Just got home yesterday from our annual trip north. Went to Crane Lake for the second time. First trip was three years ago, when we rented a houseboat for a week. That's a lot of work, cutting into the fishing time, so this time we rented a cabin and a boat.

First, the pike bite was on, after we figured out where to fish. We had cool, mid-seventies temps, mostly overcast, some rain, and light winds. Perfect pike weather. All we had to do was find a windblown weedbed and start catching pike. After the first day we had five spots to alternate between. As soon as the bite died, we moved. Spinnerbaits were the sure thing this week. What was really cool was watching my wife figure out the right pattern. She'd never used a spinnerbait before, and didn't really want to try one. Of course after saying that, she caught one of the second or third cast. That got her interested. She figured out to toss the bait up into a pocket in the weeds, work it back through the tangle, and kill at right at the weedline, let it flutter down and then do a slow roll retrieve. She came up with that on the second day and there after proceeded to outfish me about two to one on pike. No big fish, but plenty of action on the 24 - 28 inchers. Lots of fun on light line. I got the biggest pike, a 36 incher, on a Rage Tail Shad.

Mixed in with the pike, particularly on the rainy days, were some smallmouth. Again, no trophy fish, but plenty of fun on light line. We were about even in numbers on the smallies, but I got the biggest one, at 2 3/4 pounds. Caught that on one of the new giant Super Flukes. I was trying the magnum fluke out on the pike, and got the smallie. We also found smallies on a couple of rock walls, and on one very long breakline that started in 5 feet of water, and dropped to over thirty feet, in about a 15 foot span. Very steep drop-off with fish all the way up and down it. They were only there one day, but on that day, they were THERE.

No walleye, at all. The reports from the locals were not good. Everybody said the walleye fishing was tough. The only people catching any were long line trolling, out over deep water, and they were catching very few. We were not set up for trolling, and I don't like to troll anyway. If I have to troll to catch fish, I'd just as soon go back to the cabin, and find a ballgame to watch.

We decided who needs walleye when the pike and smallies were willing to come out and play.

Here's the cabin. We were roughing it, as you can plainly see.

http://www.wildwoodescape.com/retreat.htm

As soon as I find the cable for my camera, I'll put up some pics.

Cheers,

GK

Geez you get a few days fishing with your wife in splendor, I get a whole day with Speedbead, Sometimes Life doesn't seem fair ;D

Glad you had a great trip Gary

Dominick

Sounds like an awesome day to me.  Those two foot pike are indeed a blast to catch.  Can't wait to see the pics.