Lake Simcoe?

Question

Any tips to take the boat out for the first time in Simcoe - just moved to Barrie in August and need to get out - used to Salmon hunt out of 50 before moving here

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Kempenfelt is pretty safe. One place to steer clear of is the area around Centenial beach on a busy weekend. There's a wreck 300 feet off shore that many of us actively dive. Keep an eye out for small dive flags between the beach and that yellow buoy. Other than that, the area between Snake Islands and the mainland can get shallow in a dry season, take care through there. Down towards Cook's Bay, there is Long Shoal, near Innisfil. It's marked with two buoys on either end. Runs north south. Avoid it. It comes within inches of the surface in a hurry.

Weather on the Lake , well..look towards Orillia. All the bad stuff , pretty well comes straight down from there. L Couchiching acts like a funnel and it just explodes out of the narrows.

Good fishing: Cooks Bay, midway between the Holland river markers and Keswick for Bass. Closer in to the markers west side for Pike.

Lake trout can be found out at Big Bay point, at the end of Kempenfelt. Water is 125 feet there, the deepest in the lake. I dive there as well, they're all lounging around at 80 feet or so, at least the ones I play tag with are.

If there's no dive flags over at Centenial Beach, by that yellow marker at the south end parking lot, you can try for some decent Bass on the wreck of the Morrison.  It's a 1840's paddlewheeler that goes from that marker almost due north about 75 feet. You may lose a lure on it though, part of the engine rocker support rises to about 16 feet from the surface, it's 30 feet deep there. If the wind is from offshore, the fish will be there. Some of the biggest Bass I've ever seen and all with attitude.

If you get the chance, take a tour over to Lagoon City on the other side of the lake, it's a neat community and you can stop in there for lunch at the restaurant.

If you've got a good length of chain and a decent danforth, there's good swimming to be had over at Willow Beach, near Jackson's Point and Sutton. Many nice beaches there, all sandy bottoms, hence the reason for the chain and danforth. Navy anchor won't work, the wind is nearly always onshore. Those beaches are marked, so don't stray inside the buoys.

That's about it. Keep a weather eye out. Don't get caught out in the middle, I've seen 6 footers out there just before a blow. There are a lot of sheltered spots you can always duck into, but you may be in for a wait. I don't want to have to dive your boat unless you really want me too :) There's enough out there anyway. Know anyone that wants a slightly wet 225 merc? Found that last week.

Answer 3

careful of the chop that sometimes comes up in the mouth of Kempenfelt bay.