Last week in Morson

[Eastwind]

Four of us fished out of Morson all of last week and did pretty well. As reported the week before last by others, the fish are not on top of the reefs yet. Many people were picking 'eyes up on rocky points and along weedlines. I started checking the tops of the reefs with limited luck. Then we concentrated on the edges, dropoff and the deep water surounding the reefs and started catching a lot of fish. The average size was up from the average I've seen during the eight years ( just a rookie, eh? ) I've been going up there. My father-in-law boated a 26.5" a couple over 20" and many from 17" to 20". My wife boated four over 20" ( and to add insult she spends half her time reading out there ) and several from 17" to 20". I never hit over 20" but caught many from 17" to 19.5". We got a lot of fish! Hovering and back slipping with the bow mount motor to maintain maximum boat control was crucial. Weather was great with no high winds other than it getting up to about 25 mph for two or three hours on Wednesday. All in all a great trip. I'll be back up on August 6th.

[Wild Thing]

Eastwind,

We, too were fishing Morson last week -- fished every day from July 8-17 -- and we had a great bite! But, to show how ficle the fish gods can be, our fish ran unusually SMALL! on this trip, tons of 13-15 inchers and only a few over 18. We did better in June when we got 28, 25 etc. BUT my problem is I was stubborn and stayed on the reefs insisting the big fish would show any day. They finally did on the 23rd and 24th, when we got a couple of 22's, but I probably would have done better going back to the points like you!!! The big ones should be eating like pigs on top of the reef right about now -- that's always the best bite of the year when they gorge on crayfish.

Did you use anything other than crawlers? That's all we used and had an unusually high number of biteoffs. Not sure what was going on there. Went through something like 25 dozen crawlers in 10 days, usually 2-3 people fishing each day.

We fished reefs all the way up to the mouth of Sabaskosing, and did a lot of boating/exploring west and north. Only fished a few hours each day (wife and 7-year-old tire fast and want to hit the sand beaches for swimming) but still averaged about 6 fish per angler/per hour every day, even in 90 degree flat calm hot sun. On days the guys fished, it was 30-36 fish in 3 hours every day. That's how great that lake is! Our best fishing always is around 11 a.m for some reason!!!

We're going back up from July 29-Aug. 2 for five days of fishing so will post a report for you before your trip.

Good fishing!!

P.S. If anyone knows anything special about smallies up there, please share. Looking for some tips.

[Eastwind]

Wild Thing,

I don't know squat about fishing Smallies but then I have never tried to learn about them. With the fishery that LOW has for them and Muskies I really need to start putting effort in to both. As far as bait. We used strictly leeches and minnows. Someone that we spent some time hanging out with was using crawlers and "Gulp" and did about the same as we did. We used jigs and they were using walking sinkers and hammered gold spinners. I will look forward to your post prior to when I go back up on August 5th thru 9th. Good luck on your trip.

[Wild Thing]

EastWind,

It's been hard to fish for smallies or muskies cause the walleyes are so easy. But I'm trying to break out of the rutt.

We use strictly bouncers and spinners, usually gold, and try some floating/wobble rigs as well, simply because they are easy to fish and virtually snagproof on the rock monster reefs. My efforts to use jigs or lindy rigs have ended up with much money lost on the bottom and no more fish. I think my issue with size last trip was more WHERE we fished, as the big ones (25-to-29 inchers) last few years have hammered the crawlers on top of the reefs -- if they are there! I can't afford leeches or minnows in Canada so I stick to the $1 dozen crawlers from home!!!!

A little help on a related note: We have no problem catching walleyes December into August, but by late August, when they leave the reefs, we have had our slowest fishing of the year (even mid-winter has been great.) Where do you fish them late summer/early fall? We've had some real tough labor day bites, yet others seem to be getting them.

Thanks for any help. Soon, my attention turns to ducks up there, but another 51 days before that!

Good fishing!

[eskay]

If you want smallies, scrap the live bait and get a bunch of crawfish Shad Raps in size 7 & 8. Toss them up on the rocks and windswept points and hang on! Works for walleyes, too. We hardly ever use live (dead) bait except to jig for walleyes.

I'll be up to the cabin near Morson (Taylor Bay) 7/28-8/09 fishing for muskies mainly, with a trip or two up to Whitefish after lakers. Gray/ black Alumacraft w/ 115 and 8 Yamahas. Radio is usually on ch. 16. Holler is you think you see me.

[Shorelunch]

Eskay, where's the cabin you're at? My family "Wilson/Thompson" have a couple cabins on the west side of the bay.

[Wild Thing]

Thanks Eskay, but you'll have to be more specific than "toss them up on the rocks.'' The whole (Contact US Regarding This Word) lake and all 14,000 islands are rock shoreline! We catch smallies on the reefs fishing eyes pretty often, but I want some special spots where big smallies lurk (weeds, dropoffs, ?) We catch some near our cabin, but I hear Fish Narrows is good, etc.

What kind of rocks? Basketball size? How deep? Come on, cough it up! I hear tube jigs are good, too.

And I can't afford enuff shadraps to use them for walleyes on those reefs. uffda, I'd be spending $100 a day on snags!

We're up there a lot so will give you a call on the VHF. We're on Chan. 10 but can move over to make contact. Silver Alumacraft Trophy 190 with a Yamma 150 and 8...

Good fishing!

[buzzsaw]

I've heard of the Wilson clan, there a rowdy bunch!! Lots of beer drinking going on up at Taylor Bay eh?

[eskay]

Shorelunch,

Actually the cabin is in Miller Bay, but nobody knows the difference unless you're up there. The first place on E. Stinzi Rd. I'll be up there next Thursday in the afternoon, and my cousin is coming from Crystal the next evening. We'll be there until August 7th. I put my boat in at Dave Crosby's place, if you know him. We're right across the road. If the boat's there, or you hear a chainsaw, we're there. Have to clean up some trees that got too big and are in the way of the pole shed. Stop by and have a cold one if you're in the area. I drive a gold Expedition and my cousin has a black Ram pickup.

Wild Thing, I just cast up on the rocks close to shore. Nothing specific to look for, but better chances around scattered rocks, not sheer cliffs. Usually NOT around weeds. Yeah there's alot of rocks, but there's alot of smallies, too. It's the "go-to" fish when everything else is slow. And if you hang up a shad rap, just give it some slack and 90% of the time it'll float loose. They just seem to hang the lip up on a rock, and slack will let them float loose. If you have to break off, watch and they usually float up and you can retrieve them. Sure, I always lose a couple, but really not too often. If I could only use one lure, this would be it.

Good luck Guys, might see you on the water.

[Eastwind]

Eskay,

I'll be up August 6th through the 9th. I have a tan Crestliner with a 150 Optimax. I always monitor 16 and one other channel ( often 69 or 72) We are staying at Mylie's. Give me a shout if you see me on the water. Where is Taylors Bay?

[Shorelunch]

Eastwind, Taylor Bay is one bay west of Miller Bay It's in between Bergland and Morson - you would go north on Lighthouse Rd. It's about four bays east of the lighthouse.

Eskay, you should have excellent walleye fishing about 500 yards out your front door. My uncle has done very well on the rock reef in your bay of late. You may also want to try in between the two islands in Taylor Bay and also try trolling fromn the north point of Taylor Bay towards the larger island along the ridge

Yep, there's still a little whoop-de-doo's going on everyonce in a while in Taylor Bay.

[Wild Thing]

Eskay,

Thanks for the smally tips.

The OPP has warned us to stay away from the Taylor Bay area, a lot of bad seeds, they say....

see you on Lac Du Bois!

[eskay]

Shorelunch,

That's my "dinner reef". I usually get up there before the rest and go out and catch dinner on the reef. Always a spot you can count on for a nice walleye dinner, plus some fun with the smallies. I'll probably be out there Thursday evening trying to catch one for supper.

[Wild Thing]

Any new reports?

Heading up tomorrow for five days.