Guest Testimonial for Soutwest Lake

Hope the holiday season is treating everyone well. Temperatures are falling throughout the USA and snow is beginning to accumulate. This time of year is when most people begin to yearn for future fishing trips. This week we received a wonderful testimonial on fishing at Southwest Lake at Big Hook Wilderness Camps and I thought it would be great to share it with everyone. Our thanks to Paul and the family for this great article.

"Hello Steve, Evie & Nathan,

I have fished all of Big Hook's Lakes. Each is different and great in its own way. My favorite lake

is Southwest Lake. My first visit to Southwest was in 1988 with my son, Adam. Since then I figure I

have spent 26 weeks there. Southwest Lake is a wonderful family lake, over the years all of my

children, several of my grandchildren plus other young people and old fishing buddies have spent time

there. My youngest Eli at age eight has been our youngest party member. The cabin is terrific

for larger groups as it has an extra room for both storage and sleeping quarters.

Southwest Lake is about 11 miles long and maybe 1 mile wide at the widest point, it has many long

narrow arms which provides shelter on rough days. It is a user friendly lake. Beautiful shore lines with

a few areas of sandy bottom for swimming. The fishing is outrageous. We catch walleyes all day long

in great numbers. The challenge is to catch larger ones. Our biggest walleyes out of Southwest have

been in the 25" range. There are lots and lots of pike in Southwest also. We catch many while fishing

for walleye. Most are small, but we have caught a number in the 10-15 pound range. There is also

some good perch fishing and we have managed to catch a few whitefish over the years.

The remoteness of Big Hooks lakes make for an excellent wilderness experience and the best fishing

I have found anywhere in Ontario."

Paul Reid

Christmas Wishes

Christmas can be one of the most exciting times for a fisherman. Dropping hints and gift ideas weeks before that gleeful day to your significant other for that new fishing rod, depth finder, tackle box etc etc etc, can be a lot of fun. As weeks pass counting down to Christmas, it is common to snoop around the house examining closet spaces and attic corners. There can be only so many places someone can hide a fishing rod, right? Then on Christmas morning, one has overwhelming anticipation unwrapping glorious "unknown" gifts. With the enthusiasm of a five year old one violently tears through the wrapping paper, while the better half just sits admiring your child like tenancies.
Of course that scenario may only apply to me, but as I mentioned before Christmas is one of the best times of the year for fisherman. Stores offer super combo discounts (rod, reel & line), in store rebates and buy one get one free deals.
Remember to be extremely specific when asking for fishing items for Christmas. Stores contain thousands and thousands of items, most of varying in minuscule increments. Fishing rods for example range from light action to extreme heavy action and vary often in 3-6" increments.

Here are a couple of items on my wish list for the up and coming fishing season at Big Hook Camps.

Power Pro #50 green braided line for pike. No stretch on this
line results in excellent hooks sets.




Yozuri Hybrid Fluorocarbon line 6# smoke color. Little line memory means less line tangles.




Shimano Compre 6'6" Medium Heavy Baitcasting Pole. An all around great pike rod.

Eagle portable depth finder. The best way to fish a new body of water is using a depth finder. Sure they weigh a bit but it will make your next fishing trip so much more productive.


I am sure I'll think of many many more fishing items and I'll post them as Christmas Day approaches.

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Any questions or comments please email us at bhwc@aol.com or visit www.bighookcamps.com

New Non Resident Fishing Cards

The program will come into effect Jan. 1/09 and anyone wishing to hunt or fish in Ontario will be required to have an Outdoors Card. The card will cost $9.00 and be valid for 3 years. These new requirements are part of the implementation of a new licencing automation system that takes effect 2010. The requirement for an Outdoors Card will also enhance the ability to replace lost hunting and fishing licences and hunters will only need to show their hunter accreditation once rather than each time purchasing a hunting licence. Once the paper application has been completed, the Outdoors Card will be mailed to the purchaser's home address. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact Burton McClelland, Manager of Licencing Improvement Project, Ministry of Natural Resources at 705-755-1802. Or go to the website listed below.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165323.html

High Water

Water levels here in the Opasquia Park have sky rocketed over this past week. Central Lake is still rising. Last Tuesday a massive low pressure dumped an impressive 3-6" of rain in all of NW Ontario. Central, in particular, has rose almost 18". Burnt Lake's waters are lapping at the edge of the dock. Apparently the sudden swell of H2O did not affect the fishing. Burnt Lake guests said fishing was still the "best they have ever experienced." According to the Pratt party at Cocos, the water is rising day by day. They said the fish became more and more aggressive every day after the storm. They attacked the rising waters by trolling crankbaits along steep drop off and enjoyed great results.
West reported many nice sized pike, largest topping out at a beefy 43'". Blue and silver were the hot colors.
Tis' the season for year end projects. Dad and I spent the past week building a screened in porch for South lake.
Weather is starting to cool off as it usually does this time of year. The water temps are chillling and the weed beds are dying. Soon the lakes will turn and thus is the close of the fishing season. This is the last week for us at Big Hook. In closing, I would personally like to thank everyone for visiting us this summer. Myself, mom and dad look forward to seeing past, present and future guests in the seasons to come. Thanks again,
Nathan
PS if you have any fish pics from your latest trip please email them to bhwc@aol.com.

Sunny Skies=Deep Fishing

Weather as of late has been wonderful here at Big Hook Camps. The warm weather has heated the bodies of water to a pleasant 72 degree's. The walleye's have responded by diving to deeper depths. This is typical behavior for walleye's in the month of August here in the Opasquia Provincial Park. Most walleye's can be found in 15-20 ft of water. Occasionally I'll try fishing 25' of water for the bigger female eye's.
Now to throw a wrench in the gears of the fishing gods. Under overcast conditions walleye's will have the tendency to ascend to shallower waters. So when you see those dark skies forming, think somewhat shallower.
Pike have had unusual behavior the last week. Pike typically hang in 8' weed beds. However, this past week the weed beds have been unproductive, at least on Central Lake. Pike instead can be found on the 8-15+ ft reefs feeding on smaller walleyes. Windblown shores and deeper points are also quality spots.

Hot lures:

Walleye- berkley gulp twisters (yellow, pumkingseed, white), 3/8 oz jigs, rapala shad rap RS blue and silver

Northern Pike-black bulldawg medium size (hands down the most productive last week), Johnson silver minnow 5/8 oz, orange bladed bucktail/black skirt