Quinte Fishing

Decided at the last minute to give it my first shot this fall and headed out on Sunday morning with a cop friend from Niagara. Began fishing east of Merland Park on the south shore just before dark. Between 5:30 and 7:00 we nailed 10 fish, 7 for me and 3 for my buddy. All fish caught near the south shore in 12 to 15 ft of water, from east of Merland to the red buoy outsided the pumphouse. I tried to stay just outside the weedlines and it seemed to work well. His first fish was an 11.3 and that remained the biggest fish for the trip. My biggest that evening was 10.8, a nice fat female. It was hectic fishing for that one hour and then it shut off and we headed in for liquid refreshment and food. Maybe it was the howling wind and the pelting rain that turned the fish on because when it settled down somewhat they became lethargic.

Next day we burned to the ferry but there were not too many marks. Gave it an hour and headed east to Keith's Shoal and adjacent deep water. Lots of marks on the east side of centre but we could not get any takers. Tried other spots and ended up at Thompson's to see the screen loaded with marks. Two minutes after starting, my board gave up a nice 10.7 and I thought we were going to get the mother load. No, that was it for trolling. Used jigging spoons to have fun with some eater sized fish and then had to make an "emergency" run back to the Tip. Only just made it before things became a mess...phew! Fished after dark in calm, starry conditions and did not get a single hit. Headed home and got back at 11:30, tired but mellow. Got to love that place in the fall, cannot wait to return.

So I crawl my lazy ass out of bed sometime this morning, and the first thing I see on my email is a note from Neil:

"Check out my post on the board!"

Well, hot diggity damn, ain't that nice to read? Our traditional nighttime pattern paid off well. He did pretty well for a Lard-Ass in a Mustang Suit. Looks like my dad and I are heading out tomorrow most likely, and will stay til Thursday if it's good, so we'll be sure to hit that area at night. Gads, looks like I'm down about ten to zero so far in this year's fish tally. Geeez.........

Any tips on Thompson's? Should we grab some minnows? How many eater-size fish did you get? The forecast for Wednesday is currently mainly sunny and light NW winds of only 5 kph - sounds pretty good for jigging, eh? Thoughts?

I should mention that Neil is a Brit, you know, and attempts to retain the purity of his Queen's English despite being immersed in the Hoserdom of "Can-ee-dar". He takes particular delight in my inability to make three distinct vowel sounds, as he easily can, in the words "merry", "Mary" and "marry". [Note: The last word no longer forms part of my vocabulary]

So it was with great delight I read his misspelling of "mother lode". However this is forgiveable. Better a homonym than a homo --- especially in my boat, mate!

_________________
Self-unemployed and available for fishin' mid-week most days.

Nice to see that there are fish in Picton Bay again and that there's taking from time to time.

Neil, will you be back later this month? RSVP off Board.

_________________
David Delcloo aka Superdad
(Retired)

Kingston

Yes, you are quite correct, I am not a good typist and it should obviously have been lode. It will teach me to proof what I write and not simply press the post button. Oh well, I am just satisfied that my first outing up there was not a SKUNK!

I can spell the word "skunk", too.

Hell, yeah.

Looks like I'm scuppered for tomorrow - my dad is getting another in his series of bee sting anti-body shots, and they can only be done tomorrow. Did he tell you he nearly died on my sister's kitchen floor before she stabbed him with an epi-pen that was past its expiry date, but she had decided to hang on for reasons unknown?

He's pretty tough to kill, eh? With luck like that, he'll be up for the twenty-pounder this year I reckon. No doubt the fish will hook itself while the rod is sitting on the bottom of the boat.

There is no such thing as luck.

Anyway, we'll see about Thursday, then. Right now it looks like east winds, and I ain't about to make that mistake a second time.

_________________
Self-unemployed and available for fishin' mid-week most days.

Hey Neil;
I hit quinte with some buddies first time ever on the same weekend at merland park (sat night, sunday). picked up our first quinte walleye sat. night just west of that factory, 8.5 lbs (is that factory any good for fishing by at night? seems like it might with all the spot lights). sat night was freakishly warm and calm till the thunder came, but no takers. tons of bait fish on the surface. packed it in at 11:00. did you pick up all yours sunday night, or sunday morning?

we fished sunday in high winds i think the same waters you were in. across from merland, north shore, and west to the buoys? is that building on the north/west shore the pump house? anyway, no results for us. also trolled the south shore all the way up tp the ferry...nada. Just trying to get my berrings to recognize the land marks everyone is talking about. going to hit it again next weekend some time ... now I know what all the excitement is about!!!

Hi Simmer

We only began to fish late afternoon on Sunday, just before dark. Our fish all came within an hour or so after dark and all were along the weed edges on the Merland Park shoreline. Water depth was 11 to 15 ft. We flatlined with a orange/brown Rogue and a Husky Jerk, 50+ ft back and moving very slowly on the electric. The fish were very aggressive, hitting the lure with attitude. Once the rain stopped and the wind let up, the fish stopped biting. On Monday night we did not get a hit, it was so calm and bright it did not wake them up.

The pumphouse is on the right side of the harbour mouth as you are facing Picton, it has the light. I have caught fish at night in front of the cement plant, but it has not been a favourite spot over the years. We have ususally done better there during the day. Similarly, I have not been a big fan of trolling the south shore to the ferry at night, except a couple of spots with weed edges.

I was going up this weekend but cancelled due to the wind and rain forecast, be back on the 19th for another crack. Good luck next week.

Thanks for the info Neil!
We packed in about 4:00 on Sunday, apparently right before they turned on ! We trolled that area just before we headed in, maybe we stirred them up for you. marked all the fish by the pumphouse though and none on that side. usin purple wally diver, perch tail dancer, manns perch, manns dr. death, the kitchen sink etc. Guess they bite when they want to! also used those yellow bird planers. did the job of bringing the line out, but not sure how they react when a fish hits (hope I'll find out soon)
good luck on the 19th!