Walleye redemption

After losing a 10 lb walleye 3 weeks ago on Rice Lake, I decided to visit my brother in North Bay to fish. On Friday our plan was to head up to Temagami and see if we could catch a few Lake Trout. We started up the old truck and then began checking the trailer lights; of course one of them was acting up so we began reconnecting the plug, jiggling the wires, etc. After a couple of minutes we seem to get it working, then all of a sudden we see steam shooting from underneath the hood – the rad has blown and fluid is pouring all over the ground. He shuts off the truck and we are both standing in his driveway in disbelief and frustration; “well, so much for that trip”. On a positive note, it very well could have done that at the launch at Temagami, costing us much more grief and an expensive tow back home. We let the truck cool down and then check to see if it was a rad hose or in fact the rad itself. We pour some water into the rad and sure enough you can see the water coming out of a crack on the plastic edge of the rad.


So after stewing in our own rage for a few hours, we keep checking the weather and waves to see if we can try some fishing on Nipissing with my brother’s canoe. Knowing how quickly the weather can change on that lake, we weren’t going to venture very far from shore and would keep close to where we launched. We decide around 7:00 p.m. to head out, with the plan to be out for a couple of hours, then head home. With the outriggers on the canoe, it was surprisingly stable and the wind/waves seemed to cooperate for us. I even said that the rad blew so that we could have a great fishing adventure on Nipissing – trying to think positively. My brother throws out a crankbait and myself a worm harness. Using the rod holders for the canoe we are able to perform an ultra stealthy troll, which we hope will be the ticket to catching some nice fish. After about 15 minutes I decide to take off my jacket as I was getting pretty warm paddling. I remove my jacket and then start putting my lifejacket back on when my brother yells, “you got a fish on!” I look over and my rod is bent in half and line is peeling off. I grab the rod and start reeling. At first it wasn’t fighting and both my brother and I go, “it’s the bottom or a log.” Then it starts fighting and makes a decent run. I realize it’s a big fish, possibly a nice size pike or even a drum. I let my reel’s drag do its magic and work the fish, without horsing it as I really want to land this thing. I manage to get it close and we see a boil in the water, so now my brother definitely thinks it’s a drum. It runs again, but I am able to get it beside the boat and we see a large walleye. We are both really surprised to see that it’s a walleye and at the same time are super excited. My brother manages to net the fish and we breathe a sigh of relief that it’s in the net. Wow, this is a big fish! After getting the single hook out from its jaw, I pick up the fish and feel just how heavy it is. I measure it at 24.5” and didn’t have a scale, but I can tell you that it was probably 6-7 lbs as it was super healthy and thick (as you can see in the picture). I would definitely say it was a female that had been feeding heavily after the spawn a few weeks ago. We snap a few pictures and I decide to put it back. I enjoy eating walleye, but that fish was too big to eat in my opinion, is too old and is important for the future of the walleye population on Nipissing. After reviving her for about 30 seconds, she swam back to the depths. I guess you can say that I redeemed myself from 3 weeks ago...

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That's persistence paying off, not sure why you'd want to leave Nip. for tam. anyway nice work.ldub
P.S. That one would have hit the pan you earned it.

wow nice one......not many that size make it through the nets

Good on ya for the release!!

Solid, nice...

nice, fish. Great Post and excellent story. Stay positive and boat more fish!

Ease up on the net comments HATERS.

I fish that lake every year and every year I see plenty of big Eye's and the population is more fishable than anything we have down south.
Patterns change and fish move around you gotta adapt from one season to the next to stay on top of your action, doesn't mean they got caught in nets...

Redemption indeed !!!
That's a beaut eye.

Beauty eye nice job