My two brothers and I are seeking advice on taking a fishing trip to Canada in August.
Anybody have good experience or advice on where to go? Know of any lodges you'd recommend? We are not millionaires, so not looking for the top priced plan. Would want a fishing guide some or all of the time.
Thinking three days of fishing.
Where in Canada to go? etc.. Not even sure what questions I should be asking. We don't have a lot of fishing experience, but we know we want to go. Might like a fly-in?
All advice will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom
What will be your primary species of fish targeted? Walleye or bass would provide the most action for inexperienced fishermen.
How much $ and if you want a fly-in or would prefer a drive-in are the main questions, and, what type of fishing would you primary target? Walleye, pike, smallmouth, trout?
You could then narrow it down by province as well, Manitoba, Ontario.
My parents went for about 10 years to a drive-in near Kenora with excellent fishing, full-time guides and excellent fishing each year. They are in their 70's now and not into that far of a drive or they would still be going. I could get you the info if you like.
Thanks!
My brothers said Walleye, Northern, Bass.
Don't really need a fly-in.. just curious about it.. but no, not a fly-in (my brothers said no)
Ontario would be the target area.
We want late August.
Price: We are looking at something in $300/day or less price range (each) to include boat, lodging, guide, food etc. (is this feasible?)
Quote from: TomM on February 16, 2014, 01:05:13 PM
Thanks!
My brothers said Walleye, Northern, Bass.
Don't really need a fly-in.. just curious about it.. but no, not a fly-in (my brothers said no)
Ontario would be the target area.
We want late August.
Price: We are looking at something in $300/day or less price range (each) to include boat, lodging, guide, food etc. (is this feasible?)
I will make some inquiries at work at see if someone has a good recommendation.
http://campwaterfall.com/
We tried several resorts in the Lake of the Woods and Sunset Country areas and this place was the best, hands-down. It was recommended by a co-worker who went there for over 20 years. We went there annually for several years and our family usually rented 3 or 4 cabins for a week, so that should tell you something. It is near Kenora, near the mouth of the Rushing River (about 1/4 mile or so upstream, beneath the last waterfall), before it flows into Blindfold Lake. The river flows from famous Dogtooth Lake (huge walleyes) into Blindfold Lake, which has great pike, bass, and crappie fishing, with a few big walleyes. We even caught big pike, smallies, and walleyes off the docks below the waterfall, on several occasions. From Blindfold Lake, you can do a rail portage (hand crank) down into Lake of the Woods (Route Bay), where we caught loads of walleyes and many smallmouth bass. During the years we fished there, some of our top catches included: many pike in the 10-15 lb. class, with the largest being over 20 lbs.; many walleye limits (good eaters), with the largest about 7 lbs. (we saw others catch some up to 9 or so); a few largemouth bass, but mostly smallies (fish 5 lbs. and over every year); lots of nice crappie limits, with my biggest being close to 15 inches, but we usually kept limits of fish by releasing anything under 10 inches. There is a nightly crappie bite in "the narrows" area of Blindfold Lake, that started at a certain time (7 PM?) like clockwork. We always were there in early June, so I'm sure there will be an adjustment in that schedule, though. The same people have owned and run the resort forever. Their names are Rob and Nancy Rummery. After Rob retired from teaching, they sold half of the resort, but have kept the half on their side of the bridge/river. They are wonderful people and very helpful to fishermen seeking angling hints. Click on the "rates" button on their homepage and you will see that their rates are extremely reasonable. If you decide to go there, feel free to PM me for additional fishing info. I'll be glad to offer whatever help I can. Although I've never fished there in August, I have fished elsewhere in the region during that time of year and I could also give you some info. about the waters available to you there, based on our experiences in June. They don't have a guide in residence, but if you need one, there are several in the area. We honestly never found the need for one, though. P.S. I forgot to mention that there are muskies in Lake of the Woods, also.
I just remembered that there is another place on this lake, just down the road. If you want to fish this lake, but can't get in at the first place I mentioned (or aren't comfortable with the idea of navigating the river every day), give Tyc's a try. I've never stayed there, but it looks okay, from what I've seen and heard. http://www.tycsresort.ca/index.htm
When I was young my grandpa always dragged us to this place.
https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&cid=3943822071662315781&ei=tjEBU9SFEYXOyAHBm4CgCQ&ved=0CDcQrwswAQ
Best fishing I ever had. You name it, you can fish for it, there. 100 miles west of Thunder bay. Bring plenty of aluminum foil and a caste iron fry pan and a $7 gallon of corn oil. Lasts longer than canola. Don't get pretty and think olive oil. Ruins caste iron. I use it for eggs and such, though, on non-stick.
Still, when it comes to northern, I like the whole fish cooked in foil w/ butter and lime juice. Just gut it; leave the head and skin on.
Biggest northerns I've ever seen, up there. Good walleye fishing, and if you walk back from the main road a few miles, there's a little lake full of trout.
Thing is you catch fish. Swimming? Even leeches the size of mice doesn't stop me. Still, they got big blood suckers.
Quote from: bigG on February 16, 2014, 03:58:00 PM
When I was young my grandpa always dragged us to this place.
https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&cid=3943822071662315781&ei=tjEBU9SFEYXOyAHBm4CgCQ&ved=0CDcQrwswAQ
Best fishing I ever had. You name it, you can fish for it, there. 100 miles west of Thunder bay. Bring plenty of aluminum foil and a caste iron fry pan and a $7 gallon of corn oil. Lasts longer than canola. Don't get pretty and think olive oil. Ruins caste iron. I use it for eggs and such, though, on non-stick.
Still, when it comes to northern, I like the whole fish cooked in foil w/ butter and lime juice. Just gut it; leave the head and skin on.
Biggest northerns I've ever seen, up there. Good walleye fishing, and if you walk back from the main road a few miles, there's a little lake full of trout.
Thing is you catch fish. Swimming? Even leeches the size of mice doesn't stop me. Still, they got big blood suckers.
Great way to save money on bait! ;D
I was used as a child. Yes, for that...bloodsuckers. Like a goldang human bait!!!
I loved it and always felt I contributed by finding bait; and catching a northern that was longer than I was tall. Made for a good picture. Seriously, I used to be able to catch enough leeches, frogs, salamanders, hellgrammites, crayfish, clams, little fish, etc., to fish for a few hours a day. Prolly illegal now.
Many years since I've been to Gummeson's. Loved it when I went. Owners were/are regular people. Larry, the owner when I went was great, as was his father, former owner. I doubt the apple falls too far from the tree.
Quote from: bigG on February 16, 2014, 04:20:29 PM
I was used as a child. Yes, for that...bloodsuckers. Like a goldang human bait!!!
I loved it and always felt I contributed by finding bait; and catching a northern that was longer than I was tall. Made for a good picture. Seriously, I used to be able to catch enough leeches, frogs, salamanders, hellgrammites, crayfish, clams, little fish, etc., to fish for a few hours a day. Prolly illegal now.
Many years since I've been to Gummeson's. Loved it when I went. Owners were/are regular people. Larry, the owner when I went was great, as was his father, former owner. I doubt the apple falls too far from the tree.
Sounds like a great place. No website?
They're not as up with the times. Phone number if you need it.
First place I went to in Canada was like that. Super cheap and very rustic, though. The perfect "guy place." 8)
Quote from: bigG on February 16, 2014, 03:58:00 PM
When I was young my grandpa always dragged us to this place.
https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Gummeson's+camp+ignace,+ontario&cid=3943822071662315781&ei=tjEBU9SFEYXOyAHBm4CgCQ&ved=0CDcQrwswAQ
Best fishing I ever had. You name it, you can fish for it, there. 100 miles west of Thunder bay. Bring plenty of aluminum foil and a caste iron fry pan and a $7 gallon of corn oil. Lasts longer than canola. Don't get pretty and think olive oil. Ruins caste iron. I use it for eggs and such, though, on non-stick.
Still, when it comes to northern, I like the whole fish cooked in foil w/ butter and lime juice. Just gut it; leave the head and skin on.
Biggest northerns I've ever seen, up there. Good walleye fishing, and if you walk back from the main road a few miles, there's a little lake full of trout.
Thing is you catch fish. Swimming? Even leeches the size of mice doesn't stop me. Still, they got big blood suckers.
Do you remember what lake it was? I stayed in Ignace on Scotch Lake when I was a kid. My grandpa and grandma went there very year. Then in 85, we stayed at Raven Lake in Ignace on a spring bear hunt.
I just remember Larry Gummeson owned it. Called my dad and relived some memories. Great place to stay. Gotta watch for moose and your stinkin' bears big time. :)
I used your google map link and zoomed in on the spot denoting the resort. It is apparently on Mameigwess Lake. Don't ask me to pronounce it, though. ;D
We are appreciating all this input! Thanks!
/Mameeg weiss/ like da beer. Stress the first "a." It leads to bigger water and has some smaller water on the property.
I just remember real nice people and fish everywhere. Never had more fishing fun.
Couple of cabins and some spots for campers.
One non-fishing memory that stands out to me was the old man Gummeson taking me to the quarry to show me how he cut rocks. Not as a big a deal then; but it seems like a lost art. Visit some Mayan ruins and you really appreciate this almost dead technology. I feel blessed having seen him work his magic. My dad still talks about it.
I'm guessing there's nice rock structure in that puppy.
Bribery! Sounds just unreal fun, though.
I used to think you could never get tired of catching fish. I was right.
I have a very scary buddy who is a Mississippi walleye man; and he goes out (I made the mistake of going with him) in the coldest dang rain. He will stay out there until he catches his limit. 1 hour, 8 hours.
That was the last time I went out with him. 8 hours. But, when we started catching a few, I never got tired of the catching part. I could happily eat fish daily; so could my son.
I know my little campground is just a memory for me. Pretty dang good one, though.
Quote from: Goat Roper on February 19, 2014, 02:59:32 PM
Scary thing G is I am not that good of fisherman. There is another Wisconsin guy from Pine River who fishes the same week I do. He also fishes the first two weeks of the opener. Last year he caught 50 fish over 25" the first week.
We sneak 4# of leeches across the border.
If you get caught, Dudley Do-right will have you shot at sunrise. ;) Just stick you foot in the water and let the leeches come to you.
Quote from: Goat Roper on February 20, 2014, 11:43:27 AM
Quote from: imnofish on February 19, 2014, 10:31:21 PM
Quote from: Goat Roper on February 19, 2014, 02:59:32 PM
Scary thing G is I am not that good of fisherman. There is another Wisconsin guy from Pine River who fishes the same week I do. He also fishes the first two weeks of the opener. Last year he caught 50 fish over 25" the first week.
We sneak 4# of leeches across the border.
If you get caught, Dudley Do-right will have you shot at sunrise. ;) Just stick you foot in the water and let the leeches come to you.
Or baba-looey!
;D ;D Good blast from the past "Queeks Draw"!!! ;D ;D
I was gonna say. Leeches are easy to come by in Canada.
I should be a Canadian leech salesman.
When we used to go up, we were allowed to bring leeches across the border. Crawlers, too, if they were in commercial bedding rather than in soil. Actually caught a lot more walleyes on crawlers, usually by trolling crawler harnesses. When did they stop allowing you to bring your own leeches? Can you still bring crawlers with you? That's the cheapest bait; just catch them off your lawn.
Of sll the great lures and hand=tied flies, I find floating a crawler in the Kickapoo to be the best yield.
Quote from: bigG on February 24, 2014, 05:56:39 PM
Of sll the great lures and hand=tied flies, I find floating a crawler in the Kickapoo to be the best yield.
Ever read the classic book,
Lunkers Love Night Crawlers? I found a used one on Amazon a few years ago, to replace a misplaced original copy. For anyone who likes finesse and live bait, it's a great read and is full of great info. about catching and keeping your own crawlers, as well as fishing with them.
i've spent 14 years on LOTW and the past 9 on Eagle Lake ... for what you are looking for, i would recommend LOTW. key is timing and staying away from the bloom. Eagle is my favorite of the two but i'm looking for one giant (musky) and target them pretty much exclusively. i have learned over the years though that the smallie, walleye and lake trout fishing is fantastic too.
LOTW - Oak Island Resort (i think you will love it there)
Eagle - I stay at Andy Meyers Lodge and it is pricey ... another option i learned of is Birchwood Resort. at Birchwood you can camp or stay in a cabin so it's very affordable and on a good part of the lake to get to where you want to go.
Good luck on your selection and if you've never been - Enjoy!!
There are 2 kinds in Canada ... the kind that have wrecked their boat and the kind that are gonna!! LOL
make sure you get your sportsman's card, you can do it online.
Quote from: hodagdad on February 25, 2014, 09:46:29 AM
i've spent 14 years on LOTW and the past 9 on Eagle Lake ... for what you are looking for, i would recommend LOTW. key is timing and staying away from the bloom. Eagle is my favorite of the two but i'm looking for one giant (musky) and target them pretty much exclusively. i have learned over the years though that the smallie, walleye and lake trout fishing is fantastic too.
LOTW - Oak Island Resort (i think you will love it there)
Eagle - I stay at Andy Meyers Lodge and it is pricey ... another option i learned of is Birchwood Resort. at Birchwood you can camp or stay in a cabin so it's very affordable and on a good part of the lake to get to where you want to go.
Good luck on your selection and if you've never been - Enjoy!!
There are 2 kinds in Canada ... the kind that have wrecked their boat and the kind that are gonna!! LOL
make sure you get your sportsman's card, you can do it online.
So true about the boat. I always brought an extra prop and a J-B Weld kit. Have needed both. Used to bring an old jon boat for puddle jumping and it worked great for getting into those small lakes without much of a landing. That was important in early season, as the big lakes sometimes hadn't warmed up much, but the smaller lakes had lots of active fish. I have a good boat now and I am not too eager to risk taking it up there. As it is, the lakes I am on all summer in Wisconsin have rocky areas and boulders that I have to watch out for, but at least I know where they are.
Quote from: Goat Roper on February 17, 2014, 07:59:31 PM
I've been going to North Star Lodge since 1998 with my wife the first week in August.
www.northstarlodge.com
Tom, I haul my 18 foot Lund up there although they do rent Lund boats with 40hp 4-stroke Yamaha's. Clay Lake is a stained lake meaning you catch fish all day long. We average close to 100 walleyes a day. We also catch a few northern (although we don't try) and slip bobber for smallies. This is the only lodge on a 28 mile lake (40 people usually the first week in August plus a 10% discount). If you decide on this lake, I am going this year with my recently retired brother-in-law. I would be glad to show you our hot spots and send my personalized laminated map to you :)
Thanks for everyone's advice.
After a lot of checking dates etc. and Thanks to Goat Roper I'm scheduled and preparing for a trip with my brothers to North Star Lodge on Clay Lake August 23-29.
This is our first trip to Canada (I did three days in 1994, but that was a long time ago).
We are preparing what to take...
Thanks to St. Croix ( houndhead, they have great customer service and warranty help!) I have a new replacement rod (I broke the old one when closing a car window on the tip)...
Now I need a reel for it.
We are trying to decide what jigs to take and what line we should use...
No more leeches, so it will be worms and minnows. They have minnows there at the lodge, but where do I get the worms in advance on the way there?
Will we need a trolling motor along or are we ok drifting etc.?
Again, all advice is welcomed...
Goat, thanks for all the advice and more is appreciated.
Tom
1133
Will you be returning after all this fishing stuff? :o Will you have interweeb up there?
Taking a book along.
Fleet farm has great crawlers, caught two 5.5# smallies last week (I caught one and my 10 yo daughter caught the other) on 6# test and a crawler.
Tom, looks like you made an awesome choice. (Color me jealous.) Good luck fishing and please post some pics when you return.
You mean no pet chickens either?
Thanks Goat!
What weight line do you recommend? I have heard different advice. Also what color jigs? We will only have minnows and worms. Evidently the leeches are not sold the rest of the time we are going to be there (according to Amy).
Thanks!
TomM if I may --- it's time to kick back, relax, enjoy it for what it is! You don't have to catch any monsters or lunkers to have a great time. Don't over think it, don't over analyze it, (sometimes you can do that ;) ) Go with the flow, leave your expectations in Wisconsin, and enjoy it for what it is. No regrets!
Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
Cuz I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way
So, I'm just gon' sit on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
Looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen
Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
Two thousand miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home, now
I'm just gon' sit at the dock of a bay
Watchin' the tide roll away, ooh
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
8) 8) 8) 8)
Quote from: TomM on August 06, 2015, 10:04:36 PM
Taking a book along.
Good man. I love you guys; but sure didn't miss you. Nice to think about nothing or fish, that's it. I needed that.
HOW WAS THAT TRIP TOM?