Montreal Lake

[whale1979]

I'm wondering about tire chains?   Guys that have experience using them   do they help?
What are your thoughts??
Thx

[coldazice]

I'm wondering about tire chains?   Guys that have experience using them   do they help?
What are your thoughts??
Thx

Yes, they more than help. Most tires have no grip on ice unless you are using winter tires and once your frame starts dragging you are at the mercy of what friction remains. Chains improve drivability in snow ten fold.

[ran7ger]

 drifted like crazy around here with wind out of the north.  they got about 12" out that way and i'm guessing access will be nasty.  bout time fish need a break.

[canada]

have used chains on mountainside in colorado- in mud.  Im sure theyd grab on some packed snow, but skeptical once they get down to ice.  studded tires prob better  Id imagine chains would slide some on the ice

[outdoorsguy]

True tire chains will not slide on ice.   A good tire chain will  be 10 times better then any snow tire.

[farmboy]

I use chains all the time in the mountains hunting and at the farm in the winter. They make a huge difference. Be sure to always use at least 2 bungies tho on each tire. If you don't they will eventually loosen up and smash your wheel wells while your driving.

[Instro_Mental]

any updates on access to the lake?

photos get you bonus points.

[jackslayer]

Fished by Ferguson island on the weekend.  Can still drive on the lake but if it snows any more probly won't be able to.  Pretty tough going in some spots.  Access at Timber bay is not too bad.  Just a rough set of tracks going through where it had blown in.  Fishing was slow.  4 fish all day.  Had a pile of flags up but they were just not biting good enough to land them. 

[CookieCrumbler]

How can I access the beach by 4x4 truck? Is it still heaved up?

[mxzwalleyeman]

Can you still drive on with trucks at the beach?

[ran7ger]

 not good news but i hear from a few guys it's tough sluggin and slow fishing.  probably have to travel a long ways down the lake to get away from the crowds.

[canada]

my folks and a friend went past wknd  6 fish all day    no thanks

[jackslayer]

Heard it was still slow on the weekend.  Anyone been doing good there?  I have been expecting it to pick up by now especially with the warmer weather but not from what I've been hearing.

[Instro_Mental]

slow day yesterday.

heaves are making it a b***h to drive around too.

I did however try and new spot for awhile and had action on the sonar but no bites - deep.

[ShawnR]

Saw a pic on facebook of a guy who had about 15 big pike on the ice from this past weekend so they must be biting somewhere out there.

[bigk]

Cleaning the nets out?

[ran7ger]

 and that right there sums up why the fishing is slow.  back to where the lake was 10-15 years ago but this time we can't blame the nets.

[ShawnR]

Cleaning the nets out?

I don't think so.  It appeared he was fishing with rod & reel.

[bigk]

Would be curious to know how many people actually practice C&R. Not very often I take anything home. I just enjoy getting out there and feeling the tug. Your right though ran7ger them bigger ones need to breed not take a nap on the ice. Don't criticize people for keeping fish, just what fish they keep.

[ran7ger]

 you got that right bigk.  i like the 3-5lbers, fresh not frozen.  many don't follow the size regulations out there and some of the c.o's i've ran into didn't even know such regs existed or didn't care to enforce them.  i've heard people justify bonking fish because fuel was expensive to drive up from saskatoon, had to make it worth it.  give your head a shake.

[bigk]

The fresh air and trees are worth the fuel for myself.

[Mr. H.H. Blower]

I saw that picture with the 15 big pike on the ice.  It looked like rod and reel / tip up.   It was still pretty sad.  I would be pissed if i fished that lake. I am sure it was legal though so nothing can be done.

[jackslayer]

The more people I fish with the more I see that not many like to throw fish back.  I just like getting out and trying to catch a few and enjoy a nice lunch out there.  Maybe bring 1 back for supper but I'm not slab hungry like most.  I've been with a group of guys before that I had to take a quick pic of a 12 lb and release it when they weren't looking and defend myself and say it's my fish so I can choose to throw it back. 

[LOTALOTA]

I know the feeling I released about a ten pound pike out of bittern and the group I was with thought I was crazy.  I was pretty stoked to put that big girl back
besides you are only allowed one pike over 75 cm. the blatant abuse of this regulation is sad

[Mr. H.H. Blower]

Its kind of amazing the fisheries are still producing as much as they do even though i personally have seen big declines year after year most recently. The pike in the picture we are talking about are all over 75.  Or sure look like it. But its his right so no biggie.

[Instro_Mental]

I think the locals up there keep whatever they want.

as long as they are eating it, I am fine with it.

plus Montreal lake is 50km long by roughly 10km wide - there is a tonnnnnn of fish in there. the northern 2/3's of the lake see's no action. plus this lake has no summer pressure.

[Mr. H.H. Blower]

I have never fished Montreal, i was more referring to south of Montreal. 

Growing up 20-30 years ago the rumour was always that Montreal was fished out at one time.  Was that true?

[LOTALOTA]

that is why the walleye limit on montreal is one fish and bittern and weyakwin are three to help the fishery recover

[jackslayer]

It is the mindset of people that may never change.  How do you tell people that they should not take so many or so many big ones?  It won't change until the law changes and by then it's usually too late.

[Timetofish]

I think the locals up there keep whatever they want.

as long as they are eating it, I am fine with it.

plus Montreal lake is 50km long by roughly 10km wide - there is a tonnnnnn of fish in there. the northern 2/3's of the lake see's no action. plus this lake has no summer pressure.

Go talk to them when they are pulling nets, it's illegal but they will sell you all the fish you want any size. Cash buys traditional food, KFC! It's wrong