MJL

Minnow Goby Smallest mirror carp I've caught Mini chinny (jack salmon) Hammer-handle Either a perch or a baby walleye...Not exactly sure.

Favourite lines for a spinning reel: Mono: Excalibur SilverThread Hybrid: P-Line Floroclear Superline: PowerPro in 20lb I use Raven 8lb on my centrepins and I would imagine it would also perform just as well on a spinning reel. I doubt that I could choose just 1 line for all the conditions that I face in a season though.

Good luck Greg I've never fished that lake before but here's a report from Solopaddler not too long ago http://www.ofncommunity.com/forums/index.p...ic=9754&hl=

I don't fish for bass much but I have spent some time on shield lakes. Before I owned a fish finder I used to troll around the shoreline of a lake with a live-bait rig consisting of a Lindy no-snag sinker + barrel swivel + 3ft of fluorocarbon leader + circle hook + leech/worm/grub. It was simple but effective (provided the lake wasn't too large). Failing that, I would zig-zag across the lake to try to find them (usually I didn't have to)...Alternatively you can use a minnow lure and fan-cast to cover water. A few pros told me that shield lake bass are very nomadic but once you find 1 fish, you find lots more...I would have to agree. They can be on humps, under fallen trees and along rocky shoals. Once I found a fish, I either anchored up (when I could) or drifted/paddled around over the same spot I caught the fish...Usually I would pick up lots more. Most of my success was at dawn or in the evenings. I still got the odd fish at high-noon. I caught both my PB smallies from Algonquin park (both in the 19-20 inch range)...I think my dad also has his PB from Algonquin park as well (his slightly smaller than mine of course )

Not sure if tackle shops still have the line recycling program but you can give your local shop a call to see. I think it might have been Berkley who took the old lines and turned them into plastic crates which would then be submerged into a lake. Bass and panfish would use the crates to spawn in. I fill my spools 1/3 to 1/2 way with old line and use it as backing...Doesn't exactly eliminate the problem of disposal but it sure saves a few $ each season.

If you're squeamish about using live bait, you can always go to the local tackle shop and pick up a jar of those Berkley Gulp worms. I've done quite well using them for panfish. A little expensive though if you ask me.

I was fishing along Bayfront park for carp on the bass opener and surprisingly saw many bass cruising around along the shoreline - Both a mix of smallmouth and largemouth bass. They weren't very big (perhaps about 1 - 1.5lbs) but there were quite a few of them. Also saw 1 rainbow trout on the same day which appeared a little lost...Perhaps it was trying to find Lake O. The angler next to me caught a nice channel cat on a boillie.

Great report 007! Those scenic shots are very nice. Even though the fish were small, I'm sure the smallies gave you quite a tussle...Fun fish they are.

Couldn't you just float around Lake Ontario on an inflatable raft for the night - Dangle your legs in the water if you want. The water's cool and the breeze off the lake is refreshing. You get first dibs on fishing spots when you wake up. Just don't get sucked into a water intake pipe for a power plant...You should be fine...You might need navigational lights at night though.

Great pics sunfish Looks like you've got a great fishing buddy for life...Quite possibly one who'll out-fish you each and every trip.

Great pics and report Some well deserved catches for sure...Especially with the heat and humidity...At 34 degrees, you'll find me underneath a tree, napping and waiting for my bite alarms to sound. Deer flies are vicious...Does DEET even work on them?

There are carp in the Kawarthas...Just not those particular species (silver, grass, bighead). The carp that live (or more recently just died) in the Kawarthas are common carp with a few mirror carp mixed in.

Anywhere you go along harbourfront has gobies. Stick a worm on a small hook, drop it down to the bottom and you're guaranteed to get them as long as you have bait. They're not the most fun fish to catch but you can help rid the great lakes of them by destroying as many as you can. Islands is a good bet for all sorts of fish Here's a link about fishing around the GTA www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/UrbanFishing.pdf

I think the MNR found a grass carp near the mouth of the Don river a few years ago. I also vaguely remember reading something about them catching another grass carp out of Grenadier pond.

I upload my pics onto Photobucket and copy the IMG link onto here. With Photobucket you don't have to resize your pics when you upload them (At least I haven't had to in my experience).

Thanks for the report...A 1lb bullhead is a real big specimen. It's been a while since I fished that area. The carp fishing around the GTA is really hit or miss this time of year.

Great report Cliff. Canoes are wicked fun...Till you have to heave it back on the roof of your car after a long day of fishing...I think back-pain is a genetic thing in my family. I've often wondered what would happen if I hooked a big carp in my canoe? Looks like a great place to paddle around in.

Victor, remember to use protection... You know...An unhooking mat

Here's another way to hold them

Probably from the people who leave behind: empty cans of corn, sharp can lids, empty plastic bags of frozen corn, empty hook packages, empty packages of egg sinkers, worm containers, discarded fishing lines, beer bottles, empty water bottles, discarded fishing rigs (with rusty hooks attached), snotty Kleenexes and soiled paper napkins, empty cups from timmy's (usually with matching lids), paper bags from fast food joints, cigarette butts, cigarette boxes...I can list more things that I've found in my carping spots if you would like It can be assumed that not everyone who reads these posts (or sees these pics) on OFC is as appreciative of the environment as we hoped they would be.

I personally do it purely for fish safety. Carp are large, heavy, slimy and the often kick a lot when you've got them in the net. If you accidentally drop a fish, it's a long way down to the ground if you're standing straight up. I generally don't lift steelhead and salmon very high either.

WOW! Great catch! Forget about using poodles for bait...Looks like I'll be using great danes from now on...Swim Marmaduke, swim!

Yummm! Omega 3 and mercury poisoning all in one meal.

Great catch! Me thinks I'll have to take a swing by your neck of the woods in the near future...Road-trip anyone?

They weren't doing the special dance to worship the Carp Gods...You know which one When DSN wasn't looking I did the Anti-Carp-Dance and stole his carp-mojo and put it onto my own rod Thank goodness no one took any pics to reveal the special moves required for the dances.