Where have all the auroras gone?

[adolson]

Long time passing...

 

I'm sure the MNR stocked Wynn Lake with aurora trout last year, in preparation for this year's short season for the unspeckled speckled trout, but they're not in there anymore. Or if they are, they're hiding, but not from me...

 

I'd heard that three years ago guys were pulling pike out of the lake, so I wasn't going to try this year. But then I also heard that the MNR "checked it out" and found no pike. So, let's go for a couple hour drive and try our hand at the elusive trout once again...

 

A few hours on the lake, I've tried a few presentations, casting, trolling, some slip-floating.. Nothing. Then I put on a perch-pattern shallow shad Rap that I can remember buying 20 years ago. Figured I'd troll it fairly shallow over downed trees and such. I made one pass. Nothing.

 

Shortly after reaching the end of the lake, I turned around and started off again when the lure got snagged. Then it started pulling, and for a brief second I had visions of me posting a real picture of myself on here with a fish that doesn't even exist. Then it started pulling. I thought I must've hooked the world-record aurora, since there's no pike in this lake. Then I saw it... An old, nasty, dark, enormous pike. It was fat. Fat. Very clearly its belly was full of every last aurora trout the MNR dumped in there.

 

I haven't seen a pike that big in person before. The biggest I landed was about 34" (maybe 35", I can't remember off the top of my head), and I lost one when fishing with Rod Caster that was probably about the same. This one was bigger.

 

I'm not sure how much bigger, since I didn't land it. I tried to tire him out, and I thought he was played right out. He wasn't fighting anymore. But alas, I had no net large enough for a fish that big, and as I reached down to lift him out, he took another run and cut through my 8lb leaderless fluoro. There goes my lure... And my swivel snap.

 

If I *had* landed him, I would have cut him up and gifted him to my brother. And I'd probably have pulled an aurora outta the gut and snapped a pic. After all, I would have finally caught one, right?

 

Here's a vid, though it doesn't really give much of an indication of how big the pike was - at least you can see it. Heed my warning - don't bother trying for auroras here. I'm never trying this lake again. Wynn? More like Fayll, AMIRITE?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzQHHGWIK0A

 

After losing the battle, it was now approaching 11am, and I headed back to shore. I tried to find access into a couple rainbow trout lakes. One has no roads leading into it that I could find, and the other was filled with private cottages, and no way to access it for poor folks. Good thing the MNR stocks these private lakes for the ten families that can afford to live there in the warm months.

 

I found my way back to a different rainbow lake, closer to home. Fished it until after sunset, having only briefly tussled with a small bow, which shook lose my hooks after a jump. Shortly afterwards I landed a sucker, which seemed to attack one of the trebles with the top of its head, and the other with the side of its face... At the end of the day, I went home with no trout, cold hands, and a realization that I was indeed the sucker.

 

I'm packing away the leaky Sportspal tonight. This year has frankly sucked for me, and I miss my kid when I'm out. He'll be coming with soon enough; if not next season, then the one after. At least with him with me, the sting of the skunk won't hurt so bad.

[Musky or Specks]

Yes this sucks Dana. I was fishing Big Club when the ministry guys that came to do a creel told me Wynn had pike in it. Make sure you call them with the confirmation and a link so they don't waste anymore money stocking it. This is why midnight stocking is such a damaging activity.

[highdrifter]

Man that's a tough pill to swallow.

 

It's been a dreadful year for myself included. I rarelly get out, and when I do, I place too much pressure on myself and friends to make it a banner day, when I should be taking it all in and simpy enjoying my time out on the water.

 

I'm learning that I can't expect too much of myself, especially when I'm fishing a new body of water and I'm not familiar with the local techniques. At the end of the day, it's what you retain from the experience that makes all the difference.

 

You've still got plenty of time before the hard water season. This time of year, there's great fishing to be had on your local lake. I've had great evenings just long-lining rapalas from my trusty Scott canoe on lake Temiskaming.

 

Hope this helps, albeit even a little.

 

cheers

HD

[blarg]

Well see the sun is at a low point in its cyclle with fewer sun spot...o, this is about fish, go figure.

[mike rousseau]

That's a big pike.... Big enough it would have been living there for many years...

[mercman]

You are a good story teller Bud !!! Nice pike anyways, and keep up the search for the Aurora !!

[danc]

This is a timely topic for me. I've been setting up for my job at the Dorion fish hatchery the past few days and while waiting outside the managers office this morning, I heard him talking about Auroras on the telephone. Wow I thought. Auroras up here? After he got off the phone he told me that they are importing Auroras to raise at the hatchery and then sending them off to Guelph, I believe. I didn't get into fish ages and whatnot, but I will! During our brief conversation on this topic it was clear that I knew more about Auroras than he did. He has kinda taken me under his wing at the hatchery because he knows that I am so into Trout and Trout fishing. It should be a fun next 3 or 4 months.

[highdrifter]

This is a timely topic for me. I've been setting up for my job at the Dorion fish hatchery the past few days and while waiting outside the managers office this morning, I heard him talking about Auroras on the telephone. Wow I thought. Auroras up here? After he got off the phone he told me that they are importing Auroras to raise at the hatchery and then sending them off to Guelph, I believe. I didn't get into fish ages and whatnot, but I will! During our brief conversation on this topic it was clear that I knew more about Auroras than he did. He has kinda taken me under his wing at the hatchery because he knows that I am so into Trout and Trout fishing. It should be a fun next 3 or 4 months.

 

Those auroras coming from the Hill's Lake Fish Hatchery? I'm guessing they'll be transfering fingerlings or parr as their raceways only hold younger fish. Their brood stock is kept in the ponds outside the facility.

 

Aaahhh the memories..