Forest Lodge on Caribou Lake

[Pikeslayer8]

Originally Posted by drew59

Hi all,

My wife and I walked the portage to Smoothrock in June. The falls are impressive. NO WAY you are getting a boat through there. You could take a canoe.

I highly recommend trying for trout. Get some 1 oz jigs and 4-6" plastics. Find some quiet deep water and watch the depth finder. It's very simple and relaxing and when you hook up look out! Man they fight! Drop your jig to the bottom and then work it up. Trout will chase it higher than you might think. It's not fast action but well worth it my opinion. Also, consider using a no-stretch superline for this type of fishing.

I'll be glad to give a full report regarding our trip.

Drew,
Is Smoothock channel inflow or outflow? I know that Wabakimi flows into Smoothrock from Lower Wabakimi about 15 miles straight west at what Smoothrock calls Wabakimi Falls. I believe that flow comes into Caribou.

OK, twist my arm. These lakers fight you say. I'm in.
Do any of you guys know if the bed and breakfast in Armstrong is still open?
Is there a camp fish fry? How does that work?
Just got email confirmation of my dates this morning. I am officially in!

Ole Timer,
I hope to meet you at camp on the 27th to get your report firsthand. I would really like to have a cold one with you and yours. Who are you going with? It will just be me and my wife.

[ole timer]

Pikeslayer,
I'm new to the lake trout game as well, but I understand they should be shallow that time of year. I'm sure Scott will fill us in. At any rate, I'll have a fishing report and a cold one waiting for you when you get to camp. Just be me and my fishing buddy of 40 years. As far as I know, we'll be in the Wolfs Den cabin.
ot

[drew59]

Caribou flows into Smoothrock.

Scott and Mary Jo do a camp fry during the summer months, but it's not our thing so I don't know the details. I'm guessing that as late as you are going it might be iffy, but who knows.

Bear in mind that I am a trout novice, not an expert. But the lakers should be shallower when you are there. Long line trolling will be worth trying. I've had some luck with Krocidile spoons which are heavy for their size. The 3/4 oz will go to about 25ft for me.

I LOVE talking about this stuff so let me know if you have anymore questions.

[rms0528]

I love to talk about this too, and will be glad to answer questions. It sounds as if Drew and Ole Timer have more experience in during the time you'll be up there, so I'll let them answer more of the specifics.

If there's a camp fish fry...Scott and MJ supply the side dishes and do all the cooking. Guests show up with their fish and drinks , sit down either outside on the deck or in the lodge and relax. I personally love this evening during the week.

Drew...You've had success long lining to 25' deep? What time of year did you have succes trolling at that depth? You're going to be there a couple weeks after us correct? We're there 8/27-9/3. I'm so new to this trout fishing thing, I hardly feel qualified to suggest anything, but if I may...It might be worth a few dollars to pick up something similar to a dipsy diver to help get your crocodile spoons a little deeper. Depending on the size of the dypsie diver type item, it could help you reach depths closer to 50'.

Did anyone notice Scott's new blog posting? Sounds as if there are fires in the area; based on the Ontario government website, nothing extremely close. Just close enough to have smoke if the wind is right maybe.

This morning as we were getting ready for work, out of the blue the wife says, "Guess what. We leave for Canada next week!". Granted, it's the end of next week so technically she's not wrong. She's never been there, but she's just as excited as I am. LOL.

[rms0528]

I don't ever recall a B&B, but there is a little motel in town called Chateau North Motel.

[Pikeslayer8]

MNR's fire map shows a fire burning just northwest of the outlet to Smoothrock of 763 hectares. All this talk of fishin the outlet and now it's on the verge of burning.
Weather shows good rains coming.
Lets hope this fire gets put out!
Scotts' post was interesting. I am completely fired up to here of the famed "Blue Walleye" being in this lake. They don't get that big but are very beautiful. Steurgeon are also a plus. Snag on to one of those behemeths and you got your afternoon planned.
Scott spoke of named spots on the lake: Beave Green Island, Mary lo's Island, Beer Can, Cactus/Tractor, Narrows in the evening, Whitefish Bay, The Boot, Brockway Creek and Campbell. Got a lot to learn.

[rms0528]

LOL...I'm still learning.

Here is what I know so far...

Mary Jo's Island is one of the two Islands just out from the camp in the main part of the lake.

The Narrows, is the narrows at the north end of the main bay on the way up towards Cove Island.

I don't know this for sure, but I think the boot is on the right as you enter the bay on the way up to Smoothrock. Looks like one on the map.

Going northeast past "The Boot" away from Smoothrock is Brockway Lake and probably Brockway Creek.

Never heard of Beave Green Island. Beaver Island is on Google, just northeast of Cove Island. There is a small island off the far tip of Beaver that has fish between the two.

I don't remember the others, but I'll find out.

[Pikeslayer8]

1 3/4 oz tungsten steel Japanese jig with shipping 25$. The wife can just watch me use it.
http://www.thejighq.com/madai-type-jigs.html

[drew59]

Hey guys,

I have to admit the fires have me a little concerned. I'm not interested in fishing in smoke. Been there done that. Hopefully the rain/wind will cooperate. Check this out for a map of the fires. http://forest.lrc.gov.on.ca/AFFM/fir...ap_English.htm

I tried the Dipsy Divers a long time ago. I decided that I am going to keep it simple. Jigs and spoons are all I take. If those don't work too bad for me. Last year the trout we caught were still in 50' in mid September, but I'm sure there were fish shallower than that. The trout I have caught trolling have been in June. As far as I know Scott sticks to jigs and long-lining all year so that's good enough for me.

I think the small island off Beaver is called Emerald Island. It drops sharply into deep water all along the south side. Last year our best walleye fishing was along the drop in 30-33' anchored and jigging.

The narrows are a spring location. No walleyes in the fall. Small pike and that's it.

[drew59]

Looks like there has been a decent amount of rain up there today. Hopefully the lightning strikes have been minimal.