It started with a text message

[danc]

The text message was to my buddy Dan M. His reply was simply "Sounds good. I'm in". It was a much needed outing for me, and for once everything seemed to be falling in place perfectly. For Dan M, who has recently retired, it was a no brainer. I had to get through a ten day work stint in Red Lake first, which would put me back home mid week before the long weekend. Perfect. It's been forever since I've had such a luxury. Our plan was to run about 15 miles to a secluded island and set up camp for three or four days. Smack dab in the middle of Brook Trout heaven. Weather was nice and we had a great run up to the island. Even a secluded island has it's luxuries.

 

 

A few hours in the boat that evening rewarded us with a couple of decent fish. It was more of an encouragement thing than anything else. The fish were biting. The weather was great. And the water temps were just about perfect for the type of fishing we were doing. Mid 50's. We were set up for some fun. I was excited to try out some new jigs that I recently purchased from a friend of mine.

 

 

There's nothing like a good coleman stove brewed cup of java in the morning when you're tenting in God's country. It even seems fitting that you get a mouth full of coffee grounds with your last swig. I'm not sure why, but it just seems right out there.

 

 

I'm gonna get right to the point here now. Dan M put on a trophy Brook Trout catching clinic for me this trip. He kicked my ass. I was relagated as net man. But I enjoyed every second of it. He started out Friday morning with this 23 inch beauty. We both saw it follow his jig to the boat and watched in awe as he dropped it back and watched the fish inhale it just a few feet from the boat. That sight will be etched in my mind for quite some time. Forever perhaps.

 

 

Saturday morning we woke to brisk winds from the north with a couple of rain showers thrown in. We fished for a few hours in late morning with no photo worthy fish and then decided to relax on the island with a clearing forecast for the evening. In the late afternoon things starting looking up.

 

View from the camp site.

 

 

Before we went fishing we went for a wood run for the evening camp fire. Since Dan M was catching all of the fish, I sent him to shore to fetch the wood while I relaxed. There's a price to pay for everything.

 

 

The weather that evening turned out beautiful, so off we went for some fishing. Guess what happened next? Yup. Dan M nails one of the nicest Brookies that I've seen in a couple years. 24 1/2" of pure gold. A male Brookie with all the bells and whistles. Girth. Color. Huge jaw. Incredibally thick across the back. This fish had it all.

 

 

 

With the evening fast approaching, it was time to head back to our island to relax. And celebrate. I've stayed on the island a half dozen times before and I know that it offers an incredible sunset view at this time of year. So off I went with my camera to take it all in. I love this place.

 

 

 

Ok. It's today now (Sunday). Time to pack up, which is never much fun. But we've got an hour or two to spare so we decide to........ GO FISHING!!! You'll never guess what happened next. Yup. Dan M nails another huge Brookie. 23 1/2 inches if I remember. I'm getting to be pretty good with the net at this point.

 

 

That's pollen on the water beside the fish.

 

 

 

What a fantastic weekend. Dan M. Your turn to be net boy next time.

[Moosebunk]

Thoroughly enjoyed from this end Dan & Dan. That is one beautiful area to spend a few days and obviously worth it for the fish too. Nice seeing Dan out with ya and give him a congrats on his retirement.

[fishindevil]

Wow !!!! Awesome fish guys and the scenery looks amazing !!!!! The colors of those beauties are just incredible some real trophies !!!!!! Thanks for sharing your trip !!!!!! Cheers

[Roy]

Would you look at the size of those brutes! Glad the planets aligned for you guys Dan. Beautiful pictures as always. Thanks for sharing.

[wormdunker]

Awesome pix! Thanx for your report.

[Terry]

man, they are nice fish

[mattyk]

Beautiful fish!

[TroutnMuskieHunter]

Great report Dan...those specks are gorgeous!

[Rod Caster]

Wow. Those fish are just ridiculous. Good thing your a reliable net man!

[Fisherman]

Definitely a great trip, like those sunset pictures.

[irishfield]

You have enough pictures of you with fish anyhow!

[solopaddler]

Beautiful fish and small world.

 

Ironically my friend Dan from Thunder Bay showed me pic's of the exact same spot including the privy sign last year.

 

You guys should start a club. Only brookie fishing Dan's from Thunder Bay need apply LOL!

[Musky or Specks]

OMG some beauty fish. I really need to get back there.

[misfish]

Sure beats what I caught on the fly this morning. Beauty fish,and great report Dan,s.

[Muskieman]

Nice Pics ! Great fish !!

there's a UFO in your second picture

[mercman]

Dan the Man !!! Awesome pics and a great read! Good to see ya getting some "you" time bud !!

[mercman]

there's a UFO in your second picture

Better back off on the WIFI Randy....it'll attract them everytime............

[atvaholic]

Great pics! I've only dreamed of catching specks like that..

[SirCranksalot]

True fish porn indeed!! Those specks bear the same relationship to ordinary specks as pix of porn women do to the ordinary ones.

[aplumma]

nice trip and good company DanC thanks for sharing.

 

 

Art

[Walleye'm Fishing]

Wow, some freakin' beautiful MONSTER specimens right there. Great report Dan and fantastic pics to boot. A few years back I saw lots of pollen in a brookie lake that I fish. I didn't know what it was (until now) and it had me worried about the future state of the lake.

[Freshtrax]

Wow I need to gear up there

[Joey]

Just awesome Dan

[asdve23rveavwa]

Beautiful post Dan!!!! Truly gorgeous fish, and, your photos are "specktacular". Some day I'll make a trip up for some of those majestic beauties.

[Jds63]

Truly amazing specks ... its just awesome to see fish like that ...