RICE LAKE FISH DECLINE ?

[Lucid]

Anyone fish rice lake this year? Been out a few times and caught nothing but panfish... Also noticed that the weeds are out of control there. Also after speaking to some locals around rice lake everyone of them seemed to notice that this year has been the worst fishing at rice. Almost as if fish species are in decline.

 

[T-Ack]

If there's a decline, the 407 extension makes it easier for the white bucket brigade to get to Rice. Now, nothing wrong with keeping a fish or 2 for dinner but man does it make me sad seeing people keep every single fish that bites their hook

 

[fisgfreek]

Very sad but true.

 

[Symmetre]

Still plenty of fish but they're deep in the weeds where most people won't go.

 

[Lucid]

the whole lake is weed

 

[SenkoKing]

yes, ive personally been on rice lake more then 3 dozen times this year as family has a cottage there,, i was thinking the same thing after a few outtings with nuthing,,, but after alot of gas burning and empty casts.. yes definately doesnt help the "white bucket brigade" lol @ T-ack, keeping everything they land

but on the other hand -

Weeds!!! Weeds! Weeds! were others dare to go lol,

 

[Originalfives]

People always blaming it on the "white bucket brigade" for their lack of catches. Maybe the issue isn't them but yourself. Plenty of fishes to be had in rice lake. The issue is that people are scared to change their tactics. Always doing the same thing year after year. This year the lake is different. Fishes aren't in places they were last year and are in places you wouldn't think they are. If you work hard enough and change your tactics you'll be rewarded. So before you criticize a certain group of individuals you may want to see what it is that you're doing wrong.

 

[SenkoKing]

as i have said in my other posts... "spend parts of your fishing days trying different tactics", and i dont soley blame the brigade,, for example, i was fishing a lake saturday morning working along a bank with my foot op trolling motor catching smallies (no lack of catch there) and low and behold, i see three 12' foot aluminums with merc 9.8 on them packed with 4 people in each boat pull up right infront and behind me stopping my course along the bank,, normally i dont care, but when your 15 ft from my boat casting bobbers in my line of fire when theres 1000 acres of water around us,, theres a slight discomfort developing, lol, i nodded my head, turned my key and found another bank..

 

[SenkoKing]

and everywhere is different not just rice, I fish the lower trent and everythings changed this year.. stumps where the wasnt any before, grass matts moved down half a k , dead heads brought up from the bottom... but still no lack of fish

 

[Lucid]

I saw a pontoon with 10 white bucketers on board. Each one had a cooler with ice. If each person is taking home the max legal limit, thats 40 some odd fish on that boat. Now lets say that group of guys does that regularly, like at least once a week. Also add everyone else around that lake that you see keeping every fish they catch. Its reality, the numbers add up and that has a huge impact on a fishery. Plus all the growth of invasive plants choking out huge sections of water. I would say 100% the fish population has declined in the last decade.

 

[T-Ack]

+1 ....I agree.

I tournament fish, I'm always on the water and have seen it all time and time again. When you spend as much time on the water as I do, you see a lot of things.

@OriginalFives, I wasn't complaining about the fish decline on Rice or that I was having trouble catching fish. I was just commenting on why the fish population could be declining on Rice. I don't seem to have a problem with catching fish so don't try and tell me it's my tactics. I haven't fished Rice in years.

Walleye season is closed for good on Scugog... Don't try and tell me it's because no one is catching them and they are all hiding the damn weeds. The population is down.

I'll continue criticizing those groups of people. It's the same groups that pulled their loaded up white zodiak literally 20 feet away from mine on lake Erie 2 weeks ago after they saw me catch a fish. I called them out on it, so if by chance if that person is reading this right now, yes that was me that you pulled that ignorant stunt to.

 

[T-Ack]

Now, on the other hand others are right. Fishing weeds is not easy and most times on a lake like Rice, fish are not just going to be sitting in open water waiting for a lure. Try a weedless worm bait texas rigged like a senko or a weedless frog and be patient.

 

[SenkoKing]

Well Said or try a punching rig 3/8 tungsten bullet weight with a Fat craw rigged on a 4/0 hook weedless and drop that sucker into a big patch of cabbage,

 

[fisgfreek]

Rice lake is not only over fished but over harvested. Me and my pals have fished rice for over 30 years and its not like it used to be. Weeds or no weeds something has to be done soon.

 

[Lucid]

i think you need more than a 3/8 oz tungsten to fish rice , 1 oz at least

 

[Lucid]

infact even some of the matted areas stopped a 1oz cold lol had to use a 2oz punching jig

 

[SenkoKing]

Yes your right , 1oz or better is best for the matted areas ... I like to work the edges not too far in or I gotta work the paddle . Lol , yes rice is over fished along with many areas .. Needless to say my best days this year didn't come from rice lake . I just have access to an island cottage there so why not fish it right ? .. But I do personally ice fish there and had my best year yet pullin nice pikerals out . . And it wasn't by the over crowded "b****** dock" ... I live in warkworth so there's many lakes within an hours drive with less pressure

 

[SenkoKing]

Had excellent luck last week flippin tubes around docks .. But tend to get a lot of dirty looks when trolling up on a family dinner lol

 

[frank82]

MNR should put a ban on rice as well, its a very scenic lake to fish but what's the point if it's fished out?