Dan's Canada Fishing

2013 makes my 12th trip to Makokibatan. The first time with Mr. Winkleman, many great trips with Liddle's Fishing Adventures, and now a third time with Wilderness North. Flying in Saturday, 5/25/2013 and back out Saturday 6/1/2013. Steven, David, Sean, and myself scheduled to go. Looking forward to spending much quality time during the day in Walleye Alley and relaxing time in the evening at the cut or Big Sandy Point. Every time I promise to spend a little more time farther up the river, behind Shorelunch Island, along the south shore, or down past Eli's cabin. Maybe that will happen this year. But in reality, why would we be any place but the Alley? And one of these years I will leave all crankbaits, spoons, etc. at home and only take jigs and Powerbait tails. Would have been fine in 2011 with David. Nothing except jigs ever got wet. More likely, we will sort the Canada tackle once again, but end up with a few spoons, Shad Raps, and Wally Divers "just in case."

Makokibatan 2011: Returned to Makokibatan Lodge in May, 2011. Only David and Dan were able to go this year but had a great trip. Friday, 5/27/2011 - Flew from Columbus to Thunder Bay via Toronto on Air Canada. Given luggage restrictions we each took 1 CarryOn bag. We also shared a small duffel bag (checked) which contained our tackle bag, reels, GoreTex boots, and a few misc. items (bug spray, sunscreen, etc.) and a 44" long rod carrier - took all 2-piece rods. Took a while for the rod carrier to make it to baggage claim in Toronto (thought we might have to leave it in order to make next flight/already was calculating how many rods to buy in Thunder Bay) but they finally made it. Thru customs easily/rechecked duffel and rod carrier. Then waited in line for 1 hour to get thru security again. Flight to Thunder Bay was boarding as we made it to the gate. Took a cab from Thunder Bay airport to Days Inn and Suites. Very nice place. Walked down the street to pick up some snacks for the week. Walked across the parking lot to Montana's Cookhouse and had a nice dinner. Saturday, 5/28/2011 - Early wakeup and 5:30AM cab to Wilderness North base in Thunder Bay. Boarded the minibus for the 4 hour ride to Nakina (2 stops - Tim Horton's in Nipigon, roadside near Jellico). Arrived at Nakina Air 10:30 AM. Plane to Makokibatan took 1st group in then came back and got the rest of us. Arrived at Makokibatan 1:30PM. Unpacked/rigged a couple of rods. At 2:00PM David and I got into the boat and I said, "So where should we go? We need to be back here by 6:00." David just laughed and said, "You know where we are going. Only an idiot would go anyplace except the Alley.". So approximately 35 minutes later we cruised into to entrance of Walleye Alley. Rigged up 1/4 oz. Jigs with 3" Powergrub tails tipped with a minnow. And proceeded to catch nice walleye after nice walleye. After about 90 minutes of that, we turned the corner into Walleye Alley, went to "Eli's Secret Spot", dropped the jigs down and immediately had a double. I said to David, "Let's head for home. We know they're here and we have all week to catch them. So we headed back to the lodge and made it in plenty of time for Happy Half Hour. David tried out the IPad with the camp wireless and was back in contact with the outside world. After a great dinner, we headed out to the cut which connects the back lakes to the main lake. Usually we fish h channel heading into the cut, but I spend 15 minutes running us onto rocks (slowly), unable to find the channel. So we picked our way up into the center of the cut, anchored there, and pitched jigs back towards the small sandy shore. And caught walleye after walleye. Sunday, 5/29/2011 - Nice breakfast (David with the classic Canada Dave breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast made into a sandwich). Down the lake to Walleye Alley entrance. Drifted mostly the east shore but a little on the west. Caught tons of nice fish with jig/tail/minnow combo. Most 17-22", but several 24-25". David sometimes employed the Farina "No Tail, No Fail" technique. Over to nice shore lunch at noon and then back to the Alley around 1:00 for more walleye. Back to the Lodge around 4:45. Happy Half Hour at 5:30, dinner at 6:00, and by 7:00 back in the middle of the cut. David discovered that he didn't have to actually pitch his jig towards shore to catch a nice eye. Sitting in 3 feet of water he vertically jigged up both a 27" and 28" walleye - which made for very interesting fights starting with only that much line out. Headed back in around 9:30PM. Monday, 5/30/2011 Tuesday 5/31/2011 - Repeats of Sunday with great fishing. Wednesday, 6/1/2011 - Woke to heavy rain. More importantly, big wind. We have learned from the past that we do not want to be out on Makokibatan with big wind. The wind never diminished the entire day, so we spent the whole day in camp.....mostly sleeping. Thursday, 6/2/2011 - Woke to good weather. Had great fishing in the Alley during the day and in the cut that night. Friday, 6/3/2011 - Flight out in the morning. Out of Nakina by 11:15AM on the minibus. Back to the Days Inn and Suites. Dinner at Montans's. Saurday, 6/4/2011 - Flight to Columbus via Toronto on AirCanada. Notes: 1) A great trip. 2) Went thru 40 dozen minnows in 4 1/2 days of fishing. 3) Nice size to the walleyes. Largest 28", but a nice number of those 24-25" fish with big shoulders. 4) Fewer incidental pike than usual. 5) Wifi in the lodge worked well with the IPad. 6) Packing light because of AirCanada flight worked out great. 7) Few bugs. 8) Only lit 1 fire in wood stove. 9) Had 110 minute layover in Toronto going and needed every minute. 10) Spent 75 minutes in line in US customs coming home.