On this page, I will attempt to keep an updated daily/weekly account of summer fishing activities with special emphasis on species of fish being caught, depths (if applicable), water temperatures, color & type of lures and any other pertinent information that could be of assistance and a benefit to our fishing guests.

The winter report on local snowmobile trail conditions for snowmobilers can be found on the snowmobile page. Winter ice fishing reports can be found on the Ice Fishing page. Information will be limited to what's biting best this week. Ice depths will be posted as received from local anglers.

We encourage catch and release of the larger fish of all species to retain limit catches for future generations. Don't forget the camera!

All of this information should only be viewed as a guideline and should never be misinterpreted as cold hard facts in any sense of legal obligations. Absolutely no liability will be associated with this and all users assume all responsibility and consequences resulting from their own actions taken from this information.

A NOTICE TO ALL SPRING FISHERMEN:

The MNR has cancelled our spring fishing opportunities for most species, effective March 15 through the 3rd Saturday in May (i.e. the two-four weekend). This new law will do absolutely nothing to protect the spawning size females of all species; it only stops people from fishing for them for a couple months but come spring, it's open seasons on them again. As a lodge owner, this takes a big bite out of the income that is derived from late winter and early spring fishing. As a sport fisherman, it stops your enjoyment of the sport when the blackflies and mosquitoes haven't began yet. Your annual fishing license should be just that ... a license to allow you to fish ALL YEAR.

There are also major changes to the fishing zones across the province. Seasons have also changed. Slot sizes on some species have also changed. READ AND UNDERSTAND these regulations before going fishing!

Full details can be obtained in the 2011 fishing regulation booklet available from authorized license outlets (but not from the MNR offices; it's not their job offering this info any longer) or at the following site: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/027028ex.htm . I URGE EVERYONE TO VOICE THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THIS REGULATION.

Possible alternatives could include:

Have you ever caught a tagged fish?

    

Occasionally, fishermen will catch a fish (usually a walleye in Temagami area lakes) that has a stainless steel jaw tag in its bottom lip. The first question that is usually asked is "Am I allowed to keep it?" That depends on the size of the fish; if it is in the slot size, then the answer is unquestionably "NO". However, if it is not a slotted fish, then you can legally keep it. Before you toss it into the live well or onto your stringer, please think of the reasons that this fish has been tagged in the first place. Whether it is a male or female walleye, it was caught in a trap net in a creek or river that is known to be used as a spawning area in the spring of the year. These nets are the property of the MNR and have been placed there by volunteers from the local Temagami and Area Fish Involvement Program (TAFIP) which collects the spawn and raises young walleye to be placed back in a number of different area lakes and to assist Nature in keeping a healthy population of fish for anglers to harvest in future years. This particular fish was stripped of some of its roe or sperm and then both the weights and measurements were recorded before being tagged and then released back into the lake. MNR supplied TAFIP with the tags. The jaw tag has a 6- or 7-digit number on it that identifies this fish and the year that it was tagged. If you do decide to keep it, please return the tag to TAFIP in Temagami so they can update their data on it. It is also requested that you report the length and weight of the fish as well as the date and name of the lake on which it was caught. If you'd like to keep the tag as a souvenir, that's also allowed but please forward on the info described above as well as the tag number.

The other option would be to weigh and measure the fish, record the tag number for TAFIP (705-569-3240) and then release it back into the lake. This will tell TAFIP how much that fish has grown since it was tagged. If it is caught again at a later date (possibly years from now) and the info is recorded again, it would greatly add to the knowledge base on the health and sustainability of the species in that particular lake. At the present time, only walleye in Lake Temagami and the Cassels-Rabbit lake system have been tagged.

The odds of catching a tagged fish are about the same as winning a lottery. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fish that use a spawning area every year. A small percentage of these are caught in the trap nets. Of these fish, even a smaller percentage are ever tagged. As a volunteer with TAFIP, I helped tag about 30 or 40 fish in both lakes in 2009. To give us a good cross-section of all the fish in the lakes, both males and females were tagged and the weights ranged from less than a pound (a male) to one female that tipped the scales at just under 7 pounds. Needless to say, we had much bigger fish in the 10 to 12 pound range that we chose not to tag. The reason that these large fish were not tagged is because we are more interested in how fast they grow and younger ones will grow a lot faster than these older fish.

So ... enjoy your fishing opportunities and perhaps you just might catch a tagged fish. Recording the info and then returning it to the lake (after all the pictures are taken) will assist in proper management plans for a sustainable fishery not just for you to enjoy but for your children and grandchildren to enjoy for years to come. As for the walleye pictured above, it was a 17 inch, 2-pound male that was tagged and released back into Lake Temagami in 2009.

2011 SUMMER FISHING REPORT.

Saturday, October 8, 2011. We haven't had many fishermen this past week or so now that hunting season is here so I don't have much to report on. I was out a few days ago and just "washed the lures off". The boats will still be in the water until at least the end of the month so if anything happens, I will update it then.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011. Fishing has been better this past week or so. Trout fishermen were having good luck in these last few days before season closes on Friday this week. Pike and bass were also holding up quite well but the big disappointment was the walleye which just can't be coaxed into biting on anything. Some guests even went as far as taking their boat out of this lake and trying other area lakes only to come home with everything but walleye. Water temperatures are dropping off rapidly now, partly because of recent frosts and cool northerly winds under cloudy skies mixed with plenty of rain. It currently sits at 61 F or about 15 C. Most leaves are changing color now and a few have already dropped. They should be in prime for the next couple weeks.

Saturday, September 17, 2011. We didn't have any fishermen last week but there were some new guests come in this week and they were quite pleased with their efforts today. A few minutes off the dock and they had a beautiful 38" northern pike that they guessed weighed somewhere around 15 pounds. After a few quick photos, it was sucessfully released back into the lake. Unbeknown to them, they were quite surprised when I suggested the exact location where they had caught it. They were just as surprised when I said that this was probably the fourth or fifth time that that same fish was caught this summer, not including all the previous years that some of our guests have landed that same fish and had their pictures taken with it. After that, they caught some bass and a couple other too-small-to-keep pike. Tonight, we're all going out for some sunset-walleye. Mid-week brought some chilly nights and we've woke up to frost on the windshields for the last three mornings now. The water temperature has dropped to 64 F or about 18C. Leaves are starting to change color now and there are a few birch leaves blowing around the yard. Maples are just beginning to get some nice reds and oranges in them. All leaves should be in their prime fall colors within two weeks.

Monday, September 5, 2011. It's still not what we're normally used to for early September fishing but there was a wide variety of species caught this past week. Bass were still the main ones but pike were a close second and one whitefish showed up on the cleaning table. The big surprise was the lack of any walleye at all. During the early part of the week, warm sunny days ruled but by the weekend, it was more rain than sun. Friday night had a huge downpour and then more drizzle all day Saturday. Sunday seen a cloud burst at sunrise followed by sunny skies by mid morning. Late afternoon brought cold northerly winds and dark clouds. With radically shifting weather patterns such as this, any fisherman could easily predict poorer fishing. Only a handful of tiny bass were hooked on Saturday. Sunday was worse .. nothing bit. Today's temperatures hovered around 60 F or 10 C with northerly winds. Fishing is still slow. By next weekend, warmer weather is predicted and hopefully the barometric pressure will level out and the fish will be hungry. Leaves are starting to show paler greens mixed with some yellows now. A few of the birch leaves are blowing around in the yard. Fall is approaching quickly.

Monday, August 29, 2011. Finally, the fishing has started to pick up again. Bass were again the predominant species caught but there were also some walleye and a few pike taken during the past week. This past weekend was Temagami's turn to host the Temiskaming Smallmouth Bass Tournament Series on this lake, Cassels, on Saturday and then on Lake Temagami on Sunday. All fishermen reported good catches and the top team here weighed in over 17 pounds of fish for an average of about 3.5 pounds for their 5 fish. Water temperature has dropped slightly again to 69 F or 21 C.

Monday, August 22, 2011. I hate to say it but the fishing has been signifigantly less that what is usually expected for this time of summer. It's been 3 weeks now since we've caught a pike and they are usually aggresive all summer long. Two weeks ago seen an increase in the number of walleye caught but there were only 3 brought in since then. Even the bass were hard to find on the fish finders and even more difficult to put in the boat. After talking with people that have been fishing on other lakes, this trend seems to be prevelant throughout the whole area. Hopefully, things will turn around and at least the bass will pick up for the tournament that will be on this lake next Saturday and then on Lake Temagami on Sunday. The hottest days of summer are slowing down now and the water temperature has dropped slightly to 70 F or 21 C.

Saturday, August 13, 2011. It's been another week of mostly bass with fair to excellent daily catches. However, walleye started to show up more often, especially towards the end of the week after a cold spell passed through the area in midweek. If past years are any indication of this coming autumn, walleye will slowly increase through September when they will make up most of the species caught. For the second week in a row, there weren't any northern pike caught at the lodge. After talking with one of my regular winter guests who was up camping and fishing this lake system, he said the lake trout were plentiful. He also caught 3 nice whitefish and left them with me as he knows I love them. The water temperature has started to drop slightly and now sits at 72F or 22 F.

Sunday, August 7, 2011. We've had another great week of fishing with bass being the main catches again. Most were caught in relatively shallow water depths of 3 to 8 feet over gravel shoals where they are looking for crayfish and other bait in the crevices. Top water "splash" baits and live leeches were working equally well. Only a few walleye were brought in and surprisingly, there weren't any pike at all this week. After an unbearable week of hot winds, bright sunshine and a couple days of high humidity, this morning's rains were a welcome sight. Hopefully, it will continue for at least another 24 hours and reduce the chances of forest fires and the associated fire ban. Raspberries are winding down now and the blueberries are small and dry due to the lack of sufficient moisture.

Sunday, July 31, 2011. It's been a busy weekend and fishing has been a little slower than in previous weeks but die-hard fishermen are catching a few. Bass were the main species and there were a few walleye and pike caught too. Higher than normal temperatures and relentless sunshine has kept most people off the water during the day until it cools down in late afternoons and evenings. Water temperatures have risen this past week to a warm 78 F or about 25 C. The bush is very dry but there hasn't been a fire ban as of yet. Please be very careful with any camp fires.

Friday, July 22, 2011. Most of our guests this past week were hikers and not fishermen so we didn't spend a lot of time on the water. However, yesterday they decided that fish would be good for the evening dinner so we went out in the afternoon and brought home 3 nice eating-size pike which were promptly filleted and cooked. Other guests seen this and decided they would like to have some fish for the next morning's breakfast so we went back out in the evening and brought home another 3 pike of about the same size. I haven't talked to them yet this morning but I'd imagine they've had their fish and scrambled eggs already.

This past week has been unbearably hot but we have had 2 nights of almost violent thunderstorms complete with plenty of audio & video accompaniment (thunder & lightening) and sufficient rains to reduce the chances of forest fires. Wild strawberries are finished but there are still lots of raspberries and all indications are pointing to a good crop of blueberries which are just starting now. Water temperature at the dock this morning was a very warm 73 F or 22 C.

Friday, July 8, 2011. Our success rate has remained fairly constant in the better than normal range for most of this year's fishing. This past week was no exception with guests bringing in full- or near-full counts of fish every day. They were targeting mostly bass so there were few fish of other species being caught. However, we did see a few walleye and only one pike. Clear skies and sunny weather meant that minimal time was lost from enjoying their time on the water. However, the bush is drying out now and with little precipitation predicted over the coming weekend, caution is urged with all campfires. The wild strawberries are finished now and blueberries are just starting. Water temperature at the dock remains unchanged at 70 F or 21 C.

Sunday, June 26, 2011. Bass season opened yesterday and guests have been quite happy with their efforts. Several in the 1 to 3 pound range were brought in and countless other lunkers were released to spawn another year. Walleye were also hitting well but not to the extent of the past week. One guest was surprised to find a small lake trout in 10 to 15 feet of water. The water temperature at the dock is still holding at 70 F or 21 C.

Friday, June 17, 2011. It's been another week of fantastic fishing. I think I can safely say that this past week has had the highest percentage of walleye (both caught & kept as well as caught & released) in quite a few years. With the exception of one whitefish, everything else were walleye, walleye, walleye! And there were lots of them. Guests were limiting out on most days in less than an hour of actual fishing time. This doesn't include the mandatory release of fish within the MNR-regulated slot size nor does it include the release of fish larger than the slot size which the MNR says is allowed (1 a day per fisherman) but must be released as per our self-imposed lodge rules which all of our guests have come to realize is just common sense as these larger fish are spawners and are a significant contribution to the huge quantity of eating-size fish in this lake system. In simple terms, over half of the total fish caught were returned to spawn again another year.

On another note, warm temperatures and sunny days have brought the dock-side water temperature up to 21 C or 70 F. The bass have hatched and the entire shoreline along the docks is wiggling with hundreds, if not thousands, of these tiny black minnows. This past spring has seen one of the highest concentrations of black flies in quite a few years. They are almost all gone now due to the huge amount of dragon flies which voraciously feed on these pests. Although there hasn't been any significant amount of precipitation over the past week, the forest is fairly damp and there is a low to medium danger of forest fires. As always, caution is advised with all campfires.

Saturday, June 11, 2011.Fishing success had dropped off a bit this past week but all three species were about even in total catches. Our trout fishermen reported most fish were caught at the 60 foot range so they are starting to descend to their summer depths now. Cloudy skies and high winds have churned up the lake enough to drop the water temperature to 65 F or about 18C.

Monday, June 6, 2011. Fishing has been good since the season opened a couple weeks ago. The second weekend (Memorial Day, for our American friends) saw a dramatic change in the species leader board. This time it were the walleye that easily took over first place with pike falling to a distant second. Most guests were limiting out on "keeper-size" fish and catching countless others in both the very small sizes as well as those in the slot size range and a few "throw-backs" in the over-size range. Both minnows and leeches were producing quite well for live bait users. Artificial lures weren't catching much of anything and it didn't take long for everyone to switch to live bait. One of our regular 20+ year guests, Peter B. from Hamilton was quite happy with his catch, pictured below, of a 36 inch pike that tipped the scales at just over 15 pounds. It was caught in the bay in front of the lodge on his second cast and was quickly released off the dock after a few photos were taken. Congratulations, Peter!

Bass are now spawning along the shorelines in 2 to 5 feet of water over sand and gravel locations. Please don't fish close to shore or in less than 8 or 10 feet of water so as not to disturb them. Trust me, they are very protective of their nest sites and will not even let minnows or perch in these areas. If you're fishing here, you're wasting your time on the waters. Also, moose are quite active in the grasses and marshy area along area roads at this time of year. Several collisions have been reported and although no human life has been lost yet, the same can't be said for the moose or the vehicles involved in these incidences. Drive carefully, especially at night, as the moose prefer to stand on the warm asphalt and soak up the day's heat rising from it. Sufficient rainfall has kept the bush saturated (1.8 inches last Saturday) and forest fires are not a problem at the present time.

Monday, May 23, 2011. The long holiday weekend isn't over yet but I thought that I should say that the fishing has been great! Lake trout were the most common catches with weights ranging from 2 to 5 pounds. Northern pike were a close second with the same weights but a few fewer fish overall. Walleye were slow (one 1.5 pound fish) and there was also a nice 3 pound whitefish brought in. Blackflies are out in masses now and the humid weather and slight rains keep them active all day. Water temperature at the dock today was 20 C or 68 F.

Friday, May 6, 2011. I have nothing but good news on all fronts. The ice finally left the bay earlier this week and was off the main lake a couple days ago. Water levels are at normal summer operating levels now. This is a pleasant change from last summer when an unexpected dry spring and lack of precipitation all summer kept water levels at about 4 to 5 feet lower than normal. Most of the snow in the bush has melted now and there are only a few patches of the white stuff left under thick cover of cedars and spruces in low-lying swampy areas. It could be another month or so before the frost is completely out of the ground in these areas that are preferred by moose as a cool location to avoid the pesky blackflies that will be emerging in a couple weeks. Also, the walleye are spawning this week in area creeks and rivers and from what I have seen as a volunteer with the local fish hatchery for well over 20 years and through my involvement in collecting eggs, we will have our annual quota of eggs within the next week or so, which again, is much faster than the 50% allotment we collected last year over a 30 day period. Fishing seasons open in a couple weeks (May 21) and like everyone else, I'm anxious to wet a line again.