adempsey

I've been making my harnesses for a couple of seasons now. I fish inland lakes for walleye with them, but only use them about 25% of the time. Typically I troll them attached to bottom bouncers or weighted with split shot, but have also drifted with them weighted with a slip sinker or split shot. I use 17lb to 20lb mono. Usually Trilene Big Game. I have used fluorocarbon as well, but if I were to make more I would use mono. Lengths run from 18" to 6'. I use octopus hooks. Sizes 4 and 2. I prefer Owner hooks, but also like the Mustad wide-gap bait hooks. I am currently trying out some Matzuo sickle hooks. I've also used BPS XPS hooks and found them to be inferior. I make harnesses with both single and double hooks. The double hooks I sometimes use one size 4 and one size 2 hook. I use #4 Colorado blades. Most are in nickel or gold finish (polished and hammered), but use all sorts of blades - depends on what I can get on sale or find in a bargain bin. I attach the blade using a folded clevice - size 1 I think. I don't use the quick change clevices because I am more likely to switch the entire harness than a single blade - and they cost a lot more. I use 4mm, 6mm and 8mm beads. Mostly plastic faceted beads from the dollar or craft store. I've also made a few "bodies" out of plastic air tubing. To assemble I use a snell knot to attach the hooks (usually the standard method but sometimes I use one of the quick snell knot methods) and often put on a small 4mm bead first. For some reason I find that the smaller bead seems to fit better above the snell knot. I follow that by 6-8 6mm beads, clevice+blade and a final single 6mm bead. I sometimes put a single 8mm bead in the centre between the 6 6mm beads. I use all sorts of colors, but primarily green, red, orange, yellow, chartreuse and pink. I then tie on a barrel swivel at the end. I typically use size 10 Mustad diamond-eye or size 7 Rosco swivels. I've also made some larger sized harnesses with 1/0 hooks, #5 Colorado blades and 8mm beads. Here are a couple of harnesses, nothing special really. This one has one of the home-made lure bodies on it. I made a few spoon harnesses as well but have yet to try them out. I have made a boatload of them and have way more than I will ever use, but enjoy assembling them. I probably have far more beads than a grown man should ever own......

I know for Hot'n'Tots many people complained when they switched them to plastic lips. Particularly because when you troll them, the metal lip smacks on the bottom/rocks and is supposed to help elicit a strike. You can also bend them to change or correct the lure action.

I stumble across those Hawger spoons every so often at various tackle shops and even TSC. Never seen a good selection though. Came across these Jig-a-Whopper lures recently. They did not come with hooks.

My condolences go out to you and your family. May your memories be your comfort.

Looks to me like the fisherman in you likes the versatility of the Smokercraft (more "fishing" features), but your practical side is telling you to go with the Princecraft (new, warranty, cover, fuel efficiency)! Personally, I like the Smokercraft features and layout much better. I think you can't decide because they aren't the exact boat you want. Maybe just wait until you can get all the features you want and not simply settle - all the nice features of the Smokercraft with the practicality of the Princecraft. Anyway, I wish this is was something I had to agonize over, lol!

This late ice is getting old fast isn't it?? I'd suggest you browse through this directory: http://www.ontariooutofdoors.com/icefishing/articles/?ID=327&a=read It's fairly comprehensive. Lake Nipissing is a probably a good start and many of the recent reports seem generally positive as well. You also have Lake Nosbonsing right next door as well. This year our annual trip will be to Lake Bernard. I know there are a couple of outfitters and a guide on there. It will be my first trip there though, but from what I have read it's a decent fishery. We are not using an outfitter. Here are some outfitters on Bernard: Lake Bernard Outfitters 705-384-7948 Carter's Charters 705-752-0758 All Seasons Fishing 705-386-7562 Other places I want to try are Lake Restoule (Everett's Northern Excursions) and Limberlost. Restoule holds multiple species and always seemed like an interesting lake to fish. It's not that far to drive but far enough away. I have been trying to convince my buddies to take a trip to Limberlost for a couple of years now. You get your own private cabin on a lake all to your self. The lakes are stocked with rainbows and brook trout. Unfortunately the price is higher than many other places so it's been hard to convince people to go (it's a per person charge instead of fixed rate for the cabin). I will make it happen some day though! As for the active fish, good luck with that! No one can predict that. Good luck with your search.

I purchased some Plano 3503 Spinnerbait boxes for my spinnerbaits and buzzbaits: Never liked them much since they were too large IMO and didn't fit well with my other storage boxes. I switched over to a Falcon FTO spinnerbait wallet, it's much more compact: Those Plano FTO boxes look good too. Looks like Plano bought Falcon.

It's unfortunate, but I am sure it was their plan from the start. Glad to see you already have an interview. Good luck!

Thanks for the video! Can't wait to get out there. Loved seeing the HDS in action on the ice. Makes me wonder if I should change over from a flasher. I might even try using a Rapala jig for whitefish this season. I usually stick with the other horizontal jigs and Williams spoons. Nice DIY tip-up (or is it a tip-down?) as well. Cheers!

I have a Rapala electric knife and I hate it. I can't recall if it's the cordless model or not though. I found it way too heavy and bulky. I went back to a nice sharp fillet knife. I really don't think anything is better. If you really want an electric knife just get a cheap one from Hamilton Beach or something. That's what I used before I purchased the Rapala model. The $15 cheapo worked just fine, but the blades are a bit thicker (which is the reason I picked up the Rapala when it was on sale).

I think it's a good lake to try out ice fishing. You can rent ice huts there as well. Went a few years back and caught some pike. Saw other people catch oos Bass.

Sounds like a good strategy to me. I have only fished on a Rainbow lake a couple of times, each time the lake was covered with 2' of snow. However, I was told that when going for the Rainbows you should try to drill your holes early (when it's still dark if possible) and then go back to them later because they spook so easily. When I fished for them I basically fished like I was fishing for Simcoe Perch. Smaller jigs and spoons etc in white and/or pink. They really like pink. I am pretty sure I caught them on small Buckshot spoons as well. Not sure about Splake as I have only fished for them in the spring and fall. I am sure any of your smaller go to ice jigs/spoons will work fine. I'd probably use Williams Wablers/Ice Jigs, Kastmasters, Swedish Pimples and Buckshot Spoons. I might tip them with a minnow or minnow head as well. Sounds like a great trip! Be safe!

Lucky guys!! I'd search for Attawapiskat as well, a lot of informative posts from there.

Not sure about best of all time, but I like many of the ones listed like A Christmas Story and Miracle on 34th Street. Others I like: The Nightmare Before Christmas Nativity! Trading Places Gremlins Surprised nobody mentioned Home Alone.

Cut it. Otherwise, it will block the light and it may even out compete your other plants and they will die off. Sometimes you can sell them back to the store for credit.

Wonderful pictures. I hope it remains that way forever.

The only thing I know about Pasha lake is from an episode of Fish'n'Canada.

Paypal can also do cash transfer. I've done that with a sale on a used item in the past. Anyway, definitely bogus given the generality of the message. Personally, if cash in hand wasn't an option, I'd just ask for an e-mail bank transfer. I do them all the time. Very fast and easy to do, as long as you bank online anyway.

Went for a long weekend to Kashagawigamog (I assume that's the lake you mean) back in February. There were five of us and we rented ice huts from one of the lodges. Fishing was slow. We caught some small perch, a couple of musky, couple of herring and a walleye. Always nice to get out on a new lake, but sometimes it can be tough. I think it has potential and it's not a very busy lake. I've been considering Bernard for a while now and we might head up there next season for an annual weekender.

I'd guess that someone pulled some strings to profit on the purchase or sale of this company. It's a shame, makes me feel guilty that I am not more involved. Of course, trying to keep on top of these is nearly impossible with the absolutely horrid government websites. Is it their goal to make access to the government and all information resources as difficult as possible??

Nakina might be a bit far for a 3 nighter? Worth it IMO, but that means 2 extra days vacation. As for a boat-to lodge, I am not sure they accommodate weekends?? Maybe. If so, Ellen Island would be a great choice (assuming they have the accommodations for 12+ people - it's a small resort). They haul all your gear in for you so it's not a big deal at all. However, you are stuck on the island for the duration. For the most part it looks like you've been to the places I would recommend. Which Kawartha Lakes have you tried? I like fishing Pigeon Lake and Jack Lake. Plenty of cottage resorts on Pigeon and one on Jack. Did you stay on the Upper or Lower French? Next year I hope to stay at Flat Rapids Camp for a weekend. It's on the Lower French. You could try Georgian Bay in the 30,000 Islands region. It's busy in the summer, but should be nice in May/early June. Somewhere like Pleasant Cove or Kenlea Cottages. Pleasant Cove is nice, but more of a family resort. Kenlea is more of a fishing resort. Maybe somehwere near Parry Sound like Mill Lake Cottages. There's a nice place on the Montreal River I wanted to try as well called White Pine Lodge. It's a boat to, but it's a 2 minute boat ride from the pick up point at Mowats Landing (where you get picked up for the Lady Ev fishing lodges). Good luck!

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the current models. I think in terms of technology and quality of the output, they're all very similar when you compare the various units at each price point. So, IMO, you really have to go and look at them so you can make direct comparisons. For example, the Marcum LX-5 screen diameter is a bit smaller than the Humminbird and it has a small shield instead of the flat screen. However, I find the Humminbird to be louder and vibrate more but I prefer the flat screen. If you fish at night some of the units don't have a night mode which many anglers find annoying (it's blinding at night). Having the transducer on a floater versus an arm (I removed the arm from my Marcum and use a Vex floater). Little differences like that will most likely sway you. Assuming the price is the same. Also, don't forget to compare what's included in the package. For example, I believe some of the Vexilars don't have a carrying case, but the Humminbirds and Marcums include that (at least that's my recollection). Availability might be an issue as well. Humminbird is everywhere. Vexilar is also quite popular, but not sure how many stores carry the Marcums. If you don't mind ordering online, then this is non-issue of course. If you're going for top of the line I think either a Marcum LX7 or LX5, Humminbird ICE55 or the Vexilar FL20 (note: the FL22HD only goes to 60FOW max) will make you happy. That HDS-5 with the PPP-18I Ice Pack sounds like a really sweet package as well.

Just an update. Costco currently has the Tempest ice auger on sale for $289.97, including shipping. More than what CTC had it on for, but the shipping is free at least.

Nice! Would love to do that! Of the freshwater fish, whitefish are my favorite table fare. Never pickled them before though.

Lol, those pictures are hilarious. Just down the street there are two houses that have gone all out like that picture in Miracons post. The funny thing is there is 1 house between the two, lol. I think I might have to go visit that house and bring them that photo!