Barry Willis

On my last long winded post I mentioned I had caught a 7.2lb small mouth bass, It should have read 5.2lb. That's what happens when I'm typing without wearing my binoculars.

Even though it was meant as a joke you brought up a very good point there Akrisoner. I have lost count. I collect antique rods and reels which I seldom use. I display them in my man cave. I have six (modern ones of course) I use depending where I'm fishing and what I'm fishing for. Whether it be a small stream, river or off the east or west coast, it's all I need. I spare no expense on rods and reels, so why wouldn't I know how many I have. So counting them and not my wife's I have sixty eight in total. I can assure you I am much more than an apparent fisherman. I've been doing it almost daily since 1961. Not to brag but I still hold to this day a few records. I Have fish on my wall that few will see as big. !8 1/2 lb. rainbow - Colpoy, Bay, 42 lb. Chinook, Colpoy Bay, 14 a 9 and a 7lb. Koho, Colpoy Bay. The first known to exist and caught. 7.2 lb. small mouth bass Georgian Bay, 8 1/2 lb. x 2 largemouth, Stokes bay. 1981, one oz. shy of 18 lbs. Bull Trout, Lower Kananaskis Lake Alberta. And still is the record Bull Trout caught. The Provincial fish of Alberta. The list goes on. So yeah, myself and my family take our fishing very seriously. Any way enough about that. I hope I haven't bored you and my fellow anglers too awfully much. Thanks for reading.

I'm just two fishing poles shy of being hosted on the tv show hoarders. - LOL.

Thank you very much for that Lew. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Also getting forgetful, it should have read (holy smokes I'm getting a LITTLE long in the tooth Haha)

This was introduced to me over sixty years ago (holy smokes I'm getting a little in the tooth Haha) any way just plain old vaseline. It's all I've ever used since. Preventive medicine. On the other hand I have reels I've used for decades and used a lot in all kinds of weather and never had them apart and still work as smooth as new. Most reels are sealed very well and keep the dust out that cuts into the bearings and gears. Depending what they were lubricated with at the factory it could break down and lose it's viscosity over time. It certainly won't hurt as Akrisoner mentioned a good cleaning and then lubricate. Any way I swear by vaseline, you don't need to apply a lot, it's water proof and doesn't stiffen up in the winter.

I totally agree Shag, What's the point if you are going to leave the bones in. I can fillet a perch a lot quicker the old traditional way. Not in ten seconds as he claims which as you mentioned is Bull but still quicker and easier and no bones. Who wants them?

This may be old news and I expect it is (yeah I know I've been out of touch and need to get out more) but several years ago I was watching of course a fishing show and the host had a hand held little unit that after clearing the snow from the ice he poured water on it and held this device or a part of in the water on the ice and it gave him the depth and would even mark fish. I figured what a time saver, it would sure eliminate alot of the guess work and the time it takes to drill holes. At that time they were around $150:00 which I thought was a little pricy but on the other hand, less wear and tear on the auger not to mention myself. I don't remember what they are called.

Very nice David, you done well, congratulations. It doesn't appear you're complaining for having more time to spend on the ice. Good luck in the future.

Hopefully there's a couple folks that get a kick out of this. What's the difference between hunter's and fishermen and or women? Hunter's lie and wait, fishermen wait and lie.

That is not a speck. Specks have a square tail as well as halos around their spots especially on their back. This fish has a slightly forked tail. A lake trout has more of a forked tail than this fish. It's a splake. I have been fishing for them regularly and successfully since the 70's. Regardless, nice fish.