Wrenell's Trophy Pike

It was the first weekend in June of 2002 and Tom and I went out for a two day get-away to Middle Lake, but somehow ended up north east of there at Lenore Lake. We camped at the north end of the lake just outside of St. Brieux. We brought our fly rods with us hoping to try and catch a jackfish on one, knowing that would be quite a rush. Launching the canoe, we prepared ourselves for a day of good fishing. Tom being at the stern of the boat was in control of all the steering, so we positioned ourselves at the very north end of the lake and let the northwesterly wind blow us towards the center of the lake enabling us to troll on the way. We were both using our flyrods, Tom had an 8wt. Daiwa with a jack fly and I was using a 6wt. Temple Fork Outfitter with a wholly bugger. We went back and forth along the same path a couple of times getting the odd hit. Finally I felt a tug that I knew was different. "I think I got one Tom", I said. No sooner did I say that that the fish took off and the line started to make that zzzzzzz sound with the reel. The fish just took off like a bolt of lightning away from the canoe. I palmed the reel for drag and looked back at Tom with a terrified/ excited look, cause I knew I had a good one. Tom seeing what was happening immediately reeled in his line and started to paddle frantically after the fish before my line ran out. The fish slowed, and I was able to retrieve some of my line and Tom was able to narrow the distance. We didn't even get two words out of our mouths when the fish decided to go for another run at a right angle to our canoe. Again the zzzzzz sounded and yet again Tom paddled like crazy to keep up with the fish. Now this went for a few more times when it finally seemed to be tiring out and I was able to get it close to the canoe thinking that this was the end of the battle, when the jack decided to give it one more go. It took off underneath the canoe and darted off into waters behind us, but the most amazing thing was that my rod followed that fish under the canoe and bent into a `c' shape that we thought it would snap in half. But I was able to move the rod across the bow of the boat and watch the jack do the 100 yard dash for the last time. Luckily for Tom cause he was getting awful tired of playing catch up with this propeller fish. We finally had the canoe maneuvered around and I was able to get it close enough to Tom that he could reach over and pull it in. After struggling with it for a few minutes Tom was able to pull it out of the water. I was sitting there anxiously waiting to see what was towing us around the lake, when Tom said "Oh my God!" and pulled up the biggest fish I ever landed. I scrambled for the camera while Tom tried to hold the fish out front without rocking the boat too much. I got one picture off but decided to take another one. "Just wait Tom, I want to take one more picture." Tom looked at me as if I was insane, as he struggled to hold this fish steady. I took the next picture and immediately after the fish jerked out of Tom's hand and fell on the floor of the canoe. Now normally this wouldn't be a big deal only that its mouth landed by Tom's feet, and he was wearing sandals. Taking advantage of an awkward situation we decided to measure it. It measured 34 inches long. Tom was able to get it back up and out of the boat. It was a remarkable catch on a very bendable 6wt rod, with a wholly bugger.

submitted by
Wrenell Streisel
Fishing season 2002

Back to the Biggest Fish Story Index