Smallmouth Bass at Beaverhouse Lake
We thought the spring bass fishing was good in Beaverhouse, where we had trouble going more than three minutes between bites on topwater baits. Well late summer proved to be almost as good - lots of fish in the 14” to 16” range and several over 16” up to 18+”.The Jim Zimmerman party, two seasoned fishing buddies, told us the story of Jim, who got a backlash. While he messed with his reel fixing it Arvid K. caught and released over 30 bass in that short time. The fish were in the mouth of a fast moving stream and you could not get a hook in there without getting a bite. Even many of these late season fish were very active on topwater baits, with a nice northern taking one every once in a while.
Big Smallmouth and Largemouth in Nickle Lake
Everyone who likes to catch big smallmouth should watch for the Wilderness Journal show on PBS. Host Kyle Randall and his brother Mark spent some time at Ajax and Beaverhouse this spring and got a couple of great shows. Nickle Lake, a portage lake off of Ajax was really hot, with the big bass just coming in to spawn. Kyle and Randy’s boat caught 20 smallmouth from 18 to 21 inches, one 21” largemouth, several northern and lots of walleyes for dinner in just a morning of fishing. Mark, a confirmed northern pike addict, may have been a convert to B.A.S.S. by the time he left Beaverhouse two days later. We visited Nickle again in early October. Again some big fish - Dale a 21” largemouth, Paul a 25” walleye, Randy a 21” smallmouth, all released.
Who is Hunting Who?
Kevin Mannering from the Rambo party took this great photo of a cub that climbed the tree beside his stand and threatened him by clawing and spitting at him for half an hour.
Great Fall Fishing on Lake of the Woods
It was a great season of fishing for all species. The fall not only produced some nice fish but really good numbers of fish. The walleyes moved (as did the baitfish ) into the deeper fall spots in late September and cooperated with anglers right through the end of October. Of course along with walleyes we had northerns, muskies and some crappie all mixed up in many of the seasonal fall spots. This created quite a smorgasbord of opportunities but also tough decisions for fishermen. All of a sudden while jigging for walleye something really big would grab your hook. If you were lucky and the northern or muskie did not cut your line, you often got it in the boat, but sometimes after the burst of adrenaline caused by your drag screaming you would come away empty with your hook gone - now what to do? Put on that leader and maybe not catch as many walleye, or take your chances?
Ducks and Grouse Plus
While the ruffed grouse were plentiful in some areas we hunted, you were not always guaranteed a feed. On the other hand the bluebill and other ducks provided some of the best shooting we have seen in the last several years. Steve’s hunters from Louisville had great shooting all week the third week of October. Geralds hunters as well a week earlier and the boys from Springfield produced some startling results after two of them spent the summer at the trap range. All these groups combined fishing and duck hunting for a great fall experience.
Whitetail Deer--- What a way to end the season!
The opportunities to hunt whitetail in Ontario is expanding with some new archery and muzzle loader seasons. Our OFAH group from eastern Ontario took advantage of that and resident antlerless tags to bag some game before the rifle season started. Steve and Byron did some drives when the rifle season opened and not only pushed out some deer but a big bear that squirted out of a den under Steve one day (can you say “HOLY *&%$) - a nice big ten point buck came off the same drive.Our Vermont and Minnesota hunters did well later in the season, passing on quite a number of smaller bucks. Several of them found what they were looking for, a big Ontario buck of over 250 pounds. Mike Adam’s was a bit far back, 1.3 miles, but thanks to Byron and Steve he came out on the pack frames.Our late resident hunt is not quite over (Dec 15) but you may want to ask Steve about the “Three Buck Drive”. It includes running out of shells, a bucks ventilated ear, a big ten pointer and a lot of work.We still have some shed hunting to do and will keep you posted on what we find.
