huntinnut

We've done a fair bit of winter camping, and there arre a few things that make a big difference to staying warm. I would be leary of any open flame in the tent. It's such a small space that it would be easy to forget about it and knock it over. A little buddy heater would probably be safe enough as long as there is a space for it not touching any nylon or anything. We never camp with a heater. The keys to keeping warm for us are first to have good equipment. A good sleeping bag from a good brand rated to an actual -35 or -40 (these bags all cost 400+) and then a good 2 pad system underneath. A -40 bag is comfy to about -30, after that you would need a over bag, and bag liner, and more underwear or an arctic expedition type bag. The insulation from the pads are important because bags don't keep you very warm from the bottom. Having good dry sleeping clothes is also really important, a base layer and then good wool long underwear and good warm socks and touque. Keep these in a seperate dry back and do not ever wear them during the day. It's really important to have dry stuff to crawl into. The pee bottle mentioned above is also nice, and if you have to get up those down bootties that you can get from places like MEC are great. It's pricey to get into good winter camping gear, but definately worth it. Karl.

I think having a bait line each might have produced a couple fish. Just having a second line out each couldn't have hurt, and having worms and minnows would have given a couple extra choices.

Hi all, I've been following along and thought i'd weigh in. I work in forestry in BC, and we're constantly dealing with, and trying to find creative solutions to similar policy problems. This is probably a bit heavy for a first post here. I was fishing at Nippissing a week ago, and from what I could see the pikerel I caught were quite young and growing very fast. It seems to me that any policy decisions made by the MNR, with respect to sport fishing in the context of lake Nippissing, are meaningless unless the variables affecting sustainability of the lake are all addressed together. With the way things are now it seems that any actions taken by the MNR to improve the fishery on Nippissing will be counteracted by increased, or at least continued, commercial fishing. There doesn't seem to be any desire on the part of the government to test the boundaries of the Sparrow case, which could result in a more regulated commercial fishery, which then could allow the lake to be managed sustainably. This would require another court case which would take years to decide, but would possibly offer a useful framework when deciding 'how much' of a resource can be taken. Failing the government doing something then the best option may be one of advocacy (although it might be extremely difficult). At this point the data i've seen shows that the commercial catch is also declining, and it would be in the best interests of those doing the fishing to reduce their catch or adopt more selective fishing practices that allowed the lake to recover, so that the catch could be done at a more sustainable level. In BC, native groups at least partially listen to DFO recomendations regarding native cerimonial and sustinance fishing because nobody wants to see the salmon dissapear. Maybe sport fishing groups should engage in a dialouge over the level of fishing in Nippissing for everyones benefit. This would have to be done in a non-confrontational way so as to not become a fight over fishing or fishing rights, which this is not about. It would simply be about the sustainable management of Nippissing. Karl