It’s finally here! The walleye bite is through the roof, resulting in doubles, triples and face numbing smiles.
Last week’s mid week cold front did little to impact the hot bite occurring in just about every body of water in the Pasha Lake Region of Ontario. From numbers to big fish, the last two weeks have been, by far, the most productive yet in the 2012 season.
Long time guests and hard core angling fanatics, the Jim Haller group from Southern Ontario put on a fishing clinic, boating multiple species. From 20lbs Lake Nipigon lake trout, to trophy pike and brook trout and mind staggering numbers of walleyes, they experienced what every angler dreams of in coming to Pasha Lake Cabins. It was simply the hottest bite yet for 2012. Before departing, one of the veteran group members told me, “this is the best year of fishing we’ve ever had here”.
Not surprising, the hot lure last week was the original floating Rapla – F5 in orange and gold. Long lining the lure proved to be too much to handle for walleyes in 10fow or shallower. The pattern was discovered early in the week and was deadly most days. For the Haller group, it was the biggest producer of their trip.
On Wednesday, I headed out to Onaman with the Hassler group from Southern Missouri. They heard all the hype and couldn’t wait to experience the euphoria when it comes consistently catching walleyes disguised as pigs. And, oh boy, were they happy. In baseball terms, not only did we hit a home run, dare I say, we parked a grand slam. In all, we boated over 40 walleyes ranging from 16” to 28”, with the bulk of them being in the 4-5lbs range. It was so good, for a second I thought we were fishing in October.
Also, as posted in last week’s fishing report, you know that I placed my bulk order for B Fish and Tackle’s Pulse-R Paddle tails and Moxi Ringles. As with most things you buy over the internet, I thought it would be weeks before I would see them arrive on my door step. That was not the case however. B Fish and Tackle shipped them immediately and as I type this report, they have all ready worked their magic over some unsuspecting walleyes. The point? B Fish Tackle makes effective lures, and has great service. Wish all companies had that blue print!
One of the hottest bites for me personally has been to use a Pulse-R Paddle Tail on a beetle spin set up. It hasn’t mattered if I was fishing rivers or lakes, casting or trolling, its been devastating the walleyes. Like last week, using a bright colored jig with a Stewarts Pro-Blue or Oystershell color proved to be a deadly combination. Another good combo presentation was to swim a white Moxi Ringle on a 1/4 oz jig. The live bait guys edged me using that set up, but I blew their doors off with the beetle spin rig.
On a different note, we have postponed the Walleye Dream Trip until further notice. Unfortunately with all the rain, the forced flow from the Ogoki Reservioir to Lake Nipigon has been shut off. Absent that flow, those walleyes don’t stage in the river where they usually do. It’s kind of ironic, with all the rain and massive run off, we don’t have the flow required to fish what is arguably the best walleye sanctuary on the planet. Hopefully that will change in the near future. Keep tuned for updates
My last update/story comes from the McClain group from Michigan. They have fished southern Ontario for many years and have settled on good fishing as catching 12 walleyes in as many hours. Last Saturday, they caught that many within minutes of a hitting the lake. And, despite my pleas for sleep, they insisted on leaving early in the morning and coming back late in the evening. But the results can’t be denied. They hammered countless walleyes and told me before leaving, this was the most fish they had ever caught while staying in Ontario.
I have to slap myself… I can’t believe July is knocking on the door step. If this hot bite continues in to next month, you’ll find me in an insane asylum holding a fishing rod in one hand and a Moxi Ringle in the other…
Until next time!