Quinte Fishing

I have never fished the BoQ and i am thinking of taking a weekend trip down there this spring (i know asking right now seems a little silly since everybody is getting ready for the hardwater fishing and here i am asking about softwater fishing, but i want to be as ready as possible)
I am thinking of going to Hay Bay around the end of martch begining of april and i have a couple of questions

1-What is the fishing like in hay bay??

2-What can i expect to catch there, and what will be in season??

3-What type of tackle do i want to bring up with me (and aprox size of lures ect ect)

Once again i know it seems a little early to be asking but it is only a couple months away and it is a long drive for me and i just want to ensure that i am as succsesfull as possible and have as much fun as possible, my grandpa always talked about the eyes he caught in BoQ but passed before he got me up there

by the way i think the site is great and i have been reading te posts for a couple days now and i think you guys are offering a great learning tool to new people coming up to the water thanks guys

and thanks in advance for any tips or help, if there is anything else you would like to know about what I have and so on that would help you give me better advice just ask i will do my best to get right back to you

by the way i am a sport fishermen all C&R

thanks again
reel-it-in

March or April I don't think you can fish for anything except panfish on Haybay(even then you'd have to check the regs). In any case, Walleye season doesn't open until the first weekend in May and Bass doesn't open until June 26th. I believe Pike are open until March 31 but closed after that until the Walleye opener. You should note that even if your intentions are to release a fish out of season, it is still illegal to target that species. The reason there are closed seasons for these fish is because these are their prime spawning periods and it gives them the best chance at survival. So if you were thinking of fishing out of season even to release please don't.

Ken

Ken i would never fish out of season!! I want to try and preserve the fish we have so we all still have the past time that we love to do, and can teach our children to love as well. Though your conern does show you care to. So walleyes don't open till may and to tell the truth i am intrested i going after them so i wil be putting it off till then, do you have any sudgestions on when to come up in the spring and where to go

I will be bring my own boat but i am not sure what size rod ect ect since i have never fished up there

thanx
reel-it-in

I've not had much luck on the opener's (I usually don't start getting into them until around June...hope that changes this year) but reports from last year had the mouth of the Napanee River as a hot spot. I've not fished that area personally so I can't tell you from experience. I'll probably give that area a try this year as well. The Flats which are located at the far eastern end of Hay Bay apparently also gave up some fish in the early going. In any case, regular spinning gear should suit you fine with 8 - 10 lb test line as most of the water is under 20 ft. deep. As far as lures, spinners in chartreuse and fluroescent orange tipped with worms and minnow shaped baits work well. Trolling is the way to go for Walleye on Hay Bay. Anyhow, good luck.

Ken

thanks alot ken

Ihave never really fished for eyes you say they don't get moving till june some time do you thinnk it would be best to wait the extra couple weeks and go then and if so would you think the bay will be okay or should i trie else were, my partner has never fished any thing bigger than a pond and i am sick of going to the same old place and want to try something different

i probly seem like i am trying to pick your brain, but hey i am trying to pick your brain, a couple years and my son will be old enough to go for weekends and just want to find the right spot, and i really do apreaiate the advice

(just don't expect good spelling, good fishing yes godd english no)

reel-it-in

reel it in,i don't live in the quinte area ,but i have been there on many a frozen opener weekends.
my advicer to you would be to head to the rivers where there is some current,if it is still cold,and water levels high,otherwize i would back off the river mouths too the first deep drop of your sonar shows.
there should be some post spawn eyes hanging around there for 2-3 weeks after the spawn.as far as bait goes i'm not sure as i don't get back down that way till late june.during the opening weekend we tend to use jigs in the river.in the latter part of june i have found that a spinner trolled slowly with a big dew worm seems to work quite well,i think it wsa green.
anyway,best of luck to you.

I fish the the bay rear round and have caught walleye in all parts of the bay from the ferry to the flats. In the spring the mouth of the Napanee River (Deseronto) and the east end of Hay Bay have always produced fish but do not expect large fish. Using any bright coloured spinner with a worm and usually I prefer drifting if the wind is right and if not verrrrry slow trolling with and electric or a kicker motor.There are a number of local makes (Hay Bay Bandit or Baker`s) and I change to a single hook rather than trebbles, I find I don`t pick up as many weeds with the single hook. In the summer I find Beno`s in silver or frog pattern work well and this year the Uzick Spinner was very good and Lucky Strike also has some that are similar. In fall large diving lures work for all species.

During the season thebright colours work well-orange,chartreuse. The uzicks have worked well all season with just 1" of worm threaded onto the shaft and a plastic tail added....Larry

Reel it in

Last year in the Bay the walleye never stated to turn on til june. The reason I believe for this was water temperature. In May the water teperature was very cold. Once it warmed up to 62-65 degrees things stated to happen. Another tip , that you may not want to try , due to you not being familiar with the bay, is fishing from 7:00pm to 11:pm. I had my best catches in June during this time. I have to tell you that my lure choice is a little different than most, all I use is medium to deep diving crank baits, I haven't bought a worm in 5 years.
I like #7 shad raps, tail dancers.

Good luck. but if you fish at night make sure your boat has lights.