Sterling

My brother and I (mostly my brother) have hit those lakes upward of 500 times. What else to do when you work there and your shift is over at 4pm?

I don't fish the area anymore so might as well pass on some honeyholes to fellow OFCers...

Couple honey holes others probably aren't aware of; Green Lake can be good for brookies depending on their mood. Since you're on a canoe the nasty launch won't be a problem. Located at 46.807294, -79.246702.

Another good spot for brookies is Quarry Lake, it's rarely fished and needs to be portaged into; 46.728506, -79.354081. Launch at McConnell, the portage is located in the SW arm of the lake. It should be easy to locate the portage. The guys at the quarry actually cut a trail into this lake about 6 years ago, so maybe you could ask them for access.

Blue lake is LOADED with perch, if you're bringing along kids, maybe that could be a fun spot. Also Lakers in there.

For pike, Sucker Lake without a doubt. I would C&R here though.

Reynolds Lake was producing monster walleye for years, despite its small size. Turns out the MNR was unaware there were walleye in there, and they were constantly stocking it with little specks. Whoops?

You can get bass almost anywhere. No real size unfortunately.

@Joeytier; it really is sad how bad some of the lakes have become, last time I fished Threetrails all I caught were dink smallies.

It's only a matter of time before these make their way into the great lakes, if they haven't already. Hopefully there is some sort of biological mechanism that keeps their population down. Otherwise we could see the best fishery in the world ruined.

Many members here expect introductions.

 

There was a thread not so long ago about the topic.

 

It helps if a new member introves themselves and maybe posts some older pics etc

 

Its not asking for alot.

 

I know I for one prefer it, but Im not gonna lose any sleep over it either.

I can sympathize with that, but it's not forum policy. Nor is it communicated anywhere that an introduction is expected. If the site leaders expect/recommend an introduction, there's a few ways to ensure that happens;

1. The "welcome to OFC" email you receive when registering could include a link to pertinent resources for the site, including a link to an introduction thread, or forum.

2. The general forum could remain locked (for posting) until a post is made in the introduction thread/forum.

3. A sticky could explain that it's polite/expected to introduced oneself.

Those are just ideas by the way - by no means am I telling people how to run things. On my forums members have to read the "site survival guide" before proceeding and it works great. Introduces people to site functionality too.

As for Musky's initial response... there's always a more diplomatic method to express a valid message .

Yikes, I wonder if it puts the city at fault? Unless they've got signs use launch at own risk?

That's something I was wondering personally. Pretty near put my entire vehicle in the water at the Trout Lake launch in North Bay about a month ago. Water was murky and I couldn't see that the launch is messed right up (seriously, it looks like an excavator dug up the slabs). They currently have it barricaded off.

And howcum everytime I type OF..."ENN"...it comes up as OFC ??

Most forums have a "replacement variables" feature where you can force any word to be replaced automatically. On my forums, anyone that drops a "DERP" will see "DERP" instead.

In this case the owner/programmer wanted to enforce the use of OFC because users were still typing out O-F-N.

 

 

Salmon? Or lakers? or both?

 

The old salmon population debate...is it existant or not.

Both, we could have kept going but a couple guys had conservation licenses.

 

 

you taught me about the cheater last year bill

I prefer the term "tangler".

 

Sounds like a great day on Lake Huron!

What area were you fishing on?

Manitoulin, right out of south baymouth.

Went on a charter last week on lake huron and the thermocline was at ~45ft.

We pulled 3 lines at 40, 45 and 50ft. Most of our hits came from those 2 lines.

We also had 4 lines sitting at 20-40 feet, they got maybe 1/4 of our hits. We had another line dragging the bottom and 2 lines running dipsies at various intervals.

In 8 hours of fishing we got 24 hits and limited out.

The other group that was with us fished deeper and didn't do well at all.

Small sample size but I would consider fishing the thermocline if you can.

Bass is great for such a pressured lake, you can get them all over the place near docks etc. Size isn't always there but quantity is.

Eyes are extremely tough to catch in August unless you're far in the southern arm of the lake. I abandon walleye fishing completely during this month. If you're going to try, 8-dusk is prime time (somewhat late compared to the usual).

Lakers are always a sure bet provided you have the setup. Use live bait.

A buddy of mine was thinking of getting one of these but i steered him towards a cheap humminbird finder instead why kill the battery on your phone in 2 hours when you could just get a ff for a couple hundered?

Even the less expensive models now have awesome detail.

Either way best of luck with whatever you decide and let us know how it goes.

Thing is, I'm interested in the plot charting (on the fly) made possible by the sonarphone setup. Seeing the thermocline is a bonus!

I love using Navionics on my cheap 10" Tablet especially with the real time fish-sonar mapping option.

 

I think the real cost is actually closer to $200 now that Navionics forces paid customers to close AD windows after Ad windows blocking the actual maps!

 

Basically $60 just gets you an ad filled map app that will only go away after you purchase all the other map options.

Paying for the app twice (original owners know what I mean) is one thing but the unwanted ads are sleezy.

Turn off mobile data and you won't get ads!

Edit: in theory. I do this with all my other apps and it disables them.

I'm searching options to either add a chart plotter to my boat or download Navionics to my Ipad. I've been told I can download Navionics to my ipad that has greater detail than the app on my iPhone. Cost is $70.00. 1 or 2 problems I see is I would now need a holder to mount my ipad, also keep it safe from the elements (zip lock bag?). Do Ipads float?? LOL! Also the ipad is going to turn off & I'd have to restart it continually (this will be annoying).

In my search I found a Humminbird Helix for $510.00 which has Navionics chip included. Navionics gold card is $300.00 at BPS, $260.00 at Grimsby Tackle. So I get the Helix for $250.00 Sounds like a good deal.

I'm favouring the Helix along side my Humminbird 798 HD ci. I find the 798 on split screen is too small.

All comments & recommendations are greatly appreciated.

PS - I'm an older angler. Suggestions from the younger tech savvy fisher people would be awesome. Thanx

Pretty sure the app would keep the ipad from shutting the screen off?

Navionics on ipad does have other advantages. If you get a t-box, you can plot charts on the fly. It's the only way to do it, unless you spend $1500 (minimum) on an onix.

i'd be weary.

 

remember, in life, you get what you pay for.

I understand that, but even average units can see thermoclines these days. I just don't know where this particular unit sits.

Thinking of picking up a t-box (http://store12459.americommerce.com/store/p/27-SP200-T-BOX.aspx) and hooking it up to a tablet.

My only concern is; will the unit allow me to see the thermocline?

Anyone have an idea?

Beautiful fish, nice job on the release!

I'm heading north in 6 weeks. We bring worms, but after 7 days the worms are pretty much dead even if we bury them and keep them cool. Minnows aren't allowed on the lake so that's out of the question.

As an alternative, I'm thinking of using artificial bait of some sort. I've used Powerbait dough before for Rainbow trout and it worked pretty well, but have never tried it for Walleye.

Should I try dough? Eggs? Cured minnows? Gulp minnows? Anything else out there that actually works?

If you do not have a line counter is there a way to know how much line is out (approx) for jigging lakers?

 

We are going on a family camping trip (2 adults, 5 kids) to a lake that holds a multitude of species late next week.

 

Hoping to get into some great bass, trout and possibly gar.

 

Thanks!

 

I use cast champs btw.

Colored line? Changes colors every 5 feet or whatever.

You can also buy super cheap line counters that clip right onto your rod.

I know all about this. You'll be fine!

For most people retinal detachment occurs in one eye, then the other. If you're unlucky, it happens in both eyes at once and you risk losing sight in both eyes.

Looks like you caught it early. They can probably repair it or mend the detachment and prevent any further loss. Your other eye will be monitored closely to ensure you don't lose sight in that one.

Unfortunately you won't get to do any sports that involve the slightest impact, including golf. Luckily there's little impact in fishing .

If all else fails try Angler's Atlas, they have thousands of free maps. 3500+ for the Algonquin Park area, 50% of which have contour maps.

Since I started this thread I guess I'll give it some closing comments.

Made it out yesterday and today. Took the parents out yesterday evening and dragged lures around - didn't even get a nibble (as discussed earlier).

Went back today with some live bait. 6in suckers (went with Luc's advice). Got a couple bumps, one knock-off and caught a smallish laker. Released without any issues.

Spoke to several other guys and nobody seems to be doing well, guess it wasn't a good week for trout this time. Maybe next year.

Went out for 4 hours yesterday and... nada. Fishing with gang trolls + spoons at varying depths. Depth finder wouldn't show a thermocline (first time in deep water with that unit) so I was pretty bummed about that.

Spoke to 2 other boats and they didn't have any luck.

Also spoke to a guy at the landing that caught one while trolling for eyes (too big, released).

Take 2 tonight with threaded minnows.

Well I'm no marine biologist but in my simple mind having the LNSA continue to stock 2 million fry & fingerlings each year was better than not stocking anything. The MNR claims stocking doesn't help the walleye populations but that is totally contradictory to the history of the lake. The yellow walleye that currently inhabit the lake were introduced from the south less than 100 years ago. Prior to that, the native walleye that called Lake Nipissing home were a variety of the blue walleye that was basically wiped out after WW1 by commercial gill netters and anglers who were allowed to keep 35 fish per day. If stocking doesn't work, how did the yellow walleye establish such a stronghold on the lake in the first place?

 

As far as who knows what about fisheries, I think there are arguments on both sides but something sure seems fishy with this whole management plan.....

What the MNR actually said is this;

"Stocking itself is not an effective tool to recover the walleye population on Lake Nipissing, as there is a naturally reproducing walleye population; we just need to allow this age class to grow to spawning age".

From what I understand, Lake Nipissing is potentially the most productive lake in Ontario (for walleye, that is). We can stock it all we want, but if anglers are pulling 30% of Walleyes out each year, the population will continue to decline. We might as well deliver fingerlings directly to peoples' doorstep or put them straight into nets.

Here's an excerpt from the management plan regarding stocking efforts and their effect on the walleye population;

The 2007–2010 Interim Fisheries Management Plan recommended a study on the effectiveness of the community hatchery stocking program on the lake to determine how the current program should move forward. The study examined the relationship between walleye summer fingerling stocking rates and young-of-the-year catches in the Fall Walleye Index Netting assessment. No relationship was found. Similarly, there was no significant relationship between the number of

Draft Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Nipissing

24

walleyes stocked and the contribution of these fish to the population or adjacent year classes. Finally, there was no relationship between the number of walleye stocked and angler catch rates either 2 or 3 years later when those fish would have been recruited to the angling fishery. The study concluded that this low-intensity stocking program was not providing a measureable benefit to the walleye population or the fishery of Lake Nipissing, (Kaufman 2007) which was to be expected by a small scale stocking program.

I don't claim to fully understand or agree with any decisions being made. What I'm saying is that the ecology of the lake is complicated, and that these important decisions should be left to the people that spend inordinate amounts of time and effort studying the water bodies in question.

People who have spent their whole lives on the water over generations are fisheries encyclopedias. MNR staff are book smart. There is a huge difference.

With all due respect, most people haven't a clue how fisheries work. Even those with generations of experience on the lakes (myself included). Fishing experience does not necessarily translate into understanding of fisheries and aquatic wildlife.

The MNR staff with decades of experience have a deeper understanding of how fisheries work than the public. That I can guarantee.

Gorgeous dog. Probably smart enough to hold a rod too, since he's part collie.

There's always a bunch of people fishing off the Port Dover pier. There's also Wells bait shop on the corner of Hwy 24 & 6, that'll have minnows. Dover is about 1 1/4 hours from London.

 

Dan.

Since we're on the topic of Port Dover, any idea how the fishing is right off the coast? The in-laws have a cottage on Blue Water Parkway (just south of Selkirk). I have a 16ft boat that I could take out, but I wouldn't want to go too far.