Fair weather anglers they're not. Dream chasers ? Absolutely ! These dedicated anglers are a breed apart, chasing freshwater angling's greatest prize - a trophy musky - perhaps the fish of a lifetime. At the Waltonian Inn Resort, we share that passion. Welcome, musky fanatics !

Lake Nipissing is one of North America's premier musky lakes, annually producing not just numbers of big fish, but world-class muskies - fish stretching over 50 inches and pulling the scales past 50 pounds. Undoubtedly, Lake Nipissing holds a world-record muskellunge (Esox maskinonge) - maybe several - just waiting to be caught and, of course, released.

Wow !!!     58"  /  50+ lb.  /  caught October 6 / 06

On Lake Nipissing, the absolute best time to catch trophy muskies is when the seasons change and water temperatures cool - September through mid-October. Saddles, raised bottom structures that run between shorelines and / or islands, and underwater humps, sunken islands and mid-lake shoals are classic musky spots. Deep-water current areas, river mouths and fast-breaking points near deep water are also attract and hold fall muskies. Musky guide emeritus, John Warren, will put you on muskies, and it is not unusual to raise many fish and hook several over the course of a brisk autumn day's fishing. Landing them is another story ! Big muskies render spinning tackle and standard baitcasting gear obsolete. Only heavy-action rods, quality baitcasting reels, stout tackle, heavy line, steel leaders and the best terminal tackle can adequately handle oversized lures and extremely powerful fish.

Because of their large size and relative rarity, muskellunge are held in high regard. Their unpredictable nature fascinates anglers and many fish a lifetime in hopes of catching a trophy musky. Most anglers now practise "catch and release" to help maintain a quality fishery for the future.