Oxtongue Lake Fishing

Oxtongue Lake lies along Highway 60 between Dwight and the West Gate of Algonquin Park. It's a convenient place to go for those looking to fish out of a canoe or kayak. Reasonably priced rentals are available at Algonquin Outfitters. While some of the staff may tell you that there are "no fish in the lake", like many bodies of water located near highways, Oxtongue is often overlooked. But there are decent opportunities for smallmouth bass. 

The drop-shot rig shines on Oxtongue. Baitfish here include cisco and white sucker. There is also a population of rock bass. This makes the Catch Co. Shimmer Shad a great choice of bait. Another option is BioSpawn's 4.5" PlasmaTail. Interestingly, BioSpawn uses Shapeways to produce its soft plastic designs, which is the same company my friend Matt and I used to 3D print a lipless crankbait.  

Click to enlarge

In the summer, there is one surefire way to find smallmouth in Oxtongue Lake: find the 'secondary' drops, and drag your rig over them. In many places, the first break will be from a foot or two to somewhere in the 4-7 foot range. That's what I call the 'primary' drop. There will then be a second break to about 14-20 feet of water. Work your way over those drops while maintaining contact with the bottom, and you'll catch 'em. 

Small fish, but my vibe though...

In addition to lake trout, burbot, and a few other species, you can also catch pike. While I have a growing affinity for targeting these aggressive predators, they are a nuisance more than anything in Oxtongue Lake (unlike those beautiful beasts in Northern Saskatchewan). Bring extra leader line, hooks, baits, and weights, because you'll break off more than once hooking into this toothy creature. 

No, you won't catch these monsters on Oxtongue Lake. But if you come prepared, you can catch fish all day (despite what some people may say). And grab yourself a treat at Henrietta's Pine Bakery in Dwight on the way back. You won't regret it!

Greg Cholkan is a lawyer and fisherman. He works in Muskoka with Barriston LLP and his practice focuses on real estate, wills and estates, and business matters. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

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