Favorite Fishing Getaway: Lady Evelyn Lake

Few things in life spark this much excitement in me. This is up there with watching the Steelers in the Superbowl, deep sea fishing trips in Central America and the day my dad and I bought our first fishing boat. In one week's time my father, my brother and myself will be making the long haul up to Lady Evelyn lake, near Haileybury in Northern Ontario, for our annual "Rochon Boys", walleye fishing trip.

The 6-hour drive from the Nation's Capital, is well worth it, with beautiful Canadian shield scenery the whole way. The lake has no road access and is only accessible by having your boat portaged up and around the Mattawapika dam. This protects the lake from over-fishing and makes it as close to a "fly-in lake", as you'll get without the rickety plane ride in.

We will be staying at Ellen Island Camp, in one of their five fully-equipped, beautiful cabins.

This year we will be bringing up our own boat, but they do provide great 16' Aluminum boats with 20 HP Yamaha's.

The fishing is spectacular, especially this time of year when the walleye are still hanging around shallower water. We like to troll Rapala Original Floaters, in fire tiger or perch patterns, in about 4-8 feet of water. Trolling is a great method to cover a lot of water when fishing large lakes like Lady Evelyn. When we get a fish on, we often stop and anchor slightly deeper out from where the fish was caught then cast and retrieve into shore .

Nice, dark-colored Northern Ontario walleye caught trolling Rapala Original Floater

If your boat is equipped for it, trolling in the late evening, when the sun drops just below the horizon, can be particularly productive. Walleye will feed well into the night so why not take advantage of this prime fishing time.

a couple of walleye night- trolling

If  trolling plugs and crankbaits isn't your cup of tea, Ellen Island camp has an always available supply of live minnows and worms to entice those hungry trophy walleye`s hanging out at the bottom of the lake. Jigging golden shiners in about 10-15 feet of water, hooked just below the dorsal fin, seems to produce very well this time of year. Minimal action can be the key, just slight twitches with your minnow only a few inches off the bottom really gets them biting.

jigging shiner`s will help fill your stringer

Great walleye fishing is just one of the many amazing qualities Lady Evelyn lake has to offer. The smallmouth bass and northern pike are also something to write home about.

My brother with a Lady Evelyn smallmouth.

Trophy Northern Pike at Lady Evelyn Lake.

As well as beautiful scenery, crisp and clean water to swim in, waterfalls and wildlife, this gem of northern Ontario is a place that all anglers should visit at least once in their lives, or like me and my family, once a year.

Fondest Memories: Fishing with my Dad in Northern Ontario

Here are some links to help you and your family plan your own memorable trip to Lady Evelyn lake.

http://www.ellenislandcamp.com/

http://www.ladyevelynlake.net/