Old Ironmaker

Albert, where did you launch from? This weekend has been great. Reports of 150 fish limits of 10 to 13 inch beauties. Flat as glass with a perfect southwest breeze. Sorry to hear you didn't hammer them. The only problem this year is just as many, actually more gobies than perch, big gobies, robbing minnows. Went to Bruce again this past week and found them in 38' of water west of the pier 1 mile offshore. Didn't keep anything under 10", ended up with about 8 pounds of fillets after 4 hrs, 2 men. Someone reported getting 45 pounds of fillets today. Did you check on Stomps before heading out?

Hey all, Thinking about hitting Lake O next week. I haven't read or heard of any action as of late from Hamilton to St. Kitts. Nothing happening here at Nanticoke or Pt. Maitland so we are planning on taking a few boats to Ontario to longline. Any reports are appreciated. We went to Pt. Bruce on Erie last week and came home with some beauty Perch. 40 in total all over 10", a few over 13", 5 pounds of beauty fillets. More giant gobies than perch though, have never seen such large gobies, one was 8" and jet black? Yes it was a gobie. Thanks ahead of time, Johnny D

Big Cliff, You refer to Wynnes plan to invest many millions in a company that was going to bail on a multi million dollar loan, I'm not familiar with that, perhaps you can name the company. I wonder how you would feel if that was the company you worked for and it was a bailout that meant you didn't lose your job or the pension you paid into for 30 or more years. I bet it would be a good idea then. I know you don't want someone like her to lead the province but one of those reasons you don't is ridiculous in this day and age. What are you going to do when a loved one of yours comes out? It can very well happen. Hey I'm not a supporter of hers but for any politician your damned if you do and damned if you don't. The feds made a deal with my company that saw 100 mil go towards the legacy costs that the giant US Steel company inherited when they bought Stelco. It has allowed me to collect the pension I paid into for 30 years as well as thousands of others and keep many on the payroll when it looked like all was lost. Everyone was in an uproar because Harper was helping a rich US corp. I didn't see any Canadian investors lined up to buy us. There must be an election soon. Anyone going fishing this weekend? (sorry about the bold text, can't seem to deselect it or use the quote option, new PC)

That's a beauty Big Cliff.

OK I give. I still don't get it. Maybe my PC isn't working the way it should be to display this video. I see a bird perched on a whir vane spinning in a clockwise motion. The other birds don't move. It lifts it rear once on every turn, relieves itself? Nothing here. please help, I want to enjoy as well.

The joke is the $90.00 slap on the wrist. Any crime is all about risk and reward, I have been asked to produce my fishing license exactly twice in 30 years. Say the average is a fee of 20 bucks a year, that's about $600.00, even if I got nailed those 2 times I'm up $420.00, not a bad reward for very little risk. There are no teeth in any legislation in Ontario, whether under the criminal code or the MNR.

I'm surprised that 4 stroke only weighs 85 pounds, they look huge now. That's not the problem. Is there anyway guys that that motor is tilting up on it's own when accelerating? I'm confused about the pins, I read here the new Mercury 4 strokes don't have a pin. It has a pre lock system 1,2 or 3 that goes back to the same position set at, tilt it up and it will only go down to the pre set position 1,2 or 3. It's great to see everyone help here, it's what I really like about OFC, C as in community with a capital C.

That's the way to skin a cat FisherPete. That spot is 25 minutes from me and we don't take advantage of it enough. This year has been are they there, are they gone, yet to arrive? Looks like there in. With the water so high, fast and with deadheads flying down the cold muddy water just below the surface we have been reluctant to go across it. A friend of a friend put a nice hole in his glass boat last week when he hit an invisible something between Fishmasters and the dam. Just be careful everyone, lots of cats for everyone.

I have a 19 year old Eagle Ultra 2 portable that has two 6 volts that fit in the box it's mounted on. Lasts an entire week of 5 hr days on 1 set of batteries. Still have it and still works I think. It's b&w, I think the coloured screens with loads of info on the screen kill batteries faster. Yes, no?

Did you try any creeks on River Road Shasta?

Sunglasses, rods, reels, coolers, all just stuff. A wife once told me "If you dare go fishing this weekend we are DONE". We smashed those Bass that weekend.

Hey Bassmaster, Is this a new to you boat? Has this done this before? For a small tinny with a 9.9 it's not uncommon. There really isn't much of any controls for planning out on your rig. I have seen it many times, even with a smaller guy. Had to put a concrete block and the anchor at the front of a 14 foot rental for a pal if he was solo and he didn't weigh 160. The pitch of the prop will effect the hole shot and how quick she comes up on plane. If you are accelerating slowly she may come up and stay up. Hammer her and see if it makes a difference, be careful, not alone out there when you try. If it never did this last year and you haven't gained a pile of weight someone else here will have a suggestion for you I'm sure. Let us know if this has happened last year like I said. You just may have to weigh her down or loose some weight! That 4 stroke is heavy compared to an old 2 stroke. Is the 9.9 new? She may even be too heavy for a 200lb 12 footer. Be careful about 5 years back I rented a pancake flat 12 foot Jon Boat and had an old 9.9 on her. My fishing partner( have to add fishing to partner nowadays my wife says) anyway he was nursing a self inflicted flu one morning and I headed out alone. No way she would come down at the bow. A gust of wind nearly flipped me over as water was coming in at the transom. I swore never again, came home and went out and bought my 19 foot deep V with a 115 Merc. At 225lbs. then that boat never had a chance. Would have been cheaper to loose 25 pounds, did that anyway. Let us know if this something new happening.

You say new, new to you or new out of the showroom. 16' is too small for a family of 2 adults and 2 small kids. It won't be long before those 2 small kids start hogging space, really fast. Bayliner is an entry level boat. Not many bells and whistles. I don't see a pic of it here but have an idea what it looks like. My first boat that I bought new was a 19' Bayliner Cierra in 89', too small for cruising and NFG for fishing .Actually came into possession of a Cierra with a Merc this past winter on a trade deal. It is available, cheap. PM me if interested. I'm talking $2500.00 with trailer. Not a ding or bruise on the hull, interior is nice too. Beware if it's used I must add, as an entry level boat buyers would be entry level boaters like yourself and I was in 89. Because my inexperience then I beat the bejeezus out of it in 3 seasons. If used it may have a Force I/O, run away if it is. Quinte? Like every other rig it depends on what you want to fish for and how as well as weather conditions. At 16 feet I think you will be disappointed with it's versatility. There isn't any real all purpose boat out there in my opine.

Quote option isn't working anymore for me. Big Cliff the tribs where the pike are usually found in spring are small creeks, and I mean small. No more than 20 feet across usually in most places. No shallow bays for sure. No power boats either along the river from Caledonia to Cayuga, this is stream fishing, Kayak or canoe maybe on the main river. For those that have tried using a boat here have learned how to change props. Great area for a Hovercraft, actually a guy tried to start a Hovercraft rental service but it never materialized. That would be fun. What would you suggest for stream fishing for pike?

Fishing partner Groundy grew up in Caledonia and tells about spearing Pike all day long on all the creeks here like McKenzie and bringing wagons full home with his bike for Mom's garden. I've been out this way for 20 years and don't even see anyone fishing the tribs for Pike anymore. I think Groundy caught them all. But seriously it's probable a few weeks off before they spawn. Water temperature on Erie was 47F today. Nut's isn't it. I haven't even seen any Bass on the beds here on Erie, sometimes they are gone the first week of June like 2 years ago. I think bass opener is going to be a massacre as they will still be on the beds Try some of the creeks between York and Highway 3 on River road that is on the west side of the river. Side note, perch are hitting at Port Bruce. We threw everything under 10" back and cleaned 50 beauties all around 12" or more. Many, many Gobies, too many. Bring extra minnows that's all they wanted.

big guy, you just voided the lifetime warranty from Lund. Like I said that foam helps stiffen it. Especially in the middle. Want loose rivets or a crack, take out the foam, aluminium as well as glass.

The foam acts as a stiffener, not primarily for floatation, others here will know better than I. Slam a wave with a glass hull straight on and you have a chance of splitting her. Or you can save a few bucks and not replace it.

Closed cell isosytrene foam is what you want. They do sell it at Homeless Despot but call around to a commercial dealer. Tow the boat to them and have it done. The set up they sell at HD is far more than you need, once you start the container it must be finished, like the small cans.

In keeping with the original question I have sent off a email to my MPP here. I copied Gerritt's original question and supplied the link for this thread for him and his fellow colleagues to read and more importantly respond to Gerritt's original question. What are your plans as well as the PC parties plans for the MNR in Ontario? Of course we will get a very well thought out response but it will be interesting to hear what he says, if he responds, I believe he will, Toby Barrett is the only politician I can believe when he says something. Yes much easier to do when sitting on the left side of the house. Now if I may my 3 cents of politics, never have a chance to talk it here at home, actually my rule, need to change it. After carefully reading the responses here, which are very, very interesting, I told my esteemed member of Parliament that it would be prudent for him to carefully read the responces here and have his entire party candidates as well as Hudac to read it too. This thread is a better indication of the climate of the working class Ontarian (unless you are a professional that needs an accountant to keep track of your earnings you are working class not middle class folks). Better indication than any Ipsis-Reid pole. How in heavens name does a very young black Jr. Senator with a millisecond of political experience, with of all things a Muslim sounding name during a war waged against predominantly Muslims defeat, soundly I may add, a lifelong seasoned politico, Wasp, God fearing, south western, likeable and a freakin' war hero to boot? Not only once but twice. How? He did it by convincing slightly over 1% of the population that never votes or voted to vote for him. 21 year old students of all races, colours and creeds, disenfranchised visible minorities and those at very low income that never vote, and those that lost faith in the political system that gave up a long time ago, that's how. It ain't rocket science, it's political science though, and a brilliant strategy politicians were to frightened to push the start button on. But that's a discussion for another day on another forum. If you want Hamilton Hannah Horwath, I call her triple "H", as your next Premier, be my guest go ahead and spoil your ballot as a protest, or don't vote, that's your right. Remember no one voted for McGuinty either. Remember Bobby " Ray Days" Rea's meteoric rise to power. We woke one morning after election day and had an left leaning socialist oriented NDP Premier in the bosom of Canada's business sector. How'd dat happin' Joe? No one voted for the guy, no one voted against him either. Complain all you want, you pay taxes that's your right too, I've read that here too, but don't dare complain to me. Don't worry Big Cliff, triple H is as straight as Bill Clinton. I used to tip a few with her (then) boyfriend at a time she was my city councillor at his bar on James Street. Protest all you want but be careful when you do it by spoiling a ballot.

Aaron, I know Steve was a bit tongue in cheek re Rapala paying. Once some people see you on TV or in a movie playing mobster #2 they think you must be rich. I didn't even know until recently Photobucket wasn't free, now I'm thinking about how much developing photos were when football players wore leather helmets.

Our MPP here is PC Toby Barrett, he has owned this riding for years. Until a week or so ago he was running uncontested until a Lib, I think, haven't seen anything from that person via any campaigning, decided to loose whatever the fee was to toss the name into the hat. Toby hasn't been able to do anything much here since he's on the wrong side of the aisle but does what he can to be sure. I need to ask him though about Mr. Hudaks plan to create 1 million jobs. If the first thing he want's to do to achieve that is to cut 100,000 public service jobs first, I would call that something a US Presidential candidate once called " fuzzy math ". I need to take a ride this week to see Toby. If you have a question or something you want addressed you go to his home and knock on the door. If you have another driver along, you are sure to be offered a cold one and have a seat on the deck or by the fire in winter, winter as in last month. Hopefully the DD driver doesn't live in Haldimand-Norfolk because no beer no vote. Insert smiley face here. Note: during the Native goings on (riots) in Caledonia, Toby was the only politician that had enough balls to cross the barricades and meet with the warriors. He was there almost everyday until the roads were opened. That impressed me.

Fantastic. I've never been to that specific area when we had a place at Charlotte Harbor but very close, like Sanibel Isle. I think the fishing on the west coast from El Jobean to Captiva can't be beat. I never got much farther south of the Peace River because I didn't need to. Yes the east coast from Isla Morada south is great but I think the Gulf of Florida is not only as productive it's been somewhat of a secret for years now generally hidden away from the tourist and snowbirds. The best way to describe it to other Canadians the difference is all along the west coast is like a fly in vs. a 15 cottage resort on Nippissing where one can drive to the mall if it rains. Well it was a bit of a secret until they started airing those west coast Tarpon tourneys in that area you stay at if I'm not mistaken and now you post it here. That's fine, plenty of 300 pound Goliath Grouper and 120 pound Tarpon for everyone, those are average weights my fellow Canucks.

A very interesting report sir. A very productive day in the river. As for the success, now that you are a TV celeb angler, it's expected. Keep up the good work. I actually watched the entire show regardless of who the host was. He and I go back a long way since he was calling himself a golfer as well. I live on the lakeshore of Erie. At this time of year we sit on the deck and watch the male Smallies guard nests, the spawn is over by now. Usually the Gar are here as well making little Gar between the monster Carp that can keep you awake at night as they too are in the mood for love. There are zero Bass here as of today. I did see one Sheepshead a few weeks back that was scooped up by an Canadian Bald Eagle 25 feet from shore. No one home this year other than that unlucky little farm animal. Launched from Nanticoke this AM to escort a pal that rebuilt his Mercruiser over the winter. Temperature of Nanticoke Creek was 54F, the bay between Peacock Point and the US Steel pier showed temps at 47F. One mile out temp was 42F this morning. Last year was a colder spring as well but temperature of the main lake was 52F if my memory serves me. 1st week of June temps were 60F at Port Bruce. We said in February we were going to be 3 weeks behind, how about a month or more. Those Bass will still be on beds for opening. Same thing happened in 02 or 03, smallies were guarding beds a week past opener. As Dean Martin once sang " Baby it's cold outside".

I have the boat you describe, 15 foot side council, a neighbor is selling it, too small for Erie. Very good condition. I've sent you a PM if you are interested.

Have you tried jigging with 1 oz. white twister tails. A go to method when they are sitting near or on bottom and will not hit a thing. Also jigged a Williams Wobbler and Williams Whitefish.