Quinte Fishing

I just got back from my first trip to Quinte, yesterday was my birthday and I figured I would ask the guys if they'd be up for joining me on a fishing trip to the famous BOQ. Well... it was an experience that's for sure.

We arrived Friday morning, stopped by Pro Tackle for bait and our derby tickets. We checked out the George St. launch but it didn't look nice for walking. We were staying in Trenton Friday night so we went back there and fished Bain Park. The walk there wasn't any better. We missed the morning bite, but fished around the group of huts just east of the red can and fished hard from 10am to 6pm. Not a bite. Saw the MNR people answered their questions and was surprised they didn't ask for licenses.

Found a Guide from here on the board and had booked them months ago for Saturday, they took us to Point Anne. On the Ice from 7am to 5:30pm, 20 mins for lunch and the rest of the time was fishing. I think I've got tendonitis from jigging so much. Well, nothing again. My buddy lost a small one part way to the hole, but that was the only action all day. There was only 3 or 4 fish caught by all the people the guide took out that day. We did mark a bunch but no takers.

Sunday we flipped a coin between going back to Point Anne or Herchimer. Point Anne won and we went back to fish the morning before going to the fish fry at the Fish and Game Club. We walked out, started at 16' and after 2 moves finished in 18' and got nothing. Didn't even mark a walleye, just a couple perch.

So after 3 months of planning, 6 hrs of driving, 3 days of fishing and about $500(guide, hotel, gas etc), I can say Quinte is not as easy as some people think. I showed up with big expectations and left rather humbled. I will be back and I will continue to dream of walking off the ice with a bucket full of Quinte gold. But for now I will go back to the drawing board.

Great report and I hear your pain.

That's why it's called fishing not catching.... I am sure you learned a few things along the way and maybe that will help you get them next time.

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HUNT, FISH and RIDE

I feel your pain JDRC. I went last year for my first time in February. I researched as much as i could for a long time before the trip and fished for 2 straight days and i didn't catch a thing. Like you said, it's really not as easy as you think. I will be hitting the bay again this month for round 2. It can only get better the more times you fish so i have a good feeling. Good luck on your search for Quinte Gold!

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QuintEssential

this makes year 14 for me and i get skunked ..ive caught some... best day being 12... largest 12lbs..ive hired a guide twice..i do all they do..their success or failure is in no small part with fishing most days and having contacts as to where the fishMAY be active,,as i say u cant catch them from the couch..ill be back up the last weekend in feb..if i can help.. give a shout ill try....and so long 4 now;john

If it makes you feel better, I went the first 8 yrs on the BOQ without a walleye. That's a cold spell.
I would watch my buddies pull them in and would mimic their actions, same lures and everything.
I just didn't have the feel for it apparently.
Since then I've turned things around and consistantly catch fish now.

Better luck next time.

Ya Quinte's like a casino, sometimes you win that's what keeps you coming back.

There are many variables that factor in to catching fish at the Bay. I cannot stress how important electronics are. Can you catch fish without them, sure you can. You just will not catch as many and it will take you longer to catch one. Electronics help with depth of jigging, colour, lure type, number of minnows. The first step is realizing what you must do if there are fish under you. Without electronics, you are assuming that there was probably no fish under you, but most the time that is incorrect. Keep at it, once you start to catch em, you will be even more addicted. I have had a good winter, a few things I have noticed, is size. I have caught some of my biggest fish this year on the smallest presentations, and also on a few trips, I could not get a hit with 1 minnow, it took 2.

Tightlines,
Nathan

Thanks for all the support guys. I will be back. And the walleyes will lose!

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

just don't give up...keep trying

I was in the same boat as middlewick . A six year skunk until this year, and did that first fish ever feel good to pull through the ice. Like others are saying a flasher makes all the difference in the world, but owning a sled sure would be a great asset this year.

You only spent $500 looking for a $6 fish? Funny how that works eh?....... Well, not so funny really.

Quinte is a different animal for sure. A longer learning curve, but once you've seen a 10 plus fish come outta the hole, you'll dream about coming back ASAP. I must be in the $1000s of dollars by now.

Myself, JDRC? Out 4 times with guides, many times without, been skunked on BOQ more often than not, never caught 4 fish in a day, BUT my first and only 12 pounder made up for all the challenges. That was worth a million bucks!

Get back again real soon ya hear.

PS. Where do you travel from?

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So many fish. So little time.

Maple

I am heading up next sunday with my two kids. Anyone willing to give me some advice I would be very grateful.
Rented a hut from Dave at fish finder. Please pm me with any thoughts on that end of the bay.

Thanks