calling lake report - 24 june 07

[wildman]

drove thru crazy storms yeserday to try calling.
we were down to 90km/hr a few times on the hiway due to sheeting rain!!!
made it to calling around 9-ish and it was cloudy but calm.
trolled 7-10 ft. for a while. landed 3 nice pike a one small 'eye.
went to 15 ft. and hook a few more walleyes. one being 60 cm on the dot!!!
saw a large congregation of boats a few km away so headed there.
paid off!!!! instantly hit 'eyes!!!
had many double headers and a few more pike!!!
landed two more 'eyes over 60cm!!!!! huge hogs!!!!
many others were 40-50cm!!!
kept our 1 'eye each and a little pike that got a rapala in the gills for dinner.
well worth the long stormy drive!!!!
we actually got rained on very little. lots of storms and rain and lightning constantly came up and went around us!!!!
looked like the far north end had rain most the day.
we got to watch a lot of crazy weather!!!
too cool!!!
all in all, a slow to fair day with a few hours of really good action and 3 'eyes over 60 cm!!!biggest at 62!!!
i WILL eventually post pics...
cheers, gw

[WTHunter]

Thanks for the report. Always interested in Calling. Last weekend my hunting partner's kid caught a 18lb 12oz jack on Calling. Was only in 8 feet of water- near the zone of the lake that is cut-off! Nice Fish!

great report wild, and you did this on a day trip??? good stuff and looking forward to the pictures.

[wildman]

hey NDN,
yup. this was a day trip.
many people call us nutty for going for just a day there.
many would agree....
over 2hr drive, way over with the weather we saw, any wind at all and you're NOT getting on the water, no guarantee the fish will cooperate, etc.,......HOWEVER,
personally, i think hooking into a dozen 'eyes over 40cm with 3 OVER 60cm!!!!! is worth the effort.
risk = reward kinda thinking!!!!
we may do an overnighter next time though.
cheers, gw

i thought Athabasca was 2 hours ive driven 4-5 hours one way for a day trip many times, but just dont have the ambition anymore. but walleye fillets make most long trips worthwhile

[WTHunter]

Calling Lake is only like 2 1/4 hours from Edmonton, max! I have done lots of day trips both in fishing and hunting season up there- totally doable. Staying overnight is a good idea- but my opinion is that the P.P. isn't very nice, and during fishing season it is very full (at least on weekends)- maybe that has changed? Worth fishing though, I know of three different guys who have caught multiple 'eyes 8lbers + in their trips this year- plus that big jack in the post I made earlier. Being able to keep a fish is good but....Got to wonder if the regulations will change in the future now that Cardnial has no say? Have to see what Morton does next spring after a year under his belt!? Hopefully it stays open, but I am pessimistic.

[wildman]

athabasca's 147 km from edmonton.
http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-us/...fm?pageid=2155
calling is 55 km farther north.
you should be able to make 200 km in 2 hrs. unless you live on the far south end or something....
ps. hey NDN i agree it's some effort to do those long trips.
i only will if the potential for monster hogs is there.
i'm not one to drive all day for wee 14" stream trout like a lot of people i know do each year.
especially with gas hitting +$1.25 regularly in the summer!!!

ive been known to drive down to Nordegg, and over on up to Blackstone to flyfish for the day, then drive home back to edmonton i think im either to old for that, or fishing just doesnt have enough fizz to get me motivated to do those trips anymore. Hotels are a reality these days.

[wildman]

see, now THAT'S CRAZY!!!!!
i'm only doing these trips if it's good odds to get a hog.
those wee streams are fun and all, but not worth $200 in gas for day full of small trout and a 20" fish if you're LUCKY!!!
i too love nordegg. but that's at least a whole weekend.
ps. fishing would have more "FIZZ" for ya' if you adjusted YOUR risk vs reward ratio!!!
ps2. that being said, when is the mighty RDR going to be worth a trip this year????