Thunder bay river 'eyes

[tbayboy]

Hi everyone, just thought I'd post a quick report on some weekend fishing I managed to get in. My cousin got married this weekend back in Thunder Bay and so I went back for no other reason than to attend the wonderful event. In fact fishing was the furthest thing from my mind - Yeah right . A quick call to some friends and Friday night a buddy, my brother and myself went to the Kaministiquia river.

 

Before the photos I have to admit to a horrible crime - I have lived within a 5 minute drive of the boat launch for this wonderful river until I left town for University (19 years) and have NEVER fished it before. In fact I'd never even thought of fishing in it before instead hoping someone would give me a ride to a lake when I could have walked to this one. Arghh. What a mistake I made growing up and not taking advantage of this wonderful fishery. Firstly it's a beautiful area; Dan has already posted several photos of the area and I'll put a few below (though mine don't do justice to the beautiful river). I looked at each house on the shore with envy and an eye out for 'for sale' signs (remember this is all 5 minutes from the city, 15 from downtown). Beautiful homes with docks right on the river - I'd never leave home. And of course lets not forget the wonderful fishing.

 

So back to the repot - We went out Friday night for 3 hours and brought home 5 'eyes for dinner, left a few for another day and could have several more (I was having a serious case of cant-set-a-hook-worth-crap-itis) and we also had a few smallies that we let go.

 

Saturday was the wedding - very nice outdoor wedding in 40 degree heat (ugh) so no fishing (my cousing would have killed me). Sunday however, had an open evening so myself and 2 friends headed out for a couple hours. Once again the river didn't disappoint. This time we had no bait so we were tossing shad raps and at one point hit 3 20"+ 'eyes in 15 minutes, all in 10' of water, I couldn't believe it. We also had a few more of the more reasonable 14-15" fish and a few more smallies. This time we only kept 2 fish each since we still had the Friday ones but my dad would have killed me if I hadn't brought back at least a couple (they're hosting a bunch of relatives for the wedding and wanted to give them a pickeral dinner).

 

Anyhow, once again I find myself back in Toronto wondering why I ever left Thunder Bay and trying to figure out how a software guy can get back there and make a living that'll let me by one of those river side homes (hey Dan - any ideas?)

 

So enough babbling here's the pics (click for full size).

 

First the most insane picture (if you know the area) - 40 degrees celsius on my dads deck! Insane heat wave (yet all fish were caught in ~10 feet of water)

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/955610568_934eb489a1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Thunder Bay 40 degrees!" /></a>

 

 

Here's Mount McKay, I grew up with this guy outside my window most of my life

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1324/955613818_bb4ac4eb0f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mount McKay" /></a>

 

Heading up the river:

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/955601490_0f8440ea74.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The Kam River" /></a>

 

 

One of the 21" 'eyes we pulled in on Sunday

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/954749861_94ed0beddb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Me with a Kam River 21" Eye" /></a>

 

And another that my buddy Jay pulled in 5 minutes later

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1377/955606526_a8676b0fd9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Jays 21" Walleye" /></a>

 

One of the smallies:

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1324/955042501_83aa9925ca_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Kam River smallie" /></a>

And a last scenery shot.

 

<a href=" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1344/954754625_82f52e50e1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The Kam River" /></a>

 

 

Now I just have to wait for the winter to head back and then I'll remember why sometimes the Toronto area can be all right (unless you love shovelling and freezing).

[Terry]

great report

I think I need to move up that way

[mattyk]

very nice report.

[fatherof3]

nice report and great pics. looks beautiful up there

[danc]

As you know, I've been fishing the Kam once in a while for the past few years. The Montreal St. launch is only minutes from home. The Walleye bite is quite typical. As soon as the sun gets behind the trees and there's shade across the river, the dinner bell rings. I've been out in the evenings when I can't keep them off my hook. Judging from the shoreline in the first fish photo, you were fishing up at the fort? That's a good area. When it starts to cool down around here I'll try to get out for a few evening trips. Nice report TbayBoy.

 

Also, I can't help you out in the job department. Those are rare up here.

[tbayboy]

Bang on there Dan. The bigger fish (in those pics) came at the bend just past the Fort though we found that just about any spot where the current had a pause (bends that widened out for example) would produce (that and we took note of where people had set up Friday night and then hit some of those spots Sunday). One bad thing I didn't mention was that on Sunday night when we got back to the Montreal st. launch a guy had had his truck broken into - smashed a window and took all his tools. Left everything else (even the guys wallet) and didn't touch other vehicles in the log, guess he knew the tools would be easy to sell (guy said $4K worth of trade tools).

 

I hear you about the jobs - tough times up there unless your tied to the hospital or university it seems, ah well maybe I'll just move in with my parents - is 37 too to move back home?

[motv8tr]

And you moved away from there??? I hear ya about the job scene, would love not to work in Toronto Great fish though!!!

 

Maureen

[Tarzan's Jane]

It is very pretty country, but as you said the winters are/can be brutal - you could always icefish.

[Smokey]

Congrats and great read thanks.

[addict]

sweet photos nice scenary and fish.

[highdrifter]

Dandies! Now that's what I call sweatin it out.

 

Thanx for sharing.

 

tight loops

 

HD

[scuro]

Awesome part of the world. Nice pics

[solopaddler]

Great report and some very respectable 'eyes for being so close to town.

[Bitsmith2k]

nice job sean, sounds like an awesome time

[The Urban Fisherman]

wow - nice report!

 

 

I grew up in Sudbury, not quite as cold but I still know what you mean about the winter. Worked in Toronto for the past two years and hated every second of it. Now I live on two acres of property 15 minutes outside of Port Rowan, lake Erie and man is it great. I'll never move back to the city.

 

Thanks for the northern report!

 

cheers,

UF

[tbayboy]

Your a lucky man UF. After the yearly NW Ontario fishing trip with a bunch of friends and then this past weekend back there I'm spending time today getting reacquainted with the job market up in that region (helps that I still have lots of friends and family in the area). Waking up this morning and dealing with Toronto traffic after this weekend felt like a rail spike to my head. If the TBay hunt doesn't work I may pester you for a job

[Whopper]

Good report TbayBoy!

 

Been through the area a few times and the bay always brings a smile to my face. I'm always traveling through going north and have often wondered what lies in the water that I drive right past.

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Whopper

[ehg]

Another great report from ya.

 

Thanks for posting.

 

ehg

[fishindevil]

WOW !!!!!!!! amazing scenery,and yet only mins from downtown, i wish i could live in a place like that,and as a bonus you can catch walleyes right on your doorstep,thats what i can great area,nice report,and pics,and tasty walleyes....cheers

[PatrickGG]

Nicely done Sean i can picture you showing up at the wedding with sandals and shorts just so you can get that extra 5 minutes of fishing "jk .

Edited August 1, 2007 by PatrickG

[danc]

WOW !!!!!!!! amazing scenery,and yet only mins from downtown

 

But he doesn't live there. I do!!!

 

TbayBoy, (what the heck is your real name anyways??) I've heard of some vandalism at the launch a few years ago. Sad to hear that it's still going on. I haven't been out for an evening fish yet this year, but I'm sure one or two is in the works for August. There's usually lots of people down there, that I find it's hard to believe that vehicles are being broken into. Such is life I suppose.

[007]

Nice one TBayBoy - that scenery sure beats fishing the Toronto Islands!

 

007

[tbayboy]

Hey Dan, its Sean by the way . On Friday there was quite a few people at the launch and when we arrived Sunday there were 7 or 8 trailers but when we got back at 10:30 we were the only people there other than the poor guy that got hit (who was waiting for the cops). Also all the lights were off (I'm sure there were lights on Friday) so that might have had something to do with the guys truck getting hit (not that westfort isn't the nicest area of town hehe). And yeah, I'm not lucky - Dan is lucky to live there, I just get to visit a few times a year, next time up I'm gonna have to get some trout spots off you though, would be nice to mix it up a bit (I've never fished the Nipigon area for example).

[danc]

next time up I'm gonna have to get some trout spots off you though, would be nice to mix it up a bit (I've never fished the Nipigon area for example).

 

 

Oh man. We'll go for a day trip at least Sean. You'll move back here even if you have to live in the homeless shelter. Nipigon's my reason for living.

[b2kptbo]

Beauty report and pictures...