The Baron Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 Hitting a new lake tomorrow. Well, I did fish it once a few years ago with a friend, and we did very well just casting the shore. But this time I’ve been looking at maps, planning a bit better now that I’ve advanced from zero knowledge to basic. lol The lake has smallmouth and largemouth, and as (almost) always up here, lure stealing pike. I don’t know about water clarity yet - likely medium to fairly clear. Night temps have been getting cool, so we’re a good couple of weeks into the fall transition. It’s a very deep, natural lake. Forecast is light rain overnight, changing to just cloudy all day tomorrow with NE winds 5-10mph. If you’re bored and want to tell me where we’ll catch ‘em, it’s called Desert Lake up here in E. Ontario. My plan is to start at the major point up the west side of the lake, and focus on that SW arm. Topwater, jerkbait, squarebill, medium crankbaits and chatterbait are my preferred weapons of choice. Focussing on hard banks, hard cover and fairly shallow (<15ft). We’ll see… https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_on_v_103382205-desert-lake-nautical-chart.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted September 10 Super User Share Posted September 10 I'd focus on that big blue hump in the middle. I'd bounce crankbaits off all its sides and work the top too. Let us know how it goes. I envy you times 3000. I love fishing Ontario and you LIVE THERE! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baron Posted September 10 Author Share Posted September 10 A pretty disappointing day. Caught about a dozen each of largemouth and smallmouth, plus a few pike. Everything small - biggest bass might have made 2#, but I doubt it. 👎🏻 We tried it all - spooks, cranks, jerkbaits, dropshot and chatterbaits. Caught them everywhere from 2ft. to 25ft., with no apparent pattern. I cannot figure out this fall fishing thing.😒 But it’s a very clear water lake and we saw several deep weed beds that deserve a summer visit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted September 12 Super User Share Posted September 12 On 9/10/2023 at 7:01 PM, The Baron said: I cannot figure out this fall fishing thing I'm with ya on ^this.^ Last fall, I caught good numbers of bass, but not the big bass that so many catch in fall. I'm hoping this fall will be different. Many years ago, I fished a bass lake in northwestern Ontario and did quite well trolling crankbaits. Drifting with bait also worked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baron Posted September 12 Author Share Posted September 12 Well, I talked with a buddy who fishes Desert Lake regularly and he said he doesn't bother in September, said fish are scattered and it's too tough. He's fishing lake trout now but said the fishing will heat up in October and even better well into November. Seems like unless you really know exactly where your fish were and where they're going, the transition is a struggle. And so, a very bad time to try and learn a new lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted September 12 Super User Share Posted September 12 It doesn't help that Desert Lake is already muddled. It's a lake that thinks it's a desert. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baron Posted September 12 Author Share Posted September 12 @ol'crickety lol. We found a sandy bottom in a lot of areas, so we’re assuming that’s where the name came from. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator roadwarrior Posted September 12 Global Moderator Share Posted September 12 It's the season for an Alabama Rig. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ol'crickety Posted September 13 Super User Share Posted September 13 ^That^ guy hung onto that carp way longer than I could have. Say, is it really the season for an Alabama rig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator roadwarrior Posted September 13 Global Moderator Share Posted September 13 Fall is the best season for The Rig. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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