Vic Karlson's report from July.

An update from our trip w/e 7/23/11. Another year with anxiety after our gear (rods this time) did not arrive on a direct flight from Chicago. We celebrated near midnight under the sunny sky in Yellowknife as the cabbie delivered our misplaced musky sticks. We arrived in camp to find just Don and his wife there, the staff would be boating in from Fort Resolution later in the day. After a quick breakfast we headed out and found the pike to be just as hungry as they were last year. Gene Somenek, Mark Shiels, and myself landed 140 pike over 40" during the week. Our biggest fish was 47" and we all caught at least one 46. Sharing the lodge with us were two excellent fisherman from Minnesota, Craig and his 12 year old son Jake. They bettered our totals by landing 105 trophies with Jake taking a 47 inch beauty to edge out his Dad for big fish honors. They also caught many nice walleyes up to 26" trolling the river and off the island rocks. Best baits were Johnson Silver Minnows, Grinders, Bulldawgs, and assorted spinnerbaits. Fish were spread out around the islands and throughout the Taltson river itself. The fish were brutal on tackle and people, I broke one extra heavy rod landing a trophy and blew up a new Shimano reel. Also felt the pleasure of a treble pushed into my shin past the hook bend with the brute still attached to it. Maybe next year I'll try full body armor to protect myself better. Had fun trading stories with the young guides and spent a great night in Calgary on the way home. We will return again next year in persuit of the elusive 50" that Gene swears he had on until he didn't. Vic Karlson