Fishing Hole

with several hunters in different parts of the region this year, and the general consensus is there are more deer around, and noticeably more mature bucks. How that plays out this fall has yet to be seen, but even on my own trail cameras, I’ve seen a lot more animals than in recent seasons. That being said, predator numbers are at a very high level, with both wolf and coyote on the radar. The winter of 2020-21 will be a critical one for the region’s deer herd.

Moose

The past decade has been a very disheartening one for people who love moose in the northwest. Following a pattern that first emerged in northern Minnesota and southern Manitoba in the early 2000s, the population of moose on the southern range of Northwestern Ontario began a decline. It was initially the most noticeable in the west, particularly around the Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances areas. But by 2010, the number of moose in the Thunder Bay district, particularly close to the border with Minnesota, began to drop.

There were several theories floated, including warming summers, ticks, over-hunting and the impact of whitetail deer, a known carrier of the parasite that causes brainworm. Deer can survive brainworm, but moose cannot. In an effort to try and stem the decline, the Ontario MNRF began to seriously cut the number of adult tags available to hunters. In 2016, there was a 45 percent cut to bull tags in WMU 15b, north of Thunder Bay. Further

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: Ninemile Lake has a reputation as a good northern pike lake. Although most Finland-area lakes are rocky, Ninemile has some weedy bays that hold pike with a shot at something pushing 40 inches. Walleye numbers are good, and when you catch them, they tend to be keepers. The lake also boasts a campground and a good concrete ramp. ACCESS: Ninemile Lake is on County Road 7 about 14 miles northeast of Finland. There’s a concrete ramp in an area known for rough accesses, located on the east end of the lake. There’s parking for eight trailers and a 24-unit National Forest campground is right on site. The road is gravel most of the way from Finland, but it is plowed in the winter, providing yearround access. VITALS: Ninemile is 296 acres. The majority of the lake is shallow, with one deep hole, located between the islands. It has good cabbage weeds, which is sort of an anomaly in an area known for its rocky lakes. Weeds are the ticket for pike, and they’ll hold walleyes and perch, too. GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Northern pike, walleyes and yellow perch. NORTHERN PIKE: “It’s probably best known for northern pike,” said Kevin west, in WMU 6—once a popular moose hunting destination north of Dryden—only one bull tag was made available to gun hunters. Huge cuts also came to WMU 13, near Thunder Bay, with adult tags numbers cut by well over 80 percent. The cuts to tags created a huge shift in hunter behavior, with people “chasing tags” in more remote units or giving up the hunt altogether.

In the meantime, there does seem to be some improvement in moose numbers, even if at a somewhat low level. Friends who have property southwest of Thunder Bay, say their trail cameras have had more moose on them this year, which is a marked change from recent years. During my highway travels east of Thunder Bay this year, I’ve seen more moose than in recent memory. Hopefully, the huge tag cuts have had some impact on this, although one has to think that the downturn in deer—and the lowered incident of brain worm contact—has also been a factor. For now, the moose population seems to have stabilized, although it is still well below where it was even a decade ago.

One final note on moose: In 2021, there will be a radical change to how moose and moose hunting is managed in Ontario. The two-tier pool system that has been in place for some time will be replaced by a point system. This means individual hunters will gather points, and the longer they go without a tag, the more points they build. A hunter’s point total will be based on their draw history from 1993 to 2020 and will be cumulative. In other words, if the huntMott, assistant area supervisor at the Finland DNR fisheries office. “Like most lakes in this area, it’s more rocky than it is weedy, but it’s got enough weeds to support a good pike population.” Mott said the lake is capable of producing “memorable size” pike near the 40-inch mark. You’ll find above-average pike numbers, but still at a size that would interest anglers. WALLEYE: “After a partial die-off in 2013, we’ve stocked the lake in several years since then,” Mott said. “The biggest yearclass since then came from the only year we didn’t stock.” The DNR stocks walleye fry, but they account for only 36 percent of the catch, indicating good natural reproduction.

“Winterkill is probably more of a thinning of the population than a traumatic event,” Mott said.

“The current population includes a lot of fish in the 15- to 20-inch range,” Mott said. “If you catch them, they’re probably going to be good-sized. YELLOW PERCH: “Typically they’re smaller-sized perch. You might occasionally find a perch that’s of interest to anglers,” Mott said.

Perch numbers are pretty high compared to area lakes, although the latest survey found the lowest perch numbers of the last

Northwestern Ontario bucks seem to be on the increase after a few

tough years. | GORD ELLIS

er skips a year or more from applying for a tag it is not a reset. Hunters in Ontario can see their moose draw history by going to www.huntandfishontario.com and creating an account. The more in demand the tag, the higher the number of points that will be required. Hunters will pay a $15 fee to apply for the allocation system, and if they receive a tag—or choose to party hunt—will then need to buy a $35 moose license. The cost of a tag will be $30 for calf, $150 for cow/calf and $200 for a bull.

NINEMILE LAKE

Ninemile Ridge Rd Thompson Rd four DNR lake surveys. Still, perch provide good forage for pike and walleyes, and with some fish up to 11 inches sampled, you might find some eaters. Mott said most keeper-sized perch are taken incidentally by walleye anglers. The group application system will also no longer be used.

How these new changes to Ontario’s hunting and moose management program impact the population remain to be seen. Hopefully, a decade from now, we will be heralding a revitalized herd, and not pining

for the good old days. Thunder Rd

Cty Rd 7

Cramer Rd PALTRY PANFISH: Bluegills and crappies are present in Ninemile, but in low numbers. You’d be hard-pressed to find them.