Private Lake- Near Port Carling

[B RAD15]

I am going to a private lake that my friend knows of and has access to it. no cottages or any other access to the water accept for trekking through the woods for a short walk and drop our inflatables in! only fish that are in the lake are pike and largemouth (so i have been told-probably panfish too) just wondering what your game plan would be going to a lake like this for the first time!? hoping this lake can be a pleasant surprise and get me my first solid fish of 2012 just general tips on what to look for or what bait to use would help a great deal thanks!

 

[salmotrutta]

If you're just going there once and want to make the most of it, why not bring a bunch of options?

I'd be bringing medium to large sized minnows for the pike. Nightcrawlers for bass, especially at dusk. Possibly some northern leopard frogs, you're allowed up to 1 doz. each. I don't like putting live ones on a hook, after a night like tonight, you'll find tonnes of dead ones that people have run over on roads that cross ponds and marshes - if you use those there's no guilt. Frogs can be a deadly bait for largemouth.

I'd also bring some standard choices like mr. twisters, mepps, and some crankbaits.

If you're going to be fishing it regularly, no need to try everything the first day.

Look for lilly pads and shallow bays for bass. Throw some frogs or frog imitations. Look for shallow water with sudden drop offs for both pike and bass, try dropping a minnow on a jig or worms. Weeds for pike, minnows on a jig. Shallow, shaded bays during the day for bass - mr. twister along the top or frogs.

If one spot is dead during the day, doesn't mean it won't be firing as soon as it starts to get dark.

A bathymetry map would be very helpful, even a contour map would help you plan a bit as you'd see where the bays are and see which ones will be shaded at which time of the day.

Bring large hooks as you'll be targeting bass and pike. I wouldn't worry too much about leaders - pike biting you off is not much of a concern. Everyone has different line preference, I'd just use 8lb mono line on a 7' med or med heavy rod.

 

[B RAD15]

If you're just going there once and want to make the most of it, why not bring a bunch of options?

I'd be bringing medium to large sized minnows for the pike. Nightcrawlers for bass, especially at dusk. Possibly some northern leopard frogs, you're allowed up to 1 doz. each. I don't like putting live ones on a hook, after a night like tonight, you'll find tonnes of dead ones that people have run over on roads that cross ponds and marshes - if you use those there's no guilt. Frogs can be a deadly bait for largemouth.

I'd also bring some standard choices like mr. twisters, mepps, and some crankbaits.

If you're going to be fishing it regularly, no need to try everything the first day.

Look for lilly pads and shallow bays for bass. Throw some frogs or frog imitations. Look for shallow water with sudden drop offs for both pike and bass, try dropping a minnow on a jig or worms. Weeds for pike, minnows on a jig. Shallow, shaded bays during the day for bass - mr. twister along the top or frogs.

If one spot is dead during the day, doesn't mean it won't be firing as soon as it starts to get dark.

A bathymetry map would be very helpful, even a contour map would help you plan a bit as you'd see where the bays are and see which ones will be shaded at which time of the day.

Bring large hooks as you'll be targeting bass and pike. I wouldn't worry too much about leaders - pike biting you off is not much of a concern. Everyone has different line preference, I'd just use 8lb mono line on a 7' med or med heavy rod.

thanks for the great reply! i think my friend may have a contour map so we can use that! i have recently fallen in love the rapala husky jerk and have plenty of other crank baits and jerkbaits. i have two 6.5' medium action rods with 8lb braid, what do you make of that set up? i also have leaders but dont really like using them as i feel they take action away from the lure!

 

[salmotrutta]

Fish are not partial to which line, rod or reel anglers are using. Just try to make as realistic a presentation as possible.

I've never used braided line. Is it coloured? I've never used coloured line, I stick with clear, but for pike and bass it probably makes little difference.

If you're using live bait, remember that you can give the fish some time to properly take it, especially if you're using large minnows for pike. Waiting a bit can greatly improve your chances of hooking up. Don't have to set the hook right away.

 

[Alfiegee]

I think I would suggest Hula Poppers at dusk and dawn, they are a lot of fun to use and make for some exciting fishing. Have a few colors, black, white and green bellies.
Around the lilly pads is usually good. Fallen trees and other cover are good spots too. Pike tend to move from deeper waters during the day to shallower waters near shore to feed in the evening and at night.

Alfie.

 

[B RAD15]

Fish are not partial to which line, rod or reel anglers are using. Just try to make as realistic a presentation as possible.

I've never used braided line. Is it coloured? I've never used coloured line, I stick with clear, but for pike and bass it probably makes little difference.

If you're using live bait, remember that you can give the fish some time to properly take it, especially if you're using large minnows for pike. Waiting a bit can greatly improve your chances of hooking up. Don't have to set the hook right away.

thanks for the tip! i have heard you are actually supposed to wait about 5 seconds before setting the hook on a pike, is that true? and i just started using braid last year and i fell in love with it! the no stretch allows you to feel everything your lure/bait touches and allowed me to hook into my two PB bass and walleye last year! it is green coloured but i caught the most and largest fish of my life last year while using it! only thing i didnt catch that i wanted to was a stupid pike

 

[B RAD15]

I think I would suggest Hula Poppers at dusk and dawn, they are a lot of fun to use and make for some exciting fishing. Have a few colors, black, white and green bellies.
Around the lilly pads is usually good. Fallen trees and other cover are good spots too. Pike tend to move from deeper waters during the day to shallower waters near shore to feed in the evening and at night.

Alfie.

only top water i have used was a jitterbug and it was sweet! and i just recently picked up a couple hula poppers for the bass season

 

[salmotrutta]

i have heard you are actually supposed to wait about 5 seconds before setting the hook on a pike, is that true?

I've waited up to an hour, on more than one occasion :razz:

When I knew I was going to keep it, I'd just leave the bail open, go for a walk, return a while later and reel it in. That's why I'm not too concerned with leaders, in my experience the odds of a pike biting through the line are slim. I do use them, mainly when I have several lures that I want to try, so I can just slip them on and off.

 

[Alfiegee]

I've waited up to an hour, on more than one occasion :razz:

When I knew I was going to keep it, I'd just leave the bail open, go for a walk, return a while later and reel it in. That's why I'm not too concerned with leaders, in my experience the odds of a pike biting through the line are slim. I do use them, mainly when I have several lures that I want to try, so I can just slip them on and off.

Agreed about the leaders, in 40 years of pike fishing I have only been bit off a few times. I'm of the feeling that the leader is highly visible and takes away from the presentation of a lure. I prefer a small but high quality swivel. Truth be told, I don't think I have owned a steel leader in more than 25 years.

Alfie.

 

[FishingNoob]

I've waited up to an hour, on more than one occasion :razz:

When I knew I was going to keep it, I'd just leave the bail open, go for a walk, return a while later and reel it in. That's why I'm not too concerned with leaders, in my experience the odds of a pike biting through the line are slim. I do use them, mainly when I have several lures that I want to try, so I can just slip them on and off.

How does that work? Doesn't the fish sallow the bait?

 

[B RAD15]

I've waited up to an hour, on more than one occasion :razz:

When I knew I was going to keep it, I'd just leave the bail open, go for a walk, return a while later and reel it in. That's why I'm not too concerned with leaders, in my experience the odds of a pike biting through the line are slim. I do use them, mainly when I have several lures that I want to try, so I can just slip them on and off.

lol thats funny, and ok sounds good i will not be using leaders anymore then maybe thats been my problem, leaders are too visible and also take lure action away?

 

[salmotrutta]

How does that work? Doesn't the fish sallow the bait?

Yes depending on the size of the pike and minnow. I have a spot with mostly small to medium sized pike, and they like large minnows. Once I took a friend out there and we waited 30 minutes and the pike still spat the fish and hook. We tried again, waited 40 minutes and got it. Other times though you get an immediate hook set.

I don't really do that anymore, I get most of my pike on hardware now.

 

[B RAD15]

on a side note, i am experimenting with a new baitcasting rod and reel and i am wondering what type of line is best to use on it for bass/pike

 

[B RAD15]

went up yesterday, fishing was REALLY REALLY slow. we assumed because it was so hot out! we got there around 11 in the morning and fished up until 9 15. no fish of any size were caught until 4 pm when i finally caught my first pike ever!!! we then took a break to get some fluids into us and grabbed something to eat hoping that after a 2 hour break, the fish might start to turn on again. we grabbed some dinner and back on the water we went in my inflatable around 6 pm. after casting pretty much the entire day accept for the pike we caught, we decided to troll the weedlines of the tiny lake. it took awhile to find the right lure but once i put on my silver and blue Rapala X-Rap the action really turned on! from 6 till 9 we caught 6 more fish, 5 pike and one 4 lb largie around 3.5 lbs! all pike were about 24 inches and between 2 and 3 lbs. the biggest coming at 26 inches and 3 lbs. overall a very hot but great day on the water

 

[Blair]

Sounds like you had a Great Day!

albiet, the slow hours.



Glad to hear you changed things up and did some experimentation.

Great update post!



Thanks