Rich Clemens

I heard the same thing from the folks at Rainbow Camp - been a tough year all around. Even the number of pictures they put up in the lodge, there's nothing really big. Typically a half-dozen musky shots - but only one this year. Water levels have been down all summmer - about 2 feet.

Change of plans for this year. Most likely I'll be back to Wolseley next year. Last year, a guy from Ohio was in camp the same week were there and landed 6 - largest 50". So, you don't have to go far from camp to get one.

I started checking into a possible "guided" musky trip on the Larry last year. I would love to fish that stretch at some point - but a guide would be in order to get started up there. (I've already developed the pictures in my own mind - there's some monsters there).

You'll have to get in line. Two other couples that stay at Rainbow Camp already said the same thing - or it's gonna be one crowded boat. Better yet - we'll all cram into yours.

She was using your bait religiously all week. I'm realy glad she caught one - finally. Now she's hooked as well. Patsy tried casting the DC-10's I was using, but just a bit much for her. I'll have to ask if she wants any more ... or if she'll stick to the purple one you made for her.

Now that's a great way to break in a new boat.

Well, our annual September two-week fishing trip has come and gone already. Typically we spend two weeks on the French River. One week at Rainbow Camp on the North Channel and a second week at Wolseley Lodge. Due to my Dad's scare with open heart surgery last September, we decided to skip our second week on the French and head over to the Rideau System to spend a week with them. Probably back to our normal routine next year - especially after the week we had. We arrived on Friday Sept. 9 to a pretty warm day. 3:00pm temp in my truck was reading 87F. After an 11 1/2 hour drive, unpacking, and getting everything ready, we just rested Friday night. Up at 3:00am and the drive, warm weather, we were pretty much wiped out. (Getting old sticks). Anyway, the first several days were really touch fishing. I had only managed 2 pike, but one was a nice 33 incher. Talking with the owners, it has been a tough fish this year and the water levels are down about 2 feet. Been like this all year and many folks that stayed there this year were finding things tough as well. I guess that's why the locals call this place ... "starvation alley". Even the number of this year's catches in the lodge are not as many as part years. Never been there and only see one mucky pic on the wall. We kinda figured that the local name would persist for us as well. Couple sunset shots we took. For a small digital camera, they didn't come out have bad. Since the fish weren't biting, you gotta take some pictures of something. Quick shot of the 33" pike I was able to land early in the week. Bleeding from the tail a bit as she started flopping around pretty bad while trying to get the hooks out and the idiot ended up with one set of trebles in her mouth and the other set in her back end. We were surprised that all the times we have been in the area, we have never seen a moose. In the back of one of the bays we were fishing, something moving caught Patsy's eye and here it was an entire family. Male, female, and a little guy. Never did get too good of shots as they were away from us and they kept the youngster between them. Of course, once the dogs saw them, the barking drove them away. Here's one of the better shots we got. And, of course, after a hard day of fishing, the girls get worn out and ready for a good night's sleep. Alright, all of that stuff out of the way ... LETS TALK FISH. Ok, so Wednesday morning rolls around and rain is expected this morning. We take a look outside and see the dark clouds off in the horizon. So, the front is coming in. What better time to fish .. eh ? So we head off to a little bay not far from camp, just in case we have to make a bee-line back. I've seen musky in this bay before and have had numerous follows over the years, but never got one to bite. So, we start here. We're fishing for a bit and as I am bringing in my double cowgirl (black with silver blades), HERE SHE COMES. A nice musky following the bait in. I go into the figure 8 and she passes the bait and make a turn and comes back. Again, she makes a pass at the front of the boat and keeps going. I keep the 8 going and she comes back and passed it up once again and heads to the back of the boat where Patsy is fishing. I yell back "Look Down", hoping Patsy can see it. All I hear is "Oh my God" as she sees the fishing coming past. Patsy had just finished reeling in from one of her casts and the lure was still dangling in the water. The first turns and comes back to Patsy's bait ... and smashes it. Then, all Heck breaks out at the back of the boat. Poor Patsy is standing there, legs apart for balance, both hands on the rod, and the fishing splashing about like crazy. Talk about an adrenaline rush for her. I just drop my rod and head back for the net. After a short fight, she is in the net flopping around. I just kept her in the net and down in the water while Patsy laid out my release tools next to me. While flopping in the net, she threw the lure, so this was a good thing. Patsy got the camera all ready and we lifted her out. A beautiful thick 49" musky. What a fantastic FIRST MUSKY. After a couple pics and a quick measurement, we laid her back in the water and off she went. Afterward, Patsy said that she didn't think she really wanted to catch another one like that. But, that thought was short lived. Now, like the rest of us, she's hooked. Here she is ... SPECIAL NOTE: Patsy caught her musky on one of Joey's custom-made musky baits. We have several of them and look .... they do work About then, the rain started and we headed back in to camp. Went over to the lodge to have the picture downloaded and be put up on the "wall of fame". The rain quickly stopped and we thought we could head out again as it may have just been a band passing through. So, off we go to another little bay near by for a little more pre-frontal fishing. This particular bay, I've never seen a musky before, but it was close and we could fish for something. We were fishing for about 15 minutes and I had a good hit. At first, I thought it was a nice pike, until I saw her turn sideways and I knew it was a big fish. Called back to Patsy to get the net. This one didn't fight quite as much, so we were able to net her pretty quickly. Same routine as before, Patsy lays out the release tools. Like Patsy's musky, mine also threw the hooks while still in the net ... GREAT !!! Pulled her out, couple quick pics and a measurement. Laid her in the water and she was off like a shot. And here she is, another 49" ... beating the one I caught in Lakair this past June by 1 1/2 inches. So, in less than 2 hours Patsy and I were each able to land a 49" musky and set new PB's for both of us. This ended the day, as we just made it back to camp when the heaven's opened up. Thursday, post frontal conditions, I figured we would be back to normal now and not catch much. Fished the entire day and nothing. We went out again in the evening, back to the same bay where Patsy had caught her 49". We we fishing around and I got another hit - another big fish. This one fought the hardest and took me around the boat for a tour. Eventually we got her tired out enough to land her. Once in the net and still down in the water, this one also threw the hooks. Three big fish and I didn't have to worry about the un-hooking on any of them. Sure does make the release time faster. We lifted her out and she was a very nice solid 45". Back in the water and off she goes. Sure looks like our fishing handling skills are getting better as none of the three required much revival - all were off as soon as they hit the water. Here she is ... That was it for the week and we moved on to Rideau Ferry. The fishing was really touch over there. Worst year ever for us and catching bass. We only managed a few bass during the entire week. Not a whole lot to report from here, as the catching was way down. We spent the week with my Dad and Step-mom and did some running around sight-seeing as well. We had a great week there with Dad and the Maple Crest Motel and Cabins owners are fantastic folks and very good friends. So, this was more that just a fishing trip to us. Couple of the nicer bass we caught. [One of sight-seeing trips was to Lanark County to see a marble mine. We were able to pick up a few samples to bring back for our garden. Now - Next year, we break the 50" mark at Lakair and we're already booked in cabin 9 for the annual OFC GTG.

I said BDL would be on you left heading down from Hartley Bay. I was wrong - it will be on your RIGHT. Sorry about that. As you go down from BDL to Wahanapitae Bay, make the first left along the shore line. You'll go between the shore and a parallel running island. Don't get close to the island side, I seem to recall a rock around there. Just past this first island, look to your right. There should be a nice weed-bed over towards the shore and a couple other islands. May want to check out this area. (Hint). I think you'll enjoy it there. You have a huge amount of water to fish, you'll only see a small portion of it. Looking forward to a report when you get back. Hope you have as much luck as we did. Gotta get my onw report up here soon.

I used to go to Bear's Den regularly back in the early 1990's. Fishing seemed to be dropping off in that area (could have just be us too), so we quit going. Went back again about 10 years ago, but BDL had adopted a no-pet policy, so we went elsewhere. But, we would love to go back there. Art and Brenda Barefoot are great hosts and make sure you eat at the lodge at least once. Great meals and a great view over the water. Very nice lodge w/ large-screen TV, pool table, etc. Assuming they still have these. BDL sites back in a little bay - nice, quiet, and somewhat secluded. Head down river from Hartley Bay and BDL will be on your left. Just a short ride - can't miss it. If you are bringing your own boat, the folks at Hartley Marina launch the boat for you. So, you may want to get your gear in the boat before launching or carry it down the hill. If you are renting from BDL, the office there at the marina will call them - and they'll come pick you up. The main channel from Hartley Bay down past BDL to Wahanapitae Bay is clear of obstacles as I recall - just don't venture too close to the shore lines - as this should be good advise for anywhere on the French. I just returned from the North Channel of the French today and the water levels there are about 2 feet lower than normal - so I would also advise EXTRA caution in unfamiliar waters. Maybe the folks at BDL can advise of specific areas to watch out for. As you enter into Wahanapitae Bay, you'll notice a few parallel islands. Fish around these islands as there used to be some nice weed beds among them. The last time I was there, I landed my PB pike at 37 1/2 inches around there. A couple days later, my step-son landed a 37. Never did get a musky there, but we were not specifically targeting them. But, there are some big girls around. Rather than turning left into Wahanapitae, you can turn right and head back to a couple bays that hold some nice fish. But, I have to warn you that this area is extremely rocky - even when we have normal water levels. So, extreme caution here too. We also went through the "S" curves down to the French River Lodge. Somewhere, out in Wahanapitae, near where you would turn left to the "S" curves, there is a nasty shoal there that I hit my last trip there. Was even out from the shoreline and still hit it. Fortunately I was going slow at the time, so no damage done. Best of luck to you and be sure to post some pics when you get back. Would love to see the area again ... and a few big fish.

Oh man ... congrats on the 50.

I was sitting in a meeting at work. The whole thing was going on for a couple hours when someone stepped in and asked ... "You guys have no idea on what's going on ... do you ?" We had no clue. Needless to say, that ended the meeting. Sure was a wierd feeling making the 2 1/2 hour drive back home. Interstate highways were almost devoid of vehicles and not a plane in the sky.

I'll vote for the Uni-to-Uni knot. No problem there.

Ah yes. Sunrise, sunset, and everything else in between. Can't wait to get back up there ... will have to for a while yet. Great to see you caught one too. Seems like the big girls out there are hungry this year. Paul/Joey ... your turn !!!!!!

Bet you hated to see that plane coming in at the end. Always enjoy your trips and reports Solo. Something I've always wanted to try. Thanks for taking the time to put this report together - really enjoyed it.

HA HA. Was thinking the very same thing when I read this. Always an exeption for everything.

Same here. Little piece of electrical tape on the reel - no problems.

I've had those kind of trick questions a couple of times. At least the border agent was good about it. I've my share of 'super cops', but nothing that got me upset. Maybe I'm getting the pleasant ones (knocking on wood).

Have yourself a great day Paul.

Got a note from Joe on FaceBook a little bit ago. Sounds like they came though things pretty good. The worst was east of them. That's good to hear. Patsy and I were thinking of our friends as Irene made it way up through Virginia.

Funny isn't it ? How many of us catch our first musky by complete surprise. That's when it all starts and we become addicted to them. That's how I started. Congrats on your first.

And that's where the story begins ..... Congrats on the first. Next one will be bigger.

Already booked for the third week-end in June (and the following week) for our Lakair GTG. Took Cabin 9 for next year to get something on water-front. By the time I return from the French next month, I'll have those two weeks booked again for next year.

Awesome report. Always hate to see the trip end, especially when you know you have to wait until the next year to go again. Don't ya just love the Canadian Shield.

YEah - We even felt it here in PA and we're about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh. Sure got the office girls stirred up. HIghly unusual for us here in the mountains.