A slave guide's story.

A SLAVE GUIDE’S STORY.






This past summer I took a job guiding in northern Canada. Fueling the idea was much curiosity, fishing experience and one overwhelming urge to challenge myself in an entirely different way. At age 39, with twenty years devoted to work and study in healthcare, recent changes have opened doors for new opportunities... And so it came to be, that with some nervous anticipation I boarded a July flight destined for Plummer’s Lodge on Great Slave Lake, with hopes to become a guide....





INITIATION.




A talkative angler sat on the plane next to me for our flight to Yellowknife. At first Trevor carried much of the conversation, excitedly explaining how he loves muskie and all things muskie fishing. Within his descriptive stories he held quite a confidence and passion for it, making all that he said quite easy to believe. When he slowed down enough to ask about my fishing it only served to open up a giant can of worms, one which lead to several beers and hours of us rambling on and on. Waiting for him at final destination was his uncle promising pike, lake trout and the possibility of inconnu found upon Great Slave Lake. A nice fella to meet and share unexpected time with, we’d part ways on the ground. Trevor planned to stay two weeks in the city and explore outward from there, while I had another flight to catch the following morning.


A year earlier Brenda and I upon Great Slave had fished that same grand stage ourselves. Third week into the Plummers fishing season as guests we were treated to exceptional fishing. While forest fires blazed across the Territories, some continually encroaching upon the lodge, we happily inhaled the threat as one unique part of our experience. An angler, what intrigued me most about this fishery was its jig bite. I love and prefer to jig, and no other trophy arctic lake that I have fished does such a quality opportunity exist at even close to the same caliber. Slave's underwater topography of vast differences and enormity, greatly inspires possibilities for catching giant lake trout lurking anywhere beneath its surface.


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TO READ THE FULL STORY PLEASE VISIT....

http://bunksoutdoorangle.com/a-slave-guides-story/

Thanks,

Bunk.

http://bunksoutdoorangle.com/a-slave-guides-story/

http://bunksoutdoorangle.com/a-slave-guides-story/

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http://bunksoutdoorangle.com/a-slave-guides-story/

Man that was a fantastic read. And sounds like a really amazing experience for you. Thanks for sharing the story and pictures of some incredible fish!

Great read and greater photos. Thanks Bunk. What were the photos of the rocks showing in pictures with viking?

Great read thanks for sharing!

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The arctic is a special place an I will never forget my trip to the bear in 93. Thanks for sharing Bunk.

Wow, once again an amazing read. I'm in awe of the fishing you get to do and hope i get a chance to fish one of these amazing location you write about!

Thanks bunk , for a great story and excellent photos. It must have been tough ignoring and putting up with truck tire. Good on you for doing it though, you were the better man. From one Ontario idiot to another, thanks again for sharing your amazing experience.

Unreal report as usual! Putting all these adventures down for us to read is a real treat.

Thanks as always,

FishFrenzy

Once started I couldn't or wouldn't stop until finished. Very well written and a joy to read. Truly what memories are made of and friendships never forgotten. The article along with the photos could have been sold numerous outdoor magazines. Thanks for sharing it with us...

I was appalled that a supposed first class operation like Plummers, allowed their guides to be such a - holes. I for one wouldn't want to go there after reading your report.

Great story and lots of great pictures. I spent a few weeks this summer in Yellowknife and recognize pilot's rock etc. Looks like you had a great adventure. Thanks for sharing.

Thank You so much for sharing. Best story on slave lake ever

Great read and pics as always.
thanks
"E"

Thanks for sharing... You have the gift of story telling!


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Originally Posted by mbhunter

What were the photos of the rocks showing in pictures with viking?

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Stromatolite. A bed of stromatolite likely flattened during the ice age.

http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Tree_of_...omatolites.htm

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

The arctic is a special place an I will never forget my trip to the bear in 93. Thanks for sharing Bunk.

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Bear is a special place in that special place, our Arctic. Once experienced, places like this never stop pulling you back there.

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Originally Posted by bushman

It must have been tough ignoring and putting up with truck tire. Good on you for doing it though, you were the better man. From one Ontario idiot to another, thanks again for sharing your amazing experience.

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Everything is in this story, the good, the bad. He didn't annoy me everyday by any means... The rewards of being there far outweighed any temporary headaches endured.

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Originally Posted by JMatthews

I spent a few weeks this summer in Yellowknife and recognize pilot's rock etc..

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Could live there... but would only want to from say... April to September. lol. It's a unique city in our North. Spent a couple hours in the museum there passing through and enjoyed that as well. The Inuk carvings were the best part.


Thanks folks.

Simply Awesome...
What a fantastic experience; kudos for getting it organized, following through and then kicking butt! Finally thanks for sharing it with us :)
I always have to smile when a rule of mine is reaffirmed; No group of people (race, religion, culture, profession, social class, country, online forum :) ) has a monopoly on ignorant douchebags and morons; it appears Plummers is no exception to this rule.

Must have been one heck of a great feeling to take that big step into the other end of the boat and then putting together such a wicked string of wins. I have also fallen for jigging up lakers and have come to know (not well enough ;) ) the feeling of latching into a big one, how you seem pegged to bottom but somehow bottom seems more powerful than than solid, until one click of the drag at a time the freight train leaves the station.... And then to realize that your category of BIG is well more than twice mine.

What can I say, you didn't just kill that report, you "Bunked" it! :thumbup:

Bunk,

That was a truly great story. Well written with beautiful photographs. Thanks so much for sharing.

I must admit, when you and the Viking landed the 47, I felt excited and revengeful at the prospects of you being able to humbly show Truck Tire how an Ontario Idiot could catch such a great fish, however, I understand and respect even more that you wouldn't bother with an a@@ like him and potentially minimize the high you must have been on.

Again, thanks for the great read.
-Joe

Sick read as usual, I too could not stop reading until I was done....prob read again...Great Slave Lake is now on my bucket list. Whats the best time to go ?

Awesome!

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Originally Posted by Rugger

I always have to smile when a rule of mine is reaffirmed; No group of people (race, religion, culture, profession, social class, country, online forum ) has a monopoly on ignorant douchebags and morons; it appears Plummers is no exception to this rule.

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He's one guy who didn't like me, so we didn’t get on well. Others he may or may not, I dunno? His guests over his years I’m not sure either? But he's been there a long while and I'd imagine if others complained (esp. guests) to managers he'd have been gone long ago. You see, this is "my story" and how it all went down during "my time" there. There are no presumptions to be made outside of that, and so certainly no just cause for anyone else to hold Plummers accountable to anything. But you are right, we have all worked with many different kinds of people, and there are many from within many walks of like I certainly feel are idiots. I don't (or try not to) hold accountable the entire race, class, institution, business, country or otherwise. Just the person.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rugger

Must have been one heck of a great feeling to take that big step into the other end of the boat and then putting together such a wicked string of wins. I have also fallen for jigging up lakers and have come to know (not well enough ) the feeling of latching into a big one, how you seem pegged to bottom but somehow bottom seems more powerful than than solid, until one click of the drag at a time the freight train leaves the station.... And then to realize that your category of BIG is well more than twice mine.
What can I say, you didn't just kill that report, you "Bunked" it!

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Incredible those days on the water Rugger. For me, for the guests, for just living it man!!! Entirely too much fun, big fish and great moments for all involved. And that's why people go there and always will. Top notch from beginning to end. And that comes from the mouth of a repeat guest and guide there. Freight train lakers and hooksets one after another.

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Originally Posted by jdangelo

Bunk,
That was a truly great story. Well written with beautiful photographs. Thanks so much for sharing. I must admit, when you and the Viking landed the 47, I felt excited and revengeful at the prospects of you being able to humbly show Truck Tire how an Ontario Idiot could catch such a great fish, however, I understand and respect even more that you wouldn't bother with an a@@ like him and potentially minimize the high you must have been on. Again, thanks for the great read. -Joe

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It was rare if at all I bothered to brag about any fish my guests were catching... though I did talk about it some now and again with the Ontario boys. But everyday, mine like all guests were writing their names and catches over 20-pounds to the Trophy Board in the Lodge and, talking about their catches. Staying quiet and humble was easy when the results are being broadcasted by the anglers themselves. Heck, little Tyler was shouting it out to everyone all day long how big his fish were.:D

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Originally Posted by OUTCAST

Sick read as usual, I too could not stop reading until I was done....prob read again...Great Slave Lake is now on my bucket list. Whats the best time to go ?

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They are open eight weeks and I don't think you could pick a bad one. There's times where trolling versus jigging may be more effective, or vice versa. And times they kind of group up in different areas. Slave, Bear and also Athabasca too, are all incredible big laker fisheries.

Substituted the scotch with wine and sat down for one of the best reads I've had. I did not realize that it would be such a long read and could not stop. For how long the read was I did not want it to end. You write very well, I could visualize and feel like I was there in the boat with you getting to know the unique and individual guests you guided. You are very lucky to be able to to experience this journey and meet these wonderful people. Your attitude made the difference in the memories and experience on your trip. Thanks for an exciting and inspirational read. Loved the pictures as well.

Great read.

Very good thread! Thanks.

Glad I found the time for this Bunk. It was a great read with great photos. I hope that Truck Tire gets what he needs and deserves one day. :)

Wow some good reading thanks for the awesome storys

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Originally Posted by ihunt

Substituted the scotch with wine and sat down for one of the best reads I've had. I did not realize that it would be such a long read and could not stop. For how long the read was I did not want it to end. You write very well, I could visualize and feel like I was there in the boat with you getting to know the unique and individual guests you guided. You are very lucky to be able to to experience this journey and meet these wonderful people. Your attitude made the difference in the memories and experience on your trip. Thanks for an exciting and inspirational read. Loved the pictures as well.

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Thank you for this great response, and happy you got sucked into the story... Some days when finding the time, I'll dig up or even stumble on an old report, start reading and get sucked right back into it myself. Each trip and experience unique, as long as it's kept real and the events told in actual sequence, I find that my mind can easily fall back into that place, reliving the days as they had once happened before. Maybe too, that's why others often say they felt like they were there with me after reading a report. It's good people enjoy the stories this way, the words with the pictures taking you some place. It's a pleasure for me creating it all too, and as long as the feedback is more positive than negative, I'll probably continue. So thanks again.

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Originally Posted by TroutSlayer

Glad I found the time for this Bunk. It was a great read with great photos. :)

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Glad you did too old friend. Always nice hearing from you.


Thanks again all.

'Bunk. Great read as always.

As a writer, Its always nice to read other folks narratives. The pictures you take to accompany them are part of what makes them such good reads.

Look forward to your next adventure.

I got to admit, I did not read all of it but what I did read (most of it) was great. Really neat pictures too.

well it took 2 mornings to read, but it was a great read!!!! looking forward to reading your next adventure!!!!

Really enjoyed reading it!

A great read and pics and trip, you really had that jig bite dialed in! I'm sure to the chagrin of the hard core trollers :D

Your father and son team made the cover of Plummers winter issue, Congrats!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pser0gxvdg.jpg

Bunk, fantastic read about a great experience. I hope you consider putting all your stories into a book. I'd like to order a copy.

Fishmore

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Originally Posted by be2man

Your father and son team made the cover of Plummers winter issue, Congrats!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...pser0gxvdg.jpg

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Can imagine the boys really love this, especially Tyler. Hope they frame that cover and place it somewhere special, as it's a great keepsake from their time north, for sure!

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Originally Posted by Fishmore

I hope you consider putting all your stories into a book. I'd like to order a copy.

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Maybe when unable to get out of a chair to keep making stories, I could blow the dust of 'em and write about great fishing times from back in the day. Who knows? Thanks though man!

Thank you for the nice read!

Did you do any hunting while you were up there?

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Originally Posted by Salmonid

Thank you for the nice read!

Did you do any hunting while you were up there?

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Jeeesh! Been absent awhile.

To finally answer you, no... didn't hunt, don't hunt and it's not really an option with the outfitter.