Master of Bait

Nice report. Sounds like a great weekend away - despite some lousy weather. Beauty looking fish - makes me want to get out there!

Awesome report as always. You know, excluding those little guys, I think the average weight of the fish you two haul in is through the ROOF - as I remember seeing some huge walleyes out there from last season... Quick question - do you think the little guys are resident fish, results of a successful past spawn or recently stocked fish? Just wondering.

Nice report... Again... It's not that I'm bitter, just that I'll be happy to connect with that many steelhead in 2007... Not bitter though...

Great fish. I totally recognize your spot - the blue trees and grass are unmistakable...

Fantastic report! Great to see the wild action south of the border. Hopefully we'll see other great reports from our side of the fence. I LOVE SPRING!

Great job - nice report. Gotta love the mixed bag - always fun to fight a fish and not know what is coming in. Good start to the season and keep the pics coming (practice makes perfect).

Good work. Having just started, I'd be real proud of the 11 part rather than down on the 2-for part. Keep at it - I'm sure the experience will continue to improve the results.

Great fish buddy. Nice way to kick off the spring season...

OFNCers, I've been back from the south for just over a week now but this is the first chance I've had to draft up a proper report. I've got some pics below, but, sadly, it was more about relaxing in the sun than it was about fishing. There was still a little fishing, though, and the relaxing part was REALLY nice. My wife and I flew into Cozumel from chilly Canadian climes on a late Sunday evening for a March break of fun and frivolity. This was just what we needed to cure the winter blues and I was PUMPED for the warm ocean with two rods in tow... Arrived late, checked into the Cozumel Reef Resort and Spa and cruised over to the bar to enjoy some cool drinks in the warm evening air. This place looked great and we were looking forward to the week ahead. Slept in on day one and just enjoyed the beach. I had plans to get up early and angle a little while the wife slept in. That way I could fish on my own time and we could enjoy our days in the sun together. It was bright and early, 5:30am, when I learned that I was surf casting into a protected national reserve. Yeah, that's right, the ocean on Cozumel's ENTIRE WEST COAST IS NOT OPEN TO FISHING... Nice.... Ultimately, it is to protect the natural wonder that is the second largest coral reef in the world. It's a mecca for scuba divers and snorkelers and home to some really beautiful reef fish. So it was not meant to be for me until we took our one and only drive to the far opposite coast at the end of the week. Oh well, sounds like beer at 10:30am, naps on the beach and casual dips in the carribean for most of the week... I managed to live with it... On the Friday of the week we rented a car to do a lap of the island. We'd heard great things about completely empty, white sand, caribbean beaches, but the site that geeted us exceeded our expectations... This was the rougher surf side of the island that faces the open caribbean. Best part about it is that this side of the island cannot be developed according to current mandates, giving the adventurous folks a paradise to enjoy on their own. Once I regained conciousness and the color came back to my face, my wife and I danced and jumped around a little before I got down to business. Having set up my rod, I would run waist deep into the crashing surf and launch a 2-ounce sinker loaded with calamari from the fish market as far as I could into the cresting waves. I would then run back up the beach to place my rod in it's holder, clear of the tide. Amidst the fishing my wife and I explored a few tidal pools where we flipped over stones to find interesting critters like starfish and urchins. And finally, as I watched my rod tip bob with the action of the waves, I connected with something. It was a small but very scrappy fighter that was not ready to give up too easily. This was the best moment. Having launched bait into the deep blue sea, I had absolutely no idea what might come out. With half a football field in line out, I took my time, relishing in the thought that, although small, this could be almost anything with fins. Finally, an ebbing wave revealed my prize... ... ... ... ... ... BONEFISH!!!!! What a treat to pull this little guy out of the crashing surf. I reloaded the squid and fired out again after a careful live release. The action wasn't constant but it was a nice couple of hours of casual fishing. Within another short while, I connected with another. Had to snap two close ups of this guy. What a beautiful fish. They look almost irridescent in the sunlight (pics don't do justice). That was it for the fishing action. We packed up and headed for the nearest bar. One of only a few buildings on this far coast was a "Bob Marley" bar called 'Freedom in Paradise'. Owned by a Canadian girl from Kingston who'd had enough of the rat race and decided to make her life in Cozumel. Here is a pic of my wife with the "I love this beach but that sun is REALLY hot and I need a cold beer". A couple of days later, the sun set on our vacation, the end coming all too soon for a couple of travelers who'd just begun to get used to the good life. I guess that's what makes the memories that much sweeter. Hope you liked the recap. I know it wasn't fish-focused but, really, our trip was not either. I'm just glad I got to wet a line, if only for a couple hours, on a beach with no one else on it...

Test: [http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/119024.jpg/img]

Hey folks, Been meaning to write this for a few days but it's been hectic... After much advice-seeking on this board my father in law and I finally hit Simcoe last Sunday for our last ice session of the season. I polled you, you provided great votes and great feedback and I was pumped up to go... Hit smokeys around 8am for minnows and parked on the ice at the Bonnie boats launch ramp. Began the hike out along the "ice road" with sleigh and all the gear in tow. Couldn't believe some of the guys driving out in 2wd vehicles, getting stuck halfway out - nuts! The wind was HOWLING so we stopped halfway, walked 20 paces from the road, and with a nonchalant "this looks good", starting carving up some holes. Dropped a minnow rig down immediately for the pops in law before setting up and it got nailed before it hit bottom - good sign. He promptly pulled out two keeper perch on his "pickerel rig" in the first 30 seconds of fishing - a good sign.... Then took the time to set up the camping tent, fold-out chairs, etc... and nothing. The little ones came and went but not much action over the two hours we were there. Took back a snack of a dozen 9"+ fish but packed it in well early due to the FREEZING conditions. Took two pics of the setup but I haven't had a chance to load them yet. Will do soon. Sorry for the boring report after all that polling but it was a tough day to focus on the fishing out there in the cold. All-in-all I can't complain - it's been a great eye opener to ice fishing this season. I learned lots by trying things and talking to all of you - thanks for that. Now I'm headed for a balmier locale - Cozumel on Sunday. I'll be there for a week with limited tackle but I'll do my best to pull something interesting out of the surf. Promise a full report on my return. Tight lines folks!

Hey guys, We're hoofing it on foot. Kind of worried about the 30km winds they're calling for tomorrow but I think I'll go for it anyways. I haven't developed a Tarpus-anythingus setup, so I'll rely on my two man tent - HA! What a joke - hopefully it doesn't blow away!!! I liked the area sout of Georgina because it was a short walk from shore to get into some fish. Couple jumbos last time but not crazy. As for Beaverton, is there an opportunity to get into some close to shore or do you need to get way out there? I would've thought they'd be moving towards river mouths by this time but maybe it's still too early? Any last minute tips for "walk-to" general areas are appreciated. If I don't hear anything, I'll go with my gut and hope to have some pics of fish for you tomorrow night. Thanks again.

Really cool. Having never owned or used an underwater cam, it's really interesting to see what's going on down there. Makes me want to invest in a wetsuit...

Thanks for the votes and feedback gang. I look forward to posting a report when I get back on Sunday.

Nice Slabs!

Great pics and report TennesseeGuy! You've fished some parts of Canada that many Canadians could only dream of!!! Look forward to seeing pics from 07!

Great looking rainbows...

Great pics. Gotta love to be able to wet a line when on vacation like that. Nice lookin' snook! I'm sure that, when you get out on those bass lakes, it's probably tough to identify the productive areas, paticularly fishing "blind". It's never easy when there's so much cover that you don't know where to start. That said, sounds like you did pretty well for yourself. Good job.

Really cute.

HEY! Another parent-takes-the-kids-out-of-school-for-life-lessons day. Man I wish my folks were into fishing when I was young! I think the one who got to postpone his math test looks the happiest. Great job, looks like good family fun. And what a beauty average size for the fish in those pics. Can't beat Quinte - let's hope it stays this good for years to come! Counting down 'till the opener....

Nice pics and report as always Clampet.

Great fish! Looks like a faun day.

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YIKES! Those are some bad dudes.

Awesome fish - those smiles say it all.