Happy Isle + Algonquin Park + Lures for Lakers

[Legend 151]

Any tips from anyone on how to fish Happy Isle. I hear it is a great lake and I was just wondering where we should concentrate and what lures are the best for lakers.

We have normally gone for Speckles with good success, but laker fishing is still relatively new to us.

Or for that matter what areas are good in the North Arm of Opeongo. We are camping there with our motor boats and bringing canoes for the other lakes.

Ice on on Opeongo Yesterday, which is the earliest ever!

[Muskie Dave]

How can you camp on Opeongo? I thought boats with engines had to be off every night?

[scuro]

For lakers it's all about dialing in the right depth lure type. They do like flutter...stop start type of movement that trolling often doesn't do. They like flash and realism. So small plugs, spoons, and spinners all work. Really the same lake fishes different from month to month and even the same month...year to year. It is a trial and error type thing. Once you get a hit you stick with that lure or other similar lures and fish it the same way. And yes you can fish for lakers with a canoe. I've done leadcore from a canoe. It's more about speed so I bring a gps. If you can paddle solo, a regular paddle stroke is about 2mph

[Legend 151]

No you can camp on opeongo with motors over night. The risk is just yours to take in terms of your boat, but it is legal.

You can actually camp overnight with your boat with motor on any lake that allows motors in the park. You can find a list of the lakes that allow motors and what motor sizes are allowed at the following link.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/managreg/motors.html

[surferal]

I hear hula poppers are the ticket!!! I'm pretty sure they do not allow legend boats there, only prince craft.

[Legend 151]

Ohh the ellusive Surferal has chimed in. Don't worry Surfer, now that you have slammed the Legend Boats, we will ensure that you don't have to ride in one.

So with your little paddle and canoe launched I will bid you adieu and see you up in the North Arm of Opeongo when you get there. We are launching on April 30th, so I predict we will see you in August by the time you get there.

Happy Padling, and yes, Jula Poppers will be the way to go for you. Them and jerry jitter bugs, the Lakers just nail em!

[mblaney]

This is the first spring in a while that I am not doing a power-boat camping trip on Opeongo. The do allow Legends - one in our crew has one - but they really try to discourage that and will frown at you. I think there will be something added to the regs next year to address this. Note: this does not apply to "Legends in your own mind" types, just the boat.

Nice sites at the mouth of Annie's Bay; Annies bay is great because you can get you out of the wind. At the far end of Annie's bay you can fish the Opeongo river (first couple hundred yards is a sanctuary) and get some speckles.

We had a tougher time with lakers the last couple of years; we fished 5 - 9th of May. Bring a light weight trolling spoon thing and some gulp in case they are deeper. Little cleo, spoons, rapala, all good.

[Joey Rat]

Not from personal experience but I have heard that EGB spinners work in the park.

Good luck.

[mblaney]

Not from personal experience but I have heard that EGB spinners work in the park.

Good luck.

+1

[pchilli1]

Not from personal experience but I have heard that EGB spinners work in the park.

Good luck.

you get a free EGB in your park fishing kit this year (from what I read anyway)

[plncrzy]

two years ago I was there 1'st week of May. We didnt stay there long but spoke to some fishermen who had spent several days.

They ate lakers all the time they were there and caught LOTS by simpply jigging a spoon over their heads in the morning and evening.

First they found the location where they were suspended with a sonar, then they started jigging spoons (I think it was williams wablers) and thats all they had to do... they did mention that the b ite was only morning and evening.... during the day, they just hung around camp and relaxed.



hope this helps