Talon Lake Lunge

This 3,500-acre lake holds trophy muskies and should not be ignored!

Talon Lake on the Mattawa River in Bonfield, Ontario is an overlooked musky water, located between the more famous waters of Lake Nipissing and the Ottawa River. However, this 3,500-acre lake holds trophy muskies and should not be ignored.

Talon Lake is only a three-and-a-half-hour drive north of Toronto, located just east of North Bay in Mattawa River Provincial Park. There are not many lodges on the lake, which cuts down the boat traffic. Combine this with the incredible scenic beauty of the Park, and Talon Lake is a musky hunter’s paradise. I was amazed at the number of potential musky spots, and this lake fished larger than expected. Yet, you don’t need a large boat like you do when fishing the nearby larger waters.

Camp Conewango is located on the north end of the lake and has both cottages and a campground, as well as a swimming beach and a great docking system. It has all the amenities a musky angler needs, including its own restaurant. If you can’t stay at Camp Conewango, there are other lodges nearby in Bonfield.

Camp Conewango
Camp Conewango is the perfect destination when staying on Talon Lake.

Talon Lake is full of incredible musky spots, many sitting adjacent to deep basins exceeding 100 feet of water. The giant weed beds, boulder points, and mid-lake humps provide a sense that every cast can produce a giant musky. The water has a slight stain, with weeds growing to 12 feet. During summer we located muskies on large weed flats, as well as a few rock points that had current. We had musky action on large in-line spinners such as Cowgirls, and Topraiders, as well as large soft plastics such as Bulldawgs and large 9-inch ShallowRaiders. Both perch patterns and peal patterns seemed to get action, but we did catch our largest musky on a black Cowgirl.

During our short trip, the weather conditions were great for enjoying the summer weather, but not ideal for muskies. We had sunny and calm conditions with no humidity. The one morning we did have cloud cover, we had musky action on our first five spots. So it’s clear the muskies are present in this lake, but like anywhere else, you need some favourable weather, particularly in summer. Low-light conditions are best during summer, and there’s no doubt this is an incredible fall fishery, as plenty of photographs of big Talon lake muskies prove.

Sunset
Beautiful sunsets are the norm when fishing at Talon Lake.

Talon Lake is an incredible musky fishery, and if you are looking for a beautiful and scenic musky fishing destination with little fishing pressure, Talon Lake is the place.

Talon Lake Lodging

Camp Conewango
PH: 705-776-2320
https://campconewango.com/

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

Bear Creek Bruisers

Fishing Musky on Lake Nipissing

Striker's Point Lodge

Hungry Walleyes and Big Pike on Whitewater Lake

Ontario Experience

Drive-to Fishing at Waterfalls Lodge

Thirst to be First

A Simple Trick to Better Your Fishing Now

Exploring Turtle River

A family fishing, canoeing and camping trip.

Pat’s Muskie Academy

Nik learns the art of trolling for giant muskie on the French River and Lake Nipissing

Smoked Fish: A Do-It-Yourself Delicacy

Catching and eating fish from the cold, clear waters is one of the perks of living in Northern Ontario.

Land a Lake Nipigon World Class Trophy Brook Trout

World class trophy brook trout in Ontario.

Nipigon Brook Trout

Experience some high caliber trout fishing in Northwestern Ontario.

Twitchbait Smallies

Your guide to open water smallmouth fishing in Atikokan.

Destroying Fall Muskie Myths

Muskie anglers leave a lot of late fall locations unscathed

Four Seasons of Bass in Ontario

Northern Ontario is home to year-round bass.

Family Fishing Getaway

Jenna sets her sights on Northern Ontario Smallmouth Bass.

How to Make a Fish Shore Lunch

What to pack and how to make this favourite Northern Ontario meal.

Ned Head Walleye of Algoma

Springtime Walleye Doesn't Have To Be A Crowded Affair

Streamers for Big Pike

Northern Pike are the apex predator in many of Ontario’s waters.

Legendary Walleye at Hawk Lake Lodge

Experience the hospitality and fishing of Northwestern Ontario

Portage Paradise Walleye

Remote lake fishing adventures to pristine lakes.

Salmon Of The Soo

Fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the St. Marys River.

Blue Fox Camp

A Bold Innovation in Stocking Trout Lakes.