Walleye fishing the Gouin Reservoir at Nemio River Outfitter
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:39 pm
McQ and I fished on the Gouin Reservoir 3-10 Aug at Nemio River Outfitter (http://www.nemio.com/). This outfitter is located on the Nemio River, one of 7 major spawning rivers for the reservoir, in the western portion of the Gouin Reservoir. Although we fished the river occasionally, most often we opted to make a 15 minute run (15 foot aluminum with 15 HP) downstream to Baie du Nord. The area is beautiful and the amount of sand beaches and sand bars is awesome. Driving time from Ottawa was approx 7.5 hours with about 5 hours of that on good quality gravel logging roads (graded daily). Driving distance from Ottawa was 480 km. I was able to safely maintain a speed of 75 km/hr most of the time. Only tense moments were when we would meet very large logging trucks with immense loads going the other way at 80 km/hr. The dust created by these huge trucks leaves anyone else in a complete "white out like" situation. Consequently, when you saw a logging truck approaching, you checked your rear view mirror for other vehicles behind, you slowed down to a crawl and you pulled over to the right as far as possible. Twenty seconds or so after the truck passed, you could see well enough again to continue. Here's a pic of McQ running on the Nemio River.
Here's a pic at the entrance to Baie du Nord.
Another pic of the entrance to Baie du Nord
Evidence of lots of sand bars and sand beaches
As for the fishing, we had 3 thunderstorms during our stay and no doubt, that impacted the walleye fishing to some extent. On our best day, 2 of us landed 40 walleyes in 6 hours of fishing. Most of the walleyes we caught were 15 -19 inches in length. Our biggest landed was 22 inches and we lost a bigger one (about 25 inches) at the boat. We were unable to find any schools of bigger walleyes - a little disappointing from my perspective. We enjoyed 5 walleye meals while there (two of which were breakfasts). On our worst day, after a morning thunderstorm, we landed only 6 walleyes in the 5 hours before an afternoon thunderstorm. In all, the two of us landed over a 100 walleye in 6 days of fishing.
There is no slot limit yet on the Gouin (anticipated for 2007). The walleye possession limit is 8 and for northern pike is 10. Methods we used were jigging, bottom bouncing and crankbaiting. Other clients in camp only jigged and were rewarded daily with more but smaller walleyes (most were 12-16 inches). We also caught approx a dozen perch and approx 2 dozen northern pike. We didn't target pike - they were merely picked up fishing for walleyes. All pike were released, the biggest of which was 8 lbs.
We stayed in a new 2 bedroom cabin built this past spring that had a shower, a toilet, hot and cold water in the shower and in the kitchen and a screened porch with a view of the river. Although this cabin could sleep 8, the cabin was ideally suited for 4 fishermen and possibly 6 in a stretch - there just wouldn't be sufficient room for 8 guys and their gear. New 15 foot Starfish boats (Princecraft) with 15 HP motors worked well. My only negative comments would include the lack of many walleyes > 24 inches, the needless hassle to get ice and the occasional lack of camp water (reservoirs empty). Here's a pic of our cabin (like a duplex with each side sleeping eight). Windows were installed during our stay.
Hosts (Ron and Rosie) were outstandingly friendly and hosted a pot luck dinner (included lots of freshly cooked walleye and sweet corn) for all camp clients our last night in camp. Wild blueberries were plentiful as evidenced by the fact that one client picked 15 quarts in 2 hours. Rosie even surprised us one evening with 2 pieces of her prize winning wild blue berry pie. Scrumptous!!
Here's a pic at the entrance to Baie du Nord.
Another pic of the entrance to Baie du Nord
Evidence of lots of sand bars and sand beaches
As for the fishing, we had 3 thunderstorms during our stay and no doubt, that impacted the walleye fishing to some extent. On our best day, 2 of us landed 40 walleyes in 6 hours of fishing. Most of the walleyes we caught were 15 -19 inches in length. Our biggest landed was 22 inches and we lost a bigger one (about 25 inches) at the boat. We were unable to find any schools of bigger walleyes - a little disappointing from my perspective. We enjoyed 5 walleye meals while there (two of which were breakfasts). On our worst day, after a morning thunderstorm, we landed only 6 walleyes in the 5 hours before an afternoon thunderstorm. In all, the two of us landed over a 100 walleye in 6 days of fishing.
There is no slot limit yet on the Gouin (anticipated for 2007). The walleye possession limit is 8 and for northern pike is 10. Methods we used were jigging, bottom bouncing and crankbaiting. Other clients in camp only jigged and were rewarded daily with more but smaller walleyes (most were 12-16 inches). We also caught approx a dozen perch and approx 2 dozen northern pike. We didn't target pike - they were merely picked up fishing for walleyes. All pike were released, the biggest of which was 8 lbs.
We stayed in a new 2 bedroom cabin built this past spring that had a shower, a toilet, hot and cold water in the shower and in the kitchen and a screened porch with a view of the river. Although this cabin could sleep 8, the cabin was ideally suited for 4 fishermen and possibly 6 in a stretch - there just wouldn't be sufficient room for 8 guys and their gear. New 15 foot Starfish boats (Princecraft) with 15 HP motors worked well. My only negative comments would include the lack of many walleyes > 24 inches, the needless hassle to get ice and the occasional lack of camp water (reservoirs empty). Here's a pic of our cabin (like a duplex with each side sleeping eight). Windows were installed during our stay.
Hosts (Ron and Rosie) were outstandingly friendly and hosted a pot luck dinner (included lots of freshly cooked walleye and sweet corn) for all camp clients our last night in camp. Wild blueberries were plentiful as evidenced by the fact that one client picked 15 quarts in 2 hours. Rosie even surprised us one evening with 2 pieces of her prize winning wild blue berry pie. Scrumptous!!
