JustinHoffman

Those would be the roe, or eggs. Your knife probably pierced the egg sac when filleting, hence the eggs found in the flesh. About the size of a pin head, and orangy-yellow.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Had a few brushes with "celebs" in my time, many of whom I actually went to school with. Sat beside Kevin Brereton (aka the rapper/singer K-OS) in grade 12 history. Was good buds with his brother Andy, and hung out at their house quite often. Went to public school and high school, as well as lived 5 doors down from the WWE wrestler Test. He was big as hell back in those days also! Went to highschool with Wayne and Keith Primeau. Also went to highschool with NFL'er OJ Santiago, and Olympic gymnast Lori Strong (very easy on the eyes!) Stood in line for a concert in T.O. behind "Snake" from Degrassi Junior High. Caught a basketball thrown by Vince Carter while at a Raptors game. Would see Eric Lindros numerous times at Koo Koo Bananas back in the day. My friend from high school was the girl who charged him with assault for "spitting" beer at her at that very same bar.. Sat beside George Strombolopolous at a late night Chinese diner. Used to date a girl in T.O. that lived on the same street as Master T, of Much Music fame. Saw him walking around town most weeks. Had a beer at a table beside Jonathon Torrens (aka J-ROC) from the Trailer Park Boys. Had a locker beside NHL'er Marc Savard's girlfriend back at Durham College in Oshawa. (Another treat for the eyes!) Had breakfast last year at a table beside NHL'er Wade Redden here in Ottawa. Walked by Jean Chretien leaving a pub here in Ottawa. One of the funniest stories (at least to me) was back when I started writing for fishing mags. Was laying in bed one Saturday morning, hung over as heck. The phone rings, and not certain I even had a voice, I decide to let the machine pick up. Ring, Ring, Ring......."Hey Justin, Bob Izumi here....." Had to chuckle that morning! Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Maureen, For any trip I take, it's simply a matter of going to mapquest to find out the shortest, fastest and most direct route. All you need to do is input your starting and ending address. Click on "Directions" at the top to begin. Here is the link www.mapquest.ca Good Fishing, Justin

Hey TJ, The link to the School of Outdoor Writing (on the left side of the page) takes you to the Spring Fishing Show page. Just a heads up. Justin

Hey Davis, Welcome to the world of photography!! Being a freelance writer and photographer myself, I received my start shooting mainly fishing photos. Since then, I've branched out into nature and wildlife, and must say, I really enjoy it. Never had any training in photography, and that is one aspect I want to pursue in the not so distant future. The more knowledge you can secure, the better the finished product will be..I'm still more of a "shooting in automatic type of guy" when out in the field - especially when shooting film in regards to fishing - but am trying to branch out into manual more and more nowadays. Here are a few of my favourite shots.. To check out some awesom photography, click on this link. It is an Ontario photo that specializes in owls and raptors. The flight shots are positively stunning!! http://www.pbase.com/raymondjbarlow/recent_photos Good Shooting, Justin

And for those wondering how they tasted, I'll let this picture do the talking... Steve - yep, same spot. I do 80% of my ice fishing there. Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Headed out for three hours today to Petrie Island (Ottawa) to search out some crappie. Nice to have the whole area to myself, except for one other hut some 100 yards away. Fished my usual spots, working the nine to ten-foot depths. The maiden voyage for the new HT Polar Express! The vex starting marking fish immediately, many within one to two-feet off bottom. First fish of the season.. The larger fish (10+ inches) would suddenly appear suspended at around five-feet down. A quick spin of the reel, and another fish on the ice. Largest for the day was 11.5 inches. Numerous 10 and 11-inchers were also caught. The two top lure choices were a silver Forage Minnow (smallest size) tipped with a Berkley Power Honey Worm, as well as the HT Marmooska tipped with half a honey worm. Kept 7 fish out of the approximately 35 landed. Also caught a couple decent 'gills. Ready for the fillet knife! All in all a decent start to the season - can't believe this was my first outing!! Great to have a spot like this only 15 minutes from the house... Good Fishing, Justin

Which hut is it that you will be using, Gerritt? Justin

dOUG, Yes, the Black Cat is a catalytic heater, but it is still only recommended to be used as a "temporary" heat source when used indoors, and still needs to have adequate ventilation, as it still consumes oxygen - albeit not as a high a rate as other heaters. One good thing about the Mr. Heater units is the automatic shut off. Regardless of the type, 8 hours in a tent while sleeping seems to be pushing it to me... Justin

EddyK, I assume the first scenario you are describing is when camping? "A bottle of propane lasts about 8 hours so if you put it in the tent when you go to bed it keeps the chill off till morning." I wouldn't suggest running a propane heater throughout the night in a confined space while sleeping. The CO fumes will build up something fierce over eight hours, and since this unit doesn't have a built-in shut down gauge, I'd say you're taking unecessary risks with your life. Not to mention how easy it is to knock those Black Cat units over - especially easy when sleeping - in a very flammable environment! Just a thought... When using my heater during ice fishing, I always have a small vent open, and routinely open the door to get fresh air in and let built-up gas out. This certainly isn't possible when you are zonked out in slumber.. Here's a Press Release from the Coalition on Safety in the States. I wanted to paste this here, as I don't want any members to read the above post, and believe that sleeping with a propane heater on is a safe and trustworthy activity. Using Portable Heaters Overnight In Tents Poses Carbon Monoxide Threat To Campers, Warns Safety Coalition Cleveland, OH --- Whether hiking, biking, hunting or fishing, every outdoors-person wants to keep warm at night, and campers need to know about the potential dangers of using a portable propane heater or camp stove in an unventilated enclosure. Camp stoves and portable heaters that are designed to be used outside can emit hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) if improperly used inside a tent, truck cap, RV or camper. Every camper should read the manufacturer’s operating instructions and packaging before operating any portable propane product, according to Dennis Pavan, Spokesman for the Coalition for Portable Propane Product Safety. (Visit www.propaneproducts.org) “Campers who are particularly vulnerable are those who attempt to use these devices overnight while sleeping,” says Pavan. “Therefore, they are unable to recognize the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – which can easily be mistaken for a cold or flu.” Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, sleepiness and confusion. Carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Low oxygen levels in the blood can result in the loss of consciousness and death. “Alcohol consumption and drug use also increase the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Pavan. Rather than relying on fuel-burning appliances to supply overnight heat, the Coalition urges campers to wear adequate clothing, use a thermally rated sleeping bag, and to consume extra calories and fluids to help keep warm at night. The Coalition sponsors the “Camp Safe” Education Program, dedicated to making consumers aware of the dangers of using fuel-burning products inside. There are certain heaters available that are designed specifically for temporary use inside recreational enclosures. But no matter what kind of heater, the Coalition recommends NOT using a portable propane product overnight while sleeping. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Gerritt, I had one a few years back and returned it within a week - just didn't give off enough heat for my liking. Since then, all I've used is the Mr. Heater Buddy. Ability to switch from 4000 or 9000 BTU's with the flick of a switch, automatic shut-off if CO gets to high. No brainer in my eyes. BPS in Toronto has them on sale for $99 right now. Just my 2-cents. Justin

Yeah, and look at all the peanut shells they left behind!!! Glad to hear no one was hurt - could of been a lot worse.. Good Fishing, Justin

Here you go, Joey.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Ric, Received the latest issue of Outdoor Canada today, and noticed the great, full-page shot of you and a pike in front of the CN Tower... Congrats.. Good Fishing, Justin

Thought I'd throw in my 2-cents regarding shows.. As far as the boat show goes - unless I'm in the market for a new boat or equipment, I'll usually pass on these. Saying that, although Lew's example of $25 for a day at the show seemed costly in his eyes, let's really break it down. In today's world, $25 works out to roughly dinner and a beer + tip. Or, the movies plus a popcorn and drink. Let's face it, 3 beers at the pub and you're looking at $25. So, it the greater scheme of things, is $25 for a day at a show really all that expensive? It all depends on how you look at it, and what you make of it. As far as buying food at these shows - it should come as no surprise the cost to eat when you get there. It's been like that since the inception of shows. It's easy to pack a sandwich and drink at home, and there's a big savings already. As far as Fishing Shows, the only one I go to is the Spring Fishing Show, as it is put on by OOD and I usually work the booth. Fishing shows will never have the same allure as when we were kids. I remember spending hours just looking at the plastics, pouring over hooks and staring at boats when in my teens. The rush of adrenaline, the excitement looking for bargains. Those days are long gone, and the reason is simple. For the most part, we are all fairly accomplished anglers. We have the boats, the 10 tackle boxes, the dozen rods and reels. We know about every latest gizmo on the market, and have access to information (internet etc.) that we never had back then. Even seminars aren't the same, because we all "know it all." But, come spring time, isn't it kind of nice to dust off the cobwebs, meet some buds down at the show and just ease into the fishing season? Probably worth $25 I would think... It kind of makes me laugh about the people that complain about these shows. We all know what we are getting into. Admission fees are listed and advertised, as are parking fees. If we are on a GO route, we all know that would be a quicker and easier method of going. If you go on the web site for these shows, they list each and every one of the exhibitors, so you will know who will be there and who won't. But even after having all this knowledge at our disposal, it's still so easy to moan about the state of the affair. Putting on a show isn't cheap. Rent has to be paid, overheads etc. The Spring Show is $12 to get into. I believe parking is free. You can even get a $1 or $2 coupon online. So, for $10 and a bit of gas, you can have a full day of entertainment. Hard to beat a deal like that in this day and age.... Good Fishing, Justin

Thanks so much, Dan...that means a lot. Your shots are always stunning too, my friend.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Pam, Going to try to get back to Amherst in the next week or so - hopefully I can get some more shots. (Saying that, the chances of me being lucky enough to get a snowy in flight again might be stretching it, but we'll see!) lol Justin

Thought I'd put my post in here, so all the owl post/images are together.. Justin Hello All, Made the trek over to Amherst Island (just west of Kingston at the town of Millhaven) with the folks to do some owl and raptor watching. Spotted 9 red-tail hawks on the drive down the 401, so spirits were high. Jumped on the ferry at 9:30am for the 15 minute crossing over to the island. Started driving the north-east loop of the island, spotting numerous hawks along the way. Made our way down to the southern shore, when my mother pointed out a bird that was flying to the left of our car right along the shore. Before I could make visual contact, she stated it was only a seagull. I finally spotted it 5o feet ahead of us, and knew by the size and shape that we had our first snowy owl sighting for the day! To make things even more exciting, it landed on a fence post a mere 200 feet away!! Got the camera ready with my 300mm telephoto, and began shooting out the side window. Every so often, I would creep the car forward, eventually getting less than 20 feet from it! Here's some closeups of this female snowy.. At this point, a car had pulled up a distance behind, and was waiting patiently to pass. We decided to drive right past the owl, and park further down on the shoulder. The other fella got out of his car and starting taking shots, and we did the same. At this point, I had the camera trained on the owl and was just about to press the shutter button, when the girl got spooked and flew up. The amazing thing is that the owl flew directly at me! I really love this next shot - not 100% in focus, but not bad to say I wasn't ready for a motion shot.. After this bird flew off, we spotted a male hunkered down in the brush a mere 100 yards from this girl. The one was pure white, but was too far away for a decent shot. We decided to stop for lunch at this point, then hike in to Owl Woods. This is a neat area of trees that houses quite a few species of owls, although the most common is the Long Eared. After a lengthy hike, we make our way into the woods. Within 30 seconds, I'm greeted by this fella.. We saw 25+ of these Long Eared in the woods! At one point, I witnessed four of the birds perched on one branch together...It's tough to get a decent shot in here, because there is so many twigs and branches on the trees. Also, the sky was pretty washed out and it was fairly dark under the canopy. Nonetheless, a couple turned out ok.. Headed back into the car, and began the western loop. Many, many raptors, including red-tailed, Merlin, Kestral, Northern Harrier etc... Conservative figures would put the raptor count at around 30+ So, a pleasant four hours spent on Amherst. Grabbed the 3pm ferry back to the mainland, and back to civilization.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Ron, We were there on Sunday. Gorgeous day to be out, although the owl woods hike was muddy and wet as you know what! Good thing I brought the winter boots... We saw two snowys for the day - one pure white male, and the one I got the photos of. This is only my second time going. I do plan on heading there later this month, and am actually thinking about staying at a B & B for a night, just so I can do the early morning shoot and spend more time. Definitely a neat place, with plenty of birds to see! Good Shooting, Justin

Thanks guys and gals.. Was a fun day out shooting, that's for sure... (As for trolling behind the ferry - the thought did cross my mind.. ) Good Fishing, Justin

Hello All, Made the trek over to Amherst Island (just west of Kingston at the town of Millhaven) with the folks to do some owl and raptor watching. Spotted 9 red-tail hawks on the drive down the 401, so spirits were high. Jumped on the ferry at 9:30am for the 15 minute crossing over to the island. Started driving the north-east loop of the island, spotting numerous hawks along the way. Made our way down to the southern shore, when my mother pointed out a bird that was flying to the left of our car right along the shore. Before I could make visual contact, she stated it was only a seagull. I finally spotted it 5o feet ahead of us, and knew by the size and shape that we had our first snowy owl sighting for the day! To make things even more exciting, it landed on a fence post a mere 200 feet away!! Got the camera ready with my 300mm telephoto, and began shooting out the side window. Every so often, I would creep the car forward, eventually getting less than 20 feet from it! Here's some closeups of this female snowy.. At this point, a car had pulled up a distance behind, and was waiting patiently to pass. We decided to drive right past the owl, and park further down on the shoulder. The other fella got out of his car and starting taking shots, and we did the same. At this point, I had the camera trained on the owl and was just about to press the shutter button, when the girl got spooked and flew up. The amazing thing is that the owl flew directly at me! I really love this next shot - not 100% in focus, but not bad to say I wasn't ready for a motion shot.. After this bird flew off, we spotted a male hunkered down in the brush a mere 100 yards from this girl. The one was pure white, but was too far away for a decent shot. We decided to stop for lunch at this point, then hike in to Owl Woods. This is a neat area of trees that houses quite a few species of owls, although the most common is the Long Eared. After a lengthy hike, we make our way into the woods. Within 30 seconds, I'm greeted by this fella.. We saw 25+ of these Long Eared in the woods! At one point, I witnessed four of the birds perched on one branch together...It's tough to get a decent shot in here, because there is so many twigs and branches on the trees. Also, the sky was pretty washed out and it was fairly dark under the canopy. Nonetheless, a couple turned out ok.. Headed back into the car, and began the western loop. Many, many raptors, including red-tailed, Merlin, Kestral, Northern Harrier etc... Conservative figures would put the raptor count at around 30+ So, a pleasant four hours spent on Amherst. Grabbed the 3pm ferry back to the mainland, and back to civilization.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Pam, Weather permitting, I'm heading to Amherst Island (Millhaven area) to do some photography. Last week they had a few snowy owls on the island, as well as 25+ long eareds in the Owl Woods! I'll see what I can do.. Good Fishing, Justin

Hey Bob, Thanks for the great reply and helpful info. I believe Rondeau Bay holds some decent largie areas, and I don't believe that is too far of a drive.. You've given me some things to think about.. Thanks again, Justin

Hello All, Figured a few members of the board could help me out with this question. Although this is far from being a definite, and would be sometime in the future if it at all happens, there is a chance that I may be relocating to Sarnia. Now, if the fishing possibilities are not up to snuff, the chance of this happening is less than likely. Most of you know that I'm a bass guy, as well as an icefishing nut. So, the question is: what are the fishing qualities like for both of these applications, say within an hour or so from the core of Sarnia? Thanks, guys. Just doing some research in case it does happen one day.. Good Fishing, Justin

You got it, Brian. Would love to host you for a couple days of bass fishing! Good Fishing, Justin