We are about halfway through the 2018 fishing season here at Big Hook Camps. It is hard to believe just two months ago I was being chased by a snowstorm on my way to open up the camp. As I write this blog, the temperature outside is a sweltering 88 degrees with high humidity; so a snow flurry sounds kind of refreshing at the moment. July has brought a rollercoaster of temperatures so far. Just two days ago our high for the day was a chilly 48 degrees. A 40 degree temperature swing in just under 36 hours sounds appropriate for NW Ontario. I've always said, "In this neck of the woods, wait 12 hours and the season will change."
We are still in need of rain here in the north country. Aside from a couple random showers throughout July, conditions remain incredibly dry. I urge everyone to use caution when having outdoor fires, please make sure the fire is completely extinguished. Due to the lack of rain lake levels are down roughly 12-18" throughout the Opasquia Provincial Park. Water temperatures on most lakes are still hovering in the high sixties and creeping into the seventies. Just about all the weed beds are now fully mature.
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| 40" caught jigging for walleye on Central |
The up and down temperatures this week have had the walleye scattered throughout the water column. Guests have reported best luck around the 12-16 ft range however, some are still be caught on the edges of weed beds. Hot colors for walleye the past couple days have been pink, flouro orange and purple. 3" Ripple Shads are quickly replacing Gulp as my favorite jig tail. Vertical jigging while back trolling over structure has been the most effective technique for catching schooled up walleye. Trolling 15' flats or shorelines with Reef Runners or Shad Raps are a great way to locate the schools. Walleye should continue their descent through the water column as the summer progresses along. On a side note, guests at Central Lake are having excellent luck walking the rapids and fishing walleye in the slack pools. Guess our walleye are behaving a bit like trout lately.
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| A Central Lake 40" caught well after sunset. |
Cloudy days or evenings are the best times for northern fishing lately. Guests at Central have boated three fish over 40" with two of them being caught well after sunset. The usual suspects Johnson Silver Minnows and orange-bladed black skirted bucktails have been hot lures. If you want to run the risk of throwing a Bulldawg, they get to be hot baits as the summer marches on. Trouble is those 24" northern love to bite the tail off of them, which is why I don't toss Bulldawgs as much anymore. Don't forget to pack at least one topwater bait. Whopper ploppers, top raiders, zara spooks and buzz baits are among my favorite. Find your favorite weed bed or wind blown rocky point and start slinging, the pike will be sure to respond with some high flying antics. Another side note, numerous pike have been caught in deeper water while fishing for walleye the past couple days. It might be worth packing a rattle trap or jigging rap.
Most guests have been out fishing when I have visited the outposts this week so I don't have the most informative outpost report.
South Lake has reported steady action with walleye, however, the northern have been a bit on the slow side. Most walleye are holding on structure in 15 ft of water. In a quick chat yesterday,
West Lake said the fishing was very good. Trolling crankbaits along shorelines was catching plenty of both species. West Lake has also boated and released a pair of 41" northern. Both fish were caught trolling large F18 husky jerks. I have not seen Cocos, Burnt or SW lake yet this week. I noticed many 35-38" northern written on the bragging board at Cocos this week. The water at Cocos is really low. Guests are having no issues navigating the two sets of rapids into the Sagawitchewan River. However, lots of new rocks are present in the river, so please go slow the first time through.
Good luck on the water everyone and remember to send pictures.
-Nathan
www.bighookcamps.com
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