jimmer

Just went and checked it out for you. It looks closed; however, the water is high (upper and lower) and spilling over the dam and the concrete side. The water is very stained. See lots of carp surfacing. It is definitely higher than when the walleye were in there spawning.

Will be making my first trip to BOQ in the Deseronto area at the end of May. Any specific colours or bait suggestions would be appreciated. Will target walleye and pike. Thanks in advance!

This is the boat seat system I used.

http://www.pigeonlakeresort.com/ Try this place in the kawarthas. The walleyes should be starting to bite as the weather waarms this week.

I went a completely different way. There are these metal channels that you can buy that are placed along the front of your bench seat and then there is a swivel on the bottom of the seat that interlocks with this channel. It is very sturdy and will not tip over when you lean back on the seat. It also allows you to move the seat along the bench to whatever position you want. Just tip the seat forward and you can remove it for storage without having to remove screws or nuts and bolts. They sell these setups at most marine supply stores. Bought mine just outside of Lindsay. PM me if you want more info.

Come on Cliff, maybe the weather will change or hold off if we all pray to the fish gods! LOL I'm going no matter what, at least until I can't hold the rod any longer.

I guess I was one of those lucky ones like some of the other members. Parents always rented cottages in the summer, then progressed to a trailer of our own. My father also had his home made wooden boat that he was so proud of, we had many adventures in that sucker. The most memorable was being out on Cooks Bay in 3 foot rollers, with my brother and I huddled under the front section of the boat because it was just too cold. Every once in awhile my father would pass a smoke to us and ask us to light it for him because of the wind. That was a long time ago, but I remember pulling in nice size smallies trolling the drop off and reeds. Rented cottages on Rice Lake and Sturgeon once we were a little older, probably around 6 years of age. Did lots of camping in the Waubashene area, Buckhorn Lake and wherever. Whole extended family would do the Frenchman's Bay thing or the Heart Lake Sunday picnic. The one thing that stands out in my mind is that I would always be looking for a way to go fishing. I grew up at Jane and Finch in North York, moved in when the corners at Jane and Finch were farm field. We would get on our bikes and fish Black Creek or the Humber River for Chub, then we found a pond and an old swimming pool north of Steeles off of Weston road which us group of kids would frequent throughout the summer. Amazingly we caught sunfish and catfish. We then discovered the pond on Weston Road by the Toronto Star Building that actually held LM Bass. That was always a hoot, until they locked us out with gates. The trailer was on various lakes that included Scugog, Pigeon and Chemong. That's probably how I ended up living on Pigeon Lake now, I just hated leaving at the end of summer. Fishing is always a part of my early memories! Darn, I have to start scanning some of those old photos.

I don't have the map in front of me, but it is a major entrance and is marked well. I have seen very large cruisers down in there and it is around the few camps that are located near the mouth. I'll look at the map tonight and see if I can offer you any more advice.

Attends! LOL I hear they use them at the casinos.

All depends on the type of fish I guess. I just throw panfish or walleye in a plastic bag and stick them in the fridge. Then clean them once they're dead and cold. I find them much easier to clean after being in the fridge also. Never had any complaints from anyone eating them after doing this.

It is weird how they have it written.

No I haven't been there this year, but I defintiely want to try for the late May or early June walleye. Definitely very low pressure on that lake, very few buildings on the lake and a feeling of being on a wilderness lake. Sunnyhill Resort area is probably the most built up and that's not much. I did stay up the Madawaska a few times, but coming down the river to get into the lake burns a lot of gas. There are two great launches on the lake, one off the Papineau Lake Rd. and one on the west side of the lake north of Maynooth. Adventure Fishing Maps has a good map of the lake. I remember many of the anglers trolling the sand dropoff into deeper water as you head north towards the Madawaska. Different walleye fishing, more like you see in the Midwest I believe. However, the regular techniques did work for me in the summer. Let us know how you do if you go this weekend!

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr_e001336.pdf This is the link to the exceptions (spelling mistake in first post, duh). It looks like most of the dams open the friday after the second Saturday in May if I read them correctly.

I know the dam in Lindsay doens't open until the weekend after the regular opener. I would think that all the dams fall under the same rulings. Check the acceptions in the regs and as a past poster said, remember that there is a new slot in FMZ 17. Only 13.8" - 19.7" in standard measurement can be kept, all other released. Good Luck out there!

Sounds like you were doing some of the right things. Jigging twisters is my favourite at this time of the year. I should say dragging jigs over the tops of emerging weeds or in muddy pockets between weedbeds, set the hook as soon as you feel anything. Cranking minnow baits such as bombers over those same weeds is also good in the spring. I like the colour white in both those baits.

Check out Bark Lake near Barry's Bay. Walleye, Pike, Lake Trout, Bass and Whitefish. Haven't really targeted panfish and I don't think there are crappie in the lake.

Thanks Guys!

I just dropped off at bunch at our local landfill. They collect hazardous waste every Saturday morning.

Can some one clarify whether storing a battery on concrete kills the battery or is this a myth?

I sure don't think I would make that trip if you have never did it before. The ones that make that trip are seasoned navigators of that area. I'm guessing it's not too bad if you have a big boat and come across the bay, but heads up as you get close. However, If you do make it, the channel with the markers that ends in a dead end at Devil's Gate (Door)is a great area for trolling for muskie and walleye. We have caught all of our muskie in that stretch, especially around that shoal in the middle as you head in from the bay. I had my best luck banging crankbiats off the rocks. However, I have seen them in the smaller inlets and channels.

Remember Walleye open later at the dam in Lindsay. Not on May 8th like the lakes in the Kawarthas.

I'm with you on that. Nothing like getting away from it all and enjoying nature. As much as I believe anglers should be able to fish docks, it's definitely not for me, I avoid them like the plague in most cases. I have found myself trailering the boat to less populated lakes lately to enjoy the serenity of being one of the few boats on the lake. I avoid them in tournaments also, so many other places to fish and yes, I have seen many tourneys won on docks, but I still can't bring myself to having an audience when fishing someone's dock. Too many strange experiences like someone all of sudden starting to throw a frisbee in the water for their dog to retrieve. They weren't being mouthy or rude, but it was their choice if they wanted to use the water. I just moved on with a laugh and fished a different area.

I wouldn't condone any angler damaging or destroying property and yes people should be aware of the dangers of leaving hooks around where there are swimmers. And by no means should a boater tie up or stand on someone's dock unless in an emergency. My biggest concern is that waterfront owners are beginning to have the attitude that they own the lake and if this continues we will start seeing a lake simcoe attitude in the kawarthas with diminshing water access. Yes I own lakefront. It is a privileage to put a dock in the lake, not a right by the landowner. Next thing you know the Gov will want to tax the docks we have in the lake (they did try this once already)if we demand that it is a private area. Can't people just speak respectfully to each other and work things out.

Stay an extra night so you can fish all day Monday, call into work on Tuesday and say you will be late. Make up an excuse! LOL

Been seeing this a lot lately in the Kawarthas. There is one park on Chemong where the owner will basically threaten to jump in your boat and beat you if you don't leave his docks alone. A complete lunatic. Came up during a bass tourney last year. The docks probably take up a 1/2 acre of water. This is the first I have heard of it on Pigeon, other that Victoria Estates. I would like to know the name of the park. Maybe next time, take the opportunity to instruct your child about jerks and that you hope they will never become like the park owner. Make sure the person hears it. I feel for you. It's so sad that our young ones get exposed to that crap.