Monday, July 14, 2025. As with other mornings, I start mine with a walk-around. I see an arctic tern, above, at the top of a tree. To the right, a shite-crowned sparrow with an insect in its mouth for its young. I see white-crowned sparrows in Michigan, but not arctic terns.
I made a brief video of these two long-tailed ducks.
In fact, I see several long-tailed ducks hanging around the shoreline. I recorded this video of this larger group because I loved their goose-like call…and head bobbing.
After photographing a few birds, I return to the lobby of the lodge and see Karen is taking our egg order–fried, scrambled, sunny-side up. Within ten minutes, we are in the dining room eating eggs cooked to our liking. At the buffet are breakfast potatoes, and a red liquid stuff that I think is salsa but which turns out to be a raspberry sauce of some kind. Amazingly, there is fresh fruit again, this time, melon.
We fish for about an hour and a half near the Corquechet River, which nobody seems to know how to spell and nobody can find mention of on a map. Last year, we found the small pike the river very easy to catch, see no purpose in that, and instead take the time to walk around the tundra.
Bald eagle near the Indian grave at the mouth of the Crock-o-Shay River.
Spotted sandpiper.
This is at the mouth of the Crockechete River. In front of Mark are parts of a tee-pee. This is also the spot where many visitors of the Trophy Lodge have shore lunch. Such lunches can easily take an hour, so instead, we eat a sandwich as we explore.
En route I ran this video walking across the tundra. And this video is a close-up to show the crunchiness of some of the vegetation.
I shoot a photo of Mark and Aidan with an Indian grave in the background. The indian grave is rumored to belong to an indian who wandered around the tundra. The fence was installed so that his soul no longer wanders and he can rest. There is an old shotgun that belonged to him in the fenced in area. I am very happy for him that nobody has taken it.
The area near the Indian grave is like none other–the plants, the tracks in the sand, and the bones we find. There are several holes in the sand, including the ones, above, which are from birds called sand martins, I believe. Below, is a hole that a fox could fit in, but outside were tiny bird prints leading inside. At first, I set up the trail cam next to the hole, but then opt for a place near several holes. I support the trail cam with a stick Aidan finds.
With the trail cam set up, we walk slowly back to the shore, stopping several time to take in the wildflowers.
Some of the vegetation near the Crocueche River. Based on iPhone look-up functions: Top left: Saxiphrage. Bottom left is a common dandelion. Above, top: Alpine bearberry. Above: Saxiphrage.
We head back to the lake to an area near the Second River where grayling are known to live. Mark chooses one of 15 or so grayling lures, ties it on the end of a light rod and casts. I use a small spinner that is already tied to the end of the line of the other rod. We both catch grayling. And not small ones–they are all 18-20 inches or longer. They’re beautiful, yet many show scars of near-misses from predators. Aidan uses a net, takes out the hook, we quickly take photos and put them back in the water.
Catching grayling in Great Bear Lake is almost too easy. And while they are fierce little fighters, they are also delicate. We catch and release perhaps a dozen each in very little time. Mark and I decide that is enough for us and tell Aidan it’s time to return to lakers.
We head back to the Airport, where we had fished yesterday. It seems everyone is convinced there are big fish to be caught if ya have the right lure at the right time at the right depth. I use a spoon most of the time; Mark switches to a burbot-like lure of Aidan’s and one he got on loan from another guide, Chance. I get three fish all day; Mark gets 5. Not the trophy fish we hoped for.
While the fishing did disappoint, dinner did not. It consists of pork chops (which I don’t eat), potatoes, and a side of beets. Mark loves the lil pickles–the gherkins. Dessert is like a chocolate cream something with graham cracker crust. I never eat desserts…until now.
To the left, Aidan shows the size of some of the big baits we trolled.
In the late afternoon I capture a video of gold sunlight sparkling on the water. It is beautiful.
Before I walk, Shane shows me photos of two bull elk he shot a video of from just inside the lodge, both strolling along the lakeshore near where the boats are tied each day. It gives me a new idea for my second trail cam.
I continue walking and taking photos. It’s so pretty.
I always see something different when I walk, or sometimes, the same thing in a different light. It’s all so different than at home.
The plants in the arctic are a contradiction–they seem fragile, but have to be tough enough to withstand some very harsh winters.
I also like the plants because none are like poison ivy–none will make me itch. And that’ important to me because I am still recovering from a bout of PI.
These photos make me realize how lucky I am to be here, near the Arctic Circle. Trophy fish or not, this is still an amazing place.
