Callander Bay

[Goshawk]

I will be dragging my boat up and renting a cottage on the eastern side of the lake in early Sep and will be spending most of my time around the Callander Bay area. I've never been to this side of the lake before, spending several trips in the West Arm area. If anyone has been out recently in this area, how has the bass fishing been at the end of the summer? What depth should I be doing my searching? Any particular lure colour has been working better than others? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Sterling]

Callander Bay really sucks mid-summer unless you're targeting bass on the northern reed line:

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@13&key=usbyGztscN

The water temps are just too warm for walleye and other species. They're mostly hanging out in the main lake basin. By October they're relating to structure bigtime.

You may find some walleye in the more featured areas of Callander Bay like Burford point, where I found a whole pile of stacked fish in September last year.

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@15&key=q%7D_yGd%7DlcN

Otherwise maybe try Henriette

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@14&key=gh~xGvmscN

If nothing's biting in callander bay you need to head to the main lake.

As with any lake, 90% of the fish are found in 10% of areas.

[Goshawk]

Thank you so much Sterling. I was a bit skeptical about Callandar when I booked it, being mostly a featureless bowl, but I've never been to that side of the lake. I will definitely let you know how things are going when I get there in a little over a week. I'll be there on the Friday after Labour Day.

Thanks again.

[reelinginthebigone]

Calendar bay is great for pike if you troll 7-12 FOW weed lines. As for bass, there are quite a few steep rocky drop-offs.

Be careful of unmarked rocks, or rocks a few feet below the water in calendar bay, especially if it's wavy and/or the water line is lower than normal.

If you aren't having luck, head over to the falls area on the south-east shore.

[Goshawk]

Appreciate the advice. I tend to putt-putt around in shallow water when I'm in a new lake anyway, particularly a rocky lake like this one.

[Neil]

I don't have much in the way of info to help as I haven't fished over that way before but there have been 4 qualifier tounaments on Nipissing this year with 20lb bags and 5+ lb largest fish. There is a two day classic tournament on the 12th and 13th of September but as you are here in October they won't get in your way.
I do typically have to get the snow shovels out in October and I have seen snow in September up here.

Neil

[Goshawk]

Thanks Neil. My apologies for putting the wrong month in the original post. I'm leaving here for Spanish on Labour Day and getting to Callander Bay that Friday for 3 nights. So I'll be in the middle of that tournament. Hopefully they'll stay out of MY way!

[Goshawk]

Day 1:
I spent some extra time in the North Channel of Huron before coming here. I didn't want to miss out on the top water bite Friday morning. As a result, I didn't get the boat launched here until late, and I wasn't going to go exploring unfamiliar water when I can't see underwater obstructions/boulders.
I did get out for most of the day today. It took me quite a while to locate any fish, even with all the helpful tips. I located the near a large group of underwater boulders that weren't marked on my Navionics system. I managed to catch 6 smallmouth today, all in less than 6' of water. Scrappy!!!! The biggest was a 4.25 beauty that gave me quite the tussle
Looks like today might be my last day of fishing here. The forecast for tomorrow is high winds and storms almost all day. I don't have a problem fishing in the rain if I'm caught out in it, but I'm not going to leave the dock in the rain, and that forked stuff is nothing to play with. I'll play it by ear tomorrow.

[Neil]

Nice fish.
I hope you got out today for some more! Not that nice of a day though and it is getting windier now too.

Neil

[Goshawk]

Not likely Neil. We have 3-4 foot white caps bashing into the breakwater here, and it's not supposed to lessen until after sunset. I may get the chance to get out in the morning after I clear the cabin before heading home.