Snidley

Just got an email from Mike at Fishing World. They are NOT attending ANY Fishing /Sportsmans shows this year. They are looking for in house sales and an improved web effort. They do not have any sales until March. Le Baron is not attending but is holding a no tax sale that started yesterday. I stand corrected if Pro J is attending as well as Tightlines as they are both great vendors. Still I'm not sure the show is worth attending from the perspective of good deals since in my experience its Le Baron, Fishing World and Grimsby Tackle that offered decent discounts on tackle and none of them are at the show. Some of the others have good stuff but at the regular/high prices that seem to be the norm here in Canada.

I use a lure that looks identical to a Rapala Shad Rap (balsa) called a Scotchline bait (and they do come in a small plastic jewel box that holds 1 or, in the larger box, 3 lures). I don't know where they are made but they run like a Shad Rap and cast even better because of the slightly heavier weight/size ratio. They are EXCELLENT lures that cost 3/$10 when I buy them. They also make them in a very small size that would be like a Shad Rap 3.5 if Rapala made such a small version (which they do not make. Even the Shad Rap SR plastic version comes in a size 4 as the smallest version). Scotchline also makes a Rapala Original Floating version that is also the spittin' image of a Normark Rapala. Before you guys go running off to support multinational companies like Normark/Rapala realize that even if Rapala patented their Shad Rap or Floating , the patent would have run out many years ago. These Scotchlines are a terrific bargain and catch boatloads of fish (especially the really small ones since they epitomize finesse crankin'). Multinational behemoths like Normark do not need your protection, in fact you are much more likely to need protection from multinationals and the government flunkies that do their bidding for a few pieces of silver.With the way things are shaping up in the "free" world it would be prudent to keep this in mind before becoming overly empathetic to corporate interests or our elected officials (of all stripes).

There sure won't be much in the way of deals since there are only 3 retail tackle stores attending this show, Natural Sports, JB's and the guy from Hwy 400. That's got to be the poorest turnout for stores ever. I've always heard complaints from the tackle vendors claiming the whole excercise is a futile effort I guess now they are acting on it. Maybe the Sportsmans show will be better this year.

That's how you rig a float for fishing jigs since the jighead gets the jig down and the rig casts better as well. Some slip floats come rigged with weight to accomplish this very thing.

Both shows are less than great but the Spring Fishing Show is the better of the two IMO. I did not go last year but I might try the Spring Fishing Show this year. I'm interested in a new type of jig called the Nose Job and the new Abu rod called a Victim (strange name for a rod actually). The rod's made from 40 ton graphite (which I believe puts it in the GLX, Legend Elite etc catagory but who knows what it really means, lol) for $179 USD (and already being sold online for $139). It looks nice and a man I know has been testing them to rave reviews so I'm interested in seeing if they are the bee's knees.

Try FFO-Tackle.com. They have an 8'6" 7 weight and a 9'6" 6wt. $75 for brand new rods (last week they were 20% off. This week it's free US shipping. The deal changes frequently). I would wonder if they were original World Class rods however. World Class rods were literally from the 1980's. I had a 9' 6wt Fenwick HMG that was a nice bass flyrod. In Fenwick I think the Iron Feather was probably their best product for flyrods. I saw one for sale the other day on ebay.

Actually Bass Pro has recently changed their shipping to be much more affordable. Cabelas is more UNLESS you use the Canadian Cabelas out of Manitoba. I just got some Cabelas waders on sale for $99 CDN (same price as the US store but in USD) and with tax and shipping it was $127.62 CDN ($12.95 was shipping/handling) Unfortunately the Canadian store/website does not carry the really good products that the US store/website carries. Most of the fishing gear is real junk. Who buys that stuff anyway?

Torc the film you recently saw about west coast dam removal is completely irrelavent to the Credit. Those dams that were removed in Cali were huge power dams that had dramatic effect on the water temperature of the rivers. Temperatures that were so off seasonal that the salmon could not move up fish ladders due to heat stress. Here the issue is very small dams that simply block passage. High water, lifting or a decent fishway would work but CRAA has always wanted them removed permenently and the Walton gang want them to stay. It's political more than anything and thats why CRAA will lose this one. The guys concerned about steelhead quality usually don't really consider what is actually going on in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Usually if they make statements that the stocked American fish are of poor quality they either have not been fishing there for some time or they do not understand biology and the issue of water temperature and current speed on the fight in a steelhead. First off the strain now being raised in New York and I believe the others 2 states as well, is a better original strain of fish than those used by Ontario. In addition the Americans use the roe from wild caught fish while most Ontario stockers are from brood stock (with the exception perhaps of some of the CRAA fish which I believe they strip at the same time as the salmon). So the US fish start out with better genes and are only 1 generation from wild. Our stockers are multi generations from wild Most of the Canadian anglers that consider that American stockers are "weak" or of lesser quality generally get this idea when fishing, in winter, on 16 Mile Creek off L Ontario or the Catt et al off Erie. First off Erie fish are smaller generally than L Ontario fish and of course the water is cold in winter as well. Add this to the fact that most of the tribs in the US tend to be moving without a lot of current in winter, at least when they are fishable. This means their steelhead don't pull like a Credit steelhead due to size of the fish and current speed in winter on the Credit. If anyone doubts this simply try on a rainbow from the Grand River. This group of fish was essentially created by strays from the US side when they were not doing a good job of imprinting. They have now evolved into some of the strongest naturalized steelhead you will encounter but of course you are encountering them in spring and fall not winter time. Another example is the Niagara River. Those are American fish, are they "weak"? For sure in winter with colder temperatures and less flow they are weaker than in spring of fall but weak, come now. How about fishing the Salmon or the Oswego. Think those fish are weak? I think not. How about the steelhead in the Blue Zone, the ones with all of their fins are New York stockers since they don't fin clip. Are they weak? No again, and like the Oswego's fish, the Salmon's fish, they are big too. And lots of them. And a percentage of those big fiesty stockers will naturalize because rainbows are expert adaptive foragers that are less effected by some of the chemicals in our baitfish (unlike those ecological Nanacies, Atlantic Salmon). I'll say it again the solution to having a thriving pelagic fishery in an intensly urbanized setting constrained by lack of adequate funds is stocking. IF you could convince the flyboys to allow dam removal to open up large areas for your stockers to naturalize it would be fantastic....for the pelagics, pike and smallmouth Bass (but likely bad for diminutive native browns and rainbows). Same goes for stream improvement. It's great BUT it will never sufficiently change the abundance issue in a river like the Credit that gets huge pressure from bait anglers looking for eggs, casual anglers looking to take home evidence that they caught something and a rising temperatures. Bottom line, if CRAA and the MNR are seriously looking at dam removal as a panacea that would allow for a hands off management style to succeed with pelagics then they are dumber that even I thought, which is hard to imagine.

I think ice cover has negative effects on shiner abundance. Something about laying their eggs on the underside of ice. Less shiners would effect all gamefish in Simcoe and Erie.

I think ice cover has negative effects on shiner abundance. Something about laying their eggs on the underside of ice. Less shiners would effect all gamefish in Simcoe and Erie.

This discussion really raises some fundamental issues mainly when you look at the goals over at the MNR/CRAA. They would like a self sustaining pelagic fishery, one that opens up economic benefits as well as overall angling success, all the while reducing to a minimum ongoing management ie. stocking... in a fast growing metropolis of 4 million people. It just shows how stupid and useless our government really is. Essentially they are saying they would like a resource mangement pipedream to be real all the while, as a group, they would like to abandon all of their responsibilities too. I don't know where this latest issue of pelagics above Norval will end up because I sense big problems both logistically and scientifically but the solution for river management resides about 40 miles to the south of us in New York State. They have both pelagic and resident salmonoids in massive abundance but it does not come from a hands off approach. They work at it, hard, and most of the emphasis is on salmon, rainbows and steelhead that are stocked. The result is fabulous angling success with great economic benefits too. Success that far outweighs the costs to the state government. Up here CRAA and the MNR conspire with enhancements and efforts to turn back the clock using management philosophies that do not work...anywhere. Atlantics, a fish that is in no way the native fish of 200 years ago, will never take hold in the GTA or Lake Ontario UNLESS you stock them. Stocking Atlantic Salmon will always be the MOST expensive species to stock due to holdover requirements and they will never reproduce naturally in significant numbers yet CRAA, and the MNR dove headfirst into the latest offer to revive this extinct animal knowing they had a very short term private funder and limited resources of their own (unless cuts were made elsewhere). We are now living with the aftermath of an idiotic decision taken 5 years ago by all parties including the winery. Blown money, time and opportunities, resulting in future sacrifices and resource degradation. This is essentially politics 101 in Ontario for virtually all government responsibilities. Enhancing Credit River fishing opportunities and the resulting economic benifits will NOT happen by simply opening up the Credit beyond Norval. Reducing expenditures on stocking and other hands off approaches to managing fish stocks will never result in anything other than decline both in fish abundance and economic opportunities associated with angling. It is truly mind boggling to see these pathetic attempts at fisheries management innovation time and again when a working successful management strategy is literally next door.

Catch and release only, no fish eggs as bait, single hook only and display of fishing licence on the exterior of the anglers vest. All of these rules COULD be enacted to facilitate an extended angling opportunity in the Credit. It won't happen because trout anglers in the lower are generally roe fishermen and they are reticent to give it up as are the casual anglers who consider keeping fish caught as part of the whole experience and are also unwilling to give it up. Why the MNR does not impliment the wearing of your licence where all can see eludes me totally. The proposal also flies in the face of the MNR's general trend to harmonize angling rules so as to treat different fisheries with the same rules. It's dumb but that sort of sums up the way things are done here. CRAA claims that opening up the upper to steelies and salmon would be a boon to the fishery while flyboys at Issac Walton claim the lake run fish would decimate the stream trout. I think they are both right and since the flyboys have the cash and influence I do believe nothing will change.

I just read on another forum the the 3M nanotechnology is now offered on Cabelas Platinum ZX rods for $199. Wait till this time next year and they will be on sale for $100-$120. This must drive makers like Rapala, St Ctoix and Lamiglas nuts....good for us though. Airrus is offering their version of nanotechnology AND fluted design wrapped up in"buckey paper". Who knows, they were first with nanotechnology when everyone said it was bogus. Now it's turning up everywhere...and not just in fishing rods.

Looks like Lamiglass replaced the Ti2000 with the Si model. I bet they are nice but they are pricey. They make oars for pontoon boats and drift boats now too. Ken Whiting was involved with the Ti2000 (titanium metal butt section and graphite top section combined in one rod) That was the nicest rod I've ever held (but not fished at $800 each)

Took 2 minutes at Canadian Tire in Oakville. Silly that they give you a second licence to carry with your outdoor card though.

Wow. Bet that guy breaks his share of rods. Reminds me of the toilet bowl on the Niagara for rainbows and browns.

I know a man named Ken Whiting who is a designer in graphite (Lamiglas, Airrus, E 21, Duckett and now back at Airrus) who has the ultimate respect for Gary Loomis. He tells me that Gary Loomis's expertise in graphite rod design goes way beyond the simple technical aspects of rod modulus and strain rate. Small tweeks in graphite manufacturing, groundbreaking experience in rod building techniques including seat and guide placement as well as distribution methods and marketing all are part of Loomis's legacy. Loomis excels in all of the steps and that's why his leaving G Loomis once it was sold to Shiloomis had such a negative impact on that once great firm. No doubt the North Fork composites blanks and their demanding requirements for associated rodbuilders will produce state of the art fishing tools that even the Japanese will be hard pressed to equal.

Yozuri Hybrid is a coated line. Comes in tinted colours too. I go to Bronte Outdoor for my flurocarbon. I just take about 30 yards at a time of fluro coated line from the bulk spools. Fluroclear I think it is. Keeps the line fresh for leaders topping out my braid. I use fluro leaders but I can't say that it always works better..

Actually flurocarbon was first used by the Japanese longline tuna fleet. Not exactly subsistence fishing but fishing for a living, a very good living, just the same. I'm not sure I would be emulating poor hand to mouth anglers in any case.

Bunch of brand new but last years model Crucial spin rods on the buy and sell section. They are not mine and I do not know the seller but he's a fixture here so if you like that brand it could be a good option. I think they are good rods overall. Myself I like to use a 6'6" spin rod in the med/hvy to throw hard jerkbaits. I use one called a Daiwa Ciello that I got off the buy and sell here and its a really nice rod. Rod selection really comes down to the techniques and species you are seeking.

Actually some braid does sink, I have some called Stren Sinking Braid. It's crap however. As far as shiney flurocarbon that is true but the shiney aspect is most pronounced with nicks and kinks and it is for this reason there are coloured flurocarbon lines. The thinking is that with some colouration the nicks and kinks that show up in clear fluro as bright anomalies will be disguised by the colouration. I am not a scientist so I can't say if this is in fact the truth or more marketing hype. That said it has some logic to it...if you buy the whole Flurocarbon advantage to begin with.

The owners of Tackle Tour do a great deal of fishing all over North and South America and they use Flurocarbon line and leaders most of the time. That says somthing, tests from years ago notwithstanding. Charlie Wray from Fishfull Thinking TV is a spokesperson for Seagar and his claim is that when attaching fluro to "O" rings (which attaches most cranks to the line) you should tie with a single uni knot vs palomar,clinch, Triline etc knots. It's an extremely easy knot to tie and it works very well resulting in a small slippage free knot. I use it to tie on cranks with "O" ring but also on snaps, snap swivels etc. I use a double uni to attach fluro leader to mainline braid which is also a small easy knot. Personally I never use mono anymore.

A 9'6" SC v blank for $100 is a real score for a great steelhead rod either casting or spinning. That would be the same as a 'Croix Legend Elite 9'6" rod, MSR $400 if you could ever find one in Canada. It would be the best rod on the stream for anyone who tied it up. Wish I knew how to tie up fishing rods that's for sure.

Blades are similar to spinner rigs for walleyes. You put a spinner blade through a clevis directly on your line and add a hook or tie on a pre made spinner rig like the Luhr Jensen ones or Hildebrandt ones (they are by far the best). You then use weight up the line, often off a 3 way swivel, to get the bait down to the fish. The current of the river will make the spinner rotate but the rig will not hang up on bottom like a weighted spinner ie. a Mepps/Blue Fox. They are often run off of baitcast floatrods which is the way I used them at places with high fast flow like the Grand, Whirlpool and Saugeen (when its high). The same sort of rig with a spin and glow instead of a metal spinner is good when you want less spinner vibration or the water is lower/slower/clearer. Personally I never use bait but you can put small roe bags, plastics etc on the hook (always a siwash or octapuss in my case (it's easier on the fish and does not hang up like a treble))and that adds to the appeal of the bait as you swing it. In most rivers 15 feet IS deep. When I used to wade rivers I backbounced Bronte Creek using small crankbaits like Rebel Crickhoppers and Big Ants with 3 split shots 18 inches above the lures. Worked like a charm but most days you will find it hard to fish busy urban rivers around the floaters using this technique as the two are basically incompatible.

If you like catching Steelies using hardware on a spinning outfit try hardware and cranks using a baitcaster. It's twice the fun because the sensitivity of the baitcaster allows you to feel the spinner spin or spoon/crank wobble and that not only sets you up for an exciting result when the salmon/steelie or even laker nail it but feeling the movement of your lure in detail will train you to reel in or backbounce at the optimal speed which can be a key to success. Personally I use a 7'11" one piece heavy baitcater for Chinnooks and a 9'6" med-light baitcaster for Steelies/Lakers. I use Fenwick Technas but they don't make them in long styles anymore however St Croix Avids are a very good product in those configurations and not too expensive either. Those new Rapala R Type 11' baitcasters rated to 14lb line that Aaron mentioned might be good too if you can ever find them at local shops. Rapala has not had great distribution for these rods around here. For deeper water lure anglers around here would do well to learn how to utilize backbouncing lures using weight to get the lure down to the fish and current to impart action to the lure. I have had steelies hit my Bagley's B Flat crankbait so hard backbouncing the Whirlpool that they have broken the lure off leaving me to reel in the lip only. In snaggy situations (like the Whirlpool)using spin and glows or "blade only" spinners can be cost effective as well as successfull too.