Hassett Lake Outpost Adventure
The Tim Smith Party
Hassett Lake Outpost Guests, July 2019
During three days of beautiful scenery and action-packed angling, the Smith Party experienced some of the best fishing Canada has to offer. With three generations in one boat, this party of four reeled in some impressive fish, creating memories to share around the dinner table for years to come. Read on to hear their first-hand stories (including a video of their experience!) and see just what makes our Kississing Outposts so special.
What a Trip!
Story by Glen Smith
It starts with awesome service and friendly help and that is the tone throughout the trip. We had a pleasant flight (not so high, so you see beautiful lakes and scenery the whole way – it was a 40 minute flight). We landed at beautiful Hassett Lake on a gorgeous day. Water is so clear you can see down to 30 feet.
Cabin is a beauty. Full log, fantastic view of the lake and fully equipped; fridge, gas stove, hot shower, comfortable beds, and a great living room with room to tell tales in front of the fireplace.
Fishing was spectacular (see video). We lost count of how many trout and pike we caught the first day.
We did the short walk to Guthrie twice and caught plenty of Walleye for an evening meal, breakfast, and our limit to take home.
Our group of four are very experienced fishers. Between us we have caught over 100 master angler fish in six species. But we have NEVER had three days of such spectacular fishing. WHAT A TRIP!
Cabin is a beauty. Fantastic view of the lake and fully equipped; fridge, gas stove, hot shower, comfortable beds, and a great living room to tell tales in front of the fireplace.
The Biggest Pike I Had Ever Caught
Story by Bobby Smith (Age 12)
I decided to choose Hassett Lake as our destination because I had never fished lake trout too much in the summer. I sat in the front seat on the flight in so I got to see all the beautiful lakes and some other parts of Flin Flon. It was a very short flight and before I knew it we were at Hassett.
The first day we were on Hassett we found the trout very quickly (following the little map). We caught at least 150 trout that day and in-between those we caught three to four 35 inch plus pike.
I hooked into what we thought was a giant trout but turned out to be a 42 inch pike in the first few hours. It was exhausted after the amazing fight it gave. It was the biggest pike I had ever caught.
Guthrie Lake was a beautiful lake that I would suggest bringing a camera to in the evening. Once we found the spot we slammed the walleye and they were in there so thick when Nevin put in a five of diamond spoon, he still caught them, cast after cast. We had a fish fry one or two nights after and that was amazing.
The next time we were on Hassett we had already caught a ton of fish when my dad caught a 34 inch trout. Not too long after that my grandpa caught a 36 inch trout. That evening my cousin had hooked into a fish that was giving a fight I had never seen a fish give. It took over ten minutes when it finally showed itself. When I netted it we went wild! It measured out to be a 43 inch Laker that had to weigh forty pounds.
What a trip with such great service and help. None of us will ever forget that trip. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
World-Class Fishing
Story by Nevin O'Donnell
Our journey to Hassett Lake Outpost began at the Channing base greeted by the wonderful staff and pilots of Wings Over Kississing…
On an early July morning we took an incredible flight over the vast north. Our forty minute flight included beautiful views from our float plane of many lakes and the stunning Canadian Shield. We arrived on Hassett Lake to an amazing log cabin with gorgeous views overlooking the lake. We had the lake and wilderness to ourselves. We didn’t waste time to hit the water, and equipped with a medium heavy rod and lots of bait we went to our first spot.
Words cannot describe the unbelievable fishing we had during our trip, the first day we lost count of how many fish we had caught including lots of beautiful lake trout and multiple big northern pike, one measuring at 42 inches. The trip just kept getting better and we caught more fish then you could ever imagine.
We took two hikes to the neighbouring Guthrie Lake during our time and caught lots of beautiful walleye that made for an amazing supper, nothing beats fresh fish. When we thought the fishing on Hassett couldn’t get any better, it did. We would go on to catch more large Lake Trout including two master angler sized lakers measuring at 36 inches, and an once-in-a-lifetime 43 inches.
I wouldn’t be able to guess how many fish we caught in the end, but it was easily into the hundreds between the four of us in three days of fishing. It was by far the best fishing our group had ever experienced.
Hassett Lake Outpost is truly an incredible trip. While having world-class fishing for multiple species you are surrounded by the quiet beauty of Northern Manitoba with marvellous sunsets and crystal clear waters.
Twelve Years of Beautiful Memories
Story by Bruce Sleboda
Kississing Guest, 2007 – 2019
After 54 fly-in Canadian fishing trips, we have a lot of beautiful memories. Many of them with our 12 years with Kississing. We discovered Kississing after 42 trips with other outfitters. We wish we had met Kississing much earlier. Our memories of Curt, Juanita, Matt, Claudia, Baby Ben and the rest of the KLL and WOK crews will always bring a smile to our faces. As far as “stories” go, I am almost done with a book I am writing about my 60+ years of fishing and camping. Kississing is included in the book. Below you will find one chapter. Maybe you will find it entertaining…
Give Me A Hand With These Hooks
I was out by myself on Kakinagimak, “Kak”, one evening. It was overcast, raining and windy, and Sue had decided to stay in and wash her hair. I can’t blame her. If I had hair, I probably would have done the same thing.
I was having a very good evening. The bigger fish were biting! I probably caught 20 fish in 2 hours, including a 12 lb. pike, a few 3 lb. walleye, a 10 lb. pike (and a bottle of wine). Then things took a turn for the worse.
In Canada alone, I have caught and landed over 30,000 fish. I have probably caught and landed another 20,000 in the U.S. and Mexico. I was pretty sure I knew what I was doing. Or not.
I caught another 10 lb. pike on a Rattletrap with two sets of treble hooks. Normally, I use a landing glove to protect my hand and to get a grip on the fish. Pike are very slippery. For reasons that I can’t explain, I didn’t put on my landing glove. I grabbed the pike around the head with my bare left hand. He jumped and I lost my grip.The rear treble hook went all the way through the “web” between the thumb and index finger of my left hand. The pike was thrashing around while hanging from the hook. Moderate pain. Lots of blood. No panic.
I tried to grab the pike with my right hand and had some degree of success. I got ahold on the fish but, he jumped again, and the front treble went completely through my right thumb. I was “handcuffed” – left hand attached to the lure, right hand attached to the lure and the lure attached to the fish. Pain was up to serious and blood was all over my rain suit and the bottom of the boat. Panic.
I calmed down and was looking around trying to figure out what to do next and I started laughing. I don’t know why. It just seemed like a scene from a Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy movie. I finally figured that the only thing I had left were my teeth. Then I thought that if I get another hook in my lip, life, as I know it, would be over. Something is going to get RIPPED out. I clamped my teeth on the hook that was in my right hand and pulled it out – almost. I got it out, but the pike jumped again, and I inserted the hook through a slightly different place in my thumb. I tried again. This time I got it out and unhooked the fish.
I assured the pike that all the blood was mine, not his. He didn’t seem to care. I put him back in the water and he swam away happy and covered with my blood. I was not quite as jovial. I pulled the hook out of my left hand with my pliers and called Sue on the two-way radio. I asked her to meet me at the dock with the first aid kit.
After another sip of wine, I found I could barely start the motor or put it in gear because of all the slippery blood on my hands. I finally got the motor running and in gear and headed in. I met Sue at the dock, did some medical repairs, started a round of antibiotics and did the intelligent thing – I went back out fishing.
Good times! Other than a couple more scars, I healed nicely.
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