wanting to fish dog lake

[nofishnoluck]

how do i get access to dog lake for crappie fishing? i'm not looking to drive onto the lake i would prefer a spot i can park and walk on the ice thanks for any help or info.

[keenej]

The easiest place with the shortest walk would be Gilmore Point.  From Battersea road, turn east at the store on Wellington Street.  Drive about 5 km to the end of the road and park at the beach parking and walk down the steep icy slope (maybe fall a few times) and you're there!  You could also park at the boat launch parking and access shipyard bay which is just before the beach.  The whole bay is shallow and weedy until you get past the point where it transitions to about 15 feet, then 25 for about 100 meters before getting deeper.   If you access at the beach and walk north- turn left,  the entire bay from shore about 100 meters out or more is all shallow and weedy.  Another place to access is Burnt Hills road.  There's a plowed lay-by and path through some bull rushes.  You start out in a shallow bay.  Beyond the bay it's about 40 ft.  Then if you walk to the far side of the lake it's as deep as 175 ft.

[nofishnoluck]

thanks keenej.

can you have a chance at splake while off the beach? about how far out for crappie? and about  what time should i start fishing, not to familour with dog lake first time there besides swimming at the beach in the summer time, thanks again for any info, and about how deep should i fish looking at going tommorow.

[nofishnoluck]

how much ice is off the beach or the shipyard any open places to watch for? i was told there was a open spot off ormsbree road that could swallow a 4 wheeler by the ice huts, any other unsafe spots? or any near where you have told me about?

[keenej]

Well, every where I have been the ice has been very thick this year- like I have to bury my entire auger to make a hole.  I haven't measured it for a few weeks but I'm guessing it's got to be around 20" thick.  I don't know of any dangerous areas on Dog but I usually assume any areas where there could be increased current such as in a narrows or in shallow water where springs could erode the ice might be dangerous. 

Splake are definitely caught in the Gilmore area but I think the deeper north end of the lake is better because it has ideal conditions for splake.  Now it might sound contradictory but I catch more splake in 15- 35 fow then say 100 fow.  They like deep water but they come into shallow water.  I usually mark more fish in deep water but find it harder to entice them whereas if you just set up in say 25 fow, the splake will usually come eventually and when they appear they will be very aggressive.  Now I don't catch fish every time out so I'm sure I do lots of things wrong.  When I'm bored or cold, sometimes I start moving around looking for fish but often when I start that I end up skunked.  I figure drilling and stomping around probably spooks everything nearby all the while I don't have lines in the water.  Location and extreme patience are both important.  Set up near a steep drop and be patient.  A flasher is useful because it will tell you when the fish arrive and if they are checking out your jig.  They are known for schooling, so when they turn on it can be very exciting.  They are a very on/off fish.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
 

[nofishnoluck]

looking for ice conditions dog lake at gilmore road or the beach.

[keenej]

very thick. cancel your gym membership or buy a gas auger

[nofishnoluck]

lmao thanks i went out the other day, went for crappie but couldn't find any was fishing out by the white perma hut at shipyard bay, any idea's what depth there in? what there hitting on and what time of day ruffly, i went out at about 12 stayed till 4 got none.

[keenej]

I'd love to help you out with that but I really only trout fish.  I hear of people crappie fishing on Dog and doing well but I don't know a lot about them. 

[sig]

I think you will find the crappie at the far end of the lake, the access is from the brass point road down near the bridge, there is a wide spot on the road to park,  its a long walk out to the fishing spots,  look for other pers fishing.