Reef Runner

http://muskeys.ca/ Their rates are posted. We had a tough fish there (late September) but mind you were targeting ski's all day so it's always a tough fish lol. Had a good rip trolling jakes close to weedbeds but came off soon after the initial bite. Eyes (fewer numbers in recent years) and decent smallies love current, without divulging too much info (specific spots). Live leaches do well there. I'm sure you gents can figure it out. Best of luck!

Musky's is convenient, right off the highway, decent launch. It's more of a roadside motel, so you'll be hearing the 400. Stayed there 3 or 4 years ago for $99 a night with boat rental which to us was a deal. There was (when I was there) a few BBQs you can use. FYI if you rent a boat they want you back well before sundown (during prime-time low light hours - got a good reaming by management for coming back at dusk lol). Reef

A day fishin' is still better than a day working. I would try finessing your presentation to soft plastics and slower presentations - ie, senkos and dropshotting leach/minnow imitations. If that fails go to the roots: Worms!

Akri has been doing better than I have apparently lol! Good shootin'. I was without the benefit of sonar on this trip; rented a tinner from Moon River Cottages and relied on my handheld GPS with hotmaps as we were backwoods camping. I'll second Akri, move off the shore to structure to locate fish. Talked to some guys at camp down in Arnold's and they laid a beating on pike apparently. We weren't so lucky on the snakes. Just for fun, if you're down that way, the falls are absolutely furious this year. Cool to check out. Strongly advise against swimming there, the locals were warning not too. Tight lines.

Reporting back rockhard99. I was on the moon this past weekend (August 26-27) coming on blue bird skies, high water levels and wind around 5-7km from the west. Started by following earlier reports that the bass were up right up against shore, which I found to be vacant of fish. Moved out to off shore rock structure in 5-8 fow and started locating a mix bag of smallies and largies. Best fish was a small jaw pushing 4.5#. Average size were 1-2 Lbs'ers. Love those GBay green trout, certainly have shoulders on them. They were eating leech imitations (slammers) on a drop shot 12-14 inches off bottom. Braided line with a 3-4 foot floro leader was needed to detect the bites. This was concentrated in the Iron City Bay area. Put in a few hours of musky/pike trolling in IC bay, Captains Allen's, even went into the fabled Blackstone with out a sniff (didn't have my yellow jacket). Got a good wash on the lures. Love the area, tough fish sometimes. Reef

Wow! Awesome report. This are some nice lookin' fish you got there.

Nice shootin'. My PB is also 47 and it's been that way for years. Keep at 'er.

I think Ohio has it. I recall looking into staying here and doing a bit of research a few years back. Ended up staying at the Pick River Marina; easier access. Awesome area!

Welcome to the board. I'll be up that way in a few weeks; hell or high water, I'll be targeting the same. Cast-Away put up a good report with some great info in the thread Tight lines, Reef

Beauty Report. Love the Ink!

Beauty area. PM Sent. Reef

Nicely done Cast-Away! Thanks for sharing the results. I'll be trying my hand there in August for a few days, cant wait. Congrats on the eyes! I could count on one hand how many I've picked off there in the past decade. Story has it (heard it from a local, don't know if it's "scientifically correct") that late 80s early 90s new dams had changed the current flow on the system resulting in the walleye drop off as the usual migratory baitfish had changed their run with the current. Rejuvination projects of the spawning beds around Arnold's and the falls have been taking place past few years. In the spring you can see the MNR undertaking netting surveys close to the falls. Hoping the system will come back to the Molson Big Fish glory days (hehe)! Reef

I think you're on to something that you've caught fish in the deeper water. I can assume in a marsh the water would get really hot and stagnant these mopnths. Stick to the deeper areas and adjacent structure, if any. Wacky rig a senko or maybe try dropshotting (aka a little more finesse presentation). My 2cents Reef

Sad to hear about Brian, Bigcreekdad, he is a stand up guy through and through.

Camped out of Casa Blanca for many years on the Upper (hope Brian is doing well). It was a tough fish sometimes for ski's. Had better luck on the Lower; another good option near by if you want to put in for a day on the Pickerel River. Current breaks are your best friend on these systems. Tight lines fellas.

Freddie made 1.3 in ANA and is now 5 mil over the next 5 years on the Buds. He's solid; carried a lot of games with a growing D corps. Hainsey will mentor the kids (few beauties in this year's draft as well, time will tell) and I wouldn't be surprised if JVR or Leivo gets moved to open up space for a top-4.

Amazing shot! Thanks for sharing.

On the bucket list; sweet pics.

Iron City tight to shore this time of year; been going for the past 10 years or so. Dropshot a leach pattern close to any reeds you find. The smallies will be there and hammer-handle pike so you may be bitten off on the rig. Good luck; love the Moon. Reef

It was a quiet and sunny weekend, at a small lake which name I do not want to remember, just South of Parry Sound. Racing up the 400/169 were Quixote and Sancho, on a half tank of fuel and dueling with better equiped and cleaner motored steads. They arrived early, enclosed in a dust bowl from the roads travelled, and unloaded their belongings. Quixote is one of those gentlemen who keeps a rod in the rod-rack, an ancient net, a skinny old canoe and a fast trolling motor. "Sancho, your Canadian Tire special rod would definately bend over in obedience to but a half-pound bass," quiped Quixote, "However, your line is as strong as your determination to join me in this expedition, therefore, let us get our vessel prepared. Sancho..." "Poor trusted advisor, tired by the tilting spruce trees that blanket the landscape in a fine polinated mist. Very well, I shall prepare the vessel myself." Quixote winds down the rocky staircase to the waters edge: "You arrogant beast! Because your size, that of a human fist, thou should beleive you can block my entry to the skiff...draw your weapon vermin!" As Quixote moved toward the tremendous aracna, his shadow blocks the sun with which the spider was warming itself causing it to retreat into its crevasses of its rock home. "HA; a gentle giant...it was best he recognized the might of my cause. Sancho! Bring me my rod!" decalred Quixote, only to be answered by a chorus of snores. Nonetheless and undetered, Quixote arms his rod with a 5 inch sinking worm and lazily throws it out for the taking. "The abysmal dwellers of this pond surely will tangle with this offering," figures Quixote as he watches the bait slowly fall to the outter weed edge. Just as the worm is out of view, a nibble, Quixote heaves back with all his might; "Why must you run for the thick reed? Not to worry, my 20# power pro is up the task before me." Sancho is awaken by the sound of flapping fish and, motivated, finishes preparing the boat. Once the bass is reunited with it's underwater home, the two saddle up and ride for a deeper bay. Out in the bay, hovering close to its finely vegetated edges, many small largemouth are taken by sinking worms. "We have seen numbers, Sancho, but we have yet to visit the larger set." "Had you enough Quixote? My stomach is empty and my neck burnt from the scorching sun," reasons Sancho. "Your determination is fading with your hunger is it? Very well, we shall return and dine while I continue my exploits from shore." And exploit he shall... Not much else was heard from the galant pair; although now I sit in an office building enclosed in the concreate jungle, my thoughts are with Quixote and Sancho knowing they are in pursuit of the larger set sought....

Rising with the sun, eager to get ahead of the hordes, the weekend warrior loads up his trusty multi-horse carriage and embarks on march due North: Battlefield Kawarthas. Many before him arrived upon its shores only to vanquish in humiliation, sunburn, lures lost and skunk. Keeping an eye on the horizon, tactics and strategy enter the warrior's mind in quiet contemplation. He is riding solo; absent a companion, and more importantly, a fearless netman. The sound of rubber hitting pavement beneath him, our knight gallups forth towards uncertain destiny. Arriving early, the battlefeild is eeriely quiet. A bird fills the air with song as mist rises from the calm waters. The warrior tends to his vessel, ensures there are the proper safety outfittings and enough fuel to satisfy his imagination of the struggle to come. He already notices the conditions favour his adversary; the basin is choked in weed growth allowing for ambush with guerilla force upon on an unsuspecting firetiger J-9. The sun is high; the first cast is made: a quick strike and the predator dives for cover. Soon the pawn is captured, released to spread word of their impending overthrow. Signals intelligence reports of 60-65F water temps; the sonar bleeps loudly to alert the presence of a cruiser. A white/chartruese spinnerbait is launched into the underlying brush, cutting through the hydrophoil at breakneck speed. Suddenly the bait stops, aware it is being followed, a cautiously creeps forward. SMASH! it is devoured by a toothy esox, the fight ensues; And finally it is subdued: Losing light, the battlefeild stirs. Combatants are breaking surface all around the warrior. Patiently, he chooses his battles carefully. The same firetiger J-9, scarred from battles previous, is deployed into the abyss. Grazing the tops of underwater forest, the bait exploits looking as if it is succumbing to his wounds. Foolishly, a crappie grabs hold of the decorative decoy. Some battles have been won, some lost, as the sun sets on the first eve of war. Day arrives and our warrior is back in the midst of battle. The enemy is slow to engage, perhaps it has wisend up to our hero's tactics. Relentless, the warrior casts, knowing what administrative hell is awating for him in the days ahead. A TUG on the xrap? pause, pause.....jerk, pause, WHAMMO! At this point our hero is exhausted, sunburned and experiencing mild sun stroke; he is undettered. The epic battle still alludes our lone-lure washer. The hours are drawing down, the OOS Bass seem to populate the depths. With grit and determination, the weekend warrior lets out a final cast on his J-13. Crank, crank...CRASH. As the drag, set loosely, peels from the Abu 6501 C3, the hooked beast goes airborne clearing the surface. It rolls and dances underneath the vessel, nearly missing getting hung up on the prop. Our soloist struggles and directs the catch into the net and is satisfied that the battle has been won. And he rode back into town; sun at his back, head held high, until next next weekend... Reefrunner

Beauty Report! Nice eyes, that 28incher is a real purdy fish. Congrats on the family outing!

Great fish! Greater smiles on everyone! Way to go TJ!

Thanks for the kind words folks! Indeed this was my first topwater walleye, what a surprise I tell ya. Thanks for identifying that Luna moth - they are absolutely beautiful creatures. I'm glad you all enjoyed the report - haven't been on the OFC in sometime mostly because of the off season. Expect many reports to come, I look forward to more outings like this and others. Tight lines all, reefrunner

Every now and then I like to get out leave the buzz of the city, the comforts of home and replace them with a tent, a boat and a rod. It's amazing what landscapes are available to traverse and what dreams can be caught if only one would reach out into our great Ontario wilderness. The "now and then" materialized itself over four days from June 4-7, 2009 as my cousin and made the trek up to the Upper French River for some camping and, more importantly, fishing. If you are not aware of the area, refer to the map below: Map of Nippissing and Upper French River The Upper French flows out of Lake Nippissing southward, twist and hugs countless reefs and islands into the Chaudrie Dam at the south end. [the red boxes below. Sorry for the map, it's tough to get a good copy anywhere. Even the provincial park makes you buy a map, even though you have purchased a permit to camp out there :evil:] We arrived at Riverview Cottages Thursday morning, registered our site and gave Brian from Casa Blanca Lodge a call to drop us off a boat that we rented from him for the duration. Just gotta say quickly; Brian is the man. He is a grass roots type of guy that enjoys the company of his guests at the Lodge and is always the most hospitable. His cabins were booked solid for our trip, but he was glad to have a boat available for us. Haven't seen him in two years, so after catching up and exchanging stories we headed up river to our site behind Hunts Island. View from Camp Our vessel (18 Foot Ceder stip, 20 HP yammy) Set up camp as soon as we landed Then set up a buffett for Pike and Walleye We fished that evening just around our camp to get familiar with our surroundings. The water was really cold, 50F in the main bay and close to 60F in the back waters. As Brian warned us "...them fish are gun shy when the water stays this cold", and did that ever hold true. The first evening, fishing from around 5pm until dark, only a dinky perch was caught on a drop shot rigged with a live worm in 20fow off of Hunts Island. Went back to camp for a steak and roasted potato dinner, listened to the loons compete with the Stanley Cup Finals over the crank radio for a while and hit the sack. Got up early the next morning, the flies buzzing but not biting, a quick sandwhich and black coffee ansd we pushed off shore into our next adventure. Bobbing right infront of our camp tieing our rigs for the day I noticed a conspicous boat approaching our way. The regional CO lined up our boats and after we should him our permits and licenses we were on our way. Started the troll for pike holding tight to shore and passing mid lake humps and reefs. Anywhere we hit weeds, or if the spot looked interesting, we stopped and casted the area. Alas, we forgot to take the skunk out of our boat. Always a good time to take in the wild life. Green giant moths Bald eagle A couple of OOS smallmouth bass and another dinky perch later in the evening caught on small Mepps Syclops spoons we stayed in that night enjoying the nice cool weather, cooler beverages and planned our next attack. Our last night, desperation mode, we headed into Bob's Bay located on the northern shore tucked away through a pair of narrows and a handful of islands. We fished well into dark, washed all of our lures without a sniff. I take out a frog coloured Zara Spook on the chance I may wake up these darn pike disturbing the glass surfaced water. Sitting on a drop from 6 to 18 feet, I launch the first cast close to shore. Twitch, twitch, twitch all the way back to the boat...nothing. Second cast I launch just off shore....nothing. Third cast, I'm figuring man I'm gonna change this lure....twitch, twitch, cousin mutters something, twitch, SPLASH!!!! FISH ON!!! It was dark, with only the moonlight to illuminate the action, as the fish dove for deeper water. Bringing her in I caught a glimpse of a white long belly of what I believed to be a decent pike. Take out the flashlight and shine it on the catch..."GET THE NET" I yell out to my cousin. Bring it in and the forest around us is filled with a chorus of jubilation and high fives for this.... This is my personal best Walleye, measured 25 inches and scaled in at 7lbs even. Didn't get a girth of this beast as we were quick to put her back onto her stomping grounds. Man-o-man. As you may tell from the pics, I was stunned a good half-hour, the fish recuperated before I did for sure, lol. Needless to say, I love my Zara Spook and enshrined it as my "go-to" top water. Stoked, we casted around for another hour and slow trolled back to camp where our lifted spirits took us into a beautiful French River sunrise. C'est fini, Reefrunner