It’s amazing how dependent we’ve become on computers and the internet. One doesn’t give them a second thought until one or the other is not working. That’s been the problem this last week with our internet service. It’s been out of service. Hopefully it will be back in play with no problems going forward.

Now let’s see, where were we? Day 3 at laker camp dawned bright and sunny and we decided to fish early and come back for brunch. Rocky Reef was still in shadow from the surrounding forest, and as we quietly motored into the cove next to Rocky Reef, I unloosened my Icicle and flipped it out into the dark waters. On previous days, we’d seen fish rolling out in this zone, and I figured it was worth a try. On the second cast, I hooked a very nice 11 ½ pound laker, the biggest of the trip.

As it fought hard and deep, Scott Snead unhooked his fly and flipped it in right next to the boat while he began pulling line off the reel. There was a big swirl at the surface, and Scott had one. It probably had followed my fish toward the boat to see what it was doing. Regardless, Scott soon landed his nice fish, and we put ashore. The fish were not in the very near-shore shallows like they had been the day before, but we soon caught several.

After brunch, we headed back, and I put in at Craig’s Cove. In a few minutes I spotted a big female laker with two smaller males in courting mode. Another fish hung out in deeper water and circled slowly watching these three. I allowed the Icicle to sink about 8 to 10 feet down where the three were moving about, but they showed no interest. Still, I hoped one would have a shot. Suddenly the fourth fish came shooting in from the deeper water and slammed the fly. It took off like a shot and fought very well for an 7 ½ pound lake trout.

After it was released. I decided to cast long and allow the fly to sink deeply before retrieving. As the imitation came into sight, another fish shot out from the rocky ledge on which I was standing and nabbed the fly. It was a 2 ½ pound walleye. It was not a walleye dinner day, so I released it to grow for the next trip.

I then moved along the shoreline back toward Rocky Reef (about ½ mile away) and fished was I went. It was all long cast territory. I got “piked” by a northern (hit and cut the leader). Then, back at the point next to Rocky Reef, still casting long and fishing the fly down 4-5 feet, I got another good grab and landed a nice 8-pound laker.

Because the mornings were often quite foggy, we elected to be picked up an hour before dark on day 3. So we headed back to camp early, to pack and secure the camp for another year. Some intrepid soles decided that the warm, sunny day signaled a dip in the frigid waters of the lake. And so, on went the swimming suits and amidst some rather strong gasps and shouts, a “dip” ensued. The Otter was right on time, and we bundled our gear aboard and headed south. An hour later we were back at Ear Falls, and left for home. It had been a good trip, with a total of 30 lakers hooked, 21landed, weighed, and measured in just 2 days total fishing time.

Day 3 was bright and very warm, but we still took several nice lakers.

Lake trout, like brook trout, are char and bear beautifully white edged fins.

The prominent lateral line of the lakers is an indication of the life they normally lead at depth. The Icicle produces a strong acoustic footprint that these fish readily detect.

Mmmmm....tastie, but not this year, Mr. Walleye.

Not a white whale; rather, an intrepid angler taking a dip in frigid lake waters.

Late afternoon on Day 3 found us loading the Otter for the trip back to Ear Falls. It was a great trip, and the lakers of Rocky Reef did not disappoint us.