| In this issue:
Our
Fishing
Video Site is up and running. If you have hi-speed
internet access
click
here to see some great short fishing video clips. We've
added a few new UNDERWATER Videos
Shoal Lake Lodge
- All new quality accommodations will include
six individual cottages, the Lodge/Dining Hall, Recreation Room and
out buildings. Our specialty is Northern Pike and Small and
Largemouth Bass fishing. Northern Pike fishing is simply fabulous
both in number and size. Shoal Lake
is rated by Ontario out of Doors as the #1 drive to pike
lake in Ontario.
Manotak Lodge -
Manotak Lodge Is a quality four star fishing lodge
having a fine reputation for fantastic fishing, quality
accommodations, excellent meals and friendly service. We offer
all-inclusive packages in American Plan, Evening Meal Plan or
Housekeeping Plan. Nestled on the shore of beautiful Perrault Lake
are sixteen modern guest cottages that accommodate from 2 to 12
guests each. Our buildings, grounds, boats and motors are
immaculately maintained and our competent staff will see to your
every need.
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Night Trolling for Walleye
By Tim Allard
The green, red and white navigation lights from
other boats slowly glided through the darkness, setting the ambiance
for another night fishing adventure. Within a few minutes of
starting a trolling run, I connected with a fierce and feisty
walleye that hammered my shallow-running minnow bait. Through the
flashlight beam the fish became visible. Once boat side it was
netted and quickly released. I returned my bait to the water, gazed
up at the stars and breathed the cool, evening air - Ah, the joys of
night trolling for walleye.
If you've yet to get hooked on night fishing for
walleye you're missing out. Walleye anglers can have all the latest
bells and whistles in tackle or know the latest techniques, but the
basic fact remains that walleye are low-light feeders. They become
active at dark and fishing for them when the sun's down puts the
odds in your favour.
Trolling Locations
Areas to cover when trolling during the night for walleye include
breaklines, points, sandbars, and shoals next to deep water where
walleye can easily move into shallow water to feed. Cover is also
critical to your search. Walleye will often favour areas with weeds
or rocks as cover attracts prey but also aids these predators when
ambushing forage. It's best to fish a variety of structures until
you locate walleye, keeping in mind that fish will roam various
depths ranging anywhere from two to 20 feet of water.
Trolling Techniques
It's tough to beat the silent hum of a trolling motor or a paddled
canoe to avoid spooking walleye, but long-lining with gas motors is
also an effective method. S-turns are a good pattern to follow when
trolling. Refrain from using rod holders. They work well in the day,
but at night you won't feel (or see) a fish hit or be able to
monitor the action of your bait if you're not holding the rod. GPS
units are an excellent addition to your boat when trolling as they
allow you to navigate at night as well as return to productive areas
by storing waypoints instead of relying on landmarks as reference in
the dark.
Keep it Simple
When fishing at night keep things simple and organized. Don't bring
too many rods or try to fish with more than two anglers. Keep gear
(like nets, pliers, and flashlights) at the ready. If you're boat
has them, use the onboard lights to help you find your way around
but use orange bulbs which attract bugs less than white ones. A
headlamp is another great piece of gear to have on board, allowing
you to keep both hands free.
Top Tackle Choices
Crankbaits and minnowbaits are the stars of nighttime trolling.
Various wobbles and wiggles appeal to the different dispositions of
walleye throughout the season, so keep a variety of straight,
jointed, narrow and fat billed trolling baits in your tackle box.
Shallow running baits (like a Rapala J-9) work well for trolling
over the top of weeds to avoid hang-ups. Deeper running baits (like
Cotton Cordell's Wally Diver) work well for probing the edges of
breaklines or around shoals. Another top trolling choice are spinner
rigs tipped with worms, leeches, or minnows.
Minnowbaits - some typical night trolling minnowbaits,
including a Rapala J-9 and Shallow Shad Rap, and a Smithwick's
Rogue.
Safety
Unlike walleye that see well in the dark, anglers loose the reliance
of their number one sense when night fishing - sight. To keep your
night trolling adventures safe, use your boat's running lights and
wear a life jacket. Exercise caution around other boats as depth
perception is dramatically reduced in the dark. If possible, get on
the water an hour or so before nightfall so your eyes can adjust to
the changing light conditions. Finally, leave an itinerary with
someone on land, including time on and off the water and fishing
area, and bring a cell phone or other communication device with you
for emergencies. All these points should be standard whenever
boating, but they are especially important when night fishing.
Give night trolling a try this season and hunt walleye when they're
feeding and active. Not only will you likely find them more
aggressive than during the day, but you'll also likely experience
little (if any) boat traffic or crowded fishing spots, which is a
welcome sight to any angler, even in the dark.
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