Epic battle with giant lake trout - McKenzie River, Canada

[Bucksnbows]

I have fished with a group of great guys and some gals for the last 22 years.  We call ourselves the Trout Louts and have an annual fly fishing trip to the West Branch of the Delaware every spring.  Many of us fish together on additional trips all over the world throughout the year.  This was the McKenzie River Lodge in Labrador, Canada and we had to drive 24 hours from Warwick, NY to Labrador City and fly a turbo Otter in to camp which was about 45 minutes.

The angler here is my buddy Rick who now lives on the East Branch in Hancock, NY, and he is hooked into a monster lake trout on the fly.  We had a storm front moving in as you can tell, but nobody had any idea it was going to be so bad to the point of dangerous hail and lightening.  The guide is on Rick's right side in these photos I took during the fight.  The rain and hail was falling so fast, the guide couldn't see to net the trout even though Rick had fought it into net range several times.  At one point, a bolt of lightening hit the low ridge near us and I turned and quickly tossed my fly rod onto the willows along the shoreline.  No need to stand in a river with a 9 foot long lightening rod in hand.  In the end, the big fish won.  The 4X tippet finally parted and the laker swam off.  One of the most epic fights I have ever been there to witness.  It really didn't matter that it wasn't landed, the experience left us all shaking.  It was either that or the fact we were now soaked through and all had to quickly double step the caribou trails back to camp for dry gear.  This lodge is one of the best we've been to as far as fishing. It's not fancy, and neither are we.  But we caught pike, lake trout, whitefish, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and brook trout.  All native and stream bred.  All on fly rods.  Dries, streamers and nymphs throughout the week.  Can't say enough good things about the experience or their staff!   

https://mckenzieriverlodge.com/

[rgw]

Sounds like a epic trip 

[Nomad]

Did he hook the lake trout at a rivermouth?

[nmc02]

2 hours ago, Nomad said:

Did he hook the lake trout at a rivermouth?

Lake trout often leave lakes, especially in winter and venture up river. They do so often in the Niagara River, can catch them upstream all winter.

[Rusty]

5 hours ago, rgw said:

Sounds like a epic trip 

[Mallard1100]

Awesome trip!  When was this? 

[Roon]

Looks like what I would have called fun 30 years ago, happy to see you holding onto your youth lol

[jumpthestring]

That look's freakin awesome .  We all have stories about the big one that got away.lol

[fab]

I got a 10 lbs laker on a blue and orange esty egg I tied in the Niagara on Nov 10 2008.  Amazing fish.  I’m trying to find a pic. 
 

i saw a laker caught Columbus Day in the sportsman’s pool On the salmon river about 7 lbs.    lakers do come into rivers 

 

[Buck154]

Cool trip and fight

[electric10162]

WOW! Very cool

[bushden]

Sounds like a great time !

[Bucksnbows]

17 hours ago, Nomad said:

Did he hook the lake trout at a rivermouth?

The McKenzie River is a slow moving lake as much as a river. In some places where it necks down, it is very much a river. In the other places, more of a lake. But we also fished three tributaries that are all normal rivers. 

[Bucksnbows]

14 hours ago, Mallard1100 said:

Awesome trip!  When was this? 

A year or two before Covid. 

[Mallard1100]

2 hours ago, Bucksnbows said:

A year or two before Covid. 

Sounds like a great trip with a lot of variety!