Silver Dollar Area Ontario

Just interested to see if anyone fishes this area of Ontario. My group will be making it's 12th trip to the area later this summer. We stay at Moose Creek Camp about 8 miles north of Silver Dollar. We fish a number of different lakes in this area. Some of our favorites are Wintering, Sowden, Sturgeon, Young and Watcomb. I would enjoy comparing ideas and stories with fisherman who have spent time in this area. JEP

Rnel,   Life happens, sorry to hear you had some challenges.  Looks like you made the best of it.  Nice pictures.  Reminded me of years a go coming through Duluth, Boat in front of us was T-boned and totaled.   Trip over before it started.

Just got fishing was ok not great. Had issues some hit the boat on the freeway 20 miles from home so had to go a day later also two had death in family so went home after two days of fishing, so we had two fish 4 in boat and it was windy all week. Did good on walleyes in cobb bay and soaking for trout was good. Smallmouth we biting like usual and we went to elva the last day and got some walleyes.

Selbert,
I don't know anything about Barrel but Sowden has some big smallies, pike and walleyes. Looks like quite a trek from Cozy Camp but I've always enjoyed our trips to Sowden. We stopped going there a few years ago because the landing situation was a hassle for us. The biggest walleye I've ever seen was lost at the boat on Sowden. Well over 10 pounds cut off when it made a last run under the motor. We just sat there in shock! 🤬

Thanks for the Sturgeon Lake input guys.  One other question for anyone with some experience.  We were thinking of putting in on the English River near Cozy Camp.  The target species would be smallies but also don't wanna miss out on walleye or big pike opportunities.  Up stream or downstream?  And are people fishing the river or is it just a way to get into Barrel Lake? Thanks for any info.  

Wow rnel, that is early season fishing for sure! Are the lakers up shallow? Always wanted to try casting spoons to them up shallow in early Spring and late Fall! Have a great week and stay warm! 🥶

Up here right now water seems to be normal or same as last last year.

Anyone know what water levels on lakes around Silver Dollar are this spring? Heading up next Friday. 

Thanks 

Awesome Guided! Can't thank you enough! I will report back after the trip! I ended up purchasing the Navionics chip after a conversation with the resort owner and other people who fish the area. - Dodger

Dodger I was not successful in trying to create a map, the scale is just far to large for the level of detail.  It's about an hour run on plane to get up to Nipigon Bay so a large amount of map required.  As early as it is once you get into Nipigon bay there is a small stream coming in which would be back left of the bay as you go in.  If there is enough water to get in, there is a beautiful spring pool, and a cascading falls that can be fast for spring walleye.  There is a nasty rock with a lot of aluminum in current on it on the first right bend if you can get past it your home free to get back to the pool.  Also if the water is up go even further up and circle back into Black Bay, slow go shallow water to get back in there.  Another good spring time spot.   Good luck.  When in doubt go slow.   

That would be awesome Guided! I was able to access that map site this time. Thank you!
I am also looking into the feature on my Lowrance called C-Maps Genesis. It allows me to create a new map as I travel the lake. It saves it to a blank Micro SD Card. Should be fun to play around with up there after we establish our safe routes. Thanks again for all the help! Counting down the days now!

https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/fishonline/Index.html?viewer=FishONLine.FishONLine&locale=en-CA&extent=-11839811.15785715%252C4552977.252236987%252C-7896883.490795665%252C7654486.111935475

Not sure if that is any better should at least get you to the disclaimer page.  I do know the path coming from Horizontal bay up to Nipigon and on up to Black Bay which may be a better location for you early as it is.  A lot of shallow water that warms quickly and draws the spring walleye.   Your going to be coming across water on the North west side that I typically stay out of until you either get to the Canadian Flag / reef, or turn the corner at Rainbow to head up into the North east arm.  

My only concern is even if I tried to draw it on a map the width of my line and the scale of the map would probably only be general at best. For the most part there is a lot of safe water as long as you don't cut any corners.  There are a few locations that you just need to be careful until you find the slot to pass through.

Heading out shortly here for a couple weeks fishing,  If I can figure out how to put a map together for you to at least show my general path.  I know there are hazards marked on My GPS mapping that I may be overlooking.   I can maybe show you the spots to at least slow down and be careful from my memory.  How low the water is can be a factor as well.  Will see what I can come up with Dodger.

I am unable to access that link for some reason. Will do on the unicorn chip😂 . My group is asking if you might know a safe route up into the NE Arm and also into Nipigon Bay? Are there major hazards to look out for?

Thanks!

Dodger,  I use this to research routes, by no means are the depth contours very valuable but once in satellite view and having the resolution down to 40 meters you can often see reefs and rocks below the surface that will not show up on any mapping chip.   I then pull the Lat Lon coordinates from the app for the hazards and reefs and have entered them in my GPS.  It's tedious but has given me some valuable insight into hazards and marking routes up into the various channels coming out of Horizontal Bay, and across the north end past Rainbow and up into Northeast Arm,  East bay, and over to Covington Island ie the docks area.

https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/fishonline/Index.html?viewer=FishONLine.FishONLine&locale=en-CA&extent=-10099459.043621361%252C6450838.616641047%252C-10095608.528321393%252C6453867.433886928&layers=0vBHO%2F1aoGjj0OzgHB3B6Jhu3LBcJ230AslE">https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/fishonline/Index.html?viewer=FishONLine.FishONLine&locale=en-CA&extent=-10099459.043621361%252C6450838.616641047%252C-10095608.528321393%252C6453867.433886928&layers=0vBHO%2F1aoGjj0OzgHB3B6Jhu3LBcJ230AslE

Takes a little to get used to the site but if have found useful information here.   If you find that unicorn mapping chip for Sturgeon do share.

It's getting down to crunch time and I need to buy a mapping chip for my Lowrance Elite 12ti. I am most interested in Sturgeon Lake and the surrounding lakes around Silver Dollar and north. I have been doing research on the internet and coming up empty. It looks like the Navionics shows very little detail. Does anyone that fishes these lakes have a similar Lowrance unit and what chip do you use? Guided talked about the Lakemaster chip and said it doesn't have great detail either. Does anyone else have better results/detail with another mapping chip for lakes in this area?
Thanks in advance! - Dodger

​Rnel,  I am hopeful that you will have access to the main lake.  I see Horizontal bay where I stay is open, talking to our friends they confirmed they still could not get out to the main lake but believed it was on track to be open by next week.  They are life long residents of Sturgeon lake.   Good luck.