Barry Willis

Holy smokes, that's a big smallie. Good for you Man. There's not doubt it would be over 6lbs. I remember when I was a kid I saw a 6 pounder hanging on a wall in a lodge. It's been my dream since to catch one that big but it isn't looking very promising. It must have give you quite a scrap. Pound for pound it's hard to beat the fight of a smallie. On that same trip I caught a 3lb. the way that thing fought I thought I had my 6 pounder.

Are you saying the photo weighed 7.2lbs or the fish LOL?

If I was to go back to the lake I caught that small mouth bass. I guarantee I could set a Canadian record. I've seen them far more than twice the size. Cruising in pairs. It's just a small natural lake in a deep valley. Never any chop on the water, always calm. Due to soil erosion along the bank trees have fallen into the water making a perfect habitat for them to hide but it's a bear to get over them without sending warning signs. And they see me sooner than I see them. The only way I caught this one was to go when it was raining (I knew where it was, I had seen it several times before, always in the same place under a fallen cedar tree) So with the rain pelting down I knew it couldn't see above the surface and see me. So after much slipping and sliding and sending vibrations into the water I waited for forty minutes and tossed out a jitter bug and he grabbed it right away. Unfortunately, for me any way someone bought the surrounding land lake included. With in minutes of going there to fish they are in their boat to get you off their property. And no permission is granted.

I hope I'm not boring the dickens out of you fellas; Yeah I know I need to get out and get a life, A fishing life. Unfortunately in my neck of the woods the ice is too thin and no open water. I thought about taking the Argo out but if it breaks through and won't climb back up on it I'd really be in trouble. I noticed a couple posts in regards to the 300 Mitchell. I'm curious if any one had a 300 Dam Quick. I used to go through at least one closed face reel a month. They looked nice but just didn't last. The guy at the hard ware store in Wiarton kept asking why don't you buy a 330 Quick. This was in the mid to late sixties. I finally told him I couldn't afford one as my only income in my pre teens was selling dew worms at 25 cents a dozen. He talked me into putting $5:00 bucks down and continue paying for it when I could. It was $35:00. I finally got it and what an awesome reel. I used it pretty much every day for years and only had to replace the bail spring twice and I still have it. The only thing I didn't like was the loud clicking as I cranked it. I started keeping it in that position though as there were a couple times when I got a hit and went to set the hook my fingers slipped off the handle and it would wind backwards thus letting the line become slack. I then bought a 300 Mitchell off a friend for $5:00 brand new in the box. How could I not? I'd heard so much about them and seen a lot of other anglers using them. It may sound stupid but at the time I could not get use to it after using the Quick for so long as the bail spun the opposite direction than the Quick. But I still have it and I did eventually get use to it. I wouldn't be afraid to tie into any size fish with the 300 Quick. The Mitchell is no where near as robust or heavy duty. Happy Days.

Thanks for that misfish, I was just going to message you. I didn't even know I could click on them dots. From one old fart to another I am not very computer literate or good with todays electronic gadgets. I recently purchased a Helix 7 g3 and will likely need someone younger to show me how to use it. Can't wait. Like yourself I have always been partial to Lowrance/ Eagle. Hummingbird has come a long way over the years I done my homework and it is an awesome unit. Some law enforcement departments south of the border use them to locate as sad as it is, the bodies of drowning victims. Any way, keep tying them Old Yella's. nice work.

I can relate with my arthritic hands and being far sighted. And yikes is right. What I now use is now for them little screws and bail springs I drop on the floor is one of those telescopic magnets available at most automotive stores. It's saved my butt quite a few times.

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.