Two weeks left!

[Goshawk]

In just under 2 weeks, I'll be headed to Picton for my first trip to the Bay of Quinte. I'll be spending 4 nights at the Merland Park resort just outside of Picton, dragging my little buggy with me. I'm hoping to target both smallmouth and walleyes.
On the Merland Park website, they have a bit of information on the spring walleye bite and that the high water level seems to have helped the fish's appetite. If anyone has been to the area recently, I would certainly appreciate any more recent info. Not locations or anything of that sort (I'll explore and find that myself), but I'm more interested in depth and terrain type that I should be looking for. Thanks in advance.

[sambo]

Try 19-12 feet weed flats

[Goshawk]

I spoke with Kevin at Merland Park Resort today and he said that they've been doing really well on the walleyes, limiting out on just about every trip with clients. He said that he hasn't heard anything recently on the bass, but the last time he heard the locals were doing pretty well. I'm getting pretty excited looking forward to my trip down there next Monday.

[porkpie]

check PMs

[Goshawk]

Well the first day of my 2nd honeymoon is done. I didn't get to Merland Park until 3pm because of a stop for 9 holes at Trillium with my best friend (member there). By the time I arrived, I was totally wasted from the heat and sweating on the course.

I did managed to get out for 2 hours this evening. I didn't venture very far from the park because I haven't had a chance to talk with the owner about fish locations and strategies yet. But I did manage to call up 3 large mouth bass up to 2.75lb from the weeds in about 12 FOW, but didn't get a pic because of a malfunctioning phone. I'll get some tomorrow though.

More tomorrow when I'll be targeting some "eyes"!

[Goshawk]

After 3 hours of sleep (I hate new mattresses!!), I managed to get out for 3 hours this morning. Scared up 7 mini largemouth and 1 fair-sized smallie, plus 2 small walleyes and one 17" eye. All are still swimming.

The pic doesn't do it justice because I'm alone and don't have a selfie stick!!

[Goshawk]

Between 11 and 2:15, I went to a different part of the BOQ to check out the bass action, but the wind got up to 25mph blowing straight down the throat of the cove so I found some sheltered water and caught 12 more, including the 18" walleye and the 2.25lb largemouth. Going to have a nap and get back at it after dinner.

[Goshawk]

One feisty little largemouth with an attitude!

[LunkerChaser888]

[Chuck Enwinde]

Nice going Lionel. Lucky walleye's, many don't get a second chance. If you get tired of reeling in fish, Black Bear Ridge is another good track in the area.

[Goshawk]

Well, Wednesday started out with a whimper this morning. Didn't get a sniff of a bite for most of the morning for the first 2.5 hours. I was starting to think the day would be a bust until I caught the first 8" perch. I then caught 7 in successive casts. I was using a plastic craw on a drop shot rig. Then another 30 minute break in the action so I figured the fish had left that point. I then found out why....exactly 30 minutes after the last perch, I landed a 32" pike (pic 1) using the same drop shot rig. 10 minutes later, landed a 38" pike (pic 2). Ok, it's time to break for lunch. Hopefully the wind lays down a bit for this afternoon's session.

[Goshawk]

38" pike

[Goshawk]

Well, the 2nd honeymoon is over and the boat is back in the driveway. Thursday was a tough day on the Bay for everyone that I spoke to, even the guides. Personally, I only had 5 small fish in 7 hours on the Bay at 4 different locations and many different depths.

In total, I managed to catch 47 fish (not including the pesky 8-11" perch that were everywhere). Mostly largemouth bass, quite a few walleyes (none of them very big) and a few smallmouth bass. I had quite a pleasant surprise catching to good sized pike no more than 10 minutes apart, both caught on soft plastic crawfish on a drop shot!! Never had any action on crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

I'd say the entire trip was a total success, even with the tough conditions yesterday. The resort was really nice, and the "man cave" I was in was quite pleasant. I will be back.