Plentiful Pike

Kathy is a financial adviser in small-town Indiana. She and a friend discovered how great the fishing was in Manitoba nine years ago; John, an avid outdoorsman, convinced Kathy that she should come up on a Manitoba fly-in fishing trip.

With an incredible number of great lodges to choose from, they decided on one that offered both fishing and hunting. In Kathy’s case, the hunting was to come a little later in her career – she just wanted to get a handle on the fishing side of things.

On their first trip together John and Kathy had incredible luck, landing many Manitoba Master Angler trophies. Amazed at the program, she became determined to try to get as many awards as she could. First and foremost, however, Kathy was on a mission to beat her personal best in the species she loved to fish for the most – northern pike.

Then it happened – John asked Kathy if she would like to try a one-day fly-in adventure from the lodge. After a short but exciting first-time trip in a float plane, they dropped down in the middle of nowhere. This particular lake was a northern pike factory, with extensive weed-beds and plenty of deep water, both critical elements in growing trophy fish.

Kathy caught the biggest pike in Manitoba that year, a fish that measured 52inches (132 centimetres). She knew Master Angler regulations required a picture of this fish next to something that allowed verification. Luckily the guide had brought a tape measure to verify the size of the fish. After a quick picture with the tape, this monster was released back in the lake.

Two years ago when the lodge started offering hunts for caribou, Kathy and John signed up. Sure enough, as luck would have it, Kathy scored a huge animal – one that was right up there with the biggest ever registered at the lodge and in the Province.

Kathy plans on coming to northern Manitoba as long as she can, often convincing others to experience what Manitoba has to offer.