CrowMan

Shimano Tekota's are bulletproof. The 500 is a good all around size. If you'd prefer a low profile reel, I'd look at the Daiwa Lexa. Not as rugged as the Shimano, but a good drag and easy to handle. From my own personal experience, I'd stay away from Okuma's. The drags are terrible, and they fall apart quickly.

The Nipigon River always has fish in it. Resident Brookies and Rainbows will be around through the summer. Mid-August might be a little early for migratory Chinook, Steelhead and Coasters but you never know. Most of the lower river is difficult to access from shore. Best spot is up at Alexander Dam Falls...about 15km north-west of town and the Trans-Canada Hwy. There is a short path to a viewing platform and a number of well worn trails to fishing spots along the shore. There's a boat launch there too. Locals like to use specially tied hair jigs, but heavy spinners and spoons (like little Cleos) that get down in the current work too. Best of luck !

If you want some for the smoker...GB is definitely worth the drive !

Probably your best bet is to chase Striped Bass. The numbers have exploded in the last decade, making this fishery world class. A few years ago we surf fished Miscou Island...wet waded the beautiful sand beaches by day, feasted on lobster, clams, mussels and oysters at night. Great getaway. Heavy bass or pike gear is all you need. If you're going to specifically surf fish then a 9 ft + rod is helpful. Stripers really put up battle and are great on the grill too. Not sure what the best spots are that time of year...they generally migrate up the rivers (the Miramichi gets a huge run) in late spring and by late summer you can fish the surf. https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/13-new-brunswick-hot-spots-for-striped-bass-fishing/

Yes....very murky. We fished eastern Lake O this April during the new early spring Catch & Release Bass season. We caught a lot of hog 21+ inch Smallies ...including some 23's that were definitely PB's for us. My understanding was that the OMNR explicitly stated "NO PHOTOS" when they announced the new reg's. However, there are countless photos of Lac Seul Muskies being hoisted up in a classic "grip and grin" photo...obviously being posed for the camera...not in the process of being released. A lot of these photos are from guides, lodges, outfitters, etc available online for anyone to view. Are they all evidence of "illegal activity" ? Like the early season Bass in FMZ 20....Lac Seul Muskies are strictly Catch & Release... What's the difference ? About as clear as mud...

We're doing Lac Seul this September, primarily to chase Musky. We were having a few pops and discussing the logistics of the trip...when the subject of photography came up. This is a "100 % Catch & Release " Musky fishery...and the reg's state that fish must be "IMMEDIATELY RELEASED" So....is it legal/moral/ethical to take a quick photo of a 50 inch beauty ? In terms of protecting the resource, ideally the fish should never leave the water. Does hoisting the fish up for a photo still make the release immediate ? How about other fish that can't be retained ? an out of season fish ? a fish out of the slot size ? a snagged fish ? Should you take photos of those ? What is legal and what is ethical may be different things. The OMNR opinion: https://oodmag.com/qa-can-take-picture-caught-fish-closed-season/ My apologies if this already has been hashed out on this site...

Agreed, 129 is a beautiful drive through the heart of the Algoma highlands...well worth it. Gas is available at Tunnel Lake Trading Post and also Black Creek Outfitters. A couple of other stops that are worthwhile are Grindstone Falls and Pigpen Chutes. Both are short hikes off the highway. Bring your fishing rod to Pig Pen...Smallies and Walleye. On one trip, we were looking to kill an hour or two on our way up to Wawa. The folks at the Trading Post told us that Snowshoe Creek had Speckles. There is a bridge at 129 and some logging roads to the east that follow along it. We briefly tried, but didn't have any success...but it did look fishy. However, if you really want to connect with Brook Trout....the stretch of Hwy 17 from the Soo to Wawa along Lake Superior is a better bet. The Pancake River (above the falls especially), the aptly named Speckled Trout Creek, the Sand River (take the trail upstream of the falls beside the highway), and the Old Woman River (below the chutes)....all have Brookies. As a rule of thumb for Trout (like anywhere) the deeper into the bush you're willing to hike, the better the fishing. In mid-August you may even run into the start of the Pink Salmon run. Most of the lower ends of the Superior (and North Channel Huron tribs) get runs...but the Michipicoten River below Scott's Falls Hydro Dam is a dependable spot. Check out Speckled Trout Creek for Pinks too...from the falls at 17 down to the mouth....go upstream for Brookies. Another good spot for Pinks is Lauzon Creek ... in Algoma Mills, on the way back to Sudbury. There's an obvious spot where the locals fish just downstream from 17. Have a great trip !

Don't have to go far...the Niagara River (upper and lower) has awesome Smallie fishing . If you venture up Chippewa Creek you'll find some Largies too

For those who think a foot long bait is too big for Muskie... https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video-shows-northern-ontario-angler-catching-a-pike-just-as-a-50-inch-muskie-eats-the-pike-1.5759093 The thing I found most interesting was that he was using Lamprey for bait..

I bleed them out in a bucket with water...head first. Just a slit behind the gills. That seems to get it done quickly. Then immediately on ice.

The Manitouwadge route is definitely the shortest. It's probably 90 minutes quicker than taking Hwy 17 all the way to Nipigon and then backtracking north on Hwy 11. There is a gas station in Manitouwadge, but I don't believe it's open all night. However, the Nipigon route is definitely going to have several 24 hr gas stations along 17. You may also consider filing up some jerry cans with gas to get you through. Either way, you may want to reconsider your timing. I have driven across northern Ontario hundreds of times over the last 50 years, and I almost always avoid driving at night. I've just seen too many collisions with Moose, to know that's its not an uncommon occurrence. Be very, very vigilant. I would leave earlier, spend the night in Nakina and be bright and fresh for your fly-in that morning.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boat-industry-inflation-bear-market-and-recession-fears-104547131.html

If you can't find ethanol free...then you definitely want to add a fuel treatment.

Things aren't as bad as they seem: Today it takes the average Canadian worker 4 minutes to earn enough to buy a litre of gas. 30 years ago it took 5 minutes. Immigration is set to average 250,000 annually over the next 5 years. We can't build new housing fast enough to keep up. Supply and demand will keep the price of housing high. Productivity has been increasing at an average of 4 % a year due to technology...we're working smarter. The average Canadian family has 30 % more disposable income than they did 30 years ago. Hence, all the households with multiple cars and high priced toys (boats, ATV's, snow machines, etc). Vacation travel has also tripled in 30 years. There aren't many families now that can't afford a yearly winter vacation to Cuba. As Mr. Ritchie stated there's an unprecedented amount of generational wealth to be transferred in the next 20 years. Stocks are on sale right now...great time to buy.

I feel for the guys running charters on the Great Lakes this summer...it was tough to turn a profit before, most were doing it just to be out on the water anyway. This year...jeez...they'll have to take out a second mortgage to make a run out to the blue zone and back in a 40 footer

Maitland and Bayfield Rivers have Smallmouth Bass in the lower reaches, but the season isn't open for a couple of weeks. Both those rivers also receive runs of Steelhead (Rainbow Trout) but they're long gone and back in the lake. However, Catfish are an option. Do you have a boat ?

Back in the day...some "ganja gardeners" would use dry ice in their grow ops. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, when it "melts" it becomes CO2 gas, which super-charges plant growth. The fact that as it "melts" it becomes a gas and not a liquid makes it great for storing food in a cooler...nothing ever gets soggy.

You can have it shipped to you. https://www.dryiceexpress.ca/

Bay of Quinte has a decent population of Silver (White) Bass. From shore try the Trent River below #1 Dam at Trenton. Might be a little late as they typically run into the rivers in late May. The Moira and Napanee Rivers also get runs. I've always had no problem catching them with a #1 silver Mepps spinner tipped with a little piece of worm. Small tube jigs like you would use for Crappie work well too. A lot of fun on UltraLight tackle. As for Walleye or Bass from shore, try below the dams and locks on the rest of the Trent/Severn system. Can't go wrong tossing a 1/4 oz jig with a curly or paddle tail soft plastic. Keep in mind some areas are sanctuaries, and SmallMouth and Largemouth Bass season in southern Ontario doesn't open for another couple of weeks. There are also slot sizes if you plan to keep any Walleyes. Best of luck ! https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary

Strange spring....surface water temps are already in the low 70's, trilliums are done, and lilacs are almost done. Meanwhile, 2 days ago I saw a couple of Steelhead trying to get up the ladder at Corbett's. Last weekend Pike were in 12 inches of water and looked like they spawned the day before. Morels were non-existent this spring, and fiiddleheads went from nubs in the ground to ferns in a couple of days. Last week we had Blackflies during the day and Mosquitoes the same evening. Today the lake is swarming with Dragonflies. To top it off, last Saturday we had a line of storms come through that looked like they belonged in mid-summer.

Black flies are finished in Central Frontenac...same latitude just further east of Apsley. Warm weather burnt them off last week. Dragonflies are out, which is a sure sign that Blackflies are done. Now it's just Mosquitoes at dusk, then in a bit the Horse and Deer Flies during the day...oh and of course the Gnats. Then later the Wasps and Hornets. Also watch for Ticks when walking in the bush. Yeah, in Ontario cottage country there's no respite from bugs of some kind until September....but it sure beats being in the city. I certainly wouldn't let a few bugs keep me from helping out a buddy.

I used to fish with Keith before he moved to Alaska

Found an old photo of a younger and slimmer me out on the Pancake River.

Thanks for the photos and the memories. One of my favourite parts of the world. We used to camp late April/early May at the mouth of Speckled Trout Creek in Lake Superior Provincial Park. During the day we would chase Steelhead in the local tribs...Chippewa, Pancake, Sand, Agawa, Old Woman, Michipicoten...and at night we would dip for Smelt at the stream mouths. Nothing like a feed of fresh Smelt fried in Ritz cracker crumbs over an open fire on the shores Gitcha Gumee.

The Americans get it...they realize that anglers and boaters bring lots of money into the local economy...restaurants, accommodations, supplies, etc. The incoming revenue offsets the cost of maintaining the launch and parking. In Canada, the first instinct of our small minded municipal politicians is fees and taxes on everything. Here in Oakville, nevermind charging for launching, they have banned fishing from many of the piers. It's pathetic that you can't take your kids down to the waterfront to dunk a worm for a couple of hours. Another piece of Canadian culture taken away by the soccer moms that run town council. Penny wise, pound foolish.