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Well I decided it was high time to put a rod longer than 7'6" into my Daughter's arsenal. She does have many options to choose from but any time a rod longer than 7'6" is needed she's had to borrow one of mine. So as a surprise that she'll see this afternoon I built her an NFC HM St 964-2 (9'6" ~ 6-12 line rating), and paired it up with a Shimano Twin Power C3000XG. I'm thinking she'll be quite surprised. 🙂

Everything is boxed up and ready to go. It,s go time . Going to have a special fisher girl guest helping me out . Hope to see some of ya,s at the show . Stop by and say howdy . Blow out prices are set .

My buddy has been on this for a while and it’s ready for pavement. In my opinion it’s one of the best builds I have ever seen Simple clean very sexy!!!

I will be at the 8th annual North GTA Tackle Swap on the 8th of April. This will be my first time as a vendor. Home for months during the covid hit, working weekends gives me to much time on my hands .I have so much stock built up,I need to get rid of some of it. Going to be a blow out sale,so get some while they last. Twitch,jig and ice grubs and a few others. Way too many to post pics of.

Just finished loading up the ruck for tomorrow's North GTA Tackle Swap in Newmarket! We've got bass stuff, musky stuff, ice fishing stuff, river fishing stuff, salmon fishing stuff, tournament stuff & more! I've seen the lists of other vendors and there's some great deals to be had! Hope to see some OFC members there, I know that Misfish(Brian) has a table there with all his wares as well! Here are the details: Date: Saturday April 8, 2023 Time: Doors Open from 10 AM -2 PM Doors may open earlier if all vendors are ready! Location: Optimist Youth Centre-Newmarket 55 Forhan Ave. Newmarket, ON L3Y 8X6 Admission Costs: $ 5 or $2 with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the local FOOD BANK! Kids 16 years of age or younger – No Charge & they'll recive FREE gift as well! FREE DOOR PRIZE DRAWS! FUND-RAISING BBQ on site!

I can't make it up tomorrow Brian but heed these words, don't be sucked into buying any dry cured hard meats. 😄 I'm betting you'll sell out your wares. Enjoy. 👍

Sorry, Saturday is pick up boat from winter storage and bring her home good luck , I hope you sell out

Ice out Lakers on smaller lakes can be found all over the place...since they're not restricted by water temp at that time of year. Much easier to locate them in summer once the thermocline sets up. Fishing for them in early spring really depends on finding bait. Assuming surface temps are in the low 50's F or lower...if the main forage in the lake is Ciscos (fall spawners), Lakers tend to stay deeper...25 to 40 fow. If Shiners (spring spawners) are the primary food source, then the Trout will be shallower (15 to 30 fow). Keep in mind, that Lakers never really like to go too shallow...they feel most comfortable with some water on top of them. I usually like to start with trolling diving cranks like Tail Dancers, DD Husky Jerks, Bandits...since most Trout lakes have clear water, I like natural colours like silver/blue/green/purple. It's search mode fishing...covering as much water as possible, making S turns from shallow to deep...floating cranks (as opposed to spoons) have that nice rise and fall that covers more of the water column and triggers bites. Keep the speed around the 2mph mark. Once I find fish, I mark them and often cast or vertically fish soft plastic swimbaits or tubes...same colours as above, but pearl is also often a go to. However, a bait that really works well once you're on top of them is a jigging Rapala or an Acme Hyper Rattle (killer lure). Like you, I find them a lot more fun on light tackle, however I usually have one rod rigged up with just 2 or 3 colours of leadcore and then a 50ft FluoroCarbon leader...I usually fish this with a J-11 Rapala silver/ blue...a personal favorite. Save the downriggers for June and beyond. The other bonus of fishing inland lakes is that the Trout from them are great on the smoker...greasers from Lake O, not so much. Best of luck !

There's never been any doubt in my mind Pal. When it comes to Sheephead you Sir are without peers. 😄

If you like Spiel I can set up you up with some good Drum way points she may want to brake the rod in👍😂

You don’t need to go deep the shorelines are a treasure trove forgot to mention🤘

Pick your days and what you are comfortable with never had issues with lake o SMART BOATING HUGE PAY OFFS you would be shocked to know what is within your grasp in and around the Gta on lake o lots of trophy class fish #1. pay attention to the weather although beautiful and bountiful lake o can be very cruel very fast can’t be anymore clear on this point! but you have to be comfortable …as for the tiller what’s your point get out there and see for yourself hit the harbours and shore lines I promise you won’t be disappointed not sure what else to say it’s all there go get ‘em! cheers Peter

Chris your a true artist.

Incredible, beautiful set up

You should adopt me, I’m house trained! Joking aside, what a cool rod, great job, she will love it no doubt.

Our guide we had (after him indulging in most of our adult drinks) gave us a demonstration of how he skinned a ling. He started by cutting a ring all around in the skin below the head. He then had a 4 inch spike (nail) put it through the head and then hammered the nail into the wall of the fish hut. He started pulling the skin down but being so slippery he couldn't do it by hand. Did he give up, no not a chance our drunken guide latched onto the shin with his teeth. Most of the crew were turned off by watching this idiot shin the fish and coming up with slim all over his face. I made the judgement call of filleting the skinned fish (5 of them) and giving them a good wash and tried getting the guys onboard to try it. It didn't take long after they smelt the butter and seasoning in the frypan to get them belly up to the table. Dan.. PS: Our guide's liver is likely on display at the Smithsonian; as the most petrified human organ ever documented. LOL

I remember Dick Lindsey(? not sure of his last name) the owner of Bear Creek Cottages back then (mid 70's). Saying that during the late 40's up until the early 70's Lingcod, Ling or Burbot whatever you want to call them, were very plentiful in Lake Nipissing. To quote him "they were laying on the bottom like stacked logs". Northern Ontario families were suffering through some very hard times after the war. The government set up commercial fisheries to catch and process ling to feed the local communities at a low cost. This went on for sometime until they all but wiped out Burbot and stopped fishing them commercially. Move up 50 year and we're hearing of more and more success sport fishing for them. So it sounds like they might be on their way back on Lake Nipissing? I've had Lingcod cooked in different ways; why they called it a poor man's fish is beyond me the stuff is amazing table fair!!! Dan..

Very cool. Will you adopt me please...:)

Sounds like I will have to try it Simon. Going to get my fill of good ol' cod and chips this August.

Beautiful outfit! I'm sure that she'll love it!!!!

That is a sweet blank buddy and a real nice gift. Hope she does not say,reely dad,a rod ? LOL GREAT GIFT

Another masterpiece 🤗

Beautiful work Spiel, she will be happy for sure

Good for you Spiel. That is a very beautiful rod and reel combo it truly is and very practical, I love it. I would be very proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder amongst other anglers with it in my hands. It is so nice to see parents getting there youngsters into fishing. Thanks to old Pappy here my whole family including my Grand children and especially my wife are very much into it. I do not know about these days but back in the 80s fishing was the fastest growing outdoor sport in North America. Sadly in todays society it seems to have died off some what. I am sure your daughter will have many pleasurable hours reeling in lunkers with it. Thanks for sharing.

Wow very nice ! Beautiful rod and that reel is top shelf ! Lucky girl to have a Dad like you...

I know that guy,,,,,,,,,,,,Not that guy,the other guy,,,,,,,,,, hmmmm, did not win the perch and white fish ? TISK TISK

I had a few more pictures sent to me this morning that I'll share with you all. Mr Chong on stage. Some of our club member Jim's antique lure collection. And of course OFC member Fish Farmer who won in the Salmon category, the Lake Trout category as well as Angler of the Year (again....lol). Congrats Farmer. 😉

It was a lot of fun at the Stelco Awards Evening! Always great speaking and meeting people who share your passion! Really appreciate the invite! Hope to hook up with you at some point Art!!!!

Yes Chris it was a Great Night and was Interesting to listen to David Talk and Show things. Great Night and Exec did a GREAT JOB.