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Posts: 89
| So dad and I are going to make our first trip to Canada next year. We normally hit vermilion and still plan to hit it at least once next year but we wanted to put a Canada trip in the books but there are so many cool places to go. I would like numbers with big fish present. We have been looking at Eagle but not sure what part of the lake we should hit. I've also looked at lac suel and wabigoon and they look neat too. Long legged looks kind of pricey for our blood. LOTW looks numbers OR Big fish.
Just thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone had thoughts on an outstanding first Canada trip. Don't know if it would be a July or an OCT trip.
Is decent numbers with a giant or 2 lurking around to much to ask on a resort I can bring my own boat?
Thanks for any of your thoughts! |
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Location: MN | Lotw is what you described.
Lots of good info on here on the same subject if you do some searches. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Can't really go wrong with any of those choices, and shots at big fish are available at all of them. I've fished Goon and LOTW. Eagle looks awesome and on my list.
Goon-some find it very tough to fish. The water can be chocolate milk, and that's not exaggerating. It has big fish and a plethora of pike. You have fish a bit slower and work spots over. If you're looking for the solitude/Canadian wilderness feel, this is not the place. I enjoy it, but many don't.
LOTW-only one trip up there and I found it to be fantastic, yet daunting. There are SO many spots! |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | We absolutely love LOTW. I'm on my way to meet my kid in Bemidji right now and heading up early am for our 4th trip this year. Can't get enough of it. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | LOTW fits your description best.
Lac Seul is a pretty low numbers deal and not somewhere I'd suggest cutting your teeth on Canadian Muskies. Also a tricky deal to stay in the right part of the lake that has them and is very pricy
Eagle has it's weeks where you'll catch more than other weeks, but certainly most wouldn't call that a numbers trip either.
I'd suggest LOTW for what your asking, Angle or Sabaskong
Edited by Musky Brian 9/4/2015 7:42 AM
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Posts: 897
| Eagle can be a cold hearted bi..., even with guides. But then you'll have a day where you see 17 fish and 12 are over 50 and you boat 5 with a couple 50's. I fished Eagle for a few years, much prefer LOTW.
Lotw has a ton of fish between 30-48" right now, and plenty over that to give you a decent shot at a 50.
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Whynot put it to me this way once....
"Eagle is the place to come back to the dock and talk about the one you saw or the one that got off. LOTW is the place to get out your camera and show them what you caught"
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Posts: 99
| I'm heading up to Mylie's in just under 3 weeks on LOTW. Definitely a great price, and you can bring your own boat. I've never fished this part of the lake before, but I'm really looking forward to it. Seems like a lot of people on here head that way and do great. |
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Posts: 99
Location: Tulsa, OK | Fished Eagle and LOTW, both are awesome lakes. I think if you want action with a chance at a big fish, LOTW is the place to go. If you don't need the numbers and want to have multiple chances at a big fish, then Eagle is the place to go. I have fished Eagle since 1997, and while you go thru tough stretches during your week stay, you get a couple of flurries in the week where fish just seem to be everywhere and most of them are big fish. As for scenary and wildlife, can't go wrong at either. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | redskeet100 - 9/4/2015 8:53 AM
Fished Eagle and LOTW, both are awesome lakes. I think if you want action with a chance at a big fish, LOTW is the place to go. If you don't need the numbers and want to have multiple chances at a big fish, then Eagle is the place to go. I have fished Eagle since 1997, and while you go thru tough stretches during your week stay, you get a couple of flurries in the week where fish just seem to be everywhere and most of them are big fish. As for scenary and wildlife, can't go wrong at either.
pretty fair assessment I'd say...
I would also add there are just flat out more good/fishy spots on LOTW. ( complexes, islands, reefs, sand pockets, grass, broken rock shorelines..). The one advantage Eagle has in that regard are better weeds since the crayfish have taken over LOTW. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I've only done Eagle once back in 2004 for a 9 day trip with someone that knew the water well. We caught 9 I believe and had a nasty cold front drop surface temps ~10-12 degrees from start to finish... but, that seems to be about on par with guys I know that go there... they avg. 1 fish maybe 2 per day...
I did Lac Seul a few times late 90s/Early 2000s... again, lower numbers, some huge fish, but they don't come easy... Good week on Lac Seul on par with Eagle numbers imo.
I've done 3 full weeks on LOTW and a 4.5 dayer and we shatter those numbers, both in overall action/hits but fish in net...this year putting 26 in net for 2 guys and we were dealt some crap conditions as well.... LOTW we expect 3 or more per day, on avg over the course of the week..imo if you go there set your expecations in that range, it can be done... and we always get shots at 50s usually getting 1-2 in boat for the week...we have raised fish just as big as the super tankers everyone likes to say they see on Eagle.. it comes down to expectations, some will go on a trip and are ok putting 7 in the boat for a week, while others expect 25 or more...
weather is always the wild card on any trip, some weeks you get screwed some weeks the weather is fishy all week
You're going to have a better chance at 20+ or more on LOTW than Eagle..both are great and have monster fish... Pick a good resort and go
no matter what anywhere you go the scenery is great and there are more spots than you can fish in a lifetime, Enjoy!
Edited by BNelson 9/4/2015 10:08 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | good points (above) ... 7 in a week makes you wonder if you fished at home as hard as you do on a trip to Canada for a week ... what would be the difference? that goes through my mind after a tough year or two on Eagle and may be the cause of my 2 year hiatus. if i don't get or have a shot at 12 or 13 hooked fish i'm pretty unhappy on Eagle and LOTW's that number is larger just based on the trips i see from friends. I've had a few great weeks and a couple just plain miserable weeks and feel like i know my way around. to me though, the difference is that "1" fish. that 1 fish that you just won't see at home. based on that i prefer eagle but should go back to LOTW again ... it's been a long time and i've seen some pictures from some great trips folks have had recently (two of the guys contributing here). right now though, Algoma and Sturgeon Bay have my attention over muskies. big smalls are a blast and a 4 year old King Salmon could pull a big musky around the lake a few times and it's only 3 hours away from home.
the thing i like most about the Eagle trip is driving to a launch and parking the truck next to the cabin ... no gravel road, shorter trip and on and on and on.
Edited by jonnysled 9/4/2015 11:03 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | another important piece is that Eagle is a half hour after dark where LOTW is wide open ... (correct me if i'm wrong here) ... or at least i believe that is still the case. in the fall when days are shorter it will take considerable time from you. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Yah, you can legally fish after dark on lotw... might not be the brightest idea far from camp but you can if you want to! 
Edited by BNelson 9/4/2015 10:25 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I'm with you on the travel convenience...although most camps on Eagle still have off site launches too..my boat will never see that NW Angle road again..
The night fishing thing is a new thing we tackled this year that seemed to pay off and will be a staple moving forward no matter how hungry or thirsty for a beer I am |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI | You don't want to ever see the NW angle road ever again Brian. ughhhhhhh mess.
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Posts: 31
| I would stay away from Lac Seul and Wabigoon as they are very hard to fish. I like LOTW. Red Wing is a good place to stay. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Missouri Wayne - 9/4/2015 7:32 PM
I would stay away from Lac Seul and Wabigoon as they are very hard to fish. I like LOTW. Red Wing is a good place to stay.
I'm going to stick up for Lac Seul a bit here. Yes, it's not easy to fish. But it's THE best body of water in NW Ontario to get fish 54" and up.There are some serious Giants in there and not a lot of people throwing for them. Al Linder feels the next world record is up in the extreme NE part of LS and I'm not entirely sure I'd disagree. I absolutely have to get back up there one of these years
Edited by Musky Brian 9/4/2015 8:05 PM
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Posts: 63
| I would say Eagle. I went out blind for my first time 6 years ago. Area around vermillion bay is easy to navigate the major problem spots were marked well with jugs. Had a map and afew spots maked and went fishing. Did not set the world on fire but learned a lot and caught one real nice 48". And some smaller fish. Every time back it gets a little easier. It's a lake that you think about from the day you leave till the next trip. So much to explore. |
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Posts: 38
| go to Wabigoon the last week of May.Stay at Merkels Camp. Throw 1/2 oz white terminator titanium spinnerbaits.Catch 50 or more pike,walleye,smallmouth and Muskie by "accident"a day. I will be driving 1000 miles to get there from so. Illinois. If you cant find them I will show you where. Or you can come in the summer and crank yourself silly just to catch a fish. I think most lakes would fall in this same pattern. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | beaglerr - 9/7/2015 8:26 PM
go to Wabigoon the last week of May.Stay at Merkels Camp. Throw 1/2 oz white terminator titanium spinnerbaits.Catch 50 or more pike,walleye,smallmouth and Muskie by "accident"a day. I will be driving 1000 miles to get there from so. Illinois. If you cant find them I will show you where. Or you can come in the summer and crank yourself silly just to catch a fish. I think most lakes would fall in this same pattern.
Nothing like coming online and admitting you "accidentally"'break the law...and encouraging others to join you? Stay classy
Edited by Musky Brian 9/7/2015 9:09 PM
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Wabigoon is not hard to fish. It's just different.
Merkels is a great place to stay with blacktop roads to camp and a good private landing, plus protected dockage, important on the Goon. Great hosts there and some really good fishing nearby. If you are going for muskies, fish them legally during season and don't 'pretend' not to be fishing for them, and you won't have to 'crank yourself silly'. That's not even close to true. And May can be tough there too if the water is high or temps are cold.
I have fished Wabigoon for over 30 years. It's a very interesting lake with special challenges due to the flowage aspect and clay particulate. I really like that water, but then I like fishing flowages ALLOT.
Eagle is a reasonably short drive away if you want to check both lakes out. Base out of one and do a couple 'day trips' to the other.
I've fished every major area known for muskies and quite a few that are not on LOTW. It's experiencing a 'boom' in numbers of good fish right now and very noticeable in some areas offering really good catch numbers and a shot at a big girl, sort of like Eagle's trophy walleye population.
Eagle can be tough, but so can almost any water. Some giants are caught there every week, go look at the AML Facebook page.
Whatever your choice, you can't go wrong with LOTW, Wabigoon, or Eagle. Enjoy the trip! |
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Posts: 38
| On wabigoon shallow water is where the action is. Come july and august the smallies and big pike go to deeper water.Ive fished many july and august trips at the goon.Cold fronts are a part of life up there and seem to hit every trip to some extent. Factor in the fronts and wind and a good summer week you can boat7 or 8 muskie along with some decent pike. Go last of may or early june and you can fish for smallies and pike ,catch dozens a day, and still catch a muskie now and then. How is that breaking the law? I'm talking about a most likely great trip.
Edited by beaglerr 9/8/2015 7:07 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | beaglerr - 9/8/2015 7:05 AM
On wabigoon shallow water is where the action is. Come july and august the smallies and big pike go to deeper water.Ive fished many july and august trips at the goon.Cold fronts are a part of life up there and seem to hit every trip to some extent. Factor in the fronts and wind and a good summer week you can boat7 or 8 muskie along with some decent pike. Go last of may or early june and you can fish for smallies and pike ,catch dozens a day, and still catch a muskie now and then. How is that breaking the law? I'm talking about a most likely great trip.
A fishing trip in late May targeting Muskies is fishing illegally. Period.
The fact you are actively suggesting someone should make the trip because you knowingly break the law is pretty weak. I don't know the people at Merkel's but I highly doubt they would want their lodge reputation associated with a guy fishing stuff out of season at their camp and discussing it on a public forum. |
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Posts: 38
| Oh my. I never said target muskie. I said go when fishing is best and you will still catch muskie by accident. Leave your tranx and 9 ft rod at the house. Bring bass gear ,catch a bunch of fish, and enjoy the odd muskie that eats your little spinnerbait. So many times people come for muskie in the summer ,strike out, and are done with a lake or even Canada. Why not fish when everything is biting.If you cant see what I'm saying I'm sorry |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | beaglerr - 9/8/2015 8:04 AM
So many times people come for muskie in the summer ,strike out, and are done with a lake or even Canada.
yup, that Musky fishing in NW Ontario can be downright brutal in the summer....
said no one ever.
clearly the answer is go 3 weeks ahead of the season, hide behind a bass rod, and cast away at weeds where you know out of season fish are hanging out in.
Edited by Musky Brian 9/8/2015 9:23 AM
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Posts: 118
| I just got back from my 2nd trip to Youngs Wilderness Camp on Steven's bay LOTW. The service at the place is amazing and they will help you find the fish even if you aren't paying a guide. We boated 12 fish in a week (only I actively fish musky) and moved a ton more fish. We didn't see many big fish but had more than enough action to keep us busy. I did hear about a 48" being caught out of camp while I was there. The trip for next year is already booked. LOTW is my favorite place on earth. |
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Posts: 153
| Suggesting to someone that has never fished a shield lake, whether it's legal or not, to fish after dark is bad. I have seen enough boating accidents in my 28 years of fishing Lake of the Woods (and that's fishing the lake over 60 to up 120 days per year) that occurred after dark. I don't even fish after dark and I know my way around pretty well.
I left Saturday morning in the fog (maybe a quarter mile visibility) just as bad. I run a 20 foot boat with a 250' it will go 55. I was running at 20 mph. From behind me came another big fast boat but he was going about 55 about 100 yards off the port side. Later while fishing we watched two near boat collisions on a main travel route.
Knock yourselves out, but no fish is worth an accident. |
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Posts: 32892
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | beaglerr - 9/8/2015 7:05 AM
On wabigoon shallow water is where the action is. Come july and august the smallies and big pike go to deeper water.Ive fished many july and august trips at the goon.Cold fronts are a part of life up there and seem to hit every trip to some extent. Factor in the fronts and wind and a good summer week you can boat7 or 8 muskie along with some decent pike. Go last of may or early june and you can fish for smallies and pike ,catch dozens a day, and still catch a muskie now and then. How is that breaking the law? I'm talking about a most likely great trip.
This (overall) has not been my experience, and I have fished Wabigoon for over 30 years. Fish where the fish are, and you will catch them in great size and great numbers. If they ain't shallow, don't fish them there. Find them and they will hit.
Intending to go catch a muskie (which IS the original question asked here) and fishing out of season with that intention is illegal. Going bass fishing and maybe catching a muskie by accident isn't, but the original poster didn't ask about that. |
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