The angling opportunities available year round are simply astounding. The fall is a special time of year, however, and the scenery is simply breathtaking. With so many fishing destinations with over 350 lakes and rivers to choose from, here are my Top 5 Fall MUST fish locations.
Put your canoe or aluminum boat in Eels Creek off Northeys Bay Road and head north to the High Falls. The scenery is breathtaking and the fishing is top notch as well! Bring your Muskie tackle because this stretch is chalk full of fish! Inline bucktail spinners and 6-8” crank baits imitating the cyprinid forage throughout the river will provide great success for anglers of all levels.
This little hideaway is tucked between Lower Buckhorn Lake and Stoney Lake. The beautiful rocky forested shorelines to please the victors eye. An often overlooked stretch of theTrent-Severn Waterwaythat is absolutely loaded with Bass, Muskie, Walleye, Crappie and several other panfish species. Bring your arsenal because this little beauty has trophy fish in all of the above mentioned species. Put your boat in at the launch directly across from theBurleigh Falls Innand joy the beautiful scenery this lake has to offer while catching your next Kawartha Legend.
Launch your boat in Kinmount and make your way up the river. If you have a small boat or canoe, walk it down below the dam in Kinmount and make your way down stream. Be prepared to portage a few narrow sections of the river along the way, but all the effort is well worth it. Not only is the scenery absolutely majestic but several fish species reside within the river and are seemingly always whiling to bite! Walleye, Large and Smallmouth Bass as well as Muskies abound, in high numbers and really great sizes! Your arms will be sore from reeling in fish!
Launch your boat at the public launch directly adjacent toViamede Resortat the end of Mount Julian Viamede Road and let the adventure begin. Known as one of the most prestigious lakes in the region, Stoney offers some of the most picturesque landscape in the world! Not only is it an absolute pleasure to view but the lake also boasts a very healthy fishery! The Bass, Walleye and Muskie populations are VERY good! Chris just recently fished a tournament event on the lake and over the course of the three days, Chris and his tournament partner landed over 300 Smallmouth Bass!
Launch your boat at the end of Mile of Memories Lane. Be sure to keep an eye open for wildlife on the way in as there are often deer grazing in the fields or wild turkey running about. This hidden gem of a lake is absolutely loaded with good sized Pike and the occasional monster Muskie. The bass fishing, both largemouth and smallmouth, is phenomenal. And did I mention the Walleye population is just ridiculous? Located near Havelock, Ontario with travel times into town being 15-25 minutes on average. Travel time to the Greater Toronto Area is within 2 hours making this lake a very popular spot for those escaping the city for vacation rentals even during the off season! The size of Belmont Lake is 1872 acres with a maximum depth of 51 feet and mean depth of 20 feet. Belmont Lake is part of the Crowe River system, the Crowe (Deer River) enters the lake at the north from Cordova Lake, the North River enters from Round Lake and then exits as the Crowe River to the east heading into Crowe Lake. Just a beautiful little lake that offers some of the best fishing in the region! Shhhh… don’t tell anyone! For a great stop after a day of fishing, take a trip up to the north end of the lake and visitBelmont Lake Brewery. They’re a small craft brewery open on weekends. And always boat and drive responsibly!
Here we are, at the height of the fall transition when temperatures drop, nights are longer and lakes begin to turn over. This is truly the time of year you can run into some really large smallmouth, but where do you look and what do you throw at them?
Smallmouth can be fickle and very elusive during the fall. Some anglers use the old cliché to describe the search for these bronze bass as finding “a needle in a haystack”. Smallmouth will often travel in larger and often, tighter schools during this change in season which makes them more difficult to locate. But once located, what you find will inject a shot of adrenaline into your veins for sure.
One major change in smallmouth behavior during the fall is that they often become less dependent on crustaceans (crayfish) and are more apt to key in on baitfish. Depending where you are located, baitfish such as shad or shiners (or whatever the main forage is in your neck of the woods is) will school up and begin some sort of migration to stage upon potential spawning grounds, wintering spots and so on. Once this takes place smallmouth will in turn school up, thus stalking said baitfish. Something to note is that although baitfish are inevitably at their largest in size, they can still be easily digested which works out because as water temperatures drop rapidly, the metabolism of bass will slow down.
Now, obviously this seasonal change brings cold nights, which cools the haunts indicative of smallmouth bass so mornings will become a less productive time to chase them. As the sun heats up the high water columns along main breaklines, mid-depth sections of points and steep shoreline banks, you should gear up and get out there. If the body of water you are on is calm enough, look for busting/dimpling baitfish on the surface in these areas. You’re not always going to be able to spot them visually on the surface, which is when electronics are of utmost importance so pay close attention to your graph along with a GPS unit to better pinpoint the prime locations. Look for large, dark bait balls and pay even closer attention to larger arcs lurking below. One thing you may notice is a large dark school that forms a huge arc, visually similar to that of a single gamefish. This could be a school of bait mixed in with you guessed it, many big hungry smallmouth.
A good rule of thumb would be to search out smallmouth during the mid-day period on south/east facing spots with hard substrate such as rocks, gravel and sand, and lush green cover such as milfoil as these areas will be the first to heat up which will attract baitfish. At days end, I’ll move to north/west facing, shallow rocky points and banks adjacent to deep water as these areas will be the last to heat up and will hold warm water and baitfish. These spots will offer smallmouth the opportunity to feed heavily in close proximity to deep water. Poppers are the order of the day here. Erratic, walk the dog presentations mimic baitfish evading hungry bass and sunfish perfectly (and it is ridiculously fun watching surface explosions).
When it comes to mimicking baitfish, there are a few lure types you should never leave home without. During these daytime patterns discussed here I always lean on spinnerbaits when it comes to searching out, and triggering smallmouth. In clear water I will cycle through my collection of 1/2oz-5/8oz double willow spinnerbaits in natural colors such as gold/silver blades with a more subtle skirt color. In stained water I experiment with hammered finished colorado/willow blade combinations along with brighter more gaudy skirt colors such as chartreuse, charteuse/white or just white. The bright colors, along with the thump of the fatter blades will be more easily seen and felt by smallmouth. For this, I prefer a 6’6”-7’ heavy action spinnerbait specific baitcasting rod coupled with a 6.1-1 to 7.1-1 reel spooled with 17lb fluorocarbon line. Why such a fast 7.1-1 ratio you ask? In the fall I burn spinnerbaits frantically which triggers the most aggressive strikes of the entire season. And as these schools are hard to locate, covering as much water is the wise choice.
Thump is good, topwater action too but another fantastic presentation right now is the mighty and often forgotten lipless crankbait. The tight wobble coupled with the rattles and smart color selection can truly turn the mood from somber to ecstatic in a heartbeat. For this I count on the Kamooki Smartfish and Smartcraw which have a unique spiraling action in open water and the innate ability to stand on its nose like a floating worm or shaky head rig. These baits lend themselves to the fall hunt as versatility is the order of the day.
Next, I always have a selection of jerkbaits, especially when water temps drop below 58 degrees. Keep in mind that this is a visual presentation that is dependent on clear water so if the water is murky, I definitely stick with the thumping blades of a spinnerbait or the rattles of a lipless crankbait. Size and color selection will be determined by the forage base in the area you are located. I like a white, gold/black or black/silver body to mimic the predominate baitfish in my area, but a firetiger mimicking a perch in stained water, or a black/orange body will get it done. I usually lean towards suspending jerkbaits because long pauses, as the bait hangs helplessly in the balance, becomes the most visually tempting stimuli for cold water smallies.
Lake Fork Trophy Lures Magic Shad
I also like to compliment hard jerkbaits with a more subtle version such as a soft plastic, fluke style bait. For me, a 4-5” white/baitfish colored “Magic Shad” by Lake Fork Trophy Lures can’t be beat for finicky smallmouth. I like spinning rods for both applications. Braided line paired with fluorocarbon leaders for both with the only difference being longer leaders for hard jerkbaits (and a looser drag as well) allowing for more stretch/give which prevents treble hooks from being torn out. A new feather I’ve put in my cap is the use of a scent trail for neutral or negatively responding bass.
I always count on the Garlic Minnow scent by Liquid Mayhem when the visual sense of a smallmouth can’t solely be counted on.
Okay, I’m excited. Let’s turn off our computers and get on the hunt for these big bronze beasts. Just remember, finding smallmouth in the fall can be tough. Attention to detail, hard work and persistence can pay serious dividends. See you out there!
Jamie Wilson- Lead Writer/Editor Exist To Fish Canada
ALL FISH IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE WERE CAUGHT AND RELEASED IN THE KAWARTHA’S NORTHUMBERLAND REGION OF ONTARIO! COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
As anglers we are very lucky to have super advanced modern technologies at our disposal, one such advancement definitely being fishing line. A fine example of this modern evolution is fluorocarbon coated copolymer (inner core) hybrid line. This marriage of materials in a fishing line gives us yet another choice, which exhibits key attributes and performance qualities found in both line types rolled into one. Recently, I had the opportunity to field test Lake Fork Trophy Lures Para Helium FluoroHybrid FH and I was not disappointed in its performance.
(Lake Fork Trophy Lures Para Helium FluoroHybrid FH) Specifications
Type
Fishing Line
Material
Fluorocarbon/Copolymer (inner core) Hybrid
Colors
Clear
Origin
Texas, USA
MSRP
$18.99 US funds/10lb, price varies according to test strength
The key variables here are the properties of this line that sets this hybrid apart from monofilament, 100% fluorocarbon and strait copolymer. Having the castability of monofilament and the abrasion resistance of fluorocarbon while maintaining sensitivity, manageability and knot strength of copolymer makes for a well-rounded fishing line. Lake Fork Trophy Lures’ version has all of these attributes in equal parts. From its ultra-smooth castability and low stretch to its very sensitive feel coupled with very low memory and impeccable knot strength/durability, FluorHybrid FH Para Helium get top honors from me. Also, this line has low-vis properties as well which, I would assume is difficult to achieve in a copolymer inner core/fluoro coated line so top marks to the designers once again.
Castability(1-5)
Stretch
(1-5)
Sensitivity (1-5)
Memory/
Manageability (1-5)
Durability/Knot Strength (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
5
4
4.5
4.5
5
23
25
9
Para Helium FluorHybrid FH is near perfect in both consistency and design/ergonomics as it performs very smoothly while maintaining the low-vis, light refraction of a fluorocarbon with very little line twists and memory which is indicative of copolymer lines. Well designed and engineered for sure. Also, the range of test strengths is fantastic with 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 22, 25lb tests available.
Consistency
(1-5)
Design/
Ergonomics
Range of lb tests (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
4.5
4.5
5
14
15
9.5
This particular line type is very well rounded and has all of the design and performance qualities of both fluorocarbon and copolymer. For me, Lake Fork Trophy Lures Para Helium shines for reaction style baits such as crankbaits and jerkbaits. I trust its low memory, even as a mainline on a spinning reel which I wouldn’t normally do with fluorocarbon. (I would still favor a baitcasting reel) Also, I wouldn’t hesitate to actually use Para Helium as a leader material coupled with braided line for suspending baits as it does not sink like a pure fluorocarbon due to its copolymer inner core. The extra little stretch acts as a shock absorber while its fluorocarbon coating protects against potential damage from rocks, submerged timber and zebra/quagga muscles. If I was to use FluoroHybrid FH as a mainline, I would pair it with a fast action rod for light jigs/worms or a medium/fast rod for jerkbaits/crankbaits to maximize its performance.
(Lake Fork Trophy Lures FluoroHybrid FH)Collective Final Rating
Construction/Quality
9
Performance
9.5
Design/Ergonomics
9.5
Price
8.5
Application
10
Total Score
46.5
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = MUST HAVE
Long smooth accurate casts, sensitivity, superior knot strength coupled with its higher than normal manageability make Lake Fork Trophy Lures Para Helium FluoroHybrid FH a high-end addition to any anglers arsenal. I mean, the connection between you and your lure must be trustworthy and really, its overall performance should never be called into question. This line satisfies all of that for me. Para Helium also boasts smaller line diameter than its competitors while being packaged in a 240yrd spool. It is extremely limp, strong and manageable so no complaints here, good job to my friends from Lake Fork Trophy Lures.
Bottom bounced this lipless crankbait with 10lb Para Helium FlouroHybrid FH with obvious results
Jamie Wilson- Lead Writer/Editor Exist To Fish Canada
Fall fishing in the Kawartha’s Northumberland Region is one of my favorite times of the season. Not only is the fishing spectacular, but the sheer beauty and fall colors have made their appearance in full. The leaves have turned and begun to fall. The nights are cooler, the air is crisp and the fish are feeding up in preparation for winter.
For myself personally, this is the time to focus my efforts on trophy Muskies and Smallmouth Bass. These two species are without question my favorite target from mid-September right through to ice up. Why you might ask? Well the answer is this. Not only are they aggressively feeding during this time, but they are much more likely to be susceptible to simple angling techniques in areas that are much more obvious and easier to access. I keep my techniques very simple during this time and the results are always very good.
When targeting Smallmouth Bass from late September through November my approach is simple. During this period the fish within the region tend to school up on shallow rocky points extending out from the shoreline. Points close to deep water. Fall equals BIG smallies. Fish at this time of year feed heavily on crayfish and minnows in preparation for the cold winter months. I always start my search right on the bank in as little as a foot of water. Early morning “walk the dog” style topwater baits are a great option. I will fish them very slowly and in a color pattern resembling the local forage. In most cases white will do the trick. When the water is really starting to get 60°F or lower, nothing beats the steady cadence of a suspending jerk bait. I will allow for very long pauses between jerks to allow enough time for the fish to commit to the bait. The pause is the key. This is a great time for the shore angler to take advantage of some great accessible shallow water fish! Check out the “Fish From Shore” fishing locations on the Kawartha’s Northumberland website and catch the fish of a lifetime! Below are a few lake recommendations and examples of baits I suggest you try.
Lake Recommendations
Dalrymple
Rice Lake
Stony Lake
Tackle Recommendations
A White Jerkbait is a great minnow imitator. Remember to allow for long pauses between jerks to trigger strikes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your cadence though! The fish’s reaction will dictate the amount of time between twitches.
White Jerkbait
A walk the dog style topwater bait in shallow water first thing in the morning can be a great way to trigger big fish to strike. The same rule applies during this time of the year. Slow and steady wins the race.
Topwwater Bait Fishing Lure
When targeting Muskies from late September right through until Ice-Up, my approach is even more simplified. They are packing on pounds before winter as well and quite literally can be found in the same areas as the Smallmouth–Rock and/or weed points with close proximity to deep water. While I will shy away from top water presentations during this period, I will lean heavily towards a suspending/neutral buoyancy type bait that will allow me to impart a jerkbait type presentation triggering bites in the exact same manner as I would with the Smallmouth. It is during this period that I lean heavily on large profile soft plastic baits. Large swimbaits and water dwelling rodent imitators are a favorite for me as well as large Tube style baits that have been rigged weightless so that I can fish it in the upper portion of the water column instead of the bottom. Long pauses are key! Fish slowly and the fish will come. The Muskies within the region this time of year are feeding heavily! They are opportunistic, meaning no bait is too big. This is the time to increase in size and hang on for the fish of a lifetime! Below are a few lake recommendations and examples of baits I suggest you try.
Lake Recommendations
Balsam Lake
Pigeon Lake
Cameron Lake
Tackle Recommendations
A heavy leader is an absolute must and will ensure you land your fish of a lifetime. I prefer Fluorocarbon leaders made from only the finest and strongest components.
Large swimbaits slow rolled are a great local forage imitator and trigger big bites!
Water dwelling rodent type baits are exceptional this time of the year as they present a big meal to big opportunistic fish!
Large profile casting tubes are an absolute staple for me during the cold water periods. Fished like a jerkbait with grewat hang time and long pauses trigger some of my biggest bites of the year!
Late fall right through to ice up presents some of the greatest Muskie and Smallmouth bass fishing of the year in the Kawartha’s Northumberland region of Ontario. Your opportunity to truly catch a legend awaits right here. Come see for yourself!
Chris Huskilson- Exist To Fish Canada Writer
ALL FISH IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE WERE CAUGHT AND RELEASED IN THE KAWARTHAS NORTHUMBERLAND REGION OF ONTARIO! COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!!
I remember the first time that I looked into the water through a pair of polarized sunglasses. I couldn’t believe just how much I was seeing and more importantly, what I wasn’t seeing until that day. I went through countless pairs of cheap shades thinking I had it all figured out, until I finally made the leap to a high-end quality pair of lenses/frames. This game changer came in the form of Smith Optics “Dover” Rx with the industry leading polarized lens technology, ChromaPop. These lenses make me feel as if I am an eagle in the sky spotting fish and their hiding spots while protecting my eyes and looking super stylish to boot.
(Smith Optics Dover Rx) Specifications
Type
Polarized prescription sunglasses
Colors
Black, Havana (tortoise shell)
Origin
USA
MSRP
$499 CDN
Quality is so important. I mean really, would you want 10 pairs of shades in as many years? I know I want a product to stand the test of time and continue to hold up to the rigors of the outdoors for as long as I take care of them. Spending the money on quality will never backfire on anyone, which I say with obvious confidence when I speak of my Smith Optics Dover Rx polarized sunglasses.
Finish(1-5)
Hardware(1-5)
Craftsmanship(1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
5
5
5
15
15
9.5
The first thing that I noticed was how ultra-lightweight Smith Optics truly are. When I picked up the protective case I thought that the lenses weren’t even in there. I then opened the case and proceeded to placed them on and I was beyond impressed just how feather light they felt. Honestly, I don’t notice that I’m even wearing them at all aside from the fact that my vision is so greatly enhanced on and off the water. ChromaPop makes colors more vivid while clarity, sharpness and contrast become heightened with little to no eye fatigue. Another great feature is unparalleled anti-fog, even on the hottest days on the water. Wearing this technology creates an experience that can be compared to the highest HD quality, which keeps me going all day long.
Performance Ratings (Smith Optics Dover Rx)
Comfort(1-5)
Anti-fog(1-5)
Clarity(1-5)
Vibrancy and contrast (1-5)
Durability (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
4
5
5
5
5
24
25
9.5
The things I’ve seen while chasing trophy fish have been just astounding. Weedlines, openings and pockets on weed flats, changes in water clarity, rocky outcroppings and schools of minnows and so on seem closer, bigger and easier to spot. I can find targets to pitch at with ease which simply adds confidence and purpose and thus, efficiency to my outings. I still can’t believe what I’ve been missing all these years. My next move will be to add a couple different color lenses to my repertoire. The green ChromaPop polarized lenses have been a great overall color but I feel I should utilize an amber lens to brighten up darker days and dusk periods and a blue mirror for very bright, blue bird conditions. I digress, all in due time.
(Smith Optics Dover Rx) Collective Final Rating
Construction/Quality
10
Performance
10
Price
9
Features
9
Design (Ergonomics)
10
Application
10
Total Score
58
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = MUST HAVE
What can I say? Picking up a pair of Smith Optics shades upped my game. In a sport such as sportfishing where any small to large advantage is of the utmost importance, I’d say eyesight is at the top of the list. I mean really? Would you want to play darts with a bag over your head? No, you’d want to put a spotlight on that dart board and hit that bullseye. That’s how I view the difference between $20 knock offs and my trusty Smith Optics polarized ChromaPop shades. No more low-end, low-definition vision for this guy, I’ve got fish to chase and they can no longer hide in plain sight. Quality rules the day and that’s that. #SmithIsFishing
Jamie Wilson- Lead Writer Editor Exist To Fish Canada
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that one of the best fish catching baits over the last 10-15 years has been the mighty stick worm. In this day in age, there are seemingly hundreds of companies that produce good quality stick worms so what sets a particular manufacturer apart? Well, in the case of Lake Fork Trophy Lures “Hyper Sticks” one design feature definitely stands out, and that is their very unique segmented body (“swim slots” patent pending). This feature makes the Hyper Stick versatile as they can be fished as a weightless presentation, wacky rigged, Texas rig, Carolina rig or a perfect drop shot worm. 21 colors to choose from at a great price and what you have is a viable bass tempting option for sure.
As I mentioned, Lake Fork Trophy Lures offers a fantastic color selection which covers just about every variation you need for your favorite body of water. Besides the colors, the fine detail and craftsmanship the “Hyper Stick” offers up is high end all the way. It is apparent that a lot of time, effort and thought went into the end product that only benefits the angler and not just the pocket books of the manufacturer. Obviously these worms were designed for anglers by anglers and that’s that.
Colors(1-5)
Level of Detail(1-5)
Craftsmanship(1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
5
4
5
14
15
9
The overall performance gets top marks here for sure. The unique action, which is due to the segmented body cannot really be matched by other stick worms. The “Hyper Stick” comes alive with a weightless jerk-pause presentation while their subtle life-like action will tempt finicky bass on weighted rigs as well. Any current will set the “Hyper Stick” into motion on a drop shot or Carolina rig. Beyond these presentations, a Texas rigged “Hyper Stick” can be one of the most deadly flipping/punch baits. The slender action laden profile is perfect for sliding into heavy cover and you can bet that once inside these tight little pockets, the life-like action adds realism. Bass candy indeed.
Castability(1-5)
Ease of Use(1-5)
Quality of Action (1-5)
Durability (1-5)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
4
5
5
4
18
20
9
Consistency(1-5)
Realism (1-5)
Range of sizes (1-3)
Total
Possible
Rating (10 being highest )
5
5
1
11
13
8
As I mentioned the variety of ways the “Hyper Stick” can be rigged, it becomes pretty clear that smallmouth and largemouth alike can be targeted in just about any situation with the “Hyper Stick”. Suspended smallmouth/largemouth can’t resist a drop shot while bass under docks/trees/laydowns fall victim to a weightless stick, skipped in front of their noses. Largemouth in shallow matted vegetation won’t say no to a “Hyper Stick” invading their shaded lairs while bottom oriented bass slurp up a tasty morsel bouncing and slithering on bottom (Carolina rig). Also, as a cold front passes through a subtle presentation is usually the right choice and these worms are perfect for this conditional situation.
(Insert Product Name) Collective Final Rating
Construction/Quality
9
Performance
9
Price
10
Features
9
Design (Ergonomics)
9
Application
10
Total Score
56
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = MUST HAVE
Versatility, price point, a wide variety of colors to choose from along with durability and a unique subtle action and what you have is a fine addition to your arsenal. It’s all about being confident and these particular stick worms deliver on all fronts. Top marks all the way for the “Hyper Stick” from me, give them a try yourself folks.
Jamie Wilson- Exist To Fish Canada Lead Writer/Editor
GPS Coordinates: 44.555582, -78.203433
GPS Coordinates: 44.776225,-78.6844606
GPS Coordinates: 44.565477, -78.136769
GPS Coordinates: 44.486377, -77.817640
