Every once in a while, the stars align and some really good things happen… and that was truly the case a few years ago when I met Steven and Daniel for the first time while I was guiding for a lodge in Red Rock.
They weren’t my clients, but we chatted in the evenings during their trip… and Daniel (also a prominent musician) and I even strummed a few chords on the old guitar one night… and that’s how a simple, chance meeting turned into wonderful, long-term friendship.
The following year, I had started my own guiding business, and I got a surprise message from Daniel asking if I would consider taking him and Steven on as clients… but there was one key element to their request – would I consider guiding them in Steven’s boat? It only took me about 1.8 seconds to answer “heck ya!” and we set off on a multi-year adventure.
When they arrived this year, Steven greeted me with a wonderful gift… a trout-shaped measuring board with my business name engraved on it.
I gotta tell you, these guys are hard core… they spend the winter months researching satellite images of various locations on Lake Nipigon and asking for “local guide” intel and thoughts.
Some of the spots they choose are places I always wanted to check out, but with the size of my boat and motor, they might take a few hours to get to.
Enter Steven’s Princecraft Boat with a 115 Horsepower Mercury outboard, and viola, we can run just about anywhere in 1/3 of the time it would take me to get them there.
2025 marked our 5th year of hanging out together chasing Brook Trout on the Nipigon River and Lake Nipigon and, for the first time, it also included some dedicated time to chasing Lake Trout too (one of my favourite things to do!).
First & foremost, however, was the quest for big Brook Trout… and the adventure didn’t disappoint.
After a thorough review of the wind, weather & radar forecast, we set out for a 30-mile run to some new water that none of us had fished before. Upon arrival, like just about anywhere on Lake Nipigon, the scenery was breathtaking… dynamic cliffs and rocky shorelines.
With a little coaching and a lot of boat driving on my part, Daniel and Steven set out to find some Brook Trout amongst the rocks & boulders along the shoreline.
It didn’t take long before Steven landed the first Brookie of the trip, and then his second… both fish over 20” inches and brag-worthy… and that’s when the usual banter between fishing partners & arch rivals began.
Steven suggested that Daniel try the seat at the front of the boat, which (on a previous trip) we had aptly nicknamed the “pity” seat.
In Daniel’s own words…
“Due to my lack of success at this point of the morning, I was assigned to the ‘pity’ seat. It is right at the front of the boat, so you have the first cast to any new shoreline.
As you might guess, this is not an honourable assignment! I was obviously not contributing, and I gracefully took to my throne.
As I sat there I thought this is my happy place… being on the water with a fishing pole in hand, with old friends, familiar fishing gear, and a similar objective… strategically casting that seemingly perfect spot of untouched shoreline to catch a Brook Trout… it would validate some level of skill, instinct, and luck – of course.”
However, after a while, Daniel’s lure choices and applied techniques were no longer effective. So he grabbed an unorthodox, shiny new spoon he called “pinkie,” which he had bought just prior to the trip. The spoon was not heavy, so it allowed some hang time while fluttering in a slow descent after his cast.
I have to be honest, I questioned Daniel’s lure choice, tilting my head to one side and chuckling to myself… telling him it wouldn’t have been my choice with the luck he’d been having!
Daniel said… “I wasn’t asking for permission; my instincts are clear. The shoreline selection was new to all of us; however, James knows – he absolutely just knows – how to read the habitat and put you on fish. So my faith in James was not the problem; however, James’ faith in me seemed to be wavering.”
But, as fate sometimes teaches us, within Daniel’s first few casts deep to the shoreline and almost immediately upon hitting the water, he yelled “fish on”!
Daniel knew that when fishing with barbless hooks (as Lake Nipigon regulations require), his job was to keep the line tight and maintain the delicate balance between tension and control. I recall him saying “it doesn’t feel that big.”
But as the fish approached the boat we got a glimpse of the white edges of the fins and the elongated shadow of the body. And when the fish started peeling drag and stealing line from the reel, we could tell this wasn’t just any fish… this was a BIG Brookie!
Daniel and the fish danced for a good long while before it came to net… and the hook came out just as I netted the fish… phew!!
The fish took a quick dip in the livewell, then we got a length measurement and it’s weight – 25 inches and 6 lbs. – and then Daniel got his photo with his new Personal Best Brook Trout that he named “Mr Brooks”… smiling almost as much him! “Not very big, eh?” Steve muttered and laughed.
Daniel released the fish back to the big lake using techniques that I have shown them many times before. As the fish was likely pondering what had just happened, and all of us basking in this special treat, the fish gave a meaningful kick of its tail and its dark back quickly disappeared into the lake’s shadows.
There were high-fives all around in the boat, and a truly heartfelt celebration of Daniel’s very special fish, and his new PB being achieved! I look forward to their next trip to Lake Nipigon to try their luck again.
At the end of the day, after Daniel and Steven had boated eight trophy Brook Trout all over 20 inches, I asked Daniel to describe the experience, and this is what he said… “Seeing a Brook Trout in all their glory of complex colours and vermiculations is certainly one of nature’s finest works of art… I am fortunate indeed! But, holding this 25 inch trophy Brookie was a first for me… something I’ll always remember… and how truly special, and a privilege, it was to share my experience with you, James, and my friend and co-fishing competitor partner Steven. This is my happy face.”
In my parting words to the guys, I said… “your Mr Big-ger”is out there… I can’t wait until we can get out ‘on the water’ and do this again next year!!
