How to Find Hidden Fishing Hotpots in Ontario

An efficient, effective and simple way to find the best places to fish.

I'll never forget the first time Bassmaster Classic Champions Guido and Dion Hibdon visited Northern Ontario. The famous father-and-son pair were fishing the Kenora Bass International on Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario and were spellbound at the stunning scenery and superb fishing.

When asked, up on stage, how he felt about his week on the lake, Guido replied, "Every time Dion and I came around the point of an island, we expected to meet God."

Fishing in paradise has a way of doing that to you. 

But, as good as the walleye, bass, muskie, northern pike, lake trout, salmon, steelhead, trout, crappie and yellow perch fishing is in Northern Ontario, if you're an angler, you're always looking for ways to make it even better still.

And there is an efficient, effective and simple way to make it happen.

Even if you're fishing on a big body of water that has good hydrographic mapping, like Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Lac Seul, Lake Nipigon, Lake Nipissing, Lake Temagami, or the north shore of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, you can still find oodles of hidden hotspots loaded with fish.

And on the hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized lakes that have no mapping at all, finding an unmarked reef, shoal, or underwater point is worth twice its weight in gold.

In fact, some of the secluded gems are so good, that I am sure no one has ever wetted a line and fished them.

And here's the biggest irony: you've probably driven over many of the spots and simply failed to notice their whereabouts. That's right: the reason these sheltered, secluded and secret fishing locations are so good is that they're often out in the open, right in front of us.

By now, I am sure you're wondering: how do you find these treasure troves? Well, as I'll show you in the following video, you simply turn on your GPS Chartplotternar unit, set it on split screen mode, and then start hitting your waypoint button every time you see a potential diamond mine as you leisurely cruise around the lake.

Trust me, if you're an angler, Pokémon Go is child's play compared to unearthing hidden fishing gems, unlike anything you can imagine.

About Gord Pyzer

Gord Pyzer is the fishing editor of Outdoor Canada magazine and field editor of In-Fisherman magazine. He is the co-host of the Real Fishing Radio Show and host of Fish Talk With The Doc.

Recommended Articles

Predicting Lake Thickness

When Will Ontario Lakes Freeze Over This Winter?

Top 8 Places to Ice Fish in Ontario

Ice fishing in Ontario offers diverse catches in serene winter settings.

5 Deadliest Fishing Lures

Use these lures when ice fishing for lake trout in Northern Ontario.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Muskies

Muskies are fish of 10,000 casts and are found in large bodies of water in Northwestern Ontario.

Rainy Lake Walleye

Fishing at La Belle’s Birch Point Camp

Top 5 Baits for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

What baits do you use to target bass? Find out why these 5 are the best!

Pleasant Cove Resort

Setting sights on Georgian Bay Northern Pike

Lake Nipigon Adventure

Fishing for Lake Trout, Walleye & Pike

Summer Brook Trout

Expert Advice for Fishing Ontario Lakes

Adventure Walleye Fishing Lake Nipigon Style

Fishing 411 Television visits Pasha Lake Cabins

A Whole Lota Lovin'

Burbot resembles nothing else that swims in our northern lakes and rivers.

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Balsam Lake Walleye

How to Use Snap Jigging to Catch Walleye

Salmon Fishing

The Michipicoten River is a Sleeper for Chinook

Sweeping the Basin

October is a Great Time to Fish for Ontario Crappie

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

Speckle Splake Spectacular

Ice Fishing for big Northern Ontario speckled & splake trout.

Fishing Carp

German Fishing Superstar Babs Kijewski Visit Ontario

Ten Mile Lake Lodge

Enjoy Northern hospitality fishing for splake, brook trout and lake trout