Looking for an ice report for either lake any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers jeff
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Looking for an ice report for either lake any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers jeff
Hey Jeff, i'll let you know shortly, i'll be on another lake in the area tomorrow and will be checking in on eagle lake, moose, west, haliburton and percy this week.
*haliburton lake, not the lake in haliburton.... haha
Thanks I really appreciate it. It's a 2 hour drive up there for me. Cheers jeff
Hey Man, Ice huts are starting to go out in the area, you see them here and there when driving around, so it's mostly safe (still some water, and the regular danger zones) the stakes haven't been put up for the snowmobile trails yet though, but i just talked to my buddy and he's fished Haliburton lake and Oblong lake already.
Hey guys, any updates on the ice on Moose or Eagle. Going to be heading up this weekend and just wondering how it is up there.
Thanks for any info.
Rob
Just got this email from my old man. He lives in Eagle Lake (on a different lake, not eagle or moose, but he's still a resident of eagle lake) He also works at the Hatchery in Halliburton.
"It is supposed to get really cold at the end of the week. They are calling for minus 30 nights. There will be no ice problems anywhere after this week. Hope you can make it up.
Still not much snow."
Prior to this email we were talking about how some lakes still had LOTS of water on them(water over the ice, not open water), so it sounds like that's all freezing up now. i don't think i'll make it there next weekend, but the weekend after, i hope you do well. what lakes will you be on? i fish Halliburton lake and Percy lake a lot. also west lake for 'bows. rarely moose and eagle, because of the rod restrictions.
Thanks so much for the info. Looks like I won't be able to get up this weekend as they are still laying the flooring at my parent's place. I usually just fish Eagle and Moose as they are right on Eagle, and with little kids I rarely have time to go out and investigate new lakes. How is the access on any of those lakes that you mentioned without an ATV or snowmobile. I'm a walker when I fish so getting somewhere to park so I can walk out with my gear is always key. :)
Thanks again,
Rob
Halliburton Lake has great fishing, and it does have access, there are boat launches and public park access areas where parking is available(and right on the water) and you walk right onto the lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by archiero
LOTS of whitefish and ling in there too, not just lakers.
here's a map showing the two best access areas for you. you'll park at FIRA (fort irwin resident association) parking lot, or just on the side of the road.
These are both public access points, so you don't need to know anyone to use them.
if you're interested i'd be happy to share a few more tips. i know the lake extremely well, as well as anyone i'd say. i worked at the hatchery, and built many of the homes on haliburton lake. i have many friends there, and family living on the lake as well. i've hard water fished it a couple hundred times i'm sure at least. plus it's an easy drive for you if eagle lake is being hard on you! i lived in eagle lake for years.Attachment 32020
That picture didn't blow up very well. i can get a better one tomorrow, for tonight though i have to run... if you take the 14 towards haliburton lake, go through fort irwin, the marina will be on your right, drive past it until you see FIRA on the left, and park there, across the road is the lake and it's public access you'll see snowmobile tracks. that bay is a productive spot for lakers.\
i'm describing the northern arrow on the map i posted. get out into that bay and find 40 feet of water on the north shore of the bay. it's usually a sure thing. mostly in the 2-5 pounds range. but large fish come out of that lake every year in the 30+ class.
flytyermiller I sent you a PM
Wow, awesome! Thanks so much for the info. Very much appreciated. We've had the cottage on Eagle for 10+ years now I think (down towards the boat launch) and with so many lakes up there you think it would be easy to try a bunch out but ive driven around a few times seeing water, but unable to park, so very happy with the advice. I only started ice fishing the last few years and have had success with pickerel near bobcaygeon, perch and whities on Simcoe, and have lost a few lakers on Simcoe in the summer. However I have only ever caught 2 lakers, both on Moose lake in about 60 fow. First one was the size of the minnow it attacked, second one was about 11".....so havent really had any success. Hopefully I can get up in the next few weekends or during the March break and then give it a shot.
thanks again,
really appreciate it.
Rob
No problem, let me know if you have any questions, i've answered a few already privately. my parents live down the road from your eagle lake place past the launch haha small world.Quote:
Originally Posted by archiero
i'm not a fisherman that is shy of sharing spots and secrets. so pm me if you want any tips. if you're interested in rainbows, West lake off of harbour road has great access and is heavily stocked (west lake flows into moose)
I've fished west tons of times in summer and through the ice never pulled a bow out yet, any recommendations?
In the summer i don't tend to fish it for bows, i just go there for some quiet bass fishing because it's generally a lake without any other boats, and i lived near there, and my family still does.Quote:
Originally Posted by Craigcoop
in the winter i've done really well for bows though, i'm usually in 6-12 feet of water in one of three locations depending on ice condition (two are an easy walk close to shore if there's a lot of slush and i'm not feeling up for the slog across the lake)
So, to explain my pics here. the two arrows that are near each other, are great spots right now, they produce near shore, AND an added plus is that they are on 'unsold' lots, so you can walk out through the cleared lots if it's slushy etc on the ice. in 6 to 12 feet of water i'll be fishing have to 2/3 down, with a small live minnow on a treble through it's back so it swims freely, with a splitshot sitting 12-18 inches up from the minnow to keep it down and add some weight to my line for feel.
The third area is the larger back island near where the river flows in from bass haunt lake. i like to get as close as i can to running water for rainbows for many reasons (running water brings in colder water, more oxygenated water, and churns up food that fish sit waiting for, all things that bows (and speck) love... cold, oxygen, food are the three keys) BUT it's a hike from the road, so depending on snow cover, slush, ice conditions etc... i don't always fish it.
the first two are right on shore, so it's basically always safe. OH AND, the black square i put on the map is just to point out that the map is deceptive, if you remember the lake well, the area inside the square is actually that big marsh with the creek going through it, it's not actually open water.
the second pic i added was one of the larger bows we've taken on west lake (i blacked out my buddies face, i don't like posting other people online without permission) but we've caught lots in that range in the summer and winter.
And the third pic, is probably an average little guy that i'd get through the ice, and usually have no problem getting 3 in a morning which is a great feed.
hope this helps a little. again, anyone that has any more questions, fire away.
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Oh and keep in mind, this is a heavily stocked lake (not sure why really, because it gets almost zero pressure, and the fish are naturally reproducing there too) but i'm not complaining because i love little quiet lakes like that.
so if you ever need to cheat and no one's looking, use something that resembles the pellets that we feed them at the HHOA hatchery (i used to work there) they were all raised in the ponds of the HHOA on pellets i used to throw them. haha just don't tell your buddies that's how you caught them, it's kinda frowned upon and will bring shame upon you and your family.
this tactic works on all stocked fish, especially if you know where they were dumped into the lake, as with all potamodromous fish like the rainbows/steelhead of the great lakes (don't let anyone fool you, they aren't anadromous, despite what OOD has stated in articles in the past) and other bodies of whatever, they like to go back to where they came from.
Awesome man thanks alot, great info. I usually fish the first empty lot you pass off of west settlement road and I've never tried any of those spots. I'll have to give it a try again this weekend. Cheers man best of luck wherever you are fishing next!
funny you mention that first bay, i tried fishing it for a couple of years and always got skunked. that's where the main creek is that empties the lake, maybe they don't like being near moving water that's leaving the lake? but once i moved on to the next large open bay, on either side, i started to get into the fishQuote:
Originally Posted by Craigcoop
good luck, maybe i'll see ya out there!
Sounds good man thanks again
Great info. I"m sure you will see many more guys there now too. LOL
S.
[QUOTE=flytyermiller;956406]
i'm not a fisherman that is shy of sharing spots and secrets.
I can see that.
You will likely have to find a new lake because you just blew that one up.
I doubt that, I know alot of people that know the lake and just don't fish it because it's quite far away from anything, I've seen more people fishing harburn lake or ikes pond than I've ever seen on west, like stated before if your out in a boat on west your probably the only one out there 90% of the time
It's not really the people like us that know the lakes in the area, it's the lurkers from the city that will show up, and sometimes, en masse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Craigcoop
A few weeks ago, a guy was talking about Lake X on this forum. The very next weekend Lake X was really busy.
Finding good back lakes takes time, effort, and trial and error. That's the way it should be.
With a glowing revue and specifics like that, that lake is soon toast.
I used to doubt it too. Then I saw what happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Craigcoop
Same with hunting spots. I've been burned by many guys right off this very site.
It happens.
Best to keep things on the down low, and PM's.
S.
Much of what you said is nonsensical.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinker
1- This lake is no secret, it's on every stocking list, i didn't reveal anything new about it, except where i fish it. The HHOA and the MNR publicly list the numbers, just as the do for all the other rainbow lakes in the region they stock. Heck the Fish-on app says everything i said except i posted where i like to fish it. There are no "secrets" in public stocking anymore.
2- You have to pass COUNTLESS other more productive and easier access, lakes to get to it.
3- If someone wants to put in a 3 hour drive from Toronto they have far better options than this. If they want to put in the time, to fish a tiny lake with hard to catch/finicky rainbows in it, then they're a real fisherman, and they're also strangely/super dedicated to a single post from a stranger, that they nothing about. That's both impressive, and weird.
4- Why are you on here if it's not to share?
And finally.
5- Only people with poor abilities and limited knowledge need to hide how and where they hunt and fish, unless A)It's private property, or B)Your livelihood depends on it, neither of which is the case here.
AgreedQuote:
Originally Posted by flytyermiller
Yeah, I used to think the same thing once upon a time. I've been around here for a long time, met many, many members. Fished with lots of them, and hunted with many more.Quote:
Originally Posted by flytyermiller
I"ve seen it happen with my own eyes. I've had guys set up in my hunting spots that I took them to, build blinds and leave a pile of trash in my spots. I've had a crowd of guys show up at my ice hut and drill the hell out of the area around it....all because I was being a nice guy and trying to help out.
People are lazy. You post all this information about fish you catch in a lake, and they jump all over it. Its not the guys like us who post here regularily, its the ones who just lurk in the shadows and say nothing, contribute nothing, and leave their trash in the parking areas.
You can do what you want, I don't really care either way, I was just offering some friendly advice on my experience with giving detailed information on certain lakes. I have fished that area for many years too, and seen people suddenly appear out of nowhere from reports I have posted on this very site. At the end of the day the locals were complaining and the parking area was piled with trash. People suck, that's all there is to it.
Posting about public areas is not a great idea on any website. If you feel you can help someone, just pm them. No need to share with all the idiots who wreck it for the rest of us. This is not a private site. All you have to do is google a lake name and this thread will come up....any lazy can find all the info they need.
S.
Right on, Thanks guys. I've actually been looking for a new Bow lake near the cottage as my old hot spot got fished out. See ya's Sat.:)
Everyone has the same issue. i am an outfitter. from pickerel opener to the end of bear and moose season i have up to 40 people in my camp, we have 2500 acres, and crown we hunt. Some years i've had successful moose hunters show up the next year, and instead of booking with me, they take a camper in the logging road and park where i took them on crown the year before. it's a risk we all take, but competition isn't a deterrent or an issue for me, i always have another place, and even when i don't have another place, i can always out compete. i know i'm better than a guy that needs to cheat and sneak and steal, so it's of no concern to me.
Like i said before, if you're good enough, you don't have to hide anything, you outcompete regardless.
i'm here to teach (not just on this site, but in my life and profession) not to hold back in fear of someone taking my tricks of the trade. even with my tools they aren't better.
that's my core competency.
Ok, so you don't give a dam if people come out and mess up the lakes, take all the fish, and leave their junk lying around. Fair enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by flytyermiller
I will choose to keep my mouth shut and keep what I've learned to myself so these idiots can figure it out on their own.
S.
obviously i give a dam about those things, but i'm not going to keep a diary buried in my yard as the only source of information, i've now posted two of hundreds of lakes that i have and do fish, it's hardly the secret that's going to take down ontario fishing. do you send emails to fishing tv shows for what they do to? they reach a FAR broader audience than this little thread does, or do you post in other threads about specific ports being hot, or having good ice on the great lakes? why have you keyed in on this one thread so hard? do you live on West lake?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinker
it's public land, people discuss public land hunting here all the time too. it's not the end of the world.
lol how you jumped to saying that i don't care about littering somehow, just shows that this needs to be the end of us talking on this thread. feel free to keep posting, but i won't be responding.
I never said not to share, just to keep it to pms.
And I also said I don't really care what you do, just offering some FRIENDLY advice.
You seem to be the one upset here.
Maybe see you on the water, and no I don't live up there, but I have been fishing that area for many years.
Taker' easy!
S.
You're the nonsensical one flytyer. It would be way too much typing to explain.
Keg Party at West on Saturday, come one, come all, live music too!
Haha.....I'm always in for a Jam session......but I drink whiskey!!
S.
A quick look just now shows 89 members and 350 guests viewing the threads. That's 350 people that are here to gain info and to not add any of their own. I say keep it to Pm's guys. But that's just my opinion.
Chris and Sinker
I'm inchin close to 70 years of age but still going strong.
I fished a ton of spots in LSC/Erie/Detroit River. Helped many out - NOT ANYMORE!
I live a few hundred feet from Simcoe now (almost 30 years), have helped many people out - NOT ANYMORE!
Times have changed. Someone mentioned people are Lazy - maybe thats part of it. I just think selfishness plays a greater role. They leech and disappear. Lurkers are the worst - Sorry, but I totally disagree with providing information over a public forum.
I understand you want to help other fisherpeople out and that's admirable of you, however Chris and Sinker are right.
As an aside, I have fished the lakes mentioned and if I'm up that way this winter, I hope to meet you flytyermiller.
tight lines,
bobby
Just thought I'd chime in, seeing as I come here to learn, and only contribute when I can, whens theres something I can be of help with. Me and my buddy decided to try this lake out this past weekend, we always love to try new spots, and it can be tough because you never know what your getting into. We saw at most 10 huts on the lake, all permanent. We were the only guys out there hiking out with a portable, and we took all our garbage with us when we left because were decent, respectful people.
Kinda ticked me off to read this thread, and read how guys just assume that fairly new-comers to the sport like me and my pal (weve been at it about 5 years) are sure to be disrespectful jerks, who abuse the spots, and the information given out. Where in reality, it couldn't be further from the truth, as we rarely even keep fish (maybe a couple eaters, maybe) and certainly never make a mess or leave garbage anywhere. When we do well, and find a good spot, were happy to share the information with like minded individuals, and share the wealth.
I understand the concern of broadcasting it over the internet, but heres the proof. Information was provided in this thread about a specific lake, and me and my buddy were the only 2 guys out there, with the determination, and love for the sport to make the almost 4 hour drive, walk out a mile through the snow dragging our portable, cut holes with a hand auger, and give it a go. There was no one else to be seen. Anyways just wanted to offer my 2cents, its an awfully long and miserable life when you assume the worst of everyone around you. Don't be the old prick yelling at the kids, let them enjoy your grass too.
Holy crap. Couldn't have been better said. I'm so sick of being the young guy that no one trusts, or assumes is invading and killing the sport....Quote:
Originally Posted by kmay__
My experience it's the people who have been doing this a long time that break the rules and take advantage of spots, etc. This is suppose to be a sport that people enjoy with each other. I love talking to people on the ice, so please don't be rude... Say hi, have fun and for gods sake follow the limits and clean up the garbage!
You pretty well contradicted yourself. You guys went based on what you read. Others will too. If you had a decent day, you share that with others, they go and share it too, and the snowball starts to roll.
You're a newcomer to the sport, Sinker and I have been exploring back lakes for a long time. If you keep at it, I'm pretty sure you'll come to realize, loose lips sink ships.
Also notice the guys who have many years of experience have the tight lips. We've learned the hard way. Fishermen are fishermen. You tell them a good spot and they want to go check it out. I know a lot of guys are like minded good peopke, but like everything else, its the 1% that wrecks it for everyone. Proof is in the thread.....one group fessed up and admits to going. How many other spota have they gone to that they found from here? How many go and dont say a thing? How many go and leave their crap behind?
I learned all my spots by going and learning. Its the best way. The way it should be.
S.
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It would be great if only like minded fishermen would show up at our favourite fishing spots. I fish around 15 different lakes a year in this area always looking for new spots. I have found some really good spots, some I still go to. Others are wrecked by what Sinker calls loose lips, a visit from a CO inspecting your fish, other fisherman see you catch fish, a passing snowmobile stops to have a chat, someone posts it on a forum. Then the next time I go to "my spot" with my kids and my wife we find other people have found this spot. Are they like minded fisherman? I hope they are. But it seems eventually fisherman show up that are drinking, cursing and urinating in front of my family. And usually we get confronted with what am I doing in their spot (this has put my family in an uncomfortable spot more then once). Kmay I get this is not you, but when posted on line it doesn't take long for the others to follow you. I think PM are the way to go
I get exactly what you guys are saying, im huge into mountain biking, and we always build and maintain our own trails as well as ride skihill access downhill trails. And its just that same way, guys find out about your spot, come and ride without helping dig, ride in the wet and rut up your trails, mess with your jumps ect. But it doesn't stop me from sharing the spot with like minded individuals.... I guess that's the problem with the forums, is you don't really know who you are talking too, and who else is reading the thread. You can hope people are decent....but decent people are becoming fewer and farther between aren't they?
You're all hugging secrets... For what? For whom?
I shared ONE of hundreds of lakes that i know and fish. I am a professional. Working in the industry since before i could walk.
Hiding a "good spot" or "secret lake" doesn't make you a better fisherman or an environmentalist.
It makes you an insecure false outdoorsman.
If you need to hide where you hunt/fish to protect your productivity in ontario where we have millions of public acres, then you're either lazy or bad.
Anyone here that complained in this post, or stated that they would never share as i did, is NOT, protecting a fishery, they're protecting their ego.
If you really are a great fisherman or hunter, competition won't effect your results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flytyermiller
No no one said don't share info just use the pm feature so you aren't giving info to the whole world that could ruin a good spot. Do you think Sinker is lying about people ruining his spots by giving info on this site??
His spot, he can tell who he wants, or everyone if he desires. Not your spot, then what is it to you?
How do you know its not my spot too?
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Keeping things on the down low has nothing to do with being a better fisherman, or the environment. It prevents lazy "false outdoorsman" from raping your area. Let them figure it out themselves, just like we did.
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I think it's your ego that is the problem here.
Waaaay too much typing to address all the silly stuff you wrote.
[QUOTE=flytyermiller;I am a professional. Working in the industry since before i could walk
Hiding a "good spot" or "secret lake" doesn't make you a better fisherman or an environmentalist.
It makes you an insecure false outdoorsman. [/QUOTE]
I've been disinterestedly following this thread for awhile but this is the weirdest comment I've ever read.
Like many here, I guess I could consider myself a professional as well other than the 'since I could walk' part.
I've lived and worked in the north my entire life where we have some of the best laker fishing anywhere in the province. I've snowshoed into remote, untried, untested lakes for more years than I care to think about. Then after finding great fishing I've naively brought close friends in to share these finds. And you guessed it! They've brought their friends and they brought their friends and they brought their friends and before long these lakes were done.
So I too am now very close lipped about sharing all the hard work I put into finding decent waters. Yet I'm a pretty darn good fisherman, and I suppose an environmentalist (whatever that is) but I'm far from a false, insecure fisherman/hunter because I no longer share.
What I have learned is that within a season or two any group of anglers who hit a lake without letup can clean it out through sheer greed.
Same here buddy! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
if anyone can tell me if Eagle Lake is slushy or not, I will promise not to hit West Lake for Rainbows, bringing kids up this weekend for some tobogganing, winter campfires and hopefully some skating/hockey on the lake?
Might pop over to Moose for a hr. or two for some lakers!
Last weekend up there it rained and got rid of all the snow on the ice then re-froze. I don't think it will be slushy but I don't know how much snow they got this week.
thanks for the info!