Returning to the lake for the first time in 9 years

[MikeFromTheSouth]

Good afternoon everyone!  I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all the information that you provide in your various forums. 

I used to go to Lake Kipawa every year at least once but usually twice on opening weekend and then later in August/September for nearly 20 years.  The last week of this May will be the first time I have been back in 9 years tough.  I have never tried anything other than trolling Rapala, Yo Zuri, Hot n Tots floating type lures in the spring.  I am one of those like I see in several of these posts bring a suitcase sized tackle box and then only use 3-5 lures anyway.. You never know is what the hot lure is going be I always tell myself.  I pretty much only use silver/Black and gold/black metallic lures and occasionally a dark purple (or blue) top and silver side lure.  I am amazed that it seemed every few years the hot lure was different but the classics always still worked.  I remember way back in spring of 2000 I only used a Rattling Rapala Perch pattern for a whole trip casting at the banks and eventually got so tired catching pike that I switched to a lure that was not producing so much as my arms were getting tired.  Anyone have a new hot lure already for this spring they are going to try?  I will post what I end up doing and how the catch was after the trip also.

My parents still go to Lake Kipawa every year as they have done with only a few interruptions for probably 50years so they have given me a lot of knowledge of places and insights to go.  I am excited to hopefully have another generation of the family heading to the lake area now that my son is 1 year old and in a few years will be able to come along comfortably.  By the way we are from South Florida, US so its a commitment to go.

My grandfather always used to say if we put as much effort into fishing the lakes closer to home we would do just as well but lake Kipawa has always been so much more than the fishing... It is the atmosphere the pleasantry of everyone you meet on or around the lake, the wildlife that is always plentiful and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the fact that of all the trips I have gone in the springtime I have only twice out of 30+ trips encountered another human being not part of our camping/fishing group. Late summer trips we have encountered on average 1-2 boats per day.

Now I know I peaked some curiosity but those of you that know the lake already know where we go to not encounter anyone else opening weekend or hopefully in this case a week later... I am wondering if it is the same as it used to be after 9years.  My parents have not been to this area in 3 years but said it had not changed at least from what you can see from the water.

As you can tell the excitement is real!!

[crackers42]

mike,

All of us share your excitement and can promise no changes only better and better very year.  In terms of fishing in the spring I would recommend jigging a weighted jig head and leech until start of second week of June then troll a work harness in 5-12 feet of water until first week in July.  This year is late so you may find a bit slower presentation in the spring.  Good luck with the return trip and let us know how you make out

[Fort Wisers]

Welcome back @MikeFromTheSouth and yes you're correct, going north to fish (kipawa in particular) is about a lot more than just the number of fish caught.
have a great season

[Oarin]

Mike, I know the Taggarts end of the lake, but little else. Where are you heading to?

[MikeFromTheSouth]

Very true @Fort Wisers... Waking up to a beaver smacking its tail on the water or being serenaded to sleep by loons is not something that can be done in south Florida and besides our mosquitos are far worse if your in a remote area of Florida fishing...  I have seen many a moose or bear on Maniwaki Road.  and watching a moose swim across a narrow portion of the lake is also pretty cool!  It is one of those do you tell everyone you know about how great the place is or do you keep it a secret?  I for one encourage people to go and do things in nature but you better be respectful of nature in the process and clean up after yourself!

I have on my list of things to do sometime a canoe/kayak trip down the river from way up river somewhere in the Zec to the government dock in town but that has been tough to convince family to try.

@crackers42... I think this year for the first time I will get some leeches when I pick up the fishing license... It may turn what is already a pretty exciting trip.  Now typically 50/50 casting and trolling is what we do but this could add a whole new dimension to the fishing.  I will definitely let you all know how things work out.

When I have stayed at a fish camp in the past our group is the only one out of everyone that I spoke to that were not using worms/leeches.  They catch a lot when they find a hole but also have to work through so many small fish it seems.  Trolling and casting definitely don't catch as many fish but also seems like the catch is on average is a little bigger.  Could just be a random coincidence I had on my trips as I don't do it on a regular basis.  I rarely catch anything under 18" and have caught trout, pike, walleye and a (white silvery fish once - never looked it up?) all on the same lure trolling in a single stretch before.  I like the trolling because you cover a lot of ground and the scenery is always changing.

I think I read a post last year that someone on this forum has the camp next to red pine chute?  I would love to know how the water is flowing under the bridge?  I saw it was posted to be 4ft elevation difference but honestly I don't know if that is normal or not for this time of the year.  I have been through many times in the late summer where there is almost no current but usually in the spring it is pretty intense from the melt.

@Oarin we will be heading to the beginning near Red Pine chute.  I have never fished in the main lake areas I will say and have still never even ventured beyond the most direct route from government dock to say the Kipawa Lodge area.  I have fished every shore from Turtle Chute (I think its called that - and its well worth going up to Turtle lake just to come down it) on the main part of the lake to Ragged chute to Hunter's Point and have even drawn a few of my own hand maps of where fishing has been good and what I caught.  The rest of the lake is but yet a mystery to me.  Which is amazing to say since I have been there so many times.

Regards

[Oarin]

Thanks Mike. I think Puckster Guy and Limacharley are familiar with that area. Good luck and I look forward to your report. 66 more days!!

[crackers42]

mike,

I share some information with you regarding that area and specific spots to fish send me a message

[MikeFromTheSouth]

We are also Catch and Release fishermen.. so the big one always gets away!  ...and so does everything else  

[puckster_guy]

last week...

[SgtCrabby]

Welcome back @MikeFromTheSouth and yes you're correct, going north to fish (kipawa in particular) is about a lot more than just the number of fish caught.
have a great season

Said perfectly.
And us southern boys do not have walleye, pike, etc in our waters.  We have LM bass and maybe a toothy reptile. 

[MikeFromTheSouth]

Thanks for the nice pictures!  it already makes me want to be back as that is pretty much the first glimpse of the water we get other than a few spots through the trees to kick off the fishing trip!  I can easily say that water is higher around the bridge than it has been in any of the spring trips I can recall for me.  They were taken two weeks before I would be there so probably about right. 

@SgtCrabby Catching a 15-30lb alligator gar on light lines is pretty fun.. also a weird long nibble until they actually bite and with so much tree debris in the Florida back rivers it adds to the fun.  It is actually the only freshwater fish I have personally caught ever that has taken line against the drag.  Even a 40+" Pike I caught in Canada a long time ago just pretty much came right in.  I use light rods heaviest line being 10-12lb fresh and saltwater unless I am specifically fishing for saltwater game fish then of course much heavier line.  I have never really been successful catching Large Mouth Bass in Florida without going with a guide.  I stick to Saltwater fishing as much as possible now in Florida.

[SgtCrabby]

@MikeFromTheSouth , yes, gator-gar are good fighters. I try to avoid them when I can; to toothy and I don't eat them.  But very fun to fight.  Supposively, one of the best places to catch them is a river near me.
LM bass aren't to hard to catch, at least the dinky ones.

I have some family down in FL, on the Atlantic side.  They do salwater first and fresh when the ocean is rough.

Enjoy your return to Kip.

[MikeFromTheSouth]

@puckster_guy  I am wheels up tomorrow from south Florida heading to Kipawa... Is the water still blasting through Red Pine like the previous pictures or is it starting to ease a bit?

[crackers42]

Do not attempt doing through red pine right now give it a few weeks water up to us too high

[MikeFromTheSouth]

We take a few canoes along with us to carry around.  It is more enjoyable when the river is under 2ft higher than the lake.  Years ago when we were there opening season week the elevation difference was probably more like 1.5-2ft max and it was a nice paddle on the river but if its up 4ft or more like earlier posts the current maybe a little annoying for the paddle upstream.  Maybe that does not matter once well up steam from Red Pine anyway as it opens up a bit.