Muskie Fishing in Byng Inlet
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Muskie Fishing in Byng Inlet |
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Sawmill
Lodge has a unique set of advantages that combine to present one of the best
muskellunge fishing opportunities in Ontario.
The
first advantage is the sheer quantity of muskie present in this water body.
A Ministry of Natural Resources survey conducted during May 2002 revealed
a thriving and strong population of the elusive game fish.
The minimum "keep" size here (Division 16) is a whopping 54
inches - truly this is trophy territory.
The
second advantage is our lodge itself, which is conveniently situated on one of
the most productive stretches of muskie waters to be found anywhere.
Anglers can troll for their prize while always remaining in sight of the
lodge; in fact, several notable catches have been made from our dock...
sometimes by unsuspecting folks who intended to hook a pike.
Their expressions tend to be priceless.
The
MNR Survey
From
May 12 to June 06, 2002, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Upper Great
Lakes Management Unit conducted a Muskellunge Spawning Survey on the waters of
Byng Inlet, where the Magnetawan and Still Rivers join Georgian Bay.
Using
four nets in eleven different locations, 100 sets of catches were examined.
A total of 153 muskies were captured.
The details of the catches are listed in the following table:
| Species | Total Catch | Mean Qty/Set | % of Total |
| Redhorse Sucker | 4061 | 40.61 | 74.39 |
| Rock Bass | 350 | 3.5 | 6.41 |
| White Sucker | 210 | 2.1 | 3.85 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 172 | 1.72 | 3.15 |
| Brown Bullhead | 168 | 1.68 | 3.08 |
| Muskellunge | 153 | 1.53 | 2.8 |
| Channel Catfish | 84 | 0.84 | 1.54 |
| Northern Pike | 71 | 0.71 | 1.3 |
| Walleye | 63 | 0.63 | 1.15 |
| Longnose Gar | 63 | 0.63 | 1.15 |
| Pumpkinseed | 29 | 0.29 | 0.53 |
| Bowfin | 23 | 0.23 | 0.42 |
| Yellow Perch | 8 | 0.08 | 0.15 |
| Common Carp | 1 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Largemouth Bass | 1 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Alewife | 1 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Lake Herring | 1 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
Additionally,
the survey sampled 47 females ranging from 11 to 51 lb in weight, and 67 males
ranging from 6.6 to 28 lb. The
largest female was 54.3 inches long, and the longest male was 46.2 inches.