A buddy of mine likes to fish. He likes to fish A LOT. He’s the kind of guy that will go out on the lake before the sun comes up, fish all day, and return home after dark. In the summer months, that’s a long time on the water, and during the short winter days, that’s a lot of fishing through a small hole in the ice! When Peter read about our trip to Lake of Bays in Ontario he had a few things to say about how to fish there…

Top L-R: Rapala Skitter Pop, Rapala Husky Jerk, Middle L-R: Tube, Williams Whitefish Spoon, Bouyah Spinner Bait, Bottom middle: Slip Float

Lake of Bays is a clear, cold body of water. It’s deepest part is 230 feet. Fish species that inhabit the lake are lake trout, smallmouth bass, whitefish, lake herring, rainbow smelt as well as many minnow species. Historically there have been some big trout caught – 20 lbs and over. Ice fishing deep with Williams spoons and big tube jigs in winter is a good bet. In spring when the ice is just off the lake, try lively shiners suspended under slip floats in 6-10 feet of water along rocky shorelines and points.

When the water warms up lake trout will start moving to deeper water. Deep water trolling large spoons and minnowbaits like rapala’s in natural colours works best. Be patient. It will take some work.

When bass season opens in June, working topwater plugs is very exciting around rocky shorelines and back bays. They will also take spinners and plastic tubes, grubs and worms. As summer progresses try shoals, points and drop offs. In fall, vertical jig in the 15-30 foot range. Have fun, stay safe and happy fishing.

Map of Lake of Bays, Ontario

If you’re a fisherman and you have a story to tell, please leave a comment for us below. Also see our post at http://roadstories.ca/muskoka-near-algonquin-park-ontario/