SUNSET COUNTRY : WHERE YOU CAN CATCH MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES EACH DAY
One of the greatest things about fishing in Ontario ’ s Sunset Country is the variety of fish ! Nowhere else can you find as many lakes with so many species . Fish for walleye in the morning for your shore lunch , try for a trophy pike , muskie or trout in the afternoon , and feisty bass in the evening or fish for walleye all day long , the choice is yours !
WALLEYE
Walleye are why most people come here to fish , and for good reason . They are the ultimate table fare and our thousands of lakes are loaded with them ! These fish have a beautiful gold colour and in some lakes , even a green or blue tint . Jigging with live bait in 20 to 30 feet of water is the most reliable method of catching walleye but they also bite a wide variety of artificial baits .
PIKE
Big and nasty is one way of describing northern pike and they certainly have earned this reputation . The top predator in many lakes , the northern pike up here can exceed 45 inches and 30 pounds . Just about anything works with northerns but many anglers love to throw big jerk baits or spoons onto rock piles , sunken timber or along the weed lines . If you get a big one to hit be prepared !
ONTARIO WALLEYE RECORD : Weight : 22.25lbs | Length : 36.5in | Girth : 21.0in Caught by Patrick Noon on May 26 , 1943
ONTARIO NORTHERN PIKE RECORD : Weight : 42.12lbs Caught by Harry Bell on July 14 , 1946
BASS
Sunset Country waters harbor both small and largemouth bass but smallies are much more common . Pound for pound , our bass are the best fighters in the lake so look for a wild and fun retrieve when you hook into one . You can catch bass using spinner baits , plugs , raps or plastic . Try a tube jig if the fish get finicky . The biggest smallies go up to 7 pounds with big largemouth slightly larger .
MUSKIE
If you ’ re a dedicated muskie hunter , you already know Sunset Country is the promised land of muskie fishing . We have these amazing predators not only in big numbers but of the “ supersize ” variety . In some lakes , you ’ ll be hard pressed to catch fish smaller than 45 inches and if it ’ s your day to shine , there are big girls over 50 inches that await your cast . There ' s nothing quite like catching a giant muskie in Sunset Country .
ONTARIO SMALLMOUTH BASS RECORD : Weight : 9.84lbs | Length : 24in | Girth : 18.3in Caught by Andy Anderson on September 26 , 1954
ONTARIO MUSKIE RECORD : Weight : 65lbs | Length : 58in | Girth : 30.5in Caught by Kenneth O ' Brien on October 16 , 1988
TROUT
The vast Canadian Shield landscape is dotted with thousands of clear , deep trout lakes which offer some of this continent ’ s most consistent lake trout fishing . If you ’ re up here shortly after ice out then spin cast for lakers in 10 feet of water . Most of the time , these fish are deeper though so down rigging or drop-shotting are two methods that work well . Our northern rivers also have native brook trout .
CRAPPIE & PERCH
While we are not generally known for our panfish , when it comes to crappie and perch fishing , we can compete with the best destinations out there . Our black crappie can slab out at 3 pounds and boy do they ever taste good ! Try jigging for them in the spring or fall or repeat the attempt through the ice . Once you find them you ’ re going to catch a bundle ! Perch are everywhere and are very easy to catch !
ONTARIO LAKE TROUT RECORD :
Weight : 63.12lbs | Length : 51.5in | Girth : 32.8in Caught by Hubert Hammers on May 25 , 1952
ONTARIO CRAPPIE RECORD :
Weight : 3.78lbs | Length : 17in | Girth : 16.5in Caught by Charles Sherrill on May 10 , 1986
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