Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | I will admit my experience with Canadian shield lakes is limited to three, one week trips to LOTW. But this is what I have found.
On the first day of the first trip, Jlong caught the first musky of the trip at 6:15am while he was fighting that fish another fish followed the action. He then caught a mid 40 incher just before 9:00am.
The next day I lost probably the biggest fish hooked on the trip again just after 6:00am.
Two days later Jason got another mid 40” fish at 7:45.
Even though people have always told me and still tell me that you don’t need to get up early on shield lakes, that first trip proved it pays to get out of bed early.
The next trip to LOTW, two year later, the morning bite wasn’t as good but we still raised the largest fish of the trip before 8:00am.
Last year the point was driven home with authority.
Day one Oneida got the first fish of the trip just before 9:00am.
Day two we raised a large fish that I called 49+ before the sun was over the trees. Probably 5:30am.
Day three, I got a upper 30’s fish again at around 5:30, Oneida got a 39” pike on the next cast and I caught the fish from the day before at just before 8:00am. It measured 51”.
Day four I had a hawg of a fish roll on a 10” Suick at about 5:15am
Day five Oneida had a mid 30” fish before 7:00.
Day Six we waited a little longer but Oneida had a mid 40er before 9:00.
All I have to say is I feel it definitely pay to get out of bed early, even on shield lakes. This is the way I always explain it. There are two guaranteed environmental changes every day, sunrise and sunset. While on a fishing trip targeting trophy fish I would never consider quitting for the day 3 hours before sunset, why start the day 3 hours after sunrise. The other bonus is you usually have your choice of spots. The spot where I had the big fish roll on the Suick on day four is a spot that normally had 2 or more boats on it at sunset. We where the only boat there for sunrise, the day after two different big fish were located on that spot. I think it’s funny the number of guys who will run around to big fish spots at moon rise and set but wont get out of bed for sunrise. It is simply an awesome, beautiful time to be on the water.
The key is don’t kill yourself. We normally got up early and took a break around 2:00 or 3:00 when the sun was the hottest. We would then be fresh for the evening bite. It worked pretty well and will be a strategy I use on the rest of my Canadian trips.
Just my opinion, take it for what it’s worth.
Nail A Pig!
Mike |
