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Posts: 51
| I'm looking at venturing up to Georgian Bay this fall for a week. I have 2 questions for the masses.
Can anyone reccomend rental cabins in the French River region ?
Are there any good electroninc charts for there ? I have Navionics Hot Maps for my area that I like a lot, but on their web site it doesn't look like they have a card that covers Georgian Bay.
Thanks for any help.
Edited by NY Muskie 5/3/2008 2:39 PM
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | NY, send me a PM, GB is my home water, but not as much as where you're looking at ,on the Delta. I might be able to help just the same. |
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Posts: 148
Location: Milwaukee, WI | You have many options. I can comment on 2 places I where have stayed. I love that area.
Also check: http://www.frenchriverresorts.com/resorts.shtml
1, Bear's Den. On the lower French. Pricey, but this place has heritage and the owners are musky anglers that will help you with spots. Talk to Brenda. Great memoribilia on the walls of the lodge. And, one of the top 50 muskies of all time over the fireplace.
2, Yesterday's Resort. On the midde French. Close to the hwy 69 bridge. Nice cabins & good food. Reasonable prices. Due to the steep hillside, you must drive down to the docks to reach your boat. Difficult place to charge boat batteries.
I like the lower French better than the middle. I had an easier time finding likely structure to fish in the water. Both sections have more acerage to fish than you can do in a lifetime of trips.
I have also heard good reports about Lunge Lodge on the upper French, but I have not been there.
Chuck |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | NY, snaggletooth has given you another vote for the Lower, along with mine. Lunge Lodge is on the Upper, and in addition to the River itself, getting out to Nipissing isn't hard. Sandy Haven's a great lodge. Friends of ours from PA stay there anually and have 48, 50 and 51 the last three years. At Sandy Haven, you're right at Blueberry Isle on Nip. Great walls, reeds and all kinds of stuff within eyesight of that camp. I will send you a PM when I get more time, haven't forgotten about you. Sandy Haven you cross Nip by boat+Barge from I think Cache Bay or Sturgeon Falls. Careful with the beers when you pop 'em when they get to camp, that can be a bumpy ride! |
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Posts: 51
| This is probably a stupid question but am I safe to assume that from all the lodges on the lower French you can venture out to Georgian Bay without difficulty ?
Thanks for all the help so far. |
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| Lunge Lodge is a very good camp and reasonable. Good guys (Mike & Todd) running it too. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | No. The Chaudiere Dam makes passing from the Lower to GBay impossible.
On the Upper, you can run out to Lake Nipissing, but you are essentially 'landlocked' on the Lower. |
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Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | NY Muskie - 5/7/2008 5:57 PM
This is probably a stupid question but am I safe to assume that from all the lodges on the lower French you can venture out to Georgian Bay without difficulty ?
Thanks for all the help so far.
You can get to Georgian Bay from the Lower French but not without difficulty. I have made the trek a few times from the Delta area (French River Lodge, Bears Den). I would highly recommend hiring a guide to take you down to the Bay as it is extremely dangerous negotiating the rapids and chutes.
I have not fished West of the Chaudiere dams in a few years, lots of water along with great shield scenery and a shot at a fish of a lifetime. Just be prepared to put your time in.
Good Luck!!
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We stayed at Bear's Den about 8 years ago. You can get to the bay, but as stated before hire a guide to do it.
It's well worth the money to do so, really cool area both in the French and out on the Bay.
Definately the most underpressured place I've ever been considering the quality of muskie fishing.
John |
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Posts: 51
| Does anyone know of navigational charts available for the region? I am one of those neurotic planners who likes to look at the structure available while making plans.
I'll have to contact some of the lodges to get additional details about navigating through the region.
We are definitely planning on bringing our own boat up and planned on not using a guide.
Thanks for the help so far and keep it coming. |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | I thought you meant going downriver, from the Lower to the Bay, sorry. With water levels on GBay as low as they are, many of the chutes we used to run are now too low. But the water is high this year. Taking a 16' Boston Whaler down a 10' vertical drop in fast water with rock face a few feet from each gunnel is quite the experience. Those areas are so underpressured because navigation is so tough and there are very few fish/acre. Trust me, at least 1/3 to 1/4 of the hittable stuff never makes it onto paper. With water at all time lows, spots that were eight feet down might be two feet down or less. You will love the area, outstanding walleye in the moving water during the day and closer to dark also. To this day, one of the biggest pike I've seen caught was on a little Countdown Rapala over a shoal at like 1pm. In terms of navigation and un-marked 'surprises,' comparing the Delta the Lower French is like comparing driving on an interstate to driving in downtown Europe or Asia. |
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