What? LSC is gorgeous and so is the Detroit Skyline! Sure it's not Eagle or LOTW but it's urban fishing at it's finest. Detroit and LSC both have huge spot in my heart forever. There's areas out there that are beautiful anytime of the day. Nothing better than the sun rising at dawn flying across LSC with Detroit at your back, gorgeous water and anyday a shot at a 50". One of the top 5 love's of my lifetime. Sounds beautiful to me!!
The old darned if ya do, darned if ya don't problem. If you do, there's all the things your worried about in your head. If you don't, you might be kicking yourself wondering what could of been. You could always reschedule for a better date next season. Or if you are a risk taker, just do it! I tend to fall in that second category but that's just me. Take warm clothing and warm sleeping gear. As far as bears go, heck, you could encounter them as well in the U.P. or northern L.P. as well. I wish that decision was my problem!
Hey Chris,
My two cents worth. I spent a couple of days on Whitefish Bay many years back. I was not at all threatened by that part of the lake, although you do have to keep your bearings on where you are on the map. After a few days, the islands start to look more familiar and life is definitely good. Pretty easy fishing, deep water access almost everywhere so you are fishing shoreline and mostly visible rocks and a little emergent stuff. The map, #6213 in the Canadian Hydrographic Service series, is quite accurate with very few surprises. Sabaskong Bay is #6214 I'm pretty sure. Both areas are about as good as it gets for muskie fishing in natural waters. I would be happy to let you borrow the Whitefish Bay map if you'd like, it has maybe 12 to 15 spots marked but if it looks good, it probably is good up there.
The GPS has so changed trip preparation and lessened the anxiety of trying new water.
"Larry Porter" said:
The GPS has so changed trip preparation and lessened the anxiety of trying new water.
AMEN! When it comes to unfamiliar big water (for me, that means Lake St. Clair) I'd be scared witless without my GPS with lake map software for that lake. There've been many times on LSC when I am significantly wrong about which way to go to get somewhere, even under ideal conditions, when I try to guess which way to go. That's not to mention things like obstructions, shallows and other hazards. And if the weather gets dicey while I am out, my GPS is absolutely indispensible for getting back to the launch in a hurry.
Don't leave home without it! 
"Steve S" said:
Wll was that Perry Smith? Jason did you guys haul your boats up? If not I guess you guy's took turns driving. Ed you must have more than 18 hours with boat or without. It's just you driving, you have to be whooped by the time you get there!!
We don't haul a boat and it is me and a couple of guys and we go 14 hours and stay in a hotel and then go the last 4 or 5 early the next day and the ride isn't so bad heading up but coming home it really takes forever. I agree that LSC doesn't have the charm and that is one of the reasons I head to Eagle. There are some nice spots on LSC that aren't built up and can be easy on the eyes but it is hard to beat certain spots up North but the 3-4 days I lose driving to Eagle I could be on LSC fishing. All depends on the experience you are looking for. Good luck!
The GPS has so changed trip preparation and lessened the anxiety of trying new water.
Yeah I'm rocking the HDS 5 this year and I couldn't love it more. Skegemog is absolutely covered in waypoints of where I've raised fish, weeds, logs, ect…Makes fishing soooo much easier.
I'll just buy a chip for LOTW and be good to go in that regard.
Thanks for all of the advice guys, glad I ran it by you. I've come to the conclusion that my original plans aren't looking too shabby. I'm going to wing it and risk being miserable camping for 4-5 days. I mean hell, we're all in our early twenties, risks are what life's about at this age. Now I just hope we catch the occasional walleye on a 9" jake to keep us fed.
Chris,
There have been many replies with great advice and I am hoping just to help by offering my thoughts.
I just returned from Eagle Lake early this morning. It was a first for me and possibly the last.
Do your homework on everything and then do it again. I did my homework and still had some unpleasant issues to deal with on the trip.
I agree with Will completely. There is tremendous fishing to be had in Wisconsin, Minnesota and places in the UP. The views are as beautiful and the fishing just as good. The Canada side is far more expensive. I am referring to things like food and gas. The prices are not comparable. There is a 13% percent federal tax in Canada. By the way, the line coming coming back into the U.S., at the border can be 1 hour or as much as 4 hours.
The length of the trip is a killer. I have been told the trip is 18 hours. However, when your pulling a boat, crossing a boarder, stopping to stretch and fuel it is much longer. We drove hard yesterday and it was still 21 hours.
I would get a contour map. If you have an Iphone, there is a great App you can purchase for a fraction of the cost of a GPS unit for your boat.
As for guides, Absolutely, but again do some homework.
If you stay at a lodge, I would highly recommend reading some online reviews. I will leave the name of the lodge I stayed at anonymous, but can tell you that I was disappointed in the customer service. The rooms were not clean and leaked water consistently. The man who ran the lodge swore so much, that it made him sound ignorant. He had absolutely no idea how to "filter" his comments in front of kids. Some of the guides were equally inappropriate.
As for camping…Have fun. In my twenties that sounded fun. Now in my forties, the Holiday Inn Express is for more relaxing and less stuff to bring.
Mark
"Chris Musselman" said:
The GPS has so changed trip preparation and lessened the anxiety of trying new water.
Yeah I'm rocking the HDS 5 this year and I couldn't love it more. Skegemog is absolutely covered in waypoints of where I've raised fish, weeds, logs, ect…Makes fishing soooo much easier.
I'll just buy a chip for LOTW and be good to go in that regard.
Thanks for all of the advice guys, glad I ran it by you. I've come to the conclusion that my original plans aren't looking too shabby. I'm going to wing it and risk being miserable camping for 4-5 days. I mean hell, we're all in our early twenties, risks are what life's about at this age. Now I just hope we catch the occasional walleye on a 9" jake to keep us fed.
THAT is the spirit man!! I love it. One last piece of advice- bring some food! haha
"Mark D. Platt" said:
Chris,There have been many replies with great advice and I am hoping just to help by offering my thoughts.
I just returned from Eagle Lake early this morning. It was a first for me and possibly the last.
Do your homework on everything and then do it again. I did my homework and still had some unpleasant issues to deal with on the trip.
I agree with Will completely. There is tremendous fishing to be had in Wisconsin, Minnesota and places in the UP. The views are as beautiful and the fishing just as good. The Canada side is far more expensive. I am referring to things like food and gas. The prices are not comparable. There is a 13% percent federal tax in Canada. By the way, the line coming coming back into the U.S., at the border can be 1 hour or as much as 4 hours.
The length of the trip is a killer. I have been told the trip is 18 hours. However, when your pulling a boat, crossing a boarder, stopping to stretch and fuel it is much longer. We drove hard yesterday and it was still 21 hours.
I would get a contour map. If you have an Iphone, there is a great App you can purchase for a fraction of the cost of a GPS unit for your boat.
As for guides, Absolutely, but again do some homework.
If you stay at a lodge, I would highly recommend reading some online reviews. I will leave the name of the lodge I stayed at anonymous, but can tell you that I was disappointed in the customer service. The rooms were not clean and leaked water consistently. The man who ran the lodge swore so much, that it made him sound ignorant. He had absolutely no idea how to "filter" his comments in front of kids. Some of the guides were equally inappropriate.
As for camping…Have fun. In my twenties that sounded fun. Now in my forties, the Holiday Inn Express is for more relaxing and less stuff to bring.
Mark
I agree with everything Mark has said and the costs in Canada are very painful. I went up to Pigeon Lake about a month ago and (2) cases of beer cost me $85 and the gas prices were very high. When I go to Eagle I drive through the US as much as possible to save on fuel costs and you can legally drive faster in the US.
If you bring your boat you have a good chance of them inspecting your truck and boat and I have had them spend over an hour on the boat alone. Also make sure you or none of your buddies have any criminal record or a DUI as they may simply not let you in or charge you $180 to enter the country (this happened to a friend of mine that had a 3 year old DUI). Also remember that you can not have any alcohol in the boat or even an empty beer can.
I really love fishing in Canada and I go on a pike/bass fly in every year but it seems like they make it harder every year. I don't know if they are trying to stop people from coming to their country but it does feel that way. I am going to Eagle in the Fall and this may be my last trip based on the lodge and the amount of pain they inflict on us. Good thing I fish for muskies and I am used to the pain and suffering 😀
Sorry if this is bumming you out but I want to make sure you know what you are getting into and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or if I can help.
Where in the heck do you buy beer? I bought 2 cases at the border this year for 35 dollars.. Get it at the duty free shop at the border and the prices are no different then the US, some cheaper.
As far as going to AML, I can see why people would go there to get plenty of info and get on top of some fish, but I would never pay the prices they charge to stay at their camp.. sorry..
You can usually find almost all the info you need on a forum somewhere about what the fish have been doing etc.. without having to pay an arm and a leg for a wk.
Next year i think im heading to Cedar Lake
I am def the type that doesn't need all the amenities of normal life and enjoy doing everything on our own when we head up there. So when i see the prices of some of these camps and see what they charge for some of it is just plain stupid.
"swanezy" said:
Where in the heck do you buy beer? I bought 2 cases at the border this year for 35 dollars.. Get it at the duty free shop at the border and the prices are no different then the US, some cheaper.As far as going to AML, I can see why people would go there to get plenty of info and get on top of some fish, but I would never pay the prices they charge to stay at their camp.. sorry..
You can usually find almost all the info you need on a forum somewhere about what the fish have been doing etc.. without having to pay an arm and a leg for a wk.
Next year i think im heading to Cedar Lake
I am def the type that doesn't need all the amenities of normal life and enjoy doing everything on our own when we head up there. So when i see the prices of some of these camps and see what they charge for some of it is just plain stupid.
Border must have better prices than around Pigeon and maybe I just bought expensive beer but boy what a shocker. I hope you have a great trip!
well i think once we got to Dryden my dad's buddies bought there beer there and it was a lot more expensive. They got 4 cases of labatts and it was 85 dollars around there.
I think the border it is like american prices cause it is your last chance.
After buying groceries up in canada every year and seein how the prices sky rocket, i dont know how people survive up in that area.
The high prices are also designed to control alcohol consumption as the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) uses price control as part of its social responsibility mandate to discourage excessive alcohol consumption.
AML isn't that expensive compared to other places on Eagle lake with some places being cheaper and some being more expensive. I would definitely pay $100-150 more to stay at AML than another place though as the wealth of knowledge Steve and all the other guides at AML have is well worth it.
"Mark D. Platt" said:
I just returned from Eagle Lake early this morning. It was a first for me and possibly the last.If you stay at a lodge, I would highly recommend reading some online reviews. I will leave the name of the lodge I stayed at anonymous, but can tell you that I was disappointed in the customer service.
If you don't mind I think this would be good information to share here in the mebers area.
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