The Great Lake Huron should, according to history, be a force to be reckoned with at any point in November. However, when my father and I and a pal of ours went to Southampton on the east coast of this lake, in early November, the weather was equal to a nice early September fishing trip. The lake itself was very calm, and the temperature unseasonably warm. Not at all ideal weather for chasing fall-run rainbow trout! However, it was wonderful boating weather, particularly when you are in an open 14' runabout.
Southampton is half an hour west of Owen Sound and is about 5 minutes away from the great beaches at Port Elgin to the south, and 25 minutes from Sauble Beach, a resort town to rival Grand Bend and Wasaga Beach. If you are an angler, Southampton is ideal. The Saugeen River is full of rainbow trout, salmon, brown trout, and even the odd bass and muskellunge. There is a wonderful riverside pier about a thousand metres long with a boat launch, docks, washroom facilities, and a fish-cleaning station, well-kept and free to the public. About three kilometres of the lower river are boat friendly, and it is a wonderful area to spend a day on a boat.
We never did catch a rainbow trout on this trip, or any other fish, or even have a strike, despite marking dozens of fish. But we sure had a great time. The weather was terrific, the lake was as calm as I've ever seen it, and my fishing pals were and are great company.
Dad, who has been boating all of his life, kept driving us right to the very edge of the gap, where the Saugeen pours 160km worth of water into Lake Huron. The gap is between the lighthouse and the outer breakwall of the harbour. Beyond this is the American State of Michigan, over 200 km to the west. A trio of buoys runs into the lake from the river, and the nearest is approximately 125 yards out.
So on the second day, after about four trips right to the gap, Dad decided that we are finally going to go out into Lake Huron all the way out to the first buoy. Now, this normally doesn't seem like a big deal. But with two of us being well over 6' tall and 200 lbs and our buddy of average stature in a small open boat powered by a 4.5hp outboard...well, I was game for it myself, so it was 2-1 in favour of a little trip to the edge. The lake was as calm as ever, but it was still rolling gently, and noticeably. The way out was quick; on the return trip, however, that little outboard worked harder than ever, going against the river current with a full boatload. It did it's job perfectly, though, and we finished the trip without incident-and without any fish. C'est la vie, eh!
Earlier in 2015 we did a day trip up to the Saugeen, and a pal caught a nice little 3 lb rainbow trout, while I lost by far the biggest rainbow of my life after a thrilling battle during which the fish jumped 4 times-and when a rainbow the length of your arm jumps it is a sight to behold! I wrote about that trip here:
http://www.thelilydipper.com/uncle-travelling-dan/southampton
Dad, who has been boating all of his life, kept driving us right to the very edge of the gap, where the Saugeen pours 160km worth of water into Lake Huron. The gap is between the lighthouse and the outer breakwall of the harbour. Beyond this is the American State of Michigan, over 200 km to the west. A trio of buoys runs into the lake from the river, and the nearest is approximately 125 yards out.
So on the second day, after about four trips right to the gap, Dad decided that we are finally going to go out into Lake Huron all the way out to the first buoy. Now, this normally doesn't seem like a big deal. But with two of us being well over 6' tall and 200 lbs and our buddy of average stature in a small open boat powered by a 4.5hp outboard...well, I was game for it myself, so it was 2-1 in favour of a little trip to the edge. The lake was as calm as ever, but it was still rolling gently, and noticeably. The way out was quick; on the return trip, however, that little outboard worked harder than ever, going against the river current with a full boatload. It did it's job perfectly, though, and we finished the trip without incident-and without any fish. C'est la vie, eh!
Earlier in 2015 we did a day trip up to the Saugeen, and a pal caught a nice little 3 lb rainbow trout, while I lost by far the biggest rainbow of my life after a thrilling battle during which the fish jumped 4 times-and when a rainbow the length of your arm jumps it is a sight to behold! I wrote about that trip here:
http://www.thelilydipper.com/uncle-travelling-dan/southampton
The last four photographs here are of Georgian Bay at Leith, just north of Owen Sound. They were also taken in November.
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