TroutnMuskieHunter

Don't post often, but this is a great way to get all geared up for the new open water season.

 

I fish for walleye and my 2008 rig is a Tracker Tundra 21 Team Edition with a OptiMax 250Pro XS and a 9.9 Pro Kicker.

 

-s

Hey Sheldon....how you doing??....nice looking rig bud!!..I guess I 'll get a close up view when we meet up on Quinte this fall

Good choice of songs Gerritt

- Headin to Temagami for 4 days during the May long weekend

- Rented a cabin in Ompah end of May to hunt down some Rainbows and Lakers

- Opening day (and every night after that ) here on the river for some Muskies

- A couple of weekend camping trips to some trout lakes accessible by ATV only

- Quinte, end of October for a few days with some buddies that rented a cottage for 2 weeks

Still tryin to decide what to do for a week long trip this year.....our annual trip with the lads up to Iron Bridge was cancelled due to other family commitments with a few of the guys...

Nice job.....I can hardly wait to get out there!!!

Have every colour Linquest makes to try this year, as well as some new Ken's Custom flutter spoons from California and a big box of spoons I picked up off ebay (Pro King/Dreamweaver and many others).

Hey Wayne, I guess I'll just leave my box of spoons at home in May seein how you got enough for all of us

Mornin' all.....

As I'm sittin here at home looking out at the 'ice/snow covered Ottawa River, I'm also dreaming about open water fishing and getting out for some Lakers....with the current windchill temp of -22C this morning, open water fishing seems so far away

I'm sure at one point or another, lake trout fisher's have debated over what methods they prefer using and what has proven successful for them..

So to open up this post for discussion, what do other members prefer using???

I have flat lined in the spring and use a downrigger once the water temp starts to drive the Lakers into deeper water...

Steel line vrs lead core???.....what are the differences???....braided or stretchy mono lines when using downriggers or dipsy's???

Well, personal taste is personal taste....I happen to love the taste of rainbow trout.

I agree as well....I guess it also depends what body of water the rainbow was pulled out of...

Here's a pic of the color of the meat from one of the rainbows we caught this summer in a remote lake north of the Iron Bridge area.....I'm drooling just looking at it!!!...same color as Pacific Salmon and just as tasty

I have a 20' pontoon boat that's 14yrs old....the floor/wood is still in great shape other than the carpeting is a little faded now compared to the carpet under the seats...

The plywood that was used on the floor was a 7-ply marine grade plywood. I would put this on and buy some outdoor carpeting for a non-slip surface (and it'll be a heck of a lot more comfortable on bare feet than a hard grit surface )...seems like a lot of work in what you're proposing of doing for your pontoon boat idea....

Nice fish!!...

in .....thanks TJ

I'm drivin out on the river in a few minutes to try for some eyes....we plowed ice roads all day Saturday in order to help others get their shacks off for the MNR ice hut removal deadline of midnight Mar 15th....there's a good 24" of ice on the river....not the 36" that we usually have this time of year but it'll do....

Here's some pics from Saturday.....

Thanks guys....I'll be headin to the US next week to take advantage of the sale on the ice fishing items....

The 6500C3 is what I use for Muskie fishing...it's a great all around reel!!

Thanks sonny......Any one else have experiences/comments with these shelters???

"I am surprised that the government has not banned the use of personal vehicles on the ice."

 

Statements like that are why we are losing all our rights.

 

Can't believe the negative feedback here from fisherman. We're always out on the lakes around here in winter be it fishing or just for fun, many snowmobile trails are across the lakes. He hit a bad spot and sure it could of been worse, but no different than hitting an icy spot on the highway and losing it. Commonsense and a little bit of caution goes a long way. As for the stupid ones who go out when the ice isn't thick or unsafe, well those people will be doing something stupid on the roads if they weren't on the lake.You can't govern stupidness.

 

Good to here you were OK, Cityfisher, I for one have been driving on the lakes for 20 years, and haven't had any problems, but do know the limitations of when to and not to. Don't let one bad experience ruin it for you forever.

Well said ....it's easy to sit in front of a computer and criticise others and there bad fortunes!!

Glad to hear you're OK cityfisher....if your truck is a 4x4, I would suggest calling your insurance company to see if you have coverage....I just changed companies and specifically asked if I was covered in the event that my ATV, sled or F-150 went through the ice....ANSWER WAS YES....strangely, they told me that they DON"T cover amphibious vehicles though...It's worth a try bud!!

WELL... if you want a power auger... get out of your chair and off to CTC. Sale may start tomorrow... flyer may not be up in the store and the item may be hidden in the back warehouse.... but the cash register is already programmed for the sale!

 

Don't bother with the Midland store... they had one and it now resides in my work shop!

Now what are you planning to do with that thing Wayne other then hurt yourself???

Great lookin fish!!

Mornin' Folks,

I'm thinking about buying a Clam Fish Trap while they're on sale right now....does anyone have any feedback on the Yukon, Voyager or X2????....i will be pulling it with my sled or ATV so the weight factor isn't important....

Also are these good prices???

CLAM CORP Fish Trap Yukon Fish House 349.99 US

CLAM CORP Fish Trap Voyager Fish House 449.99 US

CLAM CORP Fish Trap X2 Package 499.99 US

Thanks.....

I bought one two years ago (not auto inflating though) and I love it, I find it so comfortable that I often forget that I even have it on. BTW, I checked with the Coast Guard, Auto inflating ones HAVE to be worn to be legal, the ones like I have (you have to pull the cord) DO NOT have to be worn to be legal (don't ask me why but that is what they said! I always wear mine now when I am out in the boat anyway though.

Big Cliff.....I have the auto and pull start .....I just wonder sometimes if it'll work when you need it!!! ......it does have a manual inflator though and TomCat said it only took 6 deep breaths to inflate it....

Welcome to a great site!!

TMH, I'm sure your aware of it, but incase your not, those inflatables must be worn at all times when your in the boat in order for them to be legal, you can't have them over the back of your seat or in a locker.

 

If you do have a regular PFD in your boat, then the inflatable doesn't have to be worn.

 

But as I say, that's just an FYI incase your weren't aware of it.

I wasn't aware of that Lew...thanks!!

The whole idea of buying this vest is for the purpose of always wearing it....my wife's girlfriend's husband drowned last year...he had just retired from the navy and was a great swimmer....the problem was that he was thrown from his bass boat after colliding with a shoal and an auto inflatable vest may have saved his life!!....most of my fishing is done solo so and I have to keep the wife happy ....she actually paid for this vest while we were out shopping

My PDFs auto inflate sometimes.. damn Adobe!

Damn GCD....you sure are on the ball this morning

they work great ... did you get the auto inflate model ... the one with a " alka seltzer tablet"

or the one with the pull pin?...or does it have both.... I was wearing mine when the wife pulled the pin... BOOM ...there is was inflated... She thought it was hillarious...

It has both...not sure if it has an " alka seltzer tablet" or not, but it does state that the pdf will auto inflate if comes in contact with water...

What happens if you're wearing this vest in a down pour?????????

HAHAHA Lew ! You sure Diane isn't related to Leah somehow?

 

Price of gas... Joe you know my answer to that. It's cheaper now than it was in 2005's summer at $1.37 Temagami Shell and $1.52 Marina. Not gonna slow my fishing down one bit.... but I might put a tip jar in the boat ! That should go a long way....

I'll start puttin' all my pennies away for your jar Wayne!

I decided to go out and buy a Stearns auto inflatable PFD vest the other day.....I installed the CO2 cartridge and the small green ativation pin.. .....my question is: HOW do I know that this thing will actually work????....Has anyone ever tried theirs??...Is it wise to go out and buy a couple of spare cartidges and try it out first??.....do the CO2 cartidges have an expiry date???

Thanks.....

..oh and I forgot "and having to look after their dog" !

 

Thanks Steve.. and everyone.

Correction Wayne...."dogs" .......it's a blessing I didn't head up with you...we got POUNDED with snow here in the Ottawa Valley!!!....I'm trying to get a plan together to see how we're going to get the ice shacks off the river for the Saturday deadline!!!....doesn't look promising right now!!