Sounds like some nice friends you've got there. At least they didn't rub your face in it how good the fishing really was...
My buddy Russ always calls me with painful updates of how good he's done without me. At least your friends lied for you.
The narrows is plagued with ice heaves, unpredictable ice, crazy currents and big snow drifts because of the 'narrow' shape of the lake. When we were there on family day the wind made us all feel naked (we weren't..) because it howls through there so bad. In the summer it storms vicious too, but the fishing is usually worth the risk/work of it all.
Joussard seems really productive lately, as the wally's apparently go there to spawn and such. We started our real estate stuff (redskyalbertalimited.ca) out there last spring, and it seems like it was a good time, as the fishing remains better than some other sportfishin' lakes in AB.
Hopefully you can make it up in the summer to bring your friends some luck...:\