people doing their job. This morning was different. When I rolled to the booth towng my boat I greeted the agent with a pleasant "good morning", holding out my passport. Response was... where do you live. I responded Toledo, Ohio and she paused and said...that's not where you live. I said actually it's the village of Holland, Ohio, but part of greater Toledo metro area. After several questions about where I went, including how did I find out about, there was a fair amount of skepticism as to why I would I would hook up my boat, drive a long distance by myself, just to fish. I've been questioned before with this line of questioning but not with the attitude I was getting from this agent. She then asked if I was bringing back any alcohol, tobacco, etc. I said I have half a case of beer. Then she asked if I was bringing back anything I had purchased. I responded that I had to buy a new tire for my trailer. She said...that's all? I said yes. She said where did you buy the beer. I said in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. She then said....I just asked you if you were bringing back anything you purchased and you said nothing but the tire, when you actually purchased the beer also. She then opened the livewell of my boat but couldn't get it closed. I tried to tell her how to do it and she told me to pull over after I left the gate and close it myself. That was it....not the usual "wellcome back", or" welcome home" I usually receive. I was so mad I almost told her what I thought of her attitude, but knowing what that would likely lead to, I just griited my teeth and moved on. I'm still pissed. On a brighter note, the fishing at Fireside was quite good, even though I was in the Dog Days, and the lodge accomodations, food, and owners were fantastic. I'll be going back.

You never know. I've been there several times mid to late September. Last year was not so good, but I've had good success in the past. If you are looking for a truly big muskie, your on the right water.

I've stayed at Lochaven, which is upriver from Bryer Lodge. I've been there over a dozen times and cannot say enough about the lodge, owners and staff, and the clientele they attract. However, it is American Plan only, and I believe Bryer is housekeeping. So it depends on what you are looking for. I must say, every time I have driven by Bryer, I am impressed with how nice it looks. You can tell it is well maintained, even from a boat in mid river. If I was doing a housekeeping trip, I would go there. Report back on Bryer, as well as your trip in general. uote name='F_ast' date='11 August 2011 - 03:35 PM' timestamp='1313091338' post='611395'] Trying to book a little bit of a last minute trip to French River Wolseley bay area. I have stayed at the Wolseley lodge several times, but time to change it up this time. Has anyone stayed at the Bryer Lodge? Any feedback on it would be great. Thanks

I was on the upper last week fishing out of Lochaven (a terrific lodge!) . Damn hot, but fishing was better than I expected given the heat. You can find plenty of smallmouth in any weedbed drifting worms. I cast spinnerbaits and buzzbaits over and through weedbeds and caught several pike. Saw two muskies....one tried to eat my 16-17" bass just as I tried to lip it into the boat. The other hit a buzzbait after dinner with a tremendous strike. Had it on for 2 seconds, but it threw the lure, and disappeared in a huge noisy swirl. It was definitely one of the old people. That's happened to me several other times up there....one of these days I'll win the battle. I didn't see a walleye myself the whole week, and didn't here of many caught by others at the lodge. I think good walleye fishing is a thing of the past up there. Good luck to you.

Back in the mid 90's I fished out of Wanikewin several times. Ken Baker, the owner, is quite a guy. We were after muskie primarily. There are some positively huge muskies in the Pickerel. Our best week of fishing resulted in 9 muskies when there were only two of us. Our best fish landed was 49", but we lost a true monster the day before at boatside in Rat Bay. We still talk about that fish and how two supposed muskie veterans got buck fever when we saw it, which resulted in the loss at boatside. Rat, Musky, and MacDougal Bay should be worked hard on the downstream side. Upstream of the 69 bridge all the way to the power lines also has great muskie water. There is one big bay on your right going upstream which has a lot of logs at the back end. There are a few smaller bays down that way also that should be worked. The south shoreline east of 69 was great for random casting, with plenty of small weedbeds and points of structure every 50 yards or so. We found the north shoreline pretty void other than where the Little French enters, nd a small falls further upstream. While fishing muskie, we also caught pike, but I don't recall any particularly large ones, other than one that struck at boatside one night which was lost. However, fishing for lunge produced some awful nice smallmouth, wit a few in the 18-20" range. We cast a lot of bucktails, and jerkbaits. We also trolled big grandmas and monster jointed pikie minnows. One nice thing about the Pickerel is you do not see many other boats. Also, windy days are never an issue there. We quit fishing there only because my kids, and the kids of two others who went with us to Kenny's found a lodge on the upper French where they became friends with the owner's kids. I would very much like to hit the Pickerel again some day. Tell Kenny the guys from Toledo will get back someday. Hope this helps.

qui

So.....you are basically telling me to give up? You bunch of quitters!!!

Heading to the French River next week with my son. Weather forecast for our stay is HOT! I don't usually do well on those calm hot days, so, rather than just get ticked off, I'm looking for some advice on how you change your technique in hot spells. I'm usually flinging bucktails, big rapalas, etc for muskie/pike, and surface poppers for bass, but the fish will likely be seeking cooler water and less sun.

Not sure it will result in any real action. I've fished the French River, at least twice a year, since the early 90's. The decline of the walleye is very real. I've seen nets on the French, and according to some folks I know, there is even spearing below the dams. Slot limits don't make any difference when you have netting, and even spearing, especially during the spawn. Much as I love the French, and its ambience, my son and I are seriously considering seeking new water. It will certainly increase the travel time, but I expect at least to catch fish on a trip. It doesn't have to be great, even mediocre, with an occasional good day thrown in, will do. Damn shame.

Not sure if it's available where you are, but in northern Michigan I use Wild Blue at my cabin, and other than in extreme weather it works pretty good.

Heading up to Fireside Lodge in NW Ontario in late August. Does anyone know where I might obtain a map chip for my Lowrance of Little Vermillion Lake?

That may very well be your best trip report. I know I will read it again, more slowly, may several times. I would love to hit that place with a fly rod. Only negative was the loss Grant experienced. However, you presented it very well. Grant....if you are reading this, my condolences on your loss. Some things in life just make no sense.

On the French Rivera few weeks ago, I was casting to a well known weed bed when a guided pontoon boat with bait fisherman pulled right up to the edge of the bed and slowly started in reverse across it. Less than a long cast away, and their reverse direction was going to take them right over the area I was casting to. Being of Irish descent, my first thought was to aim my next cast at his head. However, reason prevailed, and, instead, I just continued to cast to the same spot. When he finally was to the point that my casts were 10 feet off the rear of his pontoon, he left. What a jerk! When I mentioned this to the lodge owner where I was staying, he said this particular guide was known for this.

I'm finally going to admit it.....I fell for the Banjo Minnow. Babe Winkleman endorsed it....that should have been my first warning indication.