The last day.

It promised to be yet another warm day when we got up already. When I went to bed the other night the birds were twittering. Guess that predicted it all.


It was an awesome day, we (Hajee and I) finally made it to the lunch packets before last. And we shook hands with the Canadians who were leaving this morning. Pierre-Luc and Benoit, two awesome guys and we had a lot of fun with them. Hopefully we will meet them again.
As not all the English were going out either we were to go with only three boats. One of them not lying in the dock/bay we usually went to. That was the boat of Jaakko and Olli’s father. This time and old friend of the family would be the “guide” on that boat and Hajee and I hopped in to his car and we had a bit further drive. The same boat as yesterday, not perfect like the skiff with oars, but fair enough for a fine day of playing outside.



how do you mean playing outside?

As soon as we were on the water we noticed this old man really did know the area. The pace he had when cruising to the starting point and going through different area’s where we already knew big stones are lying… He definitely knew what he was doing.
First stop: Big Mama’s.... Yet no perfect day like that first competition day, but you never know when you never show. We had one or two fish striking… like I would remember that… Usually you do, but this day was so fantastic.
As Big Mama’s was nothing we drifted out through Crazy Woman’s. “She not there and no other crazy pikey-women either”. So we crossed Harmen-Jan’s Pool. Not much of a blast… In the meanwhile we knew our two buddies (Erik and Harmen-Jan) were back to the same spot they cashed in big time yesterday. How would they be doing and would they phone us up if there was such a thing?
Then we turned around the corner of an island and made a drift in the area that did produce some fish at the last tournament day. Upon arrival Hajee already sets the hook on a very nice fish. We let the boat drift into a reed-bed and jump out, I take Hajee’s waterproof camera and take some x-rated material of the fish and it’s release, beautiful circumstances for such a nice fish. We get back into the boat and continue the drift. Our guide loves it and enjoys the retrieves. I can hear how enthusiastic he is about it, ‘cause when a fish strikes or gets on he produces the same aaah’s and ooow’s most of us would do. He also knows his boating well. With a paddle he makes nice slow and quiet drifts, giving us enough opportunity to cast.




releasing a fish

But that first fish, it was merely the tip of the iceberg. Today it was our turn and we rocked!.
The drift continued with several hook-ups and we turned around the area for a second drift. Again they were striking like an insane tribe of woman on a deserted island that have not seen a man for decades. After a couple of hits (and fish) for both of us I knew today would be the day…
I tied on a foamdiver. Surface lures on the flyrod, it can not be more intense to my opinion. I had maybe 4 or 5 casts (Hajee had two fish missing in the meanwhile) when I heard Hajee missing yet another one. I turned around and saw the swirl. When I looked back I just saw everything happen there. I saw the face of a nice pike just when it came out of the water. Amazing!

catching such a beauty on a popper, makes you horny, aight!

The fish were on, obviously. So Hajee and I decided to make yet another drift on Big Mama’s. This time Hajee did hook a nice one. 96 centimeters of brute force charged his streamer and made him think he had his first meter on for a few minutes. These fish were quite strong, as the drag on the Vosseler had to be set quite hard. Not to prevent the line from breaking, but just to prevent the fish from it’s short but nasty runs. The guide enjoyed every fish as well. “ooowh, aah… Hauki!” – is what he let us know.


finally something at Big Mama's

We saw David of the English hook up some nice ones too at Big Mama’s. It later turned on he broke his PB as well.


oooh, Hauki yessss!

And in the afternoon, after our fourth drift over the best part (where we caught the first fish that morning) Hajee and Erik did arrive too. Not much yet, but this place was good for them too. It was incredible to see ourselves on a fifth or sixth drift, still hooking up pike in the same area. The English in the close neighborhood, catching fish as well and Hajee and Erik, drifting right behind us and catching quite a bit too. Today Hajee and I got stoked… So this is how it can be!


the deceiver worked well




Todays'hotspot

The day ended way too soon and back at the lodge we all relaxed on the decks and had some beers. Nice way to leave, with a day of more than 40 pike in the boat amongst 2 fisherman. Yeah man, the Baltic rules!
We took our dinner out onto the decks. And when we were finished eating I made a joke towards Simon who also was well into the beer already. “I wonder how the fishing would be at 4 o’clock in the morning” I stated to him. “I bet an early morning session would be a wonderful experience and maybe the pike are active when it is not yet as hot as midday.” Simon laughed at me. “If you are crazy enough to wake up at 3.00 AM, I will be guiding you guys” he said to me. Not a single vessel in my body hesitated, a once in a fishing trip opportunity to get some valuable extra time on the water.


Sealing the deal with Simon

So we continued our beers and again ended up in the sauna. It must have been 2 o’clock when I laid down on the bed and put the alarm. One small effort tomorrow early in the morning, would that be something? And I fell asleep within seconds for a small nap before it would be 3 o’clock.
If we did well? Stay tuned…..