Was on the water and fishing by 7:30. Dan ( Grampa) brought his boat out as well and we stayed in touch with each other all day.
We headed East out of the harbour working our way towards the mouth of the Pretty river, running in and out in 20-40fow. Water clarity is very high and you can see the bottom in 40fow.
I tried flutter spoons and Rapala type lures, running 10-20ft down and the lure 150ft behind the ball. No action. With the water clarity what it is, I think you need to work those shallow depths at first light. By the time we were there, any fish had gone back deep.
Headed out to 100fow and didn't mark very much. Tried various lures and body baits, with the ball about half way to bottom and the lure 60-80ft behind he ball. Number of boats in the 100ft area, but didn't see anyone get fish. Ran back shallow to an area of reefs and tried fishing the troughs between the reefs, using flutter spoons and body baits. This was my theory for browns, based on a recent magazine article in Great lakes Angler Magazine. Didn't produce anything and I think it is due to the very clear water .
Picked up and ran back out to 100fow. Put my thinking cap on and thought, OK, I'm not marking much and neither was Dan, so if there are fish around they are high in the water column. Back to a flutter spoon, sliver/green, ball down 10ft and lure 150ft back of ball. No action, but did start to mark a large concentration of bait that went from 10fow to 100fow. No big fish marks around however.
I've had a lot of success on Simcoe and GB with Luhr Jensen Shoehorn spoons. I have quite few of them in various colours and sizes. Off came the flutter spoon and on went a plain silver/pebble finish Shoehorn. This time down 20ft and lure 150ft back of the ball. It wasn't in the water 60 seconds and bang, 2.5lb Rainbow. I worked that 100-115fow area of bait with the shoehorn for another 90 minutes, but that was it. Quit at 1:30.
Beautiful day to be out, sunny, no wind and lake like glass.
Oh yes, Dan got skunked!
If you go to Collingwood, they are only allowing 2 boats at a time at the ramp instead of the usual 4. Also no Porta Potties. There is a sign on the access road for you to wait at and be waved into the ramp area. Parking area is barricaded off except for the ramp entrance and an exit at the other end of the parking area. If you get there early you miss the "ramp control attendant." You can still park as in the past, but flow into the area is controlled to ensure social distancing.
Here is a pic. of the fish and the spoon.
SDC
Collingwood Report- Friday, May 22, 1 for 1
