Reef Runner

Nice report.

I have trouble getting some of my friends to lip a bass....and they're in their twenties, lol.

Very nice photos.

We like any fish porn we can get.

Thanks for sharing

Good stuff Johnny. Lots of hammerhandles in there, lol. Glad you tied into a nice one at 28inches. Bass are few and far between this year I've noticed.

Thanks for all the replies.

I had considered camping on Balsam for the evening, however, the garage took priority and I really couldn't stay the night. Sounds like a good trip for another time.

How'd ya make out there JohnnyBass? Like I said I had limited time on the water but I was looking out for ya when I was.

I too love the name "pacemaker", lol.

Nice Kitty!

That Captain Obvious, always says the right thing at the right time, lol.

Love them yak reports Jedi. I agree that smallies have more fight in 'em then largies. Could it be mouth envy? lol

Sounds like a cool trip Stoty. I think there are island sites available on Booth lake, that would be my pick over any others. It's been a long time since I hit algonquin so I can't help much more, sorry dude. Hope you guys have an awsome outing!

Well done Dan!

Those are some of the purdiest fish swimming. Love it when that red tinge comes in, closer to the fall?

Just an awsome report, world class.

Geez Louize that's a massive bass, 6+lbs and two thumbs up for getting it on a topraider, wow. Congrats, that is very impressive.

Thanks for sharing that.

Sweet report TJ. Looks like some quality time.

That diving beatle thingy is damn ugly.

I hope everyone had a safe and eventful weekend.

Plan for the weekend was to build a storage garage for the boats and other misc items. The foundation and anchor bolts were poured over the winter and delivery of the framing materials was expected Thursday. My buddy and I headed up Wednesday night so we could account for the materials on Thursday and fish the evening, also, I had planned a day trip to Balsam Lake for Friday. The meantime saw us waiting for delivery on the deck, sipping on some brewskis and setting up the gear. Since I was lending my buddy with my spinning outfit I thought I spool up one of my Dad's rods with powerpro for droping senkos. In the garage, shuffling through his ancient rods and reels, I decided that this would be my pic.

An old St. Croix, which I thought was pretty cool. I really appreciated the construction of the rod, far left, look at the copper reel seat. Anybody know what year that was was made?

Waiting for the wood to arrive, I took a couple of test casts with the St. Croix antique across the lawn with a bell sinker and these guys would swoop down and try to snatch my weight.

The wood arrived at 3:30 pm or so, after a Bbq we set out on the boat and took a couple of casts in front of the cottage. Caught 3 hammerhandle pike that were photo shy, back in the drink and head home to get up bright and early to get to the lock to Balsam for 9am.

Problem with going to Balsam for me is the time the locks open (9am) and close (7pm). These time dont allow for me to be on the water during primetime, which may explain why I get skunked most outings there. I tossed spinnerbaits, droped senkos, believers and Maraboos, spoons cranks, nothing. I really gotta get a system going on the lake for midday fishing that'll put some fish in the boat. Despite the skunking, the boat ride was beautiful through the locks and waterway.

On the way back to the cottage we stopped at some places on my lake to get that skunk smell out of the boat. Here's some fish porn from that evening.

Saturday and Sunday were dedicated to putting together the frame for the garage. I'll spare the details, but it was a good little project at 40' x 30x 12'.

Finshed the frame Sunday before supper. Aluminium siding and the roof are coming in this weekend, so we'll finish it off then.

That provided the opportunity to fish that evening. My buddy, thus far, had been getting skunked all weekend and was getting frustrated at this point. He wasn't doing anything wrong, I told him and I observed, just was javing some bad luck. Well that evening the tables turned, I got the skunk and he caught the fish, lol.

10inch crappie

Release

Hope y'all enjoyed the report. Made the most of what time we had on the water and took in some cottage life....wish was up there now.

Cheers,

reefrunner

That's one hawg of a largie Garry, nicely done.

Sweet baby Jesus, don't remind me of the canoe trip on the bay.lol

Yep, gotta watch what you say in public bud...simple really, PM if ya need further info.

Anyways, good time to post the driver's license for you lurkers out there.

Awsome write up!

Wow. That is a very nice pike. Congrats on the PB

I'd go with a full ounce baited with a potato and a shot glass

Thanks for your input Barnie. I figured the chromium guides looked solid enough that I won't be replacing them every season, lol.

A rare sighting Raf, thanks for sharing it with us. In my years of stompping around the Massassauga PP, Moon River, etc. only ever encountered one suninn itself on a rock.

Very cool.

WTG. Looks like an awsome day on the bay. That bass looks about a 4 to 5er, just to stir the pot .

I hope everyone's fishing season is going well,

This weekend past I bellied up to the local LeBarons just to get a guide fixed on my baitcasting rod, but ended up walking out with a new rod, a whack of plastics and other items $$$$ (seems to happen every time, lol).

Since my cousin bought the Fenwick HMX at the sportsman show, let me cast it a bit, I was hooked on the quality of rod and especially the chromium guides (perceived durability). I ended up getting a Fenwick spinning outfit earlier in the season and, this past weekend, an Eagle GT casting rod

Anywho, I did a search on here with respect to the Fenwick brand (which the majority gave good reviews), but found no comment on the chromium guides. Durability v. castability? Opinions? Experiences? How good is Fenwick's 5 year warranty? Customer services?

If ya got an opinion, and am as bored as I am back at work on a Monday, put yer two cents in the jar will yas? Much Appreciated.

Reefrunner

Awsome report. Nice wilds ya got your way, water looks clean. Thanks for sharing.

Sweet report. Nice fish, and a WGSF to boot.lol

Wow, that's a really rare catch. Amazing, first I've seen or heard of these fish. Thanks for sharing.

Awsome handywork there Keram! Hope they catch you a biggun