Ottawa River Fishing Report

[Rybren]

After 4 years of living in a far-away land with no fishing, I managed to tie up with a couple of my buddies for a rather wet weekend of fun on the Ottawa River near Pembroke.

 

We fished the river pretty hard on Friday afternoon & evening and for most of Saturday (in between thunderstorms) and did okay, all things considered. We had gone hunting for eyes and managed to pick up 15 - 20, all under the 40cm size limit. Unfortunately, we never did manage to find any worth bragging about. There were a lot of hammer handle pike to be had as well. In addition, we hooked into a couple of 10+ and 14+ pounders. There were also a few smaller (2-5lb) channel cats, a few OOS smallies, some pan fish, and a bunch of some kind of silvery fish that none of us could identify. My first thought was that they might be whitefish, but I haven't seen one in 30+ years and they didn't match my mental picture of what I remember them looking like. I think that our guy with the camera took a picture of one and once he sends it to me, I'll post it to see if anyone can ID the beast.

 

Boy, I have to tell you that it sure felt good to be back on the water with a rod in hand, drag screaming and the lads yelling "look at the size of that thing!"

 

Cheers

[holdfast]

Love fishing the Ottawa and Petawawa. You never know what and how big you may catch.

[fishindevil]

Well that fish was probly a mooneye,they are very scrappy,and fight hard for being a small shad like fish,their scales come off by the millions and they smell real bad,. they are spawning at this time of year ,and they will be around for a few weeks and then dissapear. some of the locals say they are good to eat,but i have never tried one....cheers

[Mike the Pike]

yup lots of moonie on the Ottawa be sure to show us some pics next time sounds like agood time despite the poopy weather

 

[Rybren]

I have to agree, the Ottawa is a very interesting river to fish.

 

After doing some research on the net and looking at the photo, I think that you guys are right - they were mooneyes.

 

Here's a shot of one....

 

 

This pike came in at a tad over 14 lbs...

 

 

and this one at 10 1/2 ilbs...

 

 

As I mentioned in my original post. It was a blast to get back on the water and start fishing again. My poor wife, I'm afraid that she'll soon be a fishing widow once again.

 

Cheers

[woodro]

Nice fish, my cousin lives on the Base in Petawawa and he said he'd have a great fishing season so far this year too.

That fish looks like a shiner to me. Not postive on it though

[Rybren]

The fish was about 12-14" long. Don't know that I've ever seen a shiner that big. Could be, though.

[Mike the Pike]

Mooneye for sure nice chuncky pike thanks for the pics

[Crazyhook]

you 14 pound pike looks like a musky, any other pics of it?

[Sinker]

you 14 pound pike looks like a musky, any other pics of it?

 

 

Thats what I was thinking too.....sure looks like a lunge to me.

[Markus]

That looks like a muskie.

[Rybren]

I've caught many muskies before and I'm sure this isn't one.

 

Here's another pic. It's not very good.

 

[Victor]

Thanks for the report and nice fish! You can take your wife fishing!