DON’T HAVE A BOAT? THEN HIRE A GUIDE!
There is a way for anyone to enjoy a chance at a fish of a lifetime and that is to head to the town of Picton in the late fall, and hire a guiding service to help put you on to the possible Walleye of a lifetime. The convenience of this is perfect. You can drive up for a single day on the water or you can spend a night or two in this quaint little town and take in the nostalgia along with some great fishing.
I have personally dealt with Scott and David Walcott of Bay of Quinte Charters, as well as Kevin and Jennifer Lavers of Merland Park Cottages, and both companies, will accommodate you in the fishing as well as a place to stay over.
I will warn you though, this is their busiest time of year, so booking them early is a must.
With Bay of Quinte Charters, you are hiring “the lap of luxury” in both fishing and accommodations. If you need a place to stay, they own the Picton Harbour Inn, a great facility with a small restaurant. As for the fishing they run two amazing boats that almost look like they should be on the BC coast. They’re big. That said, they’re also perfect for that angler that needs to tuck into a heated cabin to warm up, eat lunch or maybe even catch a quick 5-minute nap. When a fish is encountered, Scott or David will bark at you during your slumber and steer you as to what rod is hooked up and how to fight the fish. It truly is luxury.
As for Merland Park, they offer a series of great cottage/cabins (no restaurant, however, Picton has lots) and Kevin runs a more traditional Walleye fishing outfit in that you can hire him and his fully equipped 22’ Walleye tournament boat, or you can rent a boat and head out on your own. If you chose the guided option, Kev will definitely put you onto fish. If you chose the latter, he will direct you to where the fish are currently biting and as well, show you what baits are working best. Either way, you will receive the best information in the area.
There is a third option here as well, a group of guiding businesses that work out of Picton Harbour Inn. In no particular order:
https://www.quintewalleyefishingcharters.com/
https://homewreckercharters.ca/
http://www.bayofquintewalleyefishing.com/
https://www.fishfindercharters.com/
http://www.mealonareelcharters.com/
I BEG OF YOU
The best time to try this crazy fishing scenario is late October and up until freeze-up (usually into December). Yes, it does last this long, I once fished here out of my boat the week before Christmas!
This is where the begging comes in:
Walleye Limit: Sport License – 4 fish and Conservation – 2 fish; not more than 1 greater than 63 cm or 24.8 inches on either license.
PLEASE let all the big fish back into the water. There is no need in this modern-day to keep a trophy-sized Walleye. If you are looking for a wall hanger and happen to land it, take a couple of quick pictures along with a quick length and girth measurement (be fast these fish will perish quickly) and release the mighty beast. Then go online to places like Advanced Taxidermy where they will give you a quote on a replica mount and if you go through with the deal, will have an exquisite piece of art ready for you once done. And the best part is your fish is still alive and probably going to contribute to the next spring’s spawn.
WHERE TO LAUNCH YOUR BOAT
If by chance you have a boat, then the most popular boat launch is right in the town of Picton. It is an excellent launch however it can get slippery if iced over from boats going in and out. Fortunately, regulars there will salt the ramp keeping it operable throughout the late fall. Unfortunately, Picton Bay is the first area to freeze over, so this launch ultimately becomes unusable.
The next best alternative is a small launch on the Kingston side of the Glenora Ferry (opposite the Picton side). Although this launch freezes in as well, it has much easier access to the water you will be fishing. Again, locals keep it in decent shape and they usually run a path of broken ice, which leads to Walleye heaven.
The last option is in the town of Bath, which quite a boat ride from the Ferry area but is still do-able on a nice calm day.
CONCLUSION
The Bay of Quinte in Ontario is without a doubt, one of the best Walleye fisheries in the world. If you can stay on the fish all season long, you will have a tremendous year.
That said, the late-fall Walleye fishery is where Quinte really shines. Numbers of gigantic Walleye have been and will continue to be caught by hard-core anglers braving the elements. It truly is the one spot that a fishing dream “catch” can come true.
If you decide to give it a try, dress warm, fish safely, and be ready to possibly see some of the biggest Walleye you’ve ever encountered.
Good luck and have fun!
LINKS OF INTEREST FOR LATE SEASON QUINTE WALLEYE
https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-20
A huge jigging fish
A crazy boys weekend
Greetings !!! Pete
I have not visited the Bay of Pigs in about 6 years or so. Mostly because of time restraints but also because things have changed so drastically up there.And now Global warming is going to wreak havock with water temps and we both know how crucial that is to targeting those Big ! Gals on the BOQ. I booked a 2 day charter 3 night stay with Scott and I was pumped !!!! until I read this article about water temps being off as well as the prediction of High winds and Rough waters throughout Oct /Nov .I have had charters cancelled before and it’s a downright bummer when it happens.Hopefully that will not be the case this year.We will be up there on Nov 15 16 17 hope to see you there once again.I have a ? Pete. As kids we used to fish for eyes using Canadian Wigglers.For this years trip I packed several T-60 flatfish single hook models and will tip with 4 inch plastic grub curly tails.I just cannot imagine one of those Big Girls not smacking this set up.What is your take on it ??? Take care and stay safe on the water and hope to see you up at Quinte during our time period.
Best regards
Michael
Hey Michael remember Scott runs huge boats that are heated… conditions are easily dealt with!
Pete, I mean the T-60 Flatfish
Regards
Michael
Pete,in referance to your Hawk Lake article.I watched My Fishing Guru Big AL LINDNER just hammer those big Hawk Lake walleye by way of a Rapala jigging rap.
Regards
Michael
Hey Michael, yeah Jigging Raps are so much fun to use for open water Walleye. As for the big Flatfish, I’ve only used that size for Lake Trout but I can see it working for giant Walleye as well… interesting!!!!
Greetings Pete,
Just thought I would give you an update on my groups trip to the BAY of PIGS.
3 night sleepover 2 day Charter Nov 16-17
with Lt.Dave Walcott.We cannot adequately put into words just how much !!! we enjoyed this man’s company and knowledge for 2 days on the water.Just an incredible soul.
Water temps hovered between 49 + change to 53 + change. Lost a fish that had some serious weight to it,probably could have been my PB, we nailed 2 tens
a few fives and some nice eaters in the 3.5 to 4 lb range.All fish came off of Down Deep RAPS in custom colours that I have never seen before.And yes Purple Purple and more Purple still seems to be the #1 ticket.All fish were nailed just past the Lighthouse up until about 3/4 of the way to the Power Plants.I brought a huge assortment of Reef Runners with me and Dave would not touch them with a 10 foot pole LOL.He does not trust them.Yet every Pig that I nailed up there came off of a Reef Runner except for 1 that hit a Live Target pearch.Like what !!!!! ever happened to classic Walleye slayers like Cordel’s Wally Divers , Wally minnows,
You never hear anybody using them though I did notice a Cordel Rippling Redfin hanging on one of the boat’s rods.
Dave said he loves that lure.Anyhow here is my update and If you should make it up there,Good luck and stay safe on the water.One more thing,kindly please ask your viewers to get more involved in helping the Lake Ontario Management Unit ( Picton ) fill out more Volunteer Angler Diary’s. I am from Montreal so if I help all of the time anglers in Ontario should do so as well.Only takes a little time but goes a long way in helping them out. CHEERS PETE ?
Wow Michael thanks for this, what a fantastic update!
The Walcott boys are such awesome people. Extremely knowledgeable and passionate about fishing (not just Walleye). And those boats are something else eh???
I found it funny that David won’t touch the Runners… that’s hilarious.
Thanks again and Cheers back at cha’!
2 more cents LOL
Why oh Why do anglers shy away trolling for eyes using all black or all white deep divers.Absolute classic Walleye colours.I can spend and entire week in Northern Manitoba with a supply of black curlytails and white curlytails and hammer all species.
I’ll bet you would have a hard time finding an all black or white trolling crank for Walleye. There are some but not many. As you stated above, with all the new “custom” colors plus all the standard’s, nothing is simply black & white any more.
Check out ! Reefrunner 800 series Nurse Betsy and Dr.Dreadfull.Also YO-ZURI Chrystal Minnow Deep Diver pure white.
Yes there boats are awesome.
I have fished several times on
the 26 ft Wooldridge.Nothing written in stone yet,But Scott
more than likely will sell off the 26
and scale down to a 1 boat Charter.I think that running West Lake & Picton Harbour Inn plus a 2 boat charter is beginning to tire them out a wee bit.
Cheers