tbayboy

I arrived a bit into Al Linders talk this morning but caught most of it. Was actually a good talk, instead of talking technique he talked more about the attitude to take going in and things like that. While I didn't learn anything per say from the talk it sure got me cranked up to get on the water. Damn you winter! Definitely only 1/2 the show it was last year (if even that) but all the same I picked up a nice walleye trolling setup from Nature sports with the no tax savings which was nice (and they're great guys, almost makes me wish I lived in Kitchener). Could think of worse ways to spend a Saturday morning (much better than the 1/2 hour wait at the car wash on the way home)

Yikes, thanks for reminding me why I left Thunder Bay Dan (ok so maybe it was more job related but still). All of my buddies back home are thinking the same as you - reminds them of days in high school before we were driving and having to wait for the bus or walk to school in -40 wind chills. Ahh memories, and it was uphill both ways too!

I picked up the Fish TV when BPS had it on for $99 after Christmas figuring even if I only used it a few times it wasn't too much cash and I gotta say its a load of fun and it does help with the perch fishing on Simcoe. Being able to see the little buggers come in and get ready and know when your minnow is gone or when they've got it fully in their mouth definitely helps bring in a few more fish (though we're talking simcoe perch on the ice - not exactly rocket science to begin with). So far I've only used it on simcoe for perching but that was really all I was thinking of at the time but now I can't wait to try it in the summer and see how it handles other types of water. Problem with the unit: The lighting on it is kinda iffy - I can see my wee perch jigs from about 6 feet away on average I'd say if that helps and trying to find your lure is a pain at times - you don't want the camera too close as the fish tend to wrap around the camera cable (learned that the hard way) so you end up walking over, spinning the camera til you see your bait then go back to your chair then realize it was still spinning a bit etc etc. A quad camera would certainly help but since its $500 US retail I can live with keeping $400 and spinning the cable every now and then (you can get a remote pod controller but its $150 US so again - more than the camera for cheap SOBs like me). The only thing I wish the fishTV did that I would have spent an extra couple bucks on was the video capture - I'd have loved to have gotten film from last week when a pike slammed into the school of perch we were on - that was just dangg cool and paid for the unit right there. Anyhow, hope that helps. If you ever want to see it in action drop me a line and we can hook up on Simcoe one of these days (or where ever) Sean

Bah you can only get the 175 with the hydraulic assist steering? What do think you tiller drivers are - wimps? How hard could it be to manage that?

Man you guys are having a blast out there and there's no way you'll ever be accused of being a fair weather fisherman after this weekend. Congrats and keep it up.

And the big man keeps on giving! I'd have done the same photo spread as Wayne but my cat was getting a bit too interested so I took a quick shot and put them away til the summer. Of course with this wonderful box of goodies showing up and Snags summer picture post I'm going into serious withdrawl now. Anyone else up for a drive down south? Big thanks to Dave Mercer and TJ for putting this together. Keep up the great shows Dave, gotta do one with the 10" swimbaits in the box - those are gonna be a learning experience for me all right. Sean

Ahh man now I'm dying for the ice to go away, thanks Snag and to think all those old posts we figured you for a one species fisherman . Funny side note - the second recommended video for your bass'n'worm video(http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=0j3OGJJdALI) is my video 'Tube smallies' from this summer

Funny story - in November Mikeh and I were out on a charter with Davis Battah and as we're trolling around he tunes to some AC/DC says 'Muskie love AC/DC'. Mikeh and I chuckle and 15 seconds later (no lie) one of the rods bends over backwards and we're pulling in our 3rd of the day. I don't think he could have faked it any better if he had a guy in a sub following the lure waiting for the signal. Anyhow, back to the topic. I'm not a big fan of the loud music fast cut stuff either BUT if I can learn anything from it then I'll watch it and any suggestion to remove shows is nuts. It's so wonderful to have a channel for fishing shows and the last thing I'd want to do is suggest someone should not try to make a show - if its isn't some annoying brat singing/dancing/action in front of a bunch of annoying judges then its already better than 99% of the stuff on TV in my books.

No idea what kind of fish that one was but I gotta give Paul congrats on that lunker of a perch. Bitsmith and I were out at gilford today as well and did pretty well(eating my perch poppers now actually) but most were in the 8-10" range. Did you guys see the kamikaze pilots out - one guy couldn't have been 15 feet off the ice buzzing shacks.

Nice stuff, congrats

Great stuff. I love that cliff pic, very unique ice fishing view for sure.

Great report, gotta love the determination.

Now thats what fishing is really all about. Great stuff and thanks for sharing even if it's a few months late .

Does nobody waste money on hookers and booze anymore?

Sounds like a great way to spend time with the family and friends. I was suppose to hit lac whenI was home for the holidays but it wasn't meant to be (stupid family expecting to spend time together over the holidays - what a bunch of.. err nm). I've heard great things about archies setups as well, sure looks like a great cabin. Thanks for sharing.

Lots of greats stuff here gang. I'll try again this weekend and let you know what happens.

Hmm I've got those micro tubes, used 'em in the summer and for some reason didn't think to bring them. Will definitely try that out, did you get a lot on the top hook, 2 1/2' seems pretty high but what do I know Anytime you want to head out you know I'm up for it. Clamp-it: the chair is actually one of those HT one map flip over deals so probably not the same since you've already that Tarpus Maximus taking care of the wind. Good old cheap sled and bin though, can't go wrong. GCD: I know minnows work but I'm lazy and cheap

Hey guys and gals. Got a question for all the Simcoe experts out there about using non live bait based on what I tried last weekend. Last Saturday PatrickG and I went out for the day and mixed deadsticking minnows and small jigging spoons tipped with gulp maggots. Though we didn't have a great day we did ok but the spoon/maggot combo was seriously outfishing the minnows. To be fair I didn't give any action to the minnows but even when the minnows were working they were being nibbled on whereas the spoon was getting slammed. So Sunday I decided to test 2 theories: 1 - the afternoon bite (3-6) is almost as good as the morning without all that 5am alarm crap and 2 - going on the ice with no live bait at all. Well - the afternoon theory seemed to hold out as I got the fish TV down the first hold around 3ish and from then til I left around 6 I had no problem finding fish after moving a couple times (ie same amount of hunting as in the am til I found a spot that was full of 'em). BUT they wanted nothing to do with the artificials. Sure I landed a few but most of the afternoon was spent watching the little buggers stare at my spoons/jigs/jigging raps/bare hooks with gulp minnows, etc. I tried hard jigs, lite shakes, dead sticking but nothing seemed to really interest them. I was tempted to think it was just a 'time of day' thing but a family not 20 feet away using minnows was just slaying them. One thing I did notice - when I put on the gulp alive minnow tails and dropped em down I almost immediately had 3 or 4 perch come running up to check it out. Then they just stared at it regardless of what I did. I don't know if it was the smell of the minnows (god that stuff reeks) or the activity of the weight dropping down that attracted them but it happened every time with the gulp minnows and only a few times with the spoons. So - for all you perching gods out there. What do you think I should try next? Was it just a bad day or do you guys have suggestions on other things to try (I was using mostly jigging spoons with maggots, jigging rapalas, drop shotted plain hooks with 1" tail bits from gulp alive shiners). I'm not against live bait or anything but it just bugs me that I had a lousy time without it when I know I should be able to do just fine. PS If you see this blue suit out there with a face glued to the fish TV come on by and say hello!

Nice pics Wes. You and Dan keep this up and I just have to move back

Ahh sure is good to see the Tarp again. I take it Innisfil ice is all good? Was at Gilford today but was thinking Innisfil for the next trip.

Great first post. You guys sure got some weird looking fish out there. Those crab and lobster are making me drool though... man those look good. Welcome aboard.

I gotta agree with bringing up a whole wack of colours - they can be finicky buggers for sure. That said for jig heads carrying black, white, red orange and yellow usually works. Classic twister tail grubs in white, brown, orange are a bit of a staple for me. This year the winner seemed to be this brown/orange one: But don't forget crankbaits and classic spining rigs - here's a pic of the stuff that worked for us on our trip up north this year:

Nice stuff Bill. The wind was cold enough just filling my gas tank here in town I can imagine what it was like on the lake. Hope to be out there next weekend and would be great to see some other OFNers out three.

Great stories as always Snag. That is one creepy bad luck bringing doll for sure!

Amazing report Bunk, your Marlin story gives Hemmingway a run for the money.