How are conditions up on the Manitou?

[Hiddenbay]

Hello,

Anyone out there been fishing the Manitou? I did hear that the water levels were low and that things were dry. My concern is entry to the stretch from Esox. How low is the water?

Thanks

[Abrams]

I have no idea where Manitu is, if it's in Northwest Ontario it's mostly very, very, very, very dry. Record dry. I talked to my neighbor up on Abrams and he said no outdoor fires, no outdoor grilling, no carcoal grilling etc., can you say tinder dry. They might have received some rain yesterday but they need a foot of rain to get things back to normal.

[Hiddenbay]

I was talking about the Lower Manitou Lake. Mispelled Manitou. I do hope they get rain.

[SimilarIsland]

We have a group that went up to the Stretch this week. They'll be back next week and I'll post back.

We're right around the corner from Hidden Bay/River. We'll be up the last week in June. Can't wait!

[superbee]

The conditions for the Manitou are good, you can get into the stretch from Esox, just go slow and trim up. Similar, email me about how your group did when they return. Maybe we can swap some info. [email protected]

[SimilarIsland]

Will do.

[Hiddenbay]

I have caught and released a lot of fish in Hidden River Bay over the years. That part of the stretch has some nice sized Musky swimming around. Do you stay on that Island in the middle of the stretch or at Camp Manitou? My friends and I have stayed at a place up on the big lake. We are coming up the week after Fathers day. I am counting the days. I can hear the Small Mouth hitting those surface baits now.

[SimilarIsland]

Similar Island is on the South side of South Bay, just West of Hidden Bay. It is a stone's throw from the portage to Dogfly and very near the portage to Alonghill. One of my oldest/best friend's family owns the island along with a few others. This will be my seventh trip, plus one to God's and one to Manaki, so I'm learning the waters pretty well. Last four or five trips I've carried a Garmin GPS with Canada Topo 2, so I get around pretty well and have things marked. Hidden Bay is one of my favorites. They've owned the island for 50 years. I've heard some pretty incrdible stories.

Last year I was fishing by the waterfall for Smallies and a bald eagle swooped down over the falls and flew ten feet over our boat - wow. We'll have to trade some notes. I'd really like to latch onto one of those famous Manitou/Esox Muskies.

Last year we did the small lake (you know the one I mean) with all the smaller muskies and did 14 in a half day, along with 12 lake trout - heaven!

Sorry, am I rambling? I just love it up there. I thought maybe you lived in that cabin on the right as you come into Hidden Bay - nice!

Are you talking about Slate/Snyder Island? We're just South of that. I'm not even sure when Father's day is.

[superbee]

Are you referring to the L shaped lake or the one to the West of it? Have you ever fished Gates, I have a friend who really enjoys fishing there. So many lakes, so little time.

[Hiddenbay]

I have fished some of those other "small lakes". If you know what to use, they are great. I have fished the Manitou from the Esox bridge all the way to Cedar Narrows over many years and I must tell you that Esox is one of the best Small Mouth lakes in that area. You just need to know where to go. I am not much of a lake trout fisherman but I am sure they are there. I see them on my graph. Just remember, catch and release! That practice has helped make the musky fishing up there get better and better every year. I would say our party averages about five musky a trip in that area. The largest so far was 53 inches. That fish is still swimming. I have seen and lost bigger. These fish are caught on so many different lures that I cannot list them here. I think if they are hungry they will hit anything.

[SimilarIsland]

Never thought of it as "L" shaped. Wonder if you mean the one by the Upper Manitou.

Love Gates too. I wonder if the water level has effected any of the portages.

[superbee]

I'm referring to the one just Southwest of Hiddenbay. I know the lake you are talking about off the big lake.

[Hiddenbay]

Both of those lakes are great. In the spring I enjoy using the top water baits in both. The surface explodes with action.

[Hiddenbay]

I ment to say Esox to Doyle Bay not Cedar Narrows.

[SimilarIsland]

LOL I"m glad you said that. I was thinking you really concentrate your fishing in a very small area.

How hard is is to make it through Beaverhead Narrows or however you get up there? I've been up to Kaminni Falls and around the North side of Manitou Island (some hidden volkswagons), but not North of that. I'd like to check out Glass Bay and Three-O-Three Bay sometime. Maybe it's better down by Hidden and I shouldn't waste my time. Haven't checked out Grant or Aronson. Grant's a double portage and Aronson's supposed to be a very difficult portage also. Pulled my boat out of storage today - man am I ready!

[Hiddenbay]

Wait for a day with little wind and make the run to Glass Bay (bring extra fuel its worth it). Watch for rocks at the enterance. Same thing goes for Beaver Head at the narrows. Every year we catch and release musky in that area that are large. And I mean over 45 inch + large. You can also catch nice size bass and are party has caught Lake Trout there as well. Get a good map and on the way back from Glass Bay make time to fish around the islands at the enterance of Weasel Bay which is the second bay southwest of Glass Bay. Remember "catch and release" these big fish. Once in a while I hear stories of guys taking these big fish home. I cannot understand that since all you have to do is measure and take a picture if you want a great mount. The biggest musky caught and released in that area was well over 60 inches. Since these bays are close to the big lake those big fish have plenty to eat so lets keep them swimming.

Gates is another great Musky Lake. Have caught a few 45+ inch Muskys in that lake as well. The Northern and Bass fishing there is also great. Aronson is another good lake but I do not think it is worth the tough portage. Make sure you ask Camp Manitou if you can use the boat they have there.

Let me know if you have other questions about these areas. I have been fishing in this area for a long long time.

[SimilarIsland]

Thanks, I've heard good things about Glass, but I'll try Weasel too.

We've also caught a lot of Largemouth and Smallies at Gates. Haven't fished much for Muskies yet but I'm getting the fever. They all laugh at me. I get the fish off the hook as quickly as possible and get my lure back in the water.

I'm dying to find out how they did this week. We usually go in/out on Saturday. I'll be going in/out on June 23/30. I'm guessing they'll be a bit deeper than last Spring when we went in Mid May.

So you're going up on the 17th? How long are you up there?

You wouldn't happen to have GPS coordinates for the portage to the L lake?

[Hiddenbay]

Get your hands on a good map. Sportsmens in the Falls sells a great map of the area. It is called the Dryden-Wabigoon-Manitou Lakes Area map. Once you have that you can find the "L" shaped lake with no problems. It is a green and blue colored map. Gates is a fun lake. Just need to make sure you ask Camp Manitou if you can use the boat there. It is a nice boat for a portage lake. By the way there are some big Musky swimming around in those bays just northwest of where you stay. And I mean big like 50 inches plus.

[Manitoumuskie]

I have seen and tried to land at least one of those 50 inch muskies in a place we have always called Klaus Bay (just SW of Slate/Snider cabins in the middle of the stretch). So far I have not been as lucky to get him to take the hook but I keep trying... Its a beautiful fish and sometime I hope to take an even closer look.

[SimilarIsland]

Quote:

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Just need to make sure you ask Camp Manitou if you can use the boat there. It is a nice boat for a portage lake.

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The island's policy has always been to portage their own boat in and never use a Lodge's or anyone else's boat. Makes for better relationships with the Lodges.

[Hiddenbay]

I think I know the fish. I have hooked and lost one of those giants. These fish have been caught and released a few times. Its great. They keep getting bigger and bigger. Are these cabins you mentioned a short boat ride away from the mouth of Esox?

[SimilarIsland]

Slate & Snider Islands are just west of the mouth of South Bay in the middle (north/south) of the Stretch. Slate is on the West and Snider is a small island about 25 feet to the East of Slate. Both have a cabin on them. They're three miles east of the rock channel leading to Esox.

[Hiddenbay]

I know the place now. I have trolled around that island over the years. That part of the stretch has good bass fishing along the north shore line. The Zara Spook can catch a lot of fish around there. Big Bass at the points.

[SimilarIsland]

ManitouMusky's dad stayed on Slate Island more than fifty years ago before they got the island. He's in his late eighties and still goes up with us and doesn't catch too many more than we do. We've heard many stories about "boat-sized" Manitou Muskies over the years.

[Manitoumuskie]

"CATCH AND RELEASE" is the name of the game. The slot has also helped keep the fish stock in good shape...I have been fishing Esox and the stretch waters for over 30+ years and I think the fishing is getting better and better, or maybe my memory is just going...