Smith Bay Outfitters July 22 - July 29

[T]

Just got back from another week with Grant & Lyn at Smith Bay Outfitters.  As usual, they were great hosts, full of laughs and good times. This years trip there was only two of us.  My son did not get his vacation request in soon enough to be approved and my other buddy had a previous obligations.  Our trip started from Western Pa.  We hit duty free to pick up a few beverages.  Then off to Webbers.  After a quick burger, we were back on the road.  A quick stop at Stop 102 for beer and leeches next store, we headed to meet Grant at the landing.  We got into camp Friday night by 4.  The night was sent getting fishing gear and the boat ready for fishing.  In other words, we consumed a few beers and talked with Mark from Cabin 1.  Now to the fishing.

Saturday started out at 5:30 am.  We fished various spots picking up 10 to 15 fish at each spot.  Around 11 we headed to camp for lunch and a beer.  After a nap, we headed back out.  To make a long story short, the evening fish was fantastic!! For the day, the two of us landed nearly a 100 walleye for the day. Most of my fish were 14 to 16 inches.  However, my buddy Steve's fish were in the 17 to 21 inch range.  Probably the best day of fishing at Kipawa.

Sunday started out at 5 am.  We started fishing ledges and drop offs as the day before.  The weather was changing. Saturday was nothing but sun and light breeze.  Sunday was cloud cover. We thought the fishing would be even better.  For the day, we caught 30 fish.  There was a highlight though.  I landed a 29 inch beauty of a walleye.  During the evening, I had hold of another big walleye but lost it next to the boat.

Monday and Tuesday were pretty much the same. Wednesday was a wash out.  High winds and waves kept us off the main lake.  We trolled Smith Bay and caught several smaller walleyes and 2 small pike. 

Thursday morning was as calm as I have ever seen.  Steve stayed in bed.  He told me to pick him u at 7:30am.  I went to Grant's island and landed 25 walleye.  Nothing big. Mostly 14 to 16 inches. I headed back to pick up Steve.  He was unwilling to leave his bed.  I headed back to Grants Island and caught 3 more.  I then went to fish the hump.  There I caught another 26 walleye.  It was a great morning.  The evening fish was hampered by high winds again.  We did manage to catch about 10 average sized walleye and a really nice bass.

Friday morning had a light breeze.  Steve and I landed close to 25 walleye for the morning.  Friday evening I headed out alone.  There was a lot of wind, but I could not miss the last night.  I landed 21 walleye using worm harnesses.  It was great to catch so many on a technique I do not excel at.

All in all we caught over 200 walleye for the week.  We mostly dragged jigs across the bottom with night crawlers.  Early in the week, the fish were around 17 feet of water close to drop offs.  As the wind picked up, the fish moved anywhere from 19 to 25 feet of water.

I want to thank Lyn and Grant for being such great hosts!  They run a fantastic operation and are great people.  I cant wait to get back next year.

[Jay Thomas]

Thanks very much for your informative report T. Nice to read that you had a couple of the big girls on - that always gets the juices flowing.

Jay

[johnny walleye]

thanks

[SgtCrabby]

Thanks for such a good and informational report.
Sounds like you had some great fishing too.