adempsey

This has helped me, and hopefully it will help you too:

Cool machine! It's like hard water version of a pontoon boat!

I'd go with the Clarus of those. Especially if you can find any still on clearance. Of course, if I could find a St.Croix Triumph for the same price, I would go that route.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff!! Did you make the tear drops jigs? If not, I am sure that's the next step lol! Check out these home made jigs. Many are easy (and fun) to do and can turn out really well! http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=160531.0 http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=62425.0 I picked up the AP Outdoors Xtreme Ice XI3 3-4 person popup hut (Thanks for that post Cosmos!). I think I am going to order a new sled as well. I like this one from Cabelas. It's on sale and I have some "Cabelas Bucks", so even with the expensive shipping it's not too much. Considered the Aqua-Vu Micro Underwater Camera, but that will probably have to wait. More of a toy for me really. The only other tackle I might purchase are some of the new Rapala/Blue Fox Nomad Jigging Spoons. I really like the Nils Master Hali Jigs and want to test these ones out. Looking forward to hard water!!!!!!!

Have a good trip! That's one place I also wanted to try. They have some great rental boats, some of the best I have seen available. Hopefully we'll see a report in a years time =)

There are a boatload of places that rent daily in the off season. There are many private cottages and plenty of all-season resorts available. Recently, I spent a good deal of time trying to find somewhere to rent on a lake stocked with Splake. I came across plenty of private cottages available for weekend rentals. I am sure you could find something on Lake Huron or Georgian Bay near the Bruce trail system. Plenty near Algonquin Park as well. One place that comes to mind and that I've been wanting to stay at for a long time is Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve. I have yet to go, but it's always on my mind when I plan a trip. It's an all-season "resort" located right outside of Algonquin Park. I am not sure exactly which cottages are lakefront and open all year, but it sounds like it might be good for you if you like to hike and nature watch. They look to be very private as well. Also, some of those lakes are stocked with Rainbow Trout, which is open all year in FMZ15. Good luck!

Only if you're that fish in your avatar

Nice! You look pretty dang cold though!! Looking forward to the season.

I have the HH Alpha One. It was less expensive than the Mustang with more features. It's warm and still in great shape after a few seasons of casual use. Other than that, I haven't fell through any ice so I can't say how well it actually works . I noticed the outer shell of the HH Delta 2 is all 420 Denier nylon, while the Alpha 1 is 210 Denier nylon with 420 Denier on the knees and butt. The Alpha 1 has more features though. I'd agree with ckrd2007, the HH is a bit stiff. It's the only suit I have worn, so I don't know how it compares to others. Mustang brand suits are the most popular where I fish. The suits from both companies have some form of approval as a PFD, so I don't think one would work better than the other for keeping you afloat (at least when they're new, after a few years who knows). Also, if you want a one piece, get one with suspenders (like the HH Alpha One) so you can unzip it and keep your pants on!!

Just ordered the 2-3 man "Fish Inn" from Costco. Seemed like a good deal for the 600 denier fabric since most of the other cheapo pop-ups are 300 denier and more money [HT is $159 at LeBaron though]. That combined with the free shipping and Costco warranty sold me on it. I only need it as a base camp anyway. The hut from Gagnon looks really sweet too. Probably would have thought more about purchasing that model if I hadn't already ordered the Costco one. edit: After reading this I might just return it once I get it, lol. It's probably why there's only 2 windows instead of 4 as well. Think I will just order the one from Gagnon.

Nice looking rod! and, WTH is a stripper guide and a match guide??

The Kastmaster. Taken from the Acme website: Luhr Jensen makes some good stuff and have a lot of famous original lures. However, if you take a look at their catalogue, many of their lures are copies of other successful lures.

You didn't mention a price range, but Hawk Lake Lodge is supposed to really nice. There are a couple of lodges on Kabinakagami that might be worth checking out as well [Pine Portage, Watsons Kaby Lodge. The lodge I stayed at was nice, but the food wasn't all that great. The two I listed might be better . When I was researching my trip for the year I went to Kaby, the lodges on Ara, Meta and Brace Lakes (just NW of Abamasagi) were also recommended to me. Would still like to visit them as well. About 6 hours North of Toronto there are three boat-to American Plan lodges [Island 10, Garden Island, Red Pine Lodge] on Lady Evelyn Lake that offer the remote feel with good walleye fishing. However, they aren't really much cheaper than a fly-to American Plan lodge in the more remote areas on Ontario. Just a good option for those who don't want to drive 12+ hours. Anyway, if I were you and could afford it, Leuenbergers Kag Lake would be my first choice [been on my to visit list for a while now]. Good luck with your search!! It's not easy!

Manual Auger - Normark FinBore III or Strikemaster Lazer Auger. The new Frabills might be good, but haven't read much about them. I don't own a gas one, so can't help you there. Jiffy are pretty popular though. Merino wool socks (cotton soaks up perspiration and will make you cold) - this goes for all underclothing really A Floater suit is a good investment Good boots - I like my Baffin Titans - not that expensive and very warm I use a bucket for my chair. It stores my gear as well. Ice picks - you can make some as well Lures - Rapala jigging minnows in various sizes Northland Buckshot Rattle spoons Marmooska jigs/Genz Worms (or similar small jigs for panfish). McGathy Slabgrabbers and Hali Jigs are nice too. Williams Ice Jigs Meegs or Bad Boys jigs White tube jigs Never hurts to have some of the old standards as well, like Bay de Noc Swedish Pimples, Luhr Jensen Krocodile Spoon, Luhr Jensen Crippled Herring, Luhr Jensen Mr. Champ, Hopkins Shorty, Acme Kastmaster, Acme Trophy Spoon, Acme Phoebe This is a good write up to tackle: http://www.fishingsimcoe.com/conservation/tackle-talk/artificial-baits

My preference is also for Owner hooks, but I still think the Mustad Ultra Points are decent hooks. My biggest problem has always been finding the hooks in the size/style I want in the retail stores, so I often just buy the best they have.

Great to read a report from a drive-to camp in that region. Thanks, was a good read.

I use a MH and H 32" Premier rod for laker/whitey fishing (I might have the 34", need to double check that). I find the 32" a bit long for inside a hut, which I am rarely in, so they work for me. The newer rods are 36" and 42" and I believe these longer models have a reel seat as well (as mentioned) [just looked and now all rods 32" or greater have a reel seat, which also increased the price]. They are decent enough rods, but there might be better. I just haven't seen anything in a retail store that compares at that price point.

There is a boat launch ramp at Muskie Bay Resort. In the photo on that linked page you can see a part of the ramp in the lower right corner. I don't know how much it costs to launch, but it's $20 a day for dock space - so that might include launch fees? I don't own a boat but I rent boats from them quite often. The owner is a nice guy and his prices for accommodations and boat rentals are very competitive.

I found this online tool to be helpful in locating all those stocked lakes in Google Maps using the Easting and Northing coordinates they provide. Good luck!

I think this page sums it all up quite well: http://www.fishingsimcoe.com/conservation/tackle-talk/artificial-baits

These international mining companies won't give a damn about our country and how they treat it. The end result will be a catastrophe. It seems to me that money and greed always win and this won't be any different.

I only ice fish more because I don't own a boat, it's cheaper and it's a lot easier to get out there and fish.

I doubt it matters which audit company you use, with respect to price at least. I was told they have to charge at least $300 (or a bit over) for the initial audit in order for you to receive the $150 back for the audit from the OPA. The follow-up audit is about $150. I recently installed a new furnace and the four furnace companies I obtained quotes from each had their own recommended audit company/person and they were all about the same price. Unfortunately the rebates are federal only this time, so it's not as much of a rebate as before.

Wherever you think you'll spend the most time fishing. Take the portable to the other spots.

I think this quote explains some of reasoning behind the upset: "It’s that 99 percent of Americans sense that the fundamental bargain of our economy -- work hard, play by the rules, get ahead -- has been broken, and they want to see it restored." http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/who-are-the-99-percent/2011/08/25/gIQAt87jKL_blog.html Although these refer to what's happening in the USA, I think it still applies in Canada.