Here is a great story from one of our guests (Graham Taylor) fishing at Claire Lake this year. I hope you enjoy!!
“As we topped the ridge in front of us, Claire Lake stretched out below, its clear blue waters glistening in the sunlight, the tiny floatplane swooped down and landed smoothly on the Lake. We taxied up to the jetty and quickly unloaded our supplies. Bernard [owner of Wilderness Fishing Yukon] showed us around camp, explained how everything worked answered our questions and then he was gone. Our very own wilderness for a week.
We filled the water barrel from the lake, made a cup of tea then studied the maps of the lake and read the camp journal for information left by previous guests. Bernard had told us of the high quality sight fishing for Pike and he didn’t let us down. The shallow bays of Clair Lake were full of Pike, a lot of them over a metre long, the largest Pike we caught was one metre fifteen cm long and the average length was around one metre. When one of these big fish takes, watch your knuckles, the reel handle screams round and twenty to thirty metres of line disappear from the spool in seconds. These Pike are on steroids! Black or black and red flies with plenty of movement worked best fished on an eight weight rod. During our week, we caught one hundred and sixteen Pike.
The Trout fishing on Claire Lake was also superb, especially just out from the north end of the narrows. The trout would take small cats whisker lures [size 8 or 10 marabou tails] orange, white and black and silver were good colours but nymphs seemed to be the favourite, especially a light coloured caddis fished deep on a sinking line. When the breeze dropped, I could actually see fish take about four to five metres down. You could catch ten fish in an hour if your luck was in but expect to lose one in three as the fight is exceptional [most fish about a kilo]. The largest trout caught here was about four kilos, it’s first run took all my flyline and fifteen metres of backing but the smaller fish provide a more entertaining fight. We caught about two hundred and twenty four trout.
We caught around sixty Grayling, mostly when fishing for Trout, the largest was forty two cm. These fish also give good sport,tone down your tackle,use a four weight,we used dryflies but generally this resulted in smaller fish.
The true wilderness experience is enhanced by the wildlife on view in the Yukon. We saw Black Bear, Moose, White tailed Deer, Beaver, Otters, Musk rat and Squirrel as well as Golden eagle, Bald eagle, Loons, Kingfisher, Goshawk, Ruffed grouse and Waxwings.
Our trip was organised by Bernard Stehelin of Wilderness Fishing Yukon who couldn’t have been more helpful. The service we received was top class and the trip ran like clockwork. Bernard was prepared to go the extra mile to ensure his clients were well looked after. I am already looking forward to my next trip!
Thanks Bernard. Best wishes.”
Graham Taylor
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