Fishing with Piotr

View Bay Of Quinte in a larger map

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They Bay of Quinte has become the walleye capital of the Ontario. Huge ones are caught here day in and day out in all seasons. Trolling seems to be the most effective method of catching them here, but if you find a hole where they are stacked up, jigging a grub or minnow can also be very effective. Bright flashy colours of lures are the norm here and always seem to produce. Colours like chartreuse and orange really produce a bite from the monster eyes and they will do anything to chase them down. Get a few Rapala Tail Dancers that dive anywhere from 10-20 feet and you’ll be setting hooks all day long. The Bay of Quinte is best known for its walleye action but there is a variety of fish that can be caught here.

Smallmouth bass are also very plentiful in the bay. They are easily caught in drop off areas where is a lot of rocks. Try fishing in and around the many bridges that go across the bay to land this great fighting fish. Largemouth can also be caught in the bay but in calmer waters usually. Check the back bays, any thick vegetation, or in and around docks.

There are also pike and musky in the bay as well as pan-fish such as perch. You can really catch a large variety of fish here so come prepared to fish for whatever is biting. The bay has plenty of drop offs, shoals, and structure to fish so it is never super crowded in any given location and you’ll always find a quiet place to catch some fish.

 
View Pigeon Lake in a larger map

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Like Canal Lake, Pigeon Lake also harbour’s vast amounts of weeds. It’s not a very deep lake which makes the weeds grow like crazy, but that is a good thing. Muskie, walleye, and bass love the weeds as they provide ample food in the form of panfish. You can troll this lake or you can hunker down in a weed patch and try to pull out some monsters.

For trolling the key spots are around Big Island and through the Gannon Narrows. On the east side of Big Island the weeds are thick so you will need a fairly shallow running bait and yes, you will get caught up in some cabbage, but don’t let this stop you from trolling through there. Be persistent and patient and you will come out successful. Around the Gannon Narrows there is some rocky out-croppings and a few points. Target these areas and you can get lucky with walleye and the occasional musky. Other than those two areas you can try trolling just off the shores of the lake.

The weed patches make for a great day out if you are targeting largemouth bass and even smallmouth bass. From the north to the south of the lake you can find a ton of weedy patches with lily pads and sunken tree structure. Try flipping these areas to get your bait right in front of the bass’ mouth.

If you want to go and spend a night at Pigeon Lake, then go to the east side of Big Island and bring your tent. There is plenty of camping spots here but be sure to snatch one up early in the day as they fill up with other boaters. One word of caution, make sure to secure your food properly as the racoons in this area are relentless and extremely brave. I even had one rip into a tent before in search of food.

Fast Facts:

Length: 22km

Width: 3km at its widest

Mean Depth: 3m

Close towns: Bobcaygeon

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If you live in Toronto and want to get out on the water in a quick 30-45 minutes on a great lake, then Lake Simcoe is the place to go. A huge lake located roughly 50km north of the city, it offers a variety of fishing adventures. The water is clear, the fish bite hard, and the ice fishing is excellent.

In the spring try staying on the southern part of the lake, in Cook’s Bay or south west of Georgina Island (The biggest island on the lake). Here you will find early season pike and walleye as they congregate in the warmer waters and get ready to spawn. Make sure to check the regulations on when the season opens up and be there opening day. One word of caution, the waters can be pretty choppy on Lake Simcoe and the weather can really affect the fishing. Be sure to go out on the water when it is safe and check the weather forecast so that you aren’t surprised.

Summer is fantastic on Lake Simcoe. The season is open for all sorts of fish and you can hook into some beautiful largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, whitefish, and lake trout. During the dog days of summer the fish tend to go deep so bring some deep diving crank baits, get ready to troll or just float around and jig the bottom of the lake. Trophy size fish are caught every year on Lake Simcoe so expect to be pleasantly surprised when you head out here. A few shore fishing spots can be found around the lake and they can make for a perfect day out with the family or friends. You can keep busy catching pan fish all day long and occasionally hook into a larger species.

Fall is often overlooked by recreational anglers but it can really be a fantastic time to head out on the lake. The fish are feasting on everything just before the winter and they are fat from a long summer of eating. During the week the lake is almost empty, giving you ample opportunity to pick your favourite spot and really focus on fishing. Do yourself a favour and take a day off work, get some buddies together and have a blast catching monsters all day long.

Winter is a very popular time to go fishing on Lake Simcoe. It is one of the largest lakes in the world that completely freezes over. Ice fishing huts are found all over the lake and tournaments are held almost every weekend. There are a lot of ice hut operators that can introduce you to ice fishing and many of them will supply you with your own hut, rods, and bait. The ice is usually very safe come January and February, but be sure to check with authorities on the ice thickness. During the winter you can expect to catch beautiful jumbo perch, whitefish, and lake trout.

Fast Fact:

Length: 30km at its longest.

Width: 25km at its widest.

Area: 744km²

Depth: Average is 49’ but at its deepest it is 135’

Close Towns: Barrie to the west, Orillia to the north, Keswick to the south, and Beaverton to the east.

Amenities: Since there are many small towns and even some bigger cities like Barrie, you can find almost anything you need. From food, supplies, gas, and marinas you will be well covered.

View Canal Lake in a larger map

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Weeds, weeds, and more weeds! This lake harbours some monster largemouth bass, walleye, and even musky. With it only being an hour drive outside of Toronto this is a favourite hot bed of activity with many shore anglers as well as many boaters. The island in the middle of the lake offers a ton of opportunity for shore fishing and you will always find a spot to cast out no matter how packed it can get. The great thing about shore fishing here is that you really can feel as if you were out in a boat as you can pull in some decent fish just of the banks or around the bridges.

As this lake is covered in weeds it is best to fish it in early spring or in late fall when the cover dies down a bit, but don’t be deterred by this, there is still ample opportunity during the dog days of summer. It may be very weedy but all anglers know that weeds are like the kitchen in your house. They offer cover for many bait fish, crawfish, and insects which the big boys chase after. If you plan on fishing this lake in the middle of summer be sure to find a pocket amongst the weeds and fish it slow with either a spinner bait of a Texas rigged worm. By doing this you put the bait right in the strike zone of the fish and you can expect to land a few monsters here.

Sure largemouth bass and walleye can be caught here but if you’re lucky, patient, and fish here often, you just may land the monster musky you’re looking for. Try following the trolling lines outlined in the map and be sure to fish in and around the two bridges. The deeper waters around these bridges offer a lot of room for big game fish.

For a lake that is so close to Toronto there is no excuse not to get out there and try your luck at catching some monsters.

Fast Facts:

Length: 12km

Width: At its widest 3.5km

Temperature: Can go as high as 25°C in the middle of summer

Depth: A very shallow lake with most areas only 1.5 metres deep

Close Towns: Bolsover and Kirkfield

Amenities: Around the locks you will find washrooms. Along highway 48 there are a few burger joints for a quick snack.

Trolling is a method used by many anglers to cover a lot of water in hopes of catching one of the larger species of fish such as walleye, musky, or pike. Trolling involves casting your bait and letting the line go out as you slowly putt your boat through the water. By casting your bait out and keeping your bail open you will allow the bait to move out a safe distance away from the wake of your boats motor so as not to spook the fish. Of course, once your bait is about 50-60 metres away you should close your bail just in case a fish bites and to begin your troll. Once your bait is out in the water you can hold your rod or use a rod holder and simply manoeuvre your boat through canals, around structure, or through open waters in hopes of catching a hungry monster. This method is very successful when using larger baits such as large crank baits, large spinner baits, or big spoons. As larger fish species tend to cruise around looking for a quick snack, a well presented bait that is moving through the water with a bit of speed can entice them to bite. By trolling you may not put as many fish in your boat as you would when you are fishing for pan fish but when you do catch a fish using this method it is usually a trophy.

Classic Trolling

Classic Trolling: Side view

 The other method of trolling is to use a trolling motor. Now this method is not “really” considered trolling but it also allows you to cover a lot of water and get into some tight places where fish may be hiding. A trolling motor is an electric motor that attaches either to the bow of your boat or the stern. You will see many professional bass anglers using their trolling motors once they find a place where the fish are biting. By using the trolling motor you can pull up your main engine so that it does not get snagged or damaged on anything and then you can simply manoeuvre your boat in and out of weed pockets or shallow areas, the places where the monsters like to hide. When using a trolling motor you will usually be casting your bait and retrieving it making it a quite different method from the traditional trolling method described previously. The electric trolling motor is also whisper quiet which does not spook the fish and allows you to creep in on them as if you were stalking your prey.

For the traditional trolling methods you can use a trolling plate or even a drift sock on your boat to slow down the speed at which you are travelling. When your main engine is on, even if you are going at a slow speed, your propeller will still create a tunnel of water behind your boat. By using a trolling plate you disperse this “noise” from your propeller and help maintain a calm water zone behind your boat which in turn will not spook the fish. Secondarily the trolling plate allows you to slow your boat down even more so that you can slow the presentation of your bait if the fish are proving to be a bit sluggish. A trolling plate simply attaches in and around your propeller and can be lowered quite easily when you desire to do some trolling or can be easily raised when you wish to get under way. They come in a variety of sizes and materials but it is best to get the largest trolling plate you can afford and one that is made out of metal, not plastic, as the plastic ones have been known to easily break off.

A drift sock can also be used when trolling but it is not as effective as trolling under the power of your main engine. A drift sock is quite simply a large cone shaped device with a hole at the thin end to allow water to pass through. A drift sock is lowered into the water and adds more friction while you are getting pushed around the lake by the wind. This too will allow you to slow down your bait or will allow you to spend more time over certain structure, such as a sunken island or drop off, where the fish will be hanging out.

As mentioned you can troll a large bait behind your boat in order to entice to big boys to bite. Traditionally when trolling you will use a large crank bait that can be either deep diving or shallow diving depending on the depth of the water column that you are fishing and the fish you are targeting or a large spinner bait such as a Musky Killer. You can also use a swim bait or even a spoon when targeting the large fish you can catch when trolling. You would never use a worm and bobber when trolling and jigging is also a bad idea. You can easily get snagged up if you were to troll with any of these methods and it wouldn’t prove to be a very effective way of catching monsters. I will go in greater depth about trolling methods and baits to use in later articles but for now this is just to give you an idea of what trolling is all about and what to use.

Check out some of the maps I have posted and target some of the trolling lines I have outlined. Try your hand at some trolling and don’t forget to get some large baits to target the large varieties of fish you can catch using this method.

Perch

Characteristics: Perch can also go by the name Yellow Perch, and for good reason. They have a dark back, almost black, and their sides are a yellowish greenish colour. Along their body they also have vertical black bands. They are related to walleyes yet they are a quite different fish. In some perch their bottom fins have a very distinctive orange colour. If you see any hint of orange on the fins it is a dead give-away that you have landed a perch. They are usually considered pan fish so they do not grow too big. They can range from 6-12 inches and will usually weigh in at a pound or less, with anything over 2 pounds being considered a real trophy perch.

How to handle: Even though they may be a close cousin of the walleye they do not have sharp jagged teeth like them. Like the largemouth bass or smallmouth bass you can easily place your fingers in its mouth to release your hook. When you do catch one they are usually easily handled by grabbing them in the palm of your hand and gently squeezing them so that they don’t jump out while you are freeing your tackle. Make sure that before you grab them you retract their dorsal fin so as to not jab yourself on it. One big tip is to make sure you have pliers standing by in order to remove your hook. These guys are notorious hook swallowers and if you are fishing with a hook and bobber you can expect them to inhale your bait.

Where to find them: These guys are an abundant species and can be found in almost all bodies of water in Ontario. They prefer to hang out on the edges of weeds, but fairly close to an open clear spot where they can quickly swim out and grab a snack then hide back into the weeds. Since they are usually small fish they tend to hide in places where they can make a quick get away from large predators. They can hang around in anywhere from just 1 or 2 feet of water up to 20-25 feet of water once the ice freezes the lake over.

How to catch them: Perch are a relatively easy fish to catch. They are active all day long and can be caught right from morning into the late evening. They are a perfect fish to go after if all you want to do is have some action all day long or want to introduce a child to fishing. The best and easiest way to catch them in simply with a hook and bobber combo. You can simply cast out your line on the end of a dock or from a shore to locate these little fighters. Look for an open spot amongst weeds and just wait for them to come out and go after your bait. Like other pan fish they provide hours of fun and will almost never stop biting. Like rock bass they are not easily spooked by man-made structures such as docks or in and around docked boats. You can also get lucky and catch them using a small spinner or spoon. Once of the best ways to catch them is to go ice fishing. When the summer is gone I can’t wait until the water freezes over and I can land a few of these guys through the ice. With ice fishing they are best caught using a minnow. Usually during this time they have also fattened up so catching them is a lot of fun. On a good day it is not uncommon to catch upwards of 20 of them in once ice fishing trip. Like walleye these guys also make for excellent eating. Usually you can keep a lot of them for eating but again, make sure you check your local regulations as to what size and amount you can keep.

A Live Piotr Perch

Perch

Perch 2

Walleye (aka Pickerel)

Characteristics: A walleye is quite a unique fish. It can easily be distinguished amongst all the other fish species that I will discuss in my articles. The walleye is an olive goldish colour but, its colour can become darker or more pale depending on its environment and what it eats. This fish have sharp jagged teeth and many of them so you want to be careful when handling them. They will range in size from 10-33 inches when they are fully grown and can weigh up to as much as 7 pounds. A very distinguishing characteristic of theirs is their opaque eyes, almost cat-like.

How to handle: As I said, these guys have teeth!!! So be very careful when handling them, especially if this is the first time you catch one. They are meat eaters and they are not afraid to use their teeth to protect themselves. When you are attempting to get your hook/bait/lure out of its mouth be sure to use pliers so as not to hurt yourself. You can usually grab them under the belly to hold them so that you can get your equipment out.

Where to find them: Walleye are an elusive fish and are sought out by many anglers. You can usually find them in large bodies of water that are turbid (cloudy looking water with many particles in it). They can be found both in shallow and in deep waters, but unlike largemouth bass they do not really hang out in the weeds. You can find them on rocky or muddy bottom lakes just cruising around in schools waiting to pounce on their prey.

How to catch them: There are a variety of ways to catch walleye but the most proven and effective way is to use a plastic grub with a weighted jig head. Once you locate a good area where walleye could be hiding you can simply cast your jig out into the water and just pull your rod tip up and down in short little bursts to try to lure these guys to bite. Try to make your rod movement sporadic so as to make your bait seem more natural. Walleye have cat-like eyes so they are able to see very well in the dark or in low light areas. Some anglers go out specifically in the middle of the night to target these bad boys. By jigging close to the bottom you can easily fool walleye into thinking that this is a leech or injured fish, a perfect little meal for them. The beauty of walleye is that once you land one you are likely to find others nearby as they tend to school together.  You can also get lucky with walleye by trolling a spoon at a low speed in deeper waters. These guys are like the panther of the underwater world and will stock their prey down. Jigs and trolling are definitely the most effective methods to land these guys but you can also use crank baits, usually deep diving ones, or even spinner-baits. Try fishing them when the water becomes a bit choppy as this breaks up the natural light that penetrates the water and fools walleyes into biting your bait. Walleye are a fish that can be fished both in summer and even in winter, so there is no excuse to try to get out there and catch some, plus they make for the best shore lunch you will ever have, just be sure to check your regulations on the size and amount you can keep.

Walleye

Walleye 2