Leaderboard

Sorry!

The season is here once again for my fav fresh water fish. White fish. Opens in the morning and I am all loaded up and stoked.

I just got back from my trout trip in Quebec.....black flies were ridiculous, even out in the middle of the lake. Fishing started off slow but picked up by Wednesday.....No bows or browns in the remote lakes but I managed to get my limit in Quebec Reds (Char) on the larger lake that our cabin was on....biggest Char was 2.6lbs. First time going up to this outfitter so I think I'll give it another try next year in June as opposed to May.

I feel like a kid again on Christmas Eve.....I can't even remember the last time I headed out for a spring Trout excursion due to heavy business travel.....It's been 7 weeks since I have retired and I'm feeling great! Leaving in the morning to drive 3hrs north in Quebec and we will be targeting native Quebec Reds +Speckled Trout on the lake that our cabin is on and then some remote lakes for stocked Rainbows and Browns.....Very stoked just to get back in a boat and this will be the first out of 4 fishing trips that I booked in Quebec this year.....Hopefully the fish will cooperate and I'll be able to make another post....I know the Black Flies will be cooperating

I remember when I was a wee lad hearing the heavy horses pulling a wagon coming down the road at Oxenden, the farmer going to town to get their groceries. I would run up the road and stand just a few feet away and watch them go by. I could feel the ground shake. It was quite a spectacle that I will never forget. Here's just a couple pictures of the most stunning and beautiful Noriker draft horses I have ever seen and likely ever will see.

Read the room fellas, you missed the temperature, and you're overcooking the roast. Further, ever tried charging a child under 12 for a grip and grin? Nothing bad will ever come of this, even if posted on facebook.

Hi all, Got out for the first boat outing this year, surface temps hovering around 40F. Looking in vain for crappie but we found some decent bass, a ton of hammer handle pike and the motherload of Rock Bass and Perch in one hole in 30'FOW(weird, never caught so many rock bass, even double headers.)

Well it IS the only fish actually worth chasing LOL

Hi all, Got out with a buddy to do a bit more exploring before walleye opens here on Wabigoon Lake, got into some bass, a few pike and a couple of crappie. Surface temps have risen a fair bit in a week, hovering around 48 - 50F on the main lake and in a few shallow channels we saw up to 57F. Bass were in the shallow bays in the warm muddy waters and a few shallow rock flats, very aggressive, pike are probably just about done spawning in the shallow weedy bays and the crappie we found were down in and suspended over 27'FOW.

I was out at Mt Bridges for a craft and tackle show today and came across an old ghost. Was nice to have a wee chat with none other than Garry2Rs

now were talking about stop watches and precisely timing how long fish are out...far easier to say, the fish is out of season, release it immediately. And yes, if your kid catches an out of season fish, its the perfect opportunity to teach them about fishing ethics and rules, maybe they will also become a steward of our resource.

I would rather see a two minute rule the fish can only be out of the water for two minutes max. If it gets close to two minutes and you don’t have your hook out you need to cut the hook and release the fish

Absolutely does not need to be changed.. Then you'd have guys targeting OOS fish just to get pics with them. There's a season for a reason.

Deer, fox, wolf and bear. This black bear, a good size one of a cinnamon blonde color phase spent fifteen minutes in front of the camera but unfortunately to close to get a picture of his face and never lifted his head once. Just out of hibernation and in very good shape having not eaten for five months or more, and hungry, he was sniffing the ground where I had put some corn the month before which my old arthritic hands dropped and it spilled too close to the camera. Haven't got a picture of a lone wolf (an outcast) for years. I wish it been during day light hours. Sorry Lew, no moose this time.

Ouch: https://mnrwatch.com/ontario-enforces-strict-fishing-regulations-sault-ste-marie-man-jailed-and-banned-until-2031-for-multiple-violations/

I can imagine they were fine eating. Those Quebec Reds are definitely on my bucket list. My son, an Environmental Engineer, worked at the Mary River mine on Baffin Island for a few years. He would come home twice a month and always brought back fresh and smoked wild Arctic Char...damn, one of the tastiest fish that swims. I've also bought Arctic Char from my local grocery store or fish monger, but apparently it's farm raised...just not the same at all.

Ok but this is what I am saying. you can't have it both ways. Either the rule needs changing to allow for pics like this to be legally taken or The rule should not be changed, and this pic should not have been taken in the first place. You can't say "rule needs to remain but this is ok as an exception" because then everyone makes an exception etc. that's all I'm saying. change this dumb rule so you can take a pic of your proud grandchild with his first muskie legally. full stop.

These people were literally making a living raping the resource…they should never be in business again

Was not a very productive morning but sure as heck, was nice to be out floating about. Back up dinner. 😆 🤣

East of Calgary. Bow River at Carseland weir, antique tractor, worlds strongest woman. The weir doesn't look all that impressive at this time as our lakes and rivers are at an all time record low due to our drought for the past few seasons. Should see and hear this thing when it's at full bore. It's actually quite scary.

I've got zero issues with the kid getting a photo with this fish. It's the people who would take advantage of the proposed rule change I'd have an issue with.

Hi all, gotta love YouTube, found a video that showed how to make a homemade musky tackle box and save myself $300! Basically 2 10’ lengths of pvc downspout from Rona, an Ozark 48 can cooler from Walmart and 15 minutes on the mitre saw. The product it produces comes in at Around C$115 and easily replaces the item below which comes in at anywhere between $390 and $450. here is the video link for anyone interested .

Free. I wouldn't waste my time in Maclean.

Sounds like we have similar tastes. Ya Omni used to make all kinds of noodle rods. I remember having a 9', 10'6, and a 12'6 myself at points. Other friends had other ones. Like was said above we used to mostly buy them at Kmart haha usually 80$ish if i remember correct. I remember if we ever broke them which happened often as we were careless kids who lived walking distance to the Whirlpool back than Kmart would just give you a new one no question. I still look for vintage gear alot and almost never see the old Omni noodles, but they must be out there somewhere. I put some fish on the bank just this week with a Fenwick RiverRunner 11' and a Smith n Smith Streammaster. And ya the old Legacy rods and Abu Conolon noodles caught me a lot of fish too in there day until I got a little older and worked and could afford the D&M's or Loomis GL3 and IMX's. I have a lot of the modern gear Exprides and what not where sensitivity is needed and it's miles ahead but as far as float rods and rigger rods go something has been lost along the way and the old noodles are just so much more fun and all I really reach for

Well there's lots of rocket scientists out there who probably never passed physics 101. If you don't tie down the rear of the boat to the trailer even a piece of 2x4 does nothing for saving the transom. What you want is to have the boat and trailer going over potholes and bumps to do it together, not the boat flopping around on the trailer and then the weight of the motor adding to the motion. A transom saver ensures the unsupported lower end of the motor from from flopping around. I've watched mine going over bumps, the whole trailer, boat and motor move up and down as one unit. No flopping. Your toys, due your diligence.

Some of you folks may have seen these already, I've had a few more requests since. Some of my favorite pics. The way I put it is some people will see a black bear and wonder if it is a grizzly, if you see a grizzly you'll know it is a grizzly and not a black bear.

I got some great pics a few years ago when I was out west..

Muskie habitat in the 'Geen is the exact opposite of where you'd fish steelhead. Dead slow frog water, find a big tree in the water, good bet you'll find a muskie. Bass are prolific.

You won't regret spending a few more $ if your main motor quits and you need to limp back to port with the TM. Speaking from experience.

I agree , I gave an explanation as to why they are cheating, in no way said they should do it As a matter of fact I said they should have had greater punishment

You trying to give us a brain tumour, lol.

We went out for an ATV ride to some new waters and ended up with some dinner..

1. Congrats to your grandson, absolutely would snap a pic of my nephews etc. as well. For myself though, certainly not, just ask me about my "PB" laketrout...I just know that it was massive. 2. The rules dont need changing, and it has nothing to do with this particular scenario, and absolutely everything to do with how the average person does their fish photo op...aka land the fish, bring it in the boat, try unhook, grab pliers, struggle to get hooks out, look at fish, weigh it, measure it, search for camera, take photo, realize its blurry, take another photo and then release. For a fish on a bed, or a big musky...thats a wrap. and second of all, tournament guys would 100000% take advantage of this and start hosting catch measure release tournaments out of season. Full stop. Dont change the rules, im not even happy about it happening in zone 20. Its unnecessary and those bass dont need additional tournament pressure beyond what they already experience. If you really need to document your catches, get a go pro, problem solved. Ask Nick Cousivs about his 8lb smallie he caught in zone 20.

Hang em high!

Makes me wonder how many illegal moose they have actually taken down since they were in business

We moved to a new subdivision at Leslie & Lawrence in '54 and used to hike down to the area of those stables. I did a lot of bike riding in that area in later years and that's probably the nicest park setting in all of Toronto. Another stable we rode from in the 50's was at Todmorden Mills in the Don Valley. It was really nice and the Parkway wasn't even thought of then and we'd ride the horses along the Don River and you'd think you were a million miles from a city down there. No noise, no cars and just a really nice place.

Well said man!

The second Saturday in May is always a great weekend in Southern Ontario. Pike and Walleye also open in most zones...but the powers that be really need to move Mother's Day to another weekend...lol

I am ready for the opener too

Totally agree, on some sites that photo would get you booted. If you want a pic with a musky fish for them in season, simple as that. Or else get a pic taken as you land the fish.

Beautiful horses guys. My dad grew up in Saskatchewan during the depression and spent the summers working on his uncles farm. He always talked about the pair of Clydesdales they had and my dad usually got to drive the team for whatever job they were doing. He always said they were massive critters and unbelievably strong but gentle as lambs. When I was a kid growing up in Toronto (East York) in the 50's there was a horse stable at St. Clair & Warden where us kids would go on Saturdays. Seems to me we paid 25 cents for an hours trail ride and my favorite horse that I always picked was "Big Red" LOL Sadly that's all gone now and the fields and stables are monstrous homes, plazas and subways stations but I spose that's progress/

Good morning AKRISONER, thank you, I can't imagine what your cousin's good friend went through. In most grizzly attacks the bear goes for the head or the thigh. Your cousin did the right thing in my mind by taking his sons to the hospital to witness first hand what dangers do lurk in the wild especially in their neck of the woods. Grizzly bears are incredibly fast, they can out run a quarter horse for a hundred yards. I've been very lucky the same hasn't happened to me with all my close encounters. The trouble with me is once I get out of the city and back in the bush I feel too comfortable and let my guard down. And always want to try and get closer and better picture than I have already taken. f anyone should know better it's me. A funny thing, well maybe not so funny, I had plans of going to tend to my trail cams this past Friday morning again, more for something to do and get out the city than any thing else, couldn't sleep the night before as something kept telling me not to go so I didn't, it was such a strong feeling that I can't explain. Maybe that was the morning my luck was going to run out, I don't know, it still bothers me. If there is anything I have learned in life is to go with my instincts. And I always go alone which I likely shouldn't and I don't think my wife will let me anymore lol. Speaking of mountain lions I hate them stealthy, back attacking cats. A few weeks ago there was a piece on the news of a guy out walking his dog near Canmore and claimed he was attacked by one and said he pulled it off his back and scared it off, I'm thinking yeah right, like Hell you did. Couple weeks later it was on the news again as it was a bunch of Bull. Well no kidding, there is no way he could have done that, I don't care if it was a 200lb lion (which is not uncommon) or one that only weighs 60lbs even if he was Hulk Hogan, not going to happen. When a mountain lion attacks a human in most cases, and this only takes them a second or two, they jump on your back, put their front legs over your shoulders and dig their claws into into your front and bite down on your neck so you can't breath. thus suffocating the person. Most times one doesn't even know they are there until it's too late.

I wish I could do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

Stoney has always been my favourite for Walleye in the Kawarthas. Lots of structure and some good current areas. And if they're not biting, the scenery's nice...

It was when I fished it 20 some odd years ago... Most of the Kawartha Lakes and rivers have their share of pickerel...

You might have trouble with a 45" shaft on that boat if the wind kicks up.... usually those shorter shafts are for bass boats which are much lower to the water than deep V hulls.. that is why the guy got rid of it in the first place. You also bought an regular I-pilot motor, not an I-pilot link. So its just a GPS motor and does not have the capability to hook up to a fish finder. You would have to upgrade the head unit if you wanted that. If you do that, then you'll have to buy a Humminbird fish finder that is compatible for Link... check below. https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/support/compatibility/link As for batteries... if you have confined space 2 100ah mini lithium trolling motor batteries might be a good option. There are some budget brands who make them which get decent reviews right now. Getting into higher tech electronic outfits for your boat is not a cheap endeavor. Its a "do it right the first time and try and make it last as long as possible" type of thing. Good luck BM

...

Personally I think that the guy who sized these motors must be the same guy that sizes outboard motors for Legend. I have a Starcraft 168 and it came with a 12V 55lb iPilot and it was under powered for the boat. I since then purchased a new Terrova 80lb 60" 24V

I take an ol' fella out with me occasionally that uses nothing but mooching reels for rigging. He doesnt own a level wind at all. As you know, there are limitless options for rods, but I have this stuck in my wee brain for now. It has to be resolved. lol I have experienced very little line twist using the run feature on the reels over the last 10 years or so. Maybe because I face into the wind and cast out a long lead?