Jasper report

[SNAPFisher]

Weather was perfection. 25-27 degrees and no to low wind every day.
The fact we have this place in our back yard makes me smile.

Tuesday was spent at Talbot. Started off with pike on the fly rod. Kept on going to the whitey grounds after that and looked around to figure out there the biggest schools were. First cast resulted in a big white on...20 seconds in, snap off...

This spot just from the launch was full of pike in the shallows. Caught a fair number.


Sunrise at Talbot


Anticipation of the next fish...had a great day!


I was done by mid afternoon around 3 p.m. Drove up to Maligne to check to see how it was doing:


Maligne was not ready yet so back to Talbot for day 2 and more of this:


Day 3 I get up and check the Maligne Lake web cam. Home bay is free of ice! So head up the Maligne lake road. Came across some residents:
Momma and 2 cubs




I stayed inside for my pics. Look at the winners here:


Sorry for the blur but taking pics through bug plastered windows is not the best. I was really tempted to open a window and give it to these tourists but I did not want to provoke the mother bear in any way. You almost want to see it happen....almost...

Back to fishing...
This pic was taken in 20 FOW... I know Maligne is one of the clearer lakes but at ice out it is spectacular.


You could easily see 30 feet and deeper. You would see the fish swimming around too.
Caught a lot of bows and brookies. Caught about 15 or so. Sorry, no fish pics.

Ice outside of home bay...oh, and the view was okay...


Made it up to Maligne again on day 4 (Friday). First one out so I was there early. It was rewarding in many ways




I take this same pic every year. I was thinking do I really need another...don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing this




The hatches were going full tilt. On one small fly ...size 18...I counted 26 fish landed. Got some nice 20 inch power house rainbows too. Funny but I did not take any rainbow pics... the last fish was a 20 inch probably 4 lb rainbow that jumped at least 10 times. Beautiful fish!

Another resident


Continued...

[SNAPFisher]

Moose-a-peeking


Day 5 I spent the morning at Talbot at my way back home. The weather did not change one bit


Landed 10 whites just in the morning. Before heading out I decided to keep a couple for the smoker.


This larger one went 23.5 inches and 4.9 lbs...I caught bigger ones that morning


The fish were so aggressive and the fights were explosive. I had one white take me into my backing 3 times. When it would charge back at the boat you could see the line lagging behind...fish were going every direction with the one on the line...perfect nirvana/insanity describes it best. The whites were also taking bugs off the surface like crazy. At any time there were multiple surface hits just 30 feet away, the lake was boiling all around me. It was a frenzy. Left my dry flies back at the vehicle...leaves me wondering if this was the day to catch them on the dry fly...
Yep, Saturday was unusually good there.

Got to see a couple of eagles nesting. I could hear the little ones in the nest.

Heading back out...


Got to see a huge plume of smoke in the rear view mirror after clearing the Jasper gate. I'm wondering if it was a controlled burn or not.

Hands down, best fishing I've ever had in Jasper. Crazy good weather. What a place...

[Scottmisfits]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. Both my son and I really enjoyed them.

[Mitchthefisher]

Great pics man! i need to try catching some whites on the fly, looks like a blast.

[BobLoblaw]

"Dear Heavenly Father, please grant me the grace to not hate SNAPFisher right now..."

Nope.

Didn't work.

[joe_manix]

Looks like an awesome trip! great pictures!

[WhitefishLady]

Awesome pictures!! They don't call them bonefish of the north for nothing

[SNAPFisher]

Thanks all for the comments.

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

"Dear Heavenly Father, please grant me the grace to not hate SNAPFisher right now..."

Nope.

Didn't work.

Don't be hatin....no...I would hate me too
Let's just both agree that it is so cool to have lakes like these in a reasonable distance...and still feel like you are fishing in another world with no problems...

Any plans for a Jasper trip this year Bobloblaw?

Cheers!

[spinN'flyfish]

great pics, seems like a good trip

[Speckle55]

Grats On your success

Those Lake Whitefish sure are fun on the Fly Rod hey

very nice colored Brook

Great trip!!!

Thanks for sharing

David

[chipchap]

Looks like a great time! Nice brooky.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

Thanks all for the comments.



Don't be hatin....no...I would hate me too
Let's just both agree that it is so cool to have lakes like these in a reasonable distance...and still feel like you are fishing in another world with no problems...

Any plans for a Jasper trip this year Bobloblaw?

Cheers!

You know I ain't really hatin'.
Well, maybe hatin' the fact that I can't just go fish wherever I want, whenever I want. I never begrudge a fellow fisherman his success. That was a great report & photo essay, Snap; looks like you had an epic trip! Nice to see Home Bay opened up before June this year.
I don't have a Jasper trip planned. If I get up that way, it will most likely be in September. I have my usual couple weeks booked off work to devote to fishing. Wouldn't mind fishing Medicine if it's low enough to wade & fish the channel; might have to try to talk a buddy or two into making the trip!
Peace!
-Steve

[McLeod]

Thanks so much for sharing this. Up there on Friday hunting for Brookies !

[SNAPFisher]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

You know I ain't really hatin'.

Of course

Yeah, my contract ended unexpectedly April 15th. I'm making the most of unexpected time off. Hold on to the hatin thought...I'm looking at Manitoba parkland next - Patterson, Twin, etc.
Never been and it is way on the list.

Cheers!

[SNAPFisher]

Originally Posted by McLeod

Thanks so much for sharing this. Up there on Friday hunting for Brookies !

Best of luck there! The big bows were just showing up last Friday...you should be there at prime time when there will be a bunch more from the river. There were more fish in the river than I've ever seen because it was early. Probably a few hundred rather than the usual 50 or so...

Good times!

[CBrendan]

Great pictures, looks like an amazing trip!