
Canada Trip
Big Rideau Lake is a good lake. Its the largest lake in eastern Ontario. Big deep and clear. Everything from lakers to bass, some walleyes but they are nearly non existant. Its about 20 miles long and about 3-4 miles at its widest. It is quite busy in summer. Lots of tournaments take place here. Fished pretty hard but again there's lots of water. You'll need a decent size boat.
- trexellunge
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:47 pm
I agree, Nordlaw Lodge on Bobs Lake is a good choice (Westport area off 36). Beautiful lodge (my friend spent his honeymoon there), nice dining room (meal plan only), bar, clean cottages, good boats\central dock, swimming pool, and gameroom (not to mention the big beautiful lake containing both kinds of bass, walleye, pike and panfish). Griffins Cottages on Gananoque Lake (a few miles north of Gananoque\401) is another good choice. This lodge has a choice of housekeeping or meal plan, beautiful grounds w\gardens, pool, nice cottages, and an interesting lake to fish (mostly largemouth, pike, and crappies, with some smallmouth in the upper half of the lake). Good luck.
- wolfe
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- Location: Marietta, NY & Wolfe Lake, Ont.
I agree with trex in that both Nordlaw (on Bob's Lk) and Griffins Lodge (Gananoque Lk) are good choices for a young family. I've been to both and have enjoyed my stays at both. Either meal plans or housekeeping choices are available to choose from and the staff (especially at Griffins) is pleasant and accommodating. At Griffins you are very close to the Charity Casino in Gananoque -- in case the lady of the house is looking for a little urban action that doesn't involve something with gills.
Good Luck!
W.

Good Luck!
W.
Thanks, Dad, for taking me fishing when I was a kid.
Gananoque Lake....my home water. Err is it Charleston? hmmmmm maybe the St Lawrence.......no wait Dog/Cranberry. Anyway all within 15 minutes, i'm a lucky guy.
If your considering Gan Lake take a look at this place. Its called Shawmere and it's on Redhorse Lake which connects to Gan Lake. I know Griffin's but I think this place is in a nicer setting.
http://www.shawmere.com/
Of course these places are 45 minutes from Smith Falls but these lakes are much quieter than the Rideau and lately the fishing has been better. Gets less fishing pressure than Bob's and the bass fishing is better (my opinion) but there are no walleye (no big deal in summer) but there is Lake trout. There are close to 20 miles of connecting lakes to fish but they are all fairly small and protected.
Nordlaw Lodge is a nice place but its all American plan (3 meals).
If your considering Gan Lake take a look at this place. Its called Shawmere and it's on Redhorse Lake which connects to Gan Lake. I know Griffin's but I think this place is in a nicer setting.
http://www.shawmere.com/
Of course these places are 45 minutes from Smith Falls but these lakes are much quieter than the Rideau and lately the fishing has been better. Gets less fishing pressure than Bob's and the bass fishing is better (my opinion) but there are no walleye (no big deal in summer) but there is Lake trout. There are close to 20 miles of connecting lakes to fish but they are all fairly small and protected.
Nordlaw Lodge is a nice place but its all American plan (3 meals).
- wolfe
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- Posts: 7588
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:04 am
- Location: Marietta, NY & Wolfe Lake, Ont.
You betcha, ganman!ganman wrote:Gananoque Lake....my home water. Err is it Charleston? hmmmmm maybe the St Lawrence.......no wait Dog/Cranberry. Anyway all within 15 minutes, i'm a lucky guy.
I thought they offered housekeeping, but could be wrong. I am also pretty sure "modified American Plan" is offered, where you get b'fast & dinner, but are on your own for lunch. It saves a few bucks. It's been over 5 yrs. since I've been there, however; things may have changed.ganman wrote:Nordlaw Lodge is a nice place but its all American plan (3 meals).
W.
PS: that Shawmere place looks really, really nice.
Thanks, Dad, for taking me fishing when I was a kid.
- trexellunge
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:47 pm
I boated into Redhorse a few times from Griffin's, and it's a pretty long ride (especially when you have to go slow through the river section when the water is low). If you just want to fish the upper section of Gananoque Lake, it's not as far of a ride, but you will find alot more rock than weeds there.... compared to the distant lower section of the lake. Griffin's is located on the lower section of the lake. Redhorse is a much smaller body of water than Gan, and doesn't have the huge weedbeds like the larger lake does. The setting is great at Griffin's if you get a cottage further away from the water(set in the gardens on the hill). Bob Griffin really has a green thumb, along with a most friendly, helpful personality.
Griffin's Lakeside Cottages: 613-382-2858
........Tedford's is another lodge on Gananoque Lake located next to Griffin's (it offers meal plan only).
Griffin's Lakeside Cottages: 613-382-2858
........Tedford's is another lodge on Gananoque Lake located next to Griffin's (it offers meal plan only).
- grumpy7790
- Bronze Participant
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- Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2003 8:23 pm
- Location: SE PA
Red Horse
If its bass you want, then stick with Gan Lake. Red Horse is a very deep lake, some areas are 300' deep.
Charleston right across the border holds some super smallies.
For a real hide away near the fantastic area of Westport, checkout Snug Harbour on Desert lake.
http://www.snugharbour.on.ca/Facilites.htm
Another spot, more for fishing nuts, is Michael's Cottages on Devil Lake. Devil is a very clean quite lake. Half the lake is surround by Frontenac park.
http://www.michaelscottages.com/
Grumpy
Charleston right across the border holds some super smallies.
For a real hide away near the fantastic area of Westport, checkout Snug Harbour on Desert lake.
http://www.snugharbour.on.ca/Facilites.htm
Another spot, more for fishing nuts, is Michael's Cottages on Devil Lake. Devil is a very clean quite lake. Half the lake is surround by Frontenac park.
http://www.michaelscottages.com/
Grumpy
Ganman, from Shawmere(RedHorse Lake) can I connect to the other lakes by boat?
I recommended Shawmere over Griffins and Tedfords because a) its a nicer place, more picteresque b) more family oriented, at least you can swim there (less weedy and better water quality) c) is strictly housekeeping cottages as opposed to American plan which Tedfords is 100% and close to that at Griffins d) After 35 years fishing the lake I can state that the fishing in the top end of Gananoque lake which is a 5 minute boat ride from Shawmere is as good if not better than the lower end. Those slop weeds don't hold nice fish like the deep coontail beds.Yes you can get to Gananoque Lake. This is were you'll do most if not all your fishing. I doubt its much more than 1/2 mile down Redhorse. Depending on your boat you can get to Singleton and Lyndhurst.
Redhorse lake is no where near 300 feet deep either. Runnings Bay on Charleston ....yes. Deepest water on Redhorse is @ 120 ft. In fact for a two mile stretch in front of Shawmere depths are 20 ft or less.
Its my opinion but I'd prefer a cottage on the water over one up an a hill. Yes I know all three places and the owners. I've lived 15 minutes away for the last 45 years.
Fishing Desert Lake (900 acres, 224 max depth, avg depth 73 ft) would be like fishing Redhorse (750 acres, 120 ft max depth, 33 avg depth)without the option of going to Gananoque Lake....same size, deep, same fish. Now Devil Lake would be interesting.... Charleston on a 1/2 scale. Too bad the cottages are all dumps. [/quote]