Missanabie

[JRock]

Not sure this is the proper forum to post this, but I am going to Ontario for a week of fishing at the end of May. The lake we are going to is Dog Lake near Missanabie. Has anyone fished this lake before that can give me some advice/tips. I understand there are walleye, pike and lake trout in there. Does anyone know of a website where I might find a map of the lake too? AAny help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RJF]

http://www.holidayjunction.com/canada/on/con0024.html

http://www.holidayjunction.com/canada/conbya.html

Try these. I hope to get there as well. I have friends who love it there. Best thing I see is I can take my own boat. The lodge at the first web-site talks about travel several miles by boat to get to the resort. I was told the cabins are nice. The second web-site has info for many places. It's fun to play around there.

Good luck. Please report your findings. Like I say, I'd like to go there myself

Rick Fisher

[JRock]

Rick,

Thanks for the links. I need to talk to the organizer of my trip and see where we are staying at. I just found out that I was going Friday(Birthday gift from the wife). I have already asked my brother to be my partner. I am not sure if we are renting or going to take his boat. We may need a bigger motor than he has. I see your from Holt. I live in Mason. Maybe we can hook up and fish sometime.

Jim Rokita

[Doughboy]

That time of year we found them in the shallow bays. The one where the Pioneer Lodge is located is real good down toward the end by the Railroad tracks. We used crawler harnesses but find some humps and jig for them also. The slot limit is starting to help as the ones over the slot are starting to be even or a little more than the ones under the slot. The one lodge I think it's Wilderness( heard they're very helpful) has about 5 cabins scattered around the lake. Good luck I won't be there this year as I'm going to try Quebec for a change.

[RJF]

JRock, call me "have boat, need fishing partner." I'm close too getting a dog, so I don't have to go alone so much. Wife goes once in a while, if the weather is right for sunning. Would very much like to fish with you sometime. I will fish for most species. I've spent most of my adult life fishing Houghton Lake. They have a problem with Eurasion Millfoil. Would welcome some new places to go. Are you familiar with the lakes in the Irish Hills area? Would like to get to know some of them. Also, a trip to Saginaw Bay would be great. Let's plan on it. Do you ice fish?

[Whit1]

Be prepared for black flies and mosquitoes at that time of year. This may include headnets, gloves, etc. They can be brutal. The weeds won't be up so you won't be able to sight those and fish for pike that way. Be sure to check out the Ontario regulations for bringing in live bait. Leeches work well, but I'm not sure if you can legally bring them in.

If you are into camping I'd highly recommend going to Missinabie Lake (note the spelling difference) north of Chaplau. You can drive a motor home, tow a camper, or set up a tent there. One major problem is a lack of ice for cooling fish and other things.

If I had one lure for walleyes in ONT it would be a gold and black rapala.

Another thing about Missinabie Lake: It is a part of a huge Crown Game Preserve. You WILL see moose everyday and black bear on many days.

[DryFly]

Northern Wilderness cottages Phone 705 234 2582

Great people. Haven't been there for a few years but the owner is Wulford. His son is helping him run the camp.

I'm looking at a 10# walleye on my wall right now that I took from there.

Ask about the best fishing spot, especially if the wind has been blowing into the bay for a while. Directions leave the town going south on the lake. Works towards the east where there is a large bay that looks like a hand and arm hitch hiking on the map. Most will fish the back NE end.

There are some narrows where this bay joins the lake. There is a submerged ridge running north and south. Anchor on the ridge and fish off the south east side. Jigs and crawler, leaches or minnows work great.

good luck.

[JRock]

Thanks for the responses. If anyone knows where I can get a map of Dog Lake either online or at a book store, let me know.

Here is the lodge I am staying at. If anyone has stayed here before, let me know. http://outfittersontario.com/Gutelius

Rick, sounds like a plan for fishing. I grew up in Saginaw and have fished the Saginaw and Tib from shore and a boat. Done a little bay fishing, mostly for perch though. I also have ice fished the river for walleyes.

Never been to Irish hills. Last couple of years have tried South Lake by Chelsea ice fishing for gills. I don't have a Vexilar to find the fish, but a buddy of mine has done quite well there. I would like to try. I have a small alum boat, and motor but can't get lights on truck to work. Now that I have a 21 month old son, don't get to fish as much as I like. Maybe we can try for walleyes before the season closes if it warms up again.

Jim

[Whit1]

I'm sure you can get a map of Dog Lake through the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. That's were I got maps and other info on Missinaibi Lake. Using your preferred search engine you can find the ONT MNR site online I'm sure and go from there to contact them.

[RJF]

JRock, I'll be in touch.

Anyone, what kind of water do you have at Dog Lake? I've seen Canada lakes full of rocks the size of my house. Can be a few inches under the surface, and not marked. The boats you get at the resort are small. Would like to take my own (18' Walleye style) with 90 HP outboard. Would I have problems? Are the maps detailed enough to point out problem areas?

[OTIS]

Went with the entire Family and some other families and stayed at Camp Missanabie on Dog Lake. I was probably 12 or 13 at the time and do not have a clear memory of the fishing cause I think most of my fishing was done from the Docks.
What I can tell you is it is a Beautiful Lake, and as far as what type of boat we took a 19 ft Mercruiser I/O and did not have a problem.
My Dad frequents these forums I will send him a link see if he can give you some info.

[Doughboy]

Boy it's such a big lake but There are spots that one needs to watch out for. Your camp is at the far end away from town. I remember Huge rocks just under the water that I passed on my way up to fish Meath and Penny lakes. Some are marked with jugs but I'm sure your lodge will have good info on the lake. You probably won't encounter them up by your lodge and the close bays that you fish. I got a map of that area at a store in Wawa but it wasn't a depth contour map. Good Luck and enjoy. Also you might want to search Walleye Central. com in the Canada forum and ask for Melonbob as he used to live there and returns frequently.

[DryFly]

The camp will show you the main passage ways where you can go fast. I have seen large bass boats there.

You will need to use caution once off the beaten path. A look out perched at the front of the boat with polorized glasses and driving slow will present no problems

[lenray]

Dog lake is a very large lake they advertize 300 miles of shoreline. I fish that area a couple of times each year but we fish smaller lakes that are out in the bush we get to them with quads pulling in a boat or two caught pike over 40 inches last summer also eyes. There are many of those hidden lakes that can be found with a map and some help from the locals.

good luck

len at clare

[Big Frank 25]

I didn't see Dog Lake online for sale. Check out this site, try calling. Good luck!

http://www.lio.mnr.gov.on.ca/lioweb/purchase/maps_photos.asp

[Shoes]

JRock,

Only been there once, 1983, and I see your getting much more current information than what I could offer. Just a couple tips on basics as I remember the experience.

Unless your on an American Plan or similar, check with your camp to see if you need to take an ample supply of bread or anything else you consider basic to your food and drink needs. In our case, we launched and parked at the hotel, then went 7 miles by water to get to the cabins. At that time, grocery shopping was not an option. The only 'store' in town took orders in advance. Pickins for basics were almost nonexistent. I saw the new owner of Camp Missinabe at Outdoorama this past weekend, and he tells me there is now electricity to the cabins we stayed in, so I assume much has changed.

If you have spare gas cans, you may want to fill and take them. The lodges have gas, but I remember it as being VERY EXPENSIVE, and on a lake the size of Dog Lake, you can go though a lot.

There are some big rocks. I don't know how big your house is, but if its three bedroom or less, some of the rocks may be bigger. Get current info from your camp. A lake map is a good idea.

If you like to fish at night, get your bearings straight. There are some islands, points and bays that without any shore lights for reference can get you turned around.

We went in August, and missed the black flies so the trip was a good experience. Hope you enjoy your trip!!

[DFR]

My wife and I stayed at Gutelius last summer, great place and Mark is a great host. He'll tell you where the fish are, so pick his brain. Hit the windswept points, I prefer jigs and leeches. You can only bring crawlers into Canada in artificial bedding so other bait has to be purchased in canada. Wawa has a good supply. I purchased my maps at the trading post in Agawa Bay north of the Soo. Be careful of changes in the fishing laws -they changed the slot limit this year so there may be some confusion. Also, the river mouths are closed at that time of the year . It may seem that you are secluded and not fear being checked by the MNR but I assure you it'll probably happen. We've been checked 3 out of four times up. Enjoy the trip. Let me know how you do, I'll be going up a week later than you are.