Railway Cottages' Rice Lake Blog

Rice Lake Picture Gallery

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:51:17 GMT

The Rice Lake Picture Gallery shows a series of photos taken by family, vacationers and local residents near Railway Cottages on Rice Lake, Ontario.

Family Vacations on Rice Lake Ontario

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:49:33 GMT

Family Vacations on Rice Lake Ontario are where memories that last a lifetime are made.

Rice Lake Sunset Photos

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:43:26 GMT

Check out our Rice Lake Sunset Photos; One of the great reasons to come Railway Cottages is the breathtaking sunsets that transpire at the end of each day.

Bass Fishing on Rice Lake

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:37:27 GMT

An Overview of Bass Fishing on Rice Lake.

Contact Us

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:57:46 GMT

How to Contact Us to book a cottage or to request more infromation about our business.

Water Safety on Rice Lake

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:56:47 GMT

A Page describing Water Safety on Rice Lake Ontario.

Cottage Rentals on Rice lake

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:53:29 GMT

Excellent, affordable Cottage Rentals on Rice Lake available at Railway Cottages, we provide the vacationer extremely comfortable, well furnished cottages, more like home than most on Rice Lake.

Cottage 6 available for rent at Railway Cottages

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:13:40 GMT

Cottage 6 available for rent at Railway Cottages has an open concept feeling with a view of the Rice Lake.

Cottage 5 available for rent at Railway Cottages

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:21:23 GMT

Cottage 5 available for rent at Railway Cottages has an open concept feeling with a view of the Rice Lake.

Cottage 4 available for rent at Railway Cottages

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:20:31 GMT

Cottage 4 available for rent at Railway Cottages has an open concept feeling with a view of the fire pit, common area, large upper deck as well as the lake.

Cottage 3 available for rent at Railway Cottages

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:19:48 GMT

Cottage 3 available for rent at Railway Cottages Cottages is a 2 bedroom with a pull out couch. This cottage will sleep 4 comfortably and up to six people when using the pull out bed.

Cottage 2 available for rent at Railway Cottages

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:18:34 GMT

A description of Cottage 2 available for rent at Railway Cottages on Rice Lake Ontario Canada.

Rice Lake Ontario Canada

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:10:22 GMT

A brief history of Rice Lake Ontario Canada.

Fishing Regulations on Rice Lake

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:58:12 GMT

A Page desribing new Fishing Regulations on Rice lake effective January 1st 2010.

Hot Early Summer Walleyes

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:11:01 GMT

There's probably no better time to be on the water than right now, especially if you're a walleye angler. The action can be some of the best and it can also be the worst, depending on how you react to the season’s changing conditions. To be successful, anglers will have to give up on what had been productive just a few short weeks ago and get with a program more in tune with a walleye’s present needs. Early Summer WalleyeWhen the summer sun starts bearing down water temps can make a quick jump and is when early season patterns can completely dry up. When it happens many anglers make the mistake of believing that the walleyes are simply not feeding, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact walleyes will feed heavily at this time of the year, you just need to have a good handle on where they're doing it. One of the reasons anglers can find the going during the summer months a little tough is because make they haven’t made the necessary adjustments required to stay with a fish that’s on the move. Walleyes make a living by taking advantage of their opportunities and in many cases those opportunities are no where near where they where at the beginning of the season. As spring slides into summer there is a shallow to deep migration that occurs on most bodies of water. The migration doesn’t happen overnight, and not all of the walleyes in a system make the move to deep structure. Instead, the process more likely begins with a few scattered groups of fish showing up on deeper haunts followed by a slow and steady migration that eventually results in fishable numbers of walleyes. Exceptions to the "migration rule" include bodies of water that start out clear and darken up due to excessive fertility and heavy algae blooms. In that case you might find walleyes starting out shallow, moving deeper, and then creeping back up as visibility is reduced. One of the most appealing aspects of locating walleyes holding on deeper structure is the fact that they show up readily on good electronics. With a high quality graph like the Humminbird 987C you can quickly narrow down your search. The 987C's high level of definition can help you locate walleyes that are holding belly bottom, which is a common occurrence. It also has a unique capability of being able to look out to the side instead of straight down, and you can cover a wide swath and either find fish or eliminate water. By cruising back and forth over likely areas you'll get a good idea from your electronics whether or not the time is right to actually start fishing. The key to the whole process is keeping your lines boat, and relying totally on your electronics to

Fish For The Biters

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:32:25 GMT

When anglers go fishing, they want to catch a fish. In fact, they want to catch lots of fish. While you’re probably not going to always catch lots of fish, there are some things that anglers can do to increase their odds of getting bit. Finding the biters is a big part of catching fish. We frequently emphasize that to consistently catch fish, first you’ve got to find the fish. However, at times just finding the fish isn’t enough. You’ve got to find the fish that are willing to eat your bait. You might have a bunch of walleyes hovering off the edge of a deep water structure, and just a few walleyes on the top of that same structure. While it’s tempting to work the big school of fish that are on the edge, it might be more productive to work the smaller group that’s on top of the structure. Here’s why. Fish for the bitersYou can sometimes determine the activity level of a fish by where it is. Walleyes that are shallow or on top of a structure are often looking for something to eat. Walleyes that are relating to structure but that have pulled off the structure are fish that have probably just fed and are now just hanging around. They probably won’t be real willing to eat. When they do get ready to eat, they’ll swim back to the structure and find a meal. There are always exceptions. In some bodies of water the walleyes spend much of their summer suspending near baitfish. When they get hungry, they move into that school of baitfish, open their mouths, and swim. I just got back from a trip to Lake Oahe in South Dakota. Oahe is a walleye factory. We found a prime example of why you should fish where the biters are. We were working the water in the twenty five to twenty eight foot range. We could see lots of fish that we suspected were walleyes on our sonar, and there were lots of baitfish around. The color display of the Humminbird sonar that I use does a great job of revealing life underwater. We were getting bit every now and then. The wind came up and was blowing into the shoreline close to where we were fishing. We had been fishing that shoreline earlier, and had seen a few fish on the sonar, but they wouldn’t eat. We decided to try the area again to see if the wind made the fish want to eat. It did, big time! We still didn’t see a lot of fish on the sonar, but almost every fish that we did see we caught. We were

Muskie numbers up in Rice Lake

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:16:35 GMT

Okay, where are these rascals when you want them? On the days you're fishing for them you often can't find them, but on those times when you are plying the waters for walleye or bass, they just appear out of nowhere. You've probably already figured out I'm talking about the supposed "fish of a thousand casts" we know as muskie or muskellunge, and yes, at times they can be either very hard to catch or a pain in the backside, busting up your lines and stealing your baits when you actually want nothing to do with them. But on the times they do strike, whether you are searching for them or not, are they fun to catch! Tough as nails, strong as a bull and meaner than a junk yard dog are these fish, and if you haven't caught a muskie you are missing out on one of the best fishing experiences you'll ever have. The season opens for them in Zone 17 (Kawartha Lakes area) this Saturday and if you like chasing them, there is some very good news to kick this season off with. Although Scugog, Sturgeon, Pidgeon and Buckhorn lakes have always held pretty steady numbers of these fish, muskie numbers in Rice Lake seemed to drop off in the last 10 years or so, and even though it still held some really big fish, the catches were few and far between. Not any more! In the last two seasons I've noticed more and more anglers are catching muskie, either accidentally or on purpose, and that's a good thing in the books of folks who like to pursue them. Count me amongst that group. Last fall I caught several while tossing crankbaits for walleye on deep weedlines, even in places I'd never caught them before. And sure enough, I've already had two in my boat this spring even though I obviously wasn't fishing for them. I'm not alone. Several guys I talk to regularly are nailing them accidentally as well. Best of all, just like the walleye this year, there seems to be a few different year classes of muskie in the lake. Most are ranging from about three to 15 pounds and they sure aren't shy about hitting bucktails or perch-hue crankbaits -- espcially when you least expect them! Before you head out to try to catch one of these wily bait wreckers, keep a couple of things in mind. First of all, if you have a sportsman fishing licence, you are allowed to possess only one muskie in these waters and

Fishing tip, or just overload? For the average angler, simple is better

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:26:41 GMT

I spend a lot of time fishing, and a considerable amount of time reading about fishing -- probably more than the average guy. Yet, I still consider myself a novice fisherman, an average fisherman. I've fished enough, though, that I don't really worry about bringing fish home each trip, or even catching fish. To me, the reason I go each time is the adventure, and the challenge of trying to figure out the fish each day. I admit, I'm not that good at it. There are several reasons for that -- chief among them is that I rarely concentrate on just one species, or one body of water. If I had to say I'm proficient at one way of fishing, it would be river fishing for smallmouth bass. Put me on the Ohio River or small creek, and I can usually catch fish. I've developed over the years an instinct of reading the water and knowing the best places to catch smallies. And, I've developed a feel, a technique, a way to fish rivers that I'm confident in. But, I'm trying to expand my talents, and that's not been easy. I imagine it's pretty much the same for every other weekend angler who heads out for unfamiliar water. It's caused me to consider what tips I can offer my weekly readers. You can watch the Bassmasters Series every Sunday on TV, listen to all the experts on how to fish for post spawn bass, read up on inland walleye tactics, or get the latest scoop on the new "go-to" baits, but until you can apply them to your fishing situation, it's just time wasted. I've offered my own tips in this column, as well as tips from other fishermen in catching everything from saugeye to crappie to walleye, perch and largemouth bass. They're all good, and for those who really work at the craft of fishing, those tips most likely have made them better fishermen. But for the average angler, myself included, at times its all too much information. Why? Because we don't fish enough to know if its pre spawn or post spawn, what the bottom of the lake looks like, how to ready water clarity or temperature, what the thermocline is, are the fish suspended or clinging to cover, how to run a dipsy diver, rig up a Texas worm, fish a drop shot, or when to throw a crank bait or buzz bait, how to tie a polomar knot or whether to use a weapon or Erie Deerie. I could go on and on. If I could give one tip that would make us all better fishermen, though, it would be to become proficient at one way of fishing, and you'll be amazed at how that will carry over to other species. It boils down to: if you have confidence in a specific lure, worm or rig, you'll catch more fish because you know how

All locks open on time as Trent-Severn Waterway opens for the season

Sun, 23 May 2010 00:10:11 GMT

Boaters Darlene and Doug Woolley soaked up the sunshine Friday and became one of the first boaters of the season to pass through the Peterborough Lift Lock. "The weather is absolutely fabulous today," said Darlene, who was standing on the bow of the couple's boat The Wild and Woolley. "This will be the nicest May 24 weekend in years." The Woolleys slowly travelled up the hydraulic lift system. Following behind them were two more boats driven by their friends Tina and Paul Cunha and Romeo and Sue Blanchett. "We're all going to Lakefield Marina to dock for the summer," she said. "And I can't wait to head to the Thousand Islands in August. "We're on our boat all summer." Acting lockmaster Greg Stencell said all the Trent-Severn Waterway locks officially opened at 9 a.m. for the season — unlike in some past seasons when water level conditions have delayed the opening of some locks. "I hope to see some boats out this weekend because the weather is supposed to be nice," he said. This year, thousands of boaters are expected to travel on the waterway, a 386-kilometre recreational waterway connected by locks and canals that runs between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. Prior to the opening, Stencell said six weeks of maintenance was done on the Lift Lock to make sure it's running in tip top shape for the summer boating season. On average about 5,000 boats will pass through the Lift Lock each season, he said. The bulk of the traffic comes through July and August, which is the peak, he said. "We get the cottage traffic and a lot of day-trippers up from Rice Lake," he said. At the Peterborough Marina, the Lighthouse Lounge and Grill, on the second floor of the marina, will be fully licensed for the first time. Liftlock Cruise captain Grant Kent said he's looking forward to a busy season filled with tourists, weddings and

Man's body pulled from Rice Lake

Thu, 20 May 2010 09:20:34 GMT

The body of 19-year-old Bradley Lunney of Courtice was pulled from Rice Lake Sunday afternoon 10 hours after he fell out of his boat in McGregor Bay, just south of Keene. Peterborough County OPP say Lunney's body was recovered at 1:20 p.m. They said he was operating a 14-foot aluminum boat when he fell into the water around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Gordon Koslowski, who lives on Knott's Landing Rd., which borders the bay, said the bay is very weedy and difficult to swim in. It's also cold at this time of year, he said. Lunney's body was found about halfway across the bay, which is about one kilometre wide, Koslowski said. Koslowski's wife, Elizabeth Bingham, said they heard Lunney's family has had a trailer at Shady Acres Cottage and Trailer Park for 15 years. The couple said they heard from neighbours that Lunney was doing "doughnuts" in the water and fell out of the boat. He shouted for help but nobody has their boats in the water at this time of year, they said. Everyone needs to wear a lifejacket when they're out on the water, OPP Const. Iain McEwan advises. "If you're not a strong swimmer wear a lifejacket. If you're a strong swimmer -wear a

Cottage Rental Prices

Tue, 18 May 2010 23:27:00 GMT

A Page describing the affordable Cottage Rental Prices at Railway Cottages on Rice Lake Ontario.

Body pulled from Rice Lake

Mon, 17 May 2010 23:36:18 GMT

The body of a 19-year-old Courtice man has been recovered from Rice Lake. Police were searching the lake area near Knott's Landing Sunday when the body was found at around 1:20 p.m. Police say the man was not wearing a life jacket when he fell into the water on Saturday afternoon. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFEJACKET NO MATTER WHAT THE WATER CONDITONS ARE!!!!

Give Them What They Want

Sun, 16 May 2010 23:33:59 GMT

Canadian adventures are something that most anglers dream about. They visit sportshows and look at brochures that describe the bountiful fish in every lake. They are sold on aesthetics of the picturesque environment and the wonderful time they will have with friends and family. The trouble with is that there are a veritable plethora of camps, lodges and outfitters to choose from. Allow me to cut through all the hype and to tell you about one of the best camps and outfitters in Ontario. North Caribou Camps headquartered out of Pickle Lake in the summer and Dryden, Ontario in the winter, will give you what you want. Rob and Sandy Brodhagen have a variety of lakes to choose from and a host of knowledge share with you if you are interested in a Canadian adventure. A good friend of mine Dave Hagan from my hometown of Austin, MN works sportshows for Rob and Sandy and I had always wanted to go along with him to some of these lakes. Dave would describe North Caribou or Troutfly and I would conger up memories of places that I had been and wonder if these lakes were anything like what I had experienced. At one of the sportshows I decided to meet Rob and Sandy and talk to them about booking a trip to one of their smaller lakes, Morris Lake. Last August my wife Ginny and I drove to Pickle Lake and flew out to Morris Lake. I should say we attempted the first day, but the pilot turned back because of a bad electrical storm, which caused us a night stay in the Pickle Lake Motel which is located right next door. There we enjoyed a good meal and a needed nights sleep after our long drive from Southern Minnesota. Upon arrival at Morris Lake our pilot gave us instructions on the cabin, generator, stoves, refrigerator and the use of satellite phone. Home base was a quick call away and I for one was glad that we had the instant contact with the outside world. Communications are important when in the bush in Canada for safety and in case you have to get more supplies before the mid-week check plane comes. Unpacking and getting out on the water was my first priority. As Ginny made ice in trays and placed them in the freezer, I rigged the spinning rods and casting rods for our days outing. Fishing for walleyes on a Canadian lake in mid August can give you some trouble especially if you are not willing to try different tactics until you find one that works. For example, sometimes it is necessary to fish very slowly for walleyes, especially when they're inactive. But there are other times when you'll catch a lot more fish by moving the bait quickly. When this happens, I like

River Walleye Fishing: Check out The Basics of fishing for walleye in rivers Here!

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:50:52 GMT

Fishing For River Walleye’s Go ahead and do some research obtaining the list of state and providence record walleyes and you see that most of them were caught in rivers. River fishing walleye is by far the best place to fish if you are looking for trophy size walleye.You have probably already figured out that the main reason rivers hold stable populations and record size walleyes is because rivers do not get the same fishing pressure that lakes get. Many Walleye fisherman spend their time river walleye fishing when cold fronts have slowed the fishing in close by lakes.River walleyes seem to ignore, or are not effected by a incoming cold front. Also, head to the rivers in late summer when walleye fishing begins to slow down because of rising temperatures and plenty of natural food to eat.River walleyes will continue to feed in the same places in the fall unlike on a lake where the walleye will be scattered because of the water starting the fall turn over. Big rivers to the north will surprising have many portions that are open water all winter long. Amazingly, rivers will have open water fishing all winter long in the tail-waters of dams, and warm water discharge areas. The new walleye angler typically has more trouble learning river walleye fishing then learning to fish in lakes. The new walleye fisherman many times gets discouraged on their first river fishing trip because of a poor catch and make the decision to not try again.You need to be able to adjust your walleye fishing technique by learning how the river currents and the fluctuation of the water levels effects the walleye on the river you intend to fish. The only time you will find walleyes in a fast current is if there is some type of a current break the walleyes can hold in and dart out into the current for food, then dart back to the break. As a rule of thumb, you can eliminate approximately 75% of the water in rivers because the current is to strong for walleyes to hold in. Concentrate your search in areas that are known to hold walleye such as small pools out of the currents path, downstream from any current break, a bridge or a large rock formation. A very

Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:48:55 GMT

In 2003 the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative was born as a partnership of organizations agreed to work together to protect and enhance the globally rare tallgrass prairie and oak savanna remnants that still exist in the Rice Lake Plains. This initiative was largely funded by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the partnership remains strong today. Partners include: * Alderville First Nation * Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority * Lower Trent Conservation * Nature Conservancy of Canada * Northumberland County * Northumberland Land Trust * Ontario Parks * Tallgrass Ontario Vision - "The partners in the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative envision a landscape of protected, restored and sustainably managed tallgrass prairie and oak savanna ecosystems amid well-stewarded forest, wetland and riparian habitats of the Rice Lake Plains region." The Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative has worked very closely with landowners living in the Rice Lake Plains over the past several years. Resources are available to help landowners understand more about what natural features exist on and around their property and to assist in undertaking

Weather wreaks havoc with walleye opening

Thu, 13 May 2010 22:42:10 GMT

Thank you to all my friends and acquaintances for your letters of sympathy. On May 5, my faithful companion and friend, Max, a nine-year-old pure bred Sheltie passed away from cancer. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. His picture is posted on the Allan Bass facebook page for all to see. On a lighter note, the walleye season kicked off last Saturday with the worst weather conditions in recent memory. High winds and rain kept most of the boats on the trailer. For those with enough 'bravado' to venture out from shore, it was a hit-and-miss kind of weekend. A few anglers contacted 'old marble eyes'. But the catches were slim with a lot of under-sized fish released back in the lake. For those who were fishing from shore, sudden downpours sent them scurrying for cover several times. All in all, it was hit and miss from the shoreline as well. I heard from several anglers they were biting better at Rice Lake than Scugog. For those who fish Rice and/or Scugog, please keep me posted on the fishing conditions from week to week. I often get asked by beginning anglers, "How do you start fishing for walleye? What lure do you use?" If you read this column on a regular basis, you know that I never leave the dock without a spinner tied onto my line. Actually, I usually have three rods rigged and ready for action. The almighty spinner (either the safety pin or the in-line version), a crankbait (in the perch or shad colour) and a jig. If I'm using a plastic jig, I normally start with a white or silver colour. Hair jigs have also been successful over

Keeping Leeches Alive and Healthy

Thu, 13 May 2010 01:05:15 GMT

Every fisherman knows that a walleye can’t resist a leech underneath a slip bobber. Mark Jewell of Jewell Outdoors sends us this article on how to keep your leeches healthy: Everyone wants to have the liveliest leeches possible on the end of their hook! These lively little suckers, out perform most other baits – especially when things are slow. One of the most commonly asked questions by our customers is, “How do you keep leeches alive?” So, here is how: Receiving your Shipment: When you receive leeches from Jewell Outdoors, they will come in a cardboard box from Spee Dee Delivery, or UPS. Inside that box is a cooler, and within that is a plastic bag with your leeches, along with an ice bottle to help keep them cool. 1. Immediately remove the plastic bag from the box, leaving it sealed, and put it in your refrigerator. This allows them to cool gradually to about 40 Degrees Fahrenheit. 2. After 2 hours, remove the leeches from the bag, and place in your own container. 3. Cover them with just enough water to cover the tops of the leeches. They will move around, and bunch up around the edges – its okay if some are sticking out of the water a little bit. Please make sure the water is close to the same temperature as the leeches, so you don’t shock them. 3a. Be sure the water you’re using has no chlorine or fluoride in it. City water usually contains one or both, and it is not good for live fishing bait! Use fresh water from a well, lake, river, or other source. If you have well water, but put your water through a softener, you must let it stand for a minimum 24 hours before using it on live fishing bait. Long Term Care: 1. Be sure to change the water every other day or so. During latter parts of the summer, you may wish to do this every day, as they are a bit more unstable – usually after the Fourth of July. 2. If you take them to the lake, but do not use all of them, simply place them back in the refrigerator to

Back to School on Crankbait Retrieval

Wed, 12 May 2010 09:48:29 GMT

You can cast a crankbait and retrieve it straight back with no gimmicks and catch fish. You might catch more, however, by using a couple basic maneuvers that always seem to trigger walleyes. Almost always, a trick or a trigger will catch more walleyes on any given day with crankbaits. Crankbaits appeal to the lateral line. Fish are attracted by the vibration of the built-in action of the lure. The trigger could be a pause, a rod pump, or a change in direction. But not every two feet, or even five feet. It’s more like a steady retrieve for eight to ten feet, then a pump and pause. Give the fish a good long look at the lure doing its thing before you pause or change directions. The 4 basic crankbait retrieves are 1) steady; 2) steady pause steady; 3) rip pause rig pause; and 4) a constant pumping action. Dozens of variations are possible with those basic elements. Most days, you have to mix your retrieve to determine the right combination. As with jigs, conditions can force certain types of crankbait retrieves. In low light conditions, at night, and in murky water fish can’t find the bait by seeing it. Then a steady retrieve is required. Fish have to feel a lure in those conditions. The more erratic the retrieve, the harder it is for walleyes to locate the lure. For most crankbait retrieves rod position is between 8 o’clock and 9:30. Using a low rod is a good habit to get into. It forces you to stand, keeps more line out of the wind, and helps keep the bait down. With a low rod, pump down or pump horizontally to rip the lure for increased action and speed. When you pause with a crankbait, reel up slack as you push the rod tip toward the lure for a better position to feel a take. Pumping a trolling rod is not a new technique. In fact, it's likely you have been using the method for years. The trick is doing it right. I have found, through experience that you should sweep your rod in a 30-degree arc with a pause at the end. The lure speeds up through the sweep and tells the fish that there is an escaping prey. Although more strikes might occur as the rod is returned to the original position because it is at the end of the fall. The stunting that you might want to try is to use a deep lip crankbait like a number 9 Reef Runner and troll this in an area that has a soft bottom like mud or sand. The long bill will dive deep and stunt into the soft bottom. This will cause an erratic motion to the fish plus stir up the bottom and fish will move in to investigate. Again, the pause surge pause motion of your rod will encourage more strikes than just trolling with a

Open Water Trolling

Wed, 12 May 2010 09:46:50 GMT

Schooled walleyes roaming open water, either suspending or lying over open basins, are the reason an angler would switch from a jigging approach to a bait delivery system that would include planer boards, snap weights, and crankbaits or spinners. Trolling boards arose out of the Great Lakes where they were used for lake trout and salmon. Walleye anglers were quick to use this application for big water walleyes as well. Boards spread multiple lines wide to the sides of the boat, to minimize spooking and to present a spread of lures at multiple depths. No longer are you limited to trolling a narrow path behind the boat. Instead you can now troll a path 150 feet wide, simultaneously experimenting with depth, lure size and action, color patterns, speed and more. This presentation is effective for eliminating unproductive water and zeroing in on walleyes, particularly at the 1 to 3 mph quick trolling range, which is productive in cool to cold water, and during summer as well. It’s simple in principle, complex in execution, in order to minimize tangles, maximize catches, and achieve desired results. But a properly run set of lines proceeds through open water like a giant rake, showing fish suspended at the target depth. Board presentations evolved from traditional mast and ski systems popular on large Great Lakes boats, to small in-line planers easy to use in smaller craft. Planer boards clip onto line via simple friction releases, sending lines out to the sides of the boat while trolling. When a fish strikes, bobbing or dragging the board backward, reel in, detach the board release with a quick twist of thumb and forefinger, drop the board in the boat, and fight the fish unhindered by excess hardware. Planer boards are small and light enough to use on traditional walleye gear. Typically that would mean that you could use line as light as 10 pound test monofilament which maintains good lure action and diving

Walleye season opens on Rice Lake this weekend

Mon, 10 May 2010 22:42:05 GMT

Yippee! The long wait for the start of the Zone 17 (Kawartha Lakes) walleye season ends this Friday night at midnight and you can bet there will be many anglers hitting the water either at the stroke of 12 or very early in the wee hours of Saturday morning. I plan to be one of those who launch my boat in Rice Lake at the crack of dawn, heading to some of my favourite opening day spots in search of some tasty walleye for the table later that day, and I expect there will be plenty of others out there as well. The weather predictors are calling for some rain, but that sure isn't going to stop us! Nope, diehard "marble eye" chasers don't let a little sour weather stop us. (unless our safety is in jeopardy, of course.) Just like I mentioned in my column last week about the Bay of Quinte, our Kawartha area has also had an earlier and warmer spring than usual so the walleye will be deeper than they usually are at this time of year. The majority of them should have spawned by now, rested up on the warm mud flats and already be sitting in and along weed lines and emerging weed beds. As always, I'll be looking for weed lines that have irregular-shaped edges along them, jutting little points of weeds and holes in places where walleye can tuck into waiting to inhale perch and other panfish the walleye love to snack on as these little fish also try to hide themselves. Avoid weed lines with long stretches of straight edges and head for the ones I just mentioned. The straight ones are mostly a waste of time in most cases. Keep an eye on the depth of water you flog, as well. I'm thinking a lot of fish will be in the 11-to-13-foot depths during the daylight hours and as shallow as two or three feet after dark, along pea gravel shorelines if we get a nice day weather wise. If we get the predicted weather for Saturday and the weather is windy, dark and raining, don't overlook the seven-to-nine-foot areas, though. Walleye will move very shallow in that type of weather and you'd be surprised where they go sometimes, following the schools of panfish. I guess you want to know what I'll be throwing for baits, eh? Anyone who has ever shared a boat with me know I'm a crankbait nut, especially in windy weather conditions and you can rest assured I've already got a couple of Rapala XShads tied on to my 10-lb. Sufix Elite line, as well as a couple of Taildancers for backup. These lures put a lot of walleye in boat, especially when I reel them with a start and stop action. That's just a little hint for you....

Three Strikes On Your Route The Natural

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:57:39 GMT

Most natural lakes with naturally reproducing walleye populations feature at least one of three basic types of spawning areas where walleyes deposit eggs across a shallow (2- to 6-foot-deep) expanse of fist- to head-sized rock. Find such spots when spring water temperatures are in the high 30°F to upper 40°F range, and walleyes are usually somewhere nearby. Catching them isn’t difficult once you find them. Strike one—Rocky feeder creeks, incoming streams, and causeways spanning flowing water where rocky bottom is swept by current. Since creeks and streams tend to warm quickly in spring, such spots usually attract the earliest spawning-related activity. Flowing water also tends to attract minnow forage, furthering the attractiveness of inlets to walleyes. These are great places to fish shallow at night, with the adjacent deeper water outside the creek mouth a hot spot for daytime angling. A sufficiently deeper hole immediately downstream from a causeway, however, can sometimes hold fish during the day as well. Strike two—Rock-gravel-boulder shorelines and extended points where wind-generated current oxygenates eggs deposited in the nooks and crannies between rocks. If suitable areas are limited, walleyes will concentrate heavily along drop-offs. If rocky shorelines are abundant, prespawn walleyes may spread along shoreline areas throughout the lake. All else being equal, shorelines receiving the brunt of wave action due to predominant wind direction tend to be best. Shallow, rocky narrows areas are particularly good candidates. Fish shallow at night, deeper during the day. Strike three—Shallow rock reefs swept by wind and waves. Generally located amidst deeper cooler water than shoreline spots, reef areas tend to warm slower and host the latter portion of the walleye spawn. Shallow offshore reefs are exposed to wind from all directions, as opposed to shorelines that are sheltered from certain wind directions. Curve ball—In some areas, chains of natural lakes were created by installing small concrete spiller dams across outflow creeks and raising lake levels as little as 5 feet or so, expanding the original acreage and often permitting boat navigation between several connected waters. Prespawn walleyes may cluster at night immediately

OCAA Walleye Tournament at Rice Lake, Ontario May 22, 2010

Sat, 08 May 2010 03:03:45 GMT

The Ontario Chinese Anglers Association (OCAA) is holding a walleye tournament launching out of Bewdley, ON on Rice Lake. Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010 Check-in Time: 8:00am Tournament Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Place: Blast off from 797-BOAT Rentals, 5031 Rice Lake Dr, Bewdley ON, K0L 1E0, 1-905-797-2628 Fishing Area: Fish anywhere in Rice Lake Weigh-in: 5 walleyes. Each walleye must be >= 30 cm and <= 50 cm in length. Each boat must be equipped with a measuring board/measuring ruler. Each team may only keep up to 5 walleyes in their boat. Teams not culling fish will be penalized with the 5 lightest weight fish being counted for the weigh-in and the rest of the fish seized. Each angler may only keep 1 walleye to take home after the tournament. An angler who doesn't want to take a walleye home may not give their fish to another angler. Tournament Ticket: $45 per angler Teams of 3 anglers will determined on Thursday, May 20, 2009 7:30 pm at Times Square, Club Meeting Room. Each team must have at least 1 angler with a Sportfishing Licence who is allowed to possess 4 walleyes within the slot

Things to Think about while Wishing for Walleyes

Thu, 06 May 2010 09:58:19 GMT

It’s early in the season. The labor of spawning is a fling of the past – the breeders are well rested. Water temps are in that magical range – above 50 but no higher than the low 70s. Walleyes are licking their chops and under the impression that the next minnow or jig that eases by is a complimentary meal – big mistake. The fishing IS good, so don’t over-think your approach. Trust me, if you write down these tips on your hand with a Sharpie – ala Sarah Palin’s cheat-sheet technique – you will bet bit and not blow a brain chip doing so. Unearthing Eaters Sort of hate the term because it implies certain fate by fryer. But you know what I’m talking about – small to midsize fish, typically males. They’re the easiest to locate and lasso this time of year. And without giving it a second thought, my initial probing starts over gravel flats. On a typical natural lake that puts you in 6 to 12 feet of water. If the water’s clearer than moonshine, though, slip out into the 18 to 22 foot range. In both instances, if weeds and or a shoreline point are involved, more power to you. My second nod goes to a raging river mouth – something significant that walleyes either use to breed or chokes-up with baitfish. A river mouth is actually a broader, more dynamic area than the name implies, too. Relative to that reality, check the actual mouth, upstream a spell if navigable, as well as the spillway up to a quarter mile out into the lake. Watch your electronics and pay close attention for signs of a deeper river channel. Those cuts can be killer. Satisfying Slobs These are not for eating. Got it? Trusting that you’re an ethical angler, I’m going to give you my top terrain for finding giant early season walleyes. Ready? Rocks, big rocks. Deep or shallow, I’ve caught more slovenly, spawned out females amongst

Walleye Tips Tips For Catching Walley

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:23:17 GMT

Walleye season is officially open all over the Midwest. Now that walleyes are fair game throughout walleye country, here are some things to keep in mind regarding walleyes. Putting the bait where the walleye are is a key to fishing success. After the spawn, walleyes are often thought of as fish that like to be near deeper structure. While it's true that these glassy-eyed fish often can be found near rockpile and points and sunken islands and deep reefs, there are also times when they'll be in the shallows. Walleyes, like any other fish, go where the food is. If their food is shallow, the walleyes will be shallow. If their food is deep, they'll be deep. Sonar is a critical tool for catching walleyes, especially when they're deep. It works well to cruise deep areas with a close eye on the sonar. If you see signs of life on the sonar, fish the area. If there is no life, keep looking. This assumes you have the sonar properly tuned. If the sensitivity is set too low, you probably won't see much. Humminbird sonar units are easy to tune and

Rice Lake is special, help keep it that way

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 01:42:08 GMT

I am very disappointed in Peterborough County's refusal to support Northumberland County council's resolution for a special fishing designation for Rice Lake. The limit of 300 panfish is a possession limit. Three hundred filleted and frozen bluegill or sunfish weigh about 20 lb.. That's not a lot of fish. The council representing this fishing zone that met for three years prior to these regulations being implemented recommended limits of 500. A Ministry of Natural Resources study states that the numbers of bluegill in Rice Lake are not in peril, however a decrease in size has been observed. For the past five years members of the Rice Lake Tourist Association (RLTA) have been encouraging their guests to throw large, male bluegill back to support breeding of larger fish. This has been working as guests this past summer noted that they were catching more large bluegill. The RLTA has a vested interest in the future of the fishery and therefore stays informed and keeps tabs on the quality of the fishing. We have worked closely with the MNR in the past and offered to set up fish sanctuaries. They finally offered funding for this last summer but with the implementation of these new regulations it's pointless as we have all seen many cancellations from those who fish for bluegill. Extending the fishing season into winter opens the lake to the possibility of poaching. Local residents have observed people taking pickerel, a fish that needs protection, even though they are not in season. Even if caught by mistake, withdrawing a pickerel through a hole in the ice submits the sensitive fish to undue stress which can be fatal. The comment, "If we're not careful, we'll get every lake association wanting special designation" is the equivalent of the waiter telling the customer not to complain about the fly in his soup or everyone will want one. Rice Lakeisspecial and completely different from every other lake in its zone, as was found in the MNR study. Lake Simcoe already has special designation in its zone. It's not unreasonable for Rice Lake to be awarded the same thing. I would encourage council to make sure it has correct information before it proceeds with this decision and ask the MNR what the long-term effects of taking very few of the invasive species of bluegill out of the lake. For the last 30

Rice Lake Weather

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:01:41 GMT

A Page Describing Rice Lake Weather Conditions in Harwood Ontario as well as around Rice Lake.

Local Attractions

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:19:01 GMT

Many Local Attractions surrounding Railway Cottages on Rice Lake Ontario.

Harwood History on Rice Lake

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:04:14 GMT

A brief account of Harwood History on Rice Lake.

Cobourg Ontario

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:25:18 GMT

A Page describing another local attarction near Railway Cottages, Cobourg Ontario.

Peterborough Ontario

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:04:22 GMT

A Page describing the City of Peterborough Ontario and some of the various family events that happen in the summer months.

Walleye Fishing on Rice Lake

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:56:36 GMT

Pickerel or Walleye Fishing on Rice Lake can be very rewarding and a great way to spend time with your family outdoors.

Bluegill and Crappie fishing on Rice Lake

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:53:02 GMT

A Page talking About Bluegill and Crappie Fishing on Rice Lake and the new changes in the fishing regulations regarding these fish.

Privacy Policy of www.railway-cottages.com

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:58:45 GMT

A Privacy Policy for www.railway-cottages.com

Railway Cottages Direction-Map

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:59:58 GMT

Directions to Railway Cottages using our traveling to Railway Cottages Direction-Map.

About Us

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:47:43 GMT

A Page talking About Us, T.C. and Nick, the owners of Railway Cottages on Rice Lake, Ontario.