2015 Esnagami Times

Dear Guests and Fellow Anglers …

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all enjoyed a healthy, prosperous and memorable 2015.  We certainly did at Esnagami Lodge.

Mother Nature provided us with a bit of a break this past spring, with open waters welcoming the arrival of our first guests on May 23^rd.   The past few opening weeks have been anything but early as guests were dodging ice flows to access spring fishing hot spots.  This spring, as lake temperatures slowly climbed over the next few weeks, so did the Pike, Walleye and Brook Trout entries into the trophy Catch and Release program.  Now in its 27^th season, this conservation minded program continues to provide numerous Esnagami anglers with fish of a life time opportunities.

High marks were set for each fish category by the midway point in June,  44 ½” Pike (Martin Eszes),  30 ½” Walleye (Max Earick Jr.) and 20 ¼” Brook Trout (Craig Tresher).  Although Max’s 30 ½” Walleye held up to be the biggest of the summer, both the Pike and Brook Trout marks did not hold up.  Guests targeting big Pike love to fish Esnagami later in the summer.  This is when  weed beds are fully mature, laced with baitfish and when top end Pike have staked out their territories.  This is when first time guest, 13 year old Jamai Derrick hooked and landed his fish of a life time.  With the help of Esnagami Guide Matt Walen, Jamai hoisted a huge 45 ¾” Pike for a photo op.  Unfortunately for Jamai, his trophy held top position for about a week … until long time guest Pat Tighe, hooked into “his” fish of a life time.  At a robust 46”, Pat’s enormous catch held strong to give him bragging rights for the biggest Pike of 2015.  Congratulations to both Max and Pat for their fish of a life time, and for winning  free trips back to Esnagami Lodge in 2016.

Craig Tresher’s 20 ¼” Brook Trout was definitely large at 5 pounds PLUS and it looked like a shoe in for the biggest of the summer – several big trout 19” to 20” +  (folks there are Brookies in the 4 to 6 lb class) were caught and released by the end of June.  The best was saved for last thought, as Fly Fisher Sandy Root, coaxed a stunning 20 ½”, 6 lb trophy to the net and placed her at the top of the Brook Trout leader board.  All in all there were forty- two  Brook Trout  3 – 6 lb (18 – 21 ½”)  caught and released in 2015.

TRENDS – Fishing

A couple of notable trends developed as the 2015 season unfolded.  The first was all about Walleye.  Later springs and higher water levels have provided perfect conditions for great Walleye fishing.  This became readily apparent as trophy Walleye numbers swelled this summer.  What was remarkable, were the number of 26 to 26 ¾” Walleye that were caught.  In fact, there were 44 fish in the 26” range safely caught and released.  Esnagami Walleye are just plain BIG and typically a 26” fish is in the 6 to 7 lb range. These experienced spawners each produce up to 300,000 eggs .  Although less than 2% typically survive to reach maturity,  if you do the math well  44 x 2 % of 300,000 you can see why angling for Walleye on Esnagami Lake is often called “catching” and not “fishing.”

TRENDS – Wildlife

At one time, Woodland Caribou inhabited the Boreal forests throughout North America.  Logging and habitat destruction have compacted the remaining herds to a 500 mile band of Boreal forest, mostly in Canada.  Esnagami Lake’s numerous large islands have been a sanctuary for these magnificent animals.  Requiring untouched  forests to survive, it is heartening to see the numbers of caribou on Esnagami Lake increase over the years. In the last few seasons many lodge guests have had the unique experience of sighting caribou while on the lake.  This summer there were in excess of 30 sightings!!!

CATCH & RELEASE CONTEST DRAW WINNERS:

Over 27 years, lucky anglers have enjoyed a total of 110 free trips back to Esnagami Lodge.  The lodge’s annual draw is a small way to say Thank you for joining us and a big way to say Thanks for taking part in Esnagami Lodge’s Catch and Release Program.  Check out “Sue’s Weekly blog” on the lodge’s Facebook site for weekly highlights from the 2015 season. https://www.facebook.com/Esnagami/

This season’s winners are:

1. John Slater – 32” Pike
2. Steve Gorgas – 31” Pike
3. Adam Cochrane -18” Brook Trout
4. Doug Hoskin – 38” Pike

Congratulations!! We look forward to seeing you in 2016.

For a complete list of the 2015 Catch and Releases, and pictures along with the season’s top ten, check out the lodges websites:  www.esnagami.com ESNAGAMI:  MEDIA and www.flyfishingesnagami.com

This summer we welcomed back Kyle and Tina Randall, good friends and Hosts of  The Wilderness Journal Outdoor Television Show.  The first of 3 shows they filmed, is a “Complete Day in the Life of Walleye Fishing” on Esnagami.  The second is an exciting and enlightening trip for Brook Trout down the River and the 3^rd filmed in late August, show cases Big Pike and a bear hunt.  Check out their website www.wildernessjournal.com for programming in your area.

2016 Sport Show Schedule: 

1. Ultimate Fishing Show, January 7^th – 10^th, 2016.

“Suburban Collection Showplace“, Novi MI.

2. Wilderness Journal Outdoor Expo, January 15^th – 17^th, 2016.

“The Wexford Civic Center“:  1320 N. Mitchell St.

Cadillac, MI 49601

3. The Fly Fishing Show, January 29^th to 31^st, 2016.

“Garden State Exhibit Center”

50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, New Jersey 08873

4. Spring Fishing & Boat Show, February 12^th to 15^th, 2016.

“International Centre“, Toronto, ONT.

Hope to see you at one of the shows!!!