Rizzo

don't do crack

You must have misunderstood my comment about "reducing" unwanted pike encounters. The key is reduce, not eliminate. I catch a ton of pike on topwater, however, I catch far more in other ways. At our cottage, if I chucked a spinnerbait or xrap I would catch 10 or more pike in an hour. When I'm after bass, my best approach is to go topwater as that will reduce my pike catches to around 3-5 per hour...less time fiddling with pike means more time to go after bass.

I would guess South Bay to be around 4 kms?? from the park

Great report, thanks for the updates. Glad to hear no pike caught! Too bad about the muskie, there are some decent fish in Balsam

pretty safe on the west side of the lake that you are talking about. A few shoals around Grand Island but not much too surprise you in the rest of the lake as far as I'm aware

We drive past little lake regularly and I always feel sorry for the fish there. such a small lake and not uncommon to see 20-30 boats pounding it at any given time. Hard for a fish to survive!

Love the poppers for smallies. Just got back from the cottage for a week and I basically fished topwater the whole time. This helps reduce unwanted pike attacks although they still are a nuisance even on topwater. Like others have said...patience grasshopper, wait until you feel the fishes weight before setting the hook. I caught several bass this week that had boiled at the bait seconds earlier, then smashed it the next time

nice fat healthy looking pike. Now we have to teach her not to hold a pike the way dad does when posing. Great looking fish!

My biggest (and possibly only regret) about changing jobs was that my new place doesn't have dental coverage. Not too bad for me (few hundred bucks a year) but my wife's teeth are like swiss cheese! We have spent close to 5000.00 on her teeth in the last 2 years so I will agree to not be a big fan of dentists! Last bill was around 1000.00 and she was barely there an hour!!!

sorry to hear this Wayne. My condolences to you and your family

40 inch...just what you did. 45 inches or bigger just tackle him so that you can get the photo! The doctor can always get the embedded hooks out later.

between dinnertime rapids and woods bay there is also a bluff shoreline. I've seen the pickerel guys sitting there before.

the good news is we caught the big pickerel only across the bay from chad's island (now I remember the name)! There are all kinds of little bays off the main channel that can entertain with pike and bass. We've caught a few incidental pickerel and I had a guy with me who got into some crappies too not too far from the train bridge.

wow this is a blast from the past. Roadshows at highschool dances, Ontario Place held them for a summer or two as well I think. Unfortunate news. Not sure if there is anything comparable today to what CFNY did through the 80's...not to mention they would play my beloved RAMONES

Haven't been there for 25 plus years. All I remember is the big static electricity ball and some machine that drew fancy designs as it swung like a pendulum

I go, but really only for my kids. There is an old quarry down a dirt trail near our house with little pike in it. After work I'll take the kids down the "secret trail" for a bit of fishing, and when the summer progresses, swimming. The 3 year old gets a kick out of catching "big pike" (which are actually smaller than hammerhandles) while they 4 year old gets more fun out of throwing rocks and exploring

Can't give you any specifics, but I did nail a 9 pounder out there last year trolling a gigantor musky bait off of a rocky point. Fished below the chute earlier this year and buddy got a 9 pounder in gloucester pool while we were pike fishing! Unusally big fish for those waters I would say. I have fished that stretch 2 times this year and the fishing has been so-so. Likely my next trip will be to a different spot

looks a little choppy! nice looking pike, but based on the size of your net you're ready for something much bigger!

lots of visible structure (weedbeds/edges) so not a tough place to at least find the "community" spots.

zoinks, what a brute!

well said Chris! Great to see everyone again...and great to be runner up in the pike tourney (pretty sure that's my 3rd time being a "bridesmaid")

hmmm not too sure about muskies up that way other than rosseau, kahshe, sparrow but I don't think they are even that close

Fantastic report, nice to finally meet the two of you. We had no luck on the muskies in my boat, glad to hear you guys had success! Hopefully we'll see you next year

Welcome Luc. As you have likely read, we were also at Nipissing last week. I caught a sheephead just like that one on a "Nitro" which is a 5 ounce glider musky bait about 8 inches long. Thought I'd hooked a musky until the ol sheephead showed its ugly mug! They do put up a good fight at least!

good to see you again Maureen. We gotta do something about that tent though! Looks a little "cozy" even for 1.