Andrew Grant Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 30, 2014 by XxX
Nipfisher Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 Not sure about the bottom of the French. We have to wait until Sat to fish the upper part near Lake Nipissing.
captpierre Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 My take: fatty fish like alwives, herring, whitefish, trout equals large, fat muskies like on GB. Contrast the Kawarthas. Long fish but the weight isn't there. I suspect the French would be in between there. peter
backbay Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 I'm speculating, because I don't fish the French, but I wouldn't argue with what you have to say about GBay. I don't really think they'd be bigger in the French, though, just my opinion.
Nipfisher Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 Just a guess as well but My guess is average muskie for French river is probably 33 -35". High 40s and some 50s to be found but most #s would be in the 30s.
Rich Nelson Posted June 12, 2012 Report Posted June 12, 2012 Certain parts of the bay and the French are better for numbers. Georgian bay has bigger fish on average, and as Im sure you know , exist in a very low density. The French definately has some giants in it as well, but its not a numbers game like the kawarthas....
Andrew Grant Posted June 12, 2012 Author Report Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 30, 2014 by XxX
Dontcryformejanhrdina Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 I The smallest musky we have ever caught on Gbay is 38 inches and that is the only one under 40 so that says something about the size of the fish there. Wow, that is really incredible! I knew it was a trophy water but that is insane!
OhioFisherman Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 This past weekend me and my dad stayed at bears den lodge on the french river and fished musky for a couple days. Our cottage is on Georgian bay and we fish muskies every weekend that we are up. We don't catch many muskies on Gbay but they are usually BIG. Some weekends we dont even see a fish but that's what it's like sometimes. On the other hand there is days like last November where we caught 51" and 50" muskies 20 minutes apart. So on Gbay it seems like there is a low population of muskies but they are big. Back to the trip, fishing was slow and we managed one fish (43.5) and a 20 lb pike for two days and had a couple hits( one of which mysteriously bent my dads bucktail). While at the lodge talking to Art about Pointe au Baril he said that there are probably more muskies in the French and that they are probably bigger. So my question is, how do you think the populations and size of the fish compare between these two waterbodies? Do you think what Art said is true? I spent about 25 years going to Pointe Au Baril, it was very rare for us to see a small muskie, or catch one. We did lose a number of pigs over the years, our success at landing them was nil. It was enough though to keep us going back, it was never a numbers game for us and we should have been better prepared for a huge fish. Most of our big fish hook ups came after we had given up on Muskies for the day and were bass fishing. The French probably has the numbers, perhaps in limited areas? I think a lot of Muskies at Pointe Au Baril might just be deeper water fish? They don`t have to look as hard for food?
Raf Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 there are no fish in gbay or the french, stick to the kawarthas.
lew Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 there are no fish in gbay or the french, stick to the kawarthas. None in Nipissings West Arm either.
mike rousseau Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 None in Nipissings West Arm either. The Larry has been completely fished out also...
Millhouse2020 Posted June 14, 2012 Report Posted June 14, 2012 None in Nipissings West Arm either. Dang, I guess I should make other plans this weekend...
bigcreekdad Posted June 15, 2012 Report Posted June 15, 2012 I've been fishing the French above and below the Chaudiere dams since the mid 90's.....I've never seen a muskie, or heard of any caught. You need to talk to the Indian elders to get any of the stories of muskie from the old times. That being said, we've caught some massive sheepshead, and, for numbers, you can't beat the rock bass.
Loadman Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 I was at one point an exclusive musky guy for about 10 years... and almost always fished GBAY. Having said that, I think its great there are alot of people that want to go out and fish it understand this though. You can go DAYS without a pull and then all of a sudden you get 3 in a day. It can be very frustrating but the rewards are great. I was there the day G. Bristow caught his 58" and let me tell you its a fine thing to see. Scary part is we have seen fish there that are gross in size. Time on the water and many, many fishless days. But all it takes is one pull on the rod and your the next K. O'brien.
Fishing yoda Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 You guys all have great points but since when do pple say there is no muskie in west arm, i caught one last year right behind honeymoon island ????? i think maybe you guys might not be looking in the right places. My unlce has lived here for years and catches them every spring off the dock.... If you truly want a good concentration of good size muskie( between 40" to 50") my recomendation would be the veuve river , a lot of big muskie caught in this small river. I have 2 friends that fish this river regularly and they have both caught some over 50". I would say the french is good for muskie probly the average would be in the 40's . I've been fishing the area for about 10-12 years now and there is pletty of muskie up there just need to know were to find them...
danbouck Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 No muskie in the west arm, lots of pike though
Squid Posted June 18, 2012 Report Posted June 18, 2012 You guys all have great points but since when do pple say there is no muskie in west arm, i caught one last year right behind honeymoon island ????? i think maybe you guys might not be looking in the right places. My unlce has lived here for years and catches them every spring off the dock.... If you truly want a good concentration of good size muskie( between 40" to 50") my recomendation would be the veuve river , a lot of big muskie caught in this small river. I have 2 friends that fish this river regularly and they have both caught some over 50". I would say the french is good for muskie probly the average would be in the 40's . I've been fishing the area for about 10-12 years now and there is pletty of muskie up there just need to know were to find them... Fishingyoda, everyone was kidding about no fish anywhere....
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