adempsey

That lodge has been on my "to do" list for a while. The fishing and food look amazing.

Pike - any large silver spoon. I prefer Johnson's Silver Minnow (with white grub trailer), Williams Whitefish, Williams Wabler, Lucky Strike Red Flash. I also enjoy using pike flies with a spin bubble. Big pike hunters often recommend using a Suick. Walleye - jig and white or pink grub (I like Yum and Gary Yamamoto), worm on a harness, slow death hook, lindy rig or bottom bouncer. Don't really need much else for inland lake walleyes. If I use cranks I use Storm Hot'n'Tots, Storm Thinfins, Rapala ShadRaps, Berkley Frenzy Flicker Shad [in the summer]; and minnow stick baits in the fall (Smithwicks Rogue, Bomber Long A).

BEST chicken wings EVER at Grumblers, especially the hottest ones. I made it my mission to stop here from now on when I go anywhere near Sudbury. Probably not the info you're looking for, but that's all I got.

Try ice fishing at Island Lake. I had fun there.

For all my week long trips I do as much research as I can. Most of my information comes from message boards in the US because most of the places I want to visit are frequented by Americans. Unfortunately, it hasn't really helped as the last few places I went to I probably wouldn't return. The internet can be VERY misleading, especially resort/lodge websites.

Thanks. I hadn't realized they had three locations. The one in Concord isn't that far from me. Definitely going to be making a visit soon.

Joined because I like to fish and was looking for an online source to exchange information and ideas. I stay because it has an active membership.

I am also looking for these jigs. Do you have an address for that store? Google comes up with three different places. Do you know if they are all the same chain/owner? I assume this is it? 325 Central Parkway West Mississauga, ON L5B 3X9 (905) 275-4972 Thanks.

I think JBs fishing depot carries the SPRO line, but you better call first to be sure.

I have one of the heavier Rapala R2 rods (2 piece). I have not landed anything very large on it at all. I use it more for pike fishing and have not tossed any really large baits with it. I think it's a good value rod, but I would most likely go with the St.Croix if it was going to be one of my main fishing rods. I really want to go see some of those new lines of rods St.Croix put out. In addition to the new Mojo Musky, they also have a new reasonably well priced series of walleye rods.

I purchase some of my stuff at BPS, Le Baron, dollar stores and online. I am planning on ordered from luremaking.com when I make some more. Canadian company and the prices are good. I use 17 to 24lb mono (Berkley Big Game is popular), depends what I have around. Length varies from 18" to 48". I store the final product in a small bag that you get at the dollar store. Tangles sometimes, but I don't really like the pool noodle type of storage. I like the idea of the CD storage case and may try that out. I use various hooks. Typically Owner or Gamakatsu #2 and/or #4 Octopus hooks, but switched to VMC FastGrip Octopus hooks for my last batch based on recommendations I read on the net. I make both one and two hook harnesses. However, if I am planning on using them for minnows I would use either a single Octopus hook or perhaps a longer shank hook like an Aberdeen. Beads are from the dollar store. I use plastic and glass in 4mm and 6mm. I typically use Colorado blades in gold, silver or chartreuse in size 4 (solid colors are cheaper). I use size 3 and size 5/6 [i made some larger harnesses for pike fishing] sometimes too. I use the appropriate sized FOLDED clevices, usually in nickel. Don't get the ones used for spinnerbaits. The quick change clevices are nice too [and very popular], but more expensive. I tie the hooks on using a snell knot. I tie on a small barrel swivel at the other end using a Palomar knot. I like the Mustad Diamond Eye swivels, but have a bunch of Offshore Angler swivels that seem decent so far. If I make a loop I use a Surgeons Loop, but a Perfection Loop would work too. If you want top of the line swivels, you get them from Sampo. I prefer to keep the cost at about $1, but I really try to make it <$2. I can buy some really nice pre-made harnesses for $2, so it makes me feel better if I can make it a bit cheaper =). Have fun, you're soon going to have hundreds of harnesses, lol!!

When I am targeting perch, I use: Open water: 1) worms (nothing beats a worm for perch IMO). On a lead jig head, a #6 hook and splitshot below a bobber or "drop shot" style with a couple of #6 hooks and a 1oz lead weight. 2) small tube jigs - 1.5" to 2" in pink, pink/white, white. BPS has a ton of different colors (and as a result, so do I). I use the 1/32oz, 1/16oz and sometimes 1/8oz lead heads made for these small tubes. 3) small 2" grub - pink or white on a 1/16 oz lead jig head. 4) I have a bunch of other panfish plastics that I use on occasion as well, like Beetle Spins, FinS minnows, Zoom micro flukes. Perch seem to really like small purple worms too. Ice fishing: 1) I put one of the small (1"-2") Gulp Alive products (Fry, Waxies, Maggots, Angle worm, Grub, Minnow) that come in a jar on jig with a dropper hook or some other small 1/64, 1/32, 1/16oz ice fishing jig. If I have a color choice, I pick pink or white. I am going to try worms this season if I can manage to pick some up. I'd probably use minnows more often in both open and hard water if it wasn't such a huge hassle.

Palomar Improved Clinch [i personally thread the line through twice at the start]. http://www.netknots.com/html/fishing_knots.html According to this article, the San Diego Jam knot is the strongest terminal knot (of those they tested): http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7535/is_200902/ai_n32328791/ Of course, the Fish'n'Fool knot won Knot Wars 2009 and the Berkley Braid knot won Knot Wars 2010.

Just awesome! One of those photos is now my new background =)

eBay? I bought two used reels from the US using eBay (and a lot of other stuff too). Never really had a problem, but it's certainly not risk free. Best of luck.

Can't you buy from Le Baron online? I have ordered from both Cabelas and Bass Pro. I bought a bunch of new and used stuff from eBay too. You can get some great deals on eBay. Cabelas and BPS in the states have great selection and some good deals (check clearance sections) If you order from the USA, make sure they either use USPS (US postal service) or the broker fees are included in the shipping fees if they use UPS/Fedex (usually about $10). Otherwise, you will pay hefty broker fees. I can also suggest Reelflies.ca if you want flies and JamminJigs.com for ice fishing jigs. I think overstockbait.com looks great too. I was going to place an order from there last year, but at that time you had to spend $100 to get something shipped to Canada. I believe they changed that relatively recently (I might be mixing it up with somewhere else though?). As far as Canadian Tire is concerned. Yes, their prices are crazy high. However, I often find little gems that I have not seen anywhere. Especially some really old stock (the store near me has a ton of old Len Thompsons) or some Canadian brand not carried by anyone else.

They shut down and were bought recently. Forum member DiggyJmight know more details. I suggest sending him a PM or contacting him on the Rice Lake Fishing Board. It might also be on the Rice Lake Tourist board under a new name. I don't know where the old resort was located, so cannot help you there. Good luck.

We went to Boshkung last season for a weekend and stayed at Buttermilk Falls Resort. Decent cabins and very nice hosts. There were five of us in two cabins. He had about 6 huts out. Fishing was slow, but we caught several small lakers for dinner. Another group landed a real beauty. There are other accommodations in the area for ice fishing as well. We are probably going to try another lake this year, but just for the adventure, not because it was bad. Fishing was slow, but that's typical for me anyway

Some more knife crafters: Canadian Knifemakers Guild I like this one in particular: Cote Knives

edit: Here is the site for the group that is spearheading action against this. Using this pre-written letter, you can voice your opposition to schedule 2.

An article discussing the use of a pristine freshwater lake in Newfoundland as a dumping ground for toxic mining tailings. http://www.thestar.com/article/859667--vale-targets-pristine-lake-for-tailings#article I am shocked that this type of practice is still allowed in our country. Pure greed.

Etic Produit Plein-Air Inc. Luremaking.com Jim's Jigs and Tackle Ugly Duckling Lures (not sure if they are manufactured in Canada though)

Looked like a great time on the water. I am hoping to get away for a musky weekender in October myself. Reports like this always get me going! Cheers.

I think it would depend on a] do you walk on the ice, b] how far do you walk and c) how much gear do you have on your sled? I walk out. Sometimes the walk is a lot longer than I would like - last year on Simcoe is a case in point, the whitefish/trout seemed to be much further out compared to the previous seasons. The 2km walk is more than enough for me and I wouldn't want the extra weight of a gas auger to deal with as well. I don't have a pop-up hut for the same reason. I currently use a 6" manual auger, but prefer the 8"-10" holes. The 6" is great for finding fish and has worked fine for me, but I often use my buddies 8" manual auger. Part of the reason is I share the hole with my flasher, so a larger hole makes it easier. Connecting two holes with a saw isn't a bad alternative though, but I prefer to keep the holes under 12" for safety reasons. Anyway, if I didn't have too far to walk [or I had an ATV/sled] I'd consider a gas auger. I'd also go for the 10". Good luck!

That looked like a perfect getaway to me. I think you should visit your uncle more often! My first trip this year Google directions also sent me down a logging road. Although, it actually wasn't that bad since it was recently leveled and [luckily] there were no trucks on it. It's that logging road that goes to Sultan (connects 560 to 129), I am sure many here have been on it. Anyway, from now on I am making sure the directions include only paved roads unless I have no alternative. Cheers.