Re-cap of the Summer

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brian after hard day fishing copyWho is this rough-looking, dejected fisherman? Read on to get the story behind it.

Thanks to all of you who have hired me to take you fishing or sightseeing. It’s been a really enjoyable summer for me and you helped to make it so. You are helping me pursue my passion while you have fun on the water.

Wow, I can’t believe the fishing season is over… I’m having a big case of “Kanardlies.” For those that aren’t familiar with the disease it comes on when you Can Hardly believe it…(hence kan ardly).

OK, I’m over it now, as I just looked back at the last few weeks, which have been busy winterizing boats and camps, touring in Alaska, fishing for lake trout and fulfilling other fatherly obligations.

The surface temperature, as we measured last Friday, was a chilly 42 degrees and lake trout typically spawn when the temp falls below 50. We were on the tail end of the spawning, and we landed nice 10 and 3lb lake trouts. Another set of twins were lost as we had a double on and my client wanted to try his hand at the net, resulting in both lost fish. “Oh well,” I said. “There’s more fish to be caught anyway.”

These mature lake trout of 6 to 8 years old spawn in the fall… late October to early November in shallow water, where there are lots of rocks from golf-ball size up to football size. Males come in first to prepare the grounds by swishing their tails to clear away silt, then the females come to lay their eggs (up to 20,000 eggs from one large female) that the males then fertilize and leave unattended to hatch about 4 to 5 months later.

Summary of the summer:

1. I missed my goal of 100 times on the water, as I ended at 97 (I think), but I’m happy with that, since I realized right from the start that it was a “pie in the sky” goal.

2. I did 47 or 48 charters, short of my goal of 50. I’m happy with that since my big boat was out of commission for 1-1/2 weeks in the summer.

3. We landed over 400 fish, mostly lake trout, coho salmon next, then steel-head, with a mix of king salmon, northern pike, walleye, crappie, small mouth bass, and perch. Actually if you include the inland lake fishing it’s well over 600 because of lots of perch, bass, crappie and pike. That reminds me, I need to get my report in to the DNR for my October catch before they send out a reminder.

4. We’ve never been skunked on Lake Superior yet (during a charter), but I know it’s coming, so if it’s your party that it happens to in the future, the trip’s on me… that’s free to you.

Oh, yes, about the picture… I didn’t intend to pose for it, (obviously by the look on my face) but my wife insisted she get it to show I don’t always come back with a full meal. In fact, I’ve been skunked when fishing by myself, but not on a charter. At least she could’ve let me comb my hair 😉

P.S. Starting now, I am taking reservations for next summer, so If you want some of the best dates, reserve early, especially if you will only be here for a short time. The same applies if you want to stay at our rental, Keystone Cottage on Lac la Belle… it’s a new place for you to enjoy the lake AND easily be able to jump aboard my boat for some nice fishing or sightseeing cruises.

Until next summer, sweet fishing dreams,

Captain Brian

Stannard Rock Light, 35 miles off shore and Awesome fishing!

Stannard Rock Light, 35 miles off shore and Awesome fishing!

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About Brian Helminen

Brian is the owner and Captain of Sand Point Charters, LLC. He also owns and operates Designotype Printers, Inc. with his wife, Margaret. They have a cottage on Lac La Belle that can be rented by the week in the summertime.

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