• Manitoulin Island an angling world of its own

    A long distance getaway to spectacular fishing is probably on the bucket list of many a local angler. Fly-in or remote drive-to destinations which promise limit-catches of walleye and trout are undoubtedly the dreams of outdoor enthusiasts throughout our region. The problem is that finding time and funds to secure such an adventure can be difficult. So, your plans for that “dream trip” get put away like an ice auger during the month of May…But what if I told you that outstanding fishing in a surreal setting is just a boat ride away? A very big boat ride that is!


    Manitoulin Island isn’t an obvious choice when anglers imagine their Valhalla. However, a quick ride on Owen Sound Transportation Company’s MS Chi-Cheemaun will shuttle anglers to the world’s largest freshwater island. This is exactly the trip I chose to take two weeks ago. Once the work whistle blew on Friday, myself and traveling companions were Tobermory bound to catch the Big Canoe as it made it’s 6:10pm sailing to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.

    The hour and forty-five minute ferry ride passed quickly as my angling buddies and I discussed fishing and deer hunting with a few Islanders who were heading home from a week in Toronto. We shared stories of past trips to the island and the incredible sportfishing opportunities that often go unnoticed by those who live on the mainland to the south. The first story was confirmed once we arrived in South Baymouth as we witnessed a group of young anglers who were busy landing a gorgeous rainbow trout right off the pier near the ferry landing as the Chi-Cheemaun blared its horn!

    Manitoulin Island is the world’s largest freshwater island. The huge land mass situated on Huron is home to 102 inland lakes. Of these lakes, Lake Manitou is the largest and is also known as the largest lake within an island in the world. Manitou is known for its incredible Lake Trout fishery which attracts anglers from across the province as well as places far beyond. Manitou is also home to a great smallmouth bass population, and supports whitefish as well as walleye and perch. Manitou’s sister lake is Mindemoya which boasts one the best yellow perch fisheries in the Province of Ontario. Each year during the fall, the Chi-Cheemaun is a familiar place for traveling perch anglers who have Mindemoya in their crosshairs.

    An often overlooked fishery on Manitoulin lakes is the somewhat ignored walleye population. Many of the island’s lakes have stable populations of these tasty fish and at times they go unnoticed by anglers. We put them on our angling agenda during our trip, and let me tell you, they did not go unnoticed! Two separate evenings were set aside over our weekend to target these aggressive biters. We found a steady supply of fish that ranged from 12 inches up to 24 inches and managed to secure a couple nice eaters for a meal.

    One of the other major draws for anglers on Manitoulin is the massive populations of rainbow trout. There is a long story that goes along with the boom in rainbow numbers along the Huron shoreline of the island. The bays and inlets of Manitoulin are home to numerous aquaculture cage farms. These farms raise rainbow trout for the food industry. Over the past fifteen years the number of cage sites along the island has grown. Raising trout in these cages on Lake Huron is not easy and each year, during storms and ice build-up, a number of trout will escape the pens. Some accidental releases are larger than others, with unconfirmed escapements surpassing 100,000 fish annually. This massive influx of domestic strain rainbows results in some pretty outstanding angling opportunities for anglers on Manitoulin.


    During our Sunday morning on the island, my friends and I targeted these escapee trout. Within two hours three anglers in one boat had landed thirty-five trout. Thirty-five nickel bright rainbows weighing between four and ten pounds makes good fishing no matter where you travel (and they provide some excellent table fair as well). A Sunday shore-lunch of fresh walleye and trout was a sign that our quick stay was over. We towed our boats from our campsite location near the middle of the island back to South Baymouth to catch the 4pm Ferry on Sunday afternoon. To our amazement, the same group of young anglers was back off the wharf tying into more trout as the ferry arrived!

    Some of the best angling opportunities tend to go unnoticed. Manitoulin is a prime example. Sure, lots of anglers and hunters make an annual pilgrimage to the island to sample its bountiful outdoor opportunities, but for the most part, it is a sleeper on the list of prime destinations in the province. Getting there couldn’t be easier with the Owen Sound Transportation Company providing ferry services (and serving delicious hot meals) from Tobermory to South Baymouth multiple times each day. Whether you are planning a full-fledged angling adventure, or a vacation with family and friends, Manitoulin should be tops on your list; it is just a Big Canoe ride away!


    For more info on Manitoulin Ferry service and more, Contact: 519-376-8740 or www.ontarioferries.com

    Fish Kincardine Derby Final Results

    The 27th annual Fish Kinardine Derby wrapped up on May 27th. It is interesting to note the size of the trout that were entered during the event. Final results are as follows:

    Top Salmon
    1. 17.72 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Wayne Vance from Kincardine
    2. 17.50 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Brian Pitz from Waterloo
    3. 17.32 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Brian Luz from Cambridge
    4. 17.14 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Joseph Freiburger from St Clements
    5. 16.96 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Michael Hahn from Heidelberg
    6. 16.14 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Dave Spalding from Mt Bridges
    7. 16.14 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Tom Gauthier from Kincardine
    8. 15.96 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Al Billings from Sarnia
    9. 14.95 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Chris Dwinnell from Kincardine
    10. 14.90 lb Salmon -- Chinook caught by Doug Goode from Lyndhurst

    Top Trout
    1. 19.04 lb Trout -- caught by Ken McClement from Kincardine
    2. 18.18 lb Trout -- caught by Kyle Watson from Kincardine
    3. 17.18 lb Trout -- caught by Dave Spalding from MtBridges
    4. 16.58 lb Trout -- caught by Bob Ross from Embro
    5. 15.96 lb Trout -- caught by Al Billings from Sarnia
    6. 15.90 lb Trout -- caught by Dan Bermanschlager from Desboro
    7. 14.66 lb Trout -- caught by Ted Leblanc from Mitchell
    8. 14.44 lb Trout -- caught by Dave Gamble from Teeswater
    9. 14.30 lb Trout -- caught by Brent Schwindt from Guelph
    10. 13.44 lb Trout -- caught by Mike Weber from Waterloo
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