CHUCK AND I WERE CASTING SPINNERS TO THE REEDS OFF THE ROCK PILE BY THE ISLAND ACROSS FROM THE LODGE. I GOT A NICE STRIKE AND BEGAN CRANKING IN A NICE 18″ WALLEYE AND SUDDENLY GOT ANOTHER SLAM ON MY LINE, HEAVIER AND STRONGER.AS I GOT THE FISH TO THE BOAT WE COULD SEE A LARGE (36″) NORTHERN HAD THE WALLEYE IN IT’S MOUTH CROSSWISE AND AS SOON AS IT GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE THE BOAT RELEASED THE WALLEYE AND HEADED FOR DEEP WATER. WE CONTINUED TO CAST THAT EVENING AND WENT BACK OVER THAT SPOT WITH NO SURPRISING RESULTS.

WE CAME IN FOR THE EVENING AND WERE CARRYING OUR GEAR TO THE CABIN AND THINKING “BOY HAVE WE GOT A ONCE IN LIFETIME STORY TO TELL ABOUT A LARGE NORTHERN THAT GOT AWAY.’” JUST THEN THERE WAS A COMMOTION ON THE PIER AND WHEN WE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT WE SAW THAT ONE OF THE MEN FROM KANSAS CITY (A BASS FISHERMAN) HAD NETTED A NORTHERN APPROX. 36″ LONG THAT HAD TAKEN A WALLEYE HE HAD ON THE LINE. WITH THE HELP OF HIS FRIENDS THEY WERE ABLE TO NET THE FISH BEFORE IT COULD RELEASE THE WALLEYE.

THE BASS FISHERMAN WAS HESITANT TO HANDLE THIS LARGE FISH BECAUSE OF THE MEAT GRINDER MOUTH IT DISPLAYED. I SHOWED HIM HOW TO HANDLE THE FISH SO THEY COULD TAKE PICTURES AND SHOWED HIM HOW TO PROPERLY RELEASE THIS LARGE FISH SO IT WOULD NOT WIND UP BELLY UP.

I DECIDED THAT MY STORY OF JUST HAVING HAD THE NORTHERN HIT MY WALLEYE WAS REALLY ANTICLIMACTIC, SO I DID NOT TELL MY STORY, AFTER THE GENTLEMAN FROM K.C. WAS ABLE TO LAND HIS LARGE NORTHERN.

THE STORY DOESN’T END HERE. THE NEXT DAY CHUCK AND I DECIDED TO HIT THE ROCK PILE REEDS AGAIN WHEN LO AND BEHOLD I CRANKED IN A 38″ NORTHERN. WAS THE SAME FISH ENTERTAINING ALL OF US? OR DO YOU REALLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE LARGE NORTHERNS TO ENTERTAIN YOUR GUESTS IN TRADE FOR THE DEAD MINNOWS YOU THROW IN THE LAKE.
-BEST REGARDS, GUY NEUK!