It’s summer and it’s baseball season. So why not frame the recaps during the 2018 Scott Lake Lodge fishing season as a baseball game? It’s such a good fit. We have 18 groups (or 18 at-bats) during this summer, just like a regulation length baseball game. We have guys and gals who can really pitch out their casts and hit that hook-set like a pro. So, let’s give it try. Generally, you can’t predict the outcome of a game after the first inning UNLESS there was some heavy hitting. In this game of anglers vs big fish, the anglers made quite a statement in the early going.
We opened the season right on schedule on the evening of June 9th when the first three float planes with other than staff or many tons of supplies landed at the Scott Lake Lodge docks. It was picture perfect start, but our first group of hitters had to overcome some tough obstacles that the elements threw at them—cold temperatures, some stiff winds and more significantly an almost total absence of sunshine. Because our Weeks 1s have historically been sunny and hot, it was unusual. As we stated many times in these annual recaps of the fishing action, sun and pike fishing are joined at the hip; they just go together, especially in the early season. During Week 1 the fish, with the help of the weather, were playing some pretty solid defense. For our Scott Lake Guide Team this wasn’t their first season. In fact, the starting lineup of Scott guides has been on our field (or water) for an average of 15 seasons. They knew all the moves of our big fish. It didn’t take them long, in spite of the weather, to get their number. One number tells it all—140. That’s how many trophy pike were landed during Week 1. Plus a few trout including a massive 43” beauty landed by Tom Kehoe III and a just slightly massive laker landed by Harry Moulopoulos Jr. Another number was impressive—9. Not 9 innings, but 9 trophy pike over 45”, our benchmark for truly remarkable fish, what we call “supersized”. Pike of that 45 mark were taken by Jack Goebel, Peter Myhre, Tasha Stasiuk and Mike Sackash who tallied a pair that size. Mike was also on the winning side of a battle with a 46 incher. There were three pike of 47 or 47.5”, taken by Tom Kehoe III, Paul Hana and Peter Myrhe. A 47-inch pike for most people is a fish of a lifetime experience, but Peter has been up a lot and has caught many of that size. If we had a Mike Trout for the top half of the fist, it was Peter who landed an incredible total of 29 trophy pike on his trip and he even sat out one of the five days. That’s quite a slugging percentage. And that’s a trip of a lifetime. But as we talked to people taking off at the end of the trip, it was a trip of a lifetime for many.
For the bottom half of the first, we had some real heavy hitters in camp. Collectively our Week 2 group had been to Scott Lake Lodge a total of 260 trips, an average of ten trips each. That’s a depth of experience. The fish didn’t stand a chance: this group hit it out of the park. They did have some help though. That big ball of fire that was hiding during Week 1 was out strong and high. Big pike are defenseless when they are basking in sunshine. (It must soften their brains.) The stats for Week 2 were amazing led by the number of total trophies, an incredible 203!! The number of pike over 45 was also amazing—20. It’s what sun on the water will do. Big pike moved into the shallows on Scott Lake and all the fly out lakes (22 fly out destinations are in this lodge’s lineup). Some huge pike were literally sunning in inches of water. It is easier to catch big fish if you can see them. Some were hanging out in inches of water. Those are some easy pitches to hit. And hit our gang did. The 45” parade was led by Ross Purpura who captured two 45.5” tundra sharks on the same day, but they were not the same fish—they were miles apart. Judy Schmidt and Dick Emens also landed 45.5” fish. Joe Daugherty, Dan Meyer and Peggy Light got 45s as well. There were a bunch of 46s. Rory Wright got three of them all by himself. Mike Rogers, Dick Emens, Tim Rudd, Joel Tune, Chris Luke and Peggy Light filled in the 46 roster. In the 47” dugout, there were some familiar names—Dan Meyer, Mike Rogers and Joel Tune, all going 2 for 3 in the huge fish categories. But the guy who hit the grand slam was a rookie, and a 15-year-old. The honor of the biggest fish, a very heavy 48-inch pike, of the young season (we’ll see how long it lasts) went to Linus Maurer who tamed that beast with a fly rod. He is probably ruined for the balance of his fishing life. How can you top that?
I guess everyone who caught a ton of fish (possible), enjoyed a classic Canadian shorelunch, watched the thousands of geese flying north, heard the haunting cry of the common loon, witnessed the late evening sunsets, enjoyed the relaxed conversations in the boat or on the expansive deck at the lodge or just soaked in the full experience of spending time in a pristine wilderness setting did top that. What a first inning!
Pat’s Laker
Pat and Jordan teamed up to find this big lake trout shallow on opening day.
Mike and Jan found a big pike
Mike and Jan with a beauty pike
Paul with a giant pike
Paul and Curt with a jumbo pike. Sighting fishing big pike on the fly, what a deal!
Paul and Steve caught this between storms
Richard and Steve didn’t let rain, hail and wind dampen their spirits. They were rewarded.
Cold and rain? No Problem
A day 5 beauty for the boys.
Shore Lunch Trout
A dandy trout off shore while the shorelunch fire is on. Can’t beat this!
Linus’ 48″ Giant
Linus picked up the flyrod and with some instruction from Tbag he found a 4 foot pike on his line!
A cool quick video of the helicopter bringing in the new island side by side. Scott Lake Uber is now open!! No paved roads, no gravel roads and no ice roads lead to Scott Lake. Everything comes in by air.
Yes, you read that correctly: SHORE staff retreat.
For several years the Scott Lake Lodge Guide Team has made an annual pilgrimage to a fishing destination for critical team building and a chance to be in the guest seat of the boat. The rewards of making such a trip have been innumerable. And it’s, of course, a lot of fun for the team.
Heading to Fraser River, British Columbia.
So, this year we decided to apply that model to our hard working, all-star Shore Staff Team. It was high time to thank them for their phenomenal work and commitment to our guests and our island. We collected a group from all over Canada and headed to the Fraser River, British Columbia for a couple days of preseason planning sessions and some quality time on British Columbia’s biggest river that rolls for 854 miles ending up in the Pacific right in the city of Vancouver.
The group had a blast, caught some amazing fish and came away with lots of great ideas and enthusiasm for the season ahead.
The river was high and fast but that didn’t bother the great guides of the Sturgeon Slayers, a top-notch sturgeon outfitter headed by Kevin Estrada. We thank Kevin and his guides for connecting our group with some very impressive fish. Our Head Chef, Nigel Rivera, took the honors for the biggest fish of the trip, a monster that taped out at EIGHT FEET, FOUR INCHES. On the Fraser they measure in feet not inches. Nigel had stiff and sore arms the next day but he was excited about besting a fish of that size. The wealth was spread around. Everyone landed a fish of at least six feet. We didn’t get the biggest ever off this massive river (sturgeon over ten feet and weighing up toward the 1,000-pound mark have been caught) but they were all big enough. Unfortunately some blizzards in eastern Canada kept some staff members from attending but the crew of Eli Mahoney, Rachael Basler, Clare Markle, Dawson Sawchuk, Brenna Savery, Danni Grunberg, Nigel Rivera, our new massage therapist Tamsin Both and General Manager Jason Hamilton blended business and fun in a masterful way. The group had a blast, caught some amazing fish and came away with lots of great ideas and enthusiasm for the season ahead.
Taking a fish photo, it seems easy, doesn’t it? You’ve done the hard part already by travelling to a prime destination, finding the fish, tempting it to eat and getting the beast in your net . . . the photo is the easy part. Right? At Scott Lake Lodge, there are tens of thousands of fish brought to the boat every summer. Several thousand of those specimens pose for a quick photo. Over the years we’ve seen it all: a fish with half a thumb over it; a beautiful fish with the angler cut off; so much hat and sunglasses that the angler’s face looks like a mugshot, and on and on. We’ve also been lucky to see many spectacular photographs. We’ve had some of the top professional outdoor photographers in the business work at the lodge. They have done justice to the amazing beauty of northern Canada and the excitement of fishing for monster pike and lake trout. They taught our guides the drill. Now our guides know how to capture the full experience, honor the catch and create something worth sharing with fishing friends. With a little study and effort, you can do the same.
Big or small, good times are still to be had while on the lake!
Cory got this great shot of a bear on one of our flyout lakes.
Mark and Curt with a massive Pike!
Priscilla and Dave slept under the stars for one night on Smalltree Lake, while being guided by Steve.
First and foremost, the concern of the Catch Photo Release (CPR) process should be the fish. All fish should be handled gently and with great care to make sure it swims away to grow into a photo fish for another angler. Unless it is destined for a hot oil bath at a shore lunch, keep that fish healthy; make sure it’s not bleeding and keep in resting in a net or cradle until you are ready for the shot. Your fish should not be out of the water for more than 30 seconds. Secondly, don’t limit the photo process with just a “grip and grin” shot. Get some action of the fight, the release, your buddy napping after shore lunch, the “bird’s nest” line tangle, and all the small details that are part of a day on the water. Build a narrative of the trip; it is often what happens between fish catches that makes the memories. The key to do this is keep a camera handy . . . wildlife usually won’t stand around and wait until you’ve dug the camera out of your bag.
We asked some of our photographer friends to share their experience with us. We asked two questions of them: 1) What makes a good fish photograph and 2) Any suggestions for capturing the entire experience, not just the grip and grin fish picture. Below is the result of millions of photos taken capturing angling adventures around the world. For their time and expertise, we thank them. Here’s a short course from the best:
Manitoba’s Jay Siemens (https://www.jaysiemensmedia.com) a fisherman and guide, who’s talent for capturing moments on photo and video has led to worldwide travels documenting the outdoors shared this:
What makes a good fish photo? This may seem obvious, but the #1 attribute of a good fish picture is a healthy fish. It doesn’t matter if the fish is 50 inches long, if it’s bleeding from the tail or looking bone dry, it’s not attractive. I love to see a fish still dripping with water, and a perky dorsal fin (especially if it’s a walleye or a grayling). I know we all want a picture of our trophy fish, but the fish’s health is always number #1. Always have the camera ready before you even hook the fish.
Our guest Warren hooked up with a trophy Grayling during a flyout trip.
How do you capture the entire experience? Take a lot of photos! Yes, we all want the photo of the big fish, but what about taking a photo of your buddy’s expression after he loses a fish right beside the boat, or what about a photo of your guide tossing some pan-fried fish at shore lunch. We all want to see the fish photos, but looking back you’ll never regret taking too many photos! Want to try doing some video? GoPro cameras are very simple to use and can capture some incredible footage, if that’s too intimidating, you can’t go wrong with a cellphone. They take amazing quality videos as well! Keep your whatever camera you’re using accessible… you don’t know the next time you might see a moose…or a moose nest!
Denver Bryan, bases from Bozeman, MT and travels the world to get the shot of fur, feather and fin in their natural environs. His images can be seen in his books and numerous magazines. Learn more at http://www.denverbryan.comc/index.php
Three primary elements usually come to bear when creating or capturing a good fish (or other) photograph…i.e. subject, light and composition. A beautifully-colored northern pike or lake trout photographed in great light (usually early or late in the day) with an interesting composition or great fisherman model come to mind. REALLY look at and study some of your favorite images, take note of these elements and then incorporate them in your own images. The fish and fisherman may be central to your fishing trip but there are so many nuances of fishing that add layers of depth to your photography…. i.e. the expression on a fisherman’s face, the trials and tribulations associated with fishing, the ‘tools of the trade,’ the camaraderie, the destination, etc. Taken all together and they give you a much fuller accounting and memory of your fishing experience.
Denver provided this example of a photo that didn’t work as planned….even the best setups can be foiled by the fish.
RawFish Creative’s Jeff Andersen (http://rawfish-media.com) has spent days and weeks capturing fish photos for numerous company’s and magazines. Between guiding assignments, Jeff & his brother Joe came up and documented Scott Lake Lodge in a series of videos. Here is what he had to say.
The best photographers capture an image before even taking the photo. They can recognize the moment then use the tool, the camera, to capture it. While you travel look for those opportunities. They are everywhere. Take photos of things you find interesting, you are documenting your trip after all. Cell phones now days take amazing images and are most often closest to hand. They can be blurry in low light because of the Auto Shutter Speed. To help sharpen your picture use pressure with your fingers on both sides of the phone to keep it steady. Even better invest in a small bendable tripod to hold your phone steady in most any situation.
Jeff and guide Matt share a moment with a big girl that ate boat side!
Another Montana based photographer, Brian Grossenbacher has been responsible for countless covers, photos essays and catalogues in the fishing and hunting world. See more of his work (http://www.grossenbacherphoto.com/About) Brain gave some technical advice on working with a DSLR camera.
My favorite fishing photos illustrate authentic, unscripted action that capture the grace and athleticism of the sport. Whether this is the angler loading the rod on a big cast or setting the hook on a monster pike, or even a tight shot of a jumping fish throwing water droplets throughout the frame. Depth of field plays a huge role in the creativity of each of these 3 scenarios and you control Depth of Field by adjusting the Aperture or F-stop in your camera. The easiest way to remember the relationship between Aperture (F-stop) and Depth of Field DOF is the lower your f-stop, the smaller your depth of field, and the larger the F-stop, the greater the depth of field.
To easily manage your depth of field try shooting in Aperture Priority Mode (A) so that you only have to worry about the depth of field you want and let the camera control the shutter speed according to ambient light. For a casting shot, the shallower depth of field (larger aperture 2.8-5.6) the angler will be the focal point and the background will be soft and out of focus. Also, the wider opening of the aperture allows for more light and subsequently faster shutter speeds to capture the fast action of the cast.
For a shot with the angler in the foreground and the fish jumping in the background, you will need a larger depth of field (larger f-stop f8-f11) to keep both the angler and the fish in focus. Because the aperture will be smaller, less light will enter the sensor, so keep an eye on shutter speed. If the camera drops it below 1/1000 second, then bump up the ISO a bit (400-640) to give the shutter speed a boost. You will need the faster shutter speed to keep the movement of the jumping fish in focus. To capture a tight shot of a jumping fish I like to keep the aperture at 5.6 and keep the shutter speed as fast as possible to freeze the dynamic action of the water spray, shaking head and pumping gills. Try to keep the shutter speed in the neighborhood of 1/1600 sec or faster by bumping ISO or you may want to shoot this in full Manual Mode (M) and purposely underexpose the image as the jumping fish will be the brightest spot in the frame. Take a few practice shots to make sure you are not too bright or too dark in the frame and then keep your head in the game so that you are ready when your buddy finally hooks one.
Brain captured friend Jimmy working a weed bed close to the beach at a flyout.
If you absorb some of these tips, you will take better photographs on your next fishing trip. Or if you just don’t want to bother just come to Scott Lake Lodge every summer. Our guides will provide professional assistance. We even send our guests home with a flash drive of photographs that distill the essence of your fishing adventure. At this point we are at 98% of full capacity. But we’ll bet you only need two or maybe four spots. Our Guide/Sales Manager, Jon Wimpney, can still sneak you in. Give him a call at 306-209-7150. Do it right now!
While Scott Lake rests covered in snow and ice, for Scott Lake Lodge there is still lots on the go: we are securing new fly out destinations, ordering supplies, planning island-wide improvements and wrapping up construction work on the new Laker Lodge 2.0.
In short, we have been quite busy. With the help of our own ice pilots, the twin otter on skis landed on the unmarked snow of Scott Lake. Big January winds and cold made unloading the Otter a challenge but Paul Hamilton, Curt Woloshyn and yours truly, Jason Hamilton, who were there for a week, bundled up well and got a load of lumber off the plane. Going to a frozen lodge on the 60th parallel in mid-winter might sound fun, but it’s a pile of work. It goes something like this: unload plane and send it back for the second load of lumber; wade through snow and unboard cabin; attempt to start snowmobile but fail; tear snowmobile apart; attempt starting again and fail, again. Take a deep breath and light a fire to start the thawing of the cabin from -40 C (which coincidentally is exactly the same as -40 F) Now, what time does the sun set???
A blanket of snow covers the lodge and lake.
Unfortunately, its damn early this time of year; there is only around 5 hours of daylight in mid-January. Back to the snowmobile…success, finally; move gear up to the cabin. Now because the snow had covered the solar panel, there is no power. So, thaw small generator to heat up big generator, to get some juice. Wait 6 hours for power, internet, heat, dinner and a drink. That first day was hectic but after this it was time to work. The winter crew finished the electrical work and did the interior pine paneling for most of the lodge expansion. Shoveling roofs and clearing solar panels involved moving a few thousand pounds of snow but the 8000lbs of lumber provided the real tonnage. It’s how things get done though on the 60th parallel in winter. Overall, it was a good trip with considerable accomplishment. The lodge is really coming together. We think you will like it.
“Unfortunately, its damn early this time of year; there is only around 5 hours of daylight in mid-January.”
That first day was hectic but after this it was time to work. The winter crew finished the electrical work and did the interior pine paneling for most of the lodge expansion. Shoveling roofs and clearing solar panels involved moving a few thousand pounds of snow but the 8000 lbs of lumber provided the real tonnage. That’s how things get done though on the 60th parallel in winter. Overall, it was a good trip with considerable accomplishment. The lodge is really coming together. We think you will like it.
Laker Lodge 2.0
Just us and 8000 lbs of lumber.
Only took a few trips through the snow.
Guide Retreat 2018: Tampa, FL
This event is much anticipated and does a great deal to cement relationships within the company, fosters team work and lets the group have a look into the other side of the guiding experience with some fishing. The destination this year was Tampa, FL. Strings were pulled by the owners and prime seats were secured for the NHL All Star game. Now that’s music to the ears of a bunch of Canadian fishing guides.
After a hockey overload and maybe a few beverages, the group hit the inshore waters of Tampa Bay to try their luck. A mixed bag of species bent rods, Pompano, Permit, Mackerel, Snapper, Cobia, Jacks were landed, lessons were learned, and the guide team concluded that it was a great way to officially kick off the 2018 season.
The group left ready to guide NOW, but of course the five feet of ice on Scott will have everyone waiting a couple months to start that game.
