Well, a great big THANK YOU to everyone that responded. Sounds like our cup o tea! We'd prefer to hit the western end but as most pointed out it'd be a long run at 30 MPH and possibly rough conditions from the North Bay end. Can you drive to that end? How far is the drive from North bay and where can we launch?
I'll do my best to sell my buddies on going. We like to fish smallies mostly and Pike and Muskie as a last resort. Personally I hate those slimey, baitstealin', rod breakin' rascals but if that's what's there I'll fish em.
We've been going up to our cabin every year with an 8 man group since 1990 and only 2 times can I ever remember fishing for meat fish. Accidentally caught a few here and there but not as a rule. So pikerel and walleye etc. are really not on our agenda.
Lake Nipissing
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trexellunge
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:47 pm
Hi Seaweed. Maybe we shouldn't promote this lake too much!!! (if it were a smaller body of water, I wouldn't). Any decline in recent fishing is probably limited to walleyes only (overharvest); other species currently seem to be doing fine in this lake, and there are BIG fish to be caught. I guess we both feel that there is something special about Nipissing...it's not JUST about the fishing. It seems that there are endless new spots to discover on the big lake; it never gets boring. I found a few 20 ft. humps out in the big east end of the lake that I want to pound this year. Last summer I accidently discovered a new technique for fishing these spots, which I will try to perfect this season 
. I know you prefer the West Arm, but it can be tough going there in the hot weather (so I learned for myself). It seems that the Callander\South Bay areas produce a little better when the summer heats up. I also LOVE the big, pristine West Bay, but the water there is a bit shallow to offer a cool escape for big fish during the heat. The Upper French may be the ultimate fishing area of the lake; lots of deep water and varied structure, but it's so @#$% difficult to access!!! I guess it's the old Dokis road or nothing (unless you're wealthy and have the extra gasoline to boat in every day). The Dokis road is not fun to travel by night, I almost hit a moose there last time 
. Oh well, always an adventure at Nipissing.
. I know you prefer the West Arm, but it can be tough going there in the hot weather (so I learned for myself). It seems that the Callander\South Bay areas produce a little better when the summer heats up. I also LOVE the big, pristine West Bay, but the water there is a bit shallow to offer a cool escape for big fish during the heat. The Upper French may be the ultimate fishing area of the lake; lots of deep water and varied structure, but it's so @#$% difficult to access!!! I guess it's the old Dokis road or nothing (unless you're wealthy and have the extra gasoline to boat in every day). The Dokis road is not fun to travel by night, I almost hit a moose there last time . Oh well, always an adventure at Nipissing.
Hey pdbanjopdbanjo wrote:Well, a great big THANK YOU to everyone that responded. Sounds like our cup o tea! We'd prefer to hit the western end but as most pointed out it'd be a long run at 30 MPH and possibly rough conditions from the North Bay end. Can you drive to that end? How far is the drive from North bay and where can we launch?
I'll do my best to sell my buddies on going. We like to fish smallies mostly and Pike and Muskie as a last resort. Personally I hate those slimey, baitstealin', rod breakin' rascals but if that's what's there I'll fish em.
We've been going up to our cabin every year with an 8 man group since 1990 and only 2 times can I ever remember fishing for meat fish. Accidentally caught a few here and there but not as a rule. So pikerel and walleye etc. are really not on our agenda.
That is what Fish-hawk is all about---helping fellow anglers
All shores of Nipissing are accessable by road and from Mattawa to the west bay is at least a 2.5hr drive @ highway speed
Pickeral and Walleye are the same fish , it's a Canadian American name difference and if you ever are lucky to catch a 10lb + walleye you'll never fish bass again
You folks are the greatest. Thanks to all. I love this Fish-Hawk site.
I think we'll drive a few hours and try the west end. Since most have have shared their great east end experiences it only reinforces my desire to fish the west end.
Since we'll be coming from Matawa can anyone give us directions to the west end starting from Rt 17 near North Bay? Do we go around the lake on the North side or the South?
I think we'll drive a few hours and try the west end. Since most have have shared their great east end experiences it only reinforces my desire to fish the west end.
Since we'll be coming from Matawa can anyone give us directions to the west end starting from Rt 17 near North Bay? Do we go around the lake on the North side or the South?
pdbanjo
you will be going around the north end of the lake
I can tell you that the best way to get directions is to pick your destination and starting point, go to mapquest for travel directions and it will allow you to print out exact raod and map of your route.
It doesn't get any easier.
Good luck
you will be going around the north end of the lake
I can tell you that the best way to get directions is to pick your destination and starting point, go to mapquest for travel directions and it will allow you to print out exact raod and map of your route.
It doesn't get any easier.
Good luck
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trexellunge
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:47 pm
Hi pdbanjo. At the west end of the lake, Memquisit Lodge offers a good central launching\docking location. We stayed there several times and enjoyed it. Again, the waters here during the warmer weather offer mostly medium sized pike, the odd bass, and some infrequent musky or walleye if you find the cool deeper holes. Smallmouth are more common around the South Bay area, the Manitou Islands or even the Upper French. Anyway, I'm sure you will find some summer bass around the West Arm if you try hard enough. To find launching\docking @ Memquisit Lodge in the West Arm\Bay area:
Take HWY- 17 towards North-Bay
At North Bay, merge onto Provincial Route 17 w/Trans Canada Hwy through Sturgeon Falls to Verner (don't get onto 11 South @ N. Bay).
Take a left onto Hwy 64 at Verner towards Lavigne. Stay on Hwy 64 through Lavigne; after about a 15 minute drive past Lavigne, on the left hand side you will see Memquisit Rd.... 2 miles down the dirt road you will find Memquisit Lodge. See map below. Hope this helps; good luck!
http://www.memquisit.com/map1.jpg
Take HWY- 17 towards North-Bay
At North Bay, merge onto Provincial Route 17 w/Trans Canada Hwy through Sturgeon Falls to Verner (don't get onto 11 South @ N. Bay).
Take a left onto Hwy 64 at Verner towards Lavigne. Stay on Hwy 64 through Lavigne; after about a 15 minute drive past Lavigne, on the left hand side you will see Memquisit Rd.... 2 miles down the dirt road you will find Memquisit Lodge. See map below. Hope this helps; good luck!
http://www.memquisit.com/map1.jpg
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trapperdirk
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- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:30 pm
I see Trout lake was mentioned and if Nippissing blows up I would give it a go as I feel when it comes to smallmouth fishing and largemouths in the weeds Trout lake is a better fishery but be prepared to go deep as its a gin clear lake and deep is where its at when the sun comes up high in the sky . It also holds a good population of muskies so be prepared to lose some bass to them as we did everytime we fished a tourney on it . LOL There also are walleye in the lake ,lakers and atlantic salmon . A great concrete launch on it too right down from the MNR building . Sorry to off track you from Nipissing but since its right there too it gives you a plan "B" and if I was fishing smallies I would fish it before the big lake .
TD
There also are walleye in the lake ,lakers and atlantic salmon . A great concrete launch on it too right down from the MNR building . Sorry to off track you from Nipissing but since its right there too it gives you a plan "B" and if I was fishing smallies I would fish it before the big lake . TD
trapperdirk
Thanks for the headsup on Trout Lake.
This group of eight guys will fish anywhere for anything in any weather, so they're avid to say the least. We consider ourselves to be good fishermen and have great respect for the fisheries and local folks that we feel sometimes we may, infringe upon. IE: Eight, unknown, unshaven, smelly and hungary US foreiners walking into a little town resturant can be a bit imposing to some.
trapperdirk, you are one of the few posters specifically relating to large and smallmouths. Have you fished for them in the upper French River much? I have to believe that is where you would find them in greater numbers but I've been wrong before hence the reason for searching out this site to ask questions.
Thanks!!
Thanks for the headsup on Trout Lake.
This group of eight guys will fish anywhere for anything in any weather, so they're avid to say the least. We consider ourselves to be good fishermen and have great respect for the fisheries and local folks that we feel sometimes we may, infringe upon. IE: Eight, unknown, unshaven, smelly and hungary US foreiners walking into a little town resturant can be a bit imposing to some.
trapperdirk, you are one of the few posters specifically relating to large and smallmouths. Have you fished for them in the upper French River much? I have to believe that is where you would find them in greater numbers but I've been wrong before hence the reason for searching out this site to ask questions.
Thanks!!
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trapperdirk
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:30 pm
Pdbanjo I'm sorry to say even though I have fished many of the waters in the near north and further and in quite a few tournament situations I never was in the upper French too much . Yes we have Largemouths up here and beyond but the numbers in no way come close to the smallmouth populations and even though some lakes will hold a lunker or two largemouth you will be better off looking for smally type structure for numbers of fish and weight . Smallmouths are just the more prevalent and seem to thrive better in these waters than do largemouths and even at the NEOBA weigh ins this became apparent in short order and most of the kicker fish were as a rule small mouths .
As far as some smelly American fishermen coming into one of our small towns you are not unique as the rest of us Canuck rednecks smell no different nor do we shave either . Big common lakes we don't mind talking about especially since much of our industry here is tourist based and we like your american spending dollars . Trust me we want your business and the bigger and better stories you take with you home to promote our area the better we like it and we hope you spend,spend,spend here to lighten the load going home and that you return often . We who live here don't mind sharing so talk about any major fisheries all you like . My small brookie lakes though are off topic unless of course you need the services of some guiding .
TD
As far as some smelly American fishermen coming into one of our small towns you are not unique as the rest of us Canuck rednecks smell no different nor do we shave either .
Big common lakes we don't mind talking about especially since much of our industry here is tourist based and we like your american spending dollars . Trust me we want your business and the bigger and better stories you take with you home to promote our area the better we like it and we hope you spend,spend,spend here to lighten the load going home and that you return often . We who live here don't mind sharing so talk about any major fisheries all you like . My small brookie lakes though are off topic unless of course you need the services of some guiding . TD
trapperdirk
You catch on quickly! We target smallies specifically when in Canada and know that the real lunker green backs live in the sunny south US. We spend a bundle and like it. It's absolutely the best bucks spent in a given year for me and I'm confident I speak for the rest of the group, too.
I wish someone with more experience on the upper French would chime in here. I think not too many of you "Canucks" fish smallies as a primary game fish and that is the reason no one is posting in this regard.
As it stands right now, we're reserving a few rooms in Callander and will fish the bay there. It appears from the google map that to the south of Callander off of Rt 654 are some minor roads leading to the shore. I noticed a Pike Bay dr. that ends at the waters edge. Is there a boat launch there?
You catch on quickly! We target smallies specifically when in Canada and know that the real lunker green backs live in the sunny south US. We spend a bundle and like it. It's absolutely the best bucks spent in a given year for me and I'm confident I speak for the rest of the group, too.
I wish someone with more experience on the upper French would chime in here. I think not too many of you "Canucks" fish smallies as a primary game fish and that is the reason no one is posting in this regard.
As it stands right now, we're reserving a few rooms in Callander and will fish the bay there. It appears from the google map that to the south of Callander off of Rt 654 are some minor roads leading to the shore. I noticed a Pike Bay dr. that ends at the waters edge. Is there a boat launch there?
Infringe---Imposing --pdbanjo wrote:trapperdirk
Thanks for the headsup on Trout Lake.
. We consider ourselves to be good fishermen and have great respect for the fisheries and local folks that we feel sometimes we may, infringe upon. IE: Eight, unknown, unshaven, smelly and hungary US foreiners walking into a little town resturant can be a bit imposing to some.
--you haven't been to North Bay have you??In N. Bay half of the kids undr 12 are smelly and unshaven.
I know, I lived there for over 12 years -
trapperdirk
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:30 pm
Ah Pdjamo why do I get the feeling you did your homework and you know more than your letting on and that I'm being fished ?pdbanjo wrote:trapperdirk
You catch on quickly! We target smallies specifically when in Canada and know that the real lunker green backs live in the sunny south US. We spend a bundle and like it. It's absolutely the best bucks spent in a given year for me and I'm confident I speak for the rest of the group, too.
I wish someone with more experience on the upper French would chime in here. I think not too many of you "Canucks" fish smallies as a primary game fish and that is the reason no one is posting in this regard.
As it stands right now, we're reserving a few rooms in Callander and will fish the bay there. It appears from the google map that to the south of Callander off of Rt 654 are some minor roads leading to the shore. I noticed a Pike Bay dr. that ends at the waters edge. Is there a boat launch there?
Welcome to Canada lad and I wish you tightlines always but redneck trappers who have been online a few years still follow their gut feelings and your on your own at the moment as not all will come free unless your honest about it yourself . If your here to film a show fine,,, or do a magazine layout,,,, but be upfront if so . I don't think you need me to help anyways . TD
No Trapperdirk,
We are what I said we are.....just a bunch of buddies from different States who get together once a year to fish. A financial broker, a salesman, a college football coach, a medical products tech, a retired plant mgr., a retired carpenter, a Home Depot buyer and me, a retired civil engineer. Oh and one more, altho' he's not from the states, a high school teacher from Deep River. Three of us are brothers.
I'm doing my homework as you said. My job this year is to find out the best places to fish on Lake Nipissing. I haven't found anyone that knows the upper French River area but I can live without some information.
As I said we are good fishermen. Not your average fairwhether weekenders that drown minnows for a fish fry. We all truely love to fish and each one of us fishes as much as we can here in the states. Only one of us, the broker, has ever been in a tournement but we all believe we can out fish most tourney anglers on any body of water. At least that's what we think!!!
I AM fishing you and anyone else for info that they would be kind enough to share. I'd do the same for you if you were asking questions on the waters I'm most familiar with. Maybe not about those small little inland lakes that one boat could cover in a day but for bigger bodies I'll share any tips I can.
You sound like a very knowledgeable guy. I hope to meet you sometime. If you're ever in the Deep River area of the Ottawa in June, July or Sept let me know and maybe we can wet a line together. Thanks for all your input. I truely appreciate it.
We are what I said we are.....just a bunch of buddies from different States who get together once a year to fish. A financial broker, a salesman, a college football coach, a medical products tech, a retired plant mgr., a retired carpenter, a Home Depot buyer and me, a retired civil engineer. Oh and one more, altho' he's not from the states, a high school teacher from Deep River. Three of us are brothers.
I'm doing my homework as you said. My job this year is to find out the best places to fish on Lake Nipissing. I haven't found anyone that knows the upper French River area but I can live without some information.
As I said we are good fishermen. Not your average fairwhether weekenders that drown minnows for a fish fry. We all truely love to fish and each one of us fishes as much as we can here in the states. Only one of us, the broker, has ever been in a tournement but we all believe we can out fish most tourney anglers on any body of water. At least that's what we think!!!
I AM fishing you and anyone else for info that they would be kind enough to share. I'd do the same for you if you were asking questions on the waters I'm most familiar with. Maybe not about those small little inland lakes that one boat could cover in a day but for bigger bodies I'll share any tips I can.
You sound like a very knowledgeable guy. I hope to meet you sometime. If you're ever in the Deep River area of the Ottawa in June, July or Sept let me know and maybe we can wet a line together. Thanks for all your input. I truely appreciate it.
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trapperdirk
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:30 pm
It's ok Pdbanjo and I must apologize for being blunt at times and trying to cut through the B.S. so to speak because often I get fished for info for whatever reason by folks that aren't sincere themselves and this one finger typing trapper gets a tad crusty if he's repeating himself or giving info to the inquirer that they already have . I guess it's the online wariness you get after awhile and I hope your not offended .
Your absolutely right there are many,many serious good fishermen out there who can hold their own or outfish tourney anglers on any given day but just don't bother to compete . Also those of us that do go that route to compete were and are fishermen first before taking it to a competitive level . I always use the comparison that some like to drive a race car and the adrenaline rush you get from the sights and smells of competition to some who like to travel the same route going for a Sunday drive but in the end we all get their the same way and the outcome of catching fish is the same .
Actually I would bet that most times fishing for honour etc. amongst friends has more memorable moments and god forbid you end up at the bottom of the list because friends will remind you forever and ever if you lost a fish or had a bad day whilst once a tourney is done and the tallies are in we forget about it and it means nothing at the next blastoff . Trust me my daughter and friends outfish me regularly when were out and NEVER let me FORGET that they did smoke this trapper who has qualified in a few classics .
Anyway lad if I can help please do carry on and if your in my neck of the woods I'll gladly wet a line with you and if you outfish me all the power to you and I promise not to pout but do hope you will take more pity on me than my daughter ever did and you will let me live it down .
It's all good .
TD
Your absolutely right there are many,many serious good fishermen out there who can hold their own or outfish tourney anglers on any given day but just don't bother to compete . Also those of us that do go that route to compete were and are fishermen first before taking it to a competitive level . I always use the comparison that some like to drive a race car and the adrenaline rush you get from the sights and smells of competition to some who like to travel the same route going for a Sunday drive but in the end we all get their the same way and the outcome of catching fish is the same .
Actually I would bet that most times fishing for honour etc. amongst friends has more memorable moments and god forbid you end up at the bottom of the list because friends will remind you forever and ever if you lost a fish or had a bad day whilst once a tourney is done and the tallies are in we forget about it and it means nothing at the next blastoff .
Trust me my daughter and friends outfish me regularly when were out and NEVER let me FORGET that they did smoke this trapper who has qualified in a few classics . Anyway lad if I can help please do carry on and if your in my neck of the woods I'll gladly wet a line with you and if you outfish me all the power to you and I promise not to pout but do hope you will take more pity on me than my daughter ever did and you will let me live it down .
It's all good .
TD
No offense taken!! You should hear the tales my buddies tell with absolutely dishonest embellishments for the shear squirm factor they may inflict!!! I hear ya, Trapperdirk! My only reprisal is that none of them has ever come close to besting my daily catch record. (I know they're lurking here. )
If anyone can add their knowledge of the upper French River to this thread I'd sure like to hear about it. Smallies are the target and launch sites are still undecided especially if anyone knows of any boat ramps on the south east side of Nipissing. At this point, it seems as tho' the only way to access the upper French is via west side launches. Is this true?
)If anyone can add their knowledge of the upper French River to this thread I'd sure like to hear about it. Smallies are the target and launch sites are still undecided especially if anyone knows of any boat ramps on the south east side of Nipissing. At this point, it seems as tho' the only way to access the upper French is via west side launches. Is this true?