Anyone know anything about Dalhousie Lake near McDonalds Corners?
Depth of the lake, what species of fish are present..... Are the waters navagable to other parts of the Mississippi?
Thanks.......
Dalhousie Lake
Dalhousie lake has pike walleye, large and smallmouth bass. there is a power dam at the head of the lake with some rapids so u can't go anywhere upstream.
Downstream u can go for about 5 or 6 miles until the next set of rapids it does get shalolow in the summer though so u will want to be careful in the river
good luck
jale6666
Downstream u can go for about 5 or 6 miles until the next set of rapids it does get shalolow in the summer though so u will want to be careful in the river
good luck
jale6666
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slop
- Gold Participant
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- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:36 pm
- Location: Fisheries Management Zone 18
Welcome sandman,
I too have some questions about Dalhousie.........we're in the same boat.
Like sandman, i've never fished the lake either
I would like to to hear more from jale6666 
on the ICE FISHING for Perch/crappie?
I just received a bunch of maps of lakes in the Ottawa area recently and Dalhousie is one of them
. Looking at the map, Mcdonalds Corners is south of the river and runs to con 9 north of the river.The launch is located in the south east corner of the bridge. The lake looks relatively shallow from East to West with some points along the way. By mid-point of the lake is the main and largest basin, but not the deepest basin. Geddies Rappids flowing into the lake is a smaller deeper basin with a faster dropping shoreline to the north.
How's the fishing on this lake?
Thanks,
Slop.
I too have some questions about Dalhousie.........we're in the same boat.
Like sandman, i've never fished the lake either
I would like to to hear more from jale6666 on the ICE FISHING for Perch/crappie?I just received a bunch of maps of lakes in the Ottawa area recently and Dalhousie is one of them
. Looking at the map, Mcdonalds Corners is south of the river and runs to con 9 north of the river.The launch is located in the south east corner of the bridge. The lake looks relatively shallow from East to West with some points along the way. By mid-point of the lake is the main and largest basin, but not the deepest basin. Geddies Rappids flowing into the lake is a smaller deeper basin with a faster dropping shoreline to the north. How's the fishing on this lake?
Thanks,
Slop.
If Winnipeg gets a hockey team, Toronto will want one too.....
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gorfman007
- Silver Participant
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:40 am
- Location: Ottawa and Bob's Lake
1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigs with double tailed grubs in white and chartreuse work well on a slow troll. Surface fishing near weed beds or near lilly pads with jitter bugs style lures or poppers (especially late at night). I have had success with Buzz baits in Chartreuse and white again with single or double tail plastic grubs. This for pike and bassslop wrote:Welcome sandman,
I too have some questions about Dalhousie.........we're in the same boat.
Like sandman, i've never fished the lake either
I just received a bunch of maps of lakes in the Ottawa area recently and Dalhousie is one of them
How's the fishing on this lake?
Thanks,
Slop.
Good luck
Life goes on
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gorfman007
- Silver Participant
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:40 am
- Location: Ottawa and Bob's Lake
1/8 and 1/4 ounce jigs with double tailed grubs in white and chartreuse work well on a slow troll. Surface fishing near weed beds or near lilly pads with jitter bugs style lures or poppers (especially late at night). I have had success with Buzz baits in Chartreuse and white again with single or double tail plastic grubs. This for pike and bassslop wrote:Welcome sandman,
I too have some questions about Dalhousie.........we're in the same boat.
Like sandman, i've never fished the lake either
I just received a bunch of maps of lakes in the Ottawa area recently and Dalhousie is one of them
How's the fishing on this lake?
Thanks,
Slop.
Good luck
Life goes on
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gorfman007
- Silver Participant
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:40 am
- Location: Ottawa and Bob's Lake
I have not fished the lake before, I hope to this summer, but my in-laws have a cottage downstream from the lake at Sheridan Rapids.
The river from our cottage which is the furthest you can go downstream from the lake varies from 2 feet deep in a few spots, to an average of 5 to 6 feet deep I'd say. There are a few sections that drop down to 11-12 feet (my spring walleye holes) and just before the start of the rapids the river widens for about 200 feet and drops to 21 feet deep.
I fish the river by wading or canoe and catch smallies up to 3 pounds, some largemouth, a few small pike and the odd nice walleye in May and June at night. Best of luck if you head out.
JimW
The river from our cottage which is the furthest you can go downstream from the lake varies from 2 feet deep in a few spots, to an average of 5 to 6 feet deep I'd say. There are a few sections that drop down to 11-12 feet (my spring walleye holes) and just before the start of the rapids the river widens for about 200 feet and drops to 21 feet deep.
I fish the river by wading or canoe and catch smallies up to 3 pounds, some largemouth, a few small pike and the odd nice walleye in May and June at night. Best of luck if you head out.
JimW
I have not fished the lake before, I hope to this summer, but my in-laws have a cottage downstream from the lake at Sheridan Rapids.
The river from our cottage which is the furthest you can go downstream from the lake varies from 2 feet deep in a few spots, to an average of 5 to 6 feet deep I'd say. There are a few sections that drop down to 11-12 feet (my spring walleye holes) and just before the start of the rapids the river widens for about 200 feet and drops to 21 feet deep.
I fish the river by wading or canoe and catch smallies up to 3 pounds, some largemouth, a few small pike and the odd nice walleye in May and June at night. Best of luck if you head out.
JimW
The river from our cottage which is the furthest you can go downstream from the lake varies from 2 feet deep in a few spots, to an average of 5 to 6 feet deep I'd say. There are a few sections that drop down to 11-12 feet (my spring walleye holes) and just before the start of the rapids the river widens for about 200 feet and drops to 21 feet deep.
I fish the river by wading or canoe and catch smallies up to 3 pounds, some largemouth, a few small pike and the odd nice walleye in May and June at night. Best of luck if you head out.
JimW
nice lake
I have fished Dalhousie Lake many times over the years. I'm no expert, but here's what I know:
The lake is deep and rocky at the upstream end (good for walleye), and quite shallow and weedy at the lower end. A biologist I met there a few years back told me the lake was one of the healthiest ecosystems in this part of the country. I caught the biggest walleye I ever saw in Dalhousie a few years back, but I do better with LM and SM bass, which are plentiful. The vast weed flats at the lower end of the lake hold lots of fish, but they aren't always easy to catch. The lake has a lot of cottages and a couple of mon 'n' pop resorts, so there is some angling pressure.
A note of caution: Dalhousie is a couple of miles long, very open and shallow, and the prevailing winds blow right down the length of it. That means some pretty big waves develop quickly and often. So keep an eye on the weather, especially if your boat is small.
There's a private launch (with a fee) right at the bridge at the foot of the lake, and I think there's a municipal launch at the beach/park at the head of the lake (where there are also some cool, funky old-time cottages.)
From the foot of the lake, you can float down the Mississippi about five miles to Sheridans Rapids, with decent fishing at a number of spots along the way. When you're leaving the lake, follow the navigation signs on the birdge. There's only one channel, and if you miss it you will wreck your motor.
Jeez, long-winded, aren't I? Sorry about the verbosity. Hope this helps.
The lake is deep and rocky at the upstream end (good for walleye), and quite shallow and weedy at the lower end. A biologist I met there a few years back told me the lake was one of the healthiest ecosystems in this part of the country. I caught the biggest walleye I ever saw in Dalhousie a few years back, but I do better with LM and SM bass, which are plentiful. The vast weed flats at the lower end of the lake hold lots of fish, but they aren't always easy to catch. The lake has a lot of cottages and a couple of mon 'n' pop resorts, so there is some angling pressure.
A note of caution: Dalhousie is a couple of miles long, very open and shallow, and the prevailing winds blow right down the length of it. That means some pretty big waves develop quickly and often. So keep an eye on the weather, especially if your boat is small.
There's a private launch (with a fee) right at the bridge at the foot of the lake, and I think there's a municipal launch at the beach/park at the head of the lake (where there are also some cool, funky old-time cottages.)
From the foot of the lake, you can float down the Mississippi about five miles to Sheridans Rapids, with decent fishing at a number of spots along the way. When you're leaving the lake, follow the navigation signs on the birdge. There's only one channel, and if you miss it you will wreck your motor.
Jeez, long-winded, aren't I? Sorry about the verbosity. Hope this helps.
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baitcaster
- Bronze Participant
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- Location: Perth, Ontario
- Contact:
DALHOUSIE LAKE
My two cents:
Just had a guy in for minnows that was off to Dalhousie Lake. He said it is good walleye fishing at the bridge.
Have never fished it but hope to soon.
Just had a guy in for minnows that was off to Dalhousie Lake. He said it is good walleye fishing at the bridge.
Have never fished it but hope to soon.
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Scum Frog
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- Location: Carleton Place
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I try to fish Dalhousie a few times a year.
The hot spot is the bridge at the end of the lake. This is where the Mississippi flows into the lake and is the deepest spot as well. You can see a channel of about 30 ft running out from the bridge for a few hundred yards with your sonar.
Nothing to worry about now , but for those thinking of fishing Dalhousie, the area around the brige is closed to walleye fishing until the first Saturday in June. Same idea as the run to Innisville in Mississippi Lake. It's open now
The rest of the lake is good for bass & pike and walleye as well. It gets progressivly more shallow as you move towards the other end of the lake ( boat launch, restaurant, bridge ) and the lake turns back into the Mississippi. This stretch of river is good for bass, but navigation can be tricky, so becareful.
The hot spot is the bridge at the end of the lake. This is where the Mississippi flows into the lake and is the deepest spot as well. You can see a channel of about 30 ft running out from the bridge for a few hundred yards with your sonar.
Nothing to worry about now , but for those thinking of fishing Dalhousie, the area around the brige is closed to walleye fishing until the first Saturday in June. Same idea as the run to Innisville in Mississippi Lake. It's open now
The rest of the lake is good for bass & pike and walleye as well. It gets progressivly more shallow as you move towards the other end of the lake ( boat launch, restaurant, bridge ) and the lake turns back into the Mississippi. This stretch of river is good for bass, but navigation can be tricky, so becareful.
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ArcticCat2
Great Pancakes Nearby
I have not fished Dalhousie, but I know in McDonalds Corners there is a terrific pancake place called Wheelers Pancake House. They make their own syrup and fresh pancakes all day long. It is in an old converted barn, quite nice. It is well worth the 45 minutes it takes for us to go there whenever we are at our cottage.
The lake sounds pretty good too, maybe worth a Sunday excursion.
The lake sounds pretty good too, maybe worth a Sunday excursion.
Re: Dalhousie Lake
I have fished Dalhousie on and off for the better part of 20 years now!
I must admit the soft water action is much better than the hard water action! However, the odd day than the hard water action can be non-stop! But it is mostly hit or miss.
For ice fishing, take a look at a map of the lake showing the depths. There is a horseshoe shelf that cuts off the shallow east end of the lake from the main lake. The drop off ranged from 5 to 10 feet. If you park yourself anywhere along this drop-off you will probably hit lots of Perch, Snot rockets, and the odd walleye.
I have heard that there is good ice fishing to be had on the west side of the lake, where the ice tapers off to open water. I have never ice fished there myself, because the fast current keeps that end mostly ice free all year so I do not chance it. However, It is very productive during the soft water months though!
I must admit the soft water action is much better than the hard water action! However, the odd day than the hard water action can be non-stop! But it is mostly hit or miss.
For ice fishing, take a look at a map of the lake showing the depths. There is a horseshoe shelf that cuts off the shallow east end of the lake from the main lake. The drop off ranged from 5 to 10 feet. If you park yourself anywhere along this drop-off you will probably hit lots of Perch, Snot rockets, and the odd walleye.
I have heard that there is good ice fishing to be had on the west side of the lake, where the ice tapers off to open water. I have never ice fished there myself, because the fast current keeps that end mostly ice free all year so I do not chance it. However, It is very productive during the soft water months though!
Re: Dalhousie Lake
Wow a post from 2004 talk about being brought back from the dead