adempsey

Personally, I do enjoy seeing all those pictures of big fish and smiling anglers.

I also believe I am educated enough to be able to draw my own conclusions when an outfitter or guide makes a post or recommendation that may benefit them. I really don't appreciate self promotion and spamming resort links.

However, the rules for posting on this board are obviously set. If the moderators don't see a problem with the posts then I don't think there is much else to discuss on that topic.

I do appreciate the feedback provided by the previous customers. This is one of the most valuable resources available on this site. I have probably saved a lot time and money because of it.

Hopefully Mr. Geary works out his problems and makes his lodge as good as it should be.

Was wondering how your trip went?

I would not eat anything from a can that was previously frozen. I'd suggest trying to find the food you like in dehydrated form or in other types of containers that would be acceptable to freeze.

I have never fished Couchiching, but I don't see it as being different than most commonly fished lakes. Maybe it's bigger than it looks on the map, but it's not big water like Simcoe. I don't see why you couldn't even fish Simcoe if you wanted, you just have to be very vigilant about the weather.

Other places: Lake Dalrymple, Head Lake, Rice Lake, Lake Scugog, Sturgeon Lake, Pigeon Lake, Chemong Lake, Buckhorn Lakes

Smaller lakes: Little Lake (near Barrie), Island Lake CA (in Orangeville, no gas motors), also many other conservation areas (http://www.ontarioconservationareas.ca/index.php?option=com_google_maps&category=14&Itemid=69).

Probably many more.

Good luck!

Ok thank you.

I was wondering where people with open spots for trips post there messages?

Thanks!

Within a day and a half drive, I'd go to Lake of The Woods. It's a 20hr drive from the GTA and there is only one word to describe the fishing there, AWESOME!!! You can fish for pike, walleye, smallies, largies and muskie. Take your pick.

I'd recommend Smith's Camps near Kenora (20-25mins) or Witch Bay Camp. I know the food is great at Smith's and the beer cold.

LoTW!! Now there's a vacation. There are many famous lakes out that way I will get to some day. I was hoping some of my buddies would join us for part of my trip, unfortunately I don't think that would be possible if I went that far. I'll still check out those camps though for future reference.

Thanks!!

Also, thanks for the suggestions via PM.

Cheers,

adam

I'd probably go down a business track and do a joint MBA/LLB if I had the opportunity to do it over [and no financial responsiblities etc].

The second career gig was good for the first year, but they caught on and made significant changes. It's pretty hard to get anything from that program now. Still worth going to your career centre and filling out the score sheet to see if you qualify. If you do, you could consider a human resources or marketing program.

Also, experience is worth farm more than some piece of paper. Any good employer will know this. You're a good salesman, so go sell yourself!!!!

Good luck!

The lakes you indicated in my area Nip. Nosbonsing, Talon, Restoule area Temag. etc. are all nice. Temag is absolutelty beautiful! These lakes can be difficult to fish for a newbie to the area. Where ever you choose ask the lodge owner for a few different spots to try and also ask on this site once you choose. My suggestion to you for this area is South Shore or Callander Bay of Lake Nipissing. The lake is big but these areas are smaller to explore and the lodge owners will most likely point you in the right direction and help out with depths. How big isw your boat. That may impact your decision making. PM me if you want specific info. on a lake in this area.

My boat is as big as the cottage resort provides me So, most likely a 14' with a 9.9/15. I was hoping to hit the Callander Bay area earlier this year for some ice fishing but we decided on Boshkung instead. I will probably try again next hard water season. I like the idea of going to Nipissing simply due to how large it is and the variety of fish; and I assume the low water levels plaguing Ontario would have less of an impact here than on the smaller lakes (although, I haven't heard the fishing was bad anywhere due to this). What is the main difference between the west and south ends? More shallow weed beds in the west for pike? I like the idea of being near the French River too.

I have avoided Temagami in the past as I often read it's hard to fish or hasn't been productive. I don't know much about it except that it's often described as a trout lake. I have driven past it on the way to Lady Evelyn Lake a couple of times and really enjoyed it there (I'd go back, but it's too expensive for this trip).

Cheers!

Thanks for your suggestions!

Yes, I fish Rice Lake quite often - probably more than most lakes with the exception of Simcoe in the winter. I was purposely looking for somewhere outside of the Kawartha's since I do a lot of day and weekend trips there. I will be heading to Rice toward the end of August as well Although, I typically find Pigeon lake to be more productive for me.

I'd often thought about Quinte and I think I will most likely hire a charter sometime in the fall.

I also started looking at some lakes in Eastern Ontario, like Negeek, Kamaniskag, Bark, Black Donald, Wolfe, Norcan....the list goes on. At this point I think I will just throw a dart or something....

Well, I was all set to go on a fly-in trip in August (btw, thanks to those who offered suggestions), but turns out my fishing partner would rather spend his money on a trip to Cuba or something (what's up with that??). Anyway, long story short, I have to "downsize" our trip to a more local drive-to lodge. As most of you are aware it is a daunting task trying to find a new place to visit that meets your requirements, especially when it's a drive-to lodge within a half day drive of the GTA. I tend to focus more on the lake than the particular lodges, so I thought I toss up my "short" list and see if anyone had any experience or suggestions.

I was trying to find a lake with SMB, perch and walleye within an ~8 hour drive of Toronto. Anything else is a bonus. I have not fished on any of these lakes either.

Lake Temagami

Lake Nipissing

Lake Nosbonsing

Lake Tomiko/Chebogan

Lake Talon

Lake Restoule/Stormy/Clear

Lake Muskosung

Lake Manitouwabing

Trout Lake (near Noelville)

Troutbait Lake (N of North Bay)

Mattagami

As you can see, I typically avoid the larger lakes, but I always figured I'd try them out someday. Right now I am leaning toward Restoule or Nipissing, but that's mostly because I was having difficulty finding information on the other lakes.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any information or suggestions. Too bad my fly-in will have to wait until next year =(.

Cheers!

Probably should mention what type of baits you're going to be throwing. Those big honkin baits have different requirements.

Not required, but you might consider some pike flies. I tried some on my last trip and had some fun. I used my spinning gear with a spin bubble and tied the fly on using some Tygear leader material. Just something different.

Cheers.

Most important is what is on the other end of the line? If you're just using smaller pike lures then I wouldn't worry about it until you start musky fishing regularly. Muskie are caught on bass/walleye fishing tackle all the time. If you want to use those double cowgirls or big 10" baits you might reconsider and get an 8' rod.

I stayed there for a weekend a couple of years ago. Nice golf course. I wasn't overly impressed with the resort given what it cost me. Restaurant has a nice waterfront patio though. Anyway, I am also more of a fishermen and took out one of their canoes (the boats you can rent were like $200/hour or something) and simply fished around the resort area. The bay next to the resort is actually one of the better fishing spots based on what information I could find about the lake. Caught a bunch of small mouth bass. There is a small river/creek you can canoe down as well that probably has some bass in it.

I went there once to check it out. I fished in a small bay for a little while. Didn't catch anything. It looked like a good carp spot, but don't know for sure.

You can order a map from www.TrakMaps.com

You can also view it online for free using their little Zoomify app.

I went up there last year, I really like the lake. I plan on going back again this summer. We were only there for a weekend so didn't explore the southern half at all. There were many weedbeds to fish in the summer. We caught a musky and some walleye out front of Jack Lake lodge around the little island and in the weedbeds. Other spots we mostly caught bass and perch from my recollection. Sometimes it's hard to keep all the different places straight.

Basspro.com website says who they use for brokerage and it says fee's are calculated when the items are actually packaged for shipping. As a web designer I know how impossible it would be to integrate charging the exact brokerage fees for certain items and not others (due to origin of manufacturer). By the wording of the statement I assume maybe they used to charge a flat fee regardless if it was one item or more? Perhaps that's what Cabela's does?

 

I can promise you this information is current as I made the post before ordering and have learned more about the process since ordering.

I only ordered from BPS a couple of times a while back so I don't recall for certain how they figured out the brokerage fee, but I do know I did not pay anything when I got my package. They may have sent me my bill via email and required my confirmation prior to shipping, but I cannot recall.

Cabelas did list the brokerage fee on my order (it was $3.50) and it's on the website for my last order. It could simply be that everything I ordered was covered under NAFTA so I did not have to pay any duty. There were times that I did have to pay the postman for taxes, but those were orders from Jammin Jigs or some other small shop.

Anyway, just my personal experience with about six $50 to $250 orders from BPS(2) and Cabelas(4). So, not much experience there. Regardless, it won't be much to be overly concerned with unless you ordered $1000's in lures from Lucky Craft.

When I ordered from BPS or Cabelas I am fairly certain it was all charged to my CC immediately (shipping, taxes, brokerage fee) and never had to pay anything COD. I always use USPS to avoid costly brokerage fees. Cabelas lost my order twice though, but replaced it without question.

NAFTA would cover most things made in USA, Canada or Mexico.

Not to derail the thread, but I am curious as to why you think Red Pine is the best lodge on the lake Solopaddler? I haven't stayed there and only boated out in front of it one day to take a look. It didn't look as nice as the others, not that that means much really, but you aren't the first person to mention this. It's probably the most expensive lodge as well (of all of the whopping 3 with American plans). I do like that it has private docks though. Anyway, just curious since I will probably be back there again some day.

I have been up to Evelyn lake for a week each of the past two years (Once in August, once at the end of June/beginning of July). I stayed at Garden Island and Island 10, so I my experience is mostly west of Red Pine.

We primarily jigged for walleye using plastic grubs in 12-15 FOW. Usually near a drop off entering a shallow bay or inside a bay. I believe last year we fished many evenings in a bay about 10 minutes west of Red Pine with great success.

Although we did a lot of jigging with plastics, we also caught walleye trolling cranks and worms (harness, slow death) as well. I also caught some of my largest walleyes (26", 27" and then a 28", all within 15 minutes) with a jerk bait (x-rap) my first evening there fishing the shoreline in an island saddle that dropped off to deep water.

Just look for typical walleye structure (reefs, drop offs before a shallow flat, island saddles - there are plenty of both in this lake) and you will be fine. We found that the larger bays had the best evening bite for the 14"-18" fish.

Trolling the deeper drop off areas (15-20FOW) during the day is probably your best bet for larger fish in the daytime.

I could give you a bunch of spots that produced for me, but there is really no point since you'd have to travel quite a ways to get to them and there is no reason for you to do this. You will find spots that are just as productive within 20 minutes of camp guaranteed. However, feel free to PM me if you really want them.

BPS has a Daiwa Strikeforce combo currently on "sale". No clue how good it is, but it's at the low price point for this type of product.

edit: Something strange is going on, my reply should have been the third response. Ignore what I posted, it is irrelevant now with given the additional information you provided.

I'd say they should at least see one of the Great Lakes from shore, probably at Wasaga or Sauble beach. Going up the Bruce Pen is nice.

Algonquin park and/or Bon Echo PP would be a good stop as well. Canoeing the French River PP is nice too.

Elora Gorge for tubing?

Yes, I often found the best walleye fishing to be on the southern/western side of the railroad tracks. So, you are located in a convenient spot.

I have never caught a muskie on Rice lake, but never targeted them there either [although, I am pretty certain I had one on my line May of last year, but never saw it]. They are definitely in the lake and I have seen some really big ones pulled up on occasion, but I wouldn't say it's common in my experience. I think most people would head to other Kawartha lakes, like Pigeon or Chemong, for muskie.

Still a lot of weed growth there in August. I think you will be fine. As Sinker said, try to find fresh weeds, nothing dying with algae all over them.

What part of the lake are you staying in?