MuskieWannabe

Agreed, so long as you treat it the way you should and release it properly no issues. A study has been underway in Ottawa for a couple years using different release techniques and in different temeratures and ALL muskies have survived. I think the guys name is Sean Landsman if you want to look for an article. I think Ontario Out of Doors had an article as did Musky Hunter magazine.

Short story, but I managed to convince my wife to come out for a day on the water, or at least a couple hours, as she's 6 months pregnant. She did and was paid off for it. After not even 2 hours of trolling we land this beaut and she decide's to call it a day. Still a great day on the water though!!!!

I just spooked my riggers with braid rather than wire, 200# test, will let you know how it works next weeks. As for my rods, I use braid with a 20 foot leader so the clip actually sits on the mono line rather than the braid. Works fine.

I made it out today on my lunch hour and caught this little guy. It chased my topraider right to shore and took a little swipe at it but missed. It sat about 7 feet from shore so I let out a foot of line and dragged the topraider by its nose a couple times, a shoreline figure 8 if you will, and sure enough it took it. Just a little guy but made for a great lunchtime activity. I know there is a bigger one around that same area, saw it on Tuesday, so I am hopeful I can find it at the end of my line one of these days!

A small lunch hour musky, caught from shore today.

I made it out on the opener and saw 5 muskies before catching the 6th one, 42.5". I found them all on a weed flat that was around 5 feet deep not too far from shore in the main area of the lake. On Tuesday I went casting from shore and had a nice one follow me right to the shorebank but would not bite. I just got back from another lunchtime shore fish and landed a little 30" musky, again followed right to shore but I got him on a modified figure 8 from shore...too funny. A few of the fish I have seen have followed topraiders and a couple on inline spinners. I would suggest finding a nice weedbed in the 5-8 foot range with some 15 foot deep water nearby and cast your tacklebox until you find something. Good luck out there!

Hit the Mad this morning, saw 5 fish but no hook-ups until we got this one to stick on a cowgirl over a flat that was about 5 feet deep.

Here's my opener, 42.5"

they were down around 15-20 feet over 25-30 FOW...check out my blog for more details; lure selection, speed, etc. http://ontariooutdoors.weebly.com/

Made it out after some lakers this week...freezing cold both times and was only out for about an hour and a half each time but we managed these two lakers, just under 4lbs and 7lbs respectively...My buddy also landed a nice pike in the process.

I just do not understand when the Gov't says that all of this will create jobs...last I checked the oil companies and whatnot were pocketing MILLIONS....I haven't heard of them making huge investments in people and hiring more and more people, just them bringing in more profit for the elite few who get their million + dollar bonuses. By cutting all of this the only thing that will happen, IMO, will be the owners getting more money but not a proportional increase in workers. I think we need a long term plan, which is not around. When will someone get a leader who can see past 4 years and plan accordingly. Annd I don't mean Harper's "we'll do that in 2020" plan because even he knows he won't be here at that point. I'm hopefull they lose the next election, problem is I don't know who I want to replace them.

Fudally Hawg Spin, black with firetiger blades...tie it to your line, put rod in rod holder and troll the weedlines around 4-5MPH and wait for the drag to scream! works everytime!

My biggest pet peeve about some princecrafts, this one falling into the category...where is the rear casting deck???? Smokercraft for all the reasons listed above and the fact it has a real casting deck.

I picked up a used Legend 20 Xcalibur last spring, motor still under warranty, and every bell and/or whistle you can think of for 20k. It's been great, and compared to a 17 footer has a ton more space, which is nice on a cool day when you have 3 or 4 people in the boat with equipment and dressed in survival suits. Has been great on the big water and equally nice on the tiny inland lakes. I had a 16' prior and the move to a 20 was the best thing I have done. Once you sit in a 20 and drive it a couple times you'll be glad you did.

I have the big game and love it. You can get them from Protacklemuskyshop.com located outside of Belleville. That is where I bought mine.

To continue the thoguhts on Sta-bil, do you guys put it in with each tank or when is everyone adding Sta-bil? I tend to only use it when winterizing but am now just wondering if I should be putting it in on a more regular basis? I usually have the boat out at least once a week so I'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts are? Thanks

A couple things, the river up by Arnprior is as good as it gets, the water up there is awesome! I fish it a few times a week all year long and trust me, the water is great. Depending on where you go it can be very stained or quite clear. If you want walleye I would go to the mouth of the Madawaska river, where it comes right through Arnprior and meets the Ottawa. Right off that point on the east side is a walleye haven. As for pike, if you go east from Arnprior towards the railway bridge hit the shoreline about 500 yards south of the bridge for pike, a large weed flat thay they frequent. Good luck out there and be sure to let us know how it was when you get back. FYI, cats can also be fun up there and can make for a fun coulpe of hours. I haven't gone for them on the Madawaska in Arnprior but have heard they can be plentiful. Cheers

Your man card is safe if you plan the birth of your daughter so she isn't born during any important fishing or hunting seasons and also plan you parental leave for the whole month of July to fish and ready the treestands. Check and check!

One of my buddies is heading up there for the opener so good luck when it rolls around. I'm not sure why there is an area with it open from Jan 1st until the fall and everywhere else is different. Too bad they all weren't open all spring, would make a lot of people happy.

In the summer downriggers are a must but as the water is still cold I was just flatlining, no planerboards. Once the water warms up a bit they'll be down around 60' so downriggers or dipsy's are best. I was just off a point by 50 or 100 yards where I caught the ones above.

If you want to keep it simple I wuold flat-line some cranksbaits rather than spoons as spoons will not get down deep enough without the help of a dipsy or something like that. Depending on how cold/warm the water is they may be within reach of jut flatlining cranks. I would start in and around 40FOW and troll and see if you are marking any, if yuo are than it is just a matter of time to find out how deep your cranks are and if yuo can get them deep enough. If you aren't seeing anything I wuold move out deeper until you do start seeing them on the fishfinder and adjust accordingly. Last week they were in 30FOW and we were catching them on Berkley Flicker Shads, but as the water warms they will probably be heading deeper, but that is where I wuold start. To see how we caught them on the weekend check out my website Ontario Outdoors

Well, now that it is quiet I have finished my report http://ontariooutdoors.weebly.com/2011-fishing-journal.html Berkley Flicker Shad was the key today, to see the full details check out my full report.

I have an 8' St. Croix Premier All-Purpose, which is just awesome and a 6501C3 Abu Garcia...both were a wedding present from my wife.......Killer combo as far as I am concerned. As a sidebar, I have been fishign muskeis for about 5 years and have just staretd a website to show some of the things that I use and the techniques that I incorporate and the structure that I fish to try and better myself and others that care to read what I have to say. I'm going to log all of my trips with as much detail as I can for this season so feel free to check it out and let me know if there are other things you would like to know or see. I just started it last week so there's still some work to be done but the feedback thus far has been pretty positive and I am hopeful to have it in top shape come the opener. Cheers Brian http://ontariooutdoors.weebly.com

Don't let a swampy shoreline scare you....Yuo can turn it into a nice shoreline with some work and by just spending time in the water. the more time you sepnd in the water the more the muck will be stirred up and it should wash away. Even raking the sand will stir it up and help it along...

Whoever thinks that Toronto had most of its regulars not playing is mad..They played almost everyoen outside of Kessel and Komisarek....Whoop-dee-do! That line-up last night was probably 80% of their 'regulars' so they will indeed suck again this year. Ottawa really didn't play too many players last night so what'll happen when the rest come back to play. Maybe if Toronto over-pays for more players they will do better?