Fish-Hawk.Net

First off, I am very new to this website and I'm not sure if anyone else posted this.

Anyways, I was wondering if someone knew where I could find big fish around Ottawa ( Preferably east or downtown ). The biggest fish I caught was about 9 pounds , so I would like to beat that record.. I would preferably fish on land and I could get any bait/lure.
What could I get? / where?

Search for some carp spots, most slow moving water will have them, that's your best chance for a shore based 10 lb + fish. Might be some guys that are a bit more local to the area than me that can point you in the right direction

Some big fish in the Ottawa river when the season opens for pike and musky! But at the moment catfish! there are some big ones lurking in there! When they fill the canal and dows lake you can fish for carp from shore and landing a 10lb plus is a good possibility!

Thanks for the help I can easily walk to the canal in 5 minutes. I've been once, but nothing was biting. Is there any specific bait I should use?

For some very relaxing fishing, bring a chair along Dows lake in the shallower areas on a sunny day! You can easily beat the 10lb mark with almost any of the big Carp that lurk in there. Canned corn threaded onto a number 2 hook with a fluoro lead and light weight. You can throw handfuls of corn into the area where you are fishing to draw them in. Light tension on the line, sit back and relax.

Carps have soft mouths so do not be overzealous with the hook set. They can spit the hook out quickly so use a SHARP hook so that they set it partially themselves with the rod tension.

Rod

Probably one of the hardest fighting fish you will find is Gar Pike. They bite especially hard late at night (10pm until around 2am). Look for shallow oxygen starved water.

The Ottawa holds a variety of species that will exceed 10lbs. First you need to decide on what species you wish to target and then key in on suitable areas for that species.
You can always go with lady luck and fire out a ball of worms. You could land any and all species on a very simple hook and worm.

My $0.02: your best best at 10+ fish would be Musky or Carp; Pike would be next likley. I would not hold my breath for a 10+ channel catfish they are far and few between on the Ottawa River. Gar is an option as well as mentioned above...