Portage lakes central Kipawa near Alwaki or Kipawa lodge, Butney passage

[Jerry "SKO FSHN"]

I am looking for portage. Lakes that I can take a kayak into primarily for pike? Can anyone help ? Catch and release.

[puckster_guy]

I'm no expert but it seems to me just pick a lake and hike to it. literally thousands to choose from. It's something i want to start doing as well. I have too much to do on my lot now. However I just bought a 12 foot Zodiak with a Honda 6hp on it. Fits the bill nicely. Probably the following summer. Lemme know how you do SKO.........Joe

[600 miles north]

     I may be wrong on this guys, but I thought some of those portage lakes were suppose to be exclusive to some of the outfitters in the area? Is that true? Or can any of us still travel to them and fish on them?

Brad

[Jerry "SKO FSHN"]

Joe and Brad,
Thanks for the prompt responses. In the central Mipawa waters I have portaged to 2 specific areas and have had tremendous success. The first is a pike lake just above. The narrows and Turtle chutes. 25 years ago I would catch a pike on every 5th cast or so catching 22 inch pike. No bigger or smaller, all 22i inch. Fun on light tackle. Today that same lake will only produce 15 fish in 3-4 hours. Paths into the lake shows that someone is removing the fish.

Another small lake is Little Grindstone lake. We use to carry a 14 ft. Jon boat and 10 HP motor and have a field day with the walleyes. Again the fish were plentiful and my records show 23-24 inch walleyes. Same conclusions that someone is over harvesting these fish. You can still catch them on an evening bite but we use to catch them ALL day long. Roads are being constructed around this lake so I am sure it is being fished heavily all year.

My probably Joe & Brad is that I am not a young man and dragging a kayak for a 1/2 mile or so is becoming an issue. I fished both of these lakes last year with success in the pike lake but the walleye lake was disappointing.  I have used the kayak for night fishing fishing 3-4 foot shorelines rocks and stumps casting stick baits with great success.

Do either of you fish the central waters? I have reviewed my maps and next trip I will attempt some different lakes. I have been told Brad that the lakes are open to anyone however you might have problems when attempting to cross over property owners land attempting to get to these unfished lakes. I personally have had an old timer pull a rifle on my father and I sayinfg that no one from the States is permitted on his property. So be careful what grounds you choose to cross over.

Jerry " Sko Fshn "

[Jay Thomas]

Hi guys:

It's my understanding that none of the outfitters on Lake Kipawa are "outfitters with exclusive rights".

Outfitter establishments with exclusive rights

An outfitter may obtain exclusive development rights over the wildlife present on a territory delineated to that effect by signing a lease with the ministre des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). That lease is valid for a nine-year period. Exclusivity means that only the outfitter’s clients may practice hunting, fishing or trapping activities in the territory delineated in the lease.

Outfitter establishments without exclusive rights

Most outfitters do not have exclusive rights over their territory. They provide services on public land or on private land. All hunters and sportfishers have the right to practise their activities on public land, even if an outfitter offers lodging services in that territory. When lodging is located on public land, the outfitter must hold a lease to operate a commercial resort from the ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles. When lodging is located on private land, that lease is not necessary.

Consequently, no fishing restrictions until you run into ZEC territory.

However, it's true you might come across an over zealous lease holder. For specific information, email the Quebec authorities at services.clientele@mern.gouv.qc.ca

Jay

[puckster_guy]

 It's amazing that some one would pull a gun with remarks like that! Anyhow there's still millions of lakes. If you don't mind joining a ZEC. Way down Maniwaki road past Red pine chutes. There's a bunch of nice medium sized lakes. A couple I wanted to look at are Goeland Lake and White pine lake. both accessible by road...no walking. Back there you don't get many people and you'll likely have the lake to your self. Bring a boat if you wish The ZEC's put launches on many lakes..............Just another way of looking at it.

[Jay Thomas]

There's a bunch of nice medium sized lakes. A couple I wanted to look at are Goeland Lake and White pine lake. both accessible by road...no walking.

Most likely, you are already aware that both of those lakes are within ZEC Restigo. When I looked up lake status on the Restigo site - see http://www.reseauzec.com/carte , I noted that Goeland Lake is closed while White Pine Lake is open. Probably new regulations regarding no ice fishing for lake trout is the reason why so many lakes in ZEC Restigo are presently closed to fishing.

Jay

[puckster_guy]

Cool thanks Jay. I live right next to Restigo So I'll prob sign up. Some really nice large(and small) lakes within an hours drive. I'd like to find a few specs too.

Nice map. ty I was looking for one that delineated the borders of the ZEC's. Do they have one that lists species per lake?

[Jerry "SKO FSHN"]

Hey Jay & Puckster_guy,

Thanks for the responses. I must agree with you that once I make the turn from North Bay onto route 63 to Kipawa, my body seems to quiver when I pass some of the bodies of water next to the highway. I never stop because of traveling and my mission is to getting to the camps. I have never given thought whether a special ZEC permit is needed for my area of fishing is the central Kipawa, Hunters lake area. I have only walked into the outlet waters of Kipawa lake in the town of Kipawa. Looks very fishy but didn't have any luck. Only fished an hour. Perhaps I need to stop and make a few casts simply if anything to answer my questioning whether there is fish in those road side waters.

[Jay Thomas]

Hi Jerry:

Take a look at the map of Quebec ZECs available at http://www.reseauzec.com/carte

Jay