LOTW question for Steve Fellegy

[Jerry Reith]

Steve, I really appreciate your input to this forum........sense of humor and the information you share. I fish LOTW......two trips per year.....early June and early September (7 years now..........what a great lake!!!!). The past two years in Sept. I've fished Three Sisters Reefs. The owner of the camp I go to, Vic Beckel (Reel 'em Inn Lodge) tells me you have some experience at these reefs. We've done pretty good with live bait spinner rigs at these reefs, but still waiting for that trophy. Any tips on fishing these reefs?............would it be worth it to try these reefs in June?..........Vic's opinion is that it's only a late summer bite? Any thoughts? Thank you.

Jerry Reith

[topper]

t.t.

[stevefellegy]

Jerry,

There's been many a wave over the bow since I fished that area, in the '94 PWT finals. My weather beaten memory tells me that the extension (point) of the furthest west of the reefs, is where the big boys lived. Again, with fuzzy recollections, this spine is the only portion of the reefs that are in U.S. waters. You only have about 100 yds. of U.S. water to fish there. BUT,BUT,....that's where we caught several 11-12lb. fish in practice. There is a small saddle in this spine as well, with the spine shaped in a little hook-like configuration as it connects to the may reef.
We always fish "big" fish, when it is a livebait, precise, structure related scenario, with refined Lindy rigs. Very vertical. I used #10 aberdeen hooks there, with a 12' leader, 4lb. line and 'prime time', hand picked, black leeches. "big fish don't grow big eating things with lines and hooks attached to them."
Now the story....

Knowing that the PWT rules did not allow us to fish in Canadian water that year, and knowing that this spot was a key spot to catch the one over 19 1/2" allowed each day, I went to Duluth and met with the Coast Guard people. I got precise, GPS coordinates from them for this stretch of the border. Marks for a one mile stretch, every 100 yds. I figured, since there would most likely be a "discussion", as usual, about my presence there, the line that is drawn in the sand if Canada and the U.S. starts shootin' at each other, would be recognized as the border. Not off some unofficial map. Well....the rule was that the Coast Guard numbers wouldn't count but the unofficial map numbers would. And I was out. Even though my big fish spine was IN, according to the Feds. Go figure....
So, I scrambled,and fished some small spots and caught the same size fish up by Knight Island, doing the same thing.
Many waves over the bow since then....
Good luck!
By the way, I fished there in late July, not by choice but scheduling of the event. Remember, Vic and the guides fish where the numbers are best....I assume, but might be wrong, those reefs will produce most anytime.

[Jerry Reith]

Thanks for the great info and story. Do you think some of the big boys will be there in June, or would this area be better in late summer?

Jerry

[stevefellegy]

Jerry,
They ain't got wings and they ain't got shovels....

Now.....I'm outta here until April 8th. Headin', via a sportshow this weekend, to the RCL in Detroit.
Don't talk about me when I'm gone! lol

[Fishgut]

Jerry,
Perhaps I can help you a bit.
These reefs are all located on the Canadian side of LOW except as S.F. noted, a portion of the Western most reef is in Minn.
I have fished these reefs for over 20 years and have found the best times for larger fish to be late July through early Sept.
Since you stay at Vic's lodge you are already in Canada so no need to worry about an RABC.
Since these were required the pressure on these reefs is almost non-existent.
I have seen more than 50 eyes over 8# come from these reefs and several of those were over 11#. Largest was 13.45# taken in 1994.
Although I have done some live-bait rigging on these, the majority of fish caught here are on crankbaits. Since the invention of leadcore line this is the way I fish these reefs most of the time. Smaller size baits(#5 shad raps or Wally Divers) seem to work best.
This used to be a favorite place for the launches to downrig fish as you only used to need a Canadian Fishing license to fish there, but that all changed 10 or 12 years ago. Now with the required RABC AND a Canadian license to cross over there, hardly anyone fishes there. The past few years you weren't allowed to even bring anything back into U.S waters with you but I understand that that has changed.
There also used to be a lot of Canadian commercial netting taking place in this area, however I haven't seen any for over 10 years now.
I agree with Vic Beckel that these reefs are best fished in late summer, so next time you are there, break out the leadcore and troll deep for some trophy walleyes.
I have some GPS coordinates if you are interested. Post your e-mail and I will get them to you.

[Fish_on]

Okay I'll bite. I'll be up there in late August and I'd love to have some GPS coordinates for starters. Thanks in advance fish.on@tds.net

[guest]

I think the west edge of that rock spine where it breaks fairly quick from 17 or 18 ft, to 30 is a good 1/4 mile into Ontario water. Anyone coming out of U.S waters had better stay west and in a good 31 or 32 feet or have all the Canadian papers squared away. Twice I have seen a floatplane land and spend quite a bit of time with the boats in that area, this was just last summer while fishing on the 9 footer.

[Jerry Reith]

Fishgut-

Thanks. My email is jerryr@bratney.com

I have some coordinates from fishing them the past two years, but would love more. I'd be happy to share my points with you also. We've only fished them with live bait spinners, but Vic also said that downriggers with plugs would be a better way to fish them (or leadcore as you suggest). I don't know if you know Vic.......... he can embellish a story pretty good.........but he tells the story of one trip there a few years ago where they were trolling four lines with downriggers and made a pass over one of the reefs and hooked four fish over 8#. They'd spend an hour untangling lines and fish, set up and make another pass. We caught several nice fish there but nothing over 7# in the past 2 years. Part of the problem has been weather........we have to motor about 10-12 miles from Vic's camp to get there and as you know, if there's much wind at all, that area offers no protection from any direction.

Look forward to hearing from you via email.

Jerry Reith

[Jerry Reith]

Fish-on. Just curious, when will you be there and where are you staying? I'll be there 8/29-9/1 staying at Vic Beckel's camp.......Reel 'em Inn Lodge. I'd be happy to show you the area.

Jerry Reith