Bull caribou on highway 40 south of Grande Cache taken mid September

Mid September 2018 my destination was Okotoks Alberta. The first half of the journey would take me from Grande Cache, Alberta down Hwy 40 across many small creeks and bigger rivers including the Berland, Wildhay, and the Athabasca. Along highway 16 crossing the Mcleod River to Hwy 22 and onto a secondary highway bypassing Drayton Valley and crossing the North Saskatchewan. I have crossed that river quite a few times always looking upstream to what appeared to be nice big corner hole. As I was leaving Grande Cache early I was expecting to to have time to check that enticing looking corner out (which I was sure would hold walleye and pike) and, if not, I would at least have a chance to use my Spey rod on that large river.

On a trip you will arrive at your destination whether the journey is enjoyable or not. This day I enjoyed the journey. It was a cool early fall morning with the remnants of an early snow left on the ground. About a half hour south of Grande Cache on hwy. 40. I spotted a bull caribou slowly meandering in the cool blue pre sunrise light feeding in an open clearing. On hwy 40 there are no shoulders so I pulled into the ditch opposite the bull grabbed my camera and sat on the near side of the highway hoping he would make into the small bit of sunshine hitting a portion of the clearing. Luck was with me. He didn’t spook and slowly made his way into the beam of early sun and I was able to get one shot with his front quarter and antlers in the light. Nice start to the trip.

I arrived at the bridge over the North Saskatchewan after lunch and the day had warmed considerably. I didn’t anticipate wading so it was just shorts, wading shoes, and neoprene socks rather than waders. After stringing up the long rod and tying on a light marabou Clouser and headed up to fish the corner I had been eyeing for quite a few years. After a short walk I saw what couldn’t be seen from the bridge. One would need a boat to able to cross a wide deep channel of the river to access an island around which another channel flowed. The corner was inaccessible.

I’m left with a very wide straight section of water which is as good place to play with the long rod as any. Like one would do on a steelhead stream I cast (as best i could) swung the fly, step down and repeat the process. Could have sworn I felt a couple of tiny hits, likely from tapping the bottom but my imagination felt it was little bites. Continuing down I reached a pretty wide back eddy on my side. A long cast across hitting the seam between river flow and eddy I had a solid hit. I was using a rod strong enough for steelhead but still the fish put a respectable bend in the rod. I was excited. Probably hooked a good walleye on the North Saskatchewan. That thought was short lived once I got the fish close. It was a decent brown! Not big but nice enough.

Two casts later to the same seam and another fish on. This one felt stronger and of course I was sure it had to be a bigger brown. Got the fish close and it continued upstream. I didn’t get a great look but could see it was very fat with huge scales. Lake white? I had no idea. Finally got it close enough to see and its big yellow eyes stood out. A first for me. Goldeye! I have always wanted to get some on a fly and today completely unexpectedly I reach that milestone. One more was landed before I continued to my destination.

I did reach my destination. The journey though was the most enjoyable part of that day. Caribou captured on camera, a brown, and two goldeye. A great day, thoroughly enjoyable. That is what fly fishing is. You may have becoming an expert fly fisher set as your destination but the journey is what gets you there. Unlike a trip, if you don’t take pleasure in all that the journey is you will not reach your destination.