Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

Last week I was in Canada at Pine Beach Lodge on Eagle Lake in Ontario Canada. This was my first trip to this facility and lake. I had a great experience! A little disappointed in the amount and size of the fish however it’s hard to complain when you catch your first musky. The owners and staff at Pine Beach are awesome. They go out of their way to help you and truly seem to be glad that you are there. We ate walleye and northern pike everyday most days for lunch and dinner. Eagle Lake is huge. I’m very glad I went with someone that has been going there for years and knows his way around the lake. Below are a few pictures

The crew left to right Paul my boat mate for the week, Roosevelt who took his own boat, myself and Mike. These three fellows are all very good fisherman!


One afternoons catch. The bite dropped off greatly every afternoon


My favorite picture of the week. A 43” musky. My first. It was far from the 54 inch minimum length however it was a blast to catch and the largest fish any of us caught that week. It’s hard to say you are disappointed when you catch your first musky.


Dinner is served


Not a great picture. We saw eagles every day. Unfortunately they were hard to get a good picture of one


My largest pike for the week. Not a PB but a nice 31 in her. He was in the slot so he was released.


A good shot of our cabin


My boat mate for the week Paul and his largest bass of the week. We did not weigh but it was 18 inches and but but up a great fight.

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

Looks like you had an awesome experience, Papa! Congrats on your musky catch--that posted minimum hints at the monsters that ply those waters for sure. Did you have to purchase an Ontario/Canadian fishing license to be able to fish Eagle Lake?

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Great post Papa Jack, thanks for sharing! Looked like a good time was had, walleye are good eating!!

Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

Yes you do. You have to
Purchase an Ontario sportsman card (about $10 Canadian) and an eight day license (about $59 Canadian) the sportsman card is good for three years.

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 👍

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

Good to know; thanks!

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

But if you are going back the next two years, you can purchase a three year license when you purchase your outdoor's card. Trust me, it will save you money as they often raise the seasonal price every year. Also, you can get a conservation license for three years and that will reduce your limit by half and lower the price by even more. BTW the muskie limit on a conservation license is 0. In reality no one in that part of the country keeps a muskie these days, no matter how big it is. In a lot of places, if you keep a musky, you will no longer have any friends where you stay. The last muskie that I saw that was kept was in the early 1990s, before a lot of information was known about the fish.

If you purchase the multiyear license when you get your outdoor's card, they will print that on the back of the card and you will no longer need to carry that piece of paper with you (you will have to carry the card, but that is required no matter what license you get).

Those are some of the ins and outs of the Ontario licenses.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

So, to note, there are indeed monsters in Eagle Lake. Fish up to 60 inches have been caught. I believe right now, the minimum on Eagle Lake is 54 inches.

I have fished that lake many times. Another hint to anyone who goes there...take a one day flight out from Cedar Lake (just up t highway 105 a few miles) to Zizania Lake. The operator is Clarke's Resorts and Outposts. You can have a shore lunch but can't keep any fish to bring back. I went there with a party of four and we caught at least a 1000 walleyes (REALLY) in one day + plus a few big northerns. This was easily the best one day of fishing I have ever had. We caught fish on EVERYTHING we put in the water and the average size walleye was over 20 inches.

holford24 Loc: central Indiana (elwood)

Good job I'm glad you had a great time enjoyed the pictures

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

Wow! Never in my wildest dream could I envision a fishing day like that! I guess though after a while I might start thinking, where's the sport in this? Lol.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

Yes, the sport was being able to try everything in your box and try to see what really works best. Most fish were never taken out of the water and we pinched the barbs on our hooks. There were significant differences between baits. A lot of really well known baits were outcaught by lesser known baits by a wide (10-1) margin. Hint: baits with a nice tight vibration were easily the best. Color didn't seem to be very important at all.

You can really learn a lot about fish with a bite like that.

There were so many fish, it was difficult to catch the bigger fish. I have seen that phenomenon before fishing for northerns during a feeding frenzy. The bigger fish seem to be outrun by the smaller fish.

Everyone should have one day of fishing like this in their life. They just need to be careful not to kill the fish.

Frank

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Very nice, PJ. I told you it was a big lake. We used to stay At Temple Bay Lodge when we went up there. Always enjoyed it immensely.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Looks like fun and a great place.