Premier Fly-in Lake Trout and Northern Pike Fishing.
When corresponding with guests prior to their visit to the Lodge, I’m often asked, “What lures should we bring for big Lakers?” We all have a favorite and at Rutledge we definitely have ours.
When I returned home, I contacted Tom Davis of Rhys Davis Lures and purchased several cases of teasers in an assortment of colors. We continue to enjoy incredible action using teasers and are our preferred lure for Lakers.
As with most fishing “nuts”, once my gear is loaded on the float plane and we lift off for home, I’m counting down the days until my next trip back and reflecting on trips past.
My first ever fly-in fishing trip was to Rutledge Lake Lodge in 1980. For me back then, it was all about catching that big lunker and we did our best to do so. We still reminisce about three monster pike that teased us one afternoon for ten or fifteen minutes, following our lures back to the boat on several casts. Though we didn’t hook one, the crystal clear water provided us with an incredible and exciting show we still talk about 38 years later!
But what I remember best is quality time spent with family and friends, winning the huckleybuck pot one evening, and yes the mosquitos were quite memorable that first trip as well!
As usual, Rob Day from Edmonton was enjoying incredible action with his green herring teaser, me and my purple haze teaser not so much! With rain clouds heading our way, we decided to troll over to the filleting island, clean ourcatch for lunch and then hustle home to avoid getting wet.
As we got closer to the shallows between our position and the fileting island, Rob smiled, “Got one!” I started to reel in slowly hoping to snag one myself and”‘Bam” doubleheader. After much confusion and plenty of laughs, we managed to land both, snap a quick picture and then release the scrappy pair. We decided to finish our troll, another 100 yards or so before passing over the shallows before the island. After finding our “dental equipment” which seemed to be scattered everywhere in the mayhem, we rigged up and continued our troll.
In anticipation of the shallows, we watched the depth finder closely. First 30′, 20′, 15 and then 6′! “Reel in quick, we’re there!” Rob said. We both started to reel in our line when I felt a tug and my reel began to scream as the line was peeling off! Because of the depth, I started whining, “Big pike, the bugger’s going to take my favorite hook!” We were using 30lb mono for a leader and a pike’s teeth can easily cut the line. Rob was bent over laughing and mocking me as I continued cursing, “Don’t take my hook you big ******!” My line still zinging off the reel, “Hey, we’ve got to go. I’m running out of line!” Rob fired up the motor and started to follow so I could recoup some line. My drag was set quite tight, the fish tired and the big run stopped. Rob cut the engine and the fight continued. We were now in about 15′ of water, the fish was still trying desperately to get to deeper water. I slowly started to regain my line back and soon we got our first look.
Rob yelled, “It’s not a pike, it’s a big Lake Trout!”
Once we had the lunker securely in the net, we both started to laugh (in the rain!). Rob smacked me on the back so hard I nearly went into the drink!
Rob continued to out fish me as usual, catching some nice lakers as well. Truly another memorable trip to the Lodge!
June 2007.
It was getting late into our trip and everyone had caught at least one big laker with the exception of myself. Travis had caught two 20 pounds or better and Rob had two including a 36 pound beauty. I was fishing from the same boat, using the same hook and letting out the same amount of line yet I was having no luck with the big lunkers!
At first I thought, “Oh S*** I’m hung up!” It didn’t take long to realize I had a big laker on the line. Straight down to the bottom and there it stayed. Ten minutes into the fight I thought I’d muscle the lunker up. I put some extra pressure on the rod and for a brief second I thought I’d pulled the hook out and lost the fatty!. Needless to say there may have been a few choice words! There was no horsing it up, it was a stalemate for another few minutes until finally up it started. Once at the surface, Rob scooped and we had landed my first big lake trout. We quickly removed the hook, were amazed at the half eaten whitefish still in it’s mouth, took some pictures and released it to catch another day. I can still remember the excitement of catching my first big laker, a thrill I won’t forget anytime soon!
As the sun sets in early September, back to camp to stoke the furnace and enjoy a ‘hot toddy’! 
Another day of non stop fishing action at the lodge has past, one last log on the fire…
The welcome mat is always out for those surprise guests that sometimes drop by from time to time!
One of the highlights of each year’s fishing trip to the Lodge,
right after landing that trophy laker or northern pike, is “fine dining” on a rock in the middle of nowhere!
No reservations needed, no valet parking, no guessing which fork to use, just good company, a nice cold “pop” and of course the sizzle, smell and taste of fresh fish!
No matter who’s recipe whether secret or purchased,
there really isn’t a better eating experience then the shore lunch.
