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Old 06-21-2014, 07:22 PM
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JohninAB JohninAB is offline
 
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Default Rock Island Lake and North Wabasca Lake Report

Every year, for I do not care to remember, a group of us have headed north for a guy's week only fishing trip. Each year we have hit Rock island Lake for the first weekend then off to North Wabasca Lake for the next week.

RIL was as low as I ever remember it in my years of going there. The islands were quite pronounced as the furthest island out from the launch was a good 3 to 4 feet out of the water at it's highest point. Closest island was a good foot or so. Birds were nesting quite nicely when we were there. Launch, be careful not to get your trailer axle caught between the cement pads. Launching a boat otherwise was no problem. New this year was a $5 per 10 pieces of wood charge. Pay up front when you self register and they will deliver. Problem being was we got there around 3pm on Friday, paid for wood and never received a stick till Saturday around 12. Some serious scrounging for wood occurred for the first night of festivities.

Walleye fishing was slow. Trolled around the islands mostly although others in the group tried various other areas of the lake. Between the 7 of us, we caught 6 legal walleyes all weekend. They were nice and healthy and males still had milt. Also, as usual in RIL, be on the lookout for the odd dead head. Go to lure for walleye seemed to be a Rapala XRap in blue and white. Numerous pike were caught as well although nothing of bigger size.

Monday saw us arrive at NWL and set up camp. The previous year we endured torrential rains and no firewood and a campground that was in dire need of some work. Unfortunately, not much had changed as we got the same ole song and dance about rain has not allowed for firewood to be bucked and split nor had it allowed for the grass to be cut in our group site. Grass was a good foot tall. At least we had sunny and dry weather for the majority of our stay this year.

Know last year lots of complaints were made about the lack of maintenance by the Lions club and eventually the MD supplied a summer student to clean the campsite up. The MD wants to take over the site and sure hope they do as RIL which is run by them is a well taken care of site. Or better yet, wish Ralph Klein would have left the campsites in forestry's care. Oh well onto the fishing.

Fishing at NWL was not as good as previous years on the walleye front. Biggest walleye our group caught was 5lbs 15 ounces but numbers caught that were keepers was way down. In fact, the annual RCMP Derby there did not have a largest walleye category as there are concerns about the health of the walleye population in the lake. If I was a betting man, I would put money that walleye limit changes are coming sooner than later for NWL. We did seem to catch all age classes of walleyes while we were there just not the numbers we were used to. The pike fishing was consistent as ever with numerous 100 cm plus fish caught and released. Again Rapalas of various colors and Len Thompson's seemed to work quite well.

All in all, it was good times with good friends as usual.
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Old 06-21-2014, 08:35 PM
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Thanks for the great report! I've only fishing NWL in the winter and always enjoyed getting up there. Sounds like the pike fishing is pretty good in the summer time. Sad to hear about the walleye though. Doesn't seem they are safe anywhere in this province.
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Old 06-22-2014, 01:44 PM
bullgetter bullgetter is offline
 
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I hear ya about the campgrounds. Worst thing theey did was give them to private operators. I am never gonna pay for firewood in this province!
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Old 06-29-2014, 05:10 AM
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Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
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Was at Rock Island yesterday. Fishing was slow. Found a few eyes in about 4 - 5 fow hanging around the cabbage. Alge is starting to get pretty heavy. Was a great day until about noon and started to rain heavy and hail. All and all, still great to get a few hrs fishing in. The catapillers have sure done a number on the trees around Calling lake for about 5 to 10 miles. Gonna be a lot of dead trees next year along the hiway, both sides. Even had one hitch a ride back to Edmonton on the truck. ( Opps, did I step on your toe ) Squish !
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Old 06-30-2014, 01:09 AM
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Ahhh! Thats why all the trees were missing leaves! Lol... Ive been doing great with the Walleye! No big pike yet though... Lots of 10lbers.. Got some nice ones on the fly in shallow and even a few walleye!
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Old 06-30-2014, 05:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tight line View Post
Ahhh! Thats why all the trees were missing leaves! Lol... Ive been doing great with the Walleye! No big pike yet though... Lots of 10lbers.. Got some nice ones on the fly in shallow and even a few walleye!
Ya, a couple of weeks ago they were crossing the hiway and you could almost see the road moving they were so thick.
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