tbayboy

What a beautiful weekend especially after last weekends miserable "holiday". No way there wasn't going to be some fishing for me. It started off with a casual trip out with PatrickG for some harbour pike. Started late (had to finally clean the gutters and get the racoon 'stuff' off my roof). As we headed out we saw lots of these guys flirting around: <a href=" title="Goldfinch by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2519869938_b99fe1e628_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Goldfinch" /></a> A nice way to break in my new camera (old one in for repairs and I just needed an excuse to upgrade). Eventually we got around to fishing. Action was pretty slow until Patrick figured out the winning lure of the day - long bladed mepps #5 (aglieara or whatever they're called) and landed this guy - we used the lip grips as she'd taken the trebles kinda wonky <a href=" title="Spit Pike by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2519049683_a2fec70688_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Spit Pike" /></a> A bit later his twin came to say hello <a href=" title="Come here! by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2519051701_36d134c6a1_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Come here!" /></a> <a href=" title="Spit Pike by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2519052625_159a202d65_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Spit Pike" /></a> We kept working at it but even the resident experts told us the day bite had been really tough lately so we listened to our stomachs and headed out - mmmm streat meat saugage! Sunday started nice and early - Mike and I had setup a day of whitefishing and wanted to get on the water early. 7:30 had up pulling away from the dock at Sibbald and heading out to the secret white fish spot. <a href=" title="Morning on the lake by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2523149284_79f700d15e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Morning on the lake" /></a> <a href=" title="White Fish Hunting ground by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2522326017_3a41913963_b.jpg" width="1024" height="241" alt="White Fish Hunting ground" /></a> Oh you mean its not a secret? Unfortunately the fishfinder had some hiccups so we basically moved amongst the crowd looking for others catching but no one seemed to be really slaying them. I put on a gold and silver hammered williams and that seemed to be the magic bait for the day. The only problem is that it almost always snagged the buggers. I was just slowly lifting up and down (as opppose to many who were rip snapping them) but it didn't help. Not sure what the trick is with that lure to get them to suck the damn hook - I brought up a couple hooked on the bottom, a couple on the bottom fins and a couple on the front fins. Eventually one came in that had a hook in the right spot - not his lucky day but I'm going to get a dinner - notice the death grip - no way I'm dropping this after all the snags. <a href=" title="Dinner! by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2523150178_f9df95a2ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Dinner!" /></a> Notice those little black blotches in the picture. Yeah - guess what happens on simcoe when there's no wind <a href=" title="I'm not sitting there by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2522328763_e9694c4377_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="I'm not sitting there" /></a> I'm still tasting bugs Around noon we made a fateful decision to go on a run for Simcoes other famous fish: <a href=" title="Simcoe Perch by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/2522332213_7d85d0e7d4_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Simcoe Perch" /></a> Unfortunately we couldn't even find many of these guys. We drove all over (gas is to expensive to run all over simcoe for perch - mental note) but then finally gave up and went back to the whitefish grounds where I quickly snagged 2 more (I was sure one was a regular catch but no - there's the hook in his poop shoot! stupid fish). And that was it for the day. If anyone has any tips for using a williams without snagging the fish I'd love to hear them. Ahh well - Not the banner day we were hopping for but hey - the weather was nice right? Have a great week every one, Sean

Very vivid memory - being from Thunder Bay we were planning to go wait for him to come by when we got the news that he'd stoppped just before the city. We all hoped it was just a temporary pause but we all know now it wasn't

Hey Rob, congrats on the good weekend!

A typical entry I'm sure Her / His diary

Oooh can't wait to see how this turns out. So here we go (click any image to get at the flickr page where you can get the original or other sizes if you need them). I've limited them to pics that are really of the people and not scenery: Funniest Bitsmith2k doing his best troll under a bridge: <a href=" title="Big guy in a small shack by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/2240927634_3a6765edd8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Big guy in a small shack" /></a> Yours truly doing his best 'short bus' impression <a href=" title="First Whitefish by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2289896547_185327644c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="First Whitefish" /></a> Some guy who spends too much time on this board: <a href=" title="cliffsgiant by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/241/515109304_35f1f789e6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="cliffsgiant" /></a> Mikeh's best catch of last year: <a href=" title="Mike's best catch of the year by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2111906524_3d2d0d54f8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mike's best catch of the year" /></a> PatrickG can't even catch a stick <a href=" title="The release by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/441230251_5c998dc960.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The release" /></a> Bitsmith2k again - this time running from geese <a href=" title="Run its a goose! by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/501450681_0bb5d215dc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Run its a goose!" /></a> What happens when you borrow ice fishing clothing <a href=" title="IMG_0354 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/337926581_5daa7142ec.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0354" /></a> Favourites My favourite photo from last year that happens to have me in it: <a href=" title="Releasing a muskie by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2111133701_4683b18c08_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Releasing a muskie" /></a> And another favourite of yours truly: <a href=" title="Seans Biggie by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/252/1500377465_3806672ade.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Seans Biggie" /></a> Bitsmith2K happy to catch anything (get that arm healed soon!) <a href=" title="IMG_1860 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1426/1465156259_74ca74a6e7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1860" /></a> Here's a nice one of Mikeh happy to be in the pads <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/1033037402/" title="IMG_1593 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/1033037402_289ac584bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1593" /></a> Father of 3 on his home river: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/1297680151/" title="Paris - Sept1-1 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/1297680151_8e6492bb05.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Paris - Sept1-1" /></a> PatrickG showing me why the Grand can be fun: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/1316819140/" title="IMG_1758 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/1316819140_76759d089a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1758" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/1316811230/" title="IMG_1741 by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1152/1316811230_3d62fed3f2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1741" /></a> Lexxington checking out the salmon <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emosworld/507996133/" title="Checking the line by Sean Maurik, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/507996133_be5a7150e0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Checking the line" /></a> Hope that helps

Wow, what a cool fish. Apparently a species of concern too: Ontario's Biodiversity: Species at Risk Congrats on a neat mixed bag.

Your corporate firewall has probably been set to block the sites hosting the pictures (try going to photobucket.com)

Nice hardcore report Johnny - definitely not the nicest may 24 in while.

Congrats on the successful launch and big props to FishnSled for the assists.

Great report Mike - nice to smiles in all the pictures after the 'fun' you guys had

Oh yawn another moosebunk report - same old same old ... ahhh I can't do it with a straight face . Great stories and fantastic pictures, that walleye is just amazing - 7lbs of pure natural beauty. Thanks for keeping us dreaming of trips up north!

Seriously jealous. Great stuff UF

Nice stuff and thanks for sharing the tech details. Now excuse me while I go out and get black headed bucktail with a green and black tail

A really beauty - nice to see guys getting rewarded for putting up with the weather.

Nicely done.

Nice stuff everyone. Cool reflection picture of the 'cooler with seats'

Congrats Mike. Nice to knock a new species of the list.

Good on them. And the Dish network is transmitting it in HD (not that all the shows are HD but many are). Here in Toronto we get craptastic SD versions (at least on Rogers).

Sounds like a great day shared by great people. Looking forward to the pics.

Hehe thanks, thats a good one.

Nice job Steve, way to switch up and figure out the pattern.

I love the crystal - used it on all my light gear last year - tube fishing smallies to jigging 'eyes. Not a huge fan of the regular fireline (found it hard to work with compared to PP with heavier lines like 20lb+). Thanks for heads up Al.

Some really great pictures there. Thanks for the update.

Congrats to your daughter and her parents on a great day out.

Whats your address GCD - I have to mail you a good book on sarcasm