At FishHeds Outpost we practice "catch and release". Maintaining healthy fish levels in our lake is critical to enjoyment of all of our guests for years to come. You may keep your conservation limit for walleys and northerns (see information below) but consider getting a replica made if you catch a trophy. Remember C.P.R. (Catch, photo, and release) promotes great fishing for future generations. Please review the Ontario Fishing Regulations for more information.
Small Mouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are very popular game fish, frequently sought by anglers using conventional spinning and bait casting gear, as well as fly fishing tackle. The smallmouth bass is potentially the toughest fighting freshwater fish in North America, and is commonly the targeted species in many fresh water fishing tournaments. The smallmouth is highly regarded for its topwater fighting ability when hooked – old fishing journals referred to the smallmouth bass as "ounce for ounce and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims". Smallmouth bass are not usually taken for the table, but rather are caught and released by most anglers. However, smaller specimens in cooler water often have higher quality filets of white, firm flesh when cooked.
Walleye
Walleye fishing is perhaps the most popular type of fishing in Canada because Canada is known for its huge, strong, and extremely numerous walleye. Because walleyes are popular with anglers, fishing for walleyes is regulated by most natural resource agencies. Management may include the use of quotas and length limits to ensure that populations are not overexploited. See Regulations here.
Since walleyes have excellent visual acuity under low illumination levels, they tend to feed more extensively at dawn and dusk, on cloudy or overcast days, and under choppy conditions when light penetration into the water column is disrupted. In the spring and fall, walleyes are located near the shallower areas due to the spawning grounds, and they are most often located in shallower areas during higher winds due to the murkier, higher oxygenated water at around six feet deep. On calm spring days, walleyes are more often located at the deep side of the shoreline drop-off and around shore slopes around or deeper than 10 feet.
Northern Pike
Northern Pike are a serious piscivore — meaning they eat other fish. Unlike fish built for roving around and migrating, pike have their fins loaded toward their back end. This gives them explosive power from a standstill when they whip their tail. They are typically ambush predators; they lie and wait for prey, holding perfectly still for long periods, and then exhibit remarkable acceleration as they strike. Pike are found in sluggish streams and shallow, weedy places in lakes and reservoirs, as well as in cold, clear, rocky waters.
If you catch a Northern Pike, you’ll want to keep in mind that not just the inside of the mouth is toothy, but also the inside of the gills.
Musky
Ontario, Canada is the epicenter of big musky fishing. Muskellunge are located throughout Slender Lake and the Pipestone Chain of Lakes. Musky closely resemble other esocids such as northern pike in both appearance and behavior. That said, musky tend to be more cautious than northern. Affectionately known as the "fish of 10,000 casts, you definifely increase your odds by fishing for them in Ontario. Muskellunge are typically 70–120 cm (28–48 inches) long and weigh 7–16.5 kg (15–36 lb), though some have reached up to 1.8 m (6 ft) and almost 30 kg (70 lb). Muskellunge are the top predator in any body of water where they occur and they will eat larger prey than most other freshwater fish. Musky seasons runs the third Saturday of June - December 15.
Lake Trout
Lake trout inhabit cold, oxygen-rich waters. Populations are extremely susceptible to overfishing. Many native lake trout populations have been severely damaged through the combined effects of hatchery stocking (planting) and over harvest. The Lake Trout is a very hard fighting fish that is found in different levels in the water column in the lake throughout the year. In the springtime, they are caught without using a down rigger or sophisticated equipment. A simple SR9 Shad Rad or Rapala trolled with a large amount of line behind the boat will yield great results. It is important to troll in an “S” pattern near rocky points, shallow bays or structure. Since the fish are high in the water column, they can be spooky, so a quiet approach with long lines is a must.
