singingdog

7 hours ago, lew said:

Do you have any pencil reeds up your way yet ?

After about 45 years of chasing muskies one pattern that always worked for me this time of year was casting spinnerbaits into pencil reed beds and cranking them back out but more times than not the fish would hit as soon as the bait hit the water.

Best times for me were just before sunrise and then head back out at sunset.  As the sun is rising over the horizon and then again as it's dipping below it really turn the fish on and multiple fish in a short period of time is very common.

Pencil reeds grow in shallow water with a sandy bottom and that combo attracts the fish early season.....at least in my experience

Thanks Lew. No pencil reeds yet. Lack of any kind of green aquatic vegetation so far.

Not good for me. Been out 3 times, hardly moving fish at all even in spots I know where they are. I am seeing very little green growth on weed beds, almost like the aquatic plant season is really late. 

PM sent.

Nothing stupid about it. Surfers are out in conditions more extreme than that all over the world. The rate of injury death is significantly lower than driving to the grocery store. Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it stupid.

If he's a repeat offender then the punishment seems fit. If it's a misunderstanding of the possession law then it's too harsh. Someone having 4 fish in their freezer doesn't seem like much of a threat to fishing for future generations. 

Condolences on the loss of your brother. 

1 hour ago, Hack_Fisherman said:

Thanks. I wondered that. Have you been around the Phillip Edward Island route? I’m assuming the west side of the island to be similar to the foxes. Wondering if the east side is more accessible...or am I looking at steep rocks along here also? Hard to tell by satellite 

I have paddled and camped that entire area, all the way down to Snug Harbour. Phillip Edward is pretty steep most of the way around. There are some shallower shorelines along the south edge, but also tons of shoals and shallow rocks. 

I have camped on the Foxes many times. Landing anything other than a kayak/canoe would be tough. Very steep rocks to get up to the actual campsites.

16 hours ago, turtle said:

I read that OPSEU (prov govt union) bought the property and buildings on the hwy 35 side.  I have a cottage on the west side of Kennisis and access the lakes in the former Frost Centre at the dam going into Red Pine Lake. 

Yes, OPSEU did buy it. Doesn't affect access at all as the boat launch at the old Frost Centre was not part of the sale.

If you aren't camping, the lakes are all accessible. If you are camping, most of the lakes are part of the Algonquin Highlands Water Trails system. https://www.algonquinhighlands.ca/trails/water-trails.php

Break out the tinfoil...

The top 2 look like Icelandic sheep wool: very kinky. I have never seen Icelandic sheep wool as straight as the bottom one. The sheep wool is great for long streamers. You can get away with very small amounts of it as it 'breathes' a lot in the water. 

Yes, the elusive Ontario cougar. Amazing how many get seen and how few get photographed.

I can vouch for Steve. Totally legit guy. He is isn't the best online communicator, but he knows his stuff and delivers. He's obviously not going anywhere: has been writing for Outdoor Out of Doors for ages. If you want good intel on nymphing for Algonquin specks, you can't go wrong with him.

17 minutes ago, Terry said:

They are considering the trails a business so they are closing them. There. I heard Muskoka is closing their trails too

but no one has closed icefishing.  Some areas have closed rentals but  other areas are allowing them

so no need to justify anything. But you are more then welcome to have your opinion on this subject 

No, they are not closing them because they consider them a business, they are closing them because of complaints to the Health Unit (Yes, my partner does work for the the Health Unit). Parking lots full of out-of-town vehicles could very easily generate the same level of complaints related to ice-fishing. 

Keep justifying travelling to ice-fish: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/health-unit-closes-ofsc-snowmobile-trails-3271964

Keep justifying travelling outside your region and we will be doing this for the next 2 years. Yes, exercise (fishing included) is essential. That doesn't mean that you can use that as an excuse to travel from region to region. The virus can't move without us moving it. Exercise close to home. This will stop when people stop moving around.

Nice ties! 

11 hours ago, AKRISONER said:

Guys trust me, if you are getting out there please be careful. The ice even on the smallest lakes as far north as the french river are still sketchy as hell. I couldn’t imagine guys going onto simcoe or anywhere south 

Yep. The ice is "shifting" this year. Warm temps seem to mean that ice thickness can change over the course of a couple of days. A small lake not far from me was solid 4-5" 2 weeks ago, has spots that are down to 2" now. 

I have never seen this many folks out ice fishing. Must be an ideal way to get out during the lockdown.

Little lake, big fish. 

IMHO, an inflatable is not a great choice for a kid: will they be calm enough to inflate the vest after falling into cold, fast moving water? Maybe Autoinflate works better than I think it does. A good lifefacket - not PFD - seems to be what you are looking for. Just make sure it fits and is rated for his weight. 

I sit in on weekly TIAO meetings: yes, the Northern outiftters/lodges/marinas and Indigienous tourism operations have taken a beating this year because upwards of 90% of their business is from south of the border.  The structure of the early financial aid didn't work well for those businesses and they consequently had a tough time taking advantage of the boom in intra-provincial business that more southern cottage country experienced. Something will have to be done to help those folks out or we will lose 1000s of small, seasonal businesses.

There isn't a limit on unknown species. If you can't ID, you shouldn't keep it. 

It's fine if you're on a bicycle: short walk.