smitty55

I wish you were right on that one but the times they are a changing. This news from just outside Ottawa around Carp.https://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/7222295-ticks-in-the-carp-hills/ "Ticks are in the Carp Hills. The University of Guelph dragged a Carp Hills property for black-legged ticks last fall as part of a research project about Lyme Disease. A total of 450 larva, 103 adults and three nymphs were collected. The adults and nymphs were sent to a lab in Winnipeg for testing. It turned out that 53 per cent of these tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. The property on which the tick collection took place is right in the middle of the Carp Hills between March Road and Thomas Dolan Parkway. It is believed that this level of infection is typical for the whole Carp Hills area. So those walking in the Carp Hills should take steps to minimize their exposure to these ticks. Ticks live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Because ticks ingest blood, they are vectors of at least 12 diseases that affect humans and other animals." Cheers

Yep, absolutely the best. I use the Salty II with the double clamps. They will last forever. Cheers

Not sure if I posted this here already, but Rick get yourself a bottle of Ultra Shield EX by Absorbine. I get it a TSC but any place that sells horse stuff should carry it. It kills and repels many insects. Set apart some sets of clothing for outdoor use. Spray them well and let dry. The ingredients will stay effective through several washings even. So long as you seal ankles and wrists you will have no ticks on you at all. You can also use it on your dogs and their bedding areas for more protection. They say it lasts 17 days on horses. They used to have info for dogs on the bottles too but not allowed in Canada anymore. The American ones still do. http://absorbine.com/products/fly-control/ultrashield-ex/ Cheers

Wow, that I never would have figured that Rick. It is absolutely the easiest and best way to increase your hookup percentage, other things being equal. Even having my bullhead handline hooks sticky sharp makes a difference. Cheers

OI the author of that article was Barry Corbett, with 35 years as a fisheries biologist in Canada. To be specific, he writes that "normally he won't feed while on guard, ensuring that he doesn't accidentally eat his offspring. This self imposed fasting has it's drawbacks, such as exhaustion and even death" Cheers

There's a good article in the latest Outdoor Canada on why not to fish the spawn when bass are on the nest. Not only does it leave all the fry open to predation but also can stress the bass to the point of death as they are already weak from not feeding and protecting the nest for weeks. Personally I'm against it but granted they aren't nesting yet. If they were to open the spawning season to Walleye folks would be all up in arms I would expect. Cheers

Check out Lakeline Lodge on Charleston lake. http://lakelinelodge.com/They manage several cottages on the lake that might be more than you're wanting to spend but they also have several cabins located right behind the marina that might suit your purpose. Kelseys Marina also has cottage rentals. Rates seem to be better. http://www.kelseysmarina.com/cottage-rentals-index-page.html If you've never been there it's a gorgeous lake with good fishing for Lakers, Bass, Pike and panfish. Cheers

So much for global warming around Yellowknife eh? Cheers

Same thing happened last year if I recall. Cheers

Neat video of a Lynx just outside Ottawa. All I can get is the facebook video url so that's all I can post. https://www.facebook.com/JBJONES10610/videos/1812202142433130/ Cheers

Greedy buggers. I don't see any logical reason for a hike of this much. Strictly greed and the government allows it as it increases their tax revenues Cheers

Yep, I buy them from a cutlery shop for a buck apiece. Shortest blade I ever got was around 5", most are 6" or more so they would still need to be ground down further. Plus they have a full size handle which might not be the best for what Mike wants. Cheers

Don't know how big this lake is to check out but I would start by giving a quick buzz around and find the warmest water in the lake. Creeks are a big bonus. So is deeper structure nearby. That warmer water is where the lake's "bioculture" will be the most active with those colder water temps. I will say that I find it strange that if they natives are targeting Whitefish with nets they haven't had more of an incidental Laker catch, or even target them as well. Good luck on your trip.

$130... Hmm, I didn't think the good ones were that cheap actually from the bit of research I did a good while back. Now that I look again I see a 800W unit for under 150. Hmmm... So you're making a big jump from a single steak to a 8lb roast. Are you confident your heater and pump is strong enough? Would an insulated container help? Just wondering... Cheers

Here's my hint of the day for preserving minnows. Some background first. In my case for the minnow to be properly threaded on the leader behind the troll the minnow has to have a firm belly but if you use too much salt the gut shrinks up so much it doesn't work, so it's a delicate balance to use just enough salt to keep them from freezing solid, but not so much that they dry out. Plus you want the minnow straight so it tracks well. I got pretty good at it as every year in winter when Serge had his biggest ones I would buy up to 250 and salt them for our yearly Kipawa trips and other QC fishing. Can't get Emeralds in the summer. First I would give them a good heavy overnite salting. The next day I would drain them well and then lay them flat by the dozen between sheets of uncoated butcher paper ( I still have tons lol) and a light coating of coarse salt over the minnows. Then into heavy ziplock bags for each guy and stored flat in the freezer. Worked pretty well, but is was for a specific technique, although I would throw a used one (no lips left) on a jig for Pickerel the odd time. So back to preserving, Serge had many years back told me a story about some guys from Quebec that would buy a big order from him every winter. No live bait in QC so these guys dumped all the live minnows in a dry cooler and added a jug or two of -45 windshield washer fluid. Said it worked great. So around 6 years ago I decided to try it. Wth right? Well wouldn't ya know it it works freakin great. Minnows are firm and still nicely flexible in the freezer so they never freeze solid. I put the live minnows into the fluid for a half hour. They live longer than I figured. I take them out and lay them out all purty and vacuum seal them. I think they might last forever lol. I have used 2 year old ones that were still ok. Most fish like salt and I'm a big believer of that when it comes to Greys. What I do now is unseal them in the morning and put them with coarse salt in a zip lock on ice. I like to think it still works as an attractant that way. This is the only pic of them I have of them. It was after a freezer cleanup lol so these were at least 3 years old. The bit of liquid in the bag is turning brown. I bet they would still have worked from the look and feel of them. I mean the tails still look perfect. Cheers

I've caught piles of Lakers in Quebec behind a gang troll on salted Emeralds. No more of that though now with the new regs. A guy I know swore he could catch more on salties than live minnows behind a gang troll. He had some secret technique that he wouldn't divulge. I still have no prob using them on Charleston as usually the bait shop is still closed when we get there. Cheers

I'd love to get into sous vide but I haven't been able to justify the cost with my present employment situation. I have heard of folks trying it in coolers but it must still be a pita to get it right. Cheers

One more thing to consider is that if you go with a 9.9 you need not register the boat, so a good sized 12ft will do you fine for fishing, but it sure won't tow a tube much but if the kids are fairly young then they'll be happy. A 14 ft boat with a 15 will cost considerably more as well. Cheers

No surprise to me after all the reports over the years. http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/thunder-bay/cougar-carcass-found-frozen-in-snow-northwest-of-thunder-bay-may-answer-mountain-lion-mystery-1.4041876

Lol I love that comment Rick. They are Huskys, who cares about fish bones right? No prob. I bet they destroy other bones and carcasses too. And then I thought about the other 98% of other pet owners who would freak out if their dog got into a pile of fish carcasses and I had to chuckle at the big difference in lifestyles, in a good way you know. Cheers

Lol I went to transfer the link to my recipe folder and it was already there. So those ones were done in the oven then? I smoke my own salt in my big chief smoker anyway. So versatile. I want to do some Himalayan next time as it's now almost the only salt I use except for baking and pickling. Cheers

I'm not familiar with this style of fishing so I'm not sure what this means. I use leadcore for lakers but that's inland lakes Does this have to do with the way that the section of leadcore reacts to boat action from normal big water waves and then affects the lure somehow? If so, what about flat water fishing? Tks Cheers

Those ribs look fabulous. Wtg. Gonna be some happy folks. Cheers.

Moosebunk would be a good source of info for you. Cheers

Brian I don't know you, but I can't imagine being faced with news like this. All the power to you in dealing with this challenge. Stay strong and positive above all, and find strength in all the support you will get from all around you. You can prevail. Cheers man.