Butney Narrows Fishing

[Mattie]

Hello All,

Our group will be fishing and staying at a different part of the lake this year on lake grindstone and will be staying at the Miwapanne Outpost cabin out there in early June.

I have been looking over maps and whatnot on my downtime at work and remember reading over the years about the "Butney Narrows" and people fishing that area in the past. I also believe my uncle, (Tbone) on the forum has told me that it is suppose to be good fishing through those narrows. I searched online and did read that some people have had good days out there mainly for walleye.

The problem is most of the reports and comments about it are dated many years back from what is seems (some as old as 10 years ago).

I am just wondering if anyone has fished those narrows or the surrounding areas the past few years and would like to know your experiences.  (walleye, pike lake trout)? I am thinking about trying to troll though them during the afternoon when we are not jigging or casting.

Thanks in advance and any info would be greatly appreciated.

38 days cant come soon enough... i'm already geeked 


one other thing. How should I fish for lake trout and in what depths this early in the year? I'd really like to get my first one this year!!

[limacharley]

dated trip reports are still valid in my opinion-fish were there once and they'll be there again

I passed through Butney last year during opening weekend and there were a lot of boats jigging in the narrows in the evening but I believe trolling with crankbaits will also work. The narrows are approximately 1200-1500 yards long and anywhere from 20-40 deep so you have a lot of area to cover. Watch for floating debris. As the water rises in the spring, it lifts dried up logs from shore and they tend to gather in some spots. Edwards narrows and Butney Narrows are notorious for that.

There was a large floating mass in front of Kipawa Lodge last year and the next day it was just about to float through Butney. That stuff is dangerous if you're travelling at dusk.

I did notice quite a few boats (10+) jigging on the north shoreline just as you leave the narrows. On the Grindstone end. Just telling you what I saw. I did not fish there.

As for Lakers-they will still be high in early June.

[Mattie]

Hi,

Thank you for letting me know what you saw out there. I really appreciate it. Especially about the debris. Completely new area to me.

Funny you say boats fishing the north shore outside of the narrows in grindstone... That is exactly what some of those reports said they did or saw.

If you don't mind.... what do you mean by lake trout will still be "high" in early june. As in shallow or towards the surface?

Thanks!

[limacharley]

high meaning you won't need any downriggers so they'll be in the first 20 feet of water.

I usually find them near shore in the morning and evening looking for bait fish. We cast towards shore with little Cleos, Mepps Spinners and William Wobblers.

good luck, I'm in a blue and grey 20' Lund with an inboard. I may see you out that way.

[puckster_guy]

 That's what I love about Kipawa. Such a huge lake. I spent 4 years figuring out The east side of Maclauglin lake and Furguson bay. I haven't barely touched the west side of the lake, let alone going into grindstone lake. I find fish everywhere!! What an amazing and magical lake!

[Mhurban]

My group and I have paid dearly to learn this area and lake hunter.  There are fish (walleye and Lakers) everywhere and are biting, but they are always on the move.  The bite does not shutdown, the fish have moved.  Depth is critical as well as presentation. We are jiggers with a technic for covering ground.  Fishing is hunting and covering ground is critical.  We stay at kipawa Lodge which is perfectly located (early spring and early August).  Our group of four will consistently catch well over 500 walleye and 40 lake trout for the week.  My son has gotten so bad that he has a counter so he can say he is the best.  When my son first went to the Kip he had a difficult time getting the technic down.  Once he learned he caught on fire.  He now builds rods for our group specifically for catching the Eye.  At first (2002) we did poorly until we began to learn the lake and the fish habits.  We found the time of year does not matter, time of day and depth rule.  We only keep eaters (around 16"), everything else larger goes back.  We catch many 25" - 30" walleye which brings a great pleasure to all of us placing them back into the lake.  We always have battles which fish is bigger based on photos.  Never get frustrated with the Kip, the fish are there.  Good Luck! We will be on the Kip starting Saturday.  Everyone be safe on the Kip, she is nature.                   

[Mattie]

Awesome!  Yep, just new area of the lake for us. (We usually stay Alwaki area and their outpost on lac Audion with plenty of success) We mainly jig also. Looking forward to a great trip out there and to explore a new area. Would love to catch a 25"-30" monster to get a picture with!


15 Days....

[Jay Thomas]

Our group of four will consistently catch well over 500 walleye and 40 lake trout for the week.  We found the time of year does not matter, time of day and depth rule.                 

While our group has enjoyed many weeks fishing Lake Kipawa, as a group  we have never managed to boat 500 walleyes in a week. Obviously there's something your group understands better than our group. You posted that time of day and depth rule - could you elaborate please.

Have a great trip.

Jay

[puckster_guy]

 Ya I'll second that. I've had many 60+ fish days, but they're the exception rather then the rule.

[Canuckbass]

Butneys had lots of fish opening weekend, a lot of smaller walleye. Saw a 10lb caught, nice fish.
Hunters Narrows I didn't get the quantity but the quality was way better. Caught about 20. 3/8oz jig in the current worked with a Power Minnow.

[Fort Wisers]

I was rooting through the file server the other day looking at some old pictures.
Came across this one and felt it was fitting of being being posted on this thread (sorry the quality is less than stellar):



You know whats funny, even though they say a picture is worth a thousand words,
no picture can capture the essence of actually being at Kipawa.