Taltson Bay Big Pike Lodge: Sep 10, 2014

August 23-30, 2014 brought a group of 4 seasoned Taltson anglers and 2 first timers for a trip of trips.
The week started with the knowledge that the week before was a bad wind and weather week, but the group found skies clear, temps in the 60's, winds light and variable from the south upon there arrival. The weather would remain so for the first 4 days, and the group crushed it!

Trophy fish 41"s and greater were caught right out of the box on the first drift for these six anglers. And those type of fish would be the norm and not the exception for most of the trip. Only a strong weather system with north winds on Wednesday would slow the group down and cause some lock jaw in the fish, but come Thursday and into Friday night the BITE returned with a vengeance. One must remember that these fish have just weeks remaining in open water season, and the need to put on some fat for the long Territories winter is a must.

Most everyone who reads these reports only concern are numbers...."what are your numbers?". Well before we get to that lets give a shout out to the staff at Taltson Bay Big Pike Lodge. The meals rocked! The boat that used a guide for the week reported that both Garrett and Keyon worked for every fish they got. We are proud of the boys and girls in camp as they kept us fed, warm and comfortable.

Ok for the numbers: the boat of Jamie Riani and Bill Kallenburg had 30 fish 41" or greater and 363total fish. Jamie put a hurt on his personal best pike with a beautiful 48" specimen trolled up after dark. The boys were responsible for catching our walleye lunches and documenting our trip in photo form. As always Jamie's quirky desire to catch giant pike on spinning gear and light line kept their boat in fire drill status during the week.

The boat of John Mich and Scott Kolpin had 58 pike 41"s or greater and 540 total fish. Thank god for the bump board brought by John, as the boys had many of arguments settled whether the fish was either 41" plus or minus by the board. Though the boat couldn't muster anything greater than 46", they did get some of the finest fish photos that either have ever taken. John had nothing but nice things to say about his partner and the Riani, Kallenburg boat after impaling a spinner bait stinger hook in the thumb day 3. Having forgot to pinch the barb, John was forced to continue the hooks path manually out the thumb and rely on Riani's knippex hook cutter to return to fishing. Pays to have prepared friends was heard from Mich as he continued to pepper a nearby weed bed moments after the averted tragedy.

The final boat and newbies to Taltson were Kevin and Rena Goldberg. The husband and wife duo may be new to Taltson, but they are far from new to the world of toothy critters. Both accomplished musky anglers, they have what we can now report, taken lessor pike trips also. The Goldberg's are given a pass this year with total numbers of pike, as they were not informed of the others habit of using golf counters to keep track of numbers, but they did keep track of fish 41"s and greater. Kevin and Rena posted 60 fish greater than 41"s, with Rena breaking her personal best pike we believe 3 times during this trip. Finishing with and impressive 47". Kevin not to be outdone crushed a 48" while night trolling using a friends homemade minnow bait. We would be remiss if their boat tragedies weren't documented as well. We'll start with Rena slipping in the boat while taking photo's of Kevin's 48"and in attempting to break her fall, dropping Kevin's IPHONE in the drink. The term "for better or worse" got challenged after that incident as many of Kevin prized musky photo's and many other personal and business info were lost. Then the night trolling incident involving a runaway pike....a tail flip....and a $600 rod and reel seeing the bottom of Great Slave Lake. So sad but so funny for those not involved.

Can't think of a better way to spend a week! Taltson didn't disappoint one bit!