timmeh

Yikes!! Fortunately for you it hit the back of the van.

Hey guys and gals, I've planned sort of a last minute trip down the Florida, specifically the Port Charlotte (Tampa) area. I was hoping to spend a little time fishing while I'm down there but haven't a clue where to start. I will be stuck to shore fishing but expect there should be some opportunities around. If anyone is familiar and willing to help out, what type of fishing should I expect. I'm thinking mostly fishing the surf and probably some bass around. I am planning on bringing a 9.5 foot spinning rod I use to fish for salmon and trout off the piers here and try fishing the surf there. I assume that rod should be strong enough? Also does anyone have any experience with renting charters in that area they'd be willing to share. That is something I'd really like to do but I'd need to convince a few others to go along and split up the costs. Thanks in advance, Tim

It was a great game and the yanks definitely deserved the win. They were the better team for most of the game. And to be honest I wasn't very impressed with this Canadian team. I really don't care how badly they beat teams like Latvia either. They only played 1 good team all tourney, in the Americans, and were outplayed both times. They looked very slow and very sloppy with the puck compared to the yanks. They almost looked like they didn't care for half the game. I actually think the weak schedule they played hurt them, as a couple more competitive games may have got them going.

That's really terrible, condolences to the families and friends involved.

That is good news. Maybe they can pass this message onto some of the other smaller CA's around. I'm really hoping Mountsberg will wake up one day and implement something like this before the meathunters completely empty it.

Not special in terms of exotic trips but living close to the upper Grand I've always wanted to give fly fishing a go. Finally this year I will. I've already picked up an early xmas present for myself in the form of St Croix fly rod so I'm counting down the days till the end of April.

This doesn't have to get ugly but it will be tricky. It all depends on the river or creek. Generally if the river is considered navigable, the river bed is most often public, but this is not always the case. There are some exceptions where the riverbed is in fact private and you can be charged so be careful. But in general; larger systems are often public and the smallest ones aren't, while the middle ones...?That can be tricky. But your option to ask the landowner is always the best bet. But keep in mind sometimes people think they own the river and the water when in fact they do not. I've never done this cause honestly, if the land owner doesn't want me there I'd rather not mess around, but if you really want to know, go to the local registry office and have a look at the deed to the land. They will tell you if the river bed is privately owned or not. If it is not private you may walk in the water, if it is you can't. As far as an emergency, use common sense. If I'm in a public river and in the case of an emergency I need to enter private land, I'm doing it. I'll take the risk of a trespassing charge to avoid whatever emergency. Plus if it's a legit reasoning no cop will charge you.

Welcome to the show! Lots of boat info here if that's what you're looking for, though I don't have any.

A decent size pike can bite through that in it's sleep, but for smaller fish you may be okay. If you're targeting larger ones you'll probably want to go up to a higher pound test and get actual fluro leader material - it's a little tougher than vanish.

Ya i hear you on that one. And with the chinny population on the downswing that will only put more pressure on the people to get after the steelies. But that's a battle our side may never win.

Was was some first time hunter who didn't have a clue what they were doing? They clearly didn't stick around to get the animal. Probably cause they knew they were doing something wrong.

One of the few people who actually understands this a CONSERVATIVE ploy. You can blame Dalton all you guys want but you should realize his hand was forced by the feds. They're just allowing the liberals to take the blame from the public (and they're doing a good job of it too). And I'm not a pro-liberal person either but... if you're going to blame someone for this at least make sure it's the right people.

all clear in KW so far...

The fish you're describing sounds like a grass pickerel. They are found in the Southern end of Ontario and parts of L Erie. They resemble a small pike the marking on them are different. They're not common but they are around. They prefer warm, weedy areas so the mouth of tribs like the Grand would be a good spot to find them.

I think this is bang on. I would be willing to bet this is what stops many people from offering to guide. It's one thing to take a friend out who appreciates fishing the same way you do (and will keep your spots quite), and another to take a complete stranger. John, I see where you're coming from with it being great to learn from a guide. Personally I plan on taking up fly fishing next spring and will hire a guide or 2 to help me get started. And I won't care how many fish I actually catch myself, I just want to learn from that person. BUT I suspect most people who hire guides aren't really in it for the learning, first and foremost they want to catch fish. And a lot of people want to take as many fish home as they can. And you have to be willing to cater to these people, even if your attitude is completely different. And so you need to take them to your best spots to ensure they do well. And what happens then.... Once you take someone to your best spots they tell people, and they tell people who tell a couple more people, and then you're spending your own fishing time finding new spots to constantly take clients to, because your old hotspots aren't the same. As well I'd bet that people who spend the time and $ earning the knowledge to become a great fisherman understand the importance of taking care of our resources and recognize the need to practice C & R or selective harvest. I wonder how these guys would enjoy taking people out who are really only interested in taking a limit home. How would you feel taking 2 guys to your best steelhead spot on river X and watch them take their limit home. And 2 days later when you come back and they're there with 2 buddies all with the kill chains out.

I fished that area a bit on Tuesday and only got 1 coho to show for it (pretty sure I recognized some of the spots) I had the chance to go back on wed but passed. Guess that was a mistake. Anyhow it looks like a fantastic day. So how much do you charge for guiding?

Whoops my bad, i guess i was thinking about something else I meant to say if they've swam the Mississippi (not the ocean) they'll conquer the last few miles. Obviously they did not swim across the ocean. We were smart enough to bring them here.

This was my immediate reaction as well. I've always believed if they were able to make it across the ocean they'd make it the last few miles into the lakes. But I've always held out hope that maybe we could do something to stop it. I guess now we can hope that they will not cause as big a problem as most people fear. Initially it was assumed that gobies would destroy the native fisheries and things haven't turned out as bad as they could have. So maybe things will not be as bad as some predict......? Maybe they will not do so well in cold water? Guess time will tell.

Asian Carp May Have Breached Electronic Barrier TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- Asian carp may have breached an electronic barrier designed to prevent the giant invaders from upsetting the ecosystem in the Great Lakes and jeopardizing a $7 billion sport fishery, officials said Friday. Scientists recently collected 32 DNA samples of Asian carp between the barrier and Lake Michigan in waterways south of Chicago, although the fish have yet to be spotted in the area, said Maj. Gen. John Peabody of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If the feared bighead and silver carp have got through the $9 million barrier, the only remaining obstacle between the carp and Lake Michigan is a navigational lock on the Calumet River. Some DNA was found as close as 1 mile south of the lock and 8 miles south of the lake. Still, federal officials insisted a Great Lakes invasion was not inevitable. ''We're going to keep throwing everything we possibly can at them to keep them out,'' said Cameron Davis, senior Great Lakes adviser to Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Asian carp escaped from Southern fish farms into the Mississippi River during 1990s flooding and have been migrating northward since. The monstrous creatures can exceed 4 feet long and 100 pounds. They consume up to 40 percent of their body weight daily in plankton, starving out smaller and less aggressive competitors. Aside from decimating species prized by anglers and commercial fishers, Asian carp are known to leap from the water at the sound of passing motors and sometimes collide with boaters. It is not known how the carp would fare in the chilly Great Lakes, which are different ecosystems than rivers, Davis said. A worst-case scenario envisions them spreading ''like a cancer cell,'' he said, eventually dominating a fishery already damaged by zebra mussels, sea lamprey and other exotic pests. In 2002, the Army Corps placed an electronic device on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, a man-made waterway south of the city that forms part of a linkage between the Mississippi and Lake Michigan. A second, more powerful device went online this year. Both emit electrical pulses designed to repel the carp or give them a non-lethal jolt. David Lodge, a University of Notre Dame invasive species expert, confirmed the presence of DNA of bighead and silver carp in the Cal-Sag Channel, between the canal to the Calumet River and in the river itself, which flows into Lake Michigan. Further testing will be done in the area, said Col. Vincent Quarles, the Army Corps' Chicago district commander. The newer electronic device is scheduled to be deactivated for maintenance in early December. Officials plan then to treat a 6-mile section of the canal with a fish toxin called rotenone to prevent Asian carp from advancing. Environmental groups called for tougher action, including closure of all Illinois gateways and locks leading to Lake Michigan. That would draw opposition from barge companies that haul cargo on the canal. ''If we don't close the locks, we are waving the white flag and allowing one of the greatest ecological tragedies to occur,'' said Jennifer Nalbone of Great Lakes United. Even if the carp reach the lake, it might be possible to limit their spread with methods such as sterilization. ''We should not assume that all is lost,'' Lodge said. http://www.times.com/aponline/2009/11/20/s...Asian-Carp.html

Not sure about bass specifically but a lot of fish actually fair better when released into cooler water than warmer water. I think one of the reasons bass fishing is good in Ontario is the closed spring season which allows a successful spawn. Also I think the amount of people who continue fishing bass past thanksgiving is pretty low anyways. Keep in mind while you'll see some posts on boards like this, overall most fisherman are the fair weather types and give up much earlier.

Agreed. But even more depressing is that the people who live in this country don't have enough respect for our resources to do something like that. Sorry for jacking your thread but as far as etiquette all you can do is show respect to others you encounter on the rivers. And hopefully they return it. Most people are good, but unfortunately it's those occasional jerks who don't that make things worse for everyone.

Well there are things you could do, like call the mnr tips line or at least say something to the guy. If you have a camera a quick photo is evidence.

Nice photos guys, 2 years ago while doing some work on the lower part of the Grand we came around a bend in the boat and upstream was a half submerged tree. Sitting on the highest point on the tree, maybe 30 feet from us was a bald eagle. Tried to get out the camera but the batteries were dead . He flew off and we kept moving and on the way back he was fishing and we saw him pull a couple fish out of the water. Also eagrets are not that uncommon around here. I see several off them per year, mostly on the Grand.

Nice photo. I had a similar experience earlier this year when a curious deer was keeping an eye on me.

They were likely very spooked after a weekend of pressure. They weren't all caught previously but if one or two were it could throw all of them off. And if you're looking at them they most likely know you're there. When I encounter this if I don't get one in 15 min or so I just move on. You could spend hours and not get anything. Usually with trout, the ones you see are not the ones you catch.