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