Rich Clemens

I think it's just going through customs. Some of your words may be a bit questionable and deserves closer scrutiny.

All I can say is WOW. That's one great looking machine.

Uh .... Trolling for Pike on the West arm of Nippissing ? Seen ya doing a lot of that last year. Hope to see ya doing some more next month.

Well Joe - I see that one empty seat and I wasn't invited. Heck I could have been there in just a couple hours.

Sweet Ride Stoty.

Will be great to see some more new faces. Keeps on growing and growing each year.

See ya in June Lew ... hope you all have a great summer.

Well Bill ....... With my luck, I'd be more apt to catch one there.

I've seen a couple articles recently about using creepers for some musky action ? I've been using Top Raiders and was looking for something a bit different for a little top water action this year. Checked out Rollie & Helen's site and they have a variety. Just wondering if anyone has used these kind of baits and if it may be worth my while to pick up a couple for this year. My musky fishing is on the French River and the West Bay of Nipissing. Gotta do something a bit different to change my luck around. Thanks in advance.

Well then ... there's still hope.

PM sent Addy ... hope you find it helpful.

Good Stuff Andrew. Been many years since I've been there. I was fortunate to my grandparents living in Orlando, so we always had a place to stay. We went quite a few times when my daughter was little and would spend the entire day there. Talk about being totally wiped out by the end of the day. Pretty big temperature variance from what yer used to eh ?

Hey Boss; Harold, the owner, should give you a photocopy of a topo map with some of the 'hot spots' for various species, which include areas for pike and walleye. Never fished for Walleye there, so I can't help much with that. Find weeds - find pike. Harald can mark some of the safer routes to venture further out from the bay. I will say that once you get out there a ways, the landmarks are few and far between. Lots of channels, channels to other channels, and eventually it all looks the same. Couple places. Please note that I am there in latter September, so things may be a bit different than when you're going. 1). As soon as you come out from the docks, fish along the left shore line - which is right there at Totem Point Lodge. My wife had something fairly nice size blow up on a Suick the moment the thing hit the water. I've just run up along the short line, and picked up quote a few pike. The further up around there you go, you'll get into more weeds. 2)., On up, along the left-hand side, you'll see some rocks sticking out of the water and just behind them, there is a waterway into a back bay. Supposed to be good pike fishing back in there. When we are there, the waterway is pretty well choked with weeds, so we never made it back. Maybe you'll give it a shot. Right there, when the channel heads into that bay can get pretty weedy and on upon that side. 3). Continue on the it opens up pretty wide along the left hand side ands all along the back there, are some good weed-beds. We've picked up pike in all these locations and some other areas further on out. With Harold's map, and a map of the French River you can pick up at the trading post, you should be in good shape. The main channel out through the bay, from Wolseley Lodge is pretty clear of rocks. Just don't get too close the shoreline and when rounding the points, be careful and give a little wider berth. We won't be hitting Wolseley this year due to an opportunity to meet up with my Dad over on the Rideau in September. We'll be on the North Channel at Rainbow Camp our first week in September up there - and you'll pass the North Channel Road shortly after turning off Rt 64 onto Rt. 528. Our second week will be over on the Rideau. Oh yeah .. be sure to check out the Friday Night Buffet at the Lodge.... can't beat it for the price and you'll won't leave hungry.

Good Deal LA. Nuttin' like a new puppy to keep things interesting. Hope ya have many, many happy years together. Congrats and break out the newspapers.

Great times TJ. I'll bet that pink Flamingo is missin' a few feathers now .

Those things are all around down here too. Sports Shows, Shopping Centers ... you name it. Just about the only contest you can enter with a pretty much guarantted certainty of winning.

Take them out fishing, run their pads off, then see how much damage they can go. (Yeah ... Right)

I have counted my blessings.

I've never made it to Rochester, but I've been on either side of you heading North. We cross the Peace Bridge on our way up to the French and to the East of you at the 1,000 Islands when we head up to the Rideau System, about an hour north of Gananoque. We do quite well for bass up there and we've been going to the same place for 7 or so years now. Schedules got hosed last year, so we didn't make it. This September, after spending one week on the French at Rainsbow, we're heading back east to Rideau Ferry and meet up with my dad / step-mom for a week. My wife and I both really enjoy the scenery of the French River area and the mostly unspoiled beauty of the Canadian Shield. Catching fish, for us, is just a bonus. Good luck on your quest and hopefuly some others will chime in with their thoughts. It can be a bit overwhelming as choices abound. Best of luck to ya.

Pizzaboy: I've fished different parts of the French over the years. Being from the states, its usually only one or two weeks a year. To this point, I've fished the lower French. We used to go to Bear's Den Lodge back in the early 90's and a time to to later in the 90's. They changed their policy about pets, so we quit going there. Had it not been for the policy change, I'm sure we'd still be going there. Yakpiker mentioned the French River Lodge, and Bear's Den is on the way to FRL - you'll boat right past it. BDL will pick up up at Harley Bay Marina, just as FRL will do. I've never stayed at FRL, but we've stopped there a few times for a snack while we're out and about. The largest pike I ever caught was while staying at BDL at 37 1/2 inches. Just a day after I caught this one, my step-son landed another not too far away that was 37". Both if these were caught along a series of islands as you come into Wahnapatea Bay, which you would come through on the way to FRL. BDL may be a little more expensive, but we really like the secluded spot they were in and we became great Friends with the owners. Actually, the owner's home is not more than 1/2 hour from where we live. Art Barefoot, the owner, caught a huge musky not too far from camp and has it mounted in the lodge. Quite the impressive fish. I'm sure either place could arrange a guide and, if you are not familiar with the waters, that would be a good idea to get you started. We used a lot of larger spinners (both pike caught on large spinners) and different types of spoons. Did pretty well on pike. When we were staying at BDL, we were not into musky and Wallye at that time. Musky are there, You have a chance for a trophy, but I don't think you have the numbers of fish on the French. I'd like to go back some day. Hartley Bay, where you would launch just just past the French River Trading Post and about 7 miles or so back a dirt road. The folks at Hartley Bay launch the boat for you and I think there is a fee for parking while you are there. They have HK and American plans. Even the HK plans, just give them a notice and you're welcome to come for dinner. Years back, I believe the meals were about 20.00 each. Recent years, we've been making a two-week trek to the French in September. Staying one week at Rainbow camp on the north channel and also at Wolseley Bay. I've found the prices to be reasonable at both places to be reasonable and Rainbow Camp offers a 20% discount off season rates, which for that time of year, I believe begin after Labour Day. Both of these Lodges are just off Rt. 64. Rt. 64 turns off 69 North of the French River itself about 10 miles or so. I believe Rt. 64 heads toward Sturgeon Falls. Just a few miles before Noelville, Rt. 528 cuts off from Rt. 64. About 100 meters after turning onto 528, is North Channel Road - to Rainbow Camp. Continue on 528, clear to the end, and you come to Wolseley Bay. Rainbow Camp, on the North Channel is kinda locked in with rapids ton both sides of the camp. I believe you have about 5 miles of water on both sides of the camp. It's quiet and away from the roads, so that's why my wife likes it there. I've caught two musky and both were caught here while trolling. Actually it was here when I accidentally caught my first, that I caught the musky bug. I think one was 29" and the other 43". There are a couple spots within a minute of the camp where I've seem a big girl and tried numerous times to try to get her to bite, but she's got a bad case of lock jaw. I'll be back there again this September for another shot. I've have follows from nice sized muskies at different points while we're there. We do catch a fair number of pike and probably caught my second largest pike in one the bays that is accessible from the camp. Lots of good potential, but you don't have boat access to a large open expanse of water. But, there is enough there to keep me busy and moving around for a week. They only offer housekeeping here and there is no restaurant at the lodge. Wolseley Bay is a good priced and well kept lodge. We've stayed there about 4 of 5 times. We rent cabin 1 which is closest to the docks. The bad part of this cabin is you're right next to the road, so you hear the traffic and the school bus that turns around right there. Cabins are basic and well kept, I believe the owner is trying to remodel a cabin or two each year, so they're getting a lot nicer. Wolseley Lodge has both HK and American plans. Nice restaurant on site and the guests may make reservations for supper. Each Friday night, during the season, they offer a Friday Evening Buffet with Ham, Beef, Turkey, and a number of other hot dishes. All you can eat for about 16.00. Not a bad deal at all and they have a nice spread. There's lots of accessible water right out from camp. You can get yourself out there and be a long time in seeing another boat. We've had pretty good luck with pike and my wife actually latched onto her first musky while trolling out from the Lodge. I won't go into the conversation that occurred when the fish snapped the line, but I'll bet it was a 40" give/take class fish. I have a number of spots where I''ve seen and raised some big girls, so I know they are in there. Don't forget about the West Arm of Nipissing, just a little further up RT. 64 past Monetville. OFC has a GTG each June and they had one in September last year. Who knows, maybe there will be another this September and you'll be able to drop by. I've stayed at Lakair a few times on the West Arm at Lakair, and this is where we have our annual GTG. Great lodge and equally matched owners. We have a great time there and you have miles and miles and miles of water to fish. Walleye just a stones throw from the dock. Find yourself a nice weed bed and you can get into the pike. Couple years ago I just fished from the dock and landed 2 or 3 pike in a short period of time. Consider Lakair as well, many on this board go there and really do well with the Walleyes. Where ever you go, make sure you review and understand the regs for the areas you'll be fishing. Many areas have slot limits that you'll have to be aware of. Once you settle in on a couple choices, let us know. Maybe someone can help you out with some additional information. Stop at the French River trading post and pick up a map of the Fench River. Can't miss it .. nice bright red cover. I see this is your first post, so please don't be a stranger. There's a great bunch of people on this board who would enjoy helping you out, including me. So stick around, get involved, and as always, let us know how you did. We love pics. Best of luck to ya. Rich

We all hear you Lew. We kinda had an eye opening this week ourselves. Not more than 15 miles from my house, some guy went berzerk during a robbery of a Subway shop. Shot the one worker dead the moment he opened the back door. The guy walked into the business and shot another teller (she will survive). Took the money and walked down the road a bit and shot dead another guy who just stepped out to get his mail. Shaken ...... you bet. My own daughter works in a Subway right here in town and personally knew the two Subway workers at that other store. You just never know. Like Lew says ... don't take even one minute for granted with your kids. And all of those for whom you care so much for.

That's just wrong ... catching monster fish like that. Great report Andy - as always. I really enjoy readin' them and the pics you include. Thanks for taking the time to put all this up - much appreciated.

Really net pics Steamerguy ... that would be one heck of a cast from there.

Hoops, I stayed at Auld Reekie some time ago - probably 12 years or so ago. Did pretty well with bass there. Although they said they had pike in the lake, I tried most of a full week and didn't see a one. But, it could have been just been me and my tactics. We did take a one-day fly-in to a remote lake and did get into some nice sized pike there ... we'll into the 30" range. I really enjoyed it there, relatively quiet and pieceful and a store near-by for supplies. Could actually loat across the lake to it. Wish I had the cash to do a few more of the day fly-in trips. Sorry I can't help you out with the other place

I wonder if those that organized this in the first place ever dreamed we'd be seeing numbers like this. Goes to show what a great site this is and the mods the keep everything in line. kudos.