MJL

You can always try fly fishing the islands for pike. Ample room for back casts in a lot of the places and if it gets windy, you can move to another sheltered canal. The problem with fly fishing around Toronto is the pedestrian traffic although in March, I'd imagine it would be lighter than in summer. The spit is another option - Kilometers of shoreline to fish and open if you have waders. Humber for steelhead and suckers is another option.

I didn't find anything I really wanted at the show but I did walk around for 2hrs getting free samples from all the different smoked meat/sausage vendors. I can still taste honey garlic venison right now and I was there Saturday

Stop browsing dirty porn sites and you won't be picking up spyware

Come to think of it, most of the people I fish with who I met on OFC look younger than 18. DSN, Victor and Greg (formerly Grilw) would be a pedaphile's dream. I've been 16 for the last 7 years at most bars and anywhere where you'd need an ID.

I use a 10' Shimano Convergence (8-17lb) with a 4000 Shimano Stradic loaded with either 8-10lb mono or 30lb PowerPro. I get relatively good distance. Depending on how much you would like to spend, The Sage 3113mb is another great pier rod that loads up and launches spoons and lures nicely (11'3"). Haven't tried the one made by Raven (Specialist I think?) but it looks and feels nice in the store. I was also toying with the idea of using one of my carp rods but they are significantly heavier than any salmon/steelhead rod out there. I casted 124 yards of PowerPro for kicks with a 12' 3.25lb Grey's X-flite carp rod and a Daiwa Tournament big-pit reel...I'm not a great caster either...I doubt you'll need that kind of distance for salmon/steelhead (or have the arms to cast all night) but boy is it fun watching your rig disappear into the horizon. Buzz-bombs will certainly go a long way with carp gear. That's one option if you want pure distance.

Both are world record fish The one in lickmyarmpit's pics is the World Record Common Carp while the fish in the vid that CCMT posted is the World Record Carp Both stunning fish.

I absolutely didn't need to see that link right now. I'm studying for an exam tomorrow and tonight all I'll be thinking of are bones and tarpon. Great link. Here's another link with a few movies on it. The one titled "Running down the man" is in my mind, one of the coolest fly fishing video I've ever seen. Fly fishing and dune buggies DO mix. http://www.drakemag.com/pages/film_2006.shtml

All the best for a speedy recovery

I don't ice fish but I have caught some trophy crappies around the marina during the spring time. I would imagine they would still be around at this time of year

Agree with RivrRat's assessment although sometimes it's fun turning your own grips, wrapping your own guides and personalizing your own rod. If it's St. Croix that you want, any local dealer should be able to order them in for you. I've never used a spinning/casting model from Lamiglas but their fly rods are super sweet - A totally underrated company IMO.

I buy all my stuff (blanks, guides, epoxy, thread, cork) from Angling Specialties because I live down the street from the store. They could ship the materials to you if you live outside of the GTA. They mainly deal with Sage and Lamiglas but could probably get a hold of St. Croix or Loomis blanks if you ask.

Some more pics here: http://www.limk.com/english/limk/10406/

It's the world record common carp...Caught somewhere in Germany I believe. It's a MASSIVE fish!!! The current world record carp video can be seen here - Scroll down the page to the 11th vid: http://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/nav?page=ang...esource=6038646

I live in Scarborough but spend a lot of time on the Islands and along Lakeshore fishing for carp and the Humber for steel.

Welcome to OFC Dave You look really familiar. Do/did you fish the Humber often or own a pair of black neoprene waders in the past? Awesome pics.

Water changes shouldn't be much a hassle. Pull the lever and presto all clean. I think the fish deserve better than to see you do your bit all day.

Genetics plays a big role in their shape. I believe the pot belly ones are referred to as "Simmos", a strain of carp bred by Mark Simmons - Don't quote me on that one though; google for more info. Ugly things they are. Many waters in France are quite prolific and fish have access to large quantities of natural food...Though the high quality fishmeal boilies and pellets they occasionally chuck in there doesn't seem hurt in getting them to their size

It all comes down to comfort. One pro to switching hands is that you don't fatigue your casting arm by winching in water resistant lures or fighting large powerful fish. A tired arm will not perform to the same extent as a moderately used one. When you've got one chance to, for example, cast a seagull sized deceiver fly to a rapidly moving trophy tarpon on the flats, accurate and precise casting is critical - Imagine what your arm would be like after catching 3-4 of those beasts prior.

Great pics Had a fun time fishing the pond with you last year. Who knows what this year will bring...ROAD TRIP to Long Sault? You forgot to mention your PB mirror

One of my favourite topics for sure...I'm still looking for that 40 Every year 40+ lbers are caught from Ontario (Lake Ontario, Kawarthas, St. Lawrence). Claiming the record, you'd need to kill the fish and hold the fish in your freezer while waiting for OFAH to weigh it on their scales when they call for it...Why bother go through the hassle? Having fished carp in Peterborough and throughout the Kawarthas for almost the last decade, if you're trophy hunting, you'd be better off fishing somewhere else. That's not to say that 40+lbers don't exist in the kawarthas - They do. I've had fish to 33lbs in Peterborough and heard fish to 42lbs were landed in the last couple of years. Getting past the numerous 12-17lb fish is a challenge and finding that one peg where that monster lives is the real challenge. In my experience most of the fish you catch in the kawarthas are relatively long and lean compared to the fish found in Lake Ontario which generally have more girth to a fish of equal length. River fish compared to Lake fish. To me it would make more sense fishing for fat and chunky fish than trying to get a big lean machine. Waters with higher percentages of larger fish from my research: - Lake Ontario, bays and tributaries (55lber caught from the Islands by 13 yr old boy - Toronto Star) - Hamilton Harbour (68+lb dead common found in carp trap, 64+lb carp released from trap) - Bay of Quinte (Some real bigguns there) - ST. LAWRENCE!!! - Lake Erie Best of luck on your quest

Carp 1/3 of the year, steelhead/salmon/browns the other 2/3's. I still do the odd trips in summer for bass and pike though.

He's busy picking up ladies at York U.