Friday afternoon, I headed down to Picton. Arriving just as it was starting to get dark. I was staying at Merland Park Resort, so upon arrival I quickly rigged up and launched my boat and parked it at the dock while is was still daylight and so it was all ready to go in the morning. So convenient! I went to the office, chatted with the owner for a few minutes, paid for my lodging and picked up my key. After unpacking the truck and getting all settled in, I headed into town to pick up some dinner. I'm sure there's lots of great places to get food but I picked up a amazing lasagna from Prince Edward Pizza. It was delicious and one order was enough to feed 3 people!
Now to the actual fishing!
My buddy and I were in the boat and pulling away from Merland Park just as it was getting light out Early on Saturday, November 23rd. It was a cool morning, just below the freezing point. There was ice on the docks and windshield. It was overcast and no wind. The water was flat at this time and it was a gentle boat ride out to just west of the lighthouse on the north side. The water temperature was 47.5, still overcast with no wind and we could hear intermittent shot gun blast off in the distance from the duck hunters. We set out the lines, trolling at 1.7 mph and had an early start for fishing which paid off because at 8:00 am we were just east the lighthouse an a planer board starts shaking and heading behind the boat. We are in 105 feet of water and my buddy Gerry, quickly jumps up and picks up the rod. We remove the planer board and a 2 oz snap weight as he reels the 150 feet of line we have out. Eventually he lands an 8lb, 8oz, 29 inch walleye. He caught this fish with a Rapala Red Tiger Deep Tail Dancer 11.
He caught this fish with a Rapala Red Tiger Deep Tail Dancer 11.
Our next fish comes about 10:30. A slight breeze has come up along with some slight wave action. Still travelling about 1.7 mph in 120 feet of water just west of the Bat Cave. A planer board indicates a fish on and I'm on the rod to reel it in. Gerry removes the planer board and snap weight as I reel in the fish. I land this 6 pound, 24 1/2 inch walleye. It was caught on Purple Bay Rat lure, I don't know the factory name of this lure.
Bay Rat Purple Deep Diver unknown factory name.
At 1:00 pm we are trolling along the north shore across from the Bat Cave in 120 feet of water at 1.7 mph. The water temperature is now 47.8 degrees and the wind has come up and there's now some pretty significant waves in the Reach. A planer board starts shaking and heading behind the boat. My buddy, Gerry is back on the rod to reel it in. It's out 150 feet with a two ounce snap weight and it's towing a Rapala Bleeding Tiger Deep Tail Dancer 11. While reeling this fish in, it tangled with another line and unfortunately, we lost a planer board off that line. We deal with the mess and get the fish in. We net a 7 pound 27 inch walleye.
Rapala Bleeding Tiger Deep Tail Dancer 11
At 3:00 pm we are about 1/2 way between the bat cave and lighthouse on the north side in 100 feet of water. The winds and waves have subsided some and it's a little more comfortable for the fishermen. We see another planer board fire off. It's the standard, 150 feet of line out with a 2 oz snap weight, towing that mystery name, purple Bay Rat Deep diving lure. We land a 24 inch walleye that looked pretty skinny. We didn't weight him but I'm guessing he was just over 4 pounds.
Bay Rat Purple Deep Diver unknown factory name.
We fished for another hour and packed it in a 4:00 pm after a successful and enjoyable day of Fall walleye fishing in the Bay! The winds and waves have calmed down for a pleasant boat ride back to Merland Park.
Tight lines!
Kevin