Manitoba Matt…. a fisherman's tale

Like Father Like Son...

7/30/2016

Over the years I have had the privilege of sharing in a countless number of phenomenal outdoor adventures with some of the greatest people to ever fish and hunt our Canadian wilderness. An ever changing dynamic of characters and personalities keeps my job infinitely interesting and without a dull moment in sight. It is the guys like John and Owen Nasgovitz that make my days fly by and keep my big fish memory bank at an overflowing capacity.

Pictured above is Owen, the gator-slayer Nasgowicz, a seven year old fishing machine whose focus, determination, and ability to out fish his dad have earned him a place in the Manitoba record books. It is one thing to land a massive 44 inch super-tank, but it is entirely another to do so on a medium-light action rod with eight pound test line while jigging for walleye. Owen set the hook and the fight was ON! It isn't uncommon for walleye to stay down but when this fish wouldn't budge and inch, the whole boat went into trophy mode as Owen began the fish-battle of a lifetime. Most grown men could have easily lost this fish but Owen kept his cool and followed instruction with unparalleled FOCUS!

Massive runs under, out, and around the boat kept our hearts pumping as we attempted to subdue the predator at large. She was just barley hooked in the corner skin flap of her jaw so we had to patiently await for our chance to greet her with the trophy basket. Following several gear tearing runs and with my net fully extended to it's nine foot maximum reach, we sealed the deal and the rest is a bit of a blur honestly. A massive injection of adrenaline sent me sky high as we snapped a couple quick pictures and released her back to the depths to continue her onslaught of walleye terror. I have never been more proud of a young angler than I am of Owen; his level of patience and ability to keep composure, and follow instruction, made him an absolute pleasure to fish with. YOU ROCK LITTLE BUDDY!

Prior to Owen landing his super-tank, his dad John set a great example as he landed this beautiful 44 inch hog while jigging for walleye during our first morning together. We were fishing a rocky point in the lakes central basin in 14 feet of water when this walleye eater decided to take the jig. John showed exemplary patience as we fought the beast to the boat. Especially windy conditions made for an exceptionally challenging fight but John's ability to resist horsing the fish led to an early victory for team Nasgovitz. No need to wonder where Owen inherited his skills from!

In addition, John also landed this awesome gator that fell just short of trophy status but is certainly worth an honorable mention! GREAT WORK JOHNNY!

Despite an awesome bite for big pike we made sure to take some time to enjoy some of Utik lake's phenomenal walleye angling. It wasn't long before Owen was wrangling dozens of beautiful eyes to the boat. It was a heart warming experience to watch John and Owen figure out the walleye bite together and as the afternoon came and went I couldn't help but be reminded of my own father-son fishing adventures.

Some of my own fondest memories in life are the trips that my dad and I took together to fish-camp and it was a true privilege to be part of Owen and John's special experience. Time is precious and in a world where cell phones and business meetings can often get in the way of spending quality time with our loved ones, it is more important than ever to make the effort to get outdoors with our young anglers and hunters. My hat truly goes off to John and Owen for making the absolute best of a Canadian fishing adventure. It is trip's like yours that truly make my job, the best in the world. Thanks for letting me be part of your adventure guys! I look forward to doing it again soon!

1 Comment

Trophies for Everyone!

7/25/2016

1 Comment

There are many magical times of the year to angle trophy Northern Pike, but this segment of the summer just so happens to be my personal favorite of all seasonal patterns to target toothy critters. The weed-bed-bite is an animal all of it's own, highlighted by the search for thriving cabbage and coon tail beds, where the local big girls lye in await of unknowing prey. Any given cast has the potential to reveal the biggest fish of the season as Northerns actively seek forage in an attempt to put on as much girth as possible before the winter arrives. The Becker Group is no stranger to the trophy Northern hunt and with twelve trophies being revealed during their four day stay here at Utik Lake, I'd say they did OK!

Pictured above is an absolute specimen of a gator that Rick and I angled on the second day of the groups hunt. All 45 inches of Northern freight train dropped the pedal to the metal in an all-out MAN VS FISH BRAWL! Rick slammed his UV blue/white/and silver, Doctor spoon into the corner of the body-building gators jaw and the fight was ON! At first glance, we weren't sure what was in store, as the fish swam directly towards the boat; BUT, as tension gathered and the rod began to double up, we knew we the stakes were high!

With my trophy basket in hand, she rushed the boat and took an epic dive under the bow and directly into the thickest cabbage bed she could find. LEAN OVER THE BOAT!!! (I said calmly) Rick did an all star job of keeping his line off the boat while navigating his rod towards and around the front the bow. After another spectacular run she approached the boat but a single glance at our Lund Pro Guide sent her screaming into cabbage country once again!

This time she chose to scream down and under the back of the boat! Rick kept his cool and was able to dance his way around the stern of our boat in a ballerina like fashion, revealing this Utik Lake leviathan. Simply put, most fisherman would have lost this fish…. MAD RESPECT.

Next in line, we have Jimmy with his all star trophy 43 inch hog which was also caught on a UV blue/white/ and silver, Doctor spoon. We dissected a piece of structure highlighted by pencil reeds which ran adjacent to a cabbage and coon tail bed in ten feet of water. This particular weed bed is located very close in relation to a deeper basin of the lake where giant Northern pike can easily venture into cooler waters, returning to the beds for feeding periods. We didn't catch a million fish that morning but Jimmy's hog was a true specimen of both beauty and girth. With a head like a 56 Cheverolet Impala, there really ins't much that a fish like this can't eat! BOOOOOO YEAH JIMMY!

Tay Tay and Rick had an amazing time together during our day on the water and this picture exemplifies the positive energy that these two can't help but emit! Rick continued his gator catching clinic as he angled this beautiful 41.5 inch trophy in one of Utik Lake's largest weed bed bay's. This particular big girl took a yellow and black MG spinner-bait tipped with a white twister tail and dual copper colorado blades. This fish took two great runs before surrendering for a quick picture, including a nail biting dive into a giant clump of cabbage from which Rick skillfully pulled her free. PHEW!

Last but not least on the trophy train for my boat was Peter, with his amazingly thick 41.5 inch trophy! Three days of heavy winds kept us catching trophies close to the lodge so the guys were all excited to try their hand at some Western basin Utik Lake trophies. Yet again, this beast nailed our UV blue/white/ and silver, Doctor spoon while fishing an expansive cabbage and coon tail bed which is located in relation to the Albright river section of the lake. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, and wow… what a beautiful fish!!!

Four days can feel like a blink of an eye up here and the Becker's trip was no exception to the rule. On top of the big fish, this group was full of happy, positive, and energetic characters that made them an exceptionally fun group of people to fish beside. A special thanks to Barry for co-ordinating the trip and to big Frank for making it happen! We look forward to doing it again soon!

1 Comment

The Reel McCoy!

7/8/2016

1 Comment

From the get-go, the guys from the McCoy gang were all smiles and after a minor feud with the Hatfield group in Cabin 3, it was time to hit the water in search of some toothy critters. It can be all too easy to look back at all the big fish pictures and forget the hours of scouting, the hundreds of fish less casts, and the big ones that got away. The search for truly trophy sized Northern pike is a legitimate hunt but the key to having a successful and enjoyable trip is simply being able to enjoy being out of doors with the people that we care about… the big fish are after all, just a bonus, in my opinion.

As fishing guides we can be our own worst enemy at times; constantly analyzing and re-analyzing our fishing approach and trying to make the proper corrections to put those big girls in the boat. The McCoy group's awesome attitude and ability to have fun and find the best of every moment is what made them an absolute pleasure to fish beside. Despite challenging weather conditions, these guys made the best of every aspect of our time together. The laughter could be heard for miles as shore lunch was prepared, and enjoyed by good friends. The picture below describes the energy from this group better than words ever could.

Extreme cold fronts are pretty much the epitome of a northern fisherman's worst nightmare and boy, was it ever a chilly trip! As water temperatures cooled, the fish spread out into deeper water and were relating to rocky structure, with the best fish being landed in relation to spots holding concentrations of walleye. All the while the McCoy gang maintained a truly positive, appreciative, and happy demeanor. On the fourth and final day of the trip, we took up wings and headed to the renowned, CRAZY BEAR LAKE! Troy and I fished together for the majority of the trip and he is pictured below with his beautiful Bear Lake trophy. Thanks for sticking it out with me, you were an absolute pleasure to have in the boat buddy!

Boat morale was at an all time high as each boat landed several high 30 inch class pike or greater. It was the perfect ending to the trip and I was left with an uplifting feeling of happiness as we boarded the float plane to head back to our castle for supper. At the end of the day, it would be honest to say that fishing was tough during the four day period but you'd never know it based upon the attitude of the guys in this group. Thank you to all the guys in the group and a special thanks to Doug and Greg for making it happen! YOU GUYS ROCK!

1 Comment

Southern Hospitality!

7/2/2016

0 Comments

Whether I'm chasing trophies or preparing a world class shore lunch for my guests, I am proud to say that my passion is my "work". Trophy fish keep my adrenaline glands working overtime but ultimately, it's all about the people that we share our days on the water with. Since beginning my guiding career, I have had the pleasure of fishing and hunting with a great deal of amazing folks from all around the globe. I recently had the pleasure of fishing with the guys from the Burgess group who hail Birmingham, Southern Alabama; these amazing gentlemen caught some absolute stompers!

From the get go, it became unquestionably clear that I had hit the ultimate cool-guest-jackpot with Arthur and Brian Burgess. During their stay here at North Haven Resort, they rolled snake eyes on the weather dice and dealt with every element of nasty northern climate, including high winds, a cold front, a thunderstorm, and even the loss of an entire day of fishing due to low cloud ceilings which prevented them from arriving to the lodge until 9:45pm of the first day.

Never the less, the guys held a positive pike attitude and maintained that a single day of good fishing could heal all foul weather wounds. With a little luck, the third day of our trip together was highlighted by incredibly beautiful conditions and a fly out day trip to the mighty bear lake!

After exploring the interior and mid section of a personal favorite pike bay for half an hour, it became apparent that the big fish were nowhere to be found in the shallows. In turn, I began to work the outer edges of the area, concentrating our efforts on a rock pile running adjacent with the shoreline leading into the main basin of the lake. KABLAMMO! it was only eight in the morning and Arthur had already landed the beautifully clean 42" trophy pictured above.

As the day progressed we focussed on the deep pockets of spring spawning bays and main rocky points with the lure of choice being a four inch, holographic rattle trap in silver, black, and red. The results were phenomenal with three trophy gators revealed, measuring in at 45 & 1/4", 42", and 42" respectively. Countless 37" to 39" fish were graciously boat side released during our quest for the giants and boat morale was at an all time high. Once again, I said goodbye to two people who arrived as perfect strangers and left as good friends. Thank you so much Arthur and Brian for being the awesome, kind, patient, and genuine people that you are.

0 Comments

Hogs for Days!

6/17/2016

0 Comments

This year marks my second season as a member of the North Haven Resort guiding crew and I couldn't be more excited to be back on the water. I am happy to leave the city behind to continue my journey along the road less travelled which is paved with crystal clear waters.

It wasn't long before I found myself cutting waves and pounding bays with the Elwell gang. Our days consisted of sight fishing trophy logs in one to three feet of water on some of Canada's most productive Northern fisheries, Utik and Bear Lake. During our hunt, water temperatures remained in the low fifty degree range as we experienced a wide variety of weather systems. The Bite was ON!

James proudly landed this super-stomper 44" fat girl, which he coaxed into biting with a six inch, pink bass worm rigged up on a wide gap Trokar single hook.

Scott is one of those guys who just loves to laugh and knows how to have a great time in the boat. He utilized an unorthodox method of fighting fish which could only be described as the love child between fighting a black marlin and playing heavy metal on guitar. His patience and awesome attitude paid off with dividends as he put the boots to this awesome 43" pike!

During our four days together, it became apparent that the big fish were keying in on smaller bait presentations such as Mepps, Red Eye Spoons, and of course the Johnson silver minnow. Jeff's weapon of choice was an orange and black pattern Mepps Musky killer which earned him both of these beautiful trophies which measured 42.5" and 41.5"s respectively. BOO YEAH!

We found ourselves boat side releasing good numbers of high thirty inch class pike but we didn't hesitate to bust out the trophy basket to reveal this 43" gator that James nailed in less than two feet of water on a Johnson silver minnow tipped with a white twister tail. We don't call that spot the honey hole for nothing!

Energy levels peaked and the guys kicked it into full throttle as radio chatter revealed an oncoming thunder storm that would soon bring our last day of fishing to an abrupt halt. It was the perfect example of being in the right place at the right time as we landed several high thirty inch class fish consecutively, and this thick bodied bonus!….a 42" trophy. You have got to love the thunder storm bite!

Great guys and phenomenal fishing made for a spectacular four days on the lake and the perfect start to the 2016 open water season. Once again, I am left feeling like the luckiest guy in the world to be surrounded by so many amazing people in a place that is home to some of the highest quality fishing resources that Canada has to offer. Life is really good….

0 Comments

Famil-Knee Vacation!

7/29/2015

0 Comments

As fishing guides, we are truly privileged to share in countless outdoor adventures, with people from all walks of life. For me, there is no trip more rewarding than that of the family fishing vacation. Perhaps its the memories that I fondly recall from my own family fishing trips… or perhaps it's that extra excitement and appreciation one gets when a young angler sets into their first trophy fish… whatever the case may be, when this crew arrived at North Star Resort, I knew it was going to be an amazing few days on Knee Lake, with a special group of Wisconsonites.

Fishing with young anglers is an excellent way to avoid taking our priceless resources for granted. It can be all to easy to let some of the wildlife encounters and the quality level of fishing itself, become under appreciated when you are privileged enough to be subsered in it, day in and day out, for months at a time. There is nothing more reinvigorating than seeing a young person catch their first fish of a species, see their first eagle, have their first ever shore lunch… heck, even rocks make for an interesting conversation if you're in the right company. I think Nivia's expression in the picture below explains it better than I ever could with words, as we set off from the lodge for our first morning of fishing together.

The older a person gets, the more set in our own ways we naturally become. In contrast, young anglers act more like sponges, soaking up every ounce of angling data like water to a desert rose. More often than not, they ultimately end up out-fishing their elder counterparts, and the big-fish pictures are that much sweeter for it! Similarly, young anglers just seem to relax more than the of the advanced angler. You may be able to relate to the infinitely fast whizzing of baits as you fan-cast a piece of structure with lightning speed, only to watch a young angler set the hook on an absolute giant while they worked with area with nonchalant patience. I have seen this time and time again over the years, and I love it!

Every good parent wants to see their kids catch the BIG ONE, and Dan was no exception to this rule. Positive, patient, and just a fun guy to fish with, Dan maintained the golden rule of fishing with the family… it's all about having fun and making positive memories with our loved ones.

During our time together, Nivia and I tackled both her first walleye and pike! It wasn't long before she was working the baits like a PRO!!! The next thing you know, SWOOOOOOOSH! A giant boat side top-water hit from this thirty-nine inch Northern, pictured below, had me wielding my net in a ninja-like fashion to subside the freshly fooled, water wolf.

You're never too young to learn, in my opinion, and little Niv's was all smiles at the idea of driving the boat! As Nivia put it herself, she is a, "woman who is not afraid"… You are awesome!!! Don't ever change kiddo!

My adventure with Nivia and her family was one that will not be soon forgotten. It was my fourth and final group of guests during my stay at North Star Resort, at Knee lake, and the perfect way to end my trip before heading back to North Haven Resort to finish off the season. Learning a new lake is always an adventure, and the fishing is a big part of that, but it's people like Nivia, who remind me that the most important aspect of fishing isn't actually the size of the fish you catch, but the people you share it with. We all need a reminder of that… from time to time… Thanks Nivs!

0 Comments

Fire Water!

7/25/2015

0 Comments

What do you get when you combine twenty-six Jack Daniels executives, with thirteen fishing guides, four days of beautiful weather, and an aggressive bite on one of the worlds foremost trophy Northern Pike fisheries?

Rasp is one of those guys who just can't help but have a good time! His contagiously energetic, positive-pike attitude earned him this honest, forty and a half inch tank, during our second morning together. This fish has been officially dedicated to Mike Yates… we missed you on this one big guy!

Louisiana Mark made it look easy when he put this chubby lady in the trophy basket. We were discussing the tradition of craw-fish boils when this forty-one and a quarter inch predator was fooled by a 6 inch, hammered gold williams whitefish. BOO YEAH Mark! This was one of the thickest forty-one inch fish I have ever seen...

Jack Daniels Fish Juice is set to hit the market sometime in 2016 so keep your eyes peeled. Rasp discovered this entirely new market for Jack Daniels by landing this beautiful forty-two inch gator on the first cast of the afternoon by using a 5 inch, hammered silver, williams whitefish, which he christened with a cap full of JD before throwing.

This group consisted of twenty six, BEYOND stellar, guys. My hat goes off to the entire Jack Daniels crew! These gentlemen proved to the world that it is entirely possible to hammer down on some monster fish, while having fun, and simply enjoying the little things in life. Thanks guys!

0 Comments

So You're a Fishing Guide, Eh? Trophy Days!

7/14/2015

0 Comments

As the old saying goes, even the worst day of fishing is better than the best day of work; that is, of course, unless your job is hunting down trophy Northern gators! In which case, you may find yourself submersed in a labyrinth of islands, bays, and weed beds. Your cubicle is 18 feet long, deep hulled, and equipped with seventy-five horses of raw Yamaha.

Your days in the office will be long… up to ten hours of complete FOCUS is common practice when seeking these toothy critters. You won't be using a computer, but you will find yourself staring intermittently at a Lowrance Elite, keeping a keen eye on depth, and surface water temperature, while simultaneously discussing a plethora of topics with your guests, none of which should include, politics, or religion. The real question you'll need to find answers for, is, which areas of the lake will likely be holding the "ONE"?

With the concrete jungle hundreds of miles by airplane from reach, there are no highways here. You will take a different route to work every day. The local radio stations road warnings are quickly replaced by doplar radar and minute-by- minute weather changes. Whether you're cutting calm waters like glass or plowing levitation waves, it makes no different to the hunter of trophies.

You need not worry about office politics, but you WILL face fierce competition, as twelve other guides race throughout the watershed in hopes that they will be the first ones to tap their local honey holes. Water cooler chit chat is quickly replaced by marine radio chatter, and your daily deadlines will consist of putting trophy pike in the net, and shore lunch walleyes in the live well.

Unlike most jobs you have worked, time will fly by! Each second of the day is preciously cherished, in hopes that your clients next cast will reveal their fish of a life-time. We are always our own worst enemies, and the pressure that you will feel is a good thing… because it shows that you care.

Your customers become your friends, and your product is the wilderness experience you provide. Brown paper bag lunches are a thing of the past; as a guide, you will be preparing freshly cooked walleye in a variety of tantalizing flavors to fill the hunger void.

Your fishing addiction has brought you this far and there is no telling where this path will take you… All you know is that you love what you do. You're a fishing guide, and you always will be… the hunter of trophies.

0 Comments

Tulibee Terror!

5/29/2015

0 Comments

You'll know you are a full fledged member of the luckiest man in the world club when you find yourself trolling for suspended spring lake trout… by order of your boss, no less.

It felt like Christmas morning all over again as Andrew, Jordan, and I hit the water in search of the Utik Lake unicorn, a lake trout! We concentrated our efforts by working the 30 to 40 feet region of water, off a series of islands that neighbored a deeper basin of the lake, while Andrew maintained a trolling speed between 1.5 to 2.5 miles per hour.

Jordan and Andrew's Kwikfish aggressively chugged away, as we made note of an enormous school of tulibee that was hovering in the 10 to 15 foot section of the water column. Suddenly, SLAM!!!! My heavy action St.Croix, rigged with a 5 inch tulibee imitation crank bait, doubled over like a rubber band and I knew that it was time for battle! Lake trout… please be a massive lake trout!, I thought to myself. Suddenly my line made a direct B-line for the boat and it became apparent that we were facing an open lake water wolf; a worthy adversary and well known mythical creature of the depths.

"It's getting close to the boat guys! Get the net!", I said. "The net is FROZEN", Andrew replied. "Perrrrfect", I thought to myself. Upon arrival to the boat, she was able to get one good look at us three crusty fishing guides and decided to punch it into full throttle, making a deep run, down and under the boat. As the guys worked together to assemble the weather beaten trophy basket, time slowed to a stand still, and I mentally prepared myself for hand bombing the beast. As she rose to the surface I heard, CLICK! the net was taking form!!! SWOOSH!, with one fell swoop, Andrew had successfully landed my open water giant.

We giggled like school boys and dropped some massive high fives and BOO YEAHS! after revealing the 43 inch predator. Clean, mean, and rarely ever seen, the open water giant returned to the depths to continue her onslaught of tulibee terrorization….

I really have to say on this one, a great net man is worth their weight in gold. Here's a huge shout out and thanks to both these guys for pulling through with the net and a special thanks to Andrew Klassen for taking such phenomenal pictures. Thanks guys!

0 Comments

Jail Birds Fly!

5/28/2015

0 Comments

If you're a fisherman, the chances are high that you've been a prisoner of fishing jail at one point or another in your angling career. You may have found yourself pacing through the cabin as you slurp back your fourth cup of coffee, repeatedly discussing how nasty the weather is with your fellow cell mates. The cross sections of your windows may even start to look like bars of steel, as you try to convince yourself that "...there is no way that fish are going to bite in this weather!" or by saying, "This cold front is going to shut them down for days!"

When the weather turns sour, you can easily become held hostage by gail force winds, rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog, but with the right gear and a positive pike attitude, you may find yourself free from the clutches of mother natures treachery, as you cradle the fish of your dreams. Fellow guide, and glutton for punishment, Dan Leyderman, and I did exactly just that as we hit the back bay of Utik lake in search of some foul weather toothy predators.

A hundred casts deep and with no fish in sight, Dan opted to switch over to a mid-sized, double bladed colorado spinner bait in a gold and black pattern. Moments later, SWOOOOOOSH!, the water boiled and our eyes opened wide as Dan set the hook on yet another beautiful spring time hog.

We forgot all about the wind and snow, as we discussed the feeding patterns of large-class fish, in relation to water temperature and it wasn't long before this healthy little guy slammed my hook not once, not twice, but thrice! The third time was truly a charm and the boat was all smiles as we proudly made our way back to camp to prepare for another day in paradise….. Jail Birds, Fly!

0 Comments

<<Previous

Like Father Like Son...

Trophies for Everyone!

The Reel McCoy!

Southern Hospitality!

Hogs for Days!

Famil-Knee Vacation!

Fire Water!

So You're a Fishing Guide, Eh? Trophy Days!

Tulibee Terror!

Jail Birds Fly!

Author

Archives

Categories