So I was finally able to get to Baker Lake to try for some of the Sockeyes in there. My son and I got to Shannon Creek around 5pm on Thursday. We set up camp and then took the boat down to the lake to see if there was anything we could get before the sun set. It was windy and choppy and it really freaked my son out. He was “not OK” with all that in our small boat. So we headed back in and cooked up some hotdogs for dinner and started a fire and played some cards before turning in for the night.
I got up at 5am Friday morning and got some coffee going. Then spent the next 45 minutes trying to get my son up so we could get out on the water. He finally got up and we were fishing by 6:45.
We headed out to where everyone else was on the lake. I figured that was my best bet considering that I don't have a fish finder or depth finder to help target the fish. I thought I had the right set up to target sockeye running a 50/50 0 flasher with a pink squid and red 1/0 hook covered in shrimp gel.
After an hour with no luck I changed up one of the rods to target Kokanee and handed that rod to my son. After about 20 minutes he yells "Fish on!". Sure enough he hooked into a Kokanee but lost it as he was bringing it to the boat.
The boats were thinning out on the lake. I think the morning bite had past and people were heading back to camp to get some breakfast. So I changed the other rod over to try for trout. About 10 minutes I hooked into one but never even got a chance to see the fish.
After that we decided to run in a get some breakfast too. On the way back my brand new deep cycle marine battery decides to die. Literally brand new. Just bought it the week before and it had a full charge on it when we left the house. It only lasted 3 hours. Grrrr.. So I ended up rowing back to the launch.
We left the boat at the launch and came back later that afternoon to try for the afternoon bite. After rowing around for nearly two hours and again not a single bite we headed back in for dinner.
Nothing like BBQed Rib Eye Steaks with corn on the cob and potatoes done over an open fire. We ate like kings Friday night.
After resting from the smorgasbord, we decided to fish from shore for a while and watch the sky change color as the sun set. The Bake Lake area is amazingly beautiful at sunset.
We packed up the gear and went back to camp. My son brought his laptop and he wanted to watch a movie before going to sleep. Yup that's how we ruff it. ;) We joked about it being Friday the 13th and he wanted to watch "Friday the 13th" but the only movie we brought was Monster House. So we kicked back and fell asleep while watching it.
I got up at 4:30 Saturday morning. Decided that I was too tired to get out of bed after all we forgot the nice blow up mattress and had to sleep on a small mattress that had a hole in it and needed to be blown back up every few hours.
At 5 my son was having to wake me up cause he wasn't go to go home without trying his hardest to catch a fish. So I got up and we were on the water by 6:15. Since the battery was dead and I had to row and my back and shoulders were killing me already from effectively sleeping on the ground and rowing for 2 hours the previous day I decided that we would just head over to the cove next to camp and bobber fish for trout. That way I could rest a little.
We fished for almost 2 hours with not one bite. :(
After that we headed back to camp and packed everything up and headed home.
I gave this trip a 4 because in my book anytime I can get out and go fishing with my son it's a good fishing trip. Even if we don’t catch anything. This trip was awesome. My son and I get along great. My wife left me for another man after 19 and half years together and to spend time with my son like this is too precious to waste.

hortus1010

7/16/2012 10:20:00 AM

Sounds like a lot of fun and quality time with your kid. Funny thing about that movie, last year we went to a cabin without a TV and we brought along a lap top, just in case kid freaked out without any gadgets, and one of the movies brought along Monster House. Next time you’ll get those fish.

G-Man

7/16/2012 3:52:00 PM

Always good to hear about spending time fishing with a son or daughter. Catching fish is just a bonus!

FYI - Trolling while rowing is one of the better ways to catch sockeye. You don't have to move quickly and you get a slight variation in speed and movement in the water column with every stroke that triggers strikes. Keep at it and I'm sure you'll bag your fish.

catch me

7/17/2012 6:39:00 AM

Thank you for your story. That is what being a dad is so special. Our kids should be our 1st thought, every moment should be special.

strider43

7/17/2012 7:45:00 AM

Great report! Catching fish is a bonus but never a requirement for spending time in the great outdoors, especially with your son. I went to Baker lake with my father close to 40 years ago and we caught no fish. I was very young and knew nothing about fishing and my Father was used to fishing high mountain lakes where the fish have not seen many lures. My Father did not know how to fish Baker. My parents took to many neat places like Baker lake and I really didn't appreciate it at the time but as look back those experience help to make me what I am today. And having parents that were around and taking me to these places is something to value in itself.t I love the outdoors and I go to many places. I am an avid fisherman, although I have never landed a fish at Baker Lake it is one of my favorite places to camp. I plan to go in the next few weeks to fish for the Sockeye and camp out. Tight lines and I hope to see you out there!

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