Fishing hot spots

One of the West Island’s best-kept secrets is the phenomenal fishing a stone’s throw from any of the region’s meandering shorelines. “We have bountiful populations of several species – including walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike,” said long-time professional fishing guide Mark Currie, a foremost local authority on the sport. “With Montreal being an island, you only have to drive 10 minutes in any direction to find watersheds infested with fish,” said the Dollard des Ormeaux resident. “Canada Day produced a walleye over nine pounds on Lake St. Louis, and this past weekend I took a client out who came up from Virginia and he caught a six-pounder. "

Avid anglers from the United States and half-way around the world travel to fish our waterways, said Currie, who also guides on the lakes of Two Mountains and St. Francis, both of which are less than a half-hour drive from the West Island.

One of the main reasons fishing here “is so spectacular is because of our inter-connected river system,” he said.

There are many hot spots in close proximity. “Any of the islands and reefs around Dorval and Lachine are full of bass and walleye,” he said, adding, “they thrive in the currents. They’re in shallow now; I’m catching in less than 12 feet of water. “Around Ile Perrot, any of the back bays and weedy areas are filled with pike and smallmouth.”

Fishing is also excellent by Lery on the south side of St. Louis directly across from Pointe Claire.

The fish are biting on jigs, spinner baits, and the ever-reliable Red Devil, said Currie, whose preferred methods of fishing are both casting and trolling. Surrounding waters are cleaner than they were a decade ago. “The zebra mussels which came in through the ballasts of ships filter the water. The bass and walleye also feed on the Gobi minnows like candy,” he said.

Fishing is also exceptional from Lake St. Francis, which straddles the Quebec border, to the Thousand Islands.

Currie is a strong advocate of catch-and-release, although he doesn’t begrudge anyone keeping a few small walleye for the dinner table.

But he is adamant about releasing larger fish. “They’re under the ice for four to five months a year, so it takes them a long time to grow. The bigger ones of five pounds or more can take up to 12 years to reach that size, and they’re the main source of our breeders.”

The local crappie fisheries have been all but depleted, having been fished to near extinction until the government imposed long-overdue limits on the number caught, he pointed out. “Perch are still plentiful, but seem somewhat smaller in size now as well.” “The biggest obstacle to fishing in the West Island is locating a boat launch,” he said, adding one of the better places is at 32nd Avenue in Lachine. Boats can also be rented at a few places in Ile Perrot.

For more information, visit his website at www.advancedbassinplus.com.