2017 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2017-SC-Guide-Digital | Page 13

back. The thing is, there are probably millions of spots like this
up here. It’s amazing to think you could fish the entire pre-spawn
never fishing the same spot or the same lake twice, and not even
scratch the surface of what’s out there.
I’d put the smallmouth to bed then tackle the most popular fish in
Sunset Country, the walleye. I can see the spot I’d start on, a big
sand flat near a river mouth. I’d have on a 1/4 oz VMC Mooneye
Jig with a 3” Big Bite Baits Jointed Jerk Minnow. Snap jigging’
over the flat would produce a handful of eaters for shore lunch.
It’s something you have to do in Canada, bust of the beans,
onions, potatoes and fry some walleye over an open fire. With a
full belly, I’d search out some newly developing cabbage beds for
the big gals. I’ve had some really hot bites for big walleyes snap
jigging cabbage in June and it’s a lot of fun. But, early June is also
when the crappies are spawning so I’m guessing I’d probably get
distracted sniffing out some spawning crappies in the reed beds.
After catching who knows how many walleyes and some monster
crappies it would probably be mid-June. Hmmm….what to catch
next. Well mid-June is a dynamite time of year to catch just about
everything so maybe I’d head out for some brook trout.
I’d make my way east over to the north shore of Lake Superior
and Lake Nipigon, the water temps would be just right for mon-
ster brookies cruising shallow rocky shores. I’d tie on an X-Rap
and a jig with a paddle tail and cover water. What I love about the
brook trout is the techniques for catching them are so much like
catching smallmouth. Yet, brookies are a bit harder to come by so
every encounter is memorable. A couple weeks of this and I’d be
ready for another change up.
So now it’s about the 4th of July, what’s next? Well how about
muskies and largemouth? There’s not a ton of largemouth water
in Sunset Country, but where I’ve found largemouth it’s absolutely
stellar! Frog fishing shallow slop produces some real pigs. So I’d
spend the days catching bass on topwater and evenings chasing
muskies, on topwater too. It always seems like there’s a switch
that goes off for muskies around the 4th of July, they just start
to kick it in high gear. Oh ya, smallmouth on top this time of year
is also phenomenal. So I guess, I’d probably have a topwater of
some kind on for the entire m onth catching Largemouth, Small-
mouth and Muskies. That sounds like a perfect July!
In August, I’d hate to say I’d be sick of catching fish on top, but I’d
be ready for some variety, maybe say hello to my old friend the
walleye again. In August walleyes are all over the deep humps,
it’s as simple as driving around, looking for schools and dropping
a #7 Jiggin’ Rap on them. I’d do plenty of walleye fishing while
still chasing some smallies and muskies on the main lake rocks.
I might even drop a Jiggin’ Rap down in some 100 foot holes to
see if I could scratch out a laker or two. One last thing I’d have
to do before fall would be to visit the brookies again when they
are in pre-spawn with their beautiful colors. I might have to fly
into one of the rivers in the north and take advantage of some of
those monsters in the current before the season closed.
Onto the fall season, and that of course is big fish time. Time to
cast big baits and pull plugs for walleyes, pike and muskies. I’d
picture the last day of the trip trolling giant crankbait for muskies
and end it on a 50” plus fish. I can only dream of a season like
this; the problem is always time, there’s just not enough time to
do all of the things you want. But over my lifetime, I’ve had the
time to fish all of the scenarios I dream about in this bucket list
trip. From a lifetime of fishing around the world here are a few
things I can share with you about the fish in Sunset Country that
make it a bucket list dream destination.
WALLEYE The best place on earth to walleye fish! There are
places where you can catch 100’s of walleyes per person per day
with lots of fish from 18”-24”. There are also places where just
about every time you set the hook it’s a 6-10 plus pounder. Sunset
Country has shallow water, deep water, clear and dark bodies of
water and also incredible river systems. Walleyes are everywhere
up here and they love to bite. It’s truly remarkable.
SMALLMOUTH Sunset Country might not have the biggest small-
mouth on earth, but in terms of quality it is way up there. There
are so many fish in the 2-4 pound range it’s amazing and there
are places where fish over 5 pounds are common. What I love
most about the smallmouth here are they not heavily pressured
and they are aggressive. In a lifetime fishing smallmouth, my best
smallmouth experience is from Sunset Country.
LARGEMOUTH BASS Largemouth bass aren’t present in most
waters in Sunset Country, but if you find yourself on a lake that
has them, you must fish for them. The average size of the fish
is impressive and you’ll be blown away on the look and build
of them. It’s probably not worth planning a trip specifically for
largemouth, but pack your flippin’ sticks if you’re going to a lake
that has ‘em.
PIKE Many people would drive or fly over Sunset Country
searching for a world-class pike destination. The reality is Sunset
Country has world-class pike fishing. Many of the moderate to
big lakes have true giants and the action can be off the charts.
If you’re looking for big pike, generally look to bigger waters.
What’s great about the pike fisheries is most of them are drive to,
so you can fish out of your boat.
MUSKIES This really is the epicenter of muskie fishing. In my
home state of MN, we have the best muskie fisheries in the lower
48. That said, given the opportunity we prefer to fish muskies in
shield water. Chasing wild fish is special and the environment they
live in only adds to it. It’s every muskie fisherman’s dream, amaz-
ing habitat and a history of giants make this the coolest place to
fish muskie in the world. I mean it, Sunset Country is hands down
the coolest place to fish muskies on earth.
LAKE TROUT There are so many trout lakes it’s hard to pick one
but Crow Lake, Clearwater West, Manitou and Whitefish Bay on
Lake of the Woods hold enormous lake trout and definitely stand
out. Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior are also fantastic lake trout
waters. But there are countless of other trout lakes that also offer
the possibility of a true giant of the north. There are also tons of
lakes loaded with 3 to 20 pound fish with a shot at a fish pushing
30. Spring, summer & winter lake trout fishing here is very good
and also very addicting. It’s the best place I know of with access
to incredible lake trout fishing three seasons of the year.
BROOK TROUT While technically east of the Sunset Country
region, Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon and the region north of Lake
Superior offer some of the world’s best brook trout opportunities.
This is home to the world record. Our staff have done trips here
where 2-5 pound brookies are the average with some over 6 and
the shot at a double digit. The rivers in the far north that flow into
Hudson Bay are also famous for huge brook trout.
With a line up of fish like this, combined with the scenery, habitat
and variety of incredible lodging this is the greatest place to fish
in freshwater I’ve ever experienced. If you’ve fished here, you
know what I’m talking about, if you haven’t you owe it to yourself
to experience it. A trip traveling to Sunset Country for a season
exploring its waters, meeting the people and catching countless
fish sounds like heaven on earth.
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