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Upper Twin Lake and Lower Twin Lake are located six miles east of Nakina, Ontario and both lakes have outstanding Walleye fishing. Since we bought the camp the Walleye fishing has continually become better and better each year and we have seen a dramatic improvement in the numbers and size of the Walleyes being caught by our guests. Even guests who have been coming to our camp for years can't believe how good the fishing has become and are now more excited than ever.
There are a number of factors contributing to the great increase in Walleyes. Since the 90s, new size restriction means the prime breeding size Walleyes need to be let go. The implementation of the Pete's Bay Fish Sanctuary allowed the late spawning Walleyes to drop their eggs without distractions. Another big reason for the great increase in the Walleye population is lower fishing pressure. The lumber boom is over in Nakina and the population of Nakina is 1/4 of what it was back in the 90s. As a result there are very few locals fishing the surrounding lakes. Upper and Lower Twin Lake are constantly fed food and fresh water from the Drowning River. You also have Walleye migrating up river from fly-in lakes. This has allowed the Walleye fishing to bounce right back to what it was like 80 years ago. On an average day you should be able to catch 15 to 25 Walleyes and on really good days in the right spot you can catch even more. We have had guests tell us they have caught over 50 Walleyes in a day. There are not many drive-to camps that can make that claim.
Not only is the population of Walleye way up, the availability of big trophy Walleyes is also way up and they are easy to find. Our guests are actually finding great success just walking out in the water from our sandy beach. Casting into the darker water just past the edge of the sand has been producing fish and even a couple of trophy Walleyes over 10 pounds. The big Walleyes usually stay deeper in the daytime but not always. Trophies can be found everywhere in Twin Lakes but guests have been having the best luck in the evening at the mouth of the river or trolling along sandy Wild Rice beds that are close to a drop off.
As we said before, the big Walleyes like to go up onto sand bars and the beach in front of camp to feed on the minnows that are attracted to the warmer water. Where the Drowning River links the two lakes there is a lot of current and this attracts minnows, which is why the big female Walleyes go into the river at night. In the spring the Walleyes are right up in the current during the day but in summer and fall the Walleyes hang off the current waiting for the sun to go down. You will also find them hanging off thick weed beds and rocky points. Upper and Lower Twin Lakes are not super deep lakes. In deep lakes the Walleyes tend to take off into deeper water around mid July and are really hard to catch. We don't see this in the Twin Lakes.
Fish in the north do not like scented baits. They may work well in the south where the water is clouded with algae but in the north it's best not to put artificial scent on your lures and it's best to buy unscented rubbers. Salted baits do work in the north.
For Walleye, a small white unscented twistertail on a jig tipped with worm or a bare jig tipped with a small minnow are the best and most popular methods. In the evening and after dark trolling along the shore with a small floating Rapala or Thunderstick is very effective. In the spring the Walleyes will hit bright colors such as Fire Tiger, red or chartreuse. Later in the summer and fall blue-and-silver, black-and-silver and Perch-pattern work best. In the evening just before dark and after dark, the big trophy Walleyes really go crazy for blue-and-silver jointed Rapalas. Use the J-9 or smaller. The J-11s will go to deep. You want to troll right along the shore in 2 or 3 feet deep of water, have lots of line out and be very quiet. It's illegal to put a piece of Perch or Walleye meat on a hook for bait. However, after cleaning a Walleye, you can save the belly meat or cut out the gullet and wipe the scent all over your lures. This will triple the amount of strikes you will get.
You may want to try this walleye technique for fishing in the deeper water just out from where the river runs in and out of the lakes. That's where a lot of big 10 pound walleyes hang out. Check out this off-site page for Walleye Bottom Bouncing Rigs
