The Weekly Fishing Report 
NL-Header September 3 2008
September 3, 2008
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Canadian Lake Trout
Lake Trout Drawing
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char (or charr), touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans. Lake trout are prized both as game fish and as food fish.
From a zoogeographical perspective, lake trout are quite rare. They are native only to the northern parts of North America, principally Canada. Approximately 25% of the world's lake trout lakes are found in the province of Ontario. Even at that, only 1% of Ontario's lakes contain lake trout.

Lake trout are the largest of the charrs, the record weighing almost 46.3 kg (102 lb). They were fished commercially in the Great Lakes until lampreys, overharvest and pollution severely reduced the stocks. The lake trout is a slowly growing fish. It is also very late to mature. Populations are extremely susceptible to overexploitation. Lake trout are dependent on cold, oxygen-rich waters. They are nearer the surface during the period of summer stratification often living at depths of 20-60 m (60-200 ft).

It is generally accepted that there are two basic types of lake trout populations. Some lakes do not have forage fish during the period of summer stratification. In these lakes, lake trout populations are highly abundant, grow very slowly and mature at relatively small size. In those lakes that do contain deep water forage, lake trout grow much more quickly, mature at a larger size and are less abundant.

Lake trout have been known, very rarely, to hybridise in nature with the brook trout, but such hybrids are almost invariably reproductively sterile. Hybrids, known as "splake" are also artificially propagated in hatcheries and then planted into lakes in an effort to provide sport fishing opportunities.

The biological word: namaycush derives from an indigenous North American name for the species, most likely Ojibwe: namegos = "lake trout"; namegoshens = "rainbow trout".

 
Back "issues" of the Fishing Reports and Newsletters
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If you would like to go back to check a story in one of our past e-mails of either a Fishing Report or a Wilderness North Newsletter you can do so in our archive file.
 
Lake Trout Under the MicroscopeAlanBlueJacketSmall
...by Alan Cheeseman

     Canadian Flag  
 
Dr. Jenni McDermid is more like a detective than a field biologist, and she enjoys both roles. A few months back, at the end of winter, we chatted with her about two lakes that had been "off limits" to anglers for a decade:  Myrt Lake and Hood Lake both a relatively easy drive from Thunder Bay. Both we're re-opened this past winter to Lake Trout anglers. She set up cameras to "watch" the lake for angler activity. She had a "bench mark" number on fish populations from her fall studies, and now she's gone back to re-evaluate the lakes, all as part of the studies she conducts for the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada, for whom she works.

Her recent findings surprised her, with hints of global climate change being considered the culprit at Myrt, and ancient glaciers that formed Hood the cause of healthy Trout populations in a body of water more suitable for Walleye, although there are NO Walleye.

You may hear our interview with her by clicking here, and learn more about Lake Trout in our side bar feature story to the left.

Our fishing reports tell the continuing success for early fall anglers, especially up at Whitewater Lake, the 26,000 acre "wide-spot" in the Ogoki River in the heart of the Wabakimi Provincial Park, just a 30 minute flight from our float plane base in Armstrong to Striker's Point Lodge.

Tyler Lancaster's weekly reports about both big Pike and big Walleye being caught seem almost routine, and this week is no exception. Just look at those two toothy big boys (probably girls actually) in the header photos.
So we ask ourselves: "Why?" - and we think we have some answers.

Catch and Release: Catch a big fish - a champion of the specie's "gene pool" and return it. It creates more champions. I recall talking to natives of the area who report years of extremely high waters on Whitewater Lake. Later, after the water receded, they found skeletal remains of 60-65 inch pike; fish caught in pools with no escape. Those days may be coming back.

Better/well informed anglers: Tyler, our resource information specialist, is a smart guy about where the fish are, what patterns they are developing, and how to angle and handle these fish. Our goal is to know these waters - and share this knowledge with guests, because knowledge is power. The power to give every guest a shot at a trophy fish.

Frankly, fall should be the time of year, when the largest fish are caught. After all they have been feeding all summer, and now the "fall feeding frenzy" is underway. We're watching for those record setting catches - if you'll excuse the pun - with baited breath.

Keep in touch. I welcome your phone calls and e-mails. You can send one now.

Alan

Alan@wildernessnorth.com    1-888-465-FISH (3474)

Cooler Cooler - Thank Goodness !
...Professor Graham Saunders Saunders w/Logo

This past weekend through yesterday was downright hot and humid. More like the southern U.S. than Northwestern Ontario. Our heat - humidity index reached a record 100 in Armstrong. However, that's over now. And probably over for at least the next two weeks. And most likely for the summer of 2009.

The forecast: Sunny and pleasant today through Friday, then a bit unsettled for the coming weekend, but MUCH cooler temps, probably more like 70 than the mid 80's from recent days and much less humid. Some showers are possible this weekend, but clearing and nice again for early next week.

This week on the podcast, I'll discuss how much credit you should give those "signs" from Mother Nature - as they are oft called- about the severity of the upcoming winter, you know like  the sizes of beaver lodges, berries on the Mountain Ash - and of course the Old Farmer's Almanac. Listen now.

Graham Saunders, is professor of meteorology at Lakehead University here in Thunder Bay, and weather commentator for the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal and for Wilderness North.

Big Pikes at Little ZigZag
and D'alton Produces the Master Walleye
 ...by Krista CheesemanKRISTA GREEN SWEATER

Imagine three out of four members of Michigan's Mark Fell Party, claiming big Pike Master Angler status. Imagination became reality last Monday and Tuesday out at ZigZag Lake. Bob Fisher, with a Hot-n-Tot, and Matt Fill with his Hot-n-Tot, and Rod Frost with a #4 Mepps Bucktail all caught and released 40 inch plus Pike. They reported Walleye fishing as good, with the largest being 24 inches.

Over at D'Alton Lake, the Schwake Party hit a Walleye treasure chest, when Dustin caught two 26 inchers, both on a pink and white jigs, and his dad Ken, with the same lure also scored his own 26 inch trophy. David Hanson recorded daily back-to-back 27 and 27.5 inch Walleyes as well.

All of our trophies came on August 25 and 26. From a Solunar Table viewpoint right on the quarter moon, traditionally the lowest feeding activity days of the rotating cycle. Go figure. I have more details in my podcast, listen now

Tyler Master CC PicMore and More and More
 ...Tyler Lancaster

As the season begins to wind down, I am asking myself, "Can I really leave this place?"  It has been an incredible summer here, and it will indeed be tough to go. However, every season comes to a close, and I just feel thankful to have been a part of such a great one here at Striker's Point Lodge.

This week we entertained the Gleason family from Thunder Bay. Our food and beverage manager Mark Prokopchuk's daughter, Kallyn, was amongst them. Mark finally had a chance to grace Whitewater Lake again, as he used to manage Whitewater Lodge some years ago. He wasted little time in finding fish for his friends including a hefty 40 in Northern for himself. He caught his fish in 25 ft of water using 6 lb test and a chartreuse jig. The "bay of pigs" was a choice spot for top water Pike action as fishermen landed 100 or more one day.

I also had the chance to get out for an evening, and decided to check out a hole that manager Bill Carroll had told me about earlier in the season. I had high hopes as no one had touched the location yet this year. Upon reaching the bottom with my jig, it was "fish on."  I landed over 50 good-sized Walleye including a 27, 24, and two 23 inch in about an hour and a half. Needless to say, the hole is now being used!

This week also saw the arrival of our good friend Par Shiree and his group from Michigan as well as the Elo group out of Thunder Bay. Day one for all was phenomenal fishing. George Balla from Toronto was trolling a classic red and white daredevel downriver in about 5ft of water when a massive 46 in beast jumped his spoon. (See header photos.) His friend Daryl Witiuk, also from Toronto, was fishing close by when a 41 in Northern smashed the Walleye he was reeling in. He managed to net both. George's father, George Sr. kept up with his son by getting his very own 46 in Northern the very next day. He was fishing shallow weedy
Bitten Walleye water at the mouth of " the bay of pigs" using a watermelon coloured spoon. Check out what kind of damage occurs to a Walleye when a 41in Pike hammers it.  And remember to be cautious when sticking your hand in the water to land your next "wally."