Morson Report

[Eastwind]

A friend, his son and I fished out of Morson last weekend. Everyone was struggling to find a steady walleye bite. We did fair for numbers and good for average size. Most everyone else was talking like they did poor to fair for numbers and the size was small. I saw a lot of 13" fish being cleaned. We took home nothing smaller than sixteen on the ones we traveled with and a couple of 22" fish and few from 17" to just under 18". Not a bad weekend for August. Color didn't seem to matter but minnows outfished leeches and Gulp by far. The fish were on the breaks of the structure not on top. We would get two or three on a spot within a short time of arriving then it would slow down. We finally started giving each spot not much more than a half hour. Threw Shad Raps at a rocky shoreline one evening and got no Smallies but picked up some decent sized 'Eyes.

[FOOTDOC]

Thanks for the report Eastwind. This is the first time in 13 years that I am not going to LOTW. I have always gone to Obabikon Bay camp and am building a new house and have no time for the trip this year. I really miss it. From the obabikon bay camp, we used to head slightly southwest and make the first turn into Miles Bay. Just before you enter the bay, there is a reef that is on the hot spots map that we always caught lots of nice walleyes and a mix of other fish. It is a unique reef in that you come out of 70' of water and you are up in the teens in no time. I will be glad when the house is over and will definitely be up there next year. Do you have any recommendations for lodges up near Miles or the Obabikon? I have always stayed at Obabikon but the owner is a bit gruff and my son and I always tell each other, we are not here to socialize with the owner, but we are there to enjoy the beautiful region and fish. When we are up in Miles next to Garden Island, there appears to be a camp. Do you know the name of this camp? Thanks for the info!

[benelli_dude2002]

THere is a lodge kinda northwest of Garden Island. Grassy Narrows Lodge. I have a few cousins that are guide there and its a nice resort located back in a bay. Think they even got a HSOforum too. I been there a few times and it seems like a nice place. Hope this helps. Brian

[Wild Thing]

Eastwind,

I'm heading back up soon so need more information. Were you still on the reef breaklines? It seems like they never got on top this year. Did you see any sign of crayfish? Maybe they just aren't there. We had the same problem with 13'' fish this summer too, although I'd rather clean those than anything over 19 or so.... should be a good sign for next year.

Where do you start fishing now in late August/September up there? Seems like they leave the reefs entirely about now and really get hard to find for a while. Any tips anyone? I've heard weedy bays are good but haven't tried them... only two more fishing trips than we turn to hunting.

Good fishing.

[Shorelunch]

I talked to my father-in-law Saturday who is out of Morson and fished around Manitou and the Raspberry area. There were high winds up there last week which really turned up the lake around Morson. When they caught fish, they were using bottom bouncers and gold spinners with minnows on top of the reefs and deeper rock points. They marked a lot of fish but had a hard time holding the boat on the spot with the high winds.

[Eastwind]

My friend has been staying at Grassy Narrows Lodge in N NW Miles Bay for a few years now. He keeps going back so he must enjoy the camp. On the mainland there is always Mylie's or Buena Vista if you have a small group or Red Wing if you have a large group. There is also Pine Island Camp just West of Little Rasberry that I go by all the time and seems like a decent place, from a distance. If you just do a web search of Morson, Ontario you will run across the names of lots of possibilities. Are you looking for American Plan or a housekeeping cabin?

[Eastwind]

Wild Thing,

I have never fished LOW in late August or September. I fish late May, mid July, early August and early to mid October for my open water trips. Lots of people fish out toward Firebag and Sandy Bar Islands during August from what I hear.

I found the Walleyes to be on the edges rather than on the tops of reefs and rocky points on both my July and August trips this year. Friends that were also up there from July and in to August found the same to be true. Good luck and have fun on your trip.

[Wild Thing]

Anybody have any tips on where to fish crappies in Miles or elsewhere? I hear they already are starting to show up. Never tried them in open water even after all these years. Thought we might give them a try this trip if wally is stubborn. Anyone?!

[Eastwind]

Wild Thing,

I can only tell you where we have gotten them in early October. In NE Miles Bay there are two spots, Thomson Creek and Bottleneck Bay which is directly East of the North end of Smokehouse Island. At Bottleneck you should fish the wall on the South entrance to the bay. We get Crappies and/or Walleyes there Spring, Summer and Fall. up by Thomson Creek there are several areas to try both East and West of the creek mouth. Watch out for rocks!!!

There is also Hay Island and the Elbow at Obabikon. Of all of these spots, the Elbow is the spot that is most talked about as a September spot rather than an October spot. Be careful going through the narrows on the way in and out. The current is usually strong and we have seen it going in both the South and North directions depending on when you go through. The best method that everyone uses to get through is to have someone get right up in the front of the boat and use the bow mount motor to pull you through. I steer my Power Drive motor with my hand to increase reaction time. Trim the gas motor all the way up. You will notice the rock on the right side of the South entrance has lots of aluminum on it from those that did otherwise. Sorry if you know all this but better safe than sorry. Good luck and let us know how you do. When are you heading up?

[Wild Thing]

Thanks, Eastwind,... we were headed up last weekend but the forecast was for 20 knott NW winds so I cancelled and am heading up for a few days this weekend. We'll also be back up there Sept. 8-11 for a combo duck hunt/fish trip. Thought we might try crappies for a change. I've fished Hay island a lot in the winter but the only crappies i've caught up there on open water have been while fishing reefs for walleyes. Crappies are startig to show up in more places. Getting one or two a day now on most reefs. Wonder what that means?

I'm hearing more reports of walleyes near weedy bays, but I don't know if people mean submergent weeds or cattails/bullrushes or what. Might give that a try to.

Good fishing!!

[Eastwind]

WildThing,

If you want to check out Crappies ask around to see if the Elbow is giving up any Crappies yet. Or just run up there and check it out. Also, the NE corner of Miles would be a good area to check out. Good luck. Let us know how you do.

[FOOTDOC]

Wild Thing

I have gone to the Obabikon Bay Camp for several years and will suggest you look for the crappie cribs once you get into the obabikon. You go thru the narrows and take the usual right. As you continue east, the lake opens up a bit and off to the right there are cribs in about 25' of water. I used to have a guide, bill looney who took me to these cribs several times. Also, when you get to the elbow, continue to follow the lake around to the right or east and then it swings around back north. The last significant island north has a great spot for shore lunch with numerous large turtle shells nailed to the trees. Between that island and the main shore to the east is a somewhat narrow channel and bill used to take us there and with jig/minnow, we got a lot of crappie. My son and I have also trolled thru there with white deep diving cranks that we typically use for bass back home and have caught big crappies. I can't think of the name of the crank but Kevin Vandarn from the bass fishing world is the pro smeared all over the packaging. It might be strike king. I agree with Smokehouse island in Miles bay. The northeast corner of that island has a bay across from it and we have always done good for crappies in the fall in that area. Actually, it is kind of pathetic to remember the old days. We would have 10 guys in our party. Every 2 guys had a guide. We would target crappies, northern and walleyes and everyone would take home a limit. Back then, the crappie limit was like 30 or 35. Remember, these are BIG crappies. Have fun and I am truly jealous of you guys as I am missing the area for the first time in 14 years!

[Wild Thing]

Thanks, guys! Really appreciate the crappie tips. I assume your using little jigs and minnows, right?

The big bass tournament is up there this weekend. Will be interesting to see where they get the big smallies...

see ya on the water!

[Eastwind]

You are correct! Little jigs and minnows.

[dmoore]

Just returned from LOW. Walleyes were very spotty. We did best fishing jigs in the windswept bays in Miles. Size was smaller than earlier in the year, but we ate fish and took our limits home. We did have very good crappie fishing a couple of days. Actually we are starting to fish different areas. 25-35' bays in and around Miles. Muskies for us were slow. Lots of wind and storms. There were over 30 boats at the Bottleneck last Monday. Not a boat there the rest of the week. They completely turned off. Heading back on the 8th.

[Shorelunch]

I'm heading up Friday and fishing out of Hanson Bay. My father-in-law fished the reefs with no luck (when the wind wasn't howling). They found nice fish on deeper points with weeds using bottom bouncers and spinners.

[Wild Thing]

Wind was too much for us. I cut the trip short after two days to save time off. Fished a few bass in the lee but never ventured far out. 15-20 mph winds saturday and sunday morning and rain. Spent time scouting for ducks instead and doing cabin chores. Even work up there is better than work at home! Went to the powow, too, always interesting.

Back up in 11 days!

[Shorelunch]

Got back from Morson this afternoon. Spectacular northern lights on Friday night. Fished Saturday and Sunday. Found many 14-16" walleyes in 18-22 FOW. Fished along steep rock shorelines and points trolling hammered gold spinners and minnows. Largest fish for the weekend was 17" along a a nice bonus crappie. It was a quantity but not quality weekend, but no complaints.

[Wild Thing]

Thanks, Shorelunch. We're headed up Thursday for a cast and blast combo. Seems like those 15-inchers are the dominant year class out there this year. Should be nice and chunky next year!

Have you noticed less algae bloom this year? Seems like we aren't getting it by our place as bad as last two years...

[Shorelunch]

The algae bloom depended on where you went. Because of the high winds on Thursday, some areas the water was pretty clear, some were very dirty and we did run into a few areas of pea soup, but not like in past years. The fishing was much better in the clearer water.

Have fun!

[Wild Thing]

Hmmm. Never thought about the clear water/better fishing thing. Will look for that.

While there's some historical record of algae blooms way back, they apparently are getting much worse, especially in the southern basin. Several groups, including the Lake of the Woods Area Property Owners Assocation, are working to find the cause. Likely some combination of bad septic systems, paper mills and cow runoff along with a few other things we don't know about. Bottom line is too much phosphorus. Long term, that can kill the lake.

[fiskyknut]

Where did you hear that wild thing?

A curious fiskyknut.

[puckey]

I'm heading up to Miles bay, the last weekend of Sept. and would like to try the crappie thing. My question is, is that to late in the season for crappies, or too early, I've already been up 5 times this year, and can't wait to get there again.

Puckey

[Hemlock]

Wild Thing is bang on and the Lake of the Woods Property Owners have started a task force/committee to rectify the problem (my dad has been asked to help out on the committee) Pea soup has been worse in the last 10 years and we all should learn a little more about it and do whatever we can (if you are a landowner) to prevent the algae booms, because it does effect fishing and beyond.

[Eastwind]

Late September is right in the middle of " Prime Time" as far as I am concerned. I have gone to Morson the first or second weekend of October every year for the past 8 years. We have always found Crappies in all four of the popular Crappie areas out of Morson. We always hear that people have been getting them through September at some of the spots and others are supposed to be getting started in early October.