Preparing for our trip

[Bobber]

Hello Collin et al;

This June we've booked a week up at your great lodge and we're really looking forward to it. It's a trip of a lifetime that my dad has been talking about for a long long time, and this year we're going to make it happen so can't wait. We'll be a party of 5 with 2 boats that we'll have in tow. We should be able to cover good water, but with 320mi of shoreline, any helpful tips would definately be an advantage, so I'm trying to do a little homework and have a few questions which I'm hoping you can help me out with....

1) I understand that Lac Seul is located in Zone 4. From what I can see, most all species are open during the time we'll be there, with the exception of Musky, which opens the day after we leave. Can you confirm that you are indeed located in Zone 4?

2) I suspect we'll be looking to target all the species that are open for at least 1 day each during our week long trip. We'll be looking to land that trophy Pike during this time. I have several different baits that I use here to catch Pike, but the size of them here looks to be quite smaller than the potential there looking at some of the photos in your gallery. What's the best baits to use which work well for large Pike (42" +)? Spinner baits, bucktails, swim baits, etc? Also, with Muskie not in season, I have several large jerk baits and bucktails that we use here for Muskie, but I'm a little adamant about using them there since Muskie are not in season. Do you use larger (muskie size) baits for these larger Pike? At the same time, is there any particular area that we should stay away from so as to not "accidently" catch a muskie while targeting Pike? I know that's a long shot, but just in case there is, I'd like to know about it so we can avoid the potential at all cost.

3) For Walleye, we have several techniques that we use here in Eastern Ontario, depending on where you are fishing. Jigging is one technique with either artifical grubs, gulp, or minnows. Trolling is another technique and depending on where you are, you can use different approaches. Worm harnesses, slow death rigs, small hard baits like cotton cordells or frenzies, etc. We also fish a little differently in the bigger waters using Rapala deep divers and Reef Runners with planer boards to get those baits away from the boat, trolling in 60+ ft of water. Is there a particular technique that works best there, or should I come prepared to try them all?

4) I noticed on one of your other posts that you have smallmouth bass there. As they tend to like the deeper water with humps and structure, is there a particular area along the shorline close to Moosehorn Lodge that better has those shoreline or off shore features? Again, with 320mi of shoreline, it's a difficult question to answer I know, but just in case there is. Much the same question for Largemouth as well. They tend to like trees and sticks, overhanging shoreline branches, weeds, lilly pads, and slop. Is there a particular area that you know where we should be focusing our efforts for these lovely bucket mouths?

5) I saw some Lake Trout pics in the gallery as well, but not a lot of them. Are they abundant there? How are they normally caught? Jigging or trolling? Do many use downriggers in the area and are they successful with them? Not sure what the depth of the body of water is, so just trying to guage what I should be bringing along with me to be most effective.

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions as we prepare for the day, but I'll start with these ones and do appreciate any advice you can provide.

Tight Lines,

[Colin Gosse]

Bobber, I apologize for the delay, as this forum is not regularly used, although we would like it to be. I will do my best to answer your questions here, if you have any further ones you can email me at lacseulguide@gmail.com - I check that daily.

1. We are under Zone 4 regulations.( with many lakes here in the exceptions section)

2. For Big Pike in June, I would reccommend blue/silver (2/5 ounce) little cleo spoons, as the cabbage weeds are usually not fully grown yet. These will give you your best action on pike at this time, and many big fish have fallen victim to this simply shiner representing lure...it is proven in early June! Bucktails and all other musky tackle are always great ways to target big pike. We have many monster pike caught each season while targeting muskies. Muskies are not open, but they are always catch and release up here. Go ahead and fish for Pike wherever and however you want. Muskies are present in the whole system, and is you accidently hook one, well, let it go. The fish haunt the same waters, so just go ahead and fish. If you were out till dark, pounding topwaters at well known musky spots, it may be questionable. Just go fishing, I assure you that you have no worries here. I do not wish to post musky spots here, but I will show you main spawning areas to stay clear from when you get here.
These high musky volume areas are left alone until opener, and MOST musky fishermen have the respect to let them spawn.

3. For Walleye it sounds like you know your stuff well, and at that time those techniques you mentioned will all work for you. I would disregard the 60+ ft trolling in early June though. Jigging is definetly the mainstay here, and you will catch many nice fish even from our dock at that time. I tend to fish shallow with slip bobbers and leeches alot in June.

4. Early June is a smallmouth fisherman's paradise here. They are highly underfished in this area, large and plentiful. Look for submerged shoreline rocks with a clay bottom in still back bays, there are many close by. In all honesty if you spend a day using a slip bobber/1/8 ounce black jig/leech combo in 2 to 5 ft of water...you will catch all the bass, pike, and walleye that you can handle at this time of year. Even with the early spring this year, they should still be on the beds at this time of year. There are no largemouth bass up here.

5. There are some ancient lake trout in Minnitaki close to camp, we target them in about 40ft of water at this time...but it is a slow process, if you do get one here, please release it, and enjoy the moment as they are HUGE! Accidental lake Trout catches happen most often in June while walleye fishing here too.
For great action on 3 to 5 lb lakers with the occasional ten lb+ I regularly fish Big Vermilion Lake(10 minute trailer down the road). The bass fishing in there is great too, and you will see the smallies on their beds(clear water). The lake is artificial bait only, and in early June we jig white tubes in about 40 ft, and troll shallow(10 to 20 ft) beaches with holographic rapalas(tons of action). Your downriggers will work too, as the population in this 18 mile long lake is great and there are always some trout in all depths. The slot in this lake is 17.7 inches to 23.6 inches...those go back. You can keep up to 2 under the slot, or 1 under, 1 over on a regular licence.

Bobber, I hope this was of great help to you. I know that you will have a great experience here. I recently just linked the fish-hawk site with my own...www.lacseulguide.com
Tight Lines back at you,
Colin

[muskiemamma]

Thanks Colin for taking the time to answer all the questions as I couldn't of done that as well as you did.

I hope Bobber has all his answers and look forward to meeting him.

[Bobber]

Hey Colin and Muskiemamma,

Thanks so much for the responses, they do indeed help to answer the questions I had. Sorry it's been a while since I got back. Just returned from Florida and getting caught up now.

You mentioned the lake was artifical only. Are you referring to the Big Vermilion Lake...or is it artificial in all of Lac Suel? I don't expect we'll be trailering anywhere, just launching from your spot and hitting where ever we can get to by boat.

I'm personally a catch and release fisherman, however will keep a walleye or 2 for some snacks in the evening. The rest of Pike, Trout, and Bass I would definately put them back, and we don't plan to target Muskie. We may accidently catch one while fishing Pike, but hopefully we can minimize that as much as possible by staying away from any high populations of lunge. If we do, they would be handled with care and let go immediately of course.

Thanks for the answers. If I have more questions then I'll either post them here and send an email to the address you provided.

Cheers and looking forward to our trip.

[Colin Gosse]

Bobber, Big Vermilion is artificial only. Start your countdown....

[Bobber]

Hey, looking forward to it. Can anyone tell me how bad the bugs are and what type of temperatures you are having now? What type of clothing should we bring....warm, spring, summer, etc?

Thanks,

[Colin Gosse]

Hey, looking forward to it. Can anyone tell me how bad the bugs are and what type of temperatures you are having now? What type of clothing should we bring....warm, spring, summer, etc?

Thanks,

Hi Bobber, I always tell people to dress in layers. Bring up clothes for summer and fall, you never know what the weather will bring. So far it has been a very warm spring, so by the time you are here...I would think it will be hot out!!!!