Big Moose Muskies

Lake Nosbonsing offers opportunities to catch a true trophy musky

Big Moose Camp on Lake Nosbonsing is approximately three hours north of Toronto. Lake Nosbonsing, which is just south of North Bay, is an often overlooked musky water, but it offers some great musky fishing. Lake Nosbonsing is only six miles long but it is filled with lots of great musky spots and is fishable in any weather condition.

Lake Nosbonsing has stained water but approximately five-foot of visibility. It seems every point has nice weeds extending into deep water, also many of the bays have deep weeds to 11 feet. Add the fact that there are several mid-lake humps that are either rock or have weeds in the center, making this lake a musky angler’s paradise. This lake is a sleeper musky water as it’s often in the shadow of Lake Nipissing, but the big muskies that come from Nosbonsing are very impressive.

While filming The Musky Hunter, we stayed at Big Moose Camp, this resort is top-notch. The cabins were incredible and the sunrise view overlooking the lake was breathtaking. Big Moose Camp has its own boat launch and a great docking facility to keep your boat safe. It’s easy to drive to the resort, launch the boat, and go musky fishing.

big moose camp, north bay ontario

Beautiful Lake Nosbonsing sunrise at Big Moose Camp. (Photo credit: The Musky Hunter)

Musky fishing on this lake isn’t necessarily about catching a bunch of muskies, but the opportunity at a trophy. Sure, catching several muskies in a day is a possibility with good fishing conditions, but realistically you hope for a bite every day and the opportunity at catching a fifty-incher is real!

There are lots of techniques that can be effective on Nosbonsing. If you are into trolling, utilizing spinnerbaits to troll through the many weed flats and the bays can be extremely effective. Also, trolling crankbaits among the many deeper humps and break lines can be effective. If you prefer to cast, the opportunities are almost endless. You'll want to cast bucktails and topwater in the shallow weeds, or fish crankbaits, jerkbaits, and Bulldawgs along the deeper weeds. Also, out from the weeds, several of the points extend deeper into the basin beyond the weeds. Casting Bulldawgs along these deeper rocks can be effective. Another great casting option is casting the many deeper rock and weed humps with Bulldawgs, and crankbaits. Regarding lure colours, anything with perch or gold/orange blades is very effective.

When we were filming an episode of The Musky Hunter we faced some pretty difficult post-frontal conditions. Air temperatures had dropped 20 degrees, skies were clear and there was no wind. The muskies weren’t using the shallower weed cover but were located around deeper weed and rock humps. We could see walleyes and perch located near these humps and were casting Bulldawgs and other large soft plastics around the humps. Although fishing was tough, we managed to catch one giant fish from Nosbonsing. If you are looking for manageable musky water in any weather condition, that’s just north of Toronto, Lake Nosbonsing is a perfect choice, and there is no question the place to stay is Big Moose Camp.

About Jim Saric

Jim owns Jim Saric Outdoors, Inc., which is dedicated to elevating the sport of musky fishing to new levels by educating anglers through print, web, and television. He is the publisher, editor and owner of Musky Hunter Magazine and the Executive Producer of The Musky Hunter television series. Jim has over twenty-five years experience fishing lakes, rivers, and reservoirs from Minnesota to New York and all across Canada. He has boated more than 100 muskies exceeding 50 inches in length, the largest weighing 53 pounds.

Recommended Articles

Best WhiteFish Tactics

In Part Two, Learn Best Rods, Reels and Lure Presentations for Whitefish

Four Seasons of Bass in Ontario

Northern Ontario is home to year-round bass.

Catching Ontario Walleye

Pro Tips for Bait and Walley Presentations

Killarney’s Pike Fishing Paradise

Plan your next northern pike fishing vacation to the Sportsman’s Inn Resort & Marina.

Baptiste Bass

Catching 5- to 6-Pound Smallmouth Bass Each Fishing Season

Pike Aplenty

How to select the right spot to catch pike in late fall fishing in Ontario.

Spring Has Sprung

Grassroots organizations like the Georgian Triangle Anglers Association have stocked trout in Georgian Bay for over 30 years.

Smallmouth Fishing After a Northern Ontario Cold Front

An exciting smallmouth bass fishing trip to Sunset Country.

Ontario’s Monster Pike Fishing Adventures

Ontario is home to first-class accommodations and an incredible fishing experience for northern pike.

Bobber-Whacky Magic

Don't Say Good-bye To The Bobber

Abitibi Walleye Experience

Fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike and Jumbo Perch

Eagle Lake Island Lodge

Your private island escape and off-the-grid adventures await.

This Smallmouth Bass Paradise Is No Longer A Secret

The Mississagi Valley has opportunities for personal best trophy-sized brown bass.

Fishing for Ontario Wild Brook Trout At Northern Skies Resort

Targeting wild brook in the local rivers, creeks and streams of Algoma Country, Ontario.

The Amazing Nipigon River

Fishing the river that is home to the world's largest brook trout ever caught.

Sturgeon Lake Fishing

Walleye and smallmouth bonanza at Lumberjack Lodge in Northwest Ontario, Canada.

Shoreline Strategies

Try These 2 Techniques For Targeting Winter Brook Trout

World Class Walleye

Fishing Day Trips on the Bay of Quinte

Shield Lakes & Rivers

A Million Acres of Water. Where do You Start?

Eating Northern Pike

The Best Recipe to Cook This Fish