Ottawa River Guided Fishing

It looks like our run of easy musky fishing is done for now. We got one today but it was a grind. After multiple outings in a row with numerous hook ups, I knew it was just a matter of time before things got back to normal. Tuesday, Anthony got a thick 47" fish out of nowhere in the figure 8 to cap off a day with double digit musky contacts. Wednesday, after dropping 3 fish, one as it was entering the net, AJ sealed the deal on a good one. And today Dave from Arkansas trusted me to stay at it just a little longer and was rewarded with a nice 41" musky. His first.
I've come to learn to soak it in when the fishing is good. That stretch will be etched in my mind for a long time.
Cheers,
Yannick

Congratulations Jacob!
My son Jack and I are taking advantage of a hot musky bite and getting out every chance we get. After his 48" pb last weekend and another succesfull evening this week, we brought his friend Jacob for his first musky experience. Saturday night was a bust except for a few keeper walleye we caught before an hour of musky fishing, but today the unthinkable happened. You never forget your first musky...especially when it's a 50" + behemoth built like it snacks on beavers and geese. I'm almost positive that it's the heaviest fish I've ever lifted out of a net.
And wouldn't you know it, 5 minutes later he did it again! This time, a "little" 39" fish. My son got a small one too and we missed a few more opportunities. A wild feeding window that none of us will ever forget. Enjoying it while it lasts!
Cheers.
Yannick

Kids are stealing the show lately. Especially my kid 😀😀😀. Very proud Dad moment when I slipped the net under my son's pb musky Sunday. Caught on his favorite musky lure too (no, I'm not telling).
Otherwise walleye and catfish are keeping rods bent and plates full.
Let the good times roll!
Yannick

Post long weekend monsoon, it's been an ok stretch on the River. I've been burning lots of gas to put together decent days for my guests but we seem to find a way to get some numbers and size every day. This morning was my first easy trip in a while. Three days in a row with a 24"+ walleye. Let's see if the streak continues tomorrow.
Cheers.
Yannick

Rumour has it Lisa and I don’t get along. Truth is, we talk on a weekly, sometimes daily basis and have helped each other out numerous times with mechanical issues, boat maintenance, and overflow bookings. Today was the first time we musky fished together. I caught a weird looking musky and enjoyed Lisa and Ryan's company tremendously.
P.S. If you're a musky angler, look into the tackle boxes Ryan fabricates. The Lure Locker.

Catch and release works! Antoine's first musky last night is one we caught 3 weeks ago and his 2nd is one that somebody else had caught and released this season. The 2nd hit a perfectly placed cast with the biggest topwater lure I own. Nice work Antoine! August is full but we still have room in September.
Cheers.
Yannick

A 121 fish half day was a great way to end a busy stretch and start a family vacation last week, but coming back to a River that looks like a Timmy's double double isn't ideal. It makes me miss family fishing at the in-law's on Lake Nipissing, especially when the musky are munching.
We still made due yesterday on the River and had a solid pike day with good numbers and solid average size.
Onwards and upwards.
Cheers.
Yannick

July has been satisfactory but I've been burning lots of gas to put guests on good fishing. Yesterday, we found them good and some multi-day Texas guests turned our great day into the best looking fish fry I've ever seen. Fingers crossed that this is the beginning of a streak of 100 fish days. We have a bit of room left in August for bookings.
Cheers.
Yannick

Things continued to be weird....until today.
Monday, for the first time in 16 years, I dropped my pliers in the River. Then, on Wednesday for the 2nd time in 16 years of guiding, I dropped my pliers in the river. Then 10 minutes later, we hooked a snapping turtle by the tail.
After a few days with low numbers but big fish, things did a 180 and we were getting big numbers and no size. We also caught channel cats on spinnerbaits two days in a row. In the midst of all that, Manning got his first musky.
Today, the River started feeling normal. First, we got a couple decent pike among smaller pike. Then, the walleye showed up right where I want them.
It's hopefully the beginning of the best walleye fishing of the year. Stay tuned.
Cheers.
Yannick

I have the best job in the world but installing a new trolling motor in the dark out of necessity with my boy after a 12 hour day isn't the most pleasant thing in the world. The Princecraft's original Ulterra decided to just say no after 4+ seasons of abuse. It's quite possibly the 2022 Ulterra with the most hours in Eastern Ontario.
Huge thanks to Laurentian Marine!! It's a minor miracle that I only had to guide one day with no MinnKota and also that my afternoon group still managed 40+ pike and a nice largie with no trolling motor.
Fingers crossed for smooth sailing for the rest of this marathon stretch of bookings.
Still Living the dream.
Cheers.
Yannick