15-21 Aug trip to Club Trout Lake (CTL)

[Jay Thomas]

Our group of four guys aged 80, 75, 72 and 63 departed Ottawa 14 Aug for 6 days of fishing at CTL. After an uneventful drive, we arrived at CTL around 8:15 PM. After over nighting at the Main Lodge, we enjoyed a great breakfast at 7 AM and then proceeded to load our boats with our gear for the 14 mile trip down Trout Lake. CTL staff assisted us in making the portage to Lac Winawiash where we spent the next 6 days fishing walleye and lake trout.

Sat and Sun were quite hot and humid (humidex readings were in the mid-eighties). These hot temperatures negatively impacted the walleye bite. When we did experience a bite, whether with crawlers or leeches, it was extremely light. Adding a stinger hook to my crawler harness improved my catching success. Temperatures moderated on Mon and Tues and the bite improved somewhat. Probably what surprised us the most was that for the most part, we marked and caught walleye in 15 to 19 FOW (surface water temp was 73 degrees F). Some thunder drove us off the water for a while on Wed while a 6 hour thunder storm had us hovering in our cabin for most of the day on Thurs. Still, we managed two scrumptious walleye meals during the week and brought home some walleye to share with family members.

After departing our cabin Friday morning 21 Aug at 9:30, we arrived at the Auberge Canadienne in Témiscaming about 3:30 PM. After a wonderful shower, I had the great pleasure of visiting with Oarin again and his new fishing partner Jim for a couple of hours (they were on the way to TBL the next morning). I hope they have a great trip.

Sorry for no pictures in this trip report â€" just never took my camera out of my dry bag the whole week. Going to rest up for a few weeks and then head to Lac Kikwissi for a week of walleye fishing (9-16 Sep).

Jay

[rambler]

Thanks for the report Jay. I love that you have to "rest up" for your next walleye trip. You are the envy of the board!

[Nancy]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, Jay. And yes Rambler is right you are the envy of the board, getting ready for another trip.

[CaptainCrappie]

"Admiral"  Jay is living proof that rank does have it's privileges. 

C.C.

[RHYBAK]

Living the Dream

Gotta love it.
Thanks for sharing Jay.
Good luck on trip number two

[600 miles north]

Glad to hear you had a safe trip and get to turn around and go again here in a week, that's what we all hope to be able to do someday here on this board! Thanks for sharing your trip with us Jay, next time take your camera out and take a few snaps! 

Cheers, and safe travels!
Brad

[Balsams]

Jay,
I know you have been to coucoushee before, it's my heaven on earth. Which cabin? I like the island camp on the main lake best, probably a few empty bottles of mine in the rafters from past years. If I may suggest a few spots. Firstly, the dock is a great spot to enjoy a cold drink on a warm day taking in the sights and sounds and solitude. And to the fishing spots. The bay through the narrows immediately east of that cabin - try just at the mouth of that narrows...out to the right before you enter see if you can find the rock shoal about 70 yrs offshore. In that bay is phenomenal early in the year. In and around the cluster of islands in the center of the lake...stick to the east side of the islands, the north end of the southern one, a rock flat extends out to the north and drops sharply on the east side. First island to the west of the island cabin on the main lake - find the sharp drop out off the west side of it that runs north/south...this is a great laker troll. Try dipsy's or portable downrigger. Serge will steer you right, great guy. Enjoy.

[Jay Thomas]

Jay,
I know you have been to coucoushee before, it's my heaven on earth. Which cabin? I like the island camp on the main lake best, probably a few empty bottles of mine in the rafters from past years. If I may suggest a few spots. Firstly, the dock is a great spot to enjoy a cold drink on a warm day taking in the sights and sounds and solitude. And to the fishing spots. The bay through the narrows immediately east of that cabin - try just at the mouth of that narrows...out to the right before you enter see if you can find the rock shoal about 70 yrs offshore. In that bay is phenomenal early in the year. In and around the cluster of islands in the center of the lake...stick to the east side of the islands, the north end of the southern one, a rock flat extends out to the north and drops sharply on the east side. First island to the west of the island cabin on the main lake - find the sharp drop out off the west side of it that runs north/south...this is a great laker troll. Try dipsy's or portable downrigger. Serge will steer you right, great guy. Enjoy.

Hi Balsams,

Yes, I fished Camp Coucoushee 22-29 Sep 2012. The first half of that week was cold, wet and windy and the second half only showed minor weather improvements. We stayed in outpost cabin S1, the first cabin you come to (east side of lake) as you motor towards the south end of Kikwissi. Outpost cabin S1 is not located on an island whereas outpost cabins S2 and S3 are both located on islands. S2 is located on an island near Baie Lacasse while outpost cabin S3 is located on an island near the entrance into Little Kikwissi. I can not remember seeing any other cabin on an island.

Luckily, we're into Kikwissi early enough this year to do some laker fishing. Two of our guys will probably spend at least 1/2 of their time fishing lakers the first 5 days (9-13 Sep) we're in there. I'll be concentrating on finding the walleye.

Thanks for your recommendations regarding locations and methods. We'll keep changing up until we find out what works. I'll post a report after we return. We're all looking forward to seeing Serge again. As you mentioned - he's a great guy.

Jay