Fish-Hawk.Net

My family and I moved to Ottawa from Winnipeg about 1.5 years ago due to work. I had lived in Winnipeg my whole life, and I knew the best fishing spots in the area and had a pretty decent idea of how to go about catching the types of fish I was after. I'm not a pro by any stretch, but going fishing most weekends for many years gives a slow learner like me some insight into what works and what doesn't.

I have to admit that I'm feeling a bit lost when it comes to fishing here with having to re-learn so much. I tried getting suggestions for good shore fishing spots from staff at fishing shops, and I had some luck with walleye last year. This year has been a bust pretty much all the way around.

I'm hoping that some kind folks can give me some suggestions for good shore fishing locations within an hour or so of the city. Also, I've never caught a muskie (they simply did not exist where I am used to fishing), and any locations and tips for going after them would be appreciated. I used to love going for pike on the Winnipeg River (favourite one that got away story is of an approx 40 pounder that hit a 2.5 pound walleye I was pulling in), and I assume this can get even better.

Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me. I'm glad to have just found this site, it looks great!

A good place to catch Musky in town is under and around the Bronson bridge on the Rideau river. The area from the Rideau falls to the Bank street bridge is good for shore fishing.

Hi Stefan ...

If you haven't already, look at some of the topics and posts from the past several months ... i think a similar question was asked a few times and people seemed to be fairly generous with their responses and advice. As for me I've been lucky to mostly fish from boat, canoe and kayak so I don't have too much experience from shore around here.

Similar to Aces posting, the area up towards Carleton can also produce some fish ... it's also a nice spot to fish ...

I use to fish from shore a lot too, until i got a boat I went to the canal a lot. I would park and landsdown and walk up and down. I have caught bass over 4lbs in there. The Nichols Island lock is a good spot, real weedy tho. I saw a big carp there when i was there this summer. Its really good in the winter for small perch. The boat launch in kars can produce some fish - and a possible muskie too!

Thanks for the help! I did go back into the archives to see if anyone had posted anything related to this, but I guess I didn't go back far enough.

Hi ... here are some links that relate to shore fishing around ottawa .. hope it kinda helps ..

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewtopic.php?t=40828

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewtopic.php?t=40744

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewtopic.php?t=40725

Fished for a couple of hours this morning near the Bronson bridge and got a coupe of nice pike and a smallish Musky (relaeased and healthy). I had never fished there before, but after reading some of the replies decided to give it a try. It sure looks like BIG fish water. Thanks for the tips.

As fall progresses, there will be lots of big walleyes at night on the stretch from the locks at the Parlement going east to the Alexandria bridge.

CPD wrote:Fished for a couple of hours this morning near the Bronson bridge and got a coupe of nice pike and a smallish Musky (relaeased and healthy). I had never fished there before, but after reading some of the replies decided to give it a try. It sure looks like BIG fish water. Thanks for the tips.

I have not been there for years but i just may grab a rod from the cottage this weekend. Then take the dogs and sit on the shore for an afternoon next week. You dont have to tell me, but were you on the east or west side of the bridge? The dog park is on the east side which is probably where I would go.

The park by the clarence point ferry is good, and the boat launch in Wendover can be good too. I missed a really nice walleye there today, and there were massive carp drifting right up to the shore line.