The summer bite is on

With the winds finally letting up a bit and the big shad hatch down at the eastern end of the lake subsiding.
The summer bites starting to pick up out on the reefs of Nipissings main lake basin.

Plenty of bigger fish this year

Wow those are some beautiful walleye.

Nice eye's Grumps,I hope their still on in a few days..

Gees...those are some real beauties!...how do you find quantity of fish compared to other years?
...do you feel that the MNR strategies are working?

Nice catches Grumpa! Congrats!

Personally, I think with the most recent icefishing season being a shadow of most years...because of the virus business lockdown...it's likely fewer fish, mostly larger fish, were harvested this past winter.
It's also possible many fishing sites/locations weren't subjected to the same type of activity and human disruptions as in past winters ie overfishing, garbage down the holes etc. at the commercial sites.
How much of an impact all that had, I have no idea...population surveys could determine that later...however, we seem to be averaging one 18+"er about every 9-10 fish 'so far' this year, instead of 15-18 we had to filter thru the past few summers.
The overall number of fish that we're catching seems to be pretty consistent with the past couple years.
But it does seem like the 'substantially' larger ones, over 26", do appear to be more plentiful.
Normally, we see more of these larger female fish, early in the season, before they migrate further out into the lake from their spring spawning sites along the shorelines. Sooo, we'll have to wait and see if the percentage of bigger fish continues thru the entire open water season...and into next winter.

Whatever the reason, it's good to see a few more of the bigger breeders...and it feels equally good to release them back.

And yes, IMO, the OMNRF changes implemented several years ago...up to this point...has had a dramatic, positive, impact on the walleye population in the lake.
But the regulations (being discussed) probably do need to be tweaked, again...to shepherd these larger fish thru their population growth cycle.

Nice to see Grumpa......will look to see how the season unfolds up there


thanks for the encouraging report

Beauties Lovely report.

Nice report. I didn't think there where any big fish left on lake Nip. Maybe you cauight the only one?? Just got back from fishing it 8 days straight. Caught well over 100 walleye, a few at 18", but not one 20" or greater. Still going to be another 5+ years. I'm not getting any younger.

Well done. Serious fish. I wish I lived closer to that lake.

Great to see the walleye are growing, there seemed to be some concern with the population being what was referred to as "Stunted". The MNR biologist was saying at the last meeting I read that a few of the larger year classes seem to be growing very slowly or not at all once they reach 16"-17" size which they referred to as a stunted population. This may be the reason very few Walleye 18"+ may be seen in the catch rates, when one would think with the current regulations in place many more would be a this size by now. I'm sure there are current studies going on about this and regulations may be tweaked sometime if a problem is found.
Anyways glad your on the Fish Grumpa and catching some quality, my next visit to Nip will be the West Arm in October after Walleye closes. We have been coming up for Muskie the last couple of years and always arrive right after the 15th, by then I've gotten plenty of Erie and St Clare walleye. I always bring a pack from home so I can still enjoy a feed of Walleye while fishing Nip hahahaha, and the Muskie fishing is tough but very rewarding when we get them, and the Lake is so quiet that time of year.

Those are some beauty fish! Thanks for the report.

I found the shad fly hatch to be heavier than usual in my area. One night on my way to work it was like driving in a heavy snow storm. There was shad butter all over my windows.

I haven't caught a walleye in a week or two but the bass and drum have arrived. I look forward to the eyes being back on the bite.