scuro

I had one cut 1/2 way through 80. Depends on the fish you are going to encounter. If you are going for lots of hammerhandles, 60 be fine. If you are targeting the big girls in big pike waters I'd do a minimum of 80 lb. I haven't given up on Flouro, I've just gone heavier. They are cheaper to use then Titanium or steel. Steel gets kinked too often and Titanium prices are just insane. I make my own while watching pike DVD's. Homemade are cheap.

This coming report is the reason I've been lurking around so much lately!

I like this sort of post better then most on the board. You have managed to make me wish I was there.

Thanks for sharing, I especially like out of country reports

Always nice to be mentally transported some where else. Thanks for taking the time to post.

chunky!

I like my baitrunner too. Nice fish!

I live a little east of London where one can walk on top of "floaties" on the Thames, during certain times of year. I'd fish more locally but one gets tired of carp.

The question is, what is wrong with BP shop. 1) For a mega box that size devoted to fishing, I am often surprised that they don't have things you think a fishing store should have. 2) Higher prices 3) Staff are okay but I get the sense that they are not engaged with the customer. Sure they answer basic questions but when I go into my local fishing store, they have time for me. 4) Out of stock stuff

Bly 2 and CCMT 1 but who is counting?

some midghty purdy fish

Seriously considering fishing this place, anyone been?

good fishing!

Not the best phrase to use with basement flooding..

Maurice bought the whole business up, so he has the same outposts. From first glance the prices look to be just as reasonable as before. I'll never forget Ron when he came in on his mid-weak check-up flight and one of our party, without thinking or after too much drink, had embedded a small hatchet into the picnic table for it's resting place. We got about 3 minutes of straight cussing for that one before he would even calm down enough talk in a reasonable fashion. When we talk about that trip, stories about Ron...like the one just mentioned always get into the mix of our discussion.

For any of you who have ever had the unforgettable experience of flying with Ron Barron of Gardiner air, he has sold his business. Ron was a stickler for details and everything had to be done a certain way. Although it felt like you were in boot camp when you flew with him, you knew that everything was in tip top shape. Unfortunately Ron had a heart attack this year and had to sell his business. I was kind of hoping to get one last flight in with him. The jewel of that outfit is the Partridge Lake/Kesagami outpost. We flew into there about 5 years ago and were not disappointed. The camp is on Partridge lake and you have to walk 5 minutes to get to Kesagami where he has a stash of boats. On the downside: you lose some time doing this, you can't access the whole lake, and there is no pampering like at Kesagami Wilderness Lodge. On the other hand it is an awesome lake. For those looking to do a fly-in for the first time, this is a fine lake to start with, especially when money is a major consideration. Maurice Robin, who is now the owner, gave me a call tonight. He sounds like a good guy. Check out his website. http://www.truenorthairservice.com/ and the Kesagami package http://www.truenorthairservice.com/MoreInf...tionFishing.htm The outpost Lake Kesagami at the boat cache.

I enjoyed the pics, always wondering where the winter is at further north. Those are nice pics with the red willow.

Gotta agree with you...a lot of American beer is weasel whizz. I can drink that stuff all day and never bust anything more then a smile.

Now here is a beer drinker. Without a good chill and a lime this beer has serious limitations. Have to say if I could only drink one beer, day in day out, it would be Pilsner Urquell . No sissy pansyass beer that needs a lime to be notable, there!

From London take Hwy 2 until you are almost in Woodstock. From Woodstock about 5 minutes out of town, near the driving range and mini-putt. Joclyn is the reason I fish. He helped me every step of the way...from absolute novice to the beginner I am now. It's worth the detour if you are driving to London. There are many things you will find in his shop that you won't find at BP and always the prices are better. He goes that extra mile. I've busted many a rod and never are there any questions for the replacement...except he enjoys hearing the story I have to tell on how it happened. (car door, daughter put it under a door etc ) You pay the shipping fee and get a new rod on the spot...it is that simple. Good also are the cast of characters who work for him. SHERM, the trolling guy, and the short guy ..wish I could remember their names. All of them are great. Best is when they give Joc grief over backorders he was supposed to have taken care of. It's the kibitzing that you see with good friends. I come to that store and usually leave with a smile on my face, it is just a friendly place. I used to think his moving the store out of the city of Woodstock into the country, would kill his business. It would kill any other business that relies on store sales. I went one recent saturday and it was as busy as ever. I buy 90% of my stuff there because I know I won't get better service after I leave the store with his products then ANY other place I can think of.

I'd be more worried about Stingrays if you are walking the flats. They sometimes bury themselves in the mud. Shuffle your feet as you walk.

I have fished the flats several times with spinning. You can fish "blind" from shore or sight fish ON th flats. If you sight fish you need an excellent pair of polarized glasses. You will also need flats boots which you can get at Basspro, cheap but will last a few trips..or Williams in downtown Toronto. Flats fishing requires a degree of seriousness to be successful so a guide or a fair bit of research is required. Otherwise you simply won't see or connect with fish. Amber is the general colour for flats glasses. If the budget allows buy an excellent pair of glasses for the trip. I love mine and think they are the best general investment I have made. You can shore fish blind and in that case the tide is your major friend...unless you are fishing lagoons. Pretty well most shore fishing is tide dependent. So know your tides. Some fish come in on the tides and feed and other fish use the tide to hunt other fish. The predators are the easier fish to catch and unless you are going to spend a lot of time fishing each day, should be your primary target. Once you know the tide table for your area, look for areas where the tide will be strong ie choke points etc. Google earth can be a major help here. Look for land forms which channel water or make water go around it. You can often see on GE channels dug out by the tide. If there is good moving water you will find predators. If I were you, I'd take a rod case and longer rods that you can put a little muscle into. I'd take a good pike rod...say 8ft. I'd also take a reel that can hold more line...just in case. Lube your reel before you go down and bring oil. Saltwater really can mess with your reel. Collapsable rods may collapse. Fish down there fight hard. You will need leaders. I'd also bring stuff that you would carp fish with...hooks...sinkers...a bobber if you fish with it. A baitrunner is great if you have it. Glup products can help you catch smaller fish as bait and even work on larger fish. Locals are friendly and if you see some fishing go and talk to them. They will help you and appreciate any gear which they basically can't get in Cuba. An old rod and reel combo will lighten up some Cuban's face like an eight year old at Christmas who got their dream toy. Staff at the resort will come up and speak to you if you wear fishing apparel or they see you going out fishing. I'd also keep a lid on expectations unless you are using bait, generally you work for the fish you catch. Catching Cuda can be a lot of work or extremely easy. Mostly a lot of work. They can bunch up in groups but mostly I've see them isolated. When they are on a feed and you are in the right place and time, (tide) it can be some of the best fishing of your life. Imagine several Cuda's fighting over the same lure breaking the surface of the water to get to it. Talk about fish action. I had that happen to me once and I went back to that same spot many times never to see the same action again.

The only reason I would go to Varedaro is the proximity to Havana. You could drive there easily so several day trips are really doable. The main reason I would go to Havana is the the culture/ history...but in a nutshell the music. Cuban's really love there music. Cayo Coco offers fishing and both you and your wife like to fish. Search this message board for more info on fishing. http://www.cubamania.com/cuba/forumdisplay.php?f=93 Varedaro would be basically fished out because locals fish to get more protein. Sure you can catch some fish there but the quality would be far more limited, and far fewer Cubans fish Cayo Coco.

With smaller fish I sometimes open my mouth and stick their head as close to my mouth as I can...then I growl. It's a warning to the fish that he keeps on going with his ways...sooner or later he will be my dinner.

This could be a generational thing or a city/country thing. I'm a little bit country...