Post by Gary on Jun 2, 2011 12:32:37 GMT -5
Hi All!
Well, finally got out in the Ottawa area for the first time this year. Shannon and I arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday May 25th and stayed until Monday May 31st.
On Thursday the 26th we hit Mississippi Lake. The fish were on big time but only in a select few spots. We tried the usual bays, shoals, etc. but most of the action seemed to be taking place in weed beds near the mouths of creeks/rivers, which makes sense for this time of the year. But when you found a spot like that they were on! Lots of pike and the bass were hitting hard as well. In the course of looking for pike, we landed a few bass close to 4lbs. We had to move quite often because we'd find a large concentration of bass in the middle of some weed bed and we didn't want to disturb them. They were likely right in the middle of their spawn as the water temperature was around 64-65F. We were throwing various lures but the best bait we found on the Miss was an orange #4 Mepps Aglia. The pike were also liking a 3/8 oz white Strike King Redeye spinnerbait and a black Heddon Spook. The day was overcast with spitting rain here and there so it was ideal for some top water pike action, which can be awesome!
On a whim, we left Mississippi Lake in the late afternoon and drove down to South Lancaster ON to fish the mouth of the Raisin River. We often find fantastic pike action there at this time of year, but once again we ran into a lot of largemouth. There were some monster largies in the mouth of that river and not a pike to be seen. The last couple years the pike have been less and less prevalent in that area and this year not even a follow up. So, to leave the bass alone we pulled the boat out in less than an hour once we figured the only thing there was bass.
On Friday we hit White Lake. Once again it was overcast with a bit of spitting rain from time to time and the water temperature was around 62F. Conversely to the Raisin River, the pike seem to be more active on White Lake in the last year or so. I've noticed since the bass have gotten smaller, the pike have become more numerous. Maybe it's just a shift in predator control on that lake. I don't know... I remember as a small kid pike were insanely aggressive on that lake with good sizes readily available. They seemed to fade after a while and good numbers of large bass became the norm, now it seems to be going the other way again... Anyhow, we hit some good pike in the narrows between Kitty's Island and Rock Island, as well as at the mouth of Fish Creek. The aforementioned white spinnerbait seemed to be the favourite here.
We took the day off Saturday and then Sunday we hit Mississippi again. It was pretty much a repeat of our first day at Mississippi, only a bit warmer and a bit more sun.
Should be in the Ottawa area again in a couple weeks. I'll try some different waters, and some the same, and hopefully have more good reports to submit.
Cheers!
Well, finally got out in the Ottawa area for the first time this year. Shannon and I arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday May 25th and stayed until Monday May 31st.
On Thursday the 26th we hit Mississippi Lake. The fish were on big time but only in a select few spots. We tried the usual bays, shoals, etc. but most of the action seemed to be taking place in weed beds near the mouths of creeks/rivers, which makes sense for this time of the year. But when you found a spot like that they were on! Lots of pike and the bass were hitting hard as well. In the course of looking for pike, we landed a few bass close to 4lbs. We had to move quite often because we'd find a large concentration of bass in the middle of some weed bed and we didn't want to disturb them. They were likely right in the middle of their spawn as the water temperature was around 64-65F. We were throwing various lures but the best bait we found on the Miss was an orange #4 Mepps Aglia. The pike were also liking a 3/8 oz white Strike King Redeye spinnerbait and a black Heddon Spook. The day was overcast with spitting rain here and there so it was ideal for some top water pike action, which can be awesome!
On a whim, we left Mississippi Lake in the late afternoon and drove down to South Lancaster ON to fish the mouth of the Raisin River. We often find fantastic pike action there at this time of year, but once again we ran into a lot of largemouth. There were some monster largies in the mouth of that river and not a pike to be seen. The last couple years the pike have been less and less prevalent in that area and this year not even a follow up. So, to leave the bass alone we pulled the boat out in less than an hour once we figured the only thing there was bass.
On Friday we hit White Lake. Once again it was overcast with a bit of spitting rain from time to time and the water temperature was around 62F. Conversely to the Raisin River, the pike seem to be more active on White Lake in the last year or so. I've noticed since the bass have gotten smaller, the pike have become more numerous. Maybe it's just a shift in predator control on that lake. I don't know... I remember as a small kid pike were insanely aggressive on that lake with good sizes readily available. They seemed to fade after a while and good numbers of large bass became the norm, now it seems to be going the other way again... Anyhow, we hit some good pike in the narrows between Kitty's Island and Rock Island, as well as at the mouth of Fish Creek. The aforementioned white spinnerbait seemed to be the favourite here.
We took the day off Saturday and then Sunday we hit Mississippi again. It was pretty much a repeat of our first day at Mississippi, only a bit warmer and a bit more sun.
Should be in the Ottawa area again in a couple weeks. I'll try some different waters, and some the same, and hopefully have more good reports to submit.
Cheers!
