Bass Fishing
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Fishing
Pickerel (or Walleye), Bass, Small Mouth Bass and Northern Pike are caught in our three lake system.
Doe Lake is the largest lake in the Almaguin Highland area of the Magnetawan River system. It actually consists of three bodies of water:
Little Doe Lake to the north connected by a narrows (Mid Doe Lake) to Big Doe Lake to the south.
Doe Lake is medium deep with a predominantly sandy bottom. The deepest area being in Little Doe Lake (max. depth 29 m/96 feet). It is ringed with wooded hills and rocky bluffs interspersed with sandy beaches and gravel shores. Many good fish producing weed beds are scattered throughout the lake. The water is unpolluted and clear. The lake was originally known as Buck Eye Lake.
| Fish Species and Fishing Seasons | |
|---|---|
| Walleye/Pickerel: 3rd Sat in May - Mar 31  |
Large Mouth Bass: Last Sat in Jun - Nov 30  |
| Small Mouth Bass: Last Sat in Jun - Nov 30  |
Northern Pike: 3rd Sat in May - Mar 31  |
| Perch: Open year round  |
Whitefish: Open year round  |
This is a prolific warm water lake that produces good catches of walleye, bass and northern pike. An interesting fact about fishing here is that it is the general rule and not the exception to catch all three species of game fish in the same location. Trophy fish are here for the successful angler. Northern pike, up to 25 pounds (11.5 kg), are taken every year. Walleyes and northerns are particularly plentiful in the spring.
“Drift fishing with minnows in the spring is the very best way of taking Doe Lake walleyes” or “slow trolling in the summer and fall with a Mepps spinner and worm or a worm harness also produces good results”.
Other good walleye baits are Paralas, Benos and Flatfish. Small mouth bass are caught mostly by still fishing the rocky shoals with live bait. Minnows and green frogs are particularly good. Northern pike are the big fish of Doe Lake. Casting and trolling the edges of the weed beds with a Dardevle, weedless spoon with a pork rind trailer, or a Mepps spinner with a worm is recommended.
A large club minnow drifted along the weed beds is also a hard bait to beat for large northerns. Here’s a very interesting fact about Doe Lake fishing. Yellow is by far the most effective lure colour. “Use any good bait at Doe Lake providing its yellow”. Fishing experience proves to be right.
Doe Lake also has an abundant supply of pan fish for the youngsters.
In the spring, rough water, snow, rain and cold seem to go hand in hand with lake trout. More and bigger trout are taken during these conditions than when the weather is good.
