| Earls " NO FRILLS" FISHING GUIDE SERVICE for Elliot Lake area and the north shore..ie Blind River or Spanish. |
The pictured Small Mouth Bass was caught in Esten Lake. Esten Lake is quite close to town. I caught this smallie on a brooks reefer
bait similar to the one pictured. I caught another nice smallie with a silver brooks reefer a little later in the day. The picture doesn't
do this fish justice. It is a nice size and put up a good scrap with several nice jumps. Id say it weighed about 1.5 lbs or so.
bait similar to the one pictured. I caught another nice smallie with a silver brooks reefer a little later in the day. The picture doesn't
do this fish justice. It is a nice size and put up a good scrap with several nice jumps. Id say it weighed about 1.5 lbs or so.
| Some notes and pictures on Esten Lake. |
When the fishing isn't so good you can always
go play on the rope.
Esten has Small Mouth Bass, Lake Trout and
Pike. Pike seem to be in many of the lakes
around here now. They are in Elliot Lake itself
and about 10 years ago ..they were not in there
(or so I was told).
Esten is a deeper lake than I thought. With my
fish finder I came across large areas of deep
water from over 100 ft deep. And the holes are
relatively large and broad in area.
I saw lots of fish in the 44 through 60 ft range on
my Hummingbird fish finder. I assume they
were Lake Trout. I could not get them to bite. I
was using a jig and worm.
I was told by an experienced local angler that
they won't bite during the day. You are better to
try close to dark or in the early morning.
Minnows are the best bet according to him. I
have read where Lake Trout will take a
worm..but minnows are probably far superior.
I did see lots of schools of minnows by the
weeds not far from the boat launch. A person
could easily catch some minnows with small
hooks or a minnow trap. These minnows had a
silver flash on their sides. They might have
been shiners or smelts. If the lake has smelts in
it..the fish can get a bit bigger because the
smelts are a rich food source.
go play on the rope.
Esten has Small Mouth Bass, Lake Trout and
Pike. Pike seem to be in many of the lakes
around here now. They are in Elliot Lake itself
and about 10 years ago ..they were not in there
(or so I was told).
Esten is a deeper lake than I thought. With my
fish finder I came across large areas of deep
water from over 100 ft deep. And the holes are
relatively large and broad in area.
I saw lots of fish in the 44 through 60 ft range on
my Hummingbird fish finder. I assume they
were Lake Trout. I could not get them to bite. I
was using a jig and worm.
I was told by an experienced local angler that
they won't bite during the day. You are better to
try close to dark or in the early morning.
Minnows are the best bet according to him. I
have read where Lake Trout will take a
worm..but minnows are probably far superior.
I did see lots of schools of minnows by the
weeds not far from the boat launch. A person
could easily catch some minnows with small
hooks or a minnow trap. These minnows had a
silver flash on their sides. They might have
been shiners or smelts. If the lake has smelts in
it..the fish can get a bit bigger because the
smelts are a rich food source.
My fishing partner for the day was Ross.
He was once again snake bit and skunked.
I had nothing to boast about either as I only caught 2
respectable smallmouth and one baby one.
Never the less, it was an enjoyable outing and as they say..a
bad day fishing is better than the best day in the office.
The scenery was nice and there are some large islands that
would be good to camp on.
Esten Lake was not originally scheduled to have cottage lots
on it (as far as I know).
Because the cottage lots have sold so well north of town;
there are some plans to build cottage lots on other lakes such
as Depot and Esten.
I've done alot of fishing around Ottawa area (where I'm from).
I find the fishing up here different. The lakes are deeper and
colder. Lake trout are not easy to catch like bass (for example).
I see lots of fish on the fish finder at times and they are down
deep (44 ft or more). Often they wont bite. I think they are
probably lake trout. This year..I'm going to use minnows and a
modified jig head with stinger hook and a persistent and
prolonged presentation.
I will be posting pictures on this web site. The bass up here
are small mouth bass. Using live bait (worms) is the sure fire
way to catch them. I see alot of people using those curly tail
mister twister grubs as well. I've had luck catching small
mouth and other fish with artificial worms and worm scent.
The worms I use have 3 small hooks embedded in them.
I have caught bullheads with these artificial worms (and scent).
It does seem to work almost as well (I'd say) as real worms.
In the early spring..I caught a real nice pike on one of these
plastic worms. In the early spring they often bite small lures
and small black curly tail plastic grubs too! _ They are
probably quite hungry at this time.
One story I heard was on bright days..use bright colored baits
and on dark overcast days use dull colored baits. You would
think that might be the opposite. Worth a try.
He was once again snake bit and skunked.
I had nothing to boast about either as I only caught 2
respectable smallmouth and one baby one.
Never the less, it was an enjoyable outing and as they say..a
bad day fishing is better than the best day in the office.
The scenery was nice and there are some large islands that
would be good to camp on.
Esten Lake was not originally scheduled to have cottage lots
on it (as far as I know).
Because the cottage lots have sold so well north of town;
there are some plans to build cottage lots on other lakes such
as Depot and Esten.
I've done alot of fishing around Ottawa area (where I'm from).
I find the fishing up here different. The lakes are deeper and
colder. Lake trout are not easy to catch like bass (for example).
I see lots of fish on the fish finder at times and they are down
deep (44 ft or more). Often they wont bite. I think they are
probably lake trout. This year..I'm going to use minnows and a
modified jig head with stinger hook and a persistent and
prolonged presentation.
I will be posting pictures on this web site. The bass up here
are small mouth bass. Using live bait (worms) is the sure fire
way to catch them. I see alot of people using those curly tail
mister twister grubs as well. I've had luck catching small
mouth and other fish with artificial worms and worm scent.
The worms I use have 3 small hooks embedded in them.
I have caught bullheads with these artificial worms (and scent).
It does seem to work almost as well (I'd say) as real worms.
In the early spring..I caught a real nice pike on one of these
plastic worms. In the early spring they often bite small lures
and small black curly tail plastic grubs too! _ They are
probably quite hungry at this time.
One story I heard was on bright days..use bright colored baits
and on dark overcast days use dull colored baits. You would
think that might be the opposite. Worth a try.
| There are quite a few trails in the area and some of them go by the shore of Esten Lake. It is a bit soft in places..as this fellow found out. |
| link back to page one of Earls NO FRILLS GUIDE SERVICE... |
| or...>>> |
| link to navigate back to my main start page (www.earlandrews.com) |
Esten, Depot, McCarthy, and in fact..many lakes up around here are long and
narrow and deep. Esten is over 100 ft deep and these deep areas are large.
For a small boat and motor like mine..it is great. Its almost like being on a river
and the shore is never too far away. You can always find sheltered areas to get
out of the wind.
narrow and deep. Esten is over 100 ft deep and these deep areas are large.
For a small boat and motor like mine..it is great. Its almost like being on a river
and the shore is never too far away. You can always find sheltered areas to get
out of the wind.
Earls Basic Tackle tips! -- down to earth..nitty
gritty and true! Learn what works for me!
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THIS NEW PAGE I HAVE
CREATED (JUNE 2008)
gritty and true! Learn what works for me!
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THIS NEW PAGE I HAVE
CREATED (JUNE 2008)