Moosebunk,
Im from Matheson, and although Abitibi lake has some very big pike in it - its not a very nice lake to fish. Its very shallow (6 feet is a deep hole in most areas), and since its in the middle of the "claybelt" the water is the colour of mud - so artificial lures dont attract much attention. Its so hard to catch fish there, especially after the middle of June - its very hard to find any structure that the fish can relate to. There is also mooneyes and goldeyes by the tonne in this lake - perfect easy meals for pike. Anyways - I wouldnt recommend going there for a fishing trip - there are much better spots closer to Cochrane (Kesogami lake (sp?) is a fly in service that has a very good track record of big pike) and furthur west - towards wawa and Chapleau.
Fox
The One Fish For You???
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Moosebunk
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Firefox,
Alot of lakes are shallow up here, that's the truth. I actually work with a bunch of folks from Matheson, some of them fish Abitibi and say they do well. Maybe they're fishing for walleye???
Anyways, Kesagami... that's dreamland pike fishing gone reality once you're there. Again, so I hear.
Maybe you could give jale and I some other ideas for fishing up here. I pass thru Cochrane and Matherson often, and find myself overnighting now and then and looking for new holes to fish.
Alot of lakes are shallow up here, that's the truth. I actually work with a bunch of folks from Matheson, some of them fish Abitibi and say they do well. Maybe they're fishing for walleye???
Anyways, Kesagami... that's dreamland pike fishing gone reality once you're there. Again, so I hear.
Maybe you could give jale and I some other ideas for fishing up here. I pass thru Cochrane and Matherson often, and find myself overnighting now and then and looking for new holes to fish.
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FireFox
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Moosebunk,
A lot of folks in Matheson and even Iroquois Falls and Kirkland Lake do fish Abitibi. The lake does hold a good amount of fish no doubt, but the best fishing luck there seems to be in the winter, through the ice , or off shore in the spring right as the season opens. The summer boat access to the lake is rough at best - and its a very dangerous body of water. The wind can whip up the waters to a frenzy with hardly any warning. The ice fishing can be excellent - especially around the march break time frame. And the shore fishing can be a great way to break in the fishing season. I just sure wouldnt want to drive all the way from Southern ontario to fish that lake in July or August.
As for lakes in that region - Im not too sure if I can point you anywhere. Matheson doesnt have a lot of great fishing spots. Quite a few stocked brook trout lakes - but they are hit n miss. There are a few systems with decent pickerel and pike fishing, mostly in the spring though. Cochrane and around there has much more potential - but I have never personally fished anywhere around there. I have heard that the Fredrick house river is also a worthwile place to try for pickerel - and closer to Cochrane there are sturgeon - apparently. For fishing trips we wouls always head west - Gogama, Chapleau, Hearst, Fraserdale. Those kinds of areas where the lakes are rocky canadian sheild lakes.
Fox.
A lot of folks in Matheson and even Iroquois Falls and Kirkland Lake do fish Abitibi. The lake does hold a good amount of fish no doubt, but the best fishing luck there seems to be in the winter, through the ice , or off shore in the spring right as the season opens. The summer boat access to the lake is rough at best - and its a very dangerous body of water. The wind can whip up the waters to a frenzy with hardly any warning. The ice fishing can be excellent - especially around the march break time frame. And the shore fishing can be a great way to break in the fishing season. I just sure wouldnt want to drive all the way from Southern ontario to fish that lake in July or August.
As for lakes in that region - Im not too sure if I can point you anywhere. Matheson doesnt have a lot of great fishing spots. Quite a few stocked brook trout lakes - but they are hit n miss. There are a few systems with decent pickerel and pike fishing, mostly in the spring though. Cochrane and around there has much more potential - but I have never personally fished anywhere around there. I have heard that the Fredrick house river is also a worthwile place to try for pickerel - and closer to Cochrane there are sturgeon - apparently. For fishing trips we wouls always head west - Gogama, Chapleau, Hearst, Fraserdale. Those kinds of areas where the lakes are rocky canadian sheild lakes.
Fox.
Favorite fish to catch is a mighty BC spring salmon or chinook in a river.
Moosebunk -you will have a great time fishing the Fraser river either from shore or a boat. If you haven't fished the Fraser before I suggest you use a guide to find out whats' going on. The Fraser is a mighty long river and where you are on it will make a difference. It will also make a difference in the type of licence you need to get.
If you are in the lower mainland [Vancouver area}, your best bet is to drive to Chilliwack and fish the Vedder or Chilliwack River or any of the tributaries. In Sept the lower Fraser is closed to most types of salmon. However, the tributaries are usually loaded with cohoe, chinook{ both red and white} , chum and pinks. By Sept the season for sockeye salmon probably will be over. One major problem with fishing the rivers close to Vancouver- its shoulder to shoulder fishing. .... you do get used to it but it is a bummer. I fish the Fraser and the Vedder every summer [have family in Vancouver and also Chilliwack] and usually do quite well. Caught my first sturgeon last summer - 6 to 7 ft long and estimated over 100 lbs. I might be in Chilliwack in Sept. either there or in the Kootneys fishing the alpine lakes with my brother who lives there. If interested send me a pm and some dates and maybe we could hook up on the river.
Moosebunk -you will have a great time fishing the Fraser river either from shore or a boat. If you haven't fished the Fraser before I suggest you use a guide to find out whats' going on. The Fraser is a mighty long river and where you are on it will make a difference. It will also make a difference in the type of licence you need to get.
If you are in the lower mainland [Vancouver area}, your best bet is to drive to Chilliwack and fish the Vedder or Chilliwack River or any of the tributaries. In Sept the lower Fraser is closed to most types of salmon. However, the tributaries are usually loaded with cohoe, chinook{ both red and white} , chum and pinks. By Sept the season for sockeye salmon probably will be over. One major problem with fishing the rivers close to Vancouver- its shoulder to shoulder fishing. .... you do get used to it but it is a bummer. I fish the Fraser and the Vedder every summer [have family in Vancouver and also Chilliwack] and usually do quite well. Caught my first sturgeon last summer - 6 to 7 ft long and estimated over 100 lbs. I might be in Chilliwack in Sept. either there or in the Kootneys fishing the alpine lakes with my brother who lives there. If interested send me a pm and some dates and maybe we could hook up on the river.
I used to always answer this question with big pike, but the past few years when I've had the opportunity to fish for some gators...I always seem to end up jigging and bottom-bouncing for pan sized walleye.
Like I was telling Marcus at the campsite - I'm not even that crazy about big walleye; I've caught several over 6lbs from the Sask River, and several over 4lbs from Jan (being a Shield lake anything over 4lbs is considered a brag-able fish). It's nice, but for my own enjoyment I'd rather catch 3 - 2lbers than a 6lber any day.
Like I was telling Marcus at the campsite - I'm not even that crazy about big walleye; I've caught several over 6lbs from the Sask River, and several over 4lbs from Jan (being a Shield lake anything over 4lbs is considered a brag-able fish). It's nice, but for my own enjoyment I'd rather catch 3 - 2lbers than a 6lber any day.
They're my favorite.FireFox - I'd love to pick your brain about fishing spots near HWY 17 on the way to, and around Hearst. Saskette and I are driving out to Sask in late July and are looking for places not too far off the highway to stop and fish on the way. Especially if there's a campground or boat rentals nearby.
Ooops - I see you already answered that one for me a while ago. maybe someone else has some more info...
Ooops - I see you already answered that one for me a while ago. maybe someone else has some more info...
For me it would be the Mighty Atlantic Salmon,I grew up flyfishing on the Miramichi River with my father.
No greater thrill then to have an Atlantic come up and take a fly. I've had them stand on there tail and thrash back and forth trying to through the hook,or have them turn and leave the pool,then, the chase is on!!
No greater thrill then to have an Atlantic come up and take a fly. I've had them stand on there tail and thrash back and forth trying to through the hook,or have them turn and leave the pool,then, the chase is on!!
Bass Love Seaweed
The fish for me is the Largemouth Bass.
Since my youth this fish has been entertaining me on the water. I just seem to find these big brutes and never is the fight the same. Every fish has personality and trys to get away differently. There is never a dull moment fishing bass.
My next natural fish is the muskie... although they are like good dates in your adolesence... few and far between.
I have a date this year with a big girl.
Since my youth this fish has been entertaining me on the water. I just seem to find these big brutes and never is the fight the same. Every fish has personality and trys to get away differently. There is never a dull moment fishing bass.
My next natural fish is the muskie... although they are like good dates in your adolesence... few and far between.
I have a date this year with a big girl.
yeh i know when a muskie guy gets bitten they stay bitten...
i might make fun of muskie guys but i do have respect for em too
mooskies are quite the fish and if ya can make a job out of it too..
well good one!
me ...hmm.....smallmouth i find really challenging on a day to day basis..
here today etc
but
i will say walleye..
i might make fun of muskie guys but i do have respect for em too
mooskies are quite the fish and if ya can make a job out of it too..
well good one!
me ...hmm.....smallmouth i find really challenging on a day to day basis..
here today etc
but
i will say walleye..
gotta be smallies
Ideally, my favorites might be bonefish, snook and tarpon all day, and Coronas and lovely senoritas all night, but I am a practical man: I'll take smallmouth bass. They're everywhere, in lakes, rivers and creeks, they're easy to find and not hard to catch. They respond to various presentations, including topwater, and they hit hard and fight even harder. They are a hardy fish that stands up to catch-and-release. I only wish the season could start earlier, but I don't mind warming up on trout, walleye and pike while I'm waiting for the real season to begin.
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Wall-I-Guy
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