JustinHoffman

Hey Golfisher, I actually Pro Staff for Fin-tech.. Check out their website for details on dealers in Ontario, products, etc. www.jigfish.com It is a relatively new company, but stores are starting to get the product in. Any more questions, feel free to send them my way.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Had a small "fishing" related business meeting earlier this morning on a stretch of the Rideau River, so hooked the boat up for a quick fish after everything was wrapped up. Headed down to one of my favourite spots for smallies, and began chucking a BPS Magnum Tube (love the purple and green in this bait) on a Fin-tech Title Shot jig. Worked water between five and 12-feet deep. Didn't take long for the first fish of the day to come over the gunnel..with the current that is present in this section, these fish sure put up a great fight! A smaller guy a short while later.. Flipped some deep wood and docks that is situated over sand and rock, but no smallies present today. Another funny thing - this section just calls out largies, but I have yet to catch a single green guy yet! Flipped some awesome looking cane, but nadda.. Did have a decent muskie of about 15lbs slowly swim behind my flipping jig while working some deep slop, but wouldn't commit. Here is the set up I use when fishing solo. A handy tripod is set up at the back of the boat, with the camera usually attached for the entire day.. When a fish is caught, off it goes into the livewell. I take a test shot to make sure the image is cropped correctly.. Grab the fish, press the button (12-second timer) and voila! The tripod is worth its weight in gold if you do a lot of solo fishing such as I do.. Only had two hours to wet a line, but put seven smallies into the boat. Nothing wrong with that I 'spose.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Got a call from my Dad this morning asking for some help (read: needed pickup truck) to load up a dishwasher in town. Since I love the stretch of the Rideau that is situated close by, the boat made the trip down also. Launched the rig at 2pm to calm waters and a high temperature. A haze was in the sky and the clouds were moving in and out all day. Started flipping the slop and pads directly out from the launch, and missed a quick fish on my eight or ninth pitch. Kept working the area (3 to 4-feet of water), and my Dad finally connects with a small fish. (Told him he can do better for a photo, and of course, he only caught one more...no photos of the old guy today!) My first fish came from a shoreline area that has sparse rocks and weed. He was sitting up on the rocks sunning himself.. Worked our way to a new area of slop, that was sitting over slightly deeper water. Got this decent fish 10 minutes in.. An image of the flipping jig and trailer combination.. A neat thing happened next. I decided to tie on a Toad, as I had never experimented with one to this day. (Bought a Kit from BPS a couple months back, so the boat was well-stocked.) I guess you could say I have a hard time taking the flipping jig off.. So, I began tossing the Toad around. Before I can take my third cast, I see a small clumb of emergent arrowheads with a bit of slop pushed up against it. I also see a large dragon fly buzzing about. Next thing I know, out of the water blasts a largie, trying to grab the dragon fly in mid flight!! Well, the fish missed his target, and the dragon fly landed on one of the reeds. (I think he was mocking him..) I tell my Dad to watch this, and zing the Toad out, letting it land about 10 feet past the area. Start buzzing the lure toward the structure and the water erupts! Fish on! My first Toad fish - and it was a memorable one! Well, after watching that go down, my Dad has to try one also. First cast.....Kaboom! Sadly, he lost it half way to the boat. I had another four or five good explosions on the bait, but the hooking percentage isn't great on these guys. They are a tonne of fun, and I'll be throwing them each time out for sure. Here are a few shots of the areas we worked.. As you can see, awesome looking bass locations! Well, could only spend three short hours on the water, but had a decent outing. Put nine fish in the boat, but I imagine we lost or missed at least that many fish.. Another great day fishing with Dad. Good Fishing, Justin

Great looking bass, Rich! Gotta love spending time with family out in the boat - catching fish is just a bonus... Good Fishing, Justin

Thanks for the comments, guys... Will have another report up soon! Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Headed out to a lake just south of Ottawa with my buddy Tim. Fairly late start, and didn't arrive at the launch until 1:30pm. The wind was howling, but the sun was out and the air temperature hot. Headed over to a rock and weed flat, that is located a short run from the launch. Picked up my first fish of the day on a Zara Spook. This girl was sitting in 8-feet of water, and smoked the bait as soon as it made contact with the surface. Not long after, Tim had a smallie crush his spinnerbait, and run 15 feet sideways with it in the blink of an eye. Sadly, the hooks never found flesh. Had a few more strikes on the Spook, missing two fish and losing one fish that would of went 4+. I wasn't a happy camper. Tim picked up a decent fish on the spinnerbait. It was now time to get down to some "flipping" business. We worked some shorelines, and soon discovered that the fish were holding in very skinny water, mostly under small slop mats, or under or on wood. Most in water between 1 and 2-feet deep. The first fish to fall prey to the jig was this healthy smallie that came out from under a boat. Although the wind chased us away from a bunch of my prime spots, after figuring out the pattern, we did fairly well. Tim with a fish that came off a metre-wide section of slop, blown up against some wood. We did fish some deep weed pockets and weedlines, but couldn't buy a fish from them. Very surprising for this lake. Another largie that fell for a well-executed pitch. You can see the wood it came off of in the background. Working the wood with a jig. The results. I missed one nice largie that would of went between 4 and 5, but had to much slack out to get a decent hookset. Again, not a happy camper.. All in all, a decent day on the water. Tim and I always have a tonne of fun fishing together, and the laughs never end. 16 fish landed for 5.5 hours work - not a banner day by any means, but fairly consistent action. Looking forward to the next fish, bud.. Good Fishing, Justin

Funny stuff, Nauti - I actually saw this a couple of months ago at my folks house. Brings back some good memories. My entire family is British, all from Hartlepool. I am the only Canadian, and it is just my Mom and Dad that live here now. All of my other relations still live in Hartlepool and Newcastle. I actually moved to England for two years straight out of college. Lived in a town called Hebden Bridge and also Heptonstall (West Yorkshire) for two years before returning back here to Canada. Loved that part of the country. Have some great memories of York, and it is still counted as one of my favourite cities... Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Due to work and other happenings, today was my first crack at some largies since the season opened. Woke up this morning to cool temperatures and very strong winds. The air temp. was down a good 15 degrees from 12 hours earlier. Since I was visiting my folks, decided to toss the boat in a section of the Rideau River and see what my Dad and I could scrounge up. I wasn't expecting a banner day to put it mildly.. The wind was howling upon launching, and the river in this section offers little relief in way of calm waters. Most of my "flipping slop" hadn't formed yet, so we opted to fish a nice patch of pads adjacent to the launch. A dozen casts in and my first bass of the season was in the boat. Small in stature, but it sure felt good. Fell for a frog.. Started to work some weed clumps and patches in 3 to 4 foot of water. Chalk one up for the flipping jig.. The fish were fairly aggressive if you could find them, but they were well concealed for the most part. Another flipping jig fish - this one came from a small patch of slop that was adjacent to a dock and the shoreline.. Lost a really nice fish that was 3.5+, as I was a little wimpy on the initial hookset. Had her on for five seconds or so, and was a chunk. She was up sunning herself on some rock in 8 feet of water, just off a small point. My Dad was struggling to connect with a fish, but finally put this one in the boat toward the end of the day. He found this little guy in an isolated patch of pads.. All in all, a good start to the season. Fish were definitely small, but a bunch of fun. Landed approx. 8 largies and three pike, while missing a few more bass. Not bad for two-and-a-half hours of fishin before the lunch bell rang.. Until next time. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Clamp-it.. Boy, your font is so itsy-bitsy......I almost need a magnifying glass to read the darn print! Good Fishing, Justin

How about the Fish Crisp "Maple Smoke" - sound like it has a pleasing taste!

Hey There, I'll try to answer some of your questions, as I reside in Ottawa and spend a ton of my time on the water. If you have access to the May issue of Ontario Out of Doors, I wrote a feature article on Urban Fishing in Ottawa. Offered a bunch of shore/boat fishing spots in around town, transit info, species and baits. Live minnows can be purchased at Bits and Baits - 1368 Main Street, Stittsville (613-831-9799), Manotick Bait - 1019 River Road, Manotick (613-692-5463), Voyageur Depot - 379 MacArthur Road, (613-741-3161) and Oziles - 1009 Trim Road, Orlean Petrie Island (613-841-0778). Oziles, right on Petrie Island and the Ottawa River, rents boat. It is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. One or two places on the Mississippi might also rent boats. Again, as far as shore fishing spots, my article from last months OOD covered many. Anywhere along the Rideau (Dows Lake, Echolands, Mooneys Bay, Edinburgh Park, Kars, Manotick, Burrits Rapids etc.) are excellent spots. Spots along the Ottawa include Victoria Island, Petrie Island, Champlain Bridge, right behind Parliament, Constance Bay, will also produce. Walleye can be found all along the Rideau. Many of the parts of the Rideau are not that shallow (Kars stretch especially), so there are many holes, breaklines, points and humps to locate them on. Many of the fish will directly relate to weeds, so dunking bucktail jigs in the thick stuff can produce decent fish. Many folk do catch walleye shore fishing, but your odds go up during morning, evening and night time hours. Bass can be good on the Rideau, however, pressure can be very high during weekend periods. The Kars stretch is a good one for bass, and is especially good for muskie. Many 20+ pound fish roam this area. I will usually only hit the Rideau during the week, when boat, skiers and pleasure crafts are significantly lower. The Ottawa River can produce huge bass, and many target the Rockland area. Other lakes worth a look are the Mississippi, Clayton/Taylor and Otter. I have a few honey hole lakes that I won't devulge, but they have produced 6lb largies, and are within 1.5 hours of Ottawa. Try this website/message board for Ottawa fishing information - www.fish-hawk.net. Also, this website lists all of the boat launches in the area - http://www.geocities.com/ottawaboatramps/ And here is some urban spots, courtesy of the Ministry - http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/fishing/ottawa/urbanfishhome.htm I'd also recommend picking up the Backwoods Mapbooks "Fishing Ontario - Eastern Ontario" edition. It lists all of the lakes in this region, gives maps for each, lists species and contact info. Can be found at Chapters or Maps of the World. Hope this helped.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Tracker, I live in Ottawa and have fished Silver Lake a few times. Here is a bit of info for you... The maximum depth is 80 feet, with the average being 34 feet. 5,000 lake trout are stocked annually, but the last stocking record I have is for the year 2002. Smallmouth bass are the main species here, as well as lakers, pike and largies. I have been told from reputable sources that the lake supports some HUGE largemouth bass (6+ pounds). Lakers are mainly fished during the ice season, but many folk do hit them come spring time, with the majority trolling spoons or cranks, either flatlining or downrigging. The lake also coughs up some big perch and gills, with many trophies coming through the ice. The Mississippi River Irishfield spoke of can be a great walleye and bass spot. It is a fish sanctuary from March until the first Monday in June. (She opens tomorrow..) Good luck and great fishing, Justin

Hello All, Headed over to Mississippi today to chase some crappies and 'gills with my buddy Andy. Approached the 9A launch, and noticed a truck just pulling a new boat out of the water. Waited at the side, as he pulled the rig straight forward up the steep incline. He parked the rig on the road leading to the ramp, at which point I mentioned to Andy - "why is this guy blocking the road to the ramp - is he launching again or not?" At this point, the truck and boat started slowly backing up, and I could see a guy at the driver's side walking beside it, or at least it appeared that he was. Next thing I know, the truck and boat is cruising down the hill fast, and then I see feet, legs and a body being dragged alongside the truck. I yell over to Andy - "he's being dragged down the damn ramp!!" I jump out of my truck, just before the boat, trailer and truck goes flying into the lake, jackknifing about 15 feet from shore with a loud bang. By the time I get over, the guy is giving the truck gas, and manages to drive the rig out to safety. The guy is completely soaked from head to toe, and the water was COLD! We ask if he is ok, to which he says yes. It turns out he thought he put the truck into park, but instead put it into reverse! He tried to jump into the truck as it was backing down the ramp, but as the speed increased, he ended up falling and being dragged. He then states he works over at Lake and Trail, and was water testing the boat. Andy opens the back door of his truck, and water just pours out. Everything was soaked. Scared the crap out of both of us, as I'm sure it did for this guy! Could of turned out much worse, with him being crushed under the truck when he was being dragged. As I ran over there, I actually thought I was going to have to jump in to find this guy... If there's one lesson to be learnt - make sure it is in park before exiting your vehicle... After that "excitement", we headed out for some crappie. Pretty sure that the cold front from the day before affected the fish, as it was tough as hell out there. Fished the bay by the launch, only managing three perch and a largie. Did find three slab crappies by a fallen tree area, but they refused to bite. Threw everything at them. Actually, we only saw 6 crappie for the 5 hours we were on the water. I'm certain the temp. change shut the fish right down, or even scattered them. Headed to my secret gill bay - not a fish in sight! Too early I think. So, all in all, a pretty "crappy" day out there. Gorgeous day weather wise, but that was about it. Stopped for cold beers and burgers on the way home at Local Heroes - as we pulled into the parking lot, three New Jersey Devils players were exiting the bar and hopping in a cab. Colin White was one of them. The waitress said she put some diahhrea medicine in their food so they'd have the craps on game day tomorrow! Sorry - no photos today. The waitress was probably the only thing worthy of a pic! Until next time... Good Fishing, Justin

Terry - so, would you use the gas that is in the tank, or start fresh with Premium? The gas owner did relay a story to me of a customer that was told of the caution, yet continued to use the Ethanol for his chainsaw. Came in a month later to the gas station to apologize, as his engine blew up the day before... Don't want to blow a $3000 engine, but then again, maybe it's more hype than truth. Looks like the amount spent at the gas station will be going up!! Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, De-winterized the boat today, and while towing it to the lake, stopped for some gas. Put regular gas in (like I have for the last 19 years), and just when I'm putting the nozzle back on the pump, the owner ran out to greet me. He told me that I shouldn't be using Regular gas with a two-stroke engine, and Supreme is what is needed. He explained to me that this past January, the government made new regulations and 10% of regular gas must be Ethanol. Supposedly, this is a no-no for 2-stroke engines, including outboards, chainsaws, lawn trimmer, etc. If it is used for a short period of time, the engine can basically blow up. He even showed me a big sign he had erected in the store with all of the information. He went on to say that the government failed to explain this to the public, and many folk aren't aware of it. He even gave the link to the government website. So, is this the case? I seem to remember hearing something a couple of months ago, but obviously I took no notice. Curious if I should somehow dispose of this "bad" gas, and go with Supreme. Any thoughts, comments or knowledge on this subject?? Good Fishing, Justin

Thanks, boatman... Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Brian, Thanks, bud - great looking site and forum for all things boating. I'm sure I'll find the answer in there somewhere... Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Time to de-winterized the boat, and can't seem to find my owners manual. Does anyone know the appropriate gap space for the spark plugs for a 20HP Johnson from 1988? Thanks in advance! Good Fishing, Justin

Awesome images!!! Love the close up shots... Great eye, bud.. Good Fishing, Justin

Launching Your Boat - Tips, Tricks and Etiquette By Justin Hoffman With the open water season in full swing in all parts of North America, it is time, once again, to pull the cover off the boat and make that fateful trip down to the launch ramp. But does it have to be a fateful venture? Launching a boat can be an enjoyable, easy and fright-free experience, and with a little pre-planning and paying attention to detail, you will relish the trip to the ramp, and will become, in no time, a master launcher. Before You Leave Your Drive There are a few steps to take before you hit the road, that can ensure your trip to the ramp will be a safe and pleasant journey. Check the pressure on your trailer tires to make sure that they are inflated to an optimum level. Having too much air in the tires will sacrifice traction and can cause the trailer to slide and weave at higher speeds. It is also a good idea to check that there is sufficient grease in the bearings and hubs. I learnt this lesson the hard way one morning when my wheels seized up half way to the launch. A glance in my side view mirror alerted me to a shower of sparks flying in the morning air - a spectacle pretty in sight, although not so awe-inspiring while towing a boat! (It is one mistake I vowed never to make again though.) Tie-down straps and safety chains should all be secure, as should the lock on the trailer hitch. Make sure your side and rear-view mirrors are set properly. If everything is up to par ladies and gentlemen, then you may now start your engines. At the Ramp Once you arrive at the ramp, your first step is to find a quiet spot away from the launch area, (preferably in the parking lot if one is provided), to load up your gear. Don't, and I repeat don't, park your rig in front of the ramp. This is a pet peeve among many anglers, as it causes line-ups and creates what I've coined "ramp rage" among others waiting to back in. I have witnessed harsh words and raised tempers every year directed at the perpetrator who blocks the use of the ramp to others. It is common courtesy to leave this area free unless you are backing the boat into the water. Once your gear is loaded into the boat, your next step is to unplug your trailer lights. Leaving your hot lights plugged in when submerging them in cold water can blow the bulb, which can get expensive, and dangerous. Making a mental note to do this task right after you load the gear will ensure that your lights live a long and prosperous life. Straps holding the boat down can be untied at this point if your boat is sitting on a bunk trailer. If you are using a roller trailer, then the best and wisest course is to leave the front strap attached until you have backed down into the water. (I have heard horror stories of folks that have undone all of the straps, only to find their boat lying on the concrete as they descended the ramp.) If you are at all unsure, leave the front strap on for all trailer bunks for peace of mind until the trailer is submerged. The last step is to make sure that the plug is securely in the back of your boat. This is extremely important (for obvious reasons) but I can assure you that someone always forgets to check. Don't let it be you. Once you have done all the appropriate checks, it is now time to back in. Backing a boat into water can be either a simple task for some, or a downright difficult one for others. A few simple tips can make sure it goes smoothly. Back the car or truck up in a slow and deliberate manner. This will make it easier to control, and will force you not to overcompensate with the steering. Another key is to make small movements with the steering wheel. The bigger the movement - the easier it is to lose control. I have found that it is easiest to grasp the steering wheel at the bottom and merely turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. This, of course, must be done completely opposite if you hold the steering wheel at the top, which can become quite confusing at times. Try both techniques to find out which one works best for you. If you have a bunk trailer then the trick is to back the trailer in so the water covers the bunks, which enables the boat to float free. Roller trailers need not be backed in quite so far, as a boat can be pushed off one of these quite easily. If you are with someone, have him or her hold a rope attached to the bow while the boat is being taken off the trailer. If you are by yourself, then it is best to tie a rope to the bow and proceed to push the boat off. A simple technique to learn how far to back the boat into the water is to head to the ramp on a quiet day and practice, either by making a mental note, or a physical mark on the trailer, of how far the trailer should be backed in. Having the time to find the optimum level at your own pace will help things go much more smoothly when the ramp is busy. Before taking the boat off the trailer, always remember to engage the parking brake. All ramps are on an incline for a reason, and applying the parking brake will ensure that your car doesn't get launched with the boat. (Don't laugh, as it has happened, and it is more common than you may think!) Once the boat is securely in the water, there are a number of rules to remember. Always tie your boat up at the far end of the dock, in order to allow other boats to freely come in or out. This makes the process easier on people, and will keep things moving fast and smoothly. If the ramp and dock area is busy, it is best not to idle around getting in the way of other boaters or causing a safety risk to other boats. Proceed out the designated channel at idling speed until you are a reasonable distance from the ramp before opening up the throttle. Finally, if you see someone that needs a hand in launching his or her boat, freely offer your help. That also goes for saying that if you need help yourself; to actively seek it. Most anglers will be more than happy to oblige. I've helped many boaters launch for the first time and it honestly does make you happy to know that you are helping someone in need while also teaching them the proper way to handle the launch. Have fun this fishing season and realize that launching your boat can be done without achieving a headache, or cursing all the way back to the car. Follow these steps and you will actually look forward to your time on the ramp, and even more to your time on the water. - - 30 - -

CAA does your passport photos for free if you are a member... Justin

I feel sorry for the families of these guys. Man, what a terrible waste - and two lives gone in order to get a readout of how quick your machine can go! My condolences go out... Justin Snowmobile accident kills Durham officer Mar 10, 2007 12:04 PM Canadian Press LAKE SCUGOG, Ont. — Two men have died in an unusual snowmobile accident on Lake Scugog. Greg Hearn, 41, and David White, 44, both of Little Britain (map), drove on separate snowmobiles to the lake, just south of Kawartha Lakes, in order to test the speed of one their machines last night. One man stood on the ice measuring the speed of the vehicle with a radar device while the other man drove around the lake at high speed — unfortunately, the driver collided with his partner just before 9 p.m. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. White was driving the vehicle at the time of the collision. Hearn, who was measuring the speed, was an off-duty member of Durham police. Police continue to investigate. In an unrelated incident, a 31-year-old man died after being thrown from his snowmobile while trying to avoid a snow groomer in Elderslie Township, in Bruce County (map). Shawn Hayward of Brights Grove, Ont., was driving over a hill last anoanight when he saw a trail-grooming machine headed straight for him. When he tried to weave out of the way, he was thrown from his vehicle. Hayward was pronounced dead in hospital.

75 vehicles pile up on Highway 400 Mar 05, 2007 03:38 PM Curtis Rush Staff Reporter Whiteout conditions north of the GTA on Highway 400 today contributed to a pileup involving up to 75 vehicles in two locations on the highway, the OPP is reporting. Buses, trucks and cars collided in a chain reaction near the Highway 400-Highway 89 intersection near Newmarket. Several other vehicles collided on Highway 400 southbound at Highway 89, almost directly opposite the northbound collisions. A jack-knifed tractor-trailer in the northbound lanes resulted in many of the collisions, police say. Several people were taken to area hospitals, but it wasn't immediately known how serious the injuries are. That section of the highway is expected to be closed in both directions into the evening. The crashes have closed both the eastbound and westbound ramps on the northbound lanes of Highway 400 at Simcoe Rd. 88 as well. The Gardiner Expressway in Toronto and Highway 400 near Newmarket are not the only roadways closed at this hour. Police have closed more than a dozen highways and roads due to bad weather and collisions. Here is a list as of 3 p.m.: 1. Grey County Rd. 9 from County Road 124 to Dundalk. 2. County Rd. 124 from from Highway 89 to Singhampton. 3. Highway 89 from Shelburne to Dundalk. 4. Highway 26 At Sunnidale Corners to George Johnston. 5. Highway 10 between Flesherton to Dundalk. 6. Highway 12 from Brechin to Gamebridge. 7. County Rd. 15 to the 5th Side and Country Rd. 5, Amaranth. 8. Highway 89 west of Cookstown. 9. County Road 25 at 109 to Grand Valley. 10. Highway 7 and 8 East and westbound at Region Rd. 51 to Trussler. 11. Highway 7 East and westbound at York Durham Townline. 12. Highway 50 at Mayfield Rd. 13. Airport Rd. between Stayner and Cashtown. 14. Country Rd. 92 from Wasaga Beach to Crossland then to Elmvale. 15. Sunnidale Rd. northbound at Country Rd. 90. 16. Highway 11 southbound at the 13th and 12th Lines, Oro-Medonte. 17. Highway 11 southbound at the 7th and 10th Lines, ORO-Medonte.

All I've ever used is 20lb Mono (BPS) on my flippin' sticks. Most of my fishing is flippin' and pitchin', and the mono has never let me down. Good Fishing, Justin

No different than those folk that have fish mounts on the wall - the animal wasn't consumed in that case either. How many of us have an issue with the dead cougar, yet have a dead muskie on the wall? Hands up, folks... I myself don't hunt, but have nothing against it. But when sportsmen attack or criticize other legal ways of the land, it's what gives the P3TA folk the ammunition they desire. Divide and conquer the sportsman, and our favourite outdoor activities (including fishing) will become a thing of the past. Good Fishing or Hunting, Justin