charlesn

Awesome. Sparrow can be tough at the best of times, so you did good considering the elements. This day will be one you and your son will always remember. Charles

I've only been there once, but I recall there being a launch in Lagoon City itself. I don't remember their being an attendant or a fee but we went during the week and were the only boat on the lake that day. I think I recall a free launch in Beaverton too, but I remember it being quite steep, but usable and free. When I'm in that area I usually launch at Quinns on the Peff river, $10 flat fee just off 48. The run from Lagoon City to Crates in Keswick is quite a haul by boat, especially if it is rough. Or is there another Crates Marine in Lagoon City? Charles

Yo. Welcome to the board Brian's Little Bro. Charles

Lew has it right, a colour doesn't become invisible (how would a fish then bite on any red/yellow bait in deep water?), it just becomes seen as black. The advantage is above the water for line watchers. You can see the subtle twitches or movements in your line that indicate a bite before you could ever feel it in the rod. Charles

I don't think Silva knows how to be in a boring fight. He didn't let Lutter lay and pray and he knows he's in against a better fighter... I just keep remembering him getting caught by a Ryo Chonan flying heel hook and I wonder when his next lapse will be. Silva has all the tools to be dominant for a while though. Charles

I predict 2 upsets just because this is the year of the upset: Evans and Nate And 2 favorites: Sherk and Big Nog. I hope I'm wrong though as I'd love to see Rampage and Tito fight and a Silva Franklin rematch... Charles

Awesome... Although the food pictures are making me very hungry and I already ate lunch!!! Charles

Lew you look so happy about catching them incidental giant bass too! lol Nice fish.

Braid is probably cheaper than mono in the long term. But I use it more because I am too lazy or don't have the time to respool often. I have been known to go a full season without respooling with braid. With fluoro or mono, it just has too much memory and you really can't afford not to respool after a while if you're fishing competitively. For a most, I can easily see 3 to 4 years of use on one spooling of braid. Maybe more? But the most important thing is personal preference and to use what builds confidence for you. If you believe a fluoro leader gets you more bites... It probably does! Charles Edit- Phat-bassturd types quicker than me and beat me to it...

$39? I paid $79 at Bass Pro... For a pfd she won't wear... lol Oh well, it's not the first time I've wasted money there... Thanks Johnny I'll have a look at CT, Charles

One word: Awesome!

No leader needed for heavy cover largemouth. Just adds an extra bump in the line to get caught up in weeds and what not. Use the 40 lb braid straight, it cuts through the weeds better and you'll never lose a fish to a leader or leader connection failure. I like 65 lb PP or Stren Superbraid myself. Never bother with colouring the line or whatever although maybe it helps. I've had largies bump their nose off the trolling motor going for a frog. They are not that bright. Smallies on the other hand are much smarter. lol That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Charles

I think Rocky's in Orillia is the place most go to for TM service. Depending on how old it is and the thrust, it might make more sense to upgrade. Good luck, Charles

I guess that's why we all love fishing, it's not just about the catching! Charles

Cityfisher, Yes, it was electric only. I like the electric only lakes a lot to be honest. Now don't get me wrong, 70 mph with the wind ripping your face off is an awesome feeling too, but sometimes it's nice just to start fishing the moment you drop the boat in the water. I learned another body of water last week thanks to a small club tournament, Shade's Mills, in Cambridge that is also trolling motor only and caught a bunch (15 keeper bass) in 3.5 hours... I've heard Guelph Lake is good too and another trolling motor only lake. Charles

lol, yeah, and they are quick change artists too cuz sometimes they even change shirts, hats or even the weather between fish! Charles

Wes, we put it on her and she had a total fit and she's usually not like that unless in pain or true discomfort. Not sure, but it may be too tight (although rated for 20-30 lbs) and restricting her breathing. It was definitely snug. But I have one that is for 40-60 lbers and it is way too big. I'm looking for an alternative as we speak. Would welcome any suggestions... I'm thinking something similar to an inflatable design would be good, but obviously have little/no experience in pfds of this size class. Thanks for the kind words! Charles

OK, maybe the title is a little misleading... Took my 9.5 month old daughter out on her first "fishing" trip. We had a great time. First was the presentation of the first rod/reel and pfd back at home. Being a cautious baby, Lauryn checked to make sure the life jacket was CCG approved! Next it was in to the truck for the drive to Island Lake. You could tell she was anxiously awaiting that first cast... Once there, the boat was launched and Lauryn was floating on the water for the first time. She taught daddy how to cast. Then it was mommy's turn. Luckily for mommy, she was using a plastic casting plug or she woulda got turned in for poaching without a license! After about an hour of fishing and eating and diaper changing, 5 largemouth had been landed and 2 had gotten away. So here's a pic of a 2.5 lber, a 3.25 lber, a 15+ lber and a UFC welterweight... lol Lauryn dutifully watches and approves as the fish are allowed to swim free. After a quick visit to the beach, it was off for home. Dreams of the next trip were already in mind. It was an amazing and fun experience. Can't wait to take her again. Charles

My Lowrance X26 was doing the exact same thing this weekend. It's not a glitch lew, it's an undocumented "feature" that trains you to use those zoom buttons... lol Charles

There is no single bait that gets them all the time. Not even live bait. Sometimes a slight change in presentation can trigger a bite. Other times, they are just curious and you will not ever catch one. I have experienced the same thing and tried the exact tube Skeeter99 is talking about (and about 30 others lol) and the simple fact was, those fish just weren't interested in eating. I've also found that I'm starting to catch more fish on other presentations on Simcoe. It used to be 90% tube, now it's about 50%. I would go to a very (as in VERY as if you're having a seizure and your arms should feel like they're about to fall off) erratic retrieve with a jerkbait. You'll sometimes trigger one to bite that otherwise would keep flipping you the fin. Brian, show me these spots on Erie where you don't even have time to eat... As you know, I don't eat on the boat, so that sounds like a perfect spot for me to practice my techniques! A solid 9 hours of catching 50-60 fish an hour. What could be finer? lol Charles

It's pretty fat, I'd say an honest 3 lber. Nice fish. Charles

Oh as far as colours, they all work. I used 6 topwater frog colours and every single one worked. I didn't use many other baits because they were eating the frogs so good. Go with your confidence colours and I'm sure it will work. Charles

Hey Tinman, I don't know the lake that well, the marina you name is unfamiliar to me, but the lake is small enough that you won't have a problem finding good areas to fish. There are tonnes of fish basically everywhere, but anywhere in the shallows especially. Throw topwater frogs, worms, senkos, jigs, basically whatever your favorite technique is, it will work there for largemouth. I'm jealous, the 4 days I spent there last year were 4 of the best days I've ever had bass fishing. Charles

It describes a particular area that is fairly expansive, but not accessible to shore fishing. Easy to find in a rental boat though. I'd say the best areas start about 200 yards off shore, just look for the rock piles, they are very easy to see. They were eating up a drop shot, spinnerbait and senko on opening day and got some on a rattle trap too. Good luck, Charles

I don't think it is a race thing as much as just the average person (pawn) once again getting caught in a chess game/power struggle that is in the end all about money. The truckers like to blockade traffic when diesel prices are high... How does that make sense, I've got no input on what Petro Canada charges, yet I'm the one stuck in traffic. Same with the teachers union when they want more money, use our kids as ammo. Same with the TTC and OPSEU and any union that can utilize us as leverage for their "cause". Us average people are always the victims of these "negotiating" tactics and it really sucks but it's become an accepted tactic and I don't think it is ever going away... I feel for anyone affected by the blockades but hope that cooler heads prevail. Charles