BlueEye

Hi EsoxAC3, I've been going up to the islands with the family every year for the last 30+ years now. After the family sold our cottage up there, we usually stay and fish in Alex Bay or Clayton. Many of those years we spent pike/bass fishing or off the docks with worms. These days I try to carry on that family tradition with my own as I keep my boat up in Clayton and will fish from there up to A-Bay. In my own opinion and experiences (and I am by no means an expert so please take all my thoughts with a grain of salt), there is a population of muskies that never leaves the river and there is a greater population that migrates out to the big pond and back in again in the fall. It's not to say you can't catch them in July/Aug but it is certainly more difficult. If you haven't ever fished up there before, I'd highly recommend hiring a guide first time out like Capt. Bob Walters / Capt. Darryl of Water Wolf Charters (who both gave great presentations at Muskies Inc. meeting last year). This past weekend I had the family up there and we had a chance to visit the "Musky Hall of Fame" museum up in Clayton. It's a pretty cool exhibit if you have ever never been and fun for the family. Admission is free and I make a little donation each time I visit. My daughter gets really excited to see the replica mounts Saturday we were out on the water watching the boat races they had going on - boy were those boats loud! After that, I was ready to for some quiet time and momma got to do some worm fishing while daddy played with baby for a bit. After we went through our allotment of worms for the day, mommy got to play with baby and daddy got to try a couple casts. I only had about an hour to fish that day but it wasn't long before I felt that unmistakable tug on the end of your line that feels like you snagged bottom. I knew what it was right away, just didn't know how big till it came fully air born out of water a couple times. As mommy held baby at front of the boat, Daddy tried to figure out how to net fish one-handed. Lucky for me I dipped net in the water and fish swam herself into it - stroke of luck there. After a quick picture, we released her back and she swam right away strong. Water temp was 68 degrees. She was even kind enough to leave one of her teeth in my solid oak wood lure... I should donate this lure to the musky museum with the tooth in it still. So EsoxAC3, to sum up my answer to your question, I'd say that summer time musky fishing up in the Islands will greatly test your patience but reward your determination, with an emphasis on greatly testing your patience. To go days or weeks without seeing anything in the summer is normal. I got lucky. If you are looking for more "action", then I would try pike or bass fishing up there. We got some nice pike last weekend we were up there and you can catch them consistently every time out. Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't give a special thank you to my wife for allowing me to keep my family traditions alive and for playing along so willingly even though I know she would probably much rather be out on a wine tour or shopping at the mall. Good luck to each of you this year! Cheers, Chad

Haha - Ok I think we have had enough entertainment here.

Great job Brent! Good looking fish there. Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

Nice fish EsoxAC!! Thanks for sharing. Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

Bammmm! Nice fish! Really dark colorings. Congrats!

That is pretty cool - thanks for sharing.

Adam- monster fish!! Congrats bud! A tiger that size is pretty rare on any lake. Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

My favorite father picture of my dad with me and my brother. Thanks for always having time to take me fishing pa! Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

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Happy Father's Day LOU! Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

Thanks everyone for the kind words!!! It was fun! Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app

Haha Trevor!! I wish I had your prototype. My buddy I was fishing with got it! We tried for a while during the tournament and our whole boat was pretty impressed with it. Next time I'll have you just mail me one instead of an "on the water" exchange Sent from Lake Ontario United mobile app