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This was our third visit at Selwyn Lake Lodge.  It goes without saying that you don’t keep revisiting the same lodge unless they do things right.  We can attest that our hosts, Gord Wallace and Mary Daigneault-Wallace and the individuals working under their direction, do everything right!  We had another wonderful experience enjoying the great fishery during the day and the lodge environment in the evenings.  It’s a perfect combination of fishing, socializing and enjoying superb meals and fine wines (not to mention a cocktail or two around the bar).  If you’re interested in a great fishing experience, check out their web site:  www.selwynlakelodge.com

By the way, if you’re interested in photographs and information from our 2001 or 2002 visits to Selwyn, check out “Northern Treks ‘01” and “Selwyn Lake Lodge ‘02” on this web site.

Now, onto fishing….  As a reminder, all of our fishing was with fly rods. All of our flies were barbless. All of the fish were released (excepting a few small ones kept for shore lunch).  All of the fish were landed by our guides, Tauno and Stan, since they are the “pro’s” and can best assure the fish is safely returned to the water.  Again, this year we boated a trophy pike (one which is 40” or longer) on 5 of the 7 days we fished (one day we didn’t fish for pike but instead fished for artic grayling and got some beauties (20” plus) instead!). 

Back to trophies, we were able to boat 15 of those monsters this year!  The largest were 44” and caught in a variety of places.  Ed got two – one on the Striding River and one on Donard Lake – while Lindy caught hers on the last cast on our last day on Selwyn Lake.  All 15 pike were caught on “Ed’s Deceiver,” Ed’s version of the classic Lefty’s Deceiver pattern that he tied specifically for pike in a variety of color combinations.  This year trophies were landed on a red & yellow pattern, a blue & white pattern and a red & white pattern. 

In summary, it was another incredible fishing experience!  Daily details follow along with some great photographs!

August 27 – We arrived at the lodge and were out on the lake by mid-morning after enjoying a delicious breakfast prepared by Chef Lane.  We each landed 20+ pike in only a few hours of fishing with the largest being a 38” pike.  What a way to begin!

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August 28  – Today Gord flew us out to the Striding River.  The flight was great; the fishing was fantastic!  While we didn’t surpass our largest trophies caught last year on the Striding (Lindy boated a 47” beauty followed by Ed boating a 48”x21”, 30+ lb. monster), we were able to land an unbelievable 8 fish exceeding 40”.  Wow!  It was a beautiful day during which we (us and guide, Tauno) enjoyed lots of  action.  While one of us had a trophy on the line, usually one of the other two (if not both) had another great fish on as well.  So, lots of fun!

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August 29  -  We once again flew out with Gord to the Bompas lake and river system.  The flight alone was fabulous.  Gord flew us down the river system below the lake and into a beautiful canyon.  Outstanding!  This was our day to fish for arctic grayling and there certainly were an abundance of them!  Among the prizes, Lindy caught a 24” beauty that fought and fought.  Then, Ed had an 18” guy that was very thick and healthy.  We had a great time fishing the river in our waders although the hike in/out was quite strenuous as we had to traverse bogs where the footing was akin walking on a thick shake!

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August 30 -  Today was the first windy, rainy day we experienced on this trip.  So, we stayed on Selwyn Lake and didn’t travel too far from the lodge.  Despite the weather, we caught lots of fish, including Lindy landing a 42” pike.  Given the day, we stopped for a terrific shore lunch that was not only delicious but all warming as we sat by the fire.

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August 31 -  We were out again today on Gord’s Cessena 185 to fish for pike at Donard Lake.  Here we (us and our guide, Stan) caught an unbelievable number of fish.  We had three triples and too many doubles to count.  These pike primarily were smaller (25”-36”).  However, at the end of the day Ed boated a 44” trophy.  He now holds the honor of catching the largest pike to date on Donard Lake.

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September 1 -  Today Master Guide Stan took us out on Selwyn Lake.  Again, with had lots of 30”+ fish and several doubles.  Lindy was able to catch and release a 42” trophy.  Thankfully, she did so before she snapped her 9wt. Orvis rod on a 26” pike.  Oh well, the Orvis lifetime guarantee certainly pays off!

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September 2 – On our last day, we once again fished Selwyn Lake.  We each had a trophy fish today!  Stan caught and released a 40” beauty.  Then Ed was able to successfully land both a 42” trophy and a 40” trophy.  Wow!  We took time out for another shore lunch and this time were joined by Gord, Mary, Chef Lane, Erin and the chef’s brother & bartender, Darren.  Lane made a delicious stir fry and Stan prepared a great baked pike.  Boy, did we enjoy (and, yes, we ate dinner again that night too!).   Then, as a great ending to another wonderful trip, Lindy caught a beauty on her last cast of this our last day.  Stan previously had seen a large pike in a weed bed in this one bay. He took a number of guests there who threw spoons & spinners at her.  She would follow the first time and then disappear never to be seen again.  Stan said he wanted to see what we could do with the flies.  So, he took us into the bay, shut off the motor and paddled the boat into place.  It was very quiet.  Lindy was up in the bow and got the first cast.  That big pike came out like a submarine, inhaled her fly and then took off with her back out of the water.   When landed, the pike was a 44” monster.  Who can think of a better way to close a great week of fishing!!

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