Fishing Lake Talon from Camp Conewango

Multiple species, big bass, and extensive structure make for a memorable experience.

Lake Talon was my final stop on a summer fishing road trip through the Northeastern Ontario region and it was quite a memorable end to such a fun adventure.

Lake Talon 

Scenic Lake Talon is part of the Mattawa River system in the Nipissing district and is largely protected by the Mattawa River Provincial Park. Photo: Ashley Rae.

At approximately 11.3 km in length and 1.7 km wide, Lake Talon isn't a huge lake but there are plenty of species within to keep anglers busy, and also lots of water to roam in the connecting waterways. Lake Talon holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout, musky, and more.

The Mattawa River flows through Lake Talon, which is surrounded by Mattawa River Provincial Park and protects the land from future development. This area is a paddlers' paradise with plenty of water to cover and areas that are not accessible by boat.

Lodging at Camp Conewango

Located on the north shore of Lake Talon, Camp Conewango was purchased by owners Wendy and Chris in the spring of 2016. Photo: Ashley Rae

Not only a paradise for paddlers, but there is also lots of water for boaters to enjoy, too. During my visit, my fishing partner and I stayed at Camp Conewango located on the north shore of Lake Talon. This place is a gem, with scenic views of the lake and rustic accommodations to match. There is also an on-site restaurant and after sampling the menu, I can say it was deee-licious. Our private waterfront cottage had its own beach and a fire pit. It was lovely.  

Looking for a lifestyle change and having a love for Northern Ontario, owners Wendy and Chris purchased Camp Conewango in the spring of 2016 and haven't looked back since. They fell in love with the property the moment they stepped foot there, just as their guests do.

Many of their seasonal campers have been coming to Camp Conewango for years and years, forming a special community. We had a chance to sit down and meet some of them one evening to share fishing stories and their experiences at the camp. They are such a wonderful and lively group of people.

But How's the Fishing?

Ashley lands a smallmouth bass. Photo: shelovestofish.com

Upon getting out to explore the lake, my fishing partner and I found out that Lake Talon was living up to the stories. Fishing was great!

After putting the boat in the water at the nearby launch, it didn’t take us long to get into some smallmouth. We targeted musky for a little while and then were distracted by seeing some tiny schooling bait on the sonar and hungry bass feeding on the bait.

Tiny schooling bait leads to hungry bass—lunch. Photo: Ashley Rae

Eric landed a nice smallmouth on a drop shot that spit up some bait, so we were able to get a closer look at what the bass were feeding on. We fished on a weed edge along a saddle connecting a point to an island and caught a few nice bass here on our first evening.

Working Structure for Big Bass

Releasing a true "hawg" - a largemouth bass. Photo: Ashley Rae

During our visit, we encountered quite a bit of rain. This didn’t dampen the fishing at all though as we were able to get into some smallmouth, largemouth, northern pike, and even some perch. We spent most of our time exploring the top half of the lake, focusing on weedlines, shorelines, and even a few docks.

The big bass of the day—and of the trip—was caught by Eric on our last afternoon. It was pouring rain and Eric tossed a Chatterbait next to a dock. The fish smacked it immediately and was lightly hooked. In desperation, Eric craned it into the boat right away before I was even able to grab the net. The moment it touched the deck, we both screamed and cheered, as it was noticeably the biggest bass of the trip!

Eric with "The Big One" - a truly memorable largemouth bass. Photo: Ashley Rae

We filled up the live well with water and placed the fish inside until the rain passed through, and I was able to bring out the camera to snap a few photos. What a gorgeous largemouth! It seems each time we visit Northeastern Ontario, we come home with such great memories. Of course, catching "the big one" always adds to the excitement! This fish was released to be caught again and enjoyed by another angler. What a memory!

About Ashley Rae

Ashley Rae is a year-round multi-species angler residing in Ottawa, Ontario. She is a full-time fishing writer and content creator. Ashley is passionate about chasing anything with fins from her boat, kayak, from shore, or on the ice

Recommended Articles

5 Amazing Bike Rides to Discover

Varied terrain, quiet roads, and flowy trails—The Seven is calling.

Northern Lights in Northeastern Ontario

5 great spots in The Seven to find the Aurora Borealis.

An Insider's Guide to Manitoulin Island

12 communities, sights, hikes and experiences that most first-time visitors miss!

Ontario's Secret Lagoon

Discover paradise just outside of Sudbury

Give Mountain Biking in Sudbury a Chance

Welcoming to all levels of riders!

Complete Guide to Moosonee & Moose Factory Island

12 essential experiences for visitors.

Non-Resident Guide to Ontario's Whitetail

Know before you go.

Hollywood Northeast

These hit TV shows were filmed in Sudbury & North Bay

Prepping for Pike

The 'lowly' northern pike is an often overlooked freshwater fish

The Ultimate Guide to the Lumberjack Heritage Festival

The History of the Fire Tower

From World War II to Jack Kerouac to Temagami

Devil's Rock in Temiskaming Shores

A Legendary Adventure with Backroads Bill

Colder Than Expected

How to prepare for spring brook trout bounty.

Cochrane: Wonderfully Unexpected

One of Canada's top 50 small towns!

Explore the Northeastern Towns of Ontario

Capturing the Northern Lights

A Guide to Mushroom Hunting

How, when and where to go, and what to look for

The Ultimate Northeastern Ontario Road Trip

From Toronto to Timmins: what to see, where to eat, and what not to miss!

Chasing Fall Colours Through The Seven: North Of Muskoka

A 7 day road trip in Northern Ontario

Hudson's Bay Company History

The Abandoned Cemetery