BillM

You'll figure all the little things out soon enough. I don't use any specific fingers to hold the line while it leaves my reel. I usually just turn my left palm outwards and hold the line that way. Also don't worry about the overhead casts, stick to the sidecasts until you don't have to think about casting anymore. Then try the overhead, it's not much of a difference. That being said, it's alot easier to cast with a bigger float and more shot. If the day is slow and you haven't caught many fish, put on a giant float and some shot and practice your casting, once you get the hang of it you'll be able to bomb those floats out further then you think... I still fumble casts and get the line wrapped around the reel, everyone does. Like others have said, just keep at it..

I just use braid and straighten out all my tubes jigs if I get snagged No special wire needed!

And you wonder why people travel to the US to catch steelhead.. Sure there is the whole quantity vs quality argument, but man.... It's fun to hook into 30 fish a day.. That would NEVER happen here with any type of frequency... Some of the stories I've heard even make 30 fish days look like peanuts..

Just think of a centerpin as a sideways spinning reel. The side cast is dead simple.

What are you exactly having problems with?

I dunno what's up with it, 5.6lb stuff. Lost 2 big fish on Sat... If I see you on the river you can have it, lol I think I'll take my chances with Drennan Flouro next... This is the hen I picked up on Sat, she was spawned out.

If your float does anything weird, SET THE HOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Notty was chocolate milk today, you could have thrown a glow in the dark golf ball and they still wouldn't have seen it I did nail a nice hen yesterday on a Lake O trib and lost 2 others, damn Raven flouro!!!!!!

With all this rain you might be a bit to early. Hopefully you catch a run of fresh fish!

Cliff, sounds like the bags of death are working out well for you :)

And this is why you read the regs and not some dude on a fishing forum 3rd week, 4th week, it's all the same! lol

What do the regs say? Usually 3rd Sat in June, depending on the zone.

/jealousy Good job Dave! I was down at my local trib a few days ago, still seemed to be a bit off coloured with lots of flow. I should take a run down tomorrow and see if I can end the curse

Cliff and Bly you guys rock!! The 'solo' pose is dead on Congrats, those are some nice fish.

15-20lb braid such as Suffix would be a good idea. Get some decent steel leaders and you should be all set. Pike eat anything... topwater, swimbaits, dead bait, cranks, jigs, whatever.. They aren't very picky, which is good for you. I'd get some spinnerbaits, a few Husky jerks, a couple of topwater and of course some Daredevils Your presentation is going to vary depending on what type of lake you're fishing.. I'm sure some more guys will chime in with some additional info.

Oh geez, the second fish that jumped took a header right into the concrete wall

Allergic to all freshwater fish heh

Rock, in gin clear water make sure you are running a long flouro lead (2-3ft or more) Having a rig that's 3ft long from float to hook isn't helping you. Bulk shot in order to c.o.c.k your float, but that egg sack should be nice and breezy under there, not held down with pounds of lead

Dave, it's funny you mention that. I stopped and fished a Lake O trib on the way home just for the hell of it. Hooked into an acrobatic 10-12lb bullet on my first drift in this really nice pool. Had a good 1-2 min battle before the Raven flouro decided to come undone and off he was

Awesome day as usual Mike!! I am still looking forward to the vis clearing up on the first river we hit. Those l ittle jacks had as much energy as the early fall steelies I nailed in the Notty, completely non-stop!!! Good luck in Michigan dude, can't wait for the report! I'm sure you and Ferg will slam them.

Great thread!!! I have had a few awesome fishing moments, that's sure. I actually had one yesterday, lol One of my most memorable was on the French River as a kid (Dry Pine Bay). I got up at the crack of dawn, got some worms out of the worm box hidden under the RV and went down to the dock. We had rented a canoe for whatever reason that year, I guess for us kids to mess around with. I'm sitting in the canoe catching sunfish, perch and having a great old time. I still don't know what possessed me to, but I turned around and saw the biggest musky I've ever laid eyes on swimming out of the shallows towards me and my canoe. Definitely one of the famed monsters the French River is known for. I turn back around and lowered my worm down, hoping and praying that this giant fish takes my tiny offering... A few second later I see this monster not 4-5 inches under the canoe, engulfing my worm and slowly swimming off under the dock. It was like he didn't even know he was hooked. It didn't change speeds, it didn't headshake, it just continued on. My reel was screaming and I was holding on for dear life. After 10-15seconds of reel screaming mayhem, I hear....Ding!....only to look down and see that I've been spooled. I just sat there in the canoe, my heart pounding trying to recollect what just had happened. All by myself n the canoe with no one around to witness the event... I'm not going to make any claims of a world record fish, but this thing was half the size of our 12ft canoe. It was as thick as a tree trunk. I still can close my eyes and picture that fish coming towards me, my rod bending towards and under the dock and that ever familiar 'ding' sound when my reel had been spooled. This is most likely the reason why the French River is my absolutely favourite place to fish.. When I kick the bucket, that will be my last resting place (On the bottom with the fishes )

Makes crossing the border much less of a hassle. I've had one since I was 16.

That river is cursed.

It hasn't been passed yet.... Anything you were only taxed PST on, you will now be charged the full 13%.. Bull if you ask me...

Spend the money on a pair of WeatherTechs.. You won't find a better floor mat. I picked up a pair for my S10.. Complete contoured to the exact shape of the footwell, nice and deep for all the snow/mud.. Pricey, but you'll only buy them once.