May Long weekend at Crotch Lake
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 5:42 pm
Friday finally arrived, we loaded up and headed out. Had to pick up my sister-in-law and her boyfriend first then groceries and finally to Tumblhome and the start of the long weekend. We arrived at Tumblhome just after 1pm, Bill and his wife had arrived about 15 min. before us. We got everything unloaded and I headed down to do some work on the boat. I switched out the transducer and mounted the one Andy loaned me. Got Ward to launch me and the damn thing still isnt working properly. Well its a good thing I know the lake well.
Bill and I headed out for a couple of hours, we headed up to Fawn Lake first. Started trolling and got a few pike, I didnt take pics except one because of the bulge in its belly, you could see the fish it had in there.
It was getting near time to head in so I said I wanted to try a spot that worked well for Eric and I last year. I switched up baits to black and silver origional rap, blue and white never works well near dusk. First pass through and my rod goes " fish on!" I am thinking to myself this feels like a good eye but dont say anything because I dont want to jinx it.
It gets close to the boat and Bill says its a big eye, in the net it goes and it is one of the nicest eyes I have caught in this lake. 23.6 inches! Just in the slot!
After a couple of pics I decided to put it in the livewell (didnt measure until back at the dock and wanted a few more pics) headed bact to where we started the pass and in the exact same spot the rod goes again! And it is the exact same feeling, Bill gets the net and has a few choice words, and in comes the first ones twin, though a tad heavier.
We tried a couple more passes then headed in. I was thinking this was either a good sign or that would be it for the weekend. Looks like the later. Unfortunately the weather turned crappy with an approaching cold front.
The next day we awake to thunder and rain, lots of rain. We end up waiting till around noon to head out. John was to arrive with his girlfriend around 2pm. I had Andys vhf in the cabin so they could call us when he arrived. By the Way Andy, it isnt just line of sight, it worked with us all the way back in Fawn Lake. John called right on time and I headed back into get them and we headed back out.
We started fishing and caught a bunch of pike the biggest being the one John got.
The cold front got closer and brought more rain and wind. We did alot of running around the lake and checking areas, though it was tough with the sonar being erratic. We didnt spend the whole time fishing, in fact maybe half the time. Before we headed in for the night we decided to check out the area around Colonel Island and the sonar was working for a bit and we found fish leading from shallow water around 11 ft to hanging in deep water 40-30ft. Unfortunately we couldnt get any to bite except a pike off the boards that Johns girlfriend got.
Headed in for the night.
Here are a couple more pics of the eyes, unfortunately the setting was off on one but I think Johns girlfriend has the same shot on their camera.
Releasing the fish.
Went up and started dinner, huge steaks.
While making dinner I was out at the barbecue, I hear heavy footsteps and grunting, I look out and see two big black shapes out in the back yard. I am thinking bears so I run inside and get the camera and tell everyone. I take the pic and I am stunned, they werent bears, turns out they were Yaks! They stayed there the entire night and were not afraid of people at all. In the morning there were some nice landmines all over.
Next morning John and I head out for a while, crappy cold day, the cold front really made things difficult. It definitely affected the fishing. Only some small pike, perch and a few oos bass were had while we were out. Around 1pm another friend of mine came up with his family, they called us on the vhf and I went in to pick him up. It was cold so I changed into warmer clothes. Out we went and stayed out for along time didnt get alot and just toured around.
Went in and ate decided to break out the alcohol while playing cards, fun night. Next morning got up at 10am ate breakfast, Bill was already gone out so I checked to see if John was there but he and his girlfriend had left to go home. So I took out the wife and sister-in-law and her boyfriend. Of course our last day of the weekend it was beautiful out. sunny and warm.
I did some fishing and did catch one nice pike but unfortunately the net man didnt know how to net and while I had the pike at the side of the boat waiting he dipped and hit it and it went away. Oh well saves me the trouble of taking it off. But I would have liked a pic because it was the nicest pike of the weekend, around the same size as the one I got last year which was 7 lbs.
Despite the lack of fishing and catches of eyes and the usual crappy weather it was a great time and nice to just be away. Our cabins were really nice and situated high on a hill overlooking the lake. I hope everyone else enjoyed it and I am lookikng forward to getting back there soon.
Here are a few more pics of the weekend.
Back of our cabin
Type of structure all over Crotch you want to watch for when shallow
Gull creek
Lots of areas like this
Cant wait till the next weekend away and also the other reports by Bill and John. Oh ya and forgot about the OPP chasing Bill into the harbour!
Bill and I headed out for a couple of hours, we headed up to Fawn Lake first. Started trolling and got a few pike, I didnt take pics except one because of the bulge in its belly, you could see the fish it had in there.
It was getting near time to head in so I said I wanted to try a spot that worked well for Eric and I last year. I switched up baits to black and silver origional rap, blue and white never works well near dusk. First pass through and my rod goes " fish on!" I am thinking to myself this feels like a good eye but dont say anything because I dont want to jinx it.
It gets close to the boat and Bill says its a big eye, in the net it goes and it is one of the nicest eyes I have caught in this lake. 23.6 inches! Just in the slot!
After a couple of pics I decided to put it in the livewell (didnt measure until back at the dock and wanted a few more pics) headed bact to where we started the pass and in the exact same spot the rod goes again! And it is the exact same feeling, Bill gets the net and has a few choice words, and in comes the first ones twin, though a tad heavier.
We tried a couple more passes then headed in. I was thinking this was either a good sign or that would be it for the weekend. Looks like the later. Unfortunately the weather turned crappy with an approaching cold front.
The next day we awake to thunder and rain, lots of rain. We end up waiting till around noon to head out. John was to arrive with his girlfriend around 2pm. I had Andys vhf in the cabin so they could call us when he arrived. By the Way Andy, it isnt just line of sight, it worked with us all the way back in Fawn Lake. John called right on time and I headed back into get them and we headed back out.
We started fishing and caught a bunch of pike the biggest being the one John got.
The cold front got closer and brought more rain and wind. We did alot of running around the lake and checking areas, though it was tough with the sonar being erratic. We didnt spend the whole time fishing, in fact maybe half the time. Before we headed in for the night we decided to check out the area around Colonel Island and the sonar was working for a bit and we found fish leading from shallow water around 11 ft to hanging in deep water 40-30ft. Unfortunately we couldnt get any to bite except a pike off the boards that Johns girlfriend got.
Headed in for the night.
Here are a couple more pics of the eyes, unfortunately the setting was off on one but I think Johns girlfriend has the same shot on their camera.
Releasing the fish.
Went up and started dinner, huge steaks.
While making dinner I was out at the barbecue, I hear heavy footsteps and grunting, I look out and see two big black shapes out in the back yard. I am thinking bears so I run inside and get the camera and tell everyone. I take the pic and I am stunned, they werent bears, turns out they were Yaks! They stayed there the entire night and were not afraid of people at all. In the morning there were some nice landmines all over.
Next morning John and I head out for a while, crappy cold day, the cold front really made things difficult. It definitely affected the fishing. Only some small pike, perch and a few oos bass were had while we were out. Around 1pm another friend of mine came up with his family, they called us on the vhf and I went in to pick him up. It was cold so I changed into warmer clothes. Out we went and stayed out for along time didnt get alot and just toured around.
Went in and ate decided to break out the alcohol while playing cards, fun night. Next morning got up at 10am ate breakfast, Bill was already gone out so I checked to see if John was there but he and his girlfriend had left to go home. So I took out the wife and sister-in-law and her boyfriend. Of course our last day of the weekend it was beautiful out. sunny and warm.
I did some fishing and did catch one nice pike but unfortunately the net man didnt know how to net and while I had the pike at the side of the boat waiting he dipped and hit it and it went away. Oh well saves me the trouble of taking it off. But I would have liked a pic because it was the nicest pike of the weekend, around the same size as the one I got last year which was 7 lbs.
Despite the lack of fishing and catches of eyes and the usual crappy weather it was a great time and nice to just be away. Our cabins were really nice and situated high on a hill overlooking the lake. I hope everyone else enjoyed it and I am lookikng forward to getting back there soon.
Here are a few more pics of the weekend.
Back of our cabin
Type of structure all over Crotch you want to watch for when shallow
Gull creek
Lots of areas like this
Cant wait till the next weekend away and also the other reports by Bill and John. Oh ya and forgot about the OPP chasing Bill into the harbour!
Thanks for sharing your weekend 
....if you need help with the Lowrance wiring and mounting the transducer, bring the boat over to the house and I'll give ya a hand!!