nce again Laurie and I were headed north to Kasba Lake and the monster Lake trout it held. Two years ago on this exact date , Laurie lost the largest lake trout either one of us had ever hooked. Due to a failing leader the 50 pound plus trophy slipped back into the deep clear water of Kasba, just prior to netting! Would that same trout, closer to 60 pounds now,, still be waiting on the structure drop at the entrance to "Bay of Pigs" ?

The next four days would tell the tale.

It seemed like only moments later that the Convair 580's wheels were rumbling across the gravel strip behind Kasba Lake Lodge. We had arrived! Within an hour and a half Laurie and I were on the water and working the rugged structure Kasba is so noted for.

Tony Johnson, our guide, nicknamed A.J. decided we should make the long run to where the Kazan River exited Kasba. Fishing on the main lake had been a bit slow during the past two days due to storms. However, down stream on the river had produced some large trout and plenty of trophy grayling . We wouldn't be able to get as far down the river as the fly out anglers could, but maybe far enough to entice a trophy trout or two.

One hour and ten minutes after leaving the lodge we traversed the first outbound rapids on the Kazan. Grayling scurried off beneath the boat bow.

Three minutes later, as we passed through a short rapids, water depth dropped off sharply into a 55 foot hole.

"Dan, some of the guides claim this hole has big trout. I haven't fished here yet, but it looks good," A.J. announced as our boat slowed to an idle.

In four trips to Kasba Lake I had not fished this area of the lake either. With its countless number of Islands,, deep water reefs and hidden bays, an angler finds it impossible to cover the entire 50 mile long lake in a single visit, or in two or three as far as that goes.

Laurie would use a large yellow five-of-diamonds, while I snapped on a green Crank Master. Both lures were enormous! But years of fishing the north has taught me one thing. Big bait.... Big fish !

The outlet hole on the Kazan is no more than a city block square we began trolling in a rather tight circle. On the first pass Laurie picked up a 7 pound lake trout. As A.J. placed the net beneath it, he announced the prescense of a much larger fish chasing the small trout.

There was hope!

On our second round,, right where we'd spotted the big fish, I had a savage hit on the 9 inch Crank Master. The fish was heavy but came to boat quite easily. But once the boat was spotted the trophy headed deep. Each time I'd get him with in five feet of A.J.'s awaiting net he would head deep once again. After the fourth run all fight went out of him and A.J. slid the net under our first Kasba trophy. The scales' needle rested at 24 1/2 pounds.

"Not bad Dan, for the second fish of the trip, aye? " responded our guide as the trophy was gently slid back into the water. "Better put one of those huge crank baits on Laurie's line too. Ladies like to catch big fish too," instructed our now confidant guide.

Not until our fourth trip around the deep hole did fish three hit. This time on Laurie's line. For five minutes A.J. and I waited while our partner struggled to bring the fish into viewing distance, only to see line peel off the reel each time it neared the boat.

After run three A.J. yelled, "I see her guys, she's a monster, at least 15 inches longer than that 24 pounder. Must be at least 40 pounds or more!"

Once again my lady had hooked a huge fish. Now, if only she could land it.

Again the fish sounded.

"Dan my wrist is giving out. Will you take this rod ?" pleaded Laurie. "No way, you hooked her, you land her or loose her," I commented to my grimacing partner.

Then, as fate would have it, after 3 more short runs under the boat, disaster struck. The hooks pulled out. The fish sank slowly back into the depths of the pool. A.J. collapsed on his seat in dispare.

It had happened again. This time it was my fault. When selecting a Crank Master for Laurie to use I had picked one of the research lures we'd been trying out before placing the giant plug on the market. The old model had small 3/0 trebles on them while the new production baits Had 7/0 hooks. A much larger treble hook which would hold better through the twisting and turning a lake trout does in its fight.

"At least we know they're here Dan. You guys didn't see it but there was another trophy following that one, trying to get at the bait as Laurie was fighting her fish. We'll get another one, wait and see," commented our now smiling guide.

Information on Kasba and its fish

Though known for its trophy lake trout, a fish which doesn't always cooperate, there are other options the angler may take.

During late July and August small schooling trout feed heavily on surfacing schools of ciscos. The ciscos number in the millions, the trout in the thousands. Where ever arctic terns are seen to gather, diving and darting above water surface, there's sure to be ciscos and trout below. Anglers who recognize this happening can boat 75 to 100 lakers a day between 3 and 12 pounds, and once in a while if your lure is allowed to settle beneath this frenzy, a trophy or two can be taken. Sometimes large trout hang beneath the smaller fish making a meal of an unwary 3 to 5 pounder. So vicious is this feeding frenzy by the Kasba trout that they will take surface lures. A nickel platted Heddon Tiny Torpedo can be deadly.

Northern pike abound in amongst the islands near camp for those days when bad weather drives you off the main lake. Hardly a day goes by without someone in camp catching a trophy northern pike or two.

When it comes to trophy arctic grayling, there's no better place than the Kazan River, which flows in and out of Kasba Lake. You're able to boat to or fly out for some of the north's finest grayling fishing.

The secret of Kasba Lake is the number of island reefs which host hordes of grayling. The lake fish may not equal the river fish when it comes to size, but numbers of fish in the 2 pound range can be caught if grayling are your objectives.

Though weather can be a problem at times, there's no need to worry about not having a fish to pursue. If you are versatile enough to change your plans daily. There will be a fish to catch every day at Kasba Lake Lodge.

A number of smaller lakes where wind and weather can't effect you, are available at a moments notice. The lodge also has it's own aircraft on loats and will accommodate the angler such a request if the big lake is too rough to fish.

Back to my story ......

Laurie's loss of another huge fish hadn't dampened A.J.'s determination but, for me, remembering the loss of that possible 50 pounder at the "Bay of Pigs" and now this one, doubt filled my mind. Maybe that was the big fish of the trip. Seldom do you get a second chance at a fish that size on a four day trip.

Fishing slowed for a couple of hours after the big fish loss. We changed lures and took some smaller ( rats, as the guides call them) lakers, but no more trophies. Finally, at noon, under the encouragement of our guide, we snapped on the giant Crank Masters once again. On our third trip around the hole, on the opposite side to where we had taken the 24 pounder, I connected with a large fish. When sighted A.J. claimed it would exceed 30 pounds maybe 3 5. But once again, luck wasn't with us. On its final run beneath the boat the snap-swivel twisted loose. Both my Crank Master and my trophy departed. There was nothing to say. Once again I'd messed up! I failed to recheck the strength of the gear I was using.

NOTE: More large trophy fish are lost in the north due to inadequate leaders and snap swivel strength than anything else. It used to be line breakage, but with the invention of smooth drag reels line breakage has almost become a thing of the past. Leaders and snaps should be of at least 75 pound test, 100 is even better. A twisting 3-5 pound lake trout can place extremely heavy thrust on your metal fittings at lines end. I prefer 25 pound test line. It's not that you can't land a 30 pound trout or pike on 14 pound test line, it's possible. However, you must add weight to your line to cover the hidden problems such as rock or weed contact, line which rubs along boat bottom, or a prize fish that darts for cover that one last time.

Speaking of fishing line. I must tell you the rest of the story of our day at the big fish hole on the Kazan.

During the last three years I've switched to alot of these new, no stretch lines made of Kevlar material such as Spider Wire or Fireline. They're great for trolling and vertically jigging. But they have one problem. The outer coat placed over the Kevlar tends to wear off, or weaken and become frayed. That day on the Kazan I was using 30 pound Fireline which had been used on a previous trip. I hadn't cut off the frayed or whitened portion, normally 20 to 30 feet. This is necessary to stop a Kevlar break snap while fishing.

Earlier in the day Laurie warned me that my line looked a bit frayed, and maybe I should change to monofillament. Not me, I didn't have the time!

Mistake!!

After the loss of the 3 5 pound fish to a defective swivel, I hooked another large fish which would snap my line on the hook set.

Laurie laughed, and mentioned the fact that I should have listened to her. Later that day, after cutting off 35 feet of line I lost another trophy about 25 pounds, when the Fireline snapped as the fish dove deep on a third run. Again the outer coating of the line had been frayed somehow, and as drag pressure was applied the inner Kevlar broke.

That was it! No more Kevlar line for me. It had cost me $75.00 in lures and three trophy fish. The added stretch of monofillament line may have prevented the failure of my previous snap swivel as well.

In the end the two of us caught and released 5 trophy fish out of the big fish hole on the Kazan River but the largest just under 3 0 pounds. Once again we had failed to boat that once in a lifetime trophy. This time, like before, it was due to no fault of the fish. Only ours.

For more information and the best deals on bookings, visit the TFN Travel Agency

Or Kasba at www.kasba.com

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