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2:41 pm
August 28, 2013
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Hey all,
I took my father on a fishing trip to Lake of the Woods on the Northwest Angle this July. My sister and mother came along just to get away. Figured I would share some pictures. It was an amazing trip. Lost track of the number of pike we caught, I caught my personal best muskie(43") and pike(40"), my sister caught her first ever muskie, and pops got his first muskie(35") in 72 years. I got some really cool go-pro footage too..My sister did more spectating/picture taking than fishing, but still caught some nice fish. I told her she needs to work on her picture taking skills with the fish as every one is partially cut off lol. The only downside was the 29hr drive each way. Regardless, I think I would still do it all again.
And on a side note, I am really unhappy with the landing net I had. I will not be using it again after this trip. It was my fault for not reading the description more carefully as it was listed as coated and snag free, but it damaged the fins on some of the fish and I was genuinely not happy about it. Can anyone suggest a good replacement, or can I just buy a net and put it on this hoop?
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Battle wound
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Smallie caught on a double cowgirl
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Bump board my father made with a 32" pike
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Immature bald eagle
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PB 43"
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Pop's with his first muskie ever. This thing exploded on a DC10 and came 3ft out of the water when it hit it. Pops was shaking and breathing heavy... It was by far the best part of the trip.
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Here's a 37" pike that I hooked fishing a "booty call" over a weed bed. he came unbuttoned right at the boat but swam right into the net.
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Pops having some fun running the boat through some 3ft waves
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G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
3:08 pm
August 28, 2013
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I haven't figured out how to edit, but wanted to add... LOTW is an absolutely world class fishery. we marked 24 muskies in the first day and a half we were there. the 3rd and 4th days were pretty slow following a cold front that hit in the evening, but it picked up again, and our last day was outstanding. I lost probably as many as I caught, and some of the fish we saw were absolute tanks. I couldn't say how big, but one that came in on a figure 8 with my suick had to hit the 50" mark. It's head/body was massive. He took 3 swipes at my lure. I managed to hit his tail, and he took off. I came back on two separate occasions to try and get another shot at him but it wasn't to be. I would recommend this trip to anyone if you have the chance. We stayed at sportsman's oak island lodge, and it was very reasonable. in total I spent roughly $3500, but that was for all 4 of us, including gas, tolls, licenses, ect...
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
4:03 pm
October 1, 2008
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That's a trip you'll all remember forever. Thanks for the report. Great to have the whole family there and all catching some muskies 8)
5:32 pm
October 14, 2005
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Looks like you guys had a great time! Awesome pics as well! Kudos to you and your dad for your PB's...always a plus!
The driving a bit of a hassle, but worth it , with your successes! Congrats all around!
Sometimes you've got to "jiggle' it, and sometimes you've got to give it one big
"jerk"
TEAM BLACKBERRY
1:37 am
August 28, 2013
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Thanks guys! It was def worth it. I'm already planning my next trip. I think my next long haul is going to be to Lake St. Clair this fall if everything pans out. I've heard a lot of great things about that body of water as well.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
5:57 pm
August 9, 2006
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Do St. Clair as close to the end of the season as possible. I went in mid oct. last year, and Im heading there over Thanksgiving this year. You only need to fish ONE spot. Head of the Detroit River on the Canadian side is where they are. I dont know if its public, but there is a marina about 1/4 mile from there in Windsor ON. Im gonna try and find a place to stay in that area, itll cut down on the traveling for the US side. The muskies stack in there thick while chasing the schools of shad. All the major fishing shows are shot right there. You will notice the huge piles of stone in the fishing shows.
7:12 pm
August 28, 2013
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KENNYW wrote:
Do St. Clair as close to the end of the season as possible. I went in mid oct. last year, and Im heading there over Thanksgiving this year. You only need to fish ONE spot. Head of the Detroit River on the Canadian side is where they are. I dont know if its public, but there is a marina about 1/4 mile from there in Windsor ON. Im gonna try and find a place to stay in that area, itll cut down on the traveling for the US side. The muskies stack in there thick while chasing the schools of shad. All the major fishing shows are shot right there. You will notice the huge piles of stone in the fishing shows.
What do you consider as late in the season as possibe? I was planning on staying in Bouvier Bay.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
1:29 am
March 19, 2004
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Great report Kenny! Thank you very much for sharing and looks like you had great fun with your family.
LSC is awesome but I've never hit it in the fall, they say that's the time but it's hard leaving prime fishing here so I've never done it. Best of luck and let us know how you make out. Cheers!
Chad T
5:44 pm
August 9, 2006
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I think the season closes the first or second week in December there. I hear and see amazing reports of multiple 50's a day in late november and early december. Im not sure where Bouvier Bay is, but I can tell you a high percentage of the lakes muskies migrate to the head of the detriot river, right where peache island is, and into the the channel where st. clair river dumps in. I would HIGHLY recommend fishing the head of the Detroit river though. I was watching musky after musky being caught in mid october last year. And I was told that the Giants havent even shown up at that point, and there were still 50's being caught right beside me. I caught a good number of fish, but I was have follow after follow. I found that spot half way through the trip. I was fishing next to spencer berman, and Jon Bondy the whole time. If they were there beating on the head of the Detroit river, that should tell you something. Also, the walleye guys were hooking muskies left and right, even at the head of the river on the US side. It is pure mayhem. I would just head for the head of the river, dont waste time anywhere else. The only other problem is making sure you are there when the water is fishable/clear. When the fall winds kick up, the water clouds very quickly due to how shallow the lake is. If you hit it right, you wont be sorry. You will start your float about 1/2 above the big rock piles at the head on the Windsor side and drift down to a marina, you cant miss it. Then troll a white deep diver back up to where you started. You have the chance to boat multiple 50's in a day..........THEY WILL BE THERE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. And they are stacked THICK
2:26 am
August 28, 2013
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KENNYW wrote:
I think the season closes the first or second week in December there. I hear and see amazing reports of multiple 50's a day in late november and early december. Im not sure where Bouvier Bay is, but I can tell you a high percentage of the lakes muskies migrate to the head of the detriot river, right where peache island is, and into the the channel where st. clair river dumps in. I would HIGHLY recommend fishing the head of the Detroit river though. I was watching musky after musky being caught in mid october last year. And I was told that the Giants havent even shown up at that point, and there were still 50's being caught right beside me. I caught a good number of fish, but I was have follow after follow. I found that spot half way through the trip. I was fishing next to spencer berman, and Jon Bondy the whole time. If they were there beating on the head of the Detroit river, that should tell you something. Also, the walleye guys were hooking muskies left and right, even at the head of the river on the US side. It is pure mayhem. I would just head for the head of the river, dont waste time anywhere else. The only other problem is making sure you are there when the water is fishable/clear. When the fall winds kick up, the water clouds very quickly due to how shallow the lake is. If you hit it right, you wont be sorry. You will start your float about 1/2 above the big rock piles at the head on the Windsor side and drift down to a marina, you cant miss it. Then troll a white deep diver back up to where you started. You have the chance to boat multiple 50's in a day..........THEY WILL BE THERE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. And they are stacked THICK
My plan was to hit it sometime in November. I was going to try and plan it around the full moon, likely the weekend of the 15th/16th. ouvier bay is to the east of Anchor bay on the US side. I have a decent selection of bulldawgs that I will be using, but not much in the way of deep divers.
I am, by most standards, new to muskie fishing, as I have been actively pursuing them for the past 3 years, with only moderate success. I recently got my father involved in the sport, and I know he gets frustrated with long, fishless days. Our trip to LOTW really put him in a positive mind set as he realized that he is doing some things right. He was able to try different baits/presentations and HAVE success. It is tough to have confidence in your techniques when the population of fish is so sparse as it is comparatively in the Susquehanna (again, this is in part to my limited knowledge). It is much different than bass or walleye fishing, where you can make adjustments and see the results right away. I feel as though LSC will be another positive, learning experience for us both with the density of fish in the lake. My intention is to take my father and my brother on this trip and fish hard for 3-4 days. If we can each land one fish over the trip I will consider it a success. I don't have expectations of multiple fish days, regardless of how common they are claimed to be. To be perfectly honest, I would be happy if just my father and brother caught fish and I was along for the pictures/release.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
3:58 pm
April 26, 2011
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The marina at Windsor is a good launch and decent accomadations very close. Everyone would need a passport though. On the Belle River so right in prime territory.
I get to fish LSC quite a bit but find the fall more problematic due to the wind. Lots of fast moving fronts can make finding fishable water a challenge. Not only from a safety aspect but finding water that isn't chocolate milk.
If you're locked in to the Anchor Bay area there will still be fish there. Close to the St Clair River channels , mouth of Clinton River or even the weedbeds close to the shipping channel.
Take time to look at the NOAA Great Lakes Charts before you go. "IF" you are blessed with calmer waters there are some very shallow sandbars far from any land.
10:07 pm
August 28, 2013
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Larry,
Would you recommend that I hold off until the weather warms up in the spring/summer for my first trip to LSC? I'll be taking my deep V tracker, but im sure some of the fall weather can make things pretty hairy if a storm brews up. I'm not locked in to any area, however my brother does not have a passport, so I was going to try to restrict myself to the US side of the lake. As far as the maps go, I plan on buying a lakemaster chip for my humminbird. I did this on the LOTW trip and it was the best investment of the entire trip. It def saved my bacon a few times.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
2:32 am
August 28, 2013
Offline
KENNYW wrote:
I think the season closes the first or second week in December there. I hear and see amazing reports of multiple 50's a day in late november and early december. Im not sure where Bouvier Bay is, but I can tell you a high percentage of the lakes muskies migrate to the head of the detriot river, right where peache island is, and into the the channel where st. clair river dumps in. I would HIGHLY recommend fishing the head of the Detroit river though. I was watching musky after musky being caught in mid october last year. And I was told that the Giants havent even shown up at that point, and there were still 50's being caught right beside me. I caught a good number of fish, but I was have follow after follow. I found that spot half way through the trip. I was fishing next to spencer berman, and Jon Bondy the whole time. If they were there beating on the head of the Detroit river, that should tell you something. Also, the walleye guys were hooking muskies left and right, even at the head of the river on the US side. It is pure mayhem. I would just head for the head of the river, dont waste time anywhere else. The only other problem is making sure you are there when the water is fishable/clear. When the fall winds kick up, the water clouds very quickly due to how shallow the lake is. If you hit it right, you wont be sorry. You will start your float about 1/2 above the big rock piles at the head on the Windsor side and drift down to a marina, you cant miss it. Then troll a white deep diver back up to where you started. You have the chance to boat multiple 50's in a day..........THEY WILL BE THERE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. And they are stacked THICK
Thanks for the advice Kenny! It sounds like an awesome trip, I just hope i'll be able to put it all together and time it right. Even if I don't end up making it this year, I will be doing a fall trip there at some point. It sounds too good to pass up!
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
2:49 pm
April 26, 2011
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Just like any trip you preplan the weather can make or break you.
Summer will have more stable weather patterns and tons more boat traffic. Fall can be GREAT or it can leave you sitting in your room watching the wind blow. Or the wind can churn mud above the St Clair River and color most of the lake. Have caught nice fish along mudlines in October .
On my own I'm close enough to go when the weather suits me. When matching others schedules we're like one for five having fishable water in the fall. Another factor I've not seen mentioned is LSC water levels typically drop a lot in the fall. Can make some launches a problem.
The chart will let you get an over view of the lake before you go. LSC navigation is easy compared to the 14,400 islands on LOTW. No reefs, few islands and little if any shoreline casting.
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnL.....4850.shtml Scroll around this to get a better idea of depths and distances from the places you're thinking of staying.
It's a good idea to get in contact with Jason Chaney at Michigan Muskie Shop for advice and up to date info.
1:16 am
January 19, 2009
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good times Lenny!!!! thanks for sharin!!
5:53 am
November 3, 2011
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Wow that looked like a good trip. Nothing like that in PA. lol. My partner and I are planning a trip out west next year. We are looking for a lodge with good numbers with a chance at a trophy but there is soo much water out there where do you go. Any suggestions or experience from out there from anyone would be helpful. I checked into the sportmans oak lodge after reading this post. Weve been fishing here in southest PA and the susky for 9 years now and its time we get out of here. Weve been talking about it for years. We really wanna make it a trip of a lifetime. So any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.
4:25 pm
April 26, 2011
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Be glad to try and help. Important background info needed: (1) have a passport? (2) taking your boat ? (3) Locked in on LOTW ?
You can PM or reply here.
8:25 pm
August 28, 2013
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gmusky17 wrote:
Wow that looked like a good trip. Nothing like that in PA. lol. My partner and I are planning a trip out west next year. We are looking for a lodge with good numbers with a chance at a trophy but there is soo much water out there where do you go. Any suggestions or experience from out there from anyone would be helpful. I checked into the sportmans oak lodge after reading this post. Weve been fishing here in southest PA and the susky for 9 years now and its time we get out of here. Weve been talking about it for years. We really wanna make it a trip of a lifetime. So any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.
I can't really speak for any other bodies of water, as my experience is limited to this trip. I will say that the trip did not disappoint. In the first day and a half we marked 20+ muskies along with a number of pike that we hooked/landed.
That being said, there are plenty of other great bodies of water which are closer. Lake Vermillion is supposed to have some great fish, as is Lake St. Clair. You can always make a spring trip to Cave run lake as well, which is just about the same distance. All of these other bodies of water mentioned will not require a passport. (LSC will require one if you want to fish the eastern portion of the lake however there is more than enough water on the US side to keep you busy on your first visit there)
Hell, the Allegheny River/Reservoir is supposed to have some great water, and can be a weekend trip. There are a ton of options out there, and many of them do not have to be terribly expensive. I am trying to find the time to make a fall/weekend trip to LSC and have it figured out to roughly $350/person for the weekend with the 3 of us going.
I took my boat because I am comfortable with it, and after all was said and done it worked out to cost more $$ to rent than bring mine. I lost 6-7mpg over the entire trip, but a boat rental would have cost $160/day. Unless I went to a fly-in location with the $$ to rent a well equipped boat, I would do the same again.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
3:06 am
March 19, 2004
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Hey gmuskie, maybe you should check out Cave Run Lake in Kentucky. About a nine hour drive but very inexpensive to stay. Big fish and good people. Check out KYmuskie.com .
3:17 am
November 3, 2011
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Weve talked about cave run and we said we can hit that just about anytime. We wanna fish LOTW. I also checked into Youngs Wilderness camp in stevens bay. Anybody ever hear of it. Also checked Sandys Blackhawk island. distance isnt a concern its the fish.
4:35 am
August 28, 2013
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gmusky17 wrote:
Weve talked about cave run and we said we can hit that just about anytime. We wanna fish LOTW. I also checked into Youngs Wilderness camp in stevens bay. Anybody ever hear of it. Also checked Sandys Blackhawk island. distance isnt a concern its the fish.
I launched out of Young's bay. Not sure if this is the same location as Young's Wilderness camp, but it is a pretty far ride from any good water if it is, and on my ride home the weather was pretty rough with 3-4' waves. I would not want to run that strech every day. I have heard nothing but good things about Sandy's, and Oak Island seemed to have fish on every island/cove/point ect.... 5 minute ride from camp, and always a spot out of the weather. Either of those options would make for a great trip IMO.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
4:46 am
November 3, 2011
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Im gonna take another long hard look at sportsmans oak island lodge.
4:47 am
November 3, 2011
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thanx guys.
9:22 am
August 28, 2013
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If you do decide to go, send me a PM and I will try to map you out the locations of the fish that I marked on my trip. It will give you a starting point if nothing else.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
2:55 pm
April 26, 2011
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Youngs Camp is on the other side of LOTW from the Angle in Stevens Bay . A few miles from Sabascong Bay and some really good fishing. "IF" I were headed to that end of the lake I'd stay at Mylies . Justin is a great host and muskie addict , also a big supporter of Operation Muskie . He'll get you started right .
At the Angle look into Frank Walsh's Baystore Camp , also on Oak Island. Heck you might even meet Dick Pearson there !
Sandy's fills up pretty fast with a bunch of musky schools throughout prime time. Several miles farther than Oak from Youngs Bay where you'll need to leave your trailer and vehicle if you choose any of the island camps.
We've stayed at Angle Outpost on the mainland . Great accomadations and didn't find the run to fishing areas too difficult. My son calls it Lake of the Rocks instead of LOTWs ! Most everyone has a story that starts with RRRRRRRRRRRR and ends with Bang ! Marine mechanic just before Youngs has a pile of trashed lower units that's very impressive.
While you're doing cost calculations consider gasoline on the Islands is more expensive than the mainland . Last time we were at Frolanders gas was almost $ 8 a gallon while mainland gas was just over $ 3 .
Lots of fish and you'll get plenty of practise on your figure 8 and getting Cowgirls out of rocks .
3:38 am
November 3, 2011
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has anybody ever fished the manitou. ive looked there too. im going out of my mind finding a place. lol
4:20 pm
April 26, 2011
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In northwest Ontario there are few places that rival LOTW for numbers and some big fish. Manitou , Dryberry, Stork, Long Legged all have solid populations and huge fish ,just not LOTW numbers. Add fly ins and Rowan is about as good as it gets [ not made that trip ]
To help drive you more over the edge check out Gord's place on Eagle. Eagle is more challenging with notorious followers that don't bite. Very beautiful and even tough times will be tons better than what you are used to.
Note package costs here "IF" you don't want to trailer a boat. http://www.vermilionbaylodge.com/
7:38 pm
April 26, 2011
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LOTW out of Baystore Camp.
http://youtu.be/NTrHNixWxUw
1:20 pm
August 28, 2013
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Awesome video! Thanks!
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
9:41 pm
March 26, 2004
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Lenny,
First of all, looks like a great trip. LOTW has been on my list for a long time, and probably will not get crossed off for a while. Too many other things going on.
Regarding the net, I had a similar net that chewed up fins pretty badly. I think it is mostly due to fins getting through the relatively coarse mesh. The other problem with was that smaller fish would get their snout in the netting, and then teeth and those jawbones would get caught in there and make a mess. I put up with it for a while, until we got a fish so tangled up in there that we had to cut the net to get it out; the fish ended up dying.
I just replaced the netting. Beckman, Frabill, and Stowmaster all have some pretty good choices. I liked the Frabill Conservation Series bag that had a similar size and shape, but the original net was a Cumings (that they don't appear to make anymore), so I replaced it with their "PVC Coated Knotless Nylon" net with 3/4" mesh. Time will tell if it is as good as the "name brands". I've had about a half dozen fish up to 47" in it so far, and has worked pretty well.
Conventional wisdom is that the downside of a finer mesh is that a hook point is more likely to get caught on it, but I have found that this new bag is much better on fish and doesn't create anything near the mess.
Chris
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