Ottawa River Shore Fishing

[Duper]

I had a chance to head out shore fishing with a buddy this past Friday night on the Ottawa River.

Caught lots of fish and a good variety including my first 2 Gar and a PB Channel Catfish. Caught some pike, crappie and Walleye too. Hoping to make it out again soon.









All fish were released.

[mmason]

I keep hearing about night fishing but have yet, other than one short attempt last winter, to participate - is there anything I should know before giving it a try regarding bait? Location? Regulations?

[Danny]

I keep hearing about night fishing but have yet, other than one short attempt last winter, to participate - is there anything I should know before giving it a try regarding bait? Location? Regulations?

Most parks with public parking only allow you to park your car until 10:00PM. I was warned by a RCMP last summer at Bates Island.

[Duper]

Parking is the only regulation I can think of which wasn't an issue for us. I was using large shiners for bait with a 4/0 circle hook - they work for pretty much anything. Even when they are dead they still work well. I think you could go anywhere along the shore of the Ottawa and have luck. We fished from 11pm-3:30am.

[mmason]

Thanks, I can think of a couple of spots where parking would not be an issue - I'll just have to check water levels during daylight

[Jimmy_1]

Oddly a spot where we got night time gar has dried up.

May have to give it one last kick!

[rex.stpierre]

Interesting stuff?

You put those minnows under a bobber?

How deep are you fishing? How deep is the minnow?

You're methods are interesting for fishing with kids or the girlfriend. Sit by shore in the evening, watch a movie with the young ones and wait for the bite!

[zippyfx]

Nice pictures!

I just picked up some splash bright bobbers at Le Baron and they worked great for night.

[Jimmy_1]

Usually about 6 - 8" under the bobber is best for gar at night.

You really do need a glow bobber. Watching them run....stop....run....stop is quite a thrill!

Then the aerial show after you set the hooks! WOW!

[Duper]

Interesting stuff?

You put those minnows under a bobber?

How deep are you fishing? How deep is the minnow?

You're methods are interesting for fishing with kids or the girlfriend. Sit by shore in the evening, watch a movie with the young ones and wait for the bite!

Yep we used bobbers. I grabbed a 2 pack of bright orange bobbers from Canadian Tire. I think it was less than $2 for the 2-pack. You can see them pretty good but we had a lot of light. You might be best with a glow bobber. We had the minnow about 3' under the bobber on 4/0 circle hooks that I picked up at WorldWide Sportsman in Florida. We had 10+ Gar hook-ups but they are hard to set the hook on. We only landed 3. Lots of Cats though and they fight the best. We actually fished from 11pm-3:30am with pretty much non-stop action. If the minnows get too chewed up from the Gar I just take the bobber off and let them sit on the bottom and it usually doesn't take long for a big Cat to grab it.

[Fishoholic]

Nice outing Duper. Nothing like a good midnight fish.

[riverdog]

Right on Eric sounds like a great night of fishing! Like the shirt!

[rex.stpierre]

Interesting stuff?

You put those minnows under a bobber?

How deep are you fishing? How deep is the minnow?

You're methods are interesting for fishing with kids or the girlfriend. Sit by shore in the evening, watch a movie with the young ones and wait for the bite!

Yep we used bobbers. I grabbed a 2 pack of bright orange bobbers from Canadian Tire. I think it was less than $2 for the 2-pack. You can see them pretty good but we had a lot of light. You might be best with a glow bobber. We had the minnow about 3' under the bobber on 4/0 circle hooks that I picked up at WorldWide Sportsman in Florida. We had 10+ Gar hook-ups but they are hard to set the hook on. We only landed 3. Lots of Cats though and they fight the best. We actually fished from 11pm-3:30am with pretty much non-stop action. If the minnows get too chewed up from the Gar I just take the bobber off and let them sit on the bottom and it usually doesn't take long for a big Cat to grab it.

Great stuff! how big are the minnows?

[Duper]

Interesting stuff?

You put those minnows under a bobber?

How deep are you fishing? How deep is the minnow?

You're methods are interesting for fishing with kids or the girlfriend. Sit by shore in the evening, watch a movie with the young ones and wait for the bite!

Yep we used bobbers. I grabbed a 2 pack of bright orange bobbers from Canadian Tire. I think it was less than $2 for the 2-pack. You can see them pretty good but we had a lot of light. You might be best with a glow bobber. We had the minnow about 3' under the bobber on 4/0 circle hooks that I picked up at WorldWide Sportsman in Florida. We had 10+ Gar hook-ups but they are hard to set the hook on. We only landed 3. Lots of Cats though and they fight the best. We actually fished from 11pm-3:30am with pretty much non-stop action. If the minnows get too chewed up from the Gar I just take the bobber off and let them sit on the bottom and it usually doesn't take long for a big Cat to grab it.

Great stuff! how big are the minnows?

Large and X-large a mix of shiners and chubs. 6" area - some bigger, some smaller.

[rex.stpierre]

Good stuff, project for next week!