Rocher Fendu report

Post by **Big EZ** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:13 pm

I decided to bring my rod along on the weekend while doing a little white water kayaking on the Rocher Fendu section of the Ottawa (where the rafting companies are).

Between trolling on the flat water sections, and fishing in the eddies and rapids themselves, I had about 20 fish on for the day, and landed about 15. About 80% were smallmouth and the rest were catfish. Most of the bass were one footers or smaller, but my best of the day was a STRONG 19" beast.

A total blast of a day; I was catching smallies every 2nd or 3rd cast on crank baits in some spots, and in the eddies you never had to wait more than a couple minutes to get a cat or bass on a worm. One paddler I was with gave it a try and got a nice 23-25" cat in the first 30 seconds of dropping her line.

No pics, as there's no room in my boat if I'm taking fishing gear along (but I did have a measuring tape). Gotta love spots with zero fishing pressure

Post by **Moosebunk** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:20 pm

As Lionel with the Commodores did say...

"THAT'S WHY I'M EZ... ahhh ahhha ahhha ahh.... EZ LIKE SUNDAY MORNING.... yeaaaah ahhh ohhh ahhh ahhh."

Could I take my float tube where ya went???

Post by **Big EZ** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:43 am

Sorry, I wouldn't recommend a float tube. The rapids are rated class III-IV, with multiple channels and some fairly big volume (see the image below; the rapids have names like Bus Eater and Butcher's Knife for a reason

). One of the rafting companies does take customers down on river boards (big flutter boards), but the guides know the safe lines to take and it's raft supported.

There are some trails into some sections that would allow for some shore fishing.

-BEZ

Post by **phitty** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:36 am

What channel were you in? I was up at Garb/Pushbutton both days.

I fished down in the eddy below Garb, and in front of the Lunch Spot - lots of smallies, lots of pike in the bays but never once have I gotten a catfish.

Bunk: You could take a float tube in there no problem, or a canoe, just walk between the rapid. Class IV is pretty exaggerated rating for those especially the middle channel.

All the rapids have lakes below them, and portage trails around them.
There are alot of fish in that section because it gets very little pressure. You can launch a boat from the Quebec side at the dam but the road in is very sketchy.

Ill probably be back on Wednesday to give er another go.

P.

Post by **Big EZ** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:59 am

We went down the main. Lots of smallies, in the little "initiation" rapid before you get to Mckoys (if you slide down the hill right at the put-in parking spot and take that channel)

The big smallies were in the bays between Mckoys and Garb. I switched to worms or chicken liver from lunch spot on. I got cats in the Pushbutton eddie, lots of smallies at Brain Douche, and a silly number of cats in the river right eddie below Coliseum.

We got smallies, cats and mooneye below Blacks.

I'd expect the river right eddie after Norman's would be good to. I'm still trying for a sturgeon in there somewhere (I've seen them at Garvins).

A few of us will be playing hookey and heading up on Wednesday too. I'll probably be making it a play day since I didn't surf on the weekend (too busy fishing).

Post by **joco** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:18 am

HI BIG EZ

I was there last week and the week before doing some work on the little dams,,,,,,,

work in bryson dams and a the rocher fendu little lock dams there to,,,,,,

do some white water over there to wit my little esquif canoe,,,,,,,vertige and a pressage,,,,,,,,,looking to get rid off them mabe,,,,,,if you interested,,,there ibn great chape,,,,,,,

,,looking for some more stable canoe for fishing,,,,,,,

next time you go there,,,,,,look over the little dams,,,,,,,,its right at the end off the wild camping site,,,,,,,((look for a big guy and a beard,)))

there are some nice eye over there and great pike fishing,,,,,,,,,but its better at the bryson dam,,,,,,,,,

joco...........