ottawa foodies

Anyone here into catching their own food in the wild?

I just got my fishing license sticker for this year and am getting excited to get out there with my boys (7 and 9). We like to fish just below the dam in Packenham. Everything but bass opens up this weekend IIRC, but I have to double check.

Anyone have any spots they like to share?

Actually Zym, Walleye and Pike open the 3rd Saturday in May, which is technically next weekend.

On the rare occasion I get to get out, we actually fish in Brittania. There are quite a few hammer handles just west of the rapids. But this requires a boat (which my friend has). We also fish White Lake a couple times a year.

I don't know any good spots to fish from shore, but was hoping to take my little ones out this year. What are you fishing with/for in Packenham?

Cheers,
James

It differs by zone. Ottawa River is Zone 12 and the rest of the surrounding area is Zone 18 (IIRC), and the two opening dates differ by a week. Mississippi River is open this week. White Lake is far enough west to be another zone - I forget which one.

Packenham - bass right off the shore.

It differs by zone. Ottawa River is Zone 12 and the rest of the surrounding area is Zone 18 (IIRC), and the two opening dates differ by a week. Mississippi River is open this week. White Lake is far enough west to be another zone - I forget which one.

Packenham - bass right off the shore.

My bad, zone 18 is 2nd Saturday in May. I mostly fish in zones 12 and 15 (immediately west of Packenham).

Madawaska Highlands trout Yum. Speckles, rainbows, lake trout. Get the Pembroke MNR stocking list saddle up your 4x4 you're set. Fresh today filet of Calabogie Trout with just-picked raspberry citrus chutney on a bed of Northern Wild Rice with fried fiddleheads, ultimate 0 mile camping meal. Also Centennial Lake for pickerel and some pretty awesome boat access campsites.

Zym - yes, catching food is most excellent! I haven't had a tag or licence in a while though, and tended to do most of that in the Kingston area or up in NW Ontario. That said, there are excellent little spots in Galetta>Packenham>White Lake.

Edit: Thanks for reminding me, I should probably renew my outdoors card, it's been THAT long!

Wild turkey is open for another couple of weeks.

Dandelion greens in my backyard - that counts, right?

Anyone else doing any fishing?

I just noticed Trout open today in Zone 12 but after double checking Zone 18 I realized Trout season is all year round in Zone 18!

I got a small inheritance from my aunt and am taking the boys out this evening to buy some new fishing gear. yay!

p.s. anyone want to share some good spots in Zones 12, 15 and 18?

I'll share mine in a bit ... I have a google map that I'll fish out

for those looking to fish from shore, the mouth of the madawaska as it enters the ottawa river in arnprior is great for pickerel and bass - by boat, the madawaska above the dam is excellent for pickerel, small mouth bass, and musky, white lake has some of the best large mouth bass fishing in the area.

Zym, I fish mostly Brittania (Qc side), Fitzroy, and Mississippi Lake, but from a kayak. You'd love it. For (equally good from land) advice, you can check out yakfisher.net. I assume you've also seen fishhawk.net...

I sometimes see a kayak fisher out below the Sammy C bridge where I fish at Remic Rapids. Looks like something I could get into

If you ever wanted to give it a try, rentals are available at Jenda (a bit out of the way, but right on the Rideau so you can get on the water quickly). He has all of the real fishing kayaks (not Pelicans) and the rates are really reasonable.

Just bagged my first turkey of the year,starting the reason late been too busy with work. I just finished breasting it out looking forward to smoking it this weekend. Anyone else get lucky yet. We've had quite a few big flocks ,15 - 20 birds all over our property for the last few months. They seem to be from four separate groups from the way I've patterned them.
Cheers

Ontario Family Fishing Week from July 7 to 15 - no license required

www.ontariofamilyfishing.com/

I know this is a few days late but I hope all my fellow hunters put in for the doe tag lottery the cutoff date was July 3rd. Double check the new licencing rules this year they are a bit confusing. Only the MNR would change a system that worked great.

Wow what a great event Saturday at White Fish Lake in Algonquin Park to kick of family fishing weekend! We are definitely going to make this an annual event for the family. There was a fishing derby Saturday from 9 til noon and rangers were taking families out in their boats - I got out for a good 45 minutes with my 2 older boys. Lots of events going on for the family. Big fish fry that was free.

A little snippet from the Family Fishing events at the Gonk Saturday. Like I said we enjoyed this so much we are going back every year. We got lucky this year and just stumbled upon it by accident

About 3 weeks ago a friend told me about the North Frontenac Parklands ( www.northfrontenacparklands.com ) which I'd never heard about before. They bill themselves as Ontario's best back country experience, and after yesterday I can believe it!

Since I heard about it I'd been aching to get there, and yesterday I finally made the trek with my 8 and 10 year old boys, a friend, and his 8 and 12 year old boys. Wow, what a day! It is about 2 hours each way from downtown Ottawa but we still got 4 hours of fishing in, and caught quite a few rock bass and smallmouth.

Definitely going back here sometime soon and staying the weekend. Been visiting provincial parks this summer and while I do enjoy my time there, it is a very 'groomed' experience and not really what I would call 'wilderness'. Yesterday was definitely wilderness!

Here is where we were including the route to get there. Was really easy to find except for the one right turn we originally missed on South Levant Rd. Just stay on highway 16 and you are good.

goo.gl/maps/QqOAa

I was tempted to put this one under the dress code one ... but here it is instead :-)

Car broke down in Hartland NB and we are on our way to a restaurant "down town" near the river. I'm going to take my fishing rod to the restaurant so my son can do a bit of fishing after we eat.

Nice zym I've fished there before , pretty decent fishing. You want to try some great wilderness try the achray area up in Algonquin ,great paddle in ad hike in sites 2 hrs from town. On a different note game tags showed up this week , I pulled a cow moose tag and a doe tag this year. Duck season opens in four weeks and NFL in three , life is good.

Got Achray booked middle of September actually - really looking forward to it.

Know of any outfitters that rent canoes up there? I know Opeongo rents them down on the highway 60 strip - not sure about up there. Will have to contact them I guess

Hey zym, you can rent canoes right at the camp office at achray. We were there for four days last week try to get sites 36 or 37 , big flat and secluded better than the others. I think the rental rate is about 45 bucks a day. Have fun.

Awesome. I got site 31 which is right on the water but still looks pretty secluded.

Look for mushrooms while you're out there, chanterelles should be in full swing.

Coincidentally earlier today I saw a FB post from a friend about fake chanterelles which grow next to the real ones and are poisonous. I think I'll leave it to the experienced people. But I know a few spots on the way to Cape Breton to stop to buy freshly picked stuff!

Yup, I found a bunch of those out in the forest the other day. Some people can eat them, others, not so much... severe gastric upset. Like I said, look for them, don't eat them unless you are absolutely certain they are edible!

Any other duck or goose hunters out there? Season coming up soon and I'm always looking for new hotspots and stories. Big auction at hands auction hall tomorrow ( Wednesday) at four. Lots of decoys , gear and shotguns. I go every year and there are always some great deals.

"It's the most wonderful time of the year" gday folks tomorrow is duck and goose opener anyone else heading out? The mallards aren't around yet and I've only caught a few flocks of geese but I have been watching a very healthy population of wood ducks. With any luck there will be a few breasts for breakfast on Sunday. Good luck and happy hunting.

SG I expect another deer this fall! OK expect is a strong word ;)

If I did not have to get up early to hunt with you on a Sunday I would come along for the ride....

While I dearly love my newborn son, it looks like he will force me to miss ducks and geese this year. Am building the case with my wife to get a day off for the deer opener.

Saturday night was awesome. Early geese came in hard and we all limited out. A couple more hunts like this and I will start making some sausage.
Cheers

Just got back from moose camp. Moose 1 us 0 , damn I was looking forward to a nice roast. Anyone else get lucky this year? Seemed to be a lot around just wouldn't show up for us.

Man I was hoping you would have been successful. Sorry! Moose is much tastier than venison.....

BTW there was a 4 point buck in the back yard the other day :)

I'm with you on the moose. I'm not a huge venison fan - its ok. But Moose, now there is a roast you can dig into. The deer are pretty much pets here. I'm cleaning the yard and they walk 10 feet away. Down the road they'd be supper. Smart deer. I guess the moose are smart too - at least smarter than smoker guy :)

Here's one way to catch a deer ...

Anyone know of a place around Ottawa that rents ice fishing huts but the day or even partial day?

Some place where you can actually eat the fish - I know about Petrie Island but damned if I'd eat anything coming out of there.

I found a couple of places in Calabogie - Calabogie Lodge and Calabogie Pearl. Though I'm not sure yet whether they only make those available to people paying to stay there (I might actually consider a family weekend at Calabogie Lodge ...)

Anything else?

EDIT: I stand corrected - Calabogie Pearl does not rent huts - you'd have to provide your own and drill your own holes.

I don't do hardwater fishing... brrr.. but, you could call Baitcasters. There may be something on Mississippi Lake, but, if not, Baitcasters would have the skinny on the western watershed.