KawarthaAngler

Ended up doing Chemong lake via the popular access point of Rotary Park.  Put in 6 hours on Jan 7th and pulled out almost 20 average size perch.  Boy was it a cold one.  

I like the sound of that!

I know the water flow/current of Upper Buckhorn and Chemong well.

I've seen the huts get setup these past 1 - 2 weeks just off the Bridgenorth Causeway ... from Rotary park.  So assuming ice is at least 5 inches but was curious if anyone has been out and what they experienced in ice depth. 

Was looking to go out with a friend this coming first weekend of January 2018.  We live on Buckhorn lake.  I've seen some huts out on the ice. 

I was curious if anyone here has been out fishing yet on the Tri-lakes?  What is average ice thickness?  How thick should the ice be for ATV?

Thanks,

Adam

7 hours ago, bigugli said:

This was one of the hot topics at the MNRF discussion sessions last night.

I don't doubt.  I suspect it may set a presidence.  Also, it may be viewed as a pilot project to see how well it works since other areas may be considered for similar action.

I drive across the Bridgenorth causeway almost daily. 

It's rare for me to have to avoid hitting someone.  And I can't see the areas people fish from the road as I drive by.  But I don't doubt it gets quickly polluted as I've seen that first hand walking along the rocks at Buckhorn damn where people fish from shore.

I suspect those that have to fish from shore will just move to another spot.  Probably Gannon Narrows or the Buckhorn damn.  Then those spots will have the same problem, but be in a different township, thus another group of people will have to figure out how to deal with the issue.

Many would put their trash in a can if it was easily accessible.  And that trash can has to be checked every day or two so that it can be emptied.  Having a couple trash cans at the end of the causeway isn't enough for those that are lazy and/or ignorant.

I guess we'll see in 2018 how this plays out.

Thanks for the input.

Ya, for my small tin can ... I stabilize the fuel that is still in the tank and leave it in the shed for the winter.  Usually I like to have as little as possible in the tank. In the spring I add some fresh fuel to it and I'm good to go.

But for the Fish & Ski boat with built in tank ... can't do that. 

Hi.

 Was curious what guys do when putting boat away for the winter.  Do you fill the tank and put stabilizer in the gas, or do you let the tank run almost dry and just put a small amount of stabilizer in the gas?

 I have been told to fill the tank in my boat (100L tank) and then stabilize the gas because that helps prevent moisture building in the tank over the winter.  I've also see people put their boat away for the winter and it has very little gas in it so come the spring they can put a fresh full tank in it.

 What you do?

Thanks!

Ya, a neighbor of mine reported finding a tic on her dog the other day (Kawartha's).

I gave it to my son a few years ago for Christmas (he was approx 12yrs old). He really enjoyed getting monthly mail and the surprise of new tackle to add to his tackle box. It exposed him and me to new types of lures and presentation. A 6 month subscription was enough. Typically 1/2 the stuff was junk and 1/2 was good. But to go and purchase just the good would have probably cost less.

But watch out! It turns out they 'auto renew' the subscription for another 6 months should you not opt out of the program. So I had an unexpected charge on my credit card 6 months after I initiated the subscription and it was for another 6 months!! I immediately signed on my account on their website and changed it to not auto-renew. It was a costly mistake but he got more stuff (some duplicates) which then went to my tackle box.

For someone starting out or doesn't have much in the line of gear, it can be fun.

My go-to is topwater, followed by texas rigged plastics and wacky senkos. I'll usually try these methods before grabbing the crankbait rod. I just don't have the confidence in crankbaits, but I can see why using them to find fish fast in a tournament situation makes sense. I'm not sure if many people fish crankbaits in the kawartha's because of how weedy the lakes are, but maybe I'm wrong. I know that a lot of big bass have come from those lakes on topwater frogs and wacky senkos

You're right that the Kawartha's are very weedy and some more than others. But crankbaits are commonly used to skim across the tops of the weeds that don't come to the surface, or along the edge of the weed bed. I regularly use crankbaits and jerkbaits and chatterbaits.

Senkos are the last thing I'm fishing in a tourney. Maybe if I can't get 4 good fish it's going in the water

Interesting.

I know in the Kawartha's wacky worm setup of a Senko is very common and even though it attracts a fair number of smaller fish, it is popular choice for the big bass.

Can I ask what you would throw since Senko's aren't your preference?

I never knew this had to be done.

I have a 2007 75hp Honda and a quick Google search showed me a Youtube video of a guy changing the timing belt on the 90hp version of my motor. Looks like I'll be looking into this more ASAP!

Thanks!

We can do that for you Adam. There is a gang of retirees here that work on boats in a pals large building. We have access to marine carpeting and have torn the floors out and painted on vinyl flooring rather then re carpet. PM me if you wish and I'll give you my phone number and email. We are just west of Dunnville ON. About 45 minutes from Hamilton.

Sent a PM. Thank you.

I have a 10yr old Lowe 165 Fish & Ski boat. Carpet is everywhere. Problem is there are several areas (mostly rear seats and front hatches) were the carpet has rotted and split.

Anyone know of a service that offers boat re-carpeting that is in east of T.O. and/or Peterborough/Kawarthas area? I've asked around but haven't had any luck.

I know guys with less carpet and/or less boat to dissemble to replace carpet often do it themselves. But I'd like this to be done over the winter and I don't have a heated garage.

I disagree with senkos being easy to catch fish on, using live worm you could easily out fish a senko with no comparison. Sure you get some bites with senkos, but how many actually get hooked in ratio?There's a few different ways to hook a senko, and some of them make it harder to hook fish then others. I've seen rookies fish with senkos, they just get pissed off because they cant catch a fish!! There are some tricks to them for sure!

But for those wanting to learn pure artificial baits for tournaments (since live bait is not allowed) ... it has to be senkos (or similar).

I love to fish a jerkbait for smallies specially as the water cools

I jerk it on slack line multiple times before retrieving any line with the reel. make super long casts and take your time

 

Dan

This past summer I've used perch jerk baits and had luck with a few bass and a small muskie. As the water cools, what type/colour jerkbait do you find works? I've had no luck with white jerkbaits this year.

Top water is always a blast.

I was out last weekend and surface temp according to my finder said approx 63F. With it being warm this week I can't see it dropping below 60F come this weekend.

I have several spinnerbaits .... can give them a try.

I know about getting away from decaying weeds ... have tried fishing them in the past and get nothing. With the decay and carbon dioxide they give off, its understandable. Hunting around for healthy weeds in the fall can sometimes be quite time consuming and not overly successful.

Buckhorn and Chemong don't seem to have much rocky/sandy areas (at least from my experience thus far). But I have only explored a small amount of Chemong this past year.

Thanks!

Every little bit does! Thanks.

I primarily fish tri-lakes (Buckhorn, Chemong & Pigeon) with preference to Buckhorn and Chemong. Also sometimes Lower Buckhorn.

This year was the first time I started trying a tube (it was fun to skip under docks and have the hook buried to reduce getting stuck) and the first time I put more effort into jigging a skirted jig with weed guard (which didn't catch much for me other than 1 walleye). But I know I have to learn better spots, better presentation, etc. to get a tube/jig working well for me.

In the past my primary bass fishing areas have been for Largies. Shallower weeds, thick mats and lily pads (punching with 1oz bullet).

Thanks!

Find a sandy shoal, flat area....Green Pumpkin Tubes or Craws

Good tip, thanks. I picked up some Green Pumpkin craws @ Gagnon in Oshawa yesterday. That is what the owner directed me to when I inquired. Also picked up some 3/8 oz bullet tungsten and was going to hook them texas style and bounce them across the bottom. That was his tip and what I've seen suggested via jigging youtube vid's. Historically I've been more of a crankbait/spinner guy but want to do more jigging.

Next hard part if finding the right locations!

Going out this weekend and hopefully next weekend. Would like to target photo worthy Smallies. In the past I've had very little luck in the fall.

Any tips? I've wacky wormed in the past but was going to do more craw type of jigging this time.

Thanks!

For those fishing central Ontario area ... what colour plastic worms (wacky setup) have been working this fall? Last year I found brighter colours like yellow an pink worked well but this year I've found darker colours to be working well and not the lighter colours.

Thanks!