rockfish

The Port Dalhousie harbour is in St. Catharines and I've been going there since the early 90's, if ya can drive 55 km which it would be from the Burlington Skyway in 20 mins without speeding, good luck.

Well the site keeps cutting out on me but maybe I can finally make a post. The area where u have the marker on the map at Valley Inn rd would still be ice. I was at Cootes Bay last week which is ice and there was open water where it flows into the harbour but we had a bunch of cold nights and there is still lots of ice towards the Bayfront side. The piers under the Skyway bridge is open water and if u were going to Port Dalhousie from Hamilton, it's at least a 40 min drive and that's speeding, lol.

Could have been a bit more contructive Grant and built your rocket for Mars, since they did find traces of water on there and maybe some Humungus Alien Snoek !!!

Another fine set of toothies there Snag, who woulda thought so close to the big cities and the odd species around the nuke plants. I've been having the same thoughts about being more careful with fish and not lying them on a hard surface (concrete) or in gravel. I always try to unhook my fish on a soft surface, even if the grass is frozen.

Yep, if u are just fishin areas with alot of snot rockets (like I usually do, lol) and not the big lakes, 10-12 mono is usually sufficient but u will want to go with tough braid in areas that u know can hold some monsters. Leaders are also always a must, steel or heavy flouro.

Well guess I can help ya out there Darrell after our many fishin' adventure trips and maybe you'll share some of those prizes, lol.

I've been using SpiderLine bulk spools of 10 lb mono and haven't had any probs with strength although after u take off 1,000 yrds on a 1,500 yrd spool it tends to have a fair amount of memory curl after that. Cheaper and it works although I haven't caught a pike on it over 13 lbs. Don't have to go with real heavy line for Pike until u start fishing the heavy weed areas or around alot of structure where they'll run into and get wrapped up in.

Sorry I missed it Blake, forgot that day and remember seeing something in the store about the seminar just the week before. Last time I talked to ya was when I was in getting the new fishing licenses for me and the gf just before new yrs.

Thanks for the replies, suspending cranks with a stop and go retrieve are the way to go for cold water (sluggish) Pike. I know a few members have already seen a bunch of my pike pics a couple times.

Yep, lots of snot rockets in the Niagara area. You're doing good when u catch a few in the over 30" range inland and will mostly find the bigger bruisers in Lake O and Erie when u hit them right.

Well now I don't feel too bad for not getting out this weekend cuz couldn't drag the gf onto the ice thinking there would be alot of slush to walk through. Nice going on the toothies anyway.

Nice steelies there Jack, so what was the hot streamer pattern for the day ? Also how's the river cleaning up with not much floating ice around in your end of town ?

Seeing as there has been open water Pike fishing interest already , just have a few pics of early season catches from the Niagara and Hamilton area. Hoping to check out the TO waterfront in my adventures soon.

Grreat day to be out to try anyway. Hope we have some open water spots soon out this way to try for the toothy critters. Sticking to a bit of ice fishing for now while my one arm heals up from a work injury but will hopefully be better soon.

That's pretty cool LM, didn't see the video, my pute is a little slow but have heard of perch coming to life after being frozen for hrs before. As bigug says the fish just go to sleep on the ice and our bud Bill was telling me how his perch "came alive" again one time and it probably happens alot.

Think Bruce has still been out in the slush the last couple days and trying the hard water. The main difference between White Perch and White Bass (usually called "silvers") is that the Silver's 2 dorsal fins are not connected and the White Perch dorsals are connected. Not too sure on how they taste as compared to Yellow's cuz when u go to Bruce's fish frys, everything is covered in beer batter and everything taste good.

Getting lots of those dinner guests for another big fish fry Bruce. I missed the morning fish but came out for the afternoon shift as I usually like to.

Cool pics Snag, had the Pike itch myself but not much open water around Hamilton here. Enjoy the great stories u tell, always an adventure.

The ugliboy harnesses are the only thing I've seen Bruce use to drift a river with his ultralight uglystick and 6 lb diameter braid (not an ugli brand, lol) and he does quite well. Better than me since I'm always catching more weeds than anything. Once in a while I do catch something worth while other than rockbass and back in the drink it goes for this elusive fish in some areas of our region. Not a biggie, but the stocking program seems to be doing well. The white pattern worked on this day and Bruce also has some tied up with trebles for pike bait.

I'm guessing that it's still hook sizes that u are wondering about and alot of guys have different preferences on what they use and depends alot on the size of the bait, water clarity and how aggressive the Pike are. A 1/0 to 3/0 size baitholder hook is in the right range but a #2 treble is a bit large and you'd prob be better off with a #4 or #6 treble since Pike can sometimes be picky especially in clear water. Quick strike rigs are usually for dead bait but when u have live chubs, it's better to keep them alive and just put one large baitholder hook like a 3/0 through the back and maybe a small stinger treble near the tail. You keep the bait horizontal that way and they also stay alive alot longer.

Great report Snag, I've tried the TO waterfront a few times at ice out and before the Apr 1 close but haven't had much luck, just not walkin enough I guess. Winter and early Spring piking see the biggest brutes.

Geez, I always seem to miss the good days when we get out icing, total Friday, me 1 perch, Bruce 2. Gotta start finding these good days or just wait till Spring and open water.

Good going on the "crappie day" Drew, we'll have to find a few toothy critters before the season closes. Those hats show u guys are Canajun eh ?

Well although got out there later with the gf ( the only one sitting down of course, all huddled up ) we came, we searched and we found out that the bite has still been slow in alot of places. WE know there are fish under that ice so we shall return to search again.

Ya don't wanna be downwind from bigug in a boat either for the next 3 days after his " mystery meat chilli ".