CrowMan

Same here, huge Wakeman fan. A few years back, when Yes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rick (who seemed a little "over refreshed" from the celebrations) told a joke during his acceptance speech, that's always stuck with me: "Now that I'm an older man I had to go the doctor's for a Prostate exam. So I drop my trousers, bend over, hear the snap of the rubber glove, and it feels like a gerbil is burrowing itself into my backside. The doctor says to me, "Don't be embarrassed, it's not uncommon to get an erection during this part of the exam". I answer, "But doctor, I don't have an erection". The doctor replies, "I know, but I do".

Dude...the memories ! Gotta get them back in my rotation. August 1977, Rich Stadium, Purple Microdot..."nuff said ! "Yours is No Disgrace" was the encore, but they finished their set with "Roundabout"...which is still floatin' in my head some 48 years later... Also that day...Bob Seger, J. Geils and Donovan ..

Yep...I was a Junior Ranger 49 years ago. My son 22 yeas ago...it spurred him to get a Masters Degree in Environmental Science. I hope the program's still around for my grandkids in a few years..

Kicker for strolling or moping ? We generally use the bow mount for those presentations...but, yeah, the line between trolling/strolling/moping/bottom bouncing/drop shot/etc is pretty blurry.. As mostly a Bass and Musky guy, I prefer to cast. However, after a morning of flinging half-pound lures with a 9 ft broomstick and a winch, by lunch time I often turn to my partner and say" how 'bout we troll for a while"..

Apply before the end of the month. My son and I have done this...an experience that will create invaluable skills and memories for a lifetime. http://www.ontario.ca/page/stewardship-youth-ranger-program

Was discussed here a few years back:

Don't beat yourself up...fishing is just that...fishing, it's not always catching. There was an Ice Fishing Derby in Elliot Lake this weekend...182 anglers participated and payed $100 each to enter, and not a single fish was caught. It can happen to the best of us.. https://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/news/elliot-lakes-fishless-ice-fishing-derby

Ice fishing has definitely declined in my life...and it's just not the shorter season. As I get older, I'm becoming more of a pu$$y. My tolerance for the cold and staring down a hole for hours is declining as the years go by. I still get out on the ice a few times a season...mostly to target Crappie at the cottage as the slot sizes make a Walleye meal difficult. Lake Trout is closed in winter on my lake, but occasionally I luck into a Whitefish or Burbot.. I also do a trip on Simcoe with my grandkids for Petch...that's with an operator so it's a pretty cushy affair. However, now that I've retired I find myself (and my wife) spending more of the winter down south. We've never liked Florida (and certainly wouldn't spend our money there now, given the politics), so we rotate between renting places in Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica...as a bonus the Cdn $ still goes relatively far in these countries. We're down in Cancun right now...kids and grandkids came down to visit last week..my son and son-in-law got out on a charter to load up for some fish dinners.. By the time I return, it should be ice-out fishing season.

Generally speaking, the spring Steelhead season doesn't open until the fourth Saturday in April in most of the streams on the north shore of Lake Ontario. There are a few areas with a year round season south of the CNR tracks, but these areas are just short sections down at the river mouth. Given the limited areas open right now, they will be very crowded. Once the season opens up at the end of April, the Ganaraska River in Port Hope is one of the most popular spots. There is public access in town and upstream at the Sylvan Glen Conservation Area. Observe the signs, as many areas are posted as private or club waters. Roe bags and beads fished under a float are the most popular early season baits. Don't expect instant success, many anglers spend many days before landing their first Steelhead...there's a definite learning curve. Best to observe successful fisherman, and politely ask questions. Make sure you have an Ontario license, as the rivers are patrolled during the spring. Regulations can be found at.. https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary

There have been reports of vehicles with US plates being "hassled". Perhaps a "Kamala" bumper sticker would be helpful..

Agreed, the mouth of the Spanish River and Whalesback Channel have awesome fishing, one of my favourite areas...but the OP was willing to go as "far north as Parry Sound"...those places are another 275km north of that.. If you want to stay in the Massassauga PP, check out.. https://woodsbaycottages.com/cottages

From my experience, you really don't even need a "fish/depth finder" on Kesagami. Average depth is 6 to 8 ft, deepest spot was about 20 ft. It's so choked with weed beds (cabbage) that FFS would be pretty well useless. Even though it's far up north, its definitely not a cold rocky Shield Lake...it's muddy and soft bottomed similiar to Rice Lake. But that shallow stained weedy water is what makes it a fish factory.

That would be a WilCraft...but I ve seen them stuck in the slush just like any other wheeled vehicle..

The only vehicle that works in these conditions is a Scoot. A lot of my neighbours had them when I owned a cottage on Wahsoune out by San Souci. Also, the only way to get out to your place on the Bay during te shoulder seasons...ice too thin, or ice breaking up..

By Canada imposing tariffs on goods imported from the US the intention is to make American businesses suffer. For example if we have to pay 25% more for orange juice from Florida, then a lot of Canadians may stop buying it and switch to apple juice produced in Ontario. So these tariffs will hurt US producers/mfgr's and hopefully they will pressure Trump/US gov't to end tariffs on their side, so we will end ours. Hence, the term "trade war".

Absolutely, brutal display for a fish that can't be retained...but even more blatant is that the fish is out of season (December 15th) and out of slot (54" + for retention)...which both call for IMMEDIATE RELEASE...no photos (certainly not posed ones) and no measurements.

Wow !!! I wouldn't know where to start...eating that is..

Sure is..you got that right.

His twin brother also caught a Musky in the harbour in October 2022. It was larger at 43 ", so there's at least 2 of them.. The Sampson boys seem to have it dialed in for Esox in sight of the CN Tower...plenty of 40" + Pike from the harbour too.. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/muskie-toronto-harbour-1.6637077 Yes, my salty favourite too....the original "Silver Bullet"...Nothing, pound for pound, pulls drag like a Bonefish. Wet wading, then hunting/sight fishing in skinny water. A 10 lb is a trophy, but even 5 lb will pull 100 yds of drag in a single run..

Good to see.. meanwhile idiots like me drive 19 hours for a shot at one.. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6642147

Although Loomis and St Croix produce some awesome sticks, like most mfgrs, they also make some lower end very mediocre products. The Triumph and E6X line-ups come to mind. Although you would think that the "halo" from a brand's top end products should extend down the line...sometimes it's a complete miss. Don't know if anyone remembers the Cadillac Cimarron from the 80's...it was a Chevy Cavalier with a few extra shiny chrome bits...but still the same bucket of rusty bolts..

Actually a lot of their rods are mfgr'd in Mexico.

I visited my Mom in Mississauga today, and I usually stop by the Fish & Seafood Market down the street from her. I picked up a fillet of BC Black Cod (Sablefish) for dinner tonight....one of my wife's favourites. I broil it after marinating it in miso, mirin and sake...a version of the famous Nobu recipe. Some Jasmine rice, and stir fried baby bok choy makes for a quick and easy dinner. In the store, a large can of chopped ocean clams on the shelf caught my attention...over 3lbs of drained weight for $19.99. Needless to say a lot of clam meat...so I thought I'd change things up for the Superbowl this year. I usually make a big pot of chili for game day. However, this Sunday I'm going to do Clam Chowder. My recipe is pretty basic...bacon, onion, garlic, celery, red potatoes, thyme, parsley, heavy cream, and of course the clams....go Eagles !!

Looks perfect for a cold winter day...but nothing wrong with a little fat instead of "very lean" when it comes to Cottage Rolls...😉

Expensive ?? It's only a couple of bucks more than a Cdn Tire 100ah lead-acid that has a 1 year warranty ...no brainer is right !