| Imagine planning a fly-in fishing trip for walleyes and | | | | steadily over shallow (6 to 10 feet) bars. On our |
| northern pike then discovering that not one, but two | | | | sidetrip to Hiawatha Lake, drifting a jig & worm |
| of this province's premiere fishing lodges are situated | | | | combo proved the undoing of scores of walleyes. |
| on that very lake. Furthermore, indulge in the fantasy | | | | Our best catches (biggest fish) came off the head of |
| that both of those full-services lodges have made a | | | | the Banana Shoal where we carefully located and |
| commitment to providing your fishing party with a | | | | marked a "bite" out of an otherwise regular edge. |
| memorable, relaxing, trouble-free angling vacation on | | | | Everytime we drifted to that spot we picked up fish, |
| a little-known, top-rated wilderness lake. Yeah, right. | | | | including the three largest fish of our stay and the |
| Can't be, you say. Verify this data at Nagagami | | | | largest caught at camp that week. A tiny "something |
| Lake.Big Nagagami Lake first drew my attention | | | | special" spot.Don't overlook weedbeds and weedlines |
| several years ago as we drove north of White River | | | | as good spots for walleyes. One party at camp |
| on highway #631 toward Nagagamisis Provincial Park. | | | | ceremoniously located, marked and fished a weedline |
| Considering its sheer size, relative isolation and | | | | at The Meadows and consistently caught limits of |
| proximity to Hornepayne's many air services I | | | | better-than-average walleyes. Fish were right in |
| thought it might have some potential for fishing. But, | | | | there, at the base of the weeds in the only cover in |
| it wasn't until March '90 at the Toronto Sportsmen's | | | | that part of the lake. To get these fish, baits had to |
| Show that two very reputable fishing lodges - | | | | get right in, amidst the stems and stalks; sometimes |
| Nagagami Lodge and Timberwolf Lodge - were | | | | only to be grabbed first by Nagagami's opportunistic |
| associated with the lake. Thereupon, like an | | | | pike. Hey, that's OK, too!While at Nagagami, don't |
| arrangement of dominoes, everything systematically | | | | pass up the incredible shore lunch fish fries put on at |
| fell into place and before the show ended, an August | | | | midweek by Nagagami Lodge and daily (weather |
| booking was mine. And, in order to get a broad view | | | | permitting) by Timberwolf Lodge staff at the Twin |
| of Liddle's 2-lodge Nagagami Lake operation, the trip | | | | Islands. The great outdoors, good friends and a hot |
| would see us split our time and fishing between the | | | | shore lunch - "It doesn't get any better than |
| two camps. Dave Sauve, Ontario Fisherman field | | | | this"!NORTHERN PIKEDuring our stay at Nagagami, |
| editor and a regular fishing sidekick, eagerly agreed to | | | | one thing became abundantly clear:pike fishing was |
| accompany me on this rather unique angling | | | | given high priority by visiting anglers, especially |
| adventure.NAGAGAMI LAKENagagami Lake, located | | | | "repeaters" who were not only familiar with the lake's |
| approximately 15 air miles northwest of Hornepayne, | | | | pike hotspots, but also very much aware of the |
| is a medium-sized, kidney-shaped lake measuring 8 | | | | potential for a mammoth northern pike-fish in the 20 |
| miles in length and 2 to 4 miles in width. The lake | | | | to 30 pound range. In fact, while having dinner at |
| shows three distinct areas - the eastern basin, a | | | | Timberwolf Lodge one evening, one of the "regulars" |
| shallow (20 to 40 ft. ), smooth-bottomed area; the | | | | made a point of coming over to us and showing us |
| western basin, a deeper (10 to 90 ft. ), irregularly | | | | pictures of past catches of huge Nagagami pike. This |
| contoured area with islands, rocky shoreline, shoals; a | | | | was prompted, no doubt, by her excitement over |
| long, narrow, deep (10 to 70 ft. ) northerly arm. | | | | having just caught a magnificent 44-inch, 20-plus |
| Unlike many large, diverse lakes, Nagagami Lake has | | | | pound pike at The Meadows, an extensive weedy |
| excellent angling in all three regions:particularly for | | | | area off the Nagagami River outlet. Not an |
| walleyes and northern pike (although there is a | | | | uncommon fish out of Nagagami Lake; uncommon |
| healthy whitefish population and some perch in the | | | | just about everywhere else.Because pike, like |
| lake).The lake is most unusual in that, in the large | | | | walleyes, are predatory fish, their seasonal |
| eastern basin, a very narrow but productive weedline | | | | movements and feeding habits often parallel those of |
| can be found far offshore where the lake bottom | | | | walleye. Very often, where walleyes are caught, big |
| falls from 8 to 12 feet. Because it is well out in the | | | | pike are caught, even on the same baits. Resultantly, |
| lake and not continuous, finding it becomes on of the | | | | Nagagami northerns are fished with live baits early |
| keys to the lake's great pike fishing. More on that | | | | and late in the season and with artificial baits or lures |
| later!The water is stained from the ever present | | | | through the warm-water months.Come spring, pike |
| tannins leaching into the lake from surrounding timber | | | | are the lake's first spawners and most aggressive |
| and soils. The lake warms up early for this part of | | | | fish. Immediately after the spawn, pike will begin |
| the North and because of its size, can get very | | | | taking live-bait offerings at typical springtime |
| rough when the wind blows. There are few boating | | | | sites:weedy back bays and creek/river outflows. Top |
| hazards in the main lake, except along the rugged | | | | spots at Nagagami Lake include the Pody Creek area |
| north-arm shoreline and amongst the island clusters. | | | | and a channel nearby appropriately dubbed "Pike |
| Isolated hazards are marked by the lodge staff and | | | | Alley". Large live baitfish, especially suckers, regularly |
| have been carefully pinpointed on a very detailed, | | | | produce the biggest pike in the early season, |
| hydro-contour map of Nagagami Lake produced by | | | | although occasional monsters will be caught by |
| the lodges for their guests. Key fishing areas are | | | | walleye fishermen, too.Once the water warms, pike |
| highlighted.Also accessible (via short, easy portages) | | | | will scatter widely throughout the lake-to weedbeds |
| are two small lakes:Hiawatha and Pody. Both offer | | | | weedlines, shoals, current flows and deep-water |
| excellent walleye and pike fishing. At Pody Lake, a | | | | basins - wherever their forage, oxygen and |
| catch & release lake, monster northerns and bigger | | | | temperature requirements are met. It is at this time |
| than average walleyes are caught | | | | that fish start chasing down larger, faster-moving |
| regularly.WALLEYESWith lots of water, diverse | | | | baits - e. g. spinners, spoons, bass spinnerbaits, |
| structural elements and several incoming & outflowing | | | | bucktails and jerkbaits. At Nagagami, this period puts |
| major rivers, Nagagami is a walleye factory. And, | | | | fish in the weeds and anglers looking for the lake's |
| because several lodges and camps operate on the | | | | strange offshore weedlines. Once found, these |
| big lake, a river mouth sanctuary policy is in effect on | | | | weedlines consistently produce lots of healthy |
| the Foch and Obakamiga ("Buck") Rivers until | | | | northerns:fish averaging 5 to 8 pounds. Both our |
| mid-June. Walleyes are found throughout the lake:in | | | | hosts knew these weedlines well and unerringly kept |
| current flows at river sites, along weedlines and in | | | | us near them and "on pike". Ron is a diehard pike |
| the larger weedbeds, off islands and pointes over | | | | fanatic and spoke constantly of the lake's bigger |
| gravel bottoms, and on mid-lake structures including | | | | northerns:historic catches, fish hooked and lost, the |
| several classic shoals, humps, sunken islands, | | | | season's best, the lake's potential for a 50-inch, |
| drop-offs and bars.As suggested earlier, the spring | | | | 30-pound gator!The 44-inch fish mentioned earlier |
| walleye fishery focuses on post-spawn (male) fish, | | | | was caught on a bass spinnerbait, yet we took our |
| near river outflows. It is not unusual to see a pack of | | | | best pike on spoons and spinners. However, Ron |
| boats in a small area with all anglers catching limits of | | | | insisted that, if you were to fish strictly for a trophy, |
| walleyes and releasing many fish. Springtime is | | | | a jerkbait worked over and near the weeds would |
| minnow time and Nagagami is a "minnow lake" all | | | | be the most productive lure. To be sure, he had a |
| season long. To protect the lake, minnows are | | | | collection of these wooden freaks - baits in the 7 to |
| carefully collected and sorted before being flown into | | | | 9-inch range worked best. Oh sure, he had a couple |
| the camps for fishing. Rigged on small snelled hooks, | | | | of "baseball bats" in there, too. Proven choices at |
| live-bait rigs or tiny jigs, minnows are fished at the | | | | Nagagami Lake include Suicks, Teddy Baits, Reef |
| mouths of rivers where deeper areas have been | | | | Hawgs and Hi-Fin Foolers. Casting and working these |
| created by the current or along current breaks | | | | baits is hard work, so if you troll try a Believer, |
| eddies. Other productive springtime/early summer | | | | Swimm Whizz, Magnum Rapala or huge, jointed |
| walleye locations include the island group out from | | | | Kwikfish. Make sure that your equipment can handle |
| Pody Creek, an area designated "The Flats" and the | | | | this kind of tackle and strain before experiencing a |
| upper portion of the out-flowing Nagagami River (as | | | | day of frustration or worse, losing the fish of a |
| far downstream as Moose Lake).Summer walleyes | | | | lifetime.As stated a moment ago, Dave and I |
| are widely scattered and predictable, low-light | | | | successfully pitched #4 or 5 Mepps Agilia Long/Giant |
| feeders. Three approaches are commonly used by | | | | Killer spinners and large spoons (Daredevle, Five |
| Nagagami & Timberwolf Lodge guests:stillfishing | | | | Diamonds) to the lake's weed-oriented pike. By simply |
| minnows, backtrolling with live-bait rigs, and jigging. | | | | moving around the perimeter of the eastern basin, |
| Standard, forward trolling with wobbling plugs or body | | | | fishing the intermittent weedline, we enjoyed |
| baits is almost unheard of here.For both experienced | | | | fast-paced pike action throughout the afternoon. |
| anglers and vacationing families with kids at Nagagami | | | | When fishing pike like this, please equip yourself with |
| Lodge, stillfishing minnows was a popular and | | | | proper tools for extracting deeply taken baites from |
| effective technique. Whether anglers positioned | | | | cavernous, toothy mouths - a "gag" to hold the fish's |
| themselves out from a weedline or weedbed, along a | | | | mouth open, long-reach hookouts, pliers or cutters. |
| dropoff that fell to 20 or 30 foot depths or atop the | | | | The careful and quick removal of hooks and |
| sunken islands and shoals, limits of great-eating | | | | immediate boatside resuscitation will insure a |
| walleyes in the 1 to 3 pound range were the rule-day | | | | successful release of fish not intended for the dinner |
| after day. Best times included the early morning | | | | table. Sensible catch and release is an art form as |
| hours, but the twilight times were tops. Daytime | | | | much as it is a science.Two other areas deserve |
| fishing was given over to pike. Dave and I took a lot | | | | special recognition when it comes to Nagagami pike |
| of kidding about our fishing off the dock at night | | | | fishing:The Meadows and Pike Alley. With current |
| with floats/bobbers. That's OK. Each night without fail | | | | flows and plenty of weed cover, these areas |
| (about 10:30) we'd slip down to the camp dock and | | | | consistently produce lots of pike as well as |
| catch 3 or 4 good walleye for breakfast. By 1:00 or | | | | trophy-status fish. Bass spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, |
| so we'd caught our fish and were enjoying | | | | spinners, spoons and bucktails will get plenty of |
| no-less-than-spectacular displays of shimmering | | | | attention from big, aggressive northerns. Hang |
| Northern Lights. Those evenings may have been the | | | | on!WHITEFISHAlthough many northern lakes have |
| most enjoyable I spent all summer; they certainly | | | | very healthy whitefish populations, they are pretty |
| were unforgettable!Get a second opinion - ask | | | | much underfished. At Nagagami Lake during late |
| Dave!Both Mike Bauer and Ron Dunn, managers of | | | | August through mid-September, whitefish action is |
| the two lodges, effective fished walleyes the same | | | | outstanding and the lodges offer a continuous |
| way:back-trolling across mid-lake shoals with live-bait | | | | smokehouse service to their clientele. Smoked |
| rigs dressed with minnows. For this approach a | | | | whitefish makes for great eating, keeps well and |
| depthfinder/flasher/graph is a must for locating the | | | | increases each angler's legal "keep". With generous |
| structure and then systematically working the bait rig | | | | limits and regulated dip netting practices to |
| up and down it until fish are contacted. Favourite | | | | supplement angling, "whitefish-ing" should be added to |
| spots included a large, marked shoal northeast of the | | | | the itinerary for late-season guests at Nagagami and |
| Twin Islands, the "Banana Shoal" beyond that, and | | | | Timberwolf Lodges.NAGAGAMI LODGELocated on |
| isolated humps in the main-lake basin including one off | | | | the northern arm of Nagagami Lake, this 2-star |
| Chuck's Point and another in the midst of the lake's | | | | housekeeping resort features superb |
| eastern basin. The latter spot is tough to locate. Mike | | | | facilities:spacious, modern log cottages, generated |
| put us onto it in a driving rain one morning. S ure that | | | | hydro, sturdy 19-foot Powassan cedar-strip boats, |
| he was "testing our resolve and mettle", we dutifully | | | | reliable OMC motors, a central recreation lodge |
| backtrolled this spot in the middle of nowhere. | | | | meeting area with VCR/movies/TV and a pool table, |
| Bingo-several larger walleyes! Touche, Mike, but | | | | guide service, bait, fish-cleaning station, smokehouse, |
| couldn't it have waited?Although live-bait fishing is the | | | | etc. Cabins feature 2 or 3 bedrooms, bedding & liner |
| norm at Nagagami, jigging accounts for excellent | | | | service, modern full-size appliances, wood-burning |
| catches of "yellows". Location is the key to | | | | heaters, 3-piece bath (shower, flush toilet, sink), |
| successful jigging:over shoals/humps/sunken islands or | | | | running hot and cold water, electrical lighting, |
| along weedlines and dropoffs. Any significant change | | | | complete kitchens.Air Service to Nagagami Lake is |
| in depth, bottom content or cover will attract and | | | | provided by Horne-Air (Hornepayne, Ont.) via Beaver |
| hold walleyes, especially during feeding periods. For | | | | aircraft.This article was written after a visit to |
| Nagagami Lake walleyes, pink, white and yellow jigs in | | | | Nagagami Lodge where I did some Northern Pike |
| the 1/8 to 1/4 ounce sizes are recommended with | | | | Fishing as well as fishing for Walleye and |
| pink getting the nod most times. Tipped with a small | | | | Whitefish.Online since 1998 by long-time OFM field |
| piece of worm or a lively minnow, jigs should be cast | | | | editor, Bill Rivers, the Ontario Fisherman is now taking |
| and worked down ledges and humps, jigged in short | | | | on a new look, but remains committed to showcasing |
| hops off deeper bottoms or cast and retrieved | | | | "the best of Ontario sportfishing". |