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