Pike 's sharp teeth can slice a fly rod
MISAW LAKE, Saskatchewan -- Fishing partner Bob Schultz and I were trying to land two big northern pike at the same time, so guide Tom Caisse swung my fish into the boat before he attended to another 37-incher being played by Schultz.
ERIC SHARP: Pike are so big, they make an angler's wrists hurt
MISAW LAKE, Saskatchewan -- Remember the old fisherman's prayer? "Lord, let me catch a fish so big that even I won't have to lie about it." For Bob Schultz, it had just been answered.
A darling view
You can hear coyote pups yipping off in the distance as you try to beat the sun to the summit of a steep hill heading west. Birds fly freely throughout the vicinity and wildflowers are in bloom but are somewhat taken aback by the scent of the sweet clover.
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Pick a species, and you can find waters in northwestern Ontario that will provide it in quantity and quality.
There's a number ol options to consider when targeting Sunset Country's fisheries. You can do it all by yourself, with your own boat and tackle and a simple pioneering enthusiasm for uncovering the secrets of a strange, new, often-expansive waterway. You can rent a boat and hire a guide for a day or a week, or you can park your rig and take a fly-in (day trip, overnighter or several days' stay) with a houseboat, or if you're a hard-core adventurer, in a canoe on the Quetico Boundary Waters. When fishing Sunset Country, it's really a matter of what works for you.
Planning a fishing/camping trip to northwestern Ontario is unbelievably easy. Ontario's Ministry of Tourism gives out a standard information packet. It includes such annually updated publications as the Ontario Parks Guide, Camping in Ontario (the official publication of the Ontario Private Campground Association), an Ontario Fishing Map and Guide, Fish Ontario and the annual Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. Sunset Country Travel Association distributes the Summer Vacation Guide and Map of Ontario's Sunset Country. With these publications in hand, the task gets tougher as you realize your options are almost limitless. There are so many places to go and so many fish to catch that deciding on just one or two locations can come down to a crapshoot. Our best advice is to determine when, where and what interests you. Then make some calls ; get some references and check them out.
Visiting a sport show or an all Canada Show in a city nearby can be helpful as well. Nothing beats talking to lodge and campground owners, or representatives of the Ministry of Tourism firsthand.
Bear in mind that not all of your camping options will be found in the officially printed guidebooks. A lot of resorts and lodges offer a limited number of campsites. Given that their business is primarily cabin rental, they don't really push the camping option. So, if there's an area, a lake or a lodge that interests you, don't hesitate to ask about camping. Some ot these unpublicized two- to eight-site facilities are the nicest we've found.
A real bonus for RVers wanting to fish Sunset Country is that unlike most cabin-oriented accommodations that are booked well in advance (and strictly on aSaturday-to-Saturdaybasis), campsites - given that they're not in such acute demand in the area - are often available on short notice and for lengths of stays that are totally flexible.
The three ports of entry that provide travelers access to Sunset Country are at International Falls, Minnesota, via . Highway 53; Baudette, Minnesota, via State Highway 11 ; and at Pigeon River, Minnesota, via State Highway 6 f. Border crossing is usually quick and painless, provided you are properly prepared. be ready to provide proof of . citizenship (., a birth certificate, a passport or a picture . driver's license). Remember that if you bring more than 40 ounces of liquor, liters of wine or a case ol beer, you'll have to pay duty. Make sure you have a valid rabies-vaccination certificate for any pets that are traveling with you. And if you're carrying a long gun (allowed only during hunting season) be prepared to complete the necessary gun-registration forms. Handguns are illegal anytime.
Once in northwestern Ontario, good paved roads will take you almost everywhere throughout Sunset Country's three distinct regions.
Straddling the ./Canada border and extending north toward TransCanada 17 is the Rainy River Region. _ There are two major travel corridors in this region. Highway 11 provides access to the towns of Atikokan, Mine Centre, Fort Frances, Emo, Stratton, Sleeman and Rainy River. Highway 502 traverses wilderness bush country running northward from Fort Frances to the city of Dryden on the southern edge of the Patricia Region. Major fisheries in this region include Rainy Lake, Rainy River, Lake Despair, Bad Vermillion Lake, Eva, Perch and Calm lakes, the Seine River and Kashabowie Lake.
In the Patricia Region, Highway 105 (the Red Lake Road) runs through Perrault Falls, Ear Falls and up to Red Lake. This highway provides access to myriad fishing locations and float-plane bases on such waterways as Red Lake, Gullrock, Lac Seul, Perrault Lake, Cedar Lake and Packwash. The Highway 599 Wilderness Corridor provides angler access to Pickle Lake, Savant Lake and Ignace, and is the most northerly, all-weather/all-season road in Ontario. Trans-Canada Highway 17 marks the southern boundary ol the Patricia Region and provides access to the towns of Vermillion Bay, Dryden, Wabigoon, Lagle River, English River and Upsala, as well as to such famed waters as Eagle Lake, Wabigoon Lake and Lac des Mille Lacs.
The Lake of the Woods region is serviced by the Highway 71 corridor that provides access to Nestor Falls, Sioux Narrows and meets up with Highway 17 at Kenora. In addition to "The Woods" itsell, 71 provides access to the PipestoneClearwater Chain, Crow Lake, Dogtooth and several others. Highway 596 takes you north from Kenora to Minaki and allows access to the English and Winnipeg river systems. Highway 621 will take you to the town of Morson and the resorts in the southeastern comer.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources realizes full well the value of its sportfishing as it relates to the provincial tourism industry and the economy as a whole. It's safe to say that the waters of Sunset Country are highly managed through the use of creel limits and slot sizes. The idea, it seems, is to provide lots of fish to catch (and all you may want to eat during a trip), but few to keep and carry home - while still allowing room to take a trophy should you be lucky enough to tangle with one. It's a philosophy that's working, as those who regularly fish Sunset Country will attest. The numbers of fish you'll hook up with, as well as their average size, are improving annually. Catch and release is a matter of fact in northwestern Ontario, il for no other reason than there's no way you could keep and use all you can catch anyway.
The bottom line is that northwestern Ontario's Sunset Country is a world-class destination. It's a land of boreal forest, abundant wildlife and more than 100,000 freshwater lakes and streams, teeming with enough fish to make every angler feel like a pro. And the best part is it's nearby, readily accessible and offers a true wilderness experience that can fit every angler's budget.
Go. Fish till you drop. Enjoy those wonderful sunsets. And make a memory that will last a life time.
Northwest Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association, (800) 665-7567, sun . CIRCLE 231 ON READIIR SERVICE CARD.
Ontario Ministry of Tourism, (800) ONTARIO, CIRCLE 232 ON READER SERViCE CARD.
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