steverowbotham

After a killer day on Saturday, I got a call from a couple buddies asking if I want to go back. I didnt need much time to make the decision, though I was a little hesitant with the strong east winds pushing in. We got out around 8:30 and the wind was already bucking out there, but we ran to saturday's location. After 30 minutes and 6 pike, we realized we needed to do some looking. the water was 4 degrees warmer than Saturday, so I figured they would be heading towards typical spawning locations. We made a move and it didnt take long before we were into them. We didnt get nearly the numbers that we did before, but there were some slabs around and we put about 40 fish in the boat over the next few hours. No complaints here! As usual, X-Zone Pan Slammers did the trick, and we got a couple bigger fish on the Shiver Shads as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOzufNCgYU&feature=g-upl

I havent posted a report in a while, but I've been out and about, filling my belly with delicious panfish!!! I also love having an open kawartha pike season to take advantage of now. No big pike yet, but lots to keep busy with one day in the 30 fish range!! Crazy start to the season, and while everyone was enjoying trout opener... we were beating up on slab crappies!!

pm sent

Thanks, it was an interesting season with the lack of ice, but we made the most of it

Here's another collection of clips from the 2012 season. Enjoy!

most of you have seen one of the clips in it, but here it is, something to help pass time during the "off-season" <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DEh11821QBI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

good to know. i never took one out of the bag even, just saw they were on clearance and thought i'd let people know.

Huts have now dropped to $52 !!

Awesome report as always!! Keep em coming, I always look forward to them

For anyone interested, WalMart on Bayfield St in Barrie has 6x6 ice huts on clearance for $70, marked down from 129. They're "Black Canyon" I believe. Obviously not Clam, Eskimo or Frabill quality but for those on a budget or looking for a spare, this is definitely a good option. There were 6 or 7 left when I left this morning.

Well another season has come and gone, and as usual, I'll post a photo recap. It was a very strange season with the weather and the main lake not freezing. I made the decision to take the winter off of guiding and I guess it was the best year to do it. Keys this year were fishing deeper than usual (108-125) and staying mobile and away from the inevitable crowds. Best success came on X-Zone Swammers and tubes. Enjoy the pics!! Thanks for reading!

Of course. Thanks for the views everyone. Was an interesting catch for sure!

Yesterday on Kempenfelt... http://youtu.be/LnsdC8i_jcI

Hand pours are going to be more expensive than injection molded plastics but you're getting a far superior product. I personally have no issue paying for quality. In the end I believe a bag of quality plastics will outperform and outlast a bag of minnows or a a can o worms... Just my 2 cents

Thanks for the replies!!

Take it away from them, the whities though, deadsticking is often best. I could listen to Kyle's laugh in the video all day hahaha

Headed out to Simcoe today with a good friend, Kyle McKee. Kyle took up ice fishing last year and we have been out several times. He is a pretty quick learner and has put some quality fish on the ice, already. Today was a very slow day out there, we didnt mark a whole lot of fish, but the ones we did were big ones. I had Kyle ripping a lipless crankbait up high and this fish hit around 930am. I've added some other photos since my last report. Most fish taken on X-Zone Swammers in pearl and Cisco. VIDEO http://youtu.be/gRRW8KYFgD8

You make a good point about supporting smaller and local brands, but that has literally nothing to do with the fact that a knockoff brand is using the Rapala name on their product, as stated in the OP... Unless things have changed, that's illegal and I would also be letting Normark know about it.

Haha, I've favourited the thread for later...

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I do need an electric site and Restoule seems to come highly recommended. I think we will give it a shot, it looks like a beautiful area, i hope the fishing is just as good hahaha

Hey everyone, Kelli and I are planning a camping trip for mid September and looking for suggestions. I would like to be within 2.5hrs of barrie, preferably north. I need an electric site and a boat launch that allows the use of engines and of course, good fishing would be nice. Any suggestions? Right now we are looking at Mikisew where we have been before.

Lot of people on the ice this weekend and the bite remained tough. We still put some fish on the ice, but we had to work for them. X-Zone Swammers did most of the damage this weekend. And a video as usual, http://youtu.be/0BuPLhzHZ9U

I would have to agree, we estimated 15-16 lbs.

I started the day off on the north side of Kempenfelt and found only 2.5 - 3 inches of ice. I set up and hooked a small laker which I lost at the hole, but I got SWARMED by people, drilling 20-30 feet away all around me. By the way, you dont need a gas auger on 2.5 inches of ice, you could probably just stomp through it. Anyways after I had 10 people surrounding me and water coming up my holes I said to hell with it, and left for a different area. Met up with a group of friends and headed out, set up by 9:30 ish. Very slow day, but I did manage a tank of a laker. I have lost some big fish on Simcoe ove the years, they just always manage to get the best of me. This time, I finally got the big one. I lost one last week that was bigger, so it still doesnt feel like a PB but I'm sure she is. She's close to one I got a couple yeas back, but I dont have an official weight on either. I need to start bringing a digital scale to confirm. Caught in 112ft. The best part was watching her swim away!!