Skip to main content

Trout Rock Pike Rock

Trout Rock Pike Rock

That is to say, the pike of Trout Rock just rock. The lodge is located on the north shore of Great Slave in the Northwest Territories. It's situated in the midst of a vast archipelago of islands that shield the many shallow bays here from the open water of Great Slave — one of the largest lakes in North America. It's like an "inter-coastal waterway" of sheltered, soft-bottomed bays, creating some of the finest pike habitat in the Territories or anywhere else. Guides and guests can boat for miles and miles through quiet water in boats designed with elongate fish and fly fishing in mind.

Great Slave proper was an endless plain of white today — still frozen despite several days of temperatures topping 80°F. It was gorgeous, but too windy for fly casting, so we pulled out spinning and casting gear to boat more than 20 pike between 40 and 46 inches. My travel partner, Ted Cawkwell (former owner of two Canadian lodges) said it was the finest day of pike fishing he'd ever experienced.

Our guide, Brian Spitzig (pictured above) sacrificed at least a pint of blood to the cause, gripping and unhooking over 200 pike for the two of us, with the average fish probably measuring close to 30 inches. All of the fish came from water 2 to 5 feet deep, and many of the strikes were up close and personal. Some were caught on the figure 8, and we were quickly disciplined to the task of watching for follows.

It truly was an exceptional day for stalking toothies on the waters of Great Slave. The wind made the water slightly turbid, while the chop and wind-driven currents seemed to shift every northern in the area into hyper drive.

The bait of choice was a firetiger Blue Fox , size #5 Vibrax with or without bucktail.  We were drifting where we had some wind protection or dragging an anchor where we didn't. We kept the spinners close to bottom when we could, and most strikes were triggered by a change of direction or speed.


These might be the hardest-fighting pike I've ever experienced. The one pictured above zipped under the boat four times to initiate long, drag-screaming runs, forcing me to round the back of the boat with the rod tip submerged each time.

Vivid stuff. Tomorrow we're supposed to encounter some wet weather. I'm sure the bite and tactics will change. Stay tuned.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Gear

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 UNBOXING

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

GENIUS Planer Board Modification Tip with Ross Robertson

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Gear

In-Fisherman's Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Walk-Through with Thomas Allen

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

Old Town Salty PDL 120 Kayak Walk-Through

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

NEW In-Fisherman TV River Jet Boat: Yamaha Powered SmokerCraft Pro Sportsman 1866

Why Mark Courts LOVES the NEW Minn Kota QUEST Trolling Motors
Learn

DECKED OUT 2023 Starcraft STX 2050: New In-Fisherman TV Boat

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now