First Timer to Georgian Bay, Looking for some guidance...

Good Morning,

I am heading up to Pointe au Baril next Thursday for the first time with a few buddies. We are staying at Pleasant Cove, and have never fished the Georgian Bay. We are sport fisherman, and keep only pan fish. I heard the Crappie population is solid, and was looking for some tips on spots/tackle.

I'm mostly a cove/shoreline fisherman, and won't have the gear to get out there and troll. I used to fish on a small lake in western New York with my dad when I was growing up and he and I used to do pretty well hitting Pike, and a Muskie from time to time. Pops used to make his own spinner baits, and I was planning on trying those out for some Pike. It seems like there are some nice cove areas near our lodge, and further north by skunk island, but would appreciate any guidance that you could provide. I attached a small map of the area in a PDF, please take a look and let me know if I'm on the right track with any of these areas.

I have been reading in a few of the other forums that the walleye population is down from years past. Is that true, or are there just a lot of upset anglers out there? It's a big body of water so anyone who could provide me with some ideas would be doing me a big solid.

Thanks,

drewdubs

Welcome aboard and great intro.

The areas you have circled look like good places to start in your search for crappie and hats off to fishermen who do their research before visiting a new body of water. I have never fished the area, but for crappies you want to look for the bay with the warmest water in the area as well as some weeds. The 2 finger bays you circled on the south are very promising, the first south of Bonnie Island is fed by a marsh which may have warmer water. The second next to it, is fed by a narrows which may reduce mixing of the colder main lake water and warm up faster as well. Check those 2 bays out.

Awesome....Thanks for the help. Please let me know of any other ideas. I know this is a small map of the area, but if anyone has any other ideas they could pass along I'd greatly appreciate it.

thanks,

drewdubs

Welcome!

I only fish certain sections up there, but I would concentrate on all SOUTH facing bays.as typically thes would warm up quicker.

good luck.

Not to criticize but did you mean south facing shoreline?
I geuss thier one in the same if I'm reading it right I just find "south facing shoreline"easier to interpret.
just tryin to help

Thanks for the help. A lot of people have read the link but not many have wanted to give up any information. I understand why, but definitely appreciate the help. I will hopefully post some pictures of some nice catch and releases when we get back. Any other ideas out there??? Good spots for Bass/Walleye/Pike???

Ya, < south facing is correct.thanks, my bad again.

I will go back and edit it.

Thanks for catching that Hitman

Hey drewdubs... So how did you do??