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Northern Ontario Walleyes
The Canadian Shield area of Northern Ontario is truly a walleye fisherman's dream come true. This area has an incredible amount of water, huge populations of walleyes, trophy fish potential, and many spots that never see a boat all year. Did we mention the fantastic scenery of the region? Any angler that has never fished this region of Canada is missing out on a trip that they will never forget. In order to have a successful fishing trip to Canada, some planning is involved. Fisherman need to make sure that they have the right equipment packed with them, as most items needed will not be available once you arrive to your destination. There are some differences with these Shield Lakes when compared to the lakes of the Northern U.S. and anglers need to be aware of those differences and how they will affect their fishing. With the right information, even your first trip can be a success. Let's first take a look at what equipment you will need and then when, where and how to use it to make your trip a success.
NORTHERN ONTARIO WALLEYE PATTERNS
Most Canadian Shield Lakes are a structure fisherman's paradise. Points, islands, reefs, and steep breaklines are to be found in abundance. There are so many good looking spots it can be confusing to know where to start. Lets look at some general rules to help you find fish on these lakes. In the spring, walleyes are shallow. The number one spot will be current areas. River inlets or narrows between lakes are prime spots for spring walleyes and many times they will hold fish all year long. Shallow shoreline areas back in bays will also hold a lot of walleyes at this time of the year. This is the one time of the year when water temperature can make a big difference. Walleyes will be attracted to areas with warmer water. When found, a jig and minnow is an excellent presentation. Because of the clear water in most of these lakes, to avoid spooking fish a casting approach is best. When fishing current areas, many times one can anchor and cast.
During the summertime, walleyes will relate more to main lake structure. Islands, points and underwater reefs all will hold fish. Prime spots are deep rock reefs out in the main basin of the lake. The best ones will usually have a large food shelf on top and a gradual break into deeper water. Reefs that break steeply into the main basin of the lake with a small food shelf are not as productive as they will not have the space to hold baitfish and also walleyes. Reefs that are large and multi-structured will have the most walleyes using them. The most productive depths on these reefs will usually be in the 25-40 foot range. These fish can be spotted on electronics in most cases. A good locator is an invaluable tool when fishing these spots as they can save the angler a lot of time. Many anglers will fish these areas with a jig and live bait presentation. Jigs such as Northland Whistlers or Sink-n-jigs tipped with a leech or half a crawler are effective and have caught many Canadian walleyes. However, in many cases a bottom bouncer rigged with a plain snell or spinner rig is the most effective presentation. Bottom bouncers are very snag resistant and allow the angler to cover more water than other presentations. The key to fishing a bottom bouncer is to use one heavy enough to fish vertically so one can walk or tippy-toe the bouncer along the bottom. Use either a plain snell with a leech or a spinner rig such as a Northland Float-N-Spin with a nightcrawler and troll this rig slowly along the reef. Using these methods will make your Canadian adventure both productive and enjoyable.
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