Old Ironmaker

Way to smash em. This has been a prolific year for eyes here. Today our boat went 6 for 8 in a little over 3 hours. As the wind switched from NW to SW the suspended fish hugged bottom. No riggers out today but our buddies were banging the bottom (75') with cannon balls and got them there. We were about 10 miles SE of the stacks which I thing I see in 1 pic. All the fish came of 10 colours with 250 feet of backer out. Black on Gold Ripplin Redfin and Blue on Chrome Reef Runner at around 45 to 50 feet in 75 feet of water. The harnesses on #1 Dipsys were only getting Silvers and stole all the worms so we pulled them and ran minnow baits faster at 2.5 to 3.0 MPH. I like the plastic clevises on harnesses to reduce line wear and can change blades in a jiffy without changing the entire harness. I marked a massive amount of fish up and down the water colume in 35' of water, Perch, smallies?? Calling for high winds tonight, tomorrow, those fish better wait for us. Plenty of fish for everyone, come on down and come back soon Aaron.

You are going to love that rig. And you will thank yourself for going at least 18'. I love the dual council, you fishing partner will love it too. You get so much more deck space than the full wind shield and a few 100 pounds lighter to boot.

There was more outrage on the recent thread concerning the musky kill. It makes me just sick. We are very isolated here, especially off season when all the cottagers head back to the city. Minor cottage break ins were once common place around here. All the security systems in the world really won't help if they are pros because of response time, but they can be a deterrent I suppose.. I always say if they want it they will get it. I don't know why but petty thefts have dropped in the last 15 years. That's good. However a few years back a friend and fishing buddy nearly lost his life when a home invasion went bad and he took a 12 gauge blast in the left arm. He confronted the goofs and pulled on the sawed off, not good. His wife was dying of cancer and they wanted her Oxycontin. It seems when break ins do happen they are not minor. 30 years ago in Hamilton next to Ivor Wynne Stadium a man hid on his garage roof and killed a teenager for stealing vegetables from his garden, he was acquitted at trial. If I get my weapon from the safe, load it and give it to them I should be charged, it's only stuff, if my families welfare has been threatened then circumstances change and I'd rather do time and know my family went unharmed. I just don't know anymore. No ones life is worth a TV or boat, let them have it, pay the deductible and move on if it's a B and E and no one was home. My Uncle in southern Illinois says his security company is Smith and Wesson. There isn't an answer. I just pray it doesn't happen when someone is home and I'm not.

I caught my first and only 20 lb. Tiger on a 6' Shimano medium light with a 15 buck Shimano x1500 loaded with 8 pound mono pulling a Mepps Black Fury. Friends say I had horse shoes inserted by a Proctologist that day over 30 years ago, I say it's all skill.......yea that's it. Actually a well timed thread, if I get the dreaded Musky Hunter fever (actually I hope not, my company filed for bankruptcy protection today), I may be shopping over the winter. Thanks for the tips all.

A very enjoyable read, well done. Savour that adventurous side in yourself, as the candles on that annual homage to ones life grow in numbers the sense of adventure can wane as does ones muscle mass.

Just this spring I put a kicker on in order to get speeds below 2.2 for trolling harnesses. It also makes me feel safer when I know I have a back up in the Great Lake shipping lanes.

Something is whacky with my PM. I have to add to the PM we were on the south shore not in the bay, you might have better luck in the protected bay, one reason I chose the West Arm this month. If you are going to Nip for a feed of Pics, good luck better bring some pasta and clam sauce.

I'll see you soon Regan. As I told someone earlier I don't go out with great expectations, that way when something turns out well it can be appreciated that much more. I'll have to upgrade my card and get a map from you as well. I'm told the map is law on unfamiliar waters, what if I loose power? The GPS is toast. Here on Erie it's easy, point north that's Canada point south that's the USA.

Where on Erie are you heading Dan? We are going out of Nanticoke for Smallmouth this AM if all goes according to plan. The winds are forecast to be mild, I've seen that before too and we get blown off the lake by 10 AM. This will be our first fall Smallie hunt. It actually is the best time, yes we are in the middle of a cold front but I can't get any talking about it. And the water temps are dropping fast. When the wind is down we need to get out there. The Pickerel seem to have left for the season. We were out for Walleye and didn't mark a thing but when we were going over a shoal we marked something. We circled back and found a good amount of baitfish and nice hooks on the edges at 20 feet. Of course we didn't have anything on board to get them, so set a waypoint and tomorrow it is. Too exited too sleep.Either Bass or Perch, I'll take either, even a farm animal for fun.

I hear you Mike, a common yell at night on the Ottawa was " DEADHEAD 1 O'CLOCK !!!!!!!!!!!" Spent a cold May night hung up on a shoal outside of Callander Bay. The worst thing that can happen is when someone thinks they know the water like the back of their hand, better know it better than that like you say. No one can be that good. Most of the guys that get in trouble on water are rookies and experts. No matter day or night.

Not being a tourney guy what is a combo, 2 fish Bass and Pics or ? What do the numbers represent? Pounds, grams. length? The chart isn't clear on my laptop. I like to learn something about fishing whenever I can. I fish a few charity Walleye tournaments here on Erie every summer, lately the trend seems to have the largest Perch as a bonus prize. Lets the guys that can't get out 10 miles or more on big water participate. Thanks. JD.

Bill they look neat. I can't see why they wouldn't work here tipped with a worm or minnow for anything that would hit a jig, thanks. I'll try Fishin Franks in Port Charlotte If he hasn't have them no one does. Sorry about the hi jack Creditmaster.

Good stuff Justin. You look very comfortable in front of the camera, something that can't be taught. I did a few very boring industrial Health and Safety videos. The director would cut and reshoot if I said " uuum". You might want to work on that. Otherwise great work.

Thanks Bill will need to try that in November, sounds fun.

Well said Cliff, always the voice of reason. Better than me saying " Buddy are you stupid?" Albert good to hear the vest is on and not in the VW. I don't want to see that again, it wasn't funny then and still isn't funny now. Wow what a thing to witness. By the way that butt seat sits in my shed and I put one of the seats from the boat up there and the rope is never near that post holder again "Experience is a lifetime of mistakes, wisdom is knowing how not to repeat them" JAD, 1993

You wouldn't want to lip a saltwater trout. I have caught and eaten them in Fla. out of brackish water. The taste and texture is similar to Rainbow Trout. Very easy to catch, casting float, line with split shot, 4 feet or so, and a live shrimp hooked behind the brain.

I know I said I'd shut up, oh well. Grump, I don't read where Fishing Devil said what you say he sad. How about this for a headline to get the public to outcry, " Haldimand man charged for clubbing 8 week old puppy to death then throwing it into lake" The man said he did it because they crapped all over the place. It was the first time he did this he was heard when applogizing". It's called public outcry, Google Ray Rice, NFL.

Hey Ohio Buckeye, you are giving away your (my) age! I paid 1/2 that for my first Sears cartop and 9.9. We used to take it to school 15 miles each way or walk in the snow with cardboard shoes.

Mike do you think that doughhead isn't going to fish, license or no licence? This poacher, and that is what he is, has the mentality to drive while under suspension for a DUI, drunk. He will not rehabilitate. OK, I have my say I'm done with this. Thanks for putting up with the rants.

Don't you just love the neon eyes. We never thought about getting in the boats on the Ottawa until the dishes were all done after supper and a few games of poker, nothing like a good BBQ and an ale at 4 AM. Up at 11:00 for a round of golf, lunch at 19th hole then nap, supper, fishing, AM BBQ, repeat. Some afternoons forgo golf and go to the ballet in Fort Coulange or Pembroke. Every young Steelworker needs some culture in their lives.

Well it looks like we re all set for the trip. I booked with Danny Columby for a day and if all goes according to plan Nipfisher may be joining us. Can it get any better than that? I never go into anything with great expectations. That way if something good does happen it can be appreciated that much more. Heck if we get rained out that means I just have to grin and bear another trip back to Nipissing, oh well. Now I need to figure out how I can stay up there for a few days more. I think I might just have a plan. The boys from home drive my wife's car up on the 1st and she can drive it home plus stop and see her sister in Newmarket on the way home. How's that for a plan?

What an eye you have MJ. Beautiful. What an experience with your Dad. If I remember you were ill. How are you feeling? better I hope?

Mr Simon, why was it a bad idea? If they hadn't of done what they did he would be out there clubbing fish today and tomorrow. It's not as much as what he did it is more about why he did it. Yes it's just 1 small fish, if he did the same to a fluffy puppy or kitten wow then you would have the world at his doorstep for certain. It is 2014 not 1914, social media is a powerful thing and whether I like it or not, and I don't, it's here and here to stay. I don't understand your stance, you blame the guys that posted the video??? For what exactly?

I hear you Jimmer.

The inflatables must be worn to be considered valid, if you take it off you need another PFD within reach to be in compliance with legislation. Happened to me last year actually. I had caught a hook in the mesh of my inflatable, I took it off and hung it on a seat. I put on a spare vest. During the safety check by the OPP it was explained to me and the 2nd young cop took the hook out for me, that's good service.