jimmer Posted October 21, 2019 Report Posted October 21, 2019 The fishing isn't very good. 8 guys, 4 boats, 3 full days and only a hand full of snot rockets. Not really worth it. Beautiful scenery, but I have seen it many times. We are all considering another option for the next time we get together.
AKRISONER Posted October 21, 2019 Report Posted October 21, 2019 1 hour ago, jimmer said: The fishing isn't very good. 8 guys, 4 boats, 3 full days and only a hand full of snot rockets. Not really worth it. Beautiful scenery, but I have seen it many times. We are all considering another option for the next time we get together. I pmed you
jimmer Posted October 21, 2019 Author Report Posted October 21, 2019 Between Hartley Bay Marina and Atwood Resort, whatever that is.
Reef Runner Posted October 21, 2019 Report Posted October 21, 2019 1 hour ago, jimmer said: Between Hartley Bay Marina and Atwood Resort, whatever that is. The Lower French. That's a disappointing result Jimmer. Personally love the French, and I'll scoot down to the Pickerel river: Ski in my avatar is from there. That stretch can be a tough fish and then sometimes someone flips the switch and it's on fire.
jimmer Posted October 21, 2019 Author Report Posted October 21, 2019 16 minutes ago, Reef Runner said: The Lower French. That's a disappointing result Jimmer. Personally love the French, and I'll scoot down to the Pickerel river: Ski in my avatar is from there. That stretch can be a tough fish and then sometimes someone flips the switch and it's on fire. We have fished the French years ago, more down towards the lake and did well the first year, but results declined from there and we stopped going. Two of the guys that were with us were there a few weeks back and did very well with the muskie and landing one over 50" ; also catching a few others over 40".
Old Ironmaker Posted October 21, 2019 Report Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) Beats a good day working any day. I've been on trips with guys that didn't bring a rod and reel. Edited October 21, 2019 by Old Ironmaker 1
bandito Posted October 21, 2019 Report Posted October 21, 2019 That's too bad jimmer... always nice to take in the scenery but a little action is good too! I've never stopped to fish that part of the lower french... we always high tail it to the bay. We had a string of slow years too.
chris.brock Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 The French can be a tough nut to crack. It can cough up some big surprises though. I would recommend having an afternoon siesta so you can fish well past dark until 2 am or so.
John Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 Was our Spring and Fall trip for many years. Stayed at Atwood Island Lodge, great food. Fishing was always great, catching tough at times. Fished early morning and evening till past dark. Took in scenery trolling mostly during the day. Caught the odd Musky trolling and did OK with walleye in the early and late hours. In recent years moved to Upper French and then Nip West Arm. Catching, in my opinion, is better and the scenery is always great.
OhioFisherman Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 I don't know if I could or would judge a lake on a 3 day trip.
Ralph Field Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 Your report doesn't surprise me , we had similar experiences on the French.
jimmer Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Posted October 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, OhioFisherman said: I don't know if I could or would judge a lake on a 3 day trip. Hey Ohio - This has happened a number of times for me years ago and I stopped going. Just couldn't resist the invite to get away. 1
OhioFisherman Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 No disrespect intended, but even some of our favorite bass lakes for tournaments could have widely varying results from tourney to tourney and year to year. If your going to travel for a trip you would like better results?
jimmer Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Posted October 22, 2019 6 minutes ago, OhioFisherman said: No disrespect intended, but even some of our favorite bass lakes for tournaments could have widely varying results from tourney to tourney and year to year. If your going to travel for a trip you would like better results? None taken Ohio. I even mentioned to the guys before the trip that the fishing probably won't be what they expect and maybe we will have better success in another location. The response was that it's not always about the fishing. I agreed and joined them. The potential for one of those giant muskie is what drew us there. I have fished for muskie many years and have had many skunks and many exceptional days, it's just the way it is. It is a long drive though when traveling alone. 1
Big Cliff Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 2 minutes ago, jimmer said: None taken Ohio. I even mentioned to the guys before the trip that the fishing probably won't be what they expect and maybe we will have better success in another location. The response was that it's not always about the fishing. I agreed and joined them. The potential for one of those giant muskie is what drew us there. I have fished for muskie many years and have had many skunks and many exceptional days, it's just the way it is. It is a long drive though when traveling alone. I don't even fish the French anymore, the slot limits are very restrictive and I do like to bring a few fish home for dinner. I have found some other spots that produce well but are in a different management zone (same area). Next time you guys want to go up that way let me know and I'll see if I can help.
jimmer Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Posted October 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, Big Cliff said: I don't even fish the French anymore, the slot limits are very restrictive and I do like to bring a few fish home for dinner. I have found some other spots that produce well but are in a different management zone (same area). Next time you guys want to go up that way let me know and I'll see if I can help. Thanks Cliff, I will. The weird thing is one of the guys has a couple of cottages on a nice lake east of Parry Sound and we were joking that we would have did better there. However, there are no muskie in the lake.
BillM Posted October 22, 2019 Report Posted October 22, 2019 The lower French is a hard nut to crack for muskie, you really gotta fish it like a river opposed to a lake. I had one nice blow up after a week of fishing for them (Early morning and evenings only) other guys at camp boated 4, including a 54in giant. We'd have completely different stories for that week, although for me the scenery is enough to keep me coming back. I'm definitely not a hardcore muskie guy but I thought I put a decent effort in over 7 days. We did destroy the walleyes though, haven't had walleye fishing like that in a long time. We stayed at Bears Den, I'm sure you drove right past it on your way from Hartley Bay Marine.
jimmer Posted October 22, 2019 Author Report Posted October 22, 2019 21 minutes ago, BillM said: The lower French is a hard nut to crack for muskie, you really gotta fish it like a river opposed to a lake. I had one nice blow up after a week of fishing for them (Early morning and evenings only) other guys at camp boated 4, including a 54in giant. We'd have completely different stories for that week, although for me the scenery is enough to keep me coming back. I'm definitely not a hardcore muskie guy but I thought I put a decent effort in over 7 days. We did destroy the walleyes though, haven't had walleye fishing like that in a long time. We stayed at Bears Den, I'm sure you drove right past it on your way from Hartley Bay Marine. We stayed at Bear's Den. The walleye wouldn't cooperate either. That's fishing though!
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