Aaron Shirley

Cool vid Terry. Good to know the ice is safe out there already. Would be pretty cool to target those carp through the ice for sure. Definitley different. A question, where did you get the soft case for the HDS5? I haven't been able to find one for mine. Did it come with an ice transducer? Thanks, Aaron

Pikeslayer, to my knowledge the head office in Oshawa Canada for Rapala has very good customer service. All the best, Aaron

Glad to hear you got it sorted out Larry. The schematics are included in print inside the box when the reel is purchased, although many people just throw it out with the box. Although Rapala is an international company, the newer rods and reels available are exclusive to Canada. The rods and reels are designed in Oshawa and they are built specifically for the Canadian market. The newer Rapala rods and reels are only available in Canada. They are not even available in the US. The contact you found in the US was more than likely for the older American Rapala rod and reel program, which has been discontinued. Head office in Oshawa is the place to get help in Canada for any Rapala owned products. Have a Merry Christmas as well!

GBW, unfortunately, I purchased a Fernbrook home in Burlington over 5 years ago. I feel your pain. Nice looking home, but it was built like complete crap from workers that had no clue and didn`t care. Terion was little help with the huge list of problems. It was very frustrating to say the least. I am still finding things wrong every year that have to be fixed Just in the last month alone I have learned of two major problems. I just put in a central vac unit last month and learned half the homes central vac rough-in doesn`t work and was never hooked up at all, including piping to the garage Just this week my wife found all the windows and frames soaked and mouldy from heavy condensation all over the windows, and now I have to get someone in to look at that issue and the list goes on... I know there are horror stories from some builders, and unfotunately I think Fernbrook is near the top of the list. I will NEVER buy a Fernbrook home again, and neither will most people in my area. They are brutal IMO. On a side note; I have a two-car garage with one big wooden door. I recently insulated the door by glueing the blue R10 2 inch sheets onto the inside of the door. *WARNING* The garage door is very heavy now! I didn`t realize how heavy it would make the door, so keep that in mind if you have one big door. It helped to keep my garage warmer, although I still have to insulate around the garage door and the wall to the outside, as they do not insulate that wall. I also put the weather strips all around the garage door which helped. I have heaters in the garage installed on the ceiling aimed down at my boat to keep it warm and dry all winter, although I only put the heaters on for a day or two after a trip if the boat is wet or full of snow. Without heat, my garage stays between 5 to 10 C in the winter now and never gets below freezing.

Awesome prize! Congrats.

Hey Lunker Larry, I will find out about Rapala reel parts availability for you. Send me a PM, I should be able to help you out with the part you need.

I spent the last frosty day of the musky season trolling the lower Niagara River with Louis (aniceguy) in the hopes to get a nice musky over 40 inches. It was very cold out at -10 with a 20k plus wind from the NW. It's a good thing that we were protected a bit from the wind on the lower river Ontario shoreline. We trolled our butts off and cleared lines from debris constantly to no avail. We took the big skunk, a typical outing for the lower Niagara River. It is one tough musky fishery! I really wanted to hit the upper Niagara for a better chance at a nice musky, but with the high winds and -10 temps, we opted to fish in a little more comfort while being protected with the walls on the lower river. Oh well, we gave it all we could muster. Those upper river muskies will have to wait until next year now. FYI the lower river was quite dirty with about 1.5 feet of vis. I could barely see my prop. On to steelhead now!!! Good fishing, Aaron

Hey Garry, I don't believe that Sufix makes line for the other brands, but I am not 100 percent on that. Most products now in many different brands, whether digital cameras, fishing rods, braid etc seem to come out with similar features in their products at the same time. I don't know how the other brands find out about the original features and come out with something similar so quickly. That always blows me away. From what I understood at the Sufix presentation, they aren't worried about the other brands coming out with gore fibers in their versions of braid, as it is the specific patented Sufix weave that allows the Gore strand in the braid to be so effective. From what I understand, Rapala tried every way possible to put Gore fibers into braid unsuccessfully to attain all the benefits they desired. This is what prompted Rapala to buy Sufix line, their superior patented weave technology. Braided lines from different brands all have the same materials, it is the specific weaving process that differentiates the braided lines available on the market. From what I learned, Gore strands in the middle of a braid or too far apart in weaves do not allow the Gore fibers to work the way they are needed for true longevity and strength. I believe that the Sufix 832 braid is the next revolutionary step in braided fishing line. Other brands will need to come out with their Gore stranded versions just to compete in the braided line market. I was trolling for musky on the last day of the season on the Niagara (got skunked). I trolled hard in -10 C. conditions with 3 different types of braid. I had Cortland Master Braid on one reel, standard Sufix on 2 reels, and Sufix 832 on one reel. All the braids were collecting water and freezing the line except for the Sufix 832. The 832 didn't seem to freeze at all, and I am going to try it for ice fishing now. I rarely use braid on the ice outside because it freezes and is a pain, so I am looking forward to testing the 832 on the ice to see just how big of a difference it will make. I will be very pleased if I am able to use a braid on the ice outdoors that doesn't freeze up, because I love braid in some situations. I'll let everyone know how the 832 performs in a future ice report... which I hope will be soon

Great fish. Love the looks of that pike, so clean looking.

Hey Garry, I have been using the Sufix 832 braid all season now. I have to admit the line is quite different than anything I have ever used. So far, I am very impressed with the braid. First thing I noticed is how slippery the line feels. It spooled on both spinning reels and baitcasters evenly and seemed to have the look of mono on the spool. So far after a season of use, I haven't noticed the colour of the line fade. It is quieter going through the guides and casts further. Time will tell if the line eventually fades and by how much after heavy use. I haven't had the 832 break once on me all year. I had an opportunity to sit in on a presentation on the Sufix 832 recently. I was shocked with the results in all the testing and findings. They have been working on this braid now for something like 6 years! I didn't realize that most braided lines lose up to 40 percent of its strength after a short time with use. Sufix 832 only looses something like 4 percent and keeps that strength. According to Sufix, 832 is the only braided line available that keeps close to its full strength. That is substantial in itself. The 832 is also the only braided line to appear to have no wear and tear after the testing cycles. All the other braids that were tested looks severely frayed after the cycles. From what I understand, the reason the 832 keeps its strength and doesn't become frayed after prolonged use has to do with a combination of the Sufix weave and gore fiber strand. The gore strand needs this specific weave in order to reach the full potential of the benefits of the gore fibers. I learned that this is one of the main reasons that Rapala purchased Sufix, for their braided weave technology. It seems the Sufix 832 braided line won an award at the ICast show in Vegas this year for a reason. I learned in the Sufix presentation, that the 832 has less vibration than other braids allowing for further casts and improved accuracy. I can personally attest to the further casts with 832, but I haven't noticed improved accuracy in my casts. Actually, many of my casts while first trying the line have ended up on some docks unexpectedly after going too far After the presentation I thought that 832 seemed quite superior to other braids and it did a good job to explain the qualities of the braid that I had been experiencing. I look forward to put the 832 through its paces again next year. I wonder what the cost of it will be to other braids? Has anyone seen it for sale in stores yet? For those that want to check out the braid: Sufix 832

That's a great day on the water David, congrats! You hooked up with a good guy who is as hard core as it gets. You guys got into some great fish as well. WTG

Figures!!!

Gman joined me for a musky troll on the Niagara River on Saturday for what could be our last kick at the can for the season. Figuring there would be a lot of fishing pressure on the upper, we decided to try the lower. I didn't expect much, knowing that the lower river is typically a very tough musky fishery with a small population. Also, knowing the trout fishing would probably be hot, I removed all my trout gear out of the boat so I wouldn't be tempted to go for trout after trolling for hours without a bite. For those of you that haven't noticed, there are 4 rods in the water in Ontario waters of the lower Niagara River in our spread shot, and only 2 of us fishing. The regs changed about three years ago to allow 2 rods per person on the Ontario side of the lower Niagara River, but it is still only one rod per person for the upper Niagara. The extra rods still didn't help us any lol. We trolled up and down the Ontario shoreline for 12 hours into the December darkness. We varied our speeds, did S patterns, switched up lures and colours often, and despite the beautiful green water with about 2.5' of vis, we only managed one small musky at about 1pm. It was about 38" give or take. I got the fish on a 13" Grandma, and it came in like a wet sock while I winched it in with a Rapala Hydros reel spooled up with 80lb Suffix braid. I was hoping to see a mid-forty-inch range musky or bigger, but I didn't even mark one big hook in the 12 hours we fished Still better than getting skunked. Even though it was tough fishing, it was a beautiful December day to be out trolling with a buddy. We saw some nice wildlife and shared a few laughs. Thanks for joining me Gavin. I'm trying to get the last day of the ontario musky season off work to try again. Hey, a tough day of musky fishing is still better than working After December 15th, I'll be chasing chrome. Good luck to anyone that will be out for the last kick at the can musky fishing! Aaron

Very nice. I absolutely love steelies and browns with a snow covered bank

Hey Pete, that sounds like a nice idea, but while you guys are eating dinner, I'll still be fishing after the sun sets Often I've caught my biggest or only musky of the day after dark on the Niagara or lake Erie, especially in clear water conditions. Thanks for the offer. Good luck, get a big fatty!

No problem RJ, it was a pleasure to have you out. Hopefully we'll get to do it again soon. Pete, I haven't decided yet, but more than likely the upper/Lake Erie. I can chase steelies and browns all winter, but this will be my last kick at the can for muskies this year. After seeing Dale's last monster, I don't mind spending a day possibly skunked for a chance at a big musky

Wow, another giant is right! Congrats to Dale on another monster. That is dedication without a doubt. He deserves it putting that much time in! I guess he'll be satisfied for another couple of years now lol.

Awesome browns, especially the big male! I'm with you guys, I love the spawning colours on those males, and the big kype is cool as well. WTG

Blueballs, too funny! Sounds like it was worth it to brave the cold.

I'm thinking of the thermal as well. I have an ice cube now. It does the trick, but I get condensation at times dripping down. On really cold windy days, the wind blows right through the pin holes and is tough to keep warm.

Great browns Johnny! It's always gratifying to get them trying something different Looks like you have some fresh brown roe to break in the pin now too

Great report! I love the icy steelies Well done.

Hey Crackle Pops, if you're thinking of heading to the Niagara Saturday, give me a shout. I plan to fish for muskies since they will be closing soon. I'll also have my trout gear in the boat so I can take a break from trolling to actually catch a few fish lol. Dax, the only thing that Ron lets go is his muskies Joey, the "mystery lure" actually isn't a lure, it is a lucky ummmm... keychain And yes, I rubbed it for luck and it worked As for heading above the dams, I would not recommend it to someone who has never been. I recommend hiring a guide to learn the waters above the dams if that is something a person wants to do. Paul Castellano or Frank DiMarcantonio are both good and know the waters well. I also wouldn't venture up there in an underpowered boat less than 18 feet. Above the dams is a very dangerous place for someone that doesn't know the water, and I've seen people who even know it well get careless and into trouble. I'll never forget the time I was fishing the lower stretch and saw a boat float down river upside down. A seasoned fishing guide had their boat sucked into a giant whirlpool that opened up and 2 of the three didn't make it. We were approached by a Sherrif and asked to keep a lookout for 2 bodies. It was very chilling, and a stark reminder to be extra careful venturing above the dams. If it can happen to a guide, it can happen to anyone. Fortunately, there are plenty of fish below the dams, and most of the time the fishing is just as good if not better below the dams from Queenston to the mouth. Good fishing! Aaron

Some buddies came from Ottawa to fish the lower Niagara River this past Saturday. A few guys fished in Joe's boat, while Rob (the only guy with a NY fishing licence) jumped in my boat for the day. Some of you may know Rob Jackson as the guy who recently caught the Ontario record gar, or some of you may know Rob from his blog adventures: RJ N Birdee's Outdoor Adventures Although Rob and I know each other, this would be the first time we have had a chance to fish together. I had hoped the water would be a bit clearer, but the hydro dams were spitting out muddy water, affecting the lower river quality below the dams. There was about 10" of vis and the colour was a bit brownish still. I decided to head to the Niagara Bar at the mouth of the river to check things out. Sometimes with the right wind, the ledge on the Canadian side can have clearer water resulting in great lake trout fishing. Lakers open on the ON side Dec 1st, but unfortunately, the waves were very nasty with a good wind coming directly up current. We quickly turned around and headed a bit up river to try for browns. We were rewarded, and we both got into some nice browns and RJ a steelhead. A few shots from RJ's camera. After the bite slowed down, we headed up river to fish the clearer water above the hydro dams for steelhead. This was a good move, as we got into a bunch of nice steelies with a couple of OOS lakers. The water was turning greenish with about 2' of vis. Note; There were buoys in the middle of Devils hole for the tagging and research project for lake trout. If you venture up there before the middle of December, you will need to keep an eye open for them while drifting. A few photos from RJ's camera again. Thanks RJ. All in all, we ended the day with something like 10 in the boat and lost about 6. For the conditions we had, that is a good day. I'm sure glad the guys didn't drive all that way to see a muddy river with really tough fishing! The boys in Joe's boat did ok, but they all wish they had a NY licence at the end of the day. It helped to double our numbers and provided some nice steelhead. The boys are coming down in January again, and I bet they will all have a NY fishing licence with them Glad to have ya out in the Lund RJ, it was a blast. The best bait for us was pink, orange and white roe bags tied with brown roe in a nickel to quarter size. For those that are thinking about trying your luck and haven't fished there before, here are some details: The Queenston launch is the only ramp on the ON side, but there are a few on the US side, Lewiston and Youngstown. You will need both a New York and Ontario fishing licence if you want to have the flexibility to fish both sides of the river. The imaginary border line goes down the middle of the river. The fish are generally located along the break lines from shore up to 30-feet deep. They will move shallower in stained water. Steelhead and browns are open all year round. Lake trout are open December 1st on the Ontario side, and January 1st on the New York side. I prefer the Rapala 9'6" North Coast rod in medium action with a spinning reel spooled up with 10lb Maxima Perfexion main line. A three-way set-up is the best technique for drifting the Niagara. Long leaders were not needed in the stained water, so I tied 5' fluoro leaders in 6lb test. I like 7-8 foot leaders with gin clear water. A size 8 black Gammy octopus hook rounded out my set-up on the business end, and 1/2oz to 3/4oz slinkies on the other with a 10" dropper line in 10lb. December can be the best month for numbers of browns and steelhead if the water isn't too muddy, which is often in December. Good luck to those that venture out! Aaron

All I gotta say is, that is one ginormous muskie! I'll be dreaming about a fish that big now all week!