FishyFishy

Bill - I'll have to confirm the settings on my boat when I get up (it's still in Canada), might just need to update the card. Odd though, even the Navionics Web App chart viewer doesn't seem to have those areas charted w/depths. I don't imagine we'll fish too much in Woods Bay but those images will come in handy if we do. Thanks. Cast-Away - we usually camp as well, but this time we're renting a cabin. Can't beat the sunset. Anybody fish the area around Copperhead Island? Never tried it but think we'll give it a shot.

I just meant the depths of Woods Bay and part of the river aren't charted on things like Navionics or iBoating. Not a big deal, I was just wondering if I was missing something.

Thanks Bill/CrowMan for the tips, much appreciated. We were up the same time last year and the topwater bite was great, but might have just been lucky. Seems pretty warm this year and the weather next week looks set to stay that way. Fishing banks and reefs is a great time, sometimes we just drift over them like we drift fish on Erie. In the past I've found the bass to be on top/sides of the reefs and would get them on a drop shot, but in the deeper pockets 40+ feet dropping a jigging spoon would pick up pike. Another question: do you know why Woods Bay and some of the other areas aren't charted on things like Navionics?

Thanks for the report, good to hear the smallies are biting. I'm heading up to that area for a week after Labor Day, a group of us from Ohio. We usually fish anywhere from Blackstone/Woods Bay up to Sans Souci. Bass/pike are our target since we can get nice walleye on Lake Erie at home. Caught a few small musky and have seen some monsters but no giants taken yet. One attacked my 7-year old son's top water lure last summer and scared the bejesus out of us. Has the top water bite started yet? Such a fun way to catch them. Also, I've never gone out to some of the far outer banks but have been tempted to...do you think it's worth the run? I know there are plenty of fish in between but something about the open water gets me curious.

Thanks for the update, appreciated. Sounds like the summer pattern is still in effect. Will start deep and move in if we can't find them. I'm like some others: the wife/family trip is summer, fall trip is for the boys!

Bumping this topic. I'm heading to the area in mid-September as well from out of town and wondering how the conditions are. Was up in mid August and caught smallies and pike pretty deep on open water shoals (20-50 ft), not much inshore. Wondering if the same pattern will be in effect, doesn't seem to be getting too cold yet. Thanks in advance.

Glad this topic was brought up. I get up to the same area a few times a year, usually in the Spring though. I've found a big difference in the pattern between September and October. In September I've found them on humps and shoals closer to the main bay or pockets of deep water. In October of last year, we started in the clear blue water of the main bay but found the smallmouth weren't in those spots. As we moved in towards the shore and bays we found them relating more to points and shoreline. Didn't have much luck in the fall with pike, which we usually do pretty well with in the spring. Our group usually bores with trolling after 30 minutes though. Do people find them closer to the main bay or moving back inshore in the fall? Never have luck with walleye, spring or fall. Either way, beautiful area all the time.

Were the walleye out in main lake structure or relating closer to spawning areas? We usually exclusively target pike on this trip but if they're not cooperating might try something new. We're not very experienced walleye fishermen. A few years ago we got into some rainbow trout by accident while fishing for pike but have never really hooked up with the walleye.

Thanks to all for the replies. Sounds like it's pretty rough at the moment, but hopefully the warmer weather later in the week helps. Been a cold spring; that's an understatement. We'll be focusing our efforts in back bays or wherever we can find some warmer water, then moving on from there if that doesn't work. Boat fire: ouch. Glad you didn't get hurt.

Fishing Lake Joe. Assuming there are no restrictions? I searched online but didn't see any notifications.

Can anyone help with the current conditions in the bay? I'm heading up from out of town (and country), fishing the Moon River area for pike/walleye around the long weekend. Will also be fishing in the Muskoka region for lakers. I know it's been cold and the water high, but wondering just how far behind things are. Are the black flies out yet?

Thanks for the report. Heading up there later this week, right when the temps are about to drop off a cliff... Looks like it might be a tough go. Better than working at least.

I'm heading up next week to the bay, would be curious to know the depth/pattern that was working for you, if you don't mind sharing.

Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated. We are heading up next week so I'm hoping the bite will be OK. Our main target will be pike/musky I think. My plan is to focus on main lake structure and hopefully find some weeds that aren't completely dead. We get bored with trolling but it might be our best bet.

Heading up with a group to the Georgian Bay next week for some fall fishing, hoping for some general pointers this time of year as I usually head up in the spring and summer and never this late. We’ll be around the Moon River, fishing mostly for bass and pike/musky. How are the conditions in the area (water temps, weeds, etc.)? Water still warm? I typically get bass towards the outer islands in summer, wondering if they are still deep and if we should concentrate closer to open water. Also wondering if the pike have started moving in shallower yet. Driving up from the states so a little insider info is always helpful and appreciated. Thanks.

Hi, Heading up to cottage country from the states the first week in June and will be spending a day fishing Lake Joseph (north end). Is there anyone from the area that can let me know what the conditions will likely be (water temp, water levels, weed growth, etc.)? I'm not that familiar with the lake and have only ever targeted bass, which I know are out of season. So we’ll probably target pike and/or Lake Trout. I don’t imagine the lake has many weed beds so any tips regarding pike patterns would be appreciated. For lakers, any info on depths to target would be appreciated…we’re not into trolling that much but might do it to break up the day. Thanks in advance—just looking to narrow down some patterns to increase our chances of success! Norm

OK, just one more set of questions here before heading out this afternoon, if someone can oblige. Do the walleye push into Blackstone Harbour, or will we mostly find pike there? Just wondering if our best best will be to head down to the Woods Bay/Moon River area so that we have a chance of getting both species. We're camping in Blackstone, but it doesn't look too far. Thanks for all the tips so far. Man this day at work is going to be long...

Yup, might be a mesh net weekend for us!! Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I'll have enough fish for a report. We'll be camping in Blackstone Harbour and probably sticking to there or Wood's Bay but not too much beyond. Any tips for fishing those areas? I figure we'll try and find the weeds (start shallow, then go deeper) for pike, and figure out where the walleye are too...don't know how recently they've spawned or what the water temps are like. Norm

Oh man, that was about the worst news I could have heard!! I appreciate the warning though. I guess we'll just have to suck it up. Has anyone ever tried bug spray with 100% DEET? I just got some the other day--apparently the more DEET just means it will last longer. Here's to hoping i guess... How are the water levels and temps? Is that affecting the fishing?

Hi all, I’m heading up to Massasauga Park next weekend (long weekend down here in the states) for some camping and fishing. Can anybody from the area give me an idea what the conditions are like? Are the black flies out in full force yet? Water temps? We’ll be targeting pike and walleye. Not sure how far into post-spawn they are yet. Any tips or suggestions on presentations?? Man I’m sitting here in the office and I can already tell it’s going to be a long week…

Thanks for the tips. I've only heard nice things about the area but I've never been. Looking forward to it. I have a prop guard on the boat so hopefully that prevents anything drastic from happening. Are motorized boats prohibited anywhere in the park? I've read that online a few places. I imagine we'd be sticking to Blackstone Harbour and the areas around the Healy Lake Rd. Is the Pete's Place marina in Blackstone Harbour? Norm

Does anyone have insight on fishing in the park? I'll be heading there with some friends in late May, looking for pike and walleye. We'll be staying at my cottage outside of Rosseau. Looking for some info on: -- Public access boat launches (we'll have a smallish jon boat) -- Areas to try that won't be too crowded -- Presentation suggestions I've been looking online, but haven't found too much info. I'll be calling the park here shortly, but wanted to get some firsthand experience from the great boards here. I'm not sure if there are fees or limits on motorized boats. Any info would be a great help! Thanks

Hi, I'm taking a few buddies from Cleveland up to the family cottage (on Clear Lake in Seguin) and we'd like to try some local lakes for pike/walleye during the last weekend in May. Our lake only has Lake Trout open at the time, and even then the fishing isn't great. Any suggestions for lakes to try in the area w/ boat launches? We can always try Lake Joe, and I've started looking at Blackstone Lake, Healy Lake, Moon River and Go Home Lake, but I'm not sure because I've never fished the waters (don't get up that often). I have topo maps of the area with boat launch info, but i'm not sure how up-to-date the launch site info is. Any help would be appreciated... Thanks, Norm

thanks for the info guys and i guess i misspoke about the muskie (didn't check the regs). we will be targeting pike and walleye really...i just thought a muskie would be a bonus (never caught one)--well i guess i don't have to worry about that now! any suggestions on lakes to try?? we would probably want to try smaller, less trafficked waters with good pike/walleye populations close to Rosseau area (and easy boat access). not being from there and not visiting much, i haven't had a chance to explore. oh and where can i find more info on the Ontario guide fishing book series? cheers, norm

--------------------------- Actually, I just found the company. It's a really great resource of topo maps, grouped into region. Here's a link to their fishing maps, if anyone's interested: Mussio Ventures Fishing Maps I just bought the Muskoka map again...now i need to use it! Are there any suggestions for lakes to try in the region at the end of May, targetting pike, walleye, lakers, muskie?? We'll be based at the cabin on Clear Lake, but would like to take some day trips. Norm