Tomcat

Wayne: A couple of years back, a charter captain provided the following advice in a post on walleyecentral.com on lead lengths behind downrigger balls. Lead lengths behind your rigger balls vary day to day but below I will post the general rule of thumb that I have used that work. I start with these leads and either shorten or lengthen to what the fish want at that time. 3 - 10 feet down, 55 – 75 feet back from the downrigger ball 10 - 20 feet down, 35 – 55 feet back from the downrigger ball 25 – 35 feet down, 20 - 45 feet back from the downrigger ball 35 – 45 feet down, 15 - 35 feet back from the downrigger ball 45 – 55 feet down, 10 -25 feet back from the downrigger ball > 55 feet down, 10 - 15 feet back from the downrigger ball The above down and back chart is for main lines. If I stack a rod on the same downrigger (i.e. use another rod and reel and lure on the same downrigger simultaneously), I will place the lure attached to the stacked rod 10 feet above the main lure and 10 feet farther back. For example, deep rod 65 feet down and 12 feet back with the second rod 55 feet down and 20 feet back. Although I've been fishing Lake Kipawa in Sep the last 7 years, primarily for walleye, I also fish for lakers during the day using a portable downrigger. Most success has come from fishing a Sutton 71 thirty five feet down in 65 feet + of water. I've been using a 25 foot fluorocarbon leader behind the ball.

Here's the change to catch and retain rules for 2008: A Change to Ontario’s Catch and Retain Rules Generally, daily catch limits include all fish that are retained for any period of time and not immediately released. Anglers fishing from a boat may now catch and retain, and selectively live release, more walleye, northern pike, largemouth or smallmouth bass than the daily limit, provided: (a) the fish are held alive in a livewell with a mechanical aerator operating at all times, ( the fish comply with any applicable size limits, © the sport or conservation fishing licence daily catch and retain limits for walleye or northern pike are not exceeded at any one time, (d) no more than six largemouth or smallmouth bass (or any combination) caught under a sport fishing licence are retained at any one time, and (e) the conservation fishing licence catch and retain limits for largemouth and smallmouth bass (or any combination) are not exceeded at any one time. Anglers are reminded to closely monitor the condition of fish held in a livewell. Only fish that are in such a condition that they will survive may be released (see Tips on Live Release of Fish, page 10). Releasing a fish that will not survive and allowing the flesh of that fish to be wasted is an offence. Any fish not live-released are part of your daily catch and retain limit. While I'm not against positive change, I don't support this change because it provides less protection to our fish resources. I suspect this change was added to appease the tournament fishing fraternity. I guess in the end, it really doesn't matter what rules exist because there's insufficient COs to enforce the rules anyway.

Just my opinion but I contend different single malt scotches vary greatly in taste. I don't believe anyone would compare Lagavulin to Macallan. Consequently, if you're really interested in your father-in-law enjoying a bottle of scotch, ask him for his preferences. That way, you can be assured that he'll enjoy your thoughtfulness.

Thanks Wayne for assisting in our collective education.

I've been using a Rapala ProGuide Deluxe Electric Fillet Knife Set for 2 years. These electric filleting knives facilitate cleaning fish quickly. Last summer, after a great morning of walleye fishing for 4 of us, I cleaned 24 walleye. Glad I wasn't limited to using a blade. And on that particular occasion, I was powering my Rapala ProGuide with a 12 volt battery. Great gift regardless the occasion. Here's a web reference to a site that has a video demonstrating cleaning a northern with an electric filleting knife - see http://www.why-fish.com/

Thanks for taking the time to share some of your Canadian experiences with us. You certainly reminded me of how lucky we Canadians are to have so much so close. Safe journey home.

Nice report and pics. I'm not sure I would let any drums on board my new lund. Thanks for sharing.

Gerritt: From http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuse...lectricity.faqs What is the Debt Retirement Charge (DRC) and why do I have to pay it? The Debt Retirement Charge (DRC) is intended to help pay down the legacy debt of the former Ontario Hydro. Although the debt was acquired in the past, the facilities that were financed by the debt are still in use and continue to supply electricity to customers today. For this reason, today's customers contribute to paying down the debt through the DRC. How much is the debt and how long must we continue to pay the debt retirement charge (DRC)? In the years prior to restructuring in 1999, Ontario Hydro had borrowed money to build new generation plants and expand transmission and distribution networks. The interest and principal on this debt was to be paid by the revenues earned from the sale of electricity. The total amount of the debt left by the former Ontario Hydro, including other liabilities, was $38.1 billion. Of that total, $17.2 billion was assigned to Ontario Hydro's successor companies - Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The remaining $20.9 billion was defined as 'stranded' debt. This amount was later reduced by $1.5 billion through the transfer of other assets. Consequently, the stranded debt started out at 19.4 billion. According to the OEFC's report for the year ended March 31, 2004, the debt increased to almost $20.6 billion. This increase was largely a result of the almost $1 billion cost of the 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour fixed price for electricity introduced by the previous government. I contacted authorities by email in Jan 07 about the size of the DRC and when it might be finished. Their response included a statement that as of 31 Mar 06, the stranded debt was 19.3 billion. When you consider the amount of dollars paid towards the DRC every year by we consumers since 1999, you’d wonder why the stranded debt doesn’t decrease (you know – the way your mortgage principal decreases with payments). The reason this DRC does not decrease as rapidly as we would expect is that “the powers to be” keep adding to the debt. That’s why the best estimate about an eventual payoff goes something like the following: The DRC will end when the residual stranded debt is paid off, which the OEFC estimates will occur between 2012 and 2020.

I used 8/3 Crystal Fireline this year for the first time for jigging walleyes. I liked it. I have used 10/4 Fireline for several years on my Daiwa line counter reels for trolling crankbaits for walleyes. No complaints.

Thanks Andrew. I was just wondering. I have an 07 Honda 4 stroke 15 HP. My gas tank capacity is 12 litres (2.64 Imp gals). On our Aug walleye trip, we had to run 19 miles to get to our cabin. Running near WOT, I used a little more than half a tank to get our 16 foot aluminum Nadon (1971 edition) camp boat (fully loaded) to the cabin. Thanks again for your great report!

A great story accompanied by some wonderful pics. Thanks as always Andrew for sharing these type experiences with us southern types. Two questions though. How much outboard gas did you use for the trip and did you cache gas on your way in?

One of the headlines in the news today was a warning that we can look forward to $1.50 per litre gasoline. Even at $1 per litre, savings with a four stroke engine add up. My experience is with smaller outboards. I purchased a 2007 Honda four stroke 15 HP outboard this past spring. Six guys did a walleye trip in three boats in mid August. All boats were identical 16 foot aluminum camp boats. I put the most hours on the water for the week and I burned 12 Imp gallons. The other two boats burned 20 plus gallons each. One was powered by a two stroke 18 HP Evrinrude while the other was powered by a two stroke 15 HP Mercury. The run to camp involved 16 miles at close to WOT. I used about 1.5 gallons while the other two motors used over 2.5 gallons each. Food for thought.

Hi Gerrit: Re the cost of a non-resident fishing license in Quebec, see http://www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/english/wildlif...tes.jsp#fishing If you only plan to do a one week fishing trip once a year in Quebec, then buy the 7 consecutive day license for $30.43 plus taxes. An annual non-resident fishing licence for Quebec runs $45.21 plus taxes - comes to $52.50 if I remember correctly.

Our group fished Lake Ogascanan in 2000. We didn't enjoy that experience because, for us, there were not sufficient locations to fish during inclement weather. We tried Lake Kipawa in 2001 and have fished there every year since (for walleye and lake trout). We have always fished the north east arm of Lake Kipawa. If you would like more details, simply PM me.

As always, thanks for sharing your getaways with the rest of us. Great report!

Sent you a PM.

Although I posted while downloading the last video, it played fine as did the first two videos I downloaded. My download speeds are a bit slow even though I have high speed sympatico (I'm at the outer distance limitation). Well worth the wait though! Thanks again.

Thanks for sharing your exploits during the summer as well as these latest videos. Great stuff!!

Visit the Garmin web site and download (free of charge) the user manual for the Garmin GPSMAP 76CSX. Doing so will answer many of your questions and probably raise a few too. More importantly, reviewing the manual before you purchase should provide you a warm fuzzy feeling about the unit before you spend your dollars.

We used a 10 million candlepower light on the low setting to return to camp after fishing into darkness. Before we departed for our fishing location (remote location with no access to power), we tested the length of operation of the light on the low setting. The 8 AH battery that came with the light would last about an hour. We estimated that that amount of power would get us back to camp only 2 evenings (30 minute ride). Consequently, we stripped down the light to bare essentials and took along a 30 AH battery to provide power for the week. Worked out fine. OK, the 30 AH battery weighed about 25 pounds. However, a generator that probably weight that much or more. This was our solution and no doubt there are many more.

Thanks for sharing! Beauty specs!

Six of us ventured into north western Quebec 11-17 Aug for some walleye and lake trout fishing. One of my colleagues landed this real nice 12 pound laker. However, much to his surprise, when he opened the lakers mouth to remove the hooks, he was staring at the tail of a 16 inch walleye (that's all that was left whole) attached to the entire intact backbone. During the same trip, I was lucky enough to see a Black Bear with 3 cubs - a rarity to see for sure. Sorry that the pic isn't in complete focus. I was out at 12 X optical in a moving boat.

A great read with great pics. Thanks for sharing.

The rate at which you charge a deep cycle battery depends on what type of deep cycle battery you're charging. Gel cell deep cycle batteries are best charged at low amps (i.e. 2 amps). However, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) deep cycle batteries can be charged at higher rates. Flooded batteries (wet cell) are different again. Best advice would be to check the specifications for the battery you have and follow the charging instructions provided.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting what you posted so I'll ask "Do you want a knot to join your main line to your flouro leader?" If so, I'd recommend the double uni knot - see http://www.netknots.com/html/fishing_knots.html