Posted By: Hirogen
PB Hardwater Chaos - 04/04/23 02:19 AM
Friday lunch time myself, my nephew and brother in-law and another buddy took a road trip to Abitibi for the weekend. We fished Saturday and Sunday and went in on the Munro Lake Road. The road ended up being drifted in resulting in an 18 mile sled ride into the lake instead of the normal 8 miles after the road ends
Saturday was -16 and probably the worst wind conditions i have ever fished in using a pop-up. We set 12 anchors - not enough. The wind was fine at setup but just kept building all day until the anchors failed at about 2pm. We managed to hold on with the 4 of us until a brief lull when i went out parked the sleds strategically and than strapped the pop up to the sleds. With the extra straps tied to the sleds and a reset of the ice anchors we managed to hold on through the rest of the afternoon.
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791489890_f8584d4b7d_k.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52790557302_26bdc98fd8_k.jpg)
Sunday the weather was cold in the morning but warmed up to just above freezing pretty fast so we fished open air for the day. There was some wind but nothing like Saturday.
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791507075_ec57a92012_k.jpg)
Fish wise we managed a 4 man limit of walleye (16 fish) all in the 15 to 16 inch range and a few more that went back:
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791505935_1d61a85d9b_k.jpg)
3 ling (freshwater cod):
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791488090_e0b6fb19f6_k.jpg)
Also half a dozen sauger that went back and about 20 goldeye for the smoker:
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791549883_7e811cd3c0_k.jpg)
But best was saved for last when on Sunday afternoon yours truly tied into a 38.5 inch 16 lb northern with my panfish rod set up for 1/2 pound goldeye. That fish almost spooled my reel 3 times plus multiple runs where he took out half my line before i coaxed him through the ice. Landing that guy with that rod through the ice is perhaps my penultimate fishing accomplishment to date.
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791513930_3826f2f706_k.jpg)
He did however try to take his pound of flesh:
![[Linked Image]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791357919_95928a77f7_k.jpg)
Saturday was -16 and probably the worst wind conditions i have ever fished in using a pop-up. We set 12 anchors - not enough. The wind was fine at setup but just kept building all day until the anchors failed at about 2pm. We managed to hold on with the 4 of us until a brief lull when i went out parked the sleds strategically and than strapped the pop up to the sleds. With the extra straps tied to the sleds and a reset of the ice anchors we managed to hold on through the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday the weather was cold in the morning but warmed up to just above freezing pretty fast so we fished open air for the day. There was some wind but nothing like Saturday.
Fish wise we managed a 4 man limit of walleye (16 fish) all in the 15 to 16 inch range and a few more that went back:
3 ling (freshwater cod):
Also half a dozen sauger that went back and about 20 goldeye for the smoker:
But best was saved for last when on Sunday afternoon yours truly tied into a 38.5 inch 16 lb northern with my panfish rod set up for 1/2 pound goldeye. That fish almost spooled my reel 3 times plus multiple runs where he took out half my line before i coaxed him through the ice. Landing that guy with that rod through the ice is perhaps my penultimate fishing accomplishment to date.
He did however try to take his pound of flesh:
