Check out some of these pics from a partly successful Lake Trout bid to this area just S of Nestor falls in S Ontario this last week.  This was one beauty of a lake and we were the only ones out there best as I could tell.  I think I'm going back in the Spring!

We started at Sioux Narrows with hopes of trout fishing on Whitefish Bay/Regina Bay on Lake of the Woods.  Only to find out that the area is "Barbless and Baitless" for trout (at least in Winter).  That didn't turn my crank so we headed back S 20 miles and got local info from Baitshop on Kekagi lake.  The snow was over 3 feet deep on the ice with anywhere from 4 to 6 inches of water under that.  Was quite dangerous going out alone if you were pulling gear behind as we did.  We'd drop our tobaggans and pack a trail for a mile with the snowmobiles...then cross back with our load.  We managed to stay out of the slush and kept the machines running.  Our results?    One baby laker and one 2 pounder that will find it's way into my belly later this spring.  There was only 12-14 inches of ice (due to the heavy early snows, hence the water on top).

We could mark plenty of fish near the bottom from 40-70 feet.  They definatly weren't bitting though (at least not what we were giving them).  I was able, several times, to get a 4 pound fish to come off the bottom, follow my lure from 70 feet deep to just under my hole!  With our portable dark, we could actually see the fishes right under our feet through the holes!  If only I had a glove to grab 'em with!  Day two we downsized from trout jigs/spoons/ciscoes, to walleye jigs and minnows and landed two of 'em.

Here's a few pics (last one is my dad with a small one).

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A repeat trip just brought us back for another few days here.

If you've got a few days...and want some great ice action for Lakers...you gotta consider this place.  We brought in a 5 lb'er this year and lost many others.  During our 1 1/2 days actual on the ice, we had 7 larger fish on...only landed one.    My dad fought one for 10+ minutes...up and down 3 times in 60 feet of water... then to lose it!  The lake is quite clear and you can see near 30 feet down.  I think his fish was near 15 lb from my view down the hole....But alas, we were there during a "lull".  (As always), the hot action subsided in mid-Jan prior to our arrival.  We had many large ones on.

There are many large Lakers in this body of water.  The resort proprieter tells me these trout are a different sub-species than those in the Q.  Less fatty and oily.  They also seem to have a little different appearance to their head (snubby vs. hooked).  He swears these trout are much less fatty.  The ones we ate out of his fridge for supper can attest to that.  Nice red meat.  My 8 lber out of Pickerel this last summer was pure yellow meat. (perhaps this is all hype...just thought I'd throw that in).

You can access the lake via $5 to Hansens camp at the S end of the lake (includes parking).  The government (public) access is not maintained in winter and the lot is not cleared for parking, snow was 3 ft. deep in there.  Last year we stayed on our own at a Sioux Narrows hotel.  This year we stayed with Muskie Bay resort near N end of lake.  There are two outfitters on the lake open in the winter.  The outfitters will rent you any/partial/ or no equipment, including a room and a meal if you desire.  Bring your own snowmobiles, or 4-wheelers.  Muskie Bay took good care of us.  I gotta plan to canoe this place sometime this summer.  The lake is well known for it's Lakers, Muskie, and Smallies.
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Get your tackle/liscense at two bait shops in Nestor Falls.  One of them is not open on M/Tu.  The trout were just slamming large jigs/white tubes at 40-70 feet...some with a large minnow tipped.

Here's what I found weird.  We planned a third day on Sabaskong bay to ice-fish walleye on Lake of the Woods (just the other side of the road).  Those folks near "never" fish 'em in winter...the Crappie bight is quite hot just out of Nestor Falls and everyone focuses on them.  We couldn't even pay someone to tell us a hotspot for the winter 'eyes.  We spent another day and a half coming home out on LOW out of Baudette...10 miles out to pull in some 'eyes via a rental house from Adrian's out of Wheeler's point.

I'll post a couple of pics this next week.

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First is our rig fishing 70 feet of water off this point.  Ice was 8 inches!  We landed our only trout here...(a 3 lb'er).  We lost about 4 other BIG fish here.

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Fishing the mud flats in 45 feet.  Supposedly the trout lay in the mud and eat the mud worms.  Nothing ate our lures here.

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One of the prettiest ice sunrises I've ever seen...about 7AM or so on the North end of the lake.

nice pics wally ;D ;D.
i read with interest your comment about the laker having bright red meat, compared to the one out of Pickerel being yellow??
i've never fished Pickerel.
however any laker i've caught in the Q, had bright red meat, almost sweet tasting, similar to a Brookie??
i wonder if diet/water conditions accounts for this??
the Q lakers were somewhat "fatty" but that makes them perfect for grilling as they don't dry-out easily.

Hey Solo...

Interesting points.

I can only speculate as I have no formal training in fish ingestion.  I just "learned on the job" as to eating 'em!  The Laker I caught in Pickeral was just into the "Pickeral Narrows" in front of the first island as you paddle in from the east.  I caught in end of July....44 feet.  Water was steaming hot at the surface.  My depth finder sounded only 44 ft. for the depth through that part of the narrows.  The only reason I dropped the rusty 1 oz. jig was that the whole day was a dissapointment for other fishe's.  A guy on that island (in the background of pic) ( we ate lunch with him), told me of catching mid-summer trout out of that hole 10 years prior on his last trip there.

I landed the trout.  Strung it, towed it back to camp...about 45 minutes.  I figure it seemed to die and quit flopping on the stringer at about 20 minutes into the paddle home.  Fillited it 45 minutes after catching it.  Water was hot but air temp was cool that week.  The meat was a gristly yellow texture.

What do you think of the outfitters comments on different sub-species, tasting different?

pic below of the fatty Laker
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(addendum)...funny, maybe I should identify that I am the one holding the "fatty Laker"!  It could also be construed that the "fatty Laker" is sitting in the canoe.

that's a nice fish ;D ;D.
i'm not sure about the sub-species comment??
not that it couldn't be true??
maybe a resident biologist in the QJ could shed light on that idea??
 i could understand the sub-species in a given area but seems like it would be the same across the Q??
on another post on QJ there is a comment about water quality,and diet determining meat color??
that seem's plausible to me and would account for the difference from lake to lake in a given area??
the lakers i've caught were all reddish and delicious grilled or pan fried so as long as there eater's, i guess the color doesn't matter ;) ;).

Gee Wally...that's a nice Laker.....what's the black attachment on the side of your canoe?

The Beav

Beav, looks like a Fishin' Buddy locator to me.

Thats my "Fishin' Buddy".  Works fine but is a pain to lug around.  If you've used one...they "oil-can" on the side mount if you try to troll at any speed.  Was tempted to sell a few times but just couldn't do it.  Gonna have to though as I want the Vexilar CLC-200 real bad (BWCA edition).