Small Ontario lakes near Fort Francis with boat landings?

[CaptJohnWis]

I would like to do a little exploring this year. Brought my 14-foot Grizzly with 20HP up from Texas. Looking for some smaller lakes with boat landings.

The only ones I know of are :

Off

Cuttle

Sawbill

Esox

that one just to west of Northwest Bay off 612 ( I fergits the name)

When I look at the satillite view of this area I see plenty of lakes but not many roads leading to them. There must be some with or without resorts that are within a reasonable drive.

Any help appreciated. All fish released so don't worry about me keeping too many.

[kodiac1]

Capt,

     I think there are some boat ramps on some other lakes on the logging road that leads to Esox, at least I've seen at least one sign on that road I think.  As far as Esox goes, terrific, terrific lake...crystal clear so different than Rainy but absolutely loaded with smallmouth.  Two years ago I stopped at 125 smallmouth in one day (all released, my best day ever) because I just got tired.  It was incredible early June shoreline action. Size doesn't begin to compare to Rainy, but they weren't real small either.  I haven't fished Sawbill but know a guy who comes up in mid-June and fishes it and absolutely still kills the crappies, even though that seems late to me.  If you do go to Esox, I think everybody leaves the ramp and heads to the Manitou strait and most people who fish the lake come from the Manitou resorts so they are mainly fishing that area closer to the Manitou.  I have always wondered what it was like to turn left at the ramp and go down what amounts to a river...

[john 613]

  I do not know of a ramp west of the one on Northwest Bay off of 613 but there are 2 North of it.  First one is on Hope Lake and the the one at the end of the road is at Lake Despair.  Lake Despair links to Foot Print, Jackfish and West Jackfish.  Going Westward from Despair on the water is a mechanical portage that accesses a several other lakes one of them being Off lake.  From there you can head North into Pipestone also via mechanical portage.  there are a couple of portage options from some of these lakes also.  John

[CaptJohnWis]

Thanks for the replies. I would fish Esox more but the few times I have been there have met somebody going the other way on the last road leading in. Very hard to get around another guy towing a boat. Also got the last parking place at the landing (because the guy leaving had just vacated it!). With all the folks that need to use that landing I am surprised they have such a narrow road and limited parking. Is it still that way? I stayed at two different resorts (one in the narrows and the other north shore of big lake) and had good fishing. Would like to go again but dread the ramp.

 

Despair was the one I couldn't remember. I checked out the ramp once years ago and it was very nice. But I did not have my boat along so did not try the fishing. Didn't know about Hope so will have to check that one.

 

I have never used one of those mechanical portages but have fished Off lake launching from the resort there. I wonder how big a boat those mechanical portages can handle (and how they work!) ? Too out of shape to do real portage any more. One of my fishing buds started a week pack in trip on the Boundary Waters Monday. I am really glad I wasn't on that trip. Weather has been lousy all week and especially on Monday. Eight hours by canoe to where they were headed - my guess is it took a lot longer than that on Monday.

 

[northernfishin]

My coworker has a cabin on despair. That area is nice and as stated you can go from lake to lake. 

Eltrut lake is dynomite but is definitely an adventure to get into. 

Mainville lake is good too. Friends hammered eyes last weekend there. 

I want ant to do the same as you but too nervous to try out on my own! I would love to learn more Canadian lakes for all species.

[CaptJohnWis]

 

I want ant to do the same as you but too nervous to try out on my own! I would love to learn more Canadian lakes for all species.

​Contact me and we will do some exploring.

[bfisherman11]

I fished Mainville years ago. Caught a bunch of eyes, it was great but they were very small. Biggest fish was a 32" pike that hit on one of the 8" eyes. Still had a blast though. 

 

It is a way off but there is an unnamed lake I went to many years ago just east of Wabigoon that had great walleye fishing. Wife and I caught probably 30 fish in a couple hours. We kept two limits of 18" (back when that was legal) eyes. What a great meal those made for our family. Had to drive down a logging road to get to the lake. The resort owner had a small boat and motor stashed there for me to use. Not a house or resort on that lake then.

 

Bill