“Fort Peckin” by Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle
By angelamontana

Posted: May 23, 2013
(Photo: Gators, One of the funnest fresh water fish to do battle with – courtesy of Trevor Johnson)
 

So full I can barely type, I am sprawled out on my couch with my pups after devouring a delicious 20” walleye from the waters of Fort Peck. While my stomach boils, I sit here reminiscing on our dreamlike trip to Fort Pecks Big Dry Arm!! What a rippin’ time in a land that is so primitive and holds so much solitude. I think this adds a huge dimension to Fort Peck…IT IS REMOTE…at all locations!!

Last night was my first night home, and I woke up at least a half dozen times setting the hook in big walleyes!! My wife wasn’t overly happy when I told her I have been fishing for three days and all I can think about is getting back out there…she told me I have a problem. As I smiled at her, I responded, “YES, YES I DO!!” She decided to let it slide since the Rosemary and Thyme barbequed fillets were so darn good…even the pups got to sample the flakey fare.

(Rosemary and Thyme BBQ'ed walleye! - courtesy of Trevor Johnson)

(Rosemary and Thyme BBQ’ed walleye! – courtesy of Trevor Johnson)

Recipe:

Make a tinfoil boat (use heavy duty) to place your fillets in. After you lay your fillets in the tinfoil I like to sprinkle the following over them:

  • -Salt
  • -Pepper
  • -Garlic
  • -Rosemary
  • -Thyme

Before you close the boat over the fish add a couple pats of butter to the fillets. I cook them on medium for about 10 minutes. I can assure you this is worth a try!!

Last Wednesday we headed to eastern Montana to the promise land…or water I should say!! Montana’s Fort Peck reservoir has over 1,520 miles of shoreline. To put this in perspective, it has more miles of shoreline than the coast of California. That adds up to a pike-load of shoreline waiting for my jigs!! As we approached the lake, I glanced over at dad and could tell we were both fighting for the first glimpse of Fort Peck…just like when I was a little squirt!! It’s funny how most things that get a little kid revved up diminish over time…NOT APPROACHING THE WATERS OF FORT PECK!! The same Goosebumps that filled my childhood body were immediately back at the first glimpse of the enchanted waters.

(One of many of the AWESOME walleye we jigged up from the waters of Fort Peck…notice the Glass Minnow in his mouth!!-courtesy of Trevor Johnson)

(One of many of the AWESOME walleye we jigged up from the waters of Fort Peck…notice the Glass Minnow in his mouth!!-courtesy of Trevor Johnson)

We stayed at the Rock Creek Marina in a great little cabin at the South Fork of Rock Creek. If you need to contact the marina, is it (www.rockcreekmarina.com) or give wild Bill a call at 406.485.2560. It works out nicely with gas, bait, food and other necessities right at basecamp (not to mention a roof over your noggin’ when it’s pouring rain.) Within’ the first few cast of our trip we landed some awesome northern pike. In the days to follow, we got on some absolutely amazing walleye and smallmouth bass bites. We focused our technique on pitchin’ the Glass Minnows shallow…and it paid dividends!! We were tipping the jigs with Berkley Gulp 3” black shad minnows. One afternoon alone, we landed over fifty smallmouth bass and a pile of northern pike…not to mention a half dozen nice walleye!!

Getting right down to the nitty gritty, I didn’t change my carhartts for 4 days…and I spilled GULP juice all over them the second day (not to mention crawler dirt and buckets of fish slime.) These babies would not only stand on their own…but they should be placed in some kind of red neck museum somewhere. And YES, I did change my underwear daily in the rare case you were wondering.

Sometimes I laugh at myself as to why I even bring a clothes bag at all. I suppose it is better to be prepared than not, so they say…ha ha ha!!

All in all, this was one heck of a fun trip filled with big bites and great memories!! We sure feel grateful and blessed to have been able to spend a few days on Fort Peck…the land of the lost..

(written by Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle)
 
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