Oh Canada!!!

[CallWhy816]

Hello all, we're planning our trip back up to Canada and our going to avoid a lodge and just stay in Dryden and try some of the surrounding lakes.

Shot in the dark here maybe, but was wondering if any of you are familiar with the area?

Last year we fished Wabigoon/Dinorwic lake and became pretty familiar with some of the underwater structure and plan on fishing it mostly. We stayed at Huber's, which was a blast and the guy who runs it is hilarious. GREAT FOOD TOO!

But we would like to take a trip to a more secluded lake around there for some nice walleyes (or muskie/northerns). We're not to sure about access to some of these. Vermillion Lake looks appealing, and not too far of a drive.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. - If anyone has any of their own questions I'd be happy to help.

[brettbran]

We fish north of you a ways on Perrault and Cedar lake. Both are top notch muskie lakes, and the smallmouth fishing is incredible. The walleye can also be very good.

[BarryG]

I wish I could help you...we stayed at Hubers also.....Manfred will have you crying, he should do stand-up comedy!!!!! I don't think I've ever seen anyone as funny as that guy. We went up there for about 10 yrs and now we just go to MN and avoid crossing the border.

[badaxed]

Have You tried Lake of the woods! Huge northern and muskie on that body of water! I went on many houseboat trips there. Fantastic fishing. My philosophy is big lakes are harder to "fish out" than small lakes. I have also went to fly- ins deep into canada. to my suprise these lakes do get fished out of trophy fish. there is a place called "pow bay" on lake of the woods where I saw 5 20LB northerns coming at my 1 foot bait at the same time. I clled this place POOOOOOWWWWWWWW BAY. BETTER HAVE lONG LEADERS.

[CallWhy816]

BarryG - I was trying to think of his name when I was typing this post. Manfred is something else, and didn't run out of jokes the whole week we were there. One of a kind to say the least, and we found the fishing really good there. That was kind of why we were just going to get a hotel in Dryden and fish that lake.

Badaxed - I guess I've always been turned off on the "big water" lakes. Last year was the first year I really got a good schooling on walleye fishing and have been checking out Lake of the Woods.

The way we caught 'em last year was just look where the rocks come up. So we're running across the lake and see the bottom come up from 50' to 15 or 20' and we'd fish all around that. Pretty much the same out on the big water of Lake of the Woods?

You've definetely peeked my interest with the big Northerns. I had a big one hooked there at Huber's, but that was about the only big one we saw.

[badaxed]

If you go around labor day weekend all the muskies and northerns in lake of the woods are in shallow weedy bays. There is a bay called "Astron Bay" in lake of the woods that also has huge muskies and northerns. Smallmouth crappie and walleye are back in those bays at that time of year also.

[CallWhy816]

Now you got me thinking. I've been trying to figure out the best time to go up there. We were going to shoot for pretty shortly after ice out.

Again, we're mainly shooting for walleye, but I like to get after some big Northern.

Isn't ice out around first week or so of May? Or in your opinion is the fishing better later in the year?

[badaxed]

Ice out is usually 2nd week of may. Labor day up there is like the end of april for crappie in mo. fish are moving shallow for warmth and food. Everthing is staging in the shallows then. (at least my expierience on lake of the woods)
I have gone as early as the third week in may and as late as the second week of june on lake of the woods. Three times hit it right on the head for big northerns on Labor day.
Rented houseboat out of sioux narrows (floating lodges). That way you can set up camp on those big boys only a hundred yards away.

[Joedog]

badaxed, do you mean Memorial Day? Labor Day is in September.

Course, I have no idea when Labor Day is in Canada!!

Oh...just checked the calendar. Their Labor Day is the same as ours. However, they have Victoria Day one week before our Memorial Day.

[badaxed]

sorry about that mixed up my holidays . I mean memorial day.

badaxed, do you mean Memorial Day? Labor Day is in September.

Course, I have no idea when Labor Day is in Canada!!

Oh...just checked the calendar. Their Labor Day is the same as ours. However, they have Victoria Day one week before our Memorial Day.