Pointe au Baril Landmark

[Hazard]

I'm trying to find the location of "Table Rock" in the Pointe au Baril area. It is mentioned with regard to SMB fishing in several threads on this forum and I think it is near the lighthouse but I am unable to find it on any map or anything specific about the location. I do know of Table Rock Channel and Table Rock Island south of Hertzberg Island but I don't believe that is the place.

I am from Ohio and don't get there as often as I would like but I have fished at Pointe au Baril maybe 12-15 times. In 1987 we went there for one day on our first fishing trip to Canada and we had our best (luckiest) fishing day ever. We became true believers and though we have never repeated the experience we love the area.  I may even have fished "Table Rock"  since we used to fish Laura and LeBlanc Bay and the lighthouse area quite a bit but I don't know.

If anyone knows where Table Rock is and is willing to share I would appreciate any info. Also if anyone has any questions of their own I would be happy to try to help if able.

 

[HTHM]

https://mapcarta.com/24667612

[Cast-Away]

You can view the nautical chart here: Georgian Bay

[Ronzo]

Haven't been there myself, but some Google and nautical map research turned up this waypoint that appears to have several rocks and perhaps a lighthouse on the largest one:

44.99735666348745, -80.02715713958789

[BillM]

4 hours ago, Ronzo said:

Haven't been there myself, but some Google and nautical map research turned up this waypoint that appears to have several rocks and perhaps a lighthouse on the largest one:

44.99735666348745, -80.02715713958789

He's in PAB, this is just outside of Go Home Bay...   This isn't the place he's referring to.   

[Hazard]

Thanks for the replies.  As I mentioned in my opening post I think that the "Table Rock" I am looking for is fairly near the Pointe au Baril lighthouse and not near Table Rock Channel which is down south but maybe I am incorrect.  Here is a description by muskymike in a post from 2010:

"yes, he is talking about the shoals and table rock. but unless you know the area, you are not going to know its called table rock and you are not going to make it there without at least drifting into a rock. when you come out past the lighthouse it looks close and easy but you will soon find out its not as easy as it looks."

Maybe muskymike will chime in.

[BillM]

He hasn't been on this forum in years.   I'd ask a local if I were you, bait shop owner, etc. 

[Musky Plug]

Maybe you’re looking for turning rock? 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2022 by Musky Plug

[OhioFisherman]

Many years ago we followed the owner of KenLea camp down to what he called Table Rock, and it was in the general area that the maps HTHM and Cast-Away posted.

[Hazard]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess that area way south must be it. I was under the impression it was closer to Pointe au Baril Station. In the 90's the owner of Leisure Bay, I think his name was Kurt, used to take some longtime guests (not us) to a place I thought he called flatrock but now I believe he might have said table rock. We never figured out where it was but he did say you went out Hemlock Channel which I guess would be a way to table rock channel but it would seem easier to go there from the east, running down the Shawanaga Inlet channel. That is unless table rock itself is way out in the main bay which it probably is. On satellite views you can see that Table Rock Channel extends far west out into the main bay through the offshore shoals.

[Hazard]

There are two other places I have heard about but I don't know the locations. We love exploring and finding new destinations so any help with these would be great.

One is Chicken Channel

Muskymike also mentioned this place in his post long ago and I'm pretty sure it isn't the Chicken Liver Channel up towards Bayfield Inlet.  I think it may be west of Ojibway Island possibly one of the channels in the vicinity of Ugo-Igo Channel and/or Rogers Channel. Here is a video I found during my searching of "Breaking Ice in Chicken Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB6lqllIx3o

 

The other is "the sailboat wreck"

I think that this shipwreck may be relatively recent but searches have come up empty. I don't really know anything about it except that it must not be the 1907 Metamora wreck which has its ship's boiler sticking out of the water and painted white near Turning Island.  I also don't think that it is likely to be the "Frank L." near the lighthouse which sounds more like a commercial boat than a sailboat. Incidentally, out of interest, I searched the Frank L and come up with absolutely nothing, even amongst the diving crowd sites.  The wreck is noted on several maps but information on it is very hard to find.

 

[Headhunter]

https://www.amazon.ca/Ghosts-Bay-guide-history-Georgian/dp/0969842732

HH

[OhioFisherman]

https://travelingluck.com//North+America/Canada/Ontario/_5921195_Chicken+Liver+Channel.html

It's my impression that those folks in that er... ice breaker video? knew that area very well? even with gps it's nice to be able to see the rocks ahead?

[Musky Plug]

On 8/27/2022 at 4:27 PM, OhioFisherman said:

Many years ago we followed the owner of KenLea camp down to what he called Table Rock, and it was in the general area that the maps HTHM and Cast-Away posted.

Yes, I re read previous post and viewed the link for the map. I have never been down that way.

 

 

 

On 8/28/2022 at 11:10 AM, Hazard said:

The other is "the sailboat wreck"
 

I think that this shipwreck may be relatively recent but searches have come up empty. I don't really know anything about it except that it must not be the 1907 Metamora wreck which has its ship's boiler sticking out of the water and painted white near Turning Island.  I also don't think that it is likely to be the "Frank L." near the lighthouse which sounds more like a commercial boat than a sailboat. Incidentally, out of interest, I searched the Frank L and come up with absolutely nothing, even amongst the diving crowd sites.  The wreck is noted on several maps but information on it is very hard to find.

 

The ship wreck is worth a visit. It’s by turning island and the middle channel. It’s marked on Navionics. 

[JonnyButts]

Was up there this past weekend. Stop in at the bait shop on the highway , the owner is a great source of information. If you are towing your boat be prepared to pay . Cost us $75.00 each day to pull in and out and park. Fishing was alright but it’s much better up there in the fall. Any questions shoot me a pm 

 

Edited August 30, 2022 by JonnyButts

[JonnyButts]

[BillM]

$75 to launch and park?  LOL that's worse then Simcoe.

[Headhunter]

2 hours ago, BillM said:

$75 to launch and park?  LOL that's worse then Simcoe.

For that price, you'd think that it came with a packed lunch!

HH

[AKRISONER]

On 8/30/2022 at 7:57 PM, JonnyButts said:

Was up there this past weekend. Stop in at the bait shop on the highway , the owner is a great source of information. If you are towing your boat be prepared to pay . Cost us $75.00 each day to pull in and out and park. Fishing was alright but it’s much better up there in the fall. Any questions shoot me a pm 

 

I’ve got a much better launch and parking option for you for next time. I’m assuming you were taken by one of the big marinas in the area. 
 

shoot me a dm if you’d like

[Hazard]

Back from our trip to Pointe au Baril and wanted to say thanks to everybody who helped me with my questions.

We had OK weather and decent fishing and it was great to go to the area again. Surface temps were right around 21 degrees pretty much everywhere. Hit the usual spots and some new areas for us. Generally pleased to find very little boat traffic but of course the river was getting hit pretty hard.  We did well just upstream past the narrows catching quite a few SMB and the usual Rock Bass. Also some decent bass action off of Whitsun Rock. We had no luck with pike and usually don't like trolling but did get 4 surprise walleye casting in a Bay off Gordon Point. They were all in the slot but fun.

However, similar to previous years the best spot for us were the bays along outer channel north side. Caught a 4-1/2 pound SMB and lost 2 others of size  in Pelham Cove as well as multiple smaller fish. One we lost broke the water and looked to be about 6 pounds but you know how those estimates at a distance can be. Eastward from there we did OK in Aldrich Cove and the other nooks and crannies farther into the channel but nothing of size.

Was surprised how small the usual perch bycatch were. In years gone by most days we used to catch a couple decent perch but this year we probably got a half dozen but not one over 6-7". Did get a couple of chubby Pumpkinseed to round out our species report.

I hear there are some new bait regulations in place but I do have to say, wow, the minnows were expensive! At the local bait store they were $12, $18, and $24 per dozen, depending on size. It does seems to make it suck more when one wiggles out of your grasp, gets cast off, or is lost by a mini fish hit. There goes another Loonie or Toonie!