My moist, ungloved hand would have caught to the aluminum gunnel if left there. It was darned chilly out. Quickly, I let go of the boat and reached into the online. Straining to hoist an enormous walleye, I handed it shortly to Kevin Lavers, proprietor of Merland Park. He reassured me this was solely the start. Considering the walleye was over 12 kilos, I may hardly wait till the engine slipped again into gear.
After the walleye was launched, I checked my watch. It was solely 4:10 p.m., however dusk comes early in late fall and this was December. As the sky pale, the wind died and our pleasure grew. The fading mild of day triggers large walleye to feed in Picton Bay.
Trolling in darkness
As Kevin piloted the boat into the damp, freezing night time, we flat-lined minnow plugs. Kevin having chosen a clown-coloured Husky Jerk; I trolled a pearl Pro Choice crankbait.
Under the duvet of darkness, walleye are likely to cruise nearer to the floor. Large motors spook these shallow fish, so flatline trolling with an electrical motor or small outboard is an effective tactic. Planer boards additionally come into play.
Weaving alongside the contours, we tried to cowl water slowly. When we encountered weeds, we zigzagged over them repeatedly.
As we slipped alongside by the sleet that was now falling, the highlight on a close-by boat outlined two anglers, one with a rod, the opposite with a internet on the prepared. After a fast lunge, he hoisted an infinite walleye aboard.
Close to freeze-up
Arriving at Merland Park round 11 a.m. that day, I had spoken to some anglers who had been tidying up. They assured me that the large fish had been in and motion was regular, day and night time. Jeff Cross and Pat Heaney of Trenton defined how they boated an 11.8-pound magnificence that morning.
September till freeze-up in December is big-walleye time on Picton Bay, on the entrance to the well-known Bay of Quinte.
The nearer to freeze-up, the higher it’s for trophies. Walleye over 10 kilos are routine. Anglers don’t even elevate an eyebrow till scales dip under 12 kilos. Every yr just a few 15 pounders are caught.
Waiting for trophies
As we waited for one more walleye to hit, Kevin defined how he and his spouse, Jennifer, gave up metropolis life and bought Merland Park just a few years in the past. Kevin has since renovated the services, together with winterizing considered one of three new cedar cottages he constructed.
Picton Bay is dwelling to large walleye, however bass, pike, and panfish are additionally considerable, he mentioned. The bay is lengthy, but primarily featureless. Large weedbeds ring the shorelines, mixing effectively with the rocky backside. Adventurous anglers can journey nice distances by boat, however success will be discovered proper within the bay, Kevin identified. I used to be after large walleye, so I had booked in early December, however fishing is constant from opening day in spring till freeze-up. Kevin even affords ice fishing packages.
Nightfall gripped us firmly earlier than it was my flip to style motion. The battle was gradual and deliberate. The fish stayed down, however after limitless retrieving on my half, a colossal walleye got here into view.
Stubbornly, it saved its distance, however ultimately got here inside attain of Kevin’s internet. At first I used to be in shock. The fish was effectively over 30 inches and thicker than our first. We slipped it into the livewell and headed shortly to the dock to get a weigh scale. We laughed and cheered when it learn 14 1/2 kilos. Following just a few pictures, we returned the large fish to the water and known as it an evening. Two walleye over 12 kilos in just some brief hours clearly illustrated why Picton Bay is a good selection for trophy walleye hunters.
More info
Getting there:
Nestled on the shores of Picton Bay, simply 2 km east of the quaint city of Picton.
Accommodations:
13 cottages and three motel items unfold out throughout 3 acres of bushes and laneways with each cottage overlooking Picton Bay.
Cost:
Please name the workplace instantly to verify costs, get info on low season charges & save the 20% markup that’s charged on all different reserving websites. Deposit required upon reserving.
Contact:
Merland Park
12488 Loyalist Parkway,
Picton, Ontario,
Canada
K0K 2T0
(613) 476-6894
https://www.merlandpark.com/
merlandpark@sympatico.ca
Originally printed within the October-November 2003 difficulty of Ontario OUT of DOORS journal.
Luigi’s love affair with angling began when he was a lad and has by no means faltered. When not gawking at lures, he will be discovered setting goose or turkey decoys, or in a tree stand. Reach Luigi at: mail@oodmag.com