Big Rideau's best fish sections / where to launch the Boat?

[Tricky]

I'm off to the Big Rideau this weekend and I'm going to work the whole perimeter from Narrows Locks Rd. to Westport. I have 3 questions:

1. I'm hoping to launch the Boat near Narrows Locks Rd. and was wondering where the best spot to launch is?

2. Is it safe to park at the launch area overnight (ie. should I worry about people trying to break in to the truck or steal the trailer)?

3. I wanted to just troll the whole perimeter and was wondering if there are any sections I should mark out on the chart? Is it worth while trying for Lakers? How about Pike or Bass?

Thanks.

[beachburger]

How about Pike or Bass?

4. Check the regs before I go

Bass season does not open until June 28.

You're welcome.

[Tricky]

4. Check the regs before I go

Thanks, but I would still like to know for the future...

[Dartee]

I'm off to the Big Rideau this weekend and I'm going to work the whole perimeter from Narrows Locks Rd. to Westport. I have 3 questions:

1. I'm hoping to launch the Boat near Narrows Locks Rd. and was wondering where the best spot to launch is?

2. Is it safe to park at the launch area overnight (ie. should I worry about people trying to break in to the truck or steal the trailer)?

3. I wanted to just troll the whole perimeter and was wondering if there are any sections I should mark out on the chart? Is it worth while trying for Lakers? How about Pike or Bass?

Thanks.

I hate to tell you this but Narrows Lock rd to Westport is the Upper Rideau not the Big Rideau. No Lakers in the Upper.
I'm not too sure of the launches.
There is a Resort off R48 (Rideau Breeze I think) that used to let you launch for a fee.

[Tricky]

Well that sucks! Dartee do you know if the fishing is good in the upper Rideau? Am I looking at some good Pike fishing at least?

[Tricky]

I hate to tell you this but Narrows Lock rd to Westport is the Upper Rideau not the Big Rideau. No Lakers in the Upper.
I'm not too sure of the launches.
There is a Resort off R48 (Rideau Breeze I think) that used to let you launch for a fee.

Change in plans, I'll launch on the other side of Narrows Lock and work the Big Rideau instead... is their Lakers in and around that section?

Dartee, here is a Google image that has what looks to be a Docking area that could have a launch. Does this look like the spot your talking about?

[url]http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=&daddr=44.700416,-76.281166&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=44.699684,-76.281981&sspn=0.022116,0.039997&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=15[/url]

[Viper]

There is a free public launch at Portland on highway 15 - lots of parking

[Dartee]

Change in plans, I'll launch on the other side of Narrows Lock and work the Big Rideau instead... is their Lakers in and around that section?

Dartee, here is a Google image that has what looks to be a Docking area that could have a launch. Does this look like the spot your talking about?

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&ge ... 8&t=h&z=15

That's the spot I was thinking of, we stayed there a number of years ago for a family reunion.
If I remember right we got some decent pike in an around the island and along the north shore.

For Lakers you'll want to go up the lake further towards Long Island.
There are a # folks here that fish the Big Rideau regularly can direct you better then me.

Coming from the Ottawa area, you may want to check the launch that viper mentioned just before Portland.

[matcole]

you could even launch at Murphy's Point Provincial park

[Tricky]

Thanks, I promised the girlfriend that we would end up at WestPort for dinner time. So I figure I will troll the Big Rideau on Saturday and end up going through the Narrows Lock (how much does that cost?) around 5pm and continue to troll to WestPort for around 7pm. Can't be much more than 7km from the lock to Westport?

[Dartee]

Thanks, I promised the girlfriend that we would end up at WestPort for dinner time. So I figure I will troll the Big Rideau on Saturday and end up going through the Narrows Lock (how much does that cost?) around 5pm and continue to troll to WestPort for around 7pm. Can't be much more than 7km from the lock to Westport?

Hope your staying in Westport over night.

Lock hrs Friday-Sunday are 8:30am- 7:30pm
single lockage fee and return is $0.90/ft

7 or 8km sounds about right.

http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/fees.html

Good Luck and have fun

[Tricky]

Yes we'll dock for the night in WestPort.

Does that fee mean you pay for each way or you pay once and that includes your return?

[Dartee]

Yes we'll dock for the night in WestPort.

Does that fee mean you pay for each way or you pay once and that includes your return?

I think that means you pay once which includes the return,,, not sure if the return is same day or not. You may want to call to be sure 1-888-773-8888.

Its been many years since I paid any attention to the locks (23+)

[Tricky]

So I ended up launching in Portland whuch has a great launch and you can park the Truck overnight with no problems.

Fired up the MerCruiser and headed out to the center of the Lake only to realize that I had left all of my tackle in Ottawa! I had the rods so I went and bought a couple of deep diving Rapalas and a couple of spoons. Trolled most of the Big and the Upper and not one Fish! Tried casting but still no luck? Marked tonnes of fish though... I must be rusty!

[ratsotail]

Must have been pretty excited to have forgot the tackle Tricky. Been there and done that too...and probably do it again some day ! Better luck next time. There are dues you have to pay generally for fishing new water. You have to put your time in...it's not like Tarpon fishing, eh

ratsotail