Ottawa River Mooneye

[TheDon]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has ever had success specifically targeting mooneye on the Ottawa River. Not asking for particular spots, just which type of areas to look for.

Thanks!

[Kerrazy]

So, while I was not specifically targeting mooneyes, here is what I can tell you.
I was in the channel on the south side of Kettle island in approx 22' of water and drift trolling with a bottom bouncer with a worm harness.
Hope this helps some
Kerrazy

[Wallyboss]

I used to target them years back around Pembroke. Bait of choice was live grasshoppers.

[MichaelGA]

Habitat
Mooneyes are found in both running and still shallow waters of lakes and rivers and appear to be sensitive to turbidity. They are usually taken at less than 11 m depth. Their preferred temperatures are 22-27°C. There is a migration up rivers to spawn in the spring.

Food
Food includes insects, crustaceans such as crayfish and plankton, molluscs and small fishes. Ottawa River Mooneyes fed on ants, mayflies, dragonflies and beetles based on stomach contents (McAllister and Coad, 1975). Talajic (1980) found that the most important foods in the Ottawa River were Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera with smaller amounts of other aquatic insect larvae and, rarely, minnows, clams, spiders and crustaceans. Flying ants were also found in large numbers. Food depended on availability, varying through the year. Feeding often occurs at the surface in the evening and during the night when insects fallen on the water surface are taken aided by the light-sensitive eyes.

Importance
This species is of limited commercial importance, mostly on the U.S. side of Lake Erie. Various Herrings and Whitefishes have been listed erroneously as Mooneye in catch statistics. Commercial fisheries for mooneyes above and below Hull from the Québec side of the Ottawa River is documented by Pluritec (1982b), assuming "Laquaiche aux yeux d'or" is a mis-nomer for this species. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Gouvernement du Québec Faune et Parcs (1999) report one license is issued for this species in the Ottawa River (Carillon to Ottawa-Hull). It is caught by anglers who specialise in catching this unusual sport species using flies, worms, grasshoppers, minnows or lures on light tackle. It is best eaten spiced, smoked or fried with butter and onions as it is dry and tasteless when fresh

Not an exclusive map but at least shows where to start.

[JasonK]

We have never specifically targeted them either but caught all ours around Petrie Island from shore with a worm and bobber with about 3-4' of line under the bobber. IIRC, we only ever caught them with our furthest casts.

[zippyfx]

Buddy of mine catches them near the restricted zone at Shirley's bay.

[CyrusG]

I was down at victoria island today and they were all over the shore, fish near the bottom with a worm and you should be able to get a few. From my experience i never caught them in the spring or fall there so now's your chance if you want to get some I caught and released a fat 16.5 incher a few years ago near shirleys bay and i didn't find out it was a record until i got home, when i found out the new record was caught in Constance bay last year it didn't make me feel any better

[Pike-hunter]

Hey everyone hows the night I'm looking for the good spots near ottawa for big Muskie or large mouth have bin grabbin big ones outta Shirley's bay off the point help me out

[TheMaverick]

Hey everyone hows the night I'm looking for the good spots near ottawa for big Muskie or large mouth have bin grabbin big ones outta Shirley's bay off the point help me out

[OutdoorActionOntario]

Caught one this past weekend on the Ottawa River east of the Blair Road boatlaunch. Hit a Jackall Aska crankbait (4 ft. model) in the color black/chartreause about 40 feet from the boat but closer to the shoreline.

[Pike-hunter]

Wow Shirley's bay always treats me good caught 7 large channel cats yesterday to many birch and a few giant large mouths but still haven't found my pike in this city let me know or take me to a spot even lol

[EagleEyesFlash]

Caught a couple for the novelty.
Was closer to Fitzroy, and they were feeding on and near the surface over the main channel over 30 fow.
Look for surface activity in the late afternoon. I just used a bit of worm under a bobber and
will try a fly next time.



They are pretty fragile and bad for getting a hook in the eye cause of all the wiggling they do.
Unsure if you can keep them for bait as they are not listed as a minnow type you can use
in the Ontario regs., but maybe you can use the head for bait if you keep the body for consumption ?

[CyrusG]

Caught a couple for the novelty.
Was closer to Fitzroy, and they were feeding on and near the surface over the main channel over 30 fow.
Look for surface activity in the late afternoon. I just used a bit of worm under a bobber and
will try a fly next time.



They are pretty fragile and bad for getting a hook in the eye cause of all the wiggling they do.
Unsure if you can keep them for bait as they are not listed as a minnow type you can use
in the Ontario regs., but maybe you can use the head for bait if you keep the body for consumption ?

Nice catch! Your only allowed to use the bait fish listed on the regs and i couldn't find mooneye in there, if they allow it in the future i'd be taking advantage of it i bet it would be a good bait for pike through the ice.

[MichaelGA]

The list of bait-fish refers to live bait. Chop it into pieces and you'd be fine.

[CyrusG]

The list of bait-fish refers to live bait. Chop it into pieces and you'd be fine.

Does anyone have more info on this? Would it be the same for rock bass?