lew

We'd spent many months planning this trip and were only into our 1st full day and figured it was much easier to just pay the fine up front and be done with him. As I said in my original post, I don't even know if what he did was legal or not but it wasn't worth ruining a much anticipated trip over. Closer to home we may have taken it further. Kinda sad too really, cause we we're fishing in one of those ZEC's they have in Quebec and had payed about $100 each for the priveledge, plus 8 fishing licences, so we were about $1200 outta pocket just to be treated like criminals.

Sad news for all those folks who had boats ordered and were waiting for theirs to be deliverd.

Dang Roy, I darned near choked on my cheeseburger when I read that :lol:

Here's a long story but it shows how some guys, in my personal opinion, get carried away with power, a badge and a gun. About 12 years ago 8 of us with 4 trucks and 4 boats went on a week long camping/fishing trip to Quebec. We travelled east from Temiskiming 40-50 miles into the bush on logging roads and set up our camp beside a nice lake. Our 1st morning we headed out about 6:00 AM and were gonna have a fishfry for breakfast. One guy caught 2 small pickeral and cleaned them when he got back to camp. The rest of us got skunked so we decided to just save them till that night when we caught more. We headed back out that night and came back in at 10 PM to be met by 2 CO's waiting for us on the dock. They ordered us all out of our boats and one of them stood with his hand on his gun while the other went thru every compartment in each boat. After the boats were checked they went thru our vehicles and then literally pulled our personal gear apart in the tents. They even checked inside our sleeping bags, all the while the one guy kept us "covered" with his gun. The guy with the gun never spoke a word and the other was one of the most ignorant guys I've ever come across. When they found nothing illegal anywhere, they went for the iceboxes and when they came across the fillets he went insane and accused us of poaching because the fish had been filleted and the skin removed. We tried to explain that they were intended to be added to more fish for breakfast but seeing as we didn't get more we would keep them till later but he wouldn't buy it. He said he was going to fine us $250 EACH and if we didn't pay him cash on the spot he'd have tow trucks come in from Temiskiming and confiscate our trucks and boats. Eventually we talked him down and only the guy that actually cleaned the fish was fined but it still had to be cash right then or come back to Temiskiming at a later date for a court appearance. We decided that $250 between 8 of us was cheaper than one guy returning all the way back to Quebec for the court appearance and the fine was payed. A reciept was given and they left us alone after that. I'm not even sure if what they did was legal or not but we figured it was better than having our trip ruined anymore. Yes, the skin should have been left on the fish till they were cooked, but under the circumstances I don't really see where we did anything wrong and IMHO it shows how some guys take the letter of the law waaaay too far.

I'd try to locate the biggest bass in the area, then go catch the muskies that are snacking on them.

Spare tire mounted at the front of the trailer makes a perfect step Paul. Climbing down this way is as easy as using stairs. You hafta carry a spare anyways, so you may as well put it where it does double duty. Personally, I just climb over the gunnel and step down to the trailer tongue....and I'm even older than you

I've sold several items on Kijiji in the last couple years and the transactions have all gone well. A couple of the items, including a full living room suite, were advertised on the OFC classifieds section 1st and when they didn't sell here I put them on Kijiji and they sold quite fast. Best deal was when I advertised a couple dozen kitchen cabinet doors at 8:00 AM, had a reply at 9:00 AM, and the buyer was here at noon with cash in hand.

Best of luck pal, we're all pulling for you !!

Maybe the toll booths are made outta plastic ??

To be perfectly honest, I think some of you guys take fishing waaaaay too seriously, specially when it comes to the size of fish. If your fishing a tourney for $$$$ I can see it, but if a guy is just out enjoying the day on the water and happens to catch his biggest fish out of season, who the heck really cares if he calls it his biggest ?? I've been fishing far longer than most of you guys have even been alive so maybe I've just caught too many fish, but I really think some of you need to lighten up and just enjoy fishing for what it's sposed to be.....FUN. But that's just me.

The weather doods are calling for 2-4" of snow up here tomorrow Cliff so spring may have to wait a few more days yet

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I never weigh fish and seldom even measure or take pictures anymore, but if I caught my biggest of whatever species out of season it'd still be my best fish....personal or otherwise. If it's caught out of season it's not legal to keep, but it's still the best. This topic comes up regularily and always seems strange to me.

Interesting how guys will spend $35 for a case of beer and think nothing of it, but moan at a few dollars for fishing tackle

Very nice indeed Mike !! Your gonna love that top on those cold rainy days on the water.

Good to hear somebody listens to me Roy

I used to have a couple C-5s and their a pretty decent reel for the price.

It's always been my thinking that if you pay too a cheap price you may get a cheap product. But that's just me.

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptuals Nick and all the best you & your bride in the years ahead

Waaaay back in 1961 while fishing in front of my grandparents waterfront home on Lake Simcoe I found a wallet floating in the water with all the usual cards & licences plus $37 cash. I called the owner in Toronto and he asked me to mail the wallet back to him and insisted I keep the cash for myself. $37 was a small fortune to a 15 year old kid 50 years ago and went a long ways to improving my summer

Well said Roy.

Sure sounds as if things have become alot more complicated since I took mine at the Sportsman Show the 1st year they became available, maybe 10 years or so back. Never even heard of these modules everyones talking about. Seems to me there were only about 20 questions and if you passed it was $10

Good to hear the show was a success Dax and sorry I had to miss it.

I didn't say they were fun baits to work for 12 hours straight Larry

Yup, just mix it up. As I mentioned above, work it fast and erratic when the waters warm and slow it down when things cool off in the fall. It's got an adjustible metal fin on the back that you'll just have to experiment with to get the right flutter and depth you want. Being a wooden bait each one is a bit different and when they take on water that'll change the action again. Best baits are after they lose some paint and take on even more water and weight. Their fun baits to work and they produce ALOT of nice fish. Just take the time to experiment and learn their individual idiosincrities.