Late Summer Attack

It is amazing how quickly the days shorten here in the north country.  Just last month the sun was setting around ten p.m. and was high in the sky by six a.m.  The sun now just barely starts to crest the tree line at 6:15 and remarkably we are still losing 5 minutes of daylight every passing day.  The shorter days generally mean cooler temperatures.  However, weather forecasts are looking promising.  The week is predicted to hover around the mid seventies with nights dropping as low at 40 degrees.

so glassy, which way is up?

Water is flowing again at the West Rapids

Last week we received plenty of rain to raise the water levels.  A stubborn low pressure descended over the Opasquia Provincial Park last Wednesday and Thursday.  The system dropped about 2-3 inches of rain, cooling the water temperatures to 65 degrees.  The cooling water didn't seem to affect the fishing.  Both the walleye and pike bite remained constant

Walleye 

Fish have been descending through the water column to about 20 ft.  Most big fish have been caught jigging on rock reefs.  3/8 oz jigs with solid  chartreuse tails seemed to favor the trophies last week. However, I had tremendous luck trolling wind blown shorelines in about 18 ft with Wally Divers (white, blue) and Shad Raps (perch colored).   I have never seen so many pike strike walleye at the side of the boat as last week. South Lake boated the largest fish of the week at 30.5".  Central boated and released a 26.5" and a 27.75" just off Airplane Island.

Pike 

Quite the bear scratch on a Central Portage

Pike were extremely aggressive this past week.  As mentioned before, all lakes reported big pike striking walleye at boat side.  This aggressiveness is a sign of pike attempting to bulk up for winter. The shorter days coupled with the drop in water temperature has triggered the fall feed. 

Lots of big fish have been located circling schools of walleye.  When fishing on a hot walleye spot, it is common for the action to suddenly stop. This is a sign a big pike has rolled through the area.  At this time, I like to start tossing large deep water baits such as Depth Raiders, Bull Dawgs or large plastic jigs to entice the toothy trophies. 

 

Top water action last week was also amazing.  Top Raiders, Zara Spooks, Giant Jackpots, and Dancing Raiders all sent pike flying out of the water.  The top water action was superior during the evening (6 pm-9 pm) bite.  For example, a 30 minute nonstop top water blitz last Tuesday on Central was just jaw dropping.  Just about every cast resulted in a fish blowing up on the bait.  We (I should say my fiance)  boated a 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34 and 36" fish during this short period.  I just ended up being the net man. The only reason we stopped fishing was to remove a hook that became buried underneath my thumbnail from a thrashing pike.  All I have to say is "thank goodness for barbless hooks!" 

The biggest pike last week was boated and released at Cocos at a whopping 43".  Central, Burnt and SW came close with respective 40", 40.5" and 42" fish.  

Good luck on the water everyone!

-Nathan

www.bighookcamps.com

August, in like a lion

A great night for top water. 

August has brought us ample amounts of moisture thus far.  Ten of the eleven days have provided some form of rain in the Opasquia Provincial Park.  The rain is welcomed considering the fire situation we experienced in July.  Now the fires have been extinguished and the lake levels have begun rising.  At Central Lake the water levels have risen approximately six to ten inches.  The rain has cooled the water temperatures slightly.  Water temperatures range from 67-69 degrees.

Walleye

Walleye are descending to their late summer patterns.  Most fish are being caught on rock reefs and deeper points.  Smaller fish have been found on the edges of weed beds. Locating 16-20 ft spots are key.  These deeper reefs and cut banks will hold the bigger fish.  Trolling crankbaits along a shelf is a favorite tactic of mine.  Today for example, we caught fish jigging on top of a reef however, we could not break the twenty inch barrier for walleye.  We switched to trolling a jointed Rapala Shad Rap (black/orange) and a Berkley Flicker Shad (blue/silver) and promptly boated five walleye between 20-22".  

Pike

The big pike have been scattered between points and deep weed beds.  Many big fish have been following schools of walleye.  While fishing for walleye on reefs, anglers should be pitching for pike at the same time.  As I have mentioned in previous blogs, deep diving baits such as Depth Raiders and Bull Dawgs are great for fishing deeper rock reefs.  Large jigs coupled with 5-7" tails are also key baits in a fishermen's arsenal this time of year.  Working weed beds can be frustrating.  Some fish embed themselves deep within foliage and reaching those fish can be cumbersome.  To combat heavy weeds I utilize the infamous Johnson Silver Minnow with a white twister.  The Silver Minnow glides through the slop with minimal hang ups.  In deep foliage I also prefer braided line over mono.  The lack of stretch braided line possesses cuts weeds with little effort.  Two other baits in my tackle box are a Rapala Gliding Rap and a Top Raider.  

Burnt  

Several forty inch pike were boated and released last week.  An impressive 28" walleye was also boated and released up on Sabourin Lake.  Bigger fish were caught in the northern half of Burnt.  

Central

The north narrows once again produced several 40 inch trophies last week.  Trolling Wind Sock island was effective for walleye.  The deep reefs on the north end of the lake also held some big fish.  Jigging walleye in 18-20 ft with a 3/8 oz tube jig was favored by bigger walleye.  

Cocos

The majority of bigger fish were boated in the Sagawitchewan River.  The deeper pools in the SE sections were "impressive" according to guests.  Duckling Island is harboring several large pike at the moment.  

Lemonade/Favorable  

The deeper water of Favorable located closer to the camp have been great for walleye.  The Three Sisters have held some amazing walleye over the past couple days.  Pike Alley and Wally Point have been other notable spots.  Lemonade is still churning out quality walleye.  

South

Once again South has produced another 30" walleye.  Several 28" fish were also boated and released.  The bigger fish were boated in 25-30 ft of water.  The weeds just NE of camp were productive for both walleye and pike.  

SW 

SW lake held up it's reputation as the fish factory in the Opasquia Provincial Park. Spoons are still incredibly effective for walleye in the shallows.  

West 

The north and east end of the lake have been outproducing the "fish bowl".  The deeper sections of West have been holding quality walleye.  Last week several 25", 27" and 28" walleye were released. 

-Good Luck on the water everyone. 

Nathan

www.bighookcamps.com

Rain relief....finally!

Nothing puts me to sleep faster than the pitter patter of rain on the steel roof.  The hypnotic sound immediately clicks my brain into rest mode no matter what time of the day.  As I have mentioned in previous blogs, we have lacked any sort of moisture for the whole month of July.  However, August is a new month and some much needed rain has finally graced the Opasquia Provincial Park.  For the past 12 hours a steady saturating rain has fallen from the densely clouded skies.  While bailing the boats this morning I would guess we have received close to an inch of rain with this system thus far.  I know rain isn't a favorite condition for fishermen but this is surely welcomed by us camp operators; as forest fires were beginning to pop up all around NW Ontario.   This amount of rainfall should really dampen and/or extinguish the majority of our fires in the area.  I also expect to hear from the MNR in the next couple of days, lifting the fire ban in the park.

The past weeks weather has provided warm days and cool nights causing the water temperatures to drop to 70 degrees.  The water levels have remained steady and I would expect them to rise a bit after this dousing of rain.

Walleye 

Walleye have still been holding the same patterns as last week.  Most fish are holding from 12-20 feet of water.  Rock piles and wind blown points are the consistent spots.  Some weed edges are holding fish. Jigging still produces more fish than most other methods.  A 3/8 oz jig head with a 3-4" tail (black, white chartreuse, pink, orange, pumpkinseed) have all been deadly.  Worm harnesses have also been effective.  I had excellent luck Sunday while guiding, trolling a blue/silver Berkley Flicker Shad, while my boat mate used a Fire Tiger Shad Rap #7. We made 12 passes along a rocky point/mud flat and boated 16 fish in about 14-18 feet of water.

Northern

The pike have certainly turned on with the cloudy skies the last couple of days.  Top water presentations have been absolutely awesome.  Twitching Zara Spooks or retrieving Top Raiders have resulted in plenty of explosions.  Fish are holding tight in the weeds and have been extremely active when the skies cloud over.  When trying to battle lures through the slop I like to use braided line with Johnson silver minnows.  The braided line cuts through the weeds more effectively and the Silver Minnow is one of the best weedless lures out on the market in my opinion.

Some deeper fish have been located alongside walleye schools on the rock reefs.  Pitching Bull Dawgs, Depth Raiders and larger shad tail jigs are a great technique to catching pike in deeper water.  I have heard plenty of stories this week where pike have nailed walleye boat side.

Burnt

The planes ready to roll on a Saturday morning. 

The upper end of Burnt has been producing larger fish this past week.  Although, a 40" was boated on the reef just 1/4 mile south of the dock.  Walleye have been located on just about every wind blown point throughout the lake.

Central 
The west end of the lake has been producing the larger pike this week.  The guests have seen a ton of huge follows on the sunny days.  Husker Rock has been a notable spot for trophy fish.  Airplane Island and the NE side of Dump Island are still top spots for walleye.  Just about all the fish have moved away from the rapids.    


Cocos
The river has been consistently outproducing the main lake. Plenty of fish are still being caught in the rapids.  The SW section of the river has been tops for both species.  I haven't chatted with the guests but I expect the deeper bowls in the SE would be the go to spots in the river.

Lemonade/Favourable
The most productive area of Favorable has been around the camp.  Pike Alley and the three sisters have been the top two spots.  The islands just to the east of camp have produced some of the best walleye all summer. The north arm of the lake has been hot where the Severn starts to exit.  Lemonade is the usual, fish everywhere.

South

A South Lake sunset. 

Impressive walleye have been caught in 12-25 ft.  Mostly on rock points and reefs.  The narrows just south of camp produced a 29.5" fish last week.  I'll get a better report this Saturday from the current guests as they have been on the water when I have visited.


SW
Some really nice pike were boated this week.  A 38" and 39" pike were boated on the large weed bed in the north arm of the lake.  Tons of walleye are holding on the island just east of the camp.  The five of diamonds is still dominating for walleye.  Strange to see walleye holding so shallow on this lake.


West
The Horsehoe is the place for big pike.  Numerous 35-40" have been boated there.  Bucktails and top water have been the popular baits to use. The big walleye have been hanging on the deeper reefs in the north end of the lake.  The "fish bowl" has still be quiet the past week as water temperatures are still a bit warm.  The narrows entering the fish bowl however has been producing in the northern sections.

Good luck on the water everyone!
-Nathan
www.bighookcamps.com