2015 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2015 | Page 14

Photo: Bill Lindner Photo: David Zroback World Class Fishing in Sunset Country Walleye Walleye are why most people come here to fish and for Big and nasty is one way of describing northern pike and they certainly have earned this reputation. The top predator in most lakes, the northern pike up here can exceed 45 inches and 30 pounds. Just about anything works with northerns but many anglers love to throw big jerk baits or spoons onto rock piles, sunken timber or along the weed lines. If you get a big one to hit be prepared! www.ontariopikefishing.ca Bass Sunset Country waters harbor both small and largemouth bass If you’re a dedicated muskie hunter, you already know Sunset Country is the promised land of muskie fishing. We have these amazing predators not only in big numbers but of the “supersize” variety. In some lakes, you’ll be hard pressed to catch fish smaller than 45 inches and if it’s your day to shine, there are big girls over 50 inches that await your cast. www.ontariomuskiefishing.ca Pike Photo: First Nation Guide Service good reason. They are the ultimate table fare and our thousands of lakes are loaded with them! These fish have a beautiful gold colour and in some lakes even a green or blue tint. Jigging with live bait in 20 to 30 feet of water is the most reliable method of catching walleye but they also bite a wide variety of artificial baits. www.ontariowalleyefishing.ca Photo: Smith Camps Muskie Photo: Bill Lindner but smallies are much more common. Pound for pound, our bass are the best fighters in the lake so look for a wild and fun retrieve if you hook into one. You can catch bass using spinner baits, plugs, raps or plastic. Try a tube jig if the fish get finicky. The biggest smallies go up to 7 pounds with big largemouth slightly larger. www.ontariobassfishing.ca The vast Canadian Shield landscape is dotted with thousands of clear, deep trout lakes which offer some of this Continent’s most consistent lake trout fishing. If you’re up here shortly after ice out then spin cast for lakers in 10 feet of water. Most of the time, these fish are deeper though so down rigging or drop-shotting are two methods that work well. Our northern rivers also have native brook trout. www.ontariotroutfishing.ca Trout 14 While we are not generally known for our panfish, when it comes to crappie and perch fishing, we can compete with the best destinations out there. Our black crappie can slab out at 3 pounds and boy do they ever taste good! Try jigging for them in the spring or fall or repeat the attempt through the ice. Once you find them you’re going to catch a bundle! Perch are everywhere and are very easy to catch! www.canadafishing.ca Crappie & Perch