Fish-Hawk.Net

Anyone heading up to fish for trout in the next few weeks? Anyone have any tips on lakes and what to use. I understand trout info may not be the easiest to get as most people keep these lakes a secret. PM me if you would like to exchange info. thanks!

OK, this is not exactly the answer to crazyhook's question but
rather another question...
I have been fishing small trout lakes in that area for six
or seven years now, and have some really mixed fillings about
them. First, I have never seen any big fish taken from them
(I am talking only about rainbows and specs, never fished
for lakers there). My personal record was 17" rainbow, and it
happened only twice in all those years. Even 14" fish is not that
common. With specs it is even worse. Personally I have never
seen a spec above 14". From time to time I hear about 3 or 4 lb
fish cought in some lake, but again, the person who tells the story
neither cought that fish or witnessed it personally. And I know that
sometimes 14" fish counted as a 3 pounder...
It appers to me that MNR simply overstocks the lakes. The lakes
are generally not that big, not that fertile and just can't support all
those fish MNR put in there.
I can post a really long list of lakes in that area which I personally
tried. That would be pretty much a list of all stocked trout lakes from
the map 27 in the Eastern Ontario Backroads Mapbook. Some of them
a bit better, some of them a bit worse, but I can't name a single one
that is a real producer. I do both baitcasting and fly fishing.

What are your personal experiences with the Calabogie area trout
lakes?

the problem with Calabogie is that all the public access spots are over fished and commonly known. The best spots I have found have been on private property, and MNR are out in full force up there. Good specs fishing is done on back lacks only accessable from an ATV, so if you have one, your in luck, if not it's gonna take a long time looking.


Good luck

DL

Crazyhook:

Check Algonquin out closley....Good place..........

Bit of work getting to the specs and lakers, but they are there.

Most of the lakes back of #7, Calabogie, etc. well known, and easy to get to.............ergo..........hard to catchem.

I appreciate your info regards cats, and if you PM me, will tell you what I know of Algonquin lakes.............Aint much.........lol

Regards: Jigs.

Now I know, as soon as I post this,. someone is going to say that there are lakes back of Calabogie that aren't easy to get to.........yada yada yada.........and thats true.........if you don't own a 4 wheeler.......I don't........lol.

Gotta rely on the PP...........

Every year about right now, I head up to Maire Lake off Ompah. You can get there from behind Calabogie Lake but I'm told the road is rough. Haven't gone that way for several years. Its a pretty lake with clear water and stocked with Rainbow. I've not seen this but I'm told at ice-out, they are close to the surface and there are some lunkers. All I have seen are about 14" (not caught by me). At least I have a nice row. Last year some were caught on green plugs with no hardware. I also make a yearly pilgrimage to Darling Long Lake in behind White Lake. About 10 years ago, MNR put in some spent brown trout spawners and they took! They have been stocking it with about 2000 per year ever since. I saw an old-timer who had been fishing there for about 15 years with a 5 pounder. As I am a die-hard fly fisher, I catch nothing but scrub fish and the odd bass. I do take my spinning gear but only half heartedly try a few lures. Someone just the other day told me to try a piece of corn. A rough last bit on the road so go in only with high clearance and preferable 4 wheel drive, otherwise pack your boat for the last few hundred yards.

thanks guys, I have had a few trips just ramdomly fishing the lakes up there and have caught nothing but walleye and pike in the summer. This will be my first trip during real trout season... may try the popular spots and try my luck.

BASSSTALKER:
It doesn't look to me that the public access spots are seriously
overfished around Calabogie. On many of those lakes I don't see
a single soul in a whole day - and most of the time I drive a car,
not 4x4 or ATV. Besides the action usually is not so bad, it's
mostly the size.

Fished the smaller lakes up by the Dam. Somedays we didnt catch a thing, others 6 or so. And yeah the fish wernt the biggest, but a good snack all the same.

I have fished at the bottom of the damn during the summer, how far are the lakes from there for trout? Specs and rainbows i would assume?

Barry(specs), Belanger (specs), Blithford Long (rainbows),
Gling (specs) are all within one mile south of the dam.
All four lakes are accessible by a car.
Oriole lake (rainbows) north of the dam is generally pretty
good in terms of numbers, although the access can be
difficult. There are two roads (trails actually). One starts
right at Barrett Chute and is gated (sometimes the gate is
open). Another one goes all the way from 508 - about 5 miles
- and starts ~ 1 mile past Calabogie Peaks Resort. Both roads
at some point require 4x4.

I am thinking of heading up to one of these on Sunday what should I use for bait? For specs that is?

thanks man.. I should eb there next Friday if you see a lost guy running around the area stop me and say hello.

I am going to head up there this Saturday morning with a few buddies. Any word of open water? I have a Jeep and am not afraid to get it dirty in the pursuit of water.

Cheers,

Scott

Last Sunday all smaller lakes in that area were completely
under the ice, so I'm not sure how much open water will be
there this weekend. Next week looks more promising.
As for bait - pretty much anything works. Trout there is not
very picky as long as you find them. If you prefer live bait
- worms and small minnows will do the trick. Keep in mind
that some of the lakes (not too many) have a ban on live
minnows. Very small spinners like Mepps #0 and #1 can be
also good. For flies you are on your own. Muddlers and
Wooly Buggers in smaller sizes (8-12) are my favorites, but
you may find different things work at different time.

crazyhook wrote:I have fished at the bottom of the damn during the summer, how far are the lakes from there for trout? Specs and rainbows i would assume?

Salmon lake is about 30 -40 minutes by ATV along an old hydro road off the top of the dam. You can get there with a 4x4 but this time of year I wouldnt suggest it. If you are up for an adventure(and have an ATV) Passed Salmon lake theres little Salmon lake(Its bigger then Salmon Lake) go figure!!. I havent fished there personally but a buddy of mine has, and hes seen some good size trout come out of that lake. Centennial lake is at the top of the dam. we havent managed to catch any trout in there yet, but we have caught walleye and pike.

Id be a little worried making the trip back to these lakes yet.. as I wouldnt be surprised if there still iced over.