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dedgrass

04/27/2010 11:58AM

Posted earlier in the fishing forum.
Two paddlers going into Falls Chain June 23 for 9 days. Looking to go after walleye and smallies. I've heard so much good stuff about the fishing and am looking for bait advice.
I'm bringing in a Pirhana locator.
Bought some Gulp Alive leeches and Emerald Shiners as a start.
Personal tackle on hand- buzzbaits, plenty of jerk type baits as well as jigs & soft plastics.
Anything in particular that the group would recommend to customize my tackle plan?
Thanks in advance!

Dedgrass

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LOW

Guest Paddler

05/17/2010 10:37AM

"Walk the dog" with a Zarra Spook and hang on. If you like smallies on top water you'll love the Spook.

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LOW

Guest Paddler

05/17/2010 10:41AM

Just a little add on...you can catch everything on a quarter ounce jig with a 3 inch twister tail, my outfitter told me years ago that Kawnipi was idiot proof...any idiot can catch a fish..I proved him right...lol

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fishguts

05/17/2010 11:03AM

Early and late in the day try some topwater plugs along the shorelines especially near downed trees and cover.

fishguts

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bulldawg

05/27/2010 05:57PM

Ded,

What's your route plan as far as 1st night, 2nd night, etc.?

Those who don't listen - feel"

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dedgrass

05/28/2010 04:08PM

quote bulldawg: "Ded,

What's your route plan as far as 1st night, 2nd night, etc.?"

Hey Bulldawg,

We really haven't gotten too far into the route planning stage.
How long will it take us to get to Kennebas Falls?
We're being towed from Seagull Outfitters to the Cache Bay Ranger Station.
Typically, we don't try to set any speed records while on the water- usually we'll paddle at a leisurely pace and possibly fish a bit on the back side of a portage if it looks good.
I'm really starting to get fired up for this trip- only 26 days to go!

Dedgrass

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bulldawg

05/29/2010 10:51PM

i hear ya dedgrass. we are too.

I have never been to Kawnipi this way before so I can't tell you but I posted a question on the trip planning section relative to that. I think we'll take it easy the first day and stay at one of the campsites after deadmans portage and then head into Kawnipi the next day fishing the fall chain as we go. If the fishing and area suits us we may even camp at Kenny and go on to Mackenzie Bay the next day. All depends on our state of mind, weather, etc. We have plenty of time just like you.

Those who don't listen - feel"

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BLee

05/30/2010 05:02PM

Hey dedgrass,
make sure, if you are going to be fishing a bit on your way through, you fish just past the narrow area down from silver falls.

You will pass through the out flow from the falls then turn the corner heading west through the small narrow area, where there is some current. just past this it is pretty deep, I want to say like 60 foot. use some jigs and hang on. we had great luck there 2 years ago. The water temp was pretty cold though. good luck. We will be going through there on the 21st.

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dedgrass

05/30/2010 10:12PM

quote BLee: "Hey dedgrass,
make sure, if you are going to be fishing a bit on your way through, you fish just past the narrow area down from silver falls.

You will pass through the out flow from the falls then turn the corner heading west through the small narrow area, where there is some current. just past this it is pretty deep, I want to say like 60 foot. use some jigs and hang on. we had great luck there 2 years ago. The water temp was pretty cold though. good luck. We will be going through there on the 21st."

Hey BLee,
Thanks for the tips, we'll definitely check out that deep water.
How long will you be out? We're entering on the 23rd for 9 days. There will be two of us in a white Wenonah Spirit. If you happen to see us, wave a paddle and we can stop for a chat.
Best of luck to you!

Dedgrass

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BLee

05/31/2010 09:05AM

We will be base camping past deadmans portage somewhere. Maybe too the east a little farther. Out for 6 days. We may day trip to the falls chain I will keep an eye out for your white canoes. Can't wait either

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Mad Birdman

06/01/2010 10:28PM

Dedgrass,

I'll be in the very same area just a week before you (we come out the 18th). I would say a "fishing" pace would get you to Kawnipi in two days from Cache Bay. One decent place to stop is on Sidney Lake, maybe near to the entrance to Wet Lake. We have had good fishing in the rapids between Wet and Sidney, even from shore.

Kawnipi is really an awesome fishery which is why we're going back. The water is quite tannin-stained, which means that the walleyes will bite anytime of day usually. Huge pike roam those waters also. Smallie fishing is also good to excellent there at times. It is one of the best fishing lakes in my opinion, and in that of several others.

McEwen will be a different challenge: it has clearer water and is much deeper. There is good smallie fishing around the downed timber there, and lakers can be caught in the deep areas. We plan to get our walleye and pike itch scratched on Kawnipi, and hit the other two species on McEwen.

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dedgrass

06/02/2010 12:18AM

Mad Birdman,
Thanks so much for the tips. I am so stoked about getting up in those waters!

Dedgrass

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dedgrass

06/04/2010 10:24PM

Hey Mad Birdman,
You mentioned Sydney Lake- I'm having trouble finding it on my McKenzie map. Could you help me out?
Thanks!
Ded

Dedgrass

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jwmichel

06/08/2010 10:30AM

One bit of warning about Kawnipi. We just returned from there and found the southern half of the lake is difficult to find a campsite due to the fire of 1995. There is significant tree growth but it is so thick it is nearly unpenatrable. Plan to camp north of the labeled pictographs (which we could not find on the rocks).

There are still plenty of fish up there. We used a daredevil and caught a fair number of pike and released them back. Also saw several other fish swimming under the boat as we paddled over them. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

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Kiporby

06/08/2010 12:06PM

quote dedgrass: "Hey Mad Birdman,
You mentioned Sydney Lake- I'm having trouble finding it on my McKenzie map. Could you help me out?
Thanks!
Ded"

Sydney Lake is between Bald Rock Falls, Little Falls, and Wet Lake.

There is a light and it never goes out. Morrissey

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Mad Birdman

06/10/2010 07:59PM

Yes, I think that "Sydney Lake" is a newer name for the wide part of the flowage that is on the map just west of Wet Lake.

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dedgrass

06/10/2010 09:54PM

Thanks for the info!

Dedgrass

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