Mazinaw Lake and Surrounding Lakes Fishing

[Spezza_Fan]

Hey guys,
I'm heading down to Bon Echo Provincial Park on Thursday and would love to do a bit of fishing. Being a Quebec resident, I've never fished the Ontario side so I don't know this area much. I'm just looking for some Pike/Bass spots that could come in handy from shore. I would really love to catch a nice LMB for once this year. If you guys know of any boat rentals places that are worth while please let me know. I've read the Mazinaw is over-fished and not worth while so anything surrounding that would be much appreciated.

I should be good to get an non-resisdent Ontario fishing license from Canadian Tire right? It's about 50$ if I'm not mistaking.

Thanks,
Derek

[MLR]

Mazinaw is a huge lake, not sure how it could be over fished, and by the look of the pics on Smarts Marina web site, there are some decent sized fish.

Smart's Marina, just down the road from Bon Echo rents boats and sells bait

http://www.smartsmarina.com/rentals.php

There is an endless amount of lakes in the area, have a look in google maps.

[moonshine]

well Derek, we used to have a trailer at Mazinaw when i was a kid. we used to catch pike in the tributaries only. after a couple years we just resigned to leaving the tackle at home. it was so frustrating. i've only caught 3 pike there and they were all on the same day. i hope its improved but i doubt it cause my buddy went to Bon Echo 2 yrs ago and when he inquired about the fishing, he was laughed at.

[Spezza_Fan]

Thanks MLR. I only read that it was a tough fish on Mazinaw. I will definitely try it but I cannot say anything until I try it out. I'll look into Smart's Marina. Thos look like good prices for boat rentals.

[moonshine]

Smarts Marina is pretty good and they will be straight like they were to my buddy. hopefully they can point you in the right direction as to another lake to shore fish as well.

[Spezza_Fan]

That's what I read all over the place on the net. Apparently the lakes surrounding Mazinaw do have some amazing fishing but I would just like to target a couple of them that are accessible by foot.

[horsehunter]

They hold a large bass tournament there every year so there must be some numbers the lake contains good numbers of lake trout and some walleye.

Next lake over Shabomeka (sp) has bass and lake trout

[Gord]

Skootamatta and Sheldrake are also nearby and worth a look. You can even try Joeperry Lake.....it's within Bon Echo PP.

[Cyber]

You want an adventure??

Pack a light amount of fishing gear, take the 'ferry' from the lagoon
across the lake to landing at the bottom of the Big Rock, climb the
trail (long but easily negotiated) to the top of the rock (the view is
worth the effort ), and then when you're up there make your
way to Kishkebus Lake.
It's small, hardly 'pounded' like Mazinaw , and condusive in
spots to shore fishing. I think it would be worthwhile. And even
if it isn't a memorable 'fishing' excursion, the scenery is definitely
not something you'll see everyday.

[Spezza_Fan]

Yeah I saw that lake up there Cyber. I was thinking about bringing my gear up andtrying to fish it. But my questions is, is it really worth me paying 50$ for a fishing license for maybe 2-3 days of fishing when I might not catch anything?

[mblaney]

.. is it really worth me paying 50$ for a fishing license for maybe 2-3 days of fishing when I might not catch anything?

Depends, I think for "fishing" it's worth it - if you need to put a value on your catch then, no probably not.

I grew up on Mazinaw, there is lots of good fishing around. Pickerel used to be really good but with MNR insisting on forcing the lake to be a lake trout lake the walleye population have really dropped.

This is a very deep lake; troll for walleye in 15-25 FOW with a worm harness; early morning and at dusk. Won't help you if you are shore bound. I have snorkeled around the Narrows - there are LOTS of very big fish there, walleye and bass but with all the traffic they are not very active.

If you would like an easier (also more pressured) lake to access than Kishkebus, try Machesney (sp?) - about 10 north of the park entrance on west side of 41. Lake is stocked with splake. Rock lake was also very good (bush road through Browns Camp) but something happened there and there is a 'private sign' at the access to the lake

[Spezza_Fan]

.. is it really worth me paying 50$ for a fishing license for maybe 2-3 days of fishing when I might not catch anything?

Depends, I think for "fishing" it's worth it - if you need to put a value on your catch then, no probably not.

I grew up on Mazinaw, there is lots of good fishing around. Pickerel used to be really good but with MNR insisting on forcing the lake to be a lake trout lake the walleye population have really dropped.

This is a very deep lake; troll for walleye in 15-25 FOW with a worm harness; early morning and at dusk. Won't help you if you are shore bound. I have snorkeled around the Narrows - there are LOTS of very big fish there, walleye and bass but with all the traffic they are not very active.

If you would like an easier (also more pressured) lake to access than Kishkebus, try Machesney (sp?) - about 10 north of the park entrance on west side of 41. Lake is stocked with splake. Rock lake was also very good (bush road through Browns Camp) but something happened there and there is a 'private sign' at the access to the lake

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I will have to check Machesney then. And these Splake can be caught from shore you say?

[mblaney]

Yes you can but a canoe or float tube would really help.

When you get to the lake there is a really easy access - often there are some RV's parked there - people camping. It is very obvious when you get to it, the bush road passes within 100 ft of the lake, about 200 yards past the gates to the Junior Ranger camp. You can cast out from there or work your way around the lake that would be better.

From the RV "camping area" if you look towards the west there is a nice rock outcropping; if you follow the bush road around the lake (to the west end) you only have to bushwhack a couple of hundred feet to get to the shore. I actually drove my 2WD Ford ranger down to the shore there once, so the bush is very open.

Also, from the rock shore, the lake is very shallow rock bottom from there around to the north shore. It is easy to wade to the north shore 2 ft deep?), water gets deeper there with nice structure.

I would suggest a simple worm on a hook with a bobber.

[mblaney]

If you manage to rent a power boat for Mazinaw I recommend the following for walleye (upper Mazinaw):

- North shore of Campbell's bay
- South shore of Bear Island and along the first part of north shore of German (gets shallow as you head east)
- Bottom of Campbell's bay; from where the creek enters, head south and then west past the cottage with the radio antenna, around the island with the little white cottage - dynamite!

Get a worm harness down about 15 ft; white or yellow spinners.

If you want bass, pick pretty much anywhere. There is a nice shoal along the north end of Bon Echo rock (the mountain) - the rock will be just above the surface at this time of year (probably 12") and about 30 ft from shore.

Watch the weather if you are in a canoe; crap comes up pretty quick on that lake

That is a very beautiful lake - and the best part is not at the park (except for maybe some sights at the beach).

[beerheart]

I spent a week on Mazinaw this summer and had a tough time finding good bass and then when I found them, it was tough to get the big ones to bite. I did catch 1 - 4 lb smb and had a follow of a monster but other than that only managed a bunch of 1 lbers all smb....best place I found is first large bay on the right as you leave that marina ....about 1 kilometer away.

Good luck