FAMILY: a group of people affiliated either by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage or other relationship), or co-residence, or some combination of these. Family members may include spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, and siblings-in-law.
ANGLING: a method of fishing by means of an “angle” (fish hook). The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself can be dressed with lures or bait. A bite indicator such as a float, and weight or sinker are sometimes used.
MUSKOKA: a perfect blend of the aforementioned!
MID-LAKE WALLEYE AND PIKE
Ontario’s Muskoka region is very well known as a family destination but is hardly ever considered a fishing Mecca. For those in the know, however, the fishing throughout this area can be phenomenal.
In this Fish’n Canada episode, Pete took the production team to the gorgeous Muskoka Bay Resort in the town of Gravenhurst, which rests on the shores of Lake Muskoka. The show’s intent was to try to capitalize on the underutilized Walleye, Pike, and Smallmouth population in this deep cold body of water.
It’s worth noting that there are Lake Trout present in Muskoka as well and rumours say that even Largemouth Bass swim the shallows there.
The accommodations for this shoot was Muskoka Bay Resort, a golf course with gorgeous overnight facilities and amazing food. (No, Pete didn’t get to shoot a round; too much fishing to be done.)
A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME
Pete’s fishing contact for the trip was Mike Smith of Reelpro Fishing Charters. He is a local fishing guide who has been active in the Muskoka area (as well as many other) lakes for 17 years.
Mike’s strategy was to hit many of his mid-lake Walleye/Pike structures since these areas normally produce best in late August.
Even though Pete and Mike were fishing Walleye, they both preferred to use plastics for aggressive feeding fish. If the need for live bait came in, then so be it.
On the very first hump they fished, Pete fired out a 5” swimbait and set the hook on a heavy fish. Unfortunately, after what Pete calls a “stellar and brutally hard” hookset, his rod made a cracking sound like a gunshot and snapped in half. Fish and rod both gone.
Was that a sign of things to come? Hopefully not.
RIP-ROARING SMALLIES
The rest of the shoot went according to plan in species, but not quite in the size they were hoping for. Mike Smith knows the potential of Lake Muskoka and has caught some massive Northern Pike and Walleye in this “not so far north” body of water—Walleye pushing over 10 lbs, and Pike that measured more than 50 inches!
Angelo shot a past Fish’n Canada episode on Lake Muskoka and he too experienced (in his words) “way above average-sized Walleye” from this underutilized lake. It has fantastic big fish potential.
With lots of Pike and Walleye captured on video for Pete and Mike Smith, they next decided to go for Smallmouth Bass. Mike said, “I’ve got the spots!”
Within no time they were into a bunch of rip-roaring smallies from 2-3 lbs—or bigger—on spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits, and drop shot rigs. It was easy fishing for these scrappers. Rocks and weeds were definitely the key.
THE SEARCH FOR A MUSKOKA LARGEMOUTH
Early on one of the mornings, while Mike was delayed for their meeting at the launch, Pete snuck into a weedy back bay that Mike had suggested, to see if he could catch a Largemouth. He’d heard they were there but had yet to encounter one firsthand.
“I fished some awesome looking Bass water,” says Pete. “But could only come up with a few kamikaze Pike.”
Upon exiting the bay to pick up Mike, however, Pete set the hook into a small Largemouth and stated to the camera with a smirk, “Yes, there are Largemouth Bass in Lake Muskoka!”
With a mix of Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth, and Largemouth Bass caught in such a “non-fishy” destination, this Fish’n Canada episode should raise quite a few eyebrows.
As stated previously, Lake Muskoka and the Muskoka region are a fantastic destination for families, as well as golfers that love to fish. Stay and play and fish all day—it gets no better than that!
