Whether you are a veteran angler or a fishing newbie, the vast waters of the Bay of Quinte provide a massive playground with many species to pursue.
Stretching in a rough “Z” shape between Trenton on the west and Amherst Island on the east, the Bay of Quinte draws anglers from all around the world. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the great fishing here. The waters produce some of the largest walleye in North America, and the Bay is also a largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing hotspot.
Beyond the bass and trophy walleye, the list of fish species found in The Bay is large and diverse, including northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, common carp, longnose gar, freshwater drum (also commonly referred to as sheepshead), bluegill, pumpkinseed, white bass, catfish, rainbow trout, and more. During late summer and early fall, chinook salmon migrate up some of the rivers found along the Bay to spawn. There have even been tales of the odd muskellunge roaming these waters.
The most popular sport fish on the Bay are the largemouth and smallmouth bass and the walleye.
BASS
Bass are a predatory species that feed on baitfish, crawfish, frogs and insects. They’ll even eat small snakes, waterfowl, and rodents when provided with an opportunity for an easy meal. There are endless techniques that can be used to catch both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
FISHING FOR BASS
When going after bass, ChatterBaits are an effective technique for covering water. Run this lure overtop of submerged vegetation, along the outside edges of weed lines, or even cast towards shorelines and around structures such as docks or fallen trees. You would typically run a 40- pound test braided main line with a 20-pound test fluorocarbon leader.
A Texas rig is a popular fishing setup that involves attaching a soft plastic bait to a specially designed hook, which is then weighted with a bullet-shaped sinker. With all the vegetation and submerged structures throughout the Bay, this approach is effective, as it doesn’t get caught up as much, as opposed to presentations with an exposed hook. There are a wide variety of soft plastics that can be Texas-rigged – creature-style baits, craw baits, and various styles of worms. You should run a 50- pound test braided main line with a 20-pound test fluorocarbon leader.
Bass fishing tournaments are held on the Bay of Quinte each season. These events provide participants with an opportunity to compete against some of the best anglers from Ontario (and beyond) and a chance to win major cash and prizes.
WALLEYE
A unique population of walleye exists in the Bay of Quinte. They spend roughly half the year roaming the open water expanses of Lake Ontario in search of food, and the other half in the confines of the Bay itself.
During late summer into early fall, walleye begin making their journey from Lake Ontario into the Bay of Quinte. They then spend the next several months feeding as they stage to spawn the following spring. As the walleye congregate in great numbers within the Bay, anglers have a chance to target these Lake Ontario-calibre fish when they are most concentrated. Spawning activity takes place early in the spring throughout the Bay, with the majority of the walleye spawning in the connecting rivers and creeks.
Not all walleye return to Lake Ontario post-spawn, and a population remains in the Bay throughout the year. The larger females are often migratory and make their way back out to the big lake immediately after releasing their eggs. It is less common to catch what is considered a larger “trophy” walleye during the spring and early summer months, but it certainly happens. Late summer through winter is the prime time for catching a true trophy fish.
FISHING FOR WALLEYE
Walleye can be caught on a wide range of techniques. Their diet consists mainly of baitfish, small fish, insects, and crustaceans.
CASTING | Early in the spring, you can cast for walleye using a jig with a curly tailed grub, or a buck tail jig.
Throw these jigs along the outside edge of weedlines or even pull them through vegetation, if it’s not overly thick. Use a spinning rod combo for this with a 10–20 pound test braid and a 8–10 pound test fluorocarbon leader.
TROLLING | When it comes to pursuing the big migratory walleye that are pelagic (not relating to bottom or structure ), an effective fishing style is to troll using crankbaits. This provides the opportunity to cover more water than would be possible when casting. These fish are often suspended in the water column just like some of the baitfish they pursue. There are a number of factors at play when it comes to successful trolling out in the Bay, including speed, direction, depth, lure colour and action. There’s also additional equipment that offers a more efficient experience: Planer boards help get lures farther away from the boat and can keep lines organized when running multiple lines. They also provide a visual indication of when a fish bites. Line counter reels help with determining how deep lures are running (in conjunction with tools such as the Precision Trolling Data smartphone app). Having sonar also helps to key in on baitfish as walleye are not usually too far behind.
Over the past few years, catch-photo-release style tournaments have increased in popularity. The Quinte Gold Series hosts two such events each year – one in the spring and the other in the fall.
Scott Walcott runs the Quinte Gold Series events. Walcott is connected to the Bay of Quinte through this tournament series, but also owns and operates Bay of Quinte Charters, and the Picton Harbour Inn.
FISHING CHARTERS
Whether you’re a veteran angler or getting out fishing for the first time, one of the best ways to learn the ins and outs of the Bay is through hiring an experienced fishing charter operator. Scott Walcott is one of the captains who welcomes guests aboard his boat for the Bay of Quinte fishing experience. With the abundance of walleye opportunities during spring, late summer, and the fall months, guests are in for a real treat aboard his 34-foot KingFisher boat, which includes a fully enclosed cabin and even has a washroom on board.
“It provides for a really comfortable experience,” he says, “especially for somebody who may not have the proper clothing or be an avid outdoor enthusiast. We also appeal to the hardcore angler who is accustomed to being outdoors and fishes a lot. The boat gives us the option to appeal to a wide demographic, including corporate groups and families.”
Walcott lights up when talking about the walleye fishery and loves introducing others to this special experience: “I have been fishing the Bay now for over 20 years and it never ceases to amaze me. I still get excited when I see those big beautiful walleye coming out of the depths and I get to put them in the net and watch the smiles this provides to the anglers. Having such a fishery right at our doorstep in conjunction with the boat and the accommodations really is an incredible blessing.
“A typical day is from 7am to 3pm and all equipment, bait, and tackle is provided. Guests just need to show up with appropriate clothing and a fishing licence, and we take care of the rest.”
EXPERT ADVICE
The technical aspect of fishing can be overwhelming to a beginner or to someone who is used to just tossing a line into the river off the end of the dock. Luckily there is no end of advice available from the many tackle and outfitting shops in the area. Go in armed with questions; the staff are usually very knowledgeable and helpful.
If you are new to fishing here or are planning a trip, be sure to check out the latest Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary for Fisheries Management Zone 20, which outlines the rules and regulations for fishing on the Bay of Quinte. Learn more at: ontario.ca/fishing There’s a handy interactive map put together by Angler’s Atlas, where users have dropped pins indicating the location of boat launches on a map of the area. This map can be found at: anglersatlas.com/place/186141/bayof-quinte
If you’re trailering a boat, public and private boat launches are scattered throughout the area. Local municipalities often have boat launch information listed on their websites.
The Quinte Fishing Charters website is a great resource for visitors looking to book a fishing trip and includes links to the charter operators who berth their vessels at the Picton Harbour Inn docks. This website can be found at: QuinteFishingCharters.com
Whether you’re angling from shore, from a boat, hoping for bass, walleye or a dozen other species, if you haven’t cast a line in the Bay of Quinte yet, this season could be your time to catch the big one. Best of luck!
TACKLE SHOPS
Looking to pick up some fishing gear for a trip out on the Bay? Great news, as there are plenty of local tackle shops and tackle retailers throughout this region. The shops will give you the low-down on “what’s hot,” the best lures, techniques, as well as the must-have gear. A few of these local tackle shops and retailers include:
In Quinte West:
Canadian Tire
Lucky Plus Live Bait & Tackle
In Belleville:
High Falls Outfitters
Pro Tackle
Chesher’s Outdoor Store
Canadian Tire
Bay of Quinte Bait and Tackle
Rovic Custom Rods
Rawfish
In Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory:
All Things Outdoors
Pro Advantage Sports and Hobbies
Bay of Quinte Bait N Tackle
In Deseronto:
Sammy’s Bait N Tackle
In Napanee:
Canadian Tire
Baker’s Baits
Dew Drop In Bait and Tackle
Greater Napanee Gunworks
Story by:
Ashley Rae
