Fly-in fishing is always a treat. Especially when it's a 26,000-acre lake full of hungry walleyes and big pike! For this adventure, we boarded a plane in Armstrong Station and headed to Striker's Point Lodge on Whitewater Lake.
Within only three hours of fishing, I landed one of the biggest northern pike I've caught in years! It crushed my swim bait like a freight train. We didn't measure it, just a quick lift and healthy release.
Though it wasn't required, I was using barbless hooks, which make for an easy and healthy release. You'll see when the TV show airs that this was a beast. Each day there, guests have the chance to catch the biggest northern pike of their lives.
The entire staff there was amazing and very accommodating. The filling breakfast prepares you for a day of catching fish. Made to order to your liking, of course. After getting your fishing gear together, your boat is ready to go.
You have a choice of either a customized sandwich and snacks, or a shore lunch kit. Their peach tea thermos is a thirst quencher during the warm summer days. The 16-foot Lund boats are set up great with quiet 25HP 4-stroke outboards, anchor, life jackets and swivel seats. Live bait is also available.
As far as the walleye fishing goes, we should have brought a fish counter! You could pull up to virtually any reef and set the hook in only a couple casts. Pop jigging small flukes or boot tail swim baits on either an 1/8- or ¼-ounce head was the deal. It was hard to leave biting fish to make it in for dinner. But the food was worth it!
- Troy Lindner