Kipawa v. Lac Seul

[Doug_mi]

Wondering if any of the regular Kipawa fans have ever been to Lac Seul in Ontario?  I have been fishing Kipawa for 45 years and have always found that the walleye numbers and size can only be described as "ok".  Jerry at 3 seasons used to say that he told people if they were coming to Kipawa just for the fishing to go someplace else.  Sounds right to me.  Well now I'm thinking about going somewhere just for the fishing and it sounds like Lac Seul might be the ticket as far as numbers and size.  Any thoughts?

[T-Bone]

I've heard Lac Seul is good too; long way to go from where I live. Big lake though...getting a good guide would likely be prudent. So many lakes in that area that are supposed to be really good. I think "really good" starts about 150-250 north of there in the research I've done. Just east of lac seul is Bolton Lake, then there's Gunisao, Knee Lake just north of those. I've read almost anything in the English River system is good or anywhere in that general area.

[Jay Thomas]

Hello Doug,

Welcome to the board. Here’s my 2 cents.

I decided to choose two starting points at random just to do some rough calculations.

Ear Falls, Ontario (Lac Seul) from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is 737 miles and 13 hours
Kipawa, Quebec from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is 323 miles and 6 hours

Ear Falls, Ontario from Columbus, Ohio is 1205 miles and 20 hours
Kipawa, Quebec from Columbus, Ohio is 685 miles and 11 hours

Conclusion: Lac Seul requires twice the driving time. I don’t know about you but at 72 years young, I don’t drive 700 miles in a day anymore.

As for bigger fish in Lac Seul, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to learn there are more large walleye in Lac Seul even though I know there are still 10 pound walleye swimming in Lake Kipawa.

The walleye catch and possession limits for Lac Seul allow 4 walleye per licence and only one walleye can be over 18 inches in length. The other big walleye should be released. Compare that to the walleye catch and possession limits for Lake Kipawa (6 walleye and no restrictions other than a minimum length limit). However, Wayne recently informed the board that there will be a protective walleye slot limit implemented for 2016 on Lake Kipawa (harvest limited to walleyes between 14.6 inches and 20.8 inches and all others are released). It’s about time!!!!

I bolded should in the above paragraph because, unfortunately, not all fishermen are ethical. Here’s a for instance. The relatively new cleaning method to transport walleye in Quebec (the portfolio method which requires that the pectoral fin be attached to the fillet) was introduced to prohibit fishermen from transporting big walleye (bigger than 20.8 inches) home. Apparently, some fishermen, when they wanted to take home a bigger walleye fillet, would simply measure the required distance from the tail (to meet older harvest guidelines) and then throw out the rest of the walleye.

IMHO, there’s much more to a satisfactory fishing trip than number of walleye caught. I would include good fishing buddies, great accommodations, great equipment (boats and motors), comfortable driving distances, scenic beauty and a good outfitter. I moved to Ottawa, Ontario for work in 1966 and the only times I fished in Ontario was to fish for muskie. Since 1966, I have always fished In Quebec for walleye and trout.

Jay

[pike mike]

Looking on the map at Lake Seul (not knowing where it was) I would be surprised if fishing wasn't  "better" than Kipawa . Seeing as Lake Seul sits at a latitude approximately 500 kms or 310 miles north  of Kipawa and following the belief that the farther north and away from cities and civilization you get the better the fishing gets I wouldn't be surprised .Do I want to drive that far .Not a hope in heck .Presently I am not yet retired so my Kipawa heaven is only a week at a time  .If I were to drive that far I'd want to be up there for at least 2 weeks possibly  a month.     

[Doug_mi]

No question it is a long drive to northwestern Ontario, for me it would be double the distance that kipawa is.  As I mentioned I have been fishing the lake for 45 years and in that time have never experienced what seems commonplace on LacSeul which is daily catches of numerous 18-22 inch fish.  Kipawa has always provided me with what I have been looking for in a fishing vacation, solitude, beauty, time with my family, but the fishing has never been what I would call satisfying.

If I didn't enjoy it I wouldnt have spent close to a year of my life in one week increments on the Lac.  That being said,  if I could improve one element of a trip to to Kipawa it would without a doubt be an improvement in both numbers and size of the walleye.  Slot limits have been LONG overdue.  Years of overfishing have reduced the qaulity of walleye the lake produces.  Week after week, year after year of vacationers keeping essentially every legal walleye caught have in my estimation drastically harmed the fishery.  I was at a camp talking with a fellow regular who was finishing up his week the day I arrived and he proudly informed me that his group of 15 had eaten 180 walleye that week. That works out to 12 walleye per person for the week or 1.7 walleye per day.  They were each taking home a limit also.  That's 1 group and while I don't believe that rate of consumption is typical what I do believe is that most if not all legal walleye are killed.  I would be curious to hear from the regulars about catch and release rates in their groups.  It has been my experience that on Kipawa from what I see in the fish house not much releasing is going on?

[Jay Thomas]

I did a cursory search for Lac Seul on walleyecentral.com and came across the following post dated 20 Oct 2015 - see http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495354&highlight=Lac+Seul

I can't really weigh in on the Ear Falls area having only been there one time in the mid 80's. Ever since we've been going to Chamberlain Narrows and see no reason to change. We average between 55 to 75 fish per day per guy, 40% shorter than slot, 30% in the slot and 30% over the slot. Always the last weekend in September/first weekend in October. Very little traffic with no issues fishing the spots you want too. I'm sure there are times that the fishing is better in the NE section and the mid and SW sections but we can't complain. Very relaxing! We really don't fish too hard either. On the water around 9:00 AM to start fish till 1:30, break for shore lunch 1:30 to 3:30 then 3:30 til dark (around 7:00 pm). Basically, 8 hours per day 7 to 10 fish per hour. Don't need anything better than that.

I didn't understand what was meant by the "slot", so I checked the exceptions for Lac Seul in the Ontario Fishing Regulations. Neither walleye nor sauger between 18.1 inches and 20.9 inches can be harvested and that restriction is considered the slot. Consequently, the walleye catch and possession limit of 4 for Lac Seul means that a fisher can keep 4 walleye under 18.1 inches or 3 walleye under 18.1 inches and one over 20.9 inches. Based on the referenced post, 60 % of the walleyes his group regularly catches are 18 inches long or longer.

I also perused a few other Lac Seul threads. Its worth noting that depending on where you stay on Lac Seul, you might have to boat 20 miles to get to prime walleye locations. As well, the wind plays a large role in whether you can safely navigate wide sections of Lac Seul. Lots to consider.

Lastly, I have not fished Lake Kipawa since Sep 2013. I too became disenchanted with the small size of walleye we were catching. I chalked our results up to a couple of poor spawning years and fishing pressure. I've been perusing trips reports with a view to returning to Lake Kipawa in 2016. However, that might still be too early.

Jay

[puckster_guy]

 Great thread guys, what an interesting comparison between the lakes. One day I'll check out NW Ontario. Looks like an awesome place to fish, well worth a visit after I retire and will have time for that. In the mean time I'll stick to Kipawa. Since I got my place there about 5 yrs ago Ive done almost all my fishing there. Even learned to jig. lol I love my end of the lake and it's still the best walleye fishing I've ever had. I get lots of 3-5 pound walleye every year with a few 5+. The vast majority tho are around 10 to 14 inches around a pound or so. I get many 50 to 70 fish days again mostly small ones. Kinda fun with an ultra light tho. All in all I'll take Kip any day in spite of my bias.

[Oarin]

I've never been to Lac Seul, but for me at my age, the cost, ease of travel, and accommodations are very important. Where I stay, at TBL, the cost, cabins, boats, and motors are first class, 24 hour electricity is great too. I know many of the other lodges provide the same. Each year we catch several eyes 21+ and that's fine for us as we release them anyway.If I were 20 years younger and had the $s I would probably give a place like Lac Seul a try. My first fishing trip to Canada was 24 years ago to a place called Martin's in the Gouin Res. The fishing was great, but the trip in was LONG and tough. I'm glad I went then, but I would never do it again. For me, TBL is where I'll go until I can't any more. Eight more LONG months until my trip to the Outpost with my son Jon, and nine more until my trip with my friend, Jim.

[johnny walleye]

MY thoughts on this subject ,I fished Timmins area at twin j hideaway Mattgami,
the Chapleau area Lake windmere ,nasgasin, como lakes
did 2 fly ins out if Cochran
and have fished in the Kawarth lakes ,
That being said , I go with Kipawa area over all the others.

[Balsams]

Yes a very good topic. I have fished kipawa only one many years ago, and have fished Sassigenaga a few times but many times on Kikwissi. K & S were better for numbers and size and more secluded and less traffic than K even 14 years ago. I've been reading posts on K for many many years and feel like I have the feel for K. Having said all that, a big part of it is the nostalgia when you cross the border at temiskameng or turn on to the back roads or make your first trolling pass along your favorite spot. Stuff like that is maybe what keeps guys going back to their same outfitter, or outpost, or camp year after year.
Now, having said that, Doug_mi I think you're on to something. Life is short, and if you like fishing then you should do everything you can to put yourself into an epic experience. Lake trout fishing on great slave, pike fishing on knee lake, salmon fishing the queen Charlotte islands, peacock bass on the amazon, etc, etc. I have heard of lac soul before and thought it was in Minnesota for some reason...believe it was an In Fisherman episode with al Lidner MANY years ago. You have peaked my interest. I for one would travel the extra 5 hrs, take the extra 2 days for my troubles, and pay the extra $1,000 for an epic experience. I'm going to throw it out there to my buddies.
Having said all of THAT, fishing is fishing and you get what you get and can't have it all. As much as I love the catching, I'm just thrilled to be out there and am prepared to be shut out. Would spend the extra $ for a guide to waste no time finding the spots, I believe another wise man suggested that on this thread. Just my 3 sense...
Admire you Doug_mi, go for it and good luck. It's a great big world.

[RHYBAK]

Balsams

Well said.
Are you running for President?

[Balsams]

Well thank you Rhybak. I am not American so can't run for President, not interested in that job either. Nor will in be running for Prime Minister. However, mayor of Seguin Township...that's the gig I want.

Have been researching fishing trips and very intrigued with Pacific salmon trip. Encourage all to book an epic trip.

[DBLNUT]

Take a look at KayVee Lodge, kind of the middle of Ontario. 

This is the first time our group ventured outside of Quebec because of the long drive to western Ontario, Kayvee was a 900 mile drive from Western Pa.  A ran into a neighbor that had a great trip so we decided to give it a try.   All I can say is WOW!   All in our group commented on how great the walleye fishing was and the lodge and owners are much more attentive than any place we had been in Quebec.   All in our 6 man group caught 28"+ fish with a 31-32" being the biggest.   21-25" fish was the norm.  25-40 per day was possible. 1500.00 for the week and they provided breakfast a sack lunch and dinner.    Dinner was steak, stuffed chicken, ribs, spaghetti and walleye .     

[pike mike]

Once again sounds wonderful but 675 miles from Toronto to KayVee Lodge or 292 miles to Laniel  .

[Jay Thomas]

Thanks for the reference DBLNUT. Sounds like good quality fishing is available. However, surfing the net for Lake Nagagami, I learned that there are at least 4 different outfitters (lodges) on the lake (KayVee Lodge, Pullens Nagagami Lodge, Timberwolf Lodge and Expeditions North). That just seems like a lot of lodges (and potentially lots of fishermen) for a lake that measures approximately 6 miles X 5 miles. Since you have been to Lake Nagagami, were you comfortable with the number of boats on the lake? Just wondering.

Jay