johnnyb

If you have trouble with wind...get a driftsock. MinnKota makes a nice one rated for 16-20' boats, that is worth about $25. Whether you end up in a boat or canoe, the wind is never any fun....letting the sock out the back will give you a lot more control, and more time to enjoy the water you're fishing.

That is what summer's alllll about! Nicely done!!! My uncle has a few lakes he has been fishing up in the P.Sound/McKellar district for over 20 years, and has watched them go from all pike, to all largies, back to all pike again. Couple more weeks and we'll be heading up to sample the population....can't wait! Great adventure, great pics, great post!!!!

Yup...consistency is what I really strive for...being a young dad, sometimes it's too easy to be his "buddy"...but I'm learning. Luckily, I had a great role model for a Dad, so, I do my best to think about what he would do. Thanks for the nice replies, folks

B-E-A-yootiful fish!!!! Nice to nail a PB like that, especially from shore....must've been one heck of a fight

Went up to see the parents in Muskoka on the weekend, with Laker Jessy and my son Caleb, who is 8. Caleb has always enjoyed fishing with me, until this year. I'm pretty sure that I got a little carried away with it, and maybe have been pushing a bit too hard lately. After a couple crappy days of ice fishing, Spring rolled around, and he has been less than enthusiastic about it going out at all. Recognizing the error of my ways, (and feeling terrible about putting pressure on him about fishing, of all things), I told him that it didn't matter to me if he fished or not. That he would always have a fishing buddy to go with, but, if he didn't want to go, it was no big deal, and I only wanted him to fish if he wanted to. So, we started out with a boat ride...NO rods! I let him drive a bit, we just puttered about, proving to him that boat does not necessarily equal fishing. The next day, we went for another ride, and this time, he didn't mind if Jessy and I brought our rods, but he didn't want to bring his (which was brand new, and which he was quite excited to receive last Christmas). So, we let him drive again...and he stopped here and there, suggesting that we take a couple casts. The second time we stopped, he asks to borrow my rod and take a few casts. I play it nice and cool, like it was no biggie..."sure buddy....be my guest" On the inside, of course, I'm praying that a lunker nails his lure right now! Nothing happens, but, still, we had a nice day on the water. I'm happy, and more importantly, so is he. That night, as I'm going to bed, I'm telling Jessy what time we'll wake up if she wants to join me to fish in the morning. Caleb pipes up with "Will you wake me up to go with you in the morning, Dad?" Yessss!!!!! Woke him up bright and early, and out we went. Had a few nice largies swipe at our surface lures, but they wouldn't commit. I got a nice smallie on the Zara Spook at one point, and handed the rod over to Caleb to reel in....put up quite a nice fight, and he was pretty happy to hoist it for the camera! When we got back to the cottage, he made sure everyone heard about the fish he hauled in....and proceeded to fish a few more times on the weekend. I know it sounds like I'm making a big deal out of what should be the most natural thing in the world, but, this was a big relief, and an important lesson learned. Here's a pic of the bass, plus some walleye that Jessy and I got the previous morning.

nice report as always -- what an awesome little back lake!!!!

Wel, I've thought about it, and, I'm pretty sure it's still better than a kick in the pants! Good on ya for going out there and getting at least one!

Nicely done! I don't remember seeing too many multiple fish over the slot in one post from Nipissing....West Arm or otherwise. Thanks for the helpful details too

That was a long story, and worth the read I once got told the cookies were too hot, but they let me have them when I begged and pleaded....I think they were halfway cooled down anyway.... Good post -- I got a laugh out of it!

Not too shabby --- how deep were you trolling? I've never fished Pigeon, but have my eye on it....just curious if it's got lots of weeds that would prevent trolling deep, or not. Thanks for putting up the pics!

1. Blocks of ice last way longer than cubes, in your cooler. A tupperware container full of water makes a nice block of ice...you can even leave it with the lid on, so it doesn't soak your cooler. I prefer to throw a big pile of cubes on top of the block though, to get the cans of whatever I'm drinking nice and cozy. Just run a bit of hot water on the outside of the tupperware to get the ice to come out when you go to put it in the cooler. 2. To make the rubber skirts on your spinnerbaits last longer: Strip the paper/plastic off a garbage bag twist-tie, leaving yourself with the wire. Give the wire a couple wraps around the skirt, tucked up tight against the elastic band that is already holding it. Using your pliers, twist the wire a couple times so it tightens up, then clip of the tag ends. Whether it's pike or just a ton of bass, your skirts will stay on longer. Getting skirts off in a hurry is a whole other thing....different board.... 3. Buy a drift sock, and use it! 4. Touch up rips and tears in your soft plastics with Krazy Glue 5. Disposable latex gloves are absolutely odor-proof when it comes to cleaning fish, and they fit so tightly, they don't hamper your fish handling ability.

those are some impressive bass...nice that they're getting released. Thanks for the report...next year we'll have to get some more OFC'ers in there!

WOW. #4 was particularly ridiculous. By Googling "Scugog, bass tournament, July 19, 2008" I'm willing to bet you could find out what tournament that may have been.... May not be at the TOP of the list, but I'm sure you will see a few BASS tournaments listed there....

No question that those back-lake largies fight harder -- I go to a similar mystery lake, and the largies in there are feistier than anywhere else I've been. Nicely done, guys!

It kind of depends on what line/reel you're using. I try to put a loop in the end of the line, then thread the spool of line through it before reeling. This way it just pulls tight, should I ever get down to the bottom of the spool -- I've never actually been taken all the way down the the last loop though, just wishful thinking! If I can't get it to work, I just tie a barrel knot. If you're using PowerPro (or other braidedm slippery lines, I'm assuming) you should put a piece of tape around the spool before you start, so that it grabs. I use hockey tape and have never had a problem.

drift socks will make your lives so much better, Victor and Al nice report too...thanks for putting it up!

That is a big @ss Bass -- nicely done! I've only ever fished musky on the Bog, but had more than a few healthy largies chase down my bucktails....nothing like that big boy though. Maybe next time...

Great report -- and priceless pics of your son

12 days! That's 6 weekends of fishing....a summer's worth for many, I'm sure. That would make it really hard to get back to work. I love the markings on the bass in the first pic!

WAY! TO! GO!

that's terrible! I can't imagine the driver survived....

Is that OUR Terry?!? Wow...great info, and man oh man, do you ever tell it like it is Thanks for posting those golden nuggets of wisdom

I don't know if this is real, and since it's a SUPER boring Saturday, I thought I would post this. The footage looks genuine enough, but, it's still too hard to believe. Either way....always be careful when towing. PS...if the footage IS real, then, this just isn't funny. Click-ety clack

saw that bad boy rollin' down the QEW last week...the front end looks bigger than an Excursion though....looks more like one of the 450 or 550 super duty's

Call or email Jim at Dad's Outdoor store in Temagami. Click here and read his latest fishing report. If nothing on Rabbit is in there, you can check with him...he even has some nice laminated maps of the lake for you. Not to sound like a shameless plug...it's just that he's a great guy, and has helped me find some fish in the area on more than one occasion. Good luck!