Canadian Summertime Fishing Thoughts

So last year, we did a Fly-In trip out of Red Lake, Ontario. Way up there, 5 hours north of the border then another 1hr flight. It was awesome, we hammered the walleye pretty good and had a great time. We went the 1st week of August, the weather was 80+ degrees everyday and full sun most days. I remember the owner of the Outpost said that “things were winding down” at that time of year and so it gave me the idea that fishing was slowing down, at least to some extent. Again, we had great action and a great time, but I think most of their trips get booked earlier in the year, June and July.

Discussions have started for next year. Some of the group wants to have a shorter drive and be closer, but keep the same time of year, August. A couple locations that have been thrown out are near Ear Falls and Holinshead Lake.

I guess my assumption has been that the later in the summer you get (i.e. August) the further north you have to go to maintain quality fishing.

Any thoughts on this? Any of you guys still fish Canada in August with good results?

I’ve never been up there in August, but I’d take some responses with a grain of salt. I have heard people complaining about fishing not being as good in August as early June, only to find out the people are trying to fish the same spots using the same techniques.

Here’s an example(maybe extreme):
You could go up to MN side of Lake of the Woods just after opener and hammer walleye/sauger with jigs just off the reefs, world class fishing if you catch it right. Come back in August and try that same technique and you will likely be very very disappointed in the fishing. You might also run into some fishermen at the bar that put 100 fish in their boat downrigging in the mud all day.

I would look at finding a lodge with an owner who has true experience on the lake who can help you locate fish at that time of year.

I’d recommend Five Lake Lodge, but that’s only a few miles south of Red Lake. Ian guided on the lake system for 15 years and now runs the camp, so he has a good handle on where the fish are throughout the year. You DON’T want the camp owner that just points to the community spots and who hasn’t personally fished the lake in a decade.

I don’t see why fishing couldn’t be good at that time of year, I think it’s just a matter of adjusting your strategy a little bit.

We are heading back to Dogtooth for the 7th year now, August 7-14th this year. About the same time every year. Managed as a trophy lake, only 1 resort on the lake. Right off highway 71, near the NE corner of LOTW.

We are still learning how to fish the lake, we have had a large learning curve, but it gets better every year. There isn’t a lot of information on the lake and only halfway decent maps (nothing for GPS or locator). I really wish we could have found somebody that showed us the ropes right away and shortened that learning curve for us. But maybe that is what is part of the intrigue every year, not really knowing for sure.

We have a spot where we can go catch 30-40 walleye in a few hours, but they are eater size fish. Other spots are good for larger fish, we usually get 3-5 over 28″ every year.
If you want more info let me know…

We head a bit further North. About 10 hours north of the border. Spring we head to Reed Lake in Manitoba. This fall I’m going with a group who go to Tobin Lake in Saskatchewan. I know most people heading to Reed in the spring try and time their trip as close as possible to the ice out. Most plan their trip for Early June. we were up there the 1st week of June this year and ice had only been off about 8-10 days. The Fall bite at Tobin usually gets good starting in early Sept. and stays good right up to ice ( It can be as early as mid Oct. in that area ) I cant say about early August on either lake but would bet its not the best. A little to early for the good fall bite unless it was a really early and cold fall. We normally target big Pike. The walleye fishing may be OK in early august. If I were you I’d push the trip back into early to mid Sept. and get into the great fall bite that most of Canada is know for.

We have been fishing the English River in the Grassy Narrows area just north of Kenora for the past 15yrs or so. We have been there anywhere from the 2nd week of June to the 1st week of September. Being that it is a river system thru many lakes, we have our normal spots to fish and the fish are usually fairly close to those locations and only move slightly based on water temp and current flow. We are pretty confident that we will find them regardless of when we go, just take the first day and a half to narrow down where they are (we mainly target walleyes)

philtickelson wrote:

I’ve never been up there in August, but I’d take some responses with a grain of salt. I have heard people complaining about fishing not being as good in August as early June, only to find out the people are trying to fish the same spots using the same techniques.

Phil might have it. Earlier = shallower = easier

On one particular lake we don’t do near as well in September as in June. In June everything in this system is 14fow or less. really easy to jig or crankbait. In September they’re more spread out in the water column.

Friends on Rainy outfish us for walleye consistently in July-Sept. Why, they go to mid-lake humps/reefs with a jig and live bait regardless of time. We don’t have live bait and also don’t like to fish deeper.

Real pros and cons may what you enjoy for weather.

Have fished the first week of August for the past 4 years on a drive in lake about 3 hours N of International Falls. Heading up Saturday. Fish are a little deeper(18-30), but eat good on jig n minnow and jiggin raps. If we don’t put over 100 in the boat a day something is off. Just keep moving until you find schooled up fish and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Don’t overlook weed beds. That can be a summer walleye pattern.

All good input, thank you. And I’m certainly aware that fish move and patterns change throughout the year.

I just know that Mille Lacs, Leech, Devils Lake, and even LOTW to some degree slow down late summer. Can you still have good days- yes. But the overall feeding pattern seems to slow come August.

I’ve seen some shows up on Dogtooth. Looks like a cool lake but especially after C&R on Mille Lacs all year I’ll be ready to eat some walleye for my Canadian trip.

Don’t be afraid of August if that’s the time you have. I’ve fished an hour south of Red lake from May to September and I’d personally rather go in August than July and remove the risk of mayfly hatches. For your outfitter, “winding down” likely meant to his bookings…more June/July bookings on average. Like someone else said-earlier = shallower(easier) bites, where later means generally deeper, but stable summer patterns a bit more insulated from cold fronts and the like. Fish feed all year…it’s Canada man, go wherever and whenever you can! ☺️

Agreed! We had awesome weather last year in August. Cool enough in the morning to wear pants. Then work on the tan and swimming in the afternoon after shore lunch. All the while hammering walleyes. It was like being in heaven!

Not to mention we barely had any bugs to deal with. A few skeeters after dark but that was about it. Not sure if we got lucky there or what.

I’d have zero problems repeating the trip. Guess I just got a little skiddish when the talk of “closer to home” started…… have to figure out what they meant exactly

Been there most months from Ice out to Sept…. hands down, a week after ice out is HOT…. we always try for around June 15th’ish… Northern’s and Walleye…. they are HUNGRY !!! (plus June 21, longest day of the year… only 4 hours of dark)

Had another thought watching the weather last night. Damn if it isn’t just perfect people weather in the first 100 miles over the boarder!!!! 70 for a high, cool at night for sleeping and knocking the bugs down.

Fishing might be a little better earlier or later. Sometimes we’ve had really nice weather. Other times it’s been F’ing brutal I’m at an in-law function down in the quad cities wishing my September trip was right now.