The Urban Fisherman

I've used a few different ice reels and can't say I've had trouble with any of them. Only advice I can give, is don't use braid if it's really cold and you're not in a hut...the water it retains freezes and will make for a tough time fishing... also, the reason I quoted Mike, is if you're planning to target panfish make sure you're using an ultralight ice rod, or at least have one of those little spring deals on the tip of your rod to help detect hits! good luck, UF

Irish I'd be glad to hit he ice with you if you'll cook, and fly?

I have nothing against people who buy and use 10 inch augers, but in the end I wish they didn't make them over 8 inches... my 3 year old can almost fit through a 10 inch hole! Last year we were ice fishing and she was following behind me...go figure she fell through somebody's old hole that had iced over and been dusted with snow the night before... She only ended up with a soaked leg up to her waist, but I've never been so scared in my life! Personally I think 8 inches is plenty, and if I didn't get an 8 inch auger for christmas last year, I'd be using a 4 inch auger for panfishing. Good luck with your purchase!

this is all good stuff guys! what about a CO detector? any suggestions? Thanks! Ryan

my god man it's killin me! im sitting here watching rudolf with the kids for the 100th time wishing it was cold enough to make ice! by the way... ginny says 4 inches is plenty in her opinion... just be safe! cheers, ryan

This is all good stuff guys! Thanks for the pointers... and the laughs.. I haven't the time to reply to all of you right now, but keep 'em comin! Cheers, Ryan

I'd rather take the snow Rick.. born and raised in Sudbury... I can't stand the slushy messy stuff!

I'm sorry that cancer has had such an effect on your life Irish. Hopefully sooner than later, it'll be a thing of the past. Best wishes from myself and the rest of my little family this Holiday Season! Got your PM Rob..just haven't had a chance to get back to you. What a small world! Thanks for the message...

With Ginny's blessings I managed to scoop myself up a new toy for a good price... I know I'm going to hear "I told you so" from a few of you guys... My daughter asked me if we could set up our Clam 2000 in the living room and I didn't even hesitate! So, being new to owning a hut of any kind. What do I need in order to have an easy going, and safe trip out with the kid? Happy Holidays, and bring on the ICE! Cheers, Ryan

that's awesome Simon! I just started ice fishing the last two seasons, and really got into it last year. I can't wait for my local ponds to start freezing up. I was out on Lake Erie (long point bay) last christmas but I seriously doubt that'll be happening this year... Good luck and be safe dude!

No tears intended, but thanks for the post Irish. Much appreciated. Thanks John - Means a lot... And thanks again for the generous donation! Thanks Dan, again for everything. I'm glad you enjoyed the Fish-a-Thon as much as you did, and I'm looking forward to working with you on next years. I'm very sorry about your grandmother. Best wishes from my family to yours! Thanks Spiel - but you best get feeling better yourself! I want to see some reports ASAP! Thanks dude - A few big fish before the end of '09 would be nice, but I didn't do it for the vibes... That she did Mike... I've got a bunch of prints put away somewhere. Once we dig them out I'll take some shots and post them for everybody to see. Thanks for the reply. You were one of the first people to hop on board for the Fish-a-Thon. Thanks again...for the post as well. Thanks Backbay - She was taken to soon in my opinion, but such is life.... we were lucky to have her. Thank you kindly! We will miss her TJ, and thank you again. OFC does remarkable things, and we all appreciate the work you guys put into it. In the end though, it wouldn't exist if wasn't for you TJ. So thank you!

I just took the dog out for a bedtime pee and there's a skim of ice across our backyard pond... so much for the nice weather "Eh" ... I say bring on the ice. Bah, gotta love'em Irish... no matter how much of a pain in the behind they can be...and they sure can be a pain sometimes, you just gotta love'em! Good luck with the "Kids" tomorrow... hopefully they don't cry as much as mine do! haha Thanks Richard... gotta start them off early.. get it imprinted...like steelhead to their home river! You have NO idea Dano... He's a monster. I'm amazed that little Ginny is able to haul him around all day. I knew one of you guys would feel my pain! haha as much fun as it was to get them out... Luke was bored after 15 minutes..the attention span of a 6 month old isn't very long... and Averie didn't want to leave. There was some tears, and compromise before we made it to the truck. At least wait t'il the honeymoon brother....and then maybe enjoy the married life a little first... Averie was an "oops" baby, but if you run the numbers on Luke he's legit! Alright buddy I'll give you a shout. I think I'm only really taking the 24th to the 27th off but we'll see if we can connect for sure over the holidays! Yeah my wife loved that pic Simon.... Between that and the quiet time she gained from that trip I think I got a little mommy daddy time in... I guess your little one likes to try to eat everything in sight also!

Time is tight these days, work is busy, the kids both had the flu, the house seems to be perpetually torn apart and the reno work never ending. But hey - unfortunately, some folks will be out of work this holiday season, both my kids are healthy, and I have a solid roof over my families head so best not to complain right? Well I sure hope Santa bring's me a little spare time for Christmas, as slaying gobies with the kids got old a LONG LONG time ago! BUT, as is usually the case, Averie was on me to take her out again. And seeing as we had some unseasonably warm weather for November, I decided to take the baby boy out and give him his first taste of fishing. Averie caught her usual myriad of gobies, while the boy and I tried our luck at some panfish. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, and the kid showed me up once again. I think I spent more time removing gobies from her hook than fishing.....either way, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Headin' Out. Team Goby Killers! Averie's First catch of the day... And Luke wouldn't hold a fish, which was probably a good thing because I'm sure it would have gone strait into his mouth!

Hey guys - I started this a couple of weeks ago, but was just able to finish it.... Only a few short months ago Ginny's Grandmother, Irene Anderson, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. And a couple of weeks ago, she lost her short, and painful battle to this terrible disease. I've lost family members to cancer in the past , but I was quite fond of Grandma Anderson, and was around her often enough to see just how rough it can be. She took it like a champ though, and smiled and joked to her very last day. The final words I heard from her, was when she jokingly told Ginny "He's my boyfriend you know" right after I gave her 4 long goodbye hugs and kisses at the hospital, knowing that it'd likely be last time I saw her alive. Irene was a talented artist, and very loving grandmother. So remember, especially because the holiday season is on our doorsteps, to always tell those that you care about how much they mean to you. This post isn't a bid for sympathy, as we've already had time to reflect and remember, however I felt as though it was quite important for me to express to everybody who was involved in the Fish-a-Thon for Cancer this past August, just how appreciative she was. She proudly cut out and displayed the news article that ran in the local paper. So thank you OFC, you made pledges, you donated prizes, and you fished in the first annual Fish-a-Thon for cancer........ but most of all you made an elderly lady smile, even though she knew full well that she had little time left. Cheers, Ryan The Article - some of you guys are in that photo! Great Grandma with my kids and their cousins... One of our last party sessions! haha And a couple of her paintings....the only one's I had on hand at the house here... took photos of them. Local Tobacco Painting Ginny and I in our university days...not so long ago.. And one of her last sketches, of my baby boy Luke.

I voted crappie because it was the closest think you had to bluegill on the list jacques! I'd also like to try my hand at catching a carp through the ice... tried last year with zero success but I'm going to give it another go this year...

hahaha that's funny dude! My wife, mother in-law, wife's aunts, cousins, I think there's a whole CONVOY of cars headin' down this afernoon for a weekend of shopping insanity! ME? left alone with my 3 year old girl and 7 month old boy. I might take them on a cross province tackle shopping spree.

Yepp - Happy Thanksgiving Guys. Enjoy the day out of the office with family and friends... hopefully some of you can get out fishing or hunting! Cheers, Ryan

He must be messing with everybody, because the link that I posted worked for me earlier today, and now it isn't..... They must have pulled it from the website... what are the chances of that? lol

COOL Here's the link: http://www.princessauto.com/farm/camping-o...word=wood+stove

I've had perch sitting in my bucket on the snow (no water) for a good hour or so, then put them into my kitchen sink with water and low and behold a few of them started swimming around! haha So I think unhooking them will be fine. Cheers, Ryan

yeah only she's a lot prettier than you are Rick! Nice catch!

I'm no pro by any means, and even though Erie is on my doorstep is seems the most late season bass fishing I've done is for largies. The smallies I have targeted came on tube jigs, and as for largies, I've had some decent success catching them on 3" drop-shotted gulp Minnow's, and also with jigging spoons. While using jigging spoons through the ice for perch the OOS largies become a pest actually. You have to keep moving to get away from them. Good Luck - there's some solid fall anglers on this board. Cheers, Ryan

cool - thanks. Good Luck - my fine was $265.00 my wife wasn't to stoked about that... thus taking it to court. yepp - time will tell I guess.. He said I was lazered so he couldn't take it off himself, so to take it to court and he'd help me out...

Sorry, not the option that I'm interested in.... I don't blame a cop for pulling me over, they're just doing their job and I have a huge amount of respect for them - but the fact of the matter is, he told me to do this, and if it's going to help me save a few bucks on the ticket, as well as on insurance then I'm taking it to court. Learning experience, you bet - he told me if I keep it under 120, I'm good to go - which is normally the fastest I drive, so no worries here. Cheers, Ryan

Hey guys - sorry bout the NF thread.... I know we have a few officers on here. Short version - I was in a bit of a hurry to get 3 hours away from my house for a quick shoot for work, then make the 3 hour drive back home before Averie blew out her candles for her third birthday. I MADE IT, but was burnt for speeding on the 407! The officer was a cool guy, told me to keep it around 120 and I'd be ok. lol I was driving the same speed as everybody around me, but he said they picked me out of the crowd because I have a bright yellow SUV... lol Anyways, he told me to take it to court, and in a year from now he'd "help me out" and the ticket would be dropped to 15 over. I just don't know if I'm supposed to: a) Plead guilty but appear in court Plead NOT-guilty and appear in court. Any help would be great! Thanks OFC! Cheers, Ryan