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

Anyone fish Penassi or Shiny? Wondering if the road is open to the public?

Booked at Vista Lake for the week of August 6.

They were good enough to push our 2020 deposit to 2021 and again to this year.

Good riddance, COVID. Can't wait!

It really depends on your definition of accessible and what size boat you are hauling.  There are a lot of places you can go with a beater 4X4 pickup and 14ft alum bare bones boat that I used to fished 40years ago that I would never get into or be willing to try with a 3/4 ton and 17.5ft heavy fully decked fishing boat.

We broke a lot of stuff, and scraped paint and dent boats and trucks that I just don't have the youth full enthusiasm for anymore.

Some of those trails no longer exist as they close and open over time with the logging.

There is a limitless supply of lakes all around Sturgeon lake especially when you get on the north and east side.  Many you have to haul a boat in for a short distance.  Sometime a landing is what you make it..  The fishing is good on all of them.

My group is very excited about returning to the Silver Dollar area. Like many of the folks in this forum, we've been fishing those waters for over a decade. We've been on every big lake I can think of.  My question is (without stealing someone's secret honey hole) what small lakes are accessible with truck and trailer that are worth exploring? Ellipse, Towers, Shanty, Pike, Moss, Niemi, Crescent, Shiny, etc.... Again, I'm not trying to reveal someone's hidden gem of walleye fortune. I would just like a little input on how difficult launching a boat is and can we find fish.

James you definitely will need an ice auger extension just to get through the ice. As far as the slush the main lake on sturgeon was fairly good I only saw slush/in a couple spots but when you ventured into the bays it was certainly present and if you have a 16 inch track I wouldn’t travel anywhere without snow shoes and a shovel. Typically when you get buried in the slush you can dig it out with the shovel and lift it back on top of the snow and walk along the side of the machine with the snowshoes for a distance until you get back onto decent material at least that’s what I found the snowshoes are a lifesaver. Sounds simple but quite often if you break through your in for a couple hours of hard work in the best case scenario. We had big plans where we wanted to try a couple other lakes besides Sturgeon Lake but once we got there our plans got realistic and we stayed put and it was enough work just to fish surgeon.

Hey Canada Bound..

Our group is leaving at the end of March and will be fishing on lakes near Silver Dollar. I've heard there is a lot of snow and ice where we should bring auger extensions along with some ropes and straps to get sleds freed from slush.  

I'm guessing there will still be enough snow to ride to the lakes we want to fish, but the idea of dealing with copious amounts of slush kind of puts a downer on the trip. We planned on exploring parts of the lake(s) we've not fished before. 

Oh well, I guess we'll just need to be a little more cautious and be certain we're prepared!

Any more tips or incite you could share related to the ice/slush in the area would be appreciated. 

Thanks in advance..

Jimmy Mac

I just got back Sunday from a short ice fishing trip on sturgeon lake. The ling cod fishing was excellent and the trout fishing was good too, it was cold and windy so that sucked. I used a auger extension. About 36 inches of ice and than slush and snow on top of that. I stayed on top of the slush with a 20 inch wide track but my friend got his sled with a 16 inch track buried    In the slush a few times.

Good to know, thanks. I'll keep checking for updates. Dad is 83 and never know when his last trip will be.  

Fetch-em,

Well I would not worry about the random screening at the border.  Having seen this in action.  You don't take the test at the border if you are selected you have 24hrs once you have already crossed the border to get on with Switch Heath and administer your self test.   Then drop at a purolator courier or coordinate for them to pick up from you.  By the time this takes place your test goes through the lab and they contact you or try, you are already a minimum of 3-4 + days into your trip.  So if you are false positive you are most likely almost done with your week, and just head home.  Likely hood of that places the odds heavily in your favor.

good luck

Truly miss our spring trip to the area!  With Dad in his mid 80s, not sure he can handle a week in a tent.  Might need to consider a resort, if the border is open without random testing.  Not worth worrying about a false positive test.........