Comments on: Big Black Crappie (Pomoxis Nigromaculatus) Key River Area Georgian Bay Ontario, Canada http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/ Fishing, Canoeing & Wilderness Camping On Georgian Bay Islands Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:49:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: flybenji http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-79 flybenji Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:49:44 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-79 The best thing to do is contact Camp Dore & ask them where to stay & fish for crappie as the fish move often. I have caught many of them where the Key River starts in the deep hole under the rapids in early spring & back in The Little Key River which is very shallow & also in good holes not far from Camp Dore where water levels would not make a difference as it is very deep along the cliff faces. Crappie fishing is a matter of finding them first & the only way to do that is try different depths usually with live minnows first & then with crappie jigs after you find them. The Key River is 8 miles long & there is a fabulous panifish hole that is 7 miles out on the left but it may be dry because of low water. I have camped right on it before & the fishing there for kids is fabulous just standing on the rocks & casting & the water is shallow there. Crappies eat minnows & fry mostly so try areas where you will find their food. They will be around or nearby somewhere & usually in schools. They like warm water & that is why The Key River is good for them as it is much warmer than out in Georgian Bay around islands & shoals on the big water.If they are deep you have to fish deep & visa versa. Also remember that most Canadians fish only for yellow pickerel & usually by trolling Rapalas & many locals do not fish at all including lodge owners. They grew up there & fishing is just something to do when they want fish for dinner & yellow pickerel or perch is their favorite & also for me. Personally I like yellow perch deep fried better than any other fish & it would seem the fish in Georgian Bay have the same preference including crappie. Small perch hide out in weedbeds & crappie come into them in schools to feed sooner or later. Crappie pros use deep trolling rigs & special methods to locate big crappie which is half the battle. Georgian Bay fishing is totally unpredictable from year to year or from day to day as far as that goes. If I were there I know I could put you on good crappie holes because I know where they are. Unfortunately I am not. The first of July is usually a good time to go for crappie & other panfish as you will get them in the weedbeds at this time. In early spring go up rivers & find the warm water & deep holes nearby. They will be around somewhere either in the swallow weeds or deep holes. You can buy minnows at the lodges & stores up there or you can take a minnow trap or net & catch your own. Big crappie like to lay under beaver huts, tree limbs & heavy weeds in early spring. The best place to net or trap minnows is under beaver huts. If you go out to the bay go up bays & rivers as far as you can go to the end by boat & you will find schools of big black crappie back in there but not usually out on Georgian Bay itself where the clear deep water is to cold for them. When you go past Key Harbour Lodge veer to the right & go way back in & you will find them at the ends of the bays & rivers where they come into Georgian Bay from the upper Pickerel & French River. Do not go out past Dead Island looking for good crappie fishing because the water is way to cold for them out that way. The best thing to do is contact Camp Dore & ask them where to stay & fish for crappie as the fish move often. I have caught many of them where the Key River starts in the deep hole under the rapids in early spring & back in The Little Key River which is very shallow & also in good holes not far from Camp Dore where water levels would not make a difference as it is very deep along the cliff faces. Crappie fishing is a matter of finding them first & the only way to do that is try different depths usually with live minnows first & then with crappie jigs after you find them. The Key River is 8 miles long & there is a fabulous panifish hole that is 7 miles out on the left but it may be dry because of low water. I have camped right on it before & the fishing there for kids is fabulous just standing on the rocks & casting & the water is shallow there. Crappies eat minnows & fry mostly so try areas where you will find their food. They will be around or nearby somewhere & usually in schools. They like warm water & that is why The Key River is good for them as it is much warmer than out in Georgian Bay around islands & shoals on the big water.If they are deep you have to fish deep & visa versa. Also remember that most Canadians fish only for yellow pickerel & usually by trolling Rapalas & many locals do not fish at all including lodge owners. They grew up there & fishing is just something to do when they want fish for dinner & yellow pickerel or perch is their favorite & also for me. Personally I like yellow perch deep fried better than any other fish & it would seem the fish in Georgian Bay have the same preference including crappie. Small perch hide out in weedbeds & crappie come into them in schools to feed sooner or later. Crappie pros use deep trolling rigs & special methods to locate big crappie which is half the battle. Georgian Bay fishing is totally unpredictable from year to year or from day to day as far as that goes. If I were there I know I could put you on good crappie holes because I know where they are. Unfortunately I am not. The first of July is usually a good time to go for crappie & other panfish as you will get them in the weedbeds at this time. In early spring go up rivers & find the warm water & deep holes nearby. They will be around somewhere either in the swallow weeds or deep holes. You can buy minnows at the lodges & stores up there or you can take a minnow trap or net & catch your own. Big crappie like to lay under beaver huts, tree limbs & heavy weeds in early spring. The best place to net or trap minnows is under beaver huts. If you go out to the bay go up bays & rivers as far as you can go to the end by boat & you will find schools of big black crappie back in there but not usually out on Georgian Bay itself where the clear deep water is to cold for them. When you go past Key Harbour Lodge veer to the right & go way back in & you will find them at the ends of the bays & rivers where they come into Georgian Bay from the upper Pickerel & French River. Do not go out past Dead Island looking for good crappie fishing because the water is way to cold for them out that way.

]]> By: TOMMY http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-70 TOMMY Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:06:22 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-70 WONDERING IF I BRING MY BOAT,WHERE CAN I FIND THE CRAPPIE AT THE AREA? THANKS WONDERING IF I BRING MY BOAT,WHERE CAN I FIND THE CRAPPIE AT THE AREA?
THANKS

]]> By: TOMMY http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-69 TOMMY Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:05:14 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-69 NEED INFO FOR ME TO GET TO UR PLACE.I AM FROM TORONTO THANKS NEED INFO FOR ME TO GET TO UR PLACE.I AM FROM TORONTO
THANKS

]]> By: Ed Long http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-65 Ed Long Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:00:10 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-65 Key Marine or Camp Dore right on Hwy 69, 50 miles south of Sudbury City Hall and 50 miles north of Parry Sound City Hall. Both sites have rental boats and cabins. Ed Key Marine or Camp Dore right on Hwy 69, 50 miles south of Sudbury City Hall and 50 miles north of Parry Sound City Hall. Both sites have rental boats and cabins.
Ed

]]> By: Van Joncas http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-57 Van Joncas Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:17:01 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-57 Hello all, I was just wondering what the best water access point would be for the Key River area for spring crappie fishing with the kids? Not that familiar with the area..How would I get there? Thank you Hello all, I was just wondering what the best water access point would be for the Key River area for spring crappie fishing with the kids?
Not that familiar with the area..How would I get there?
Thank you

]]> By: david http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/big-black-crappie-key-river-area-georgian-bay-ontario-canada/#comment-49 david Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:00:01 +0000 http://georgianbaybasshole176.wordpress.com/?p=109#comment-49 Thanks for the helpful info. Thanks for the helpful info.

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