craigdritchie

A new study, jointly released today by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and The Outdoor Foundation, says the number of anglers in the United States is still declining, even though more people are getting into fishing each year. The number of anglers in the US is now pegged at 45.3 million, down from 47.9 million in 2010. There are no figures for Canada, since it's an American study, but the 10 percent rule likely applies here as well. License sales in our country have also been declining steadily for years. Click here to read more, and download a full copy of this 75-page bad boy. It's very interesting reading. For instance, did you know that in the US over 30 percent of all anglers are now female?

The Hamilton Spectator reports that a group of environmentalists has begun posting signs around Binbrook Conservation Area warning people to not eat any fish they catch there, including all bass, pike, carp, crappie and catfish. According to the Spectator story, Lake Niapenco and the Welland River was found to be contaminated with a substance called perfluorooctane sulfonate in 2009. The chemical is used in foam fire retardants used at the Hamilton airport’s fire practice pad. The environmentalists are upset that the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, which operates Binbrook, hasn't posted warning signs of their own. Further, they're concerned the chemical has leeched into the groundwater, since so many people in that area get their drinking water from wells. Click to read more ....

I previously mentioned that Stratos has introduced a new multi-species fishing boat (326XF) for 2012. Now it looks like Ranger also has a pair of new boats for 2012. The all-new Z520 and Z522 each get a higher front casting deck for better accuracy when pitching and flipping, which also results in more in-deck storage and rod locker storage as well. Further, the two new models will each get a recessed foot pedal in the front deck. Both new models take a 20-inch shaft outboard, and have all the standard Ranger Comanche features. Ranger will offer a Touring Package on these two models that adds a keel protector, deluxe traveling boat cover, water line stripe, oxygenator, trailer parking brake and aluminum wheels from American Racing. The trailer parking brake, in particular, is a stellar feature. I have no idea what they cost. They're Rangers. They won't be cheap. Click here for pictures. EDIT - fixed broken link

When you're fishing from shore, most of the fish you catch will be the salt water equivalent of panfish: blue runners, Spanish mackerel, pinfish, ladyfish, snappers, sheephead, flounder, pompano, maybe some small snook or grouper. Most of these fish will weigh from one to five pounds, and will fight like absolute crazy. They will be a real blast with a medium-action rod. You may also hook larger fish, including barracuda, cobia, large snook, tarpon, or different types of sharks. There's no worry about breaking your rod providing the drag is properly set. Getting spooled, however, is another matter altogether. I strongly suggest you bring extra line (it's not always easy to find in Cuba) and remember to rinse your stuff off in fresh water after fishing. Have fun! White jigs or gold-coloured spoons work well for just about everything.

Couple things to watch for with boats brought up from the States: 1) Was it used in salt water? Corrosion is a legitimate problem, and that should affect its value. 2) Was it a "hurricane" boat, meaning one that was damaged in a storm and subsequently repaired? That also affects resale value. 3) Was it a salt water boat that was also damaged in a storm? Hmmmm. Don't get me wrong - there are some great deals to be had in the US, you just have to make sure you know what you're getting.

Thanks Live2Fish, I really do appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad you enjoy it. Cuzza - prosecuted? He should be given a lobotomy!

D'oh! 32 gallons. Thanks for pointing out the typo HTHM, which is now fixed.

See Spot run. Run, Spot, run! Run! Run! Run!

How come we don't see that in a Grey Power insurance commercial?

sailboat vs oil tanker

Pretty fishies. Love the cutts in particular.

carp ... salmon ..... there's a difference?

Stratos has introduced a new 20-foot multi-species fishing boat specifically designed for walleye, pike and muskie fishing. I have not driven it yet (working on that today) but in a nutshell it's a 20-footer rated to 225 hp, with a big double windshield, deep V hull, mountains of interior storage and comes from the factory all rigged and ready to go. It's available with a bunch of engine options, and is intended to be sold as a lower-priced boat that doesn't give up on key features. In the US, they're going to sell it for under $27,000 bundled with a Merc 115 Opti. It will be a bit more in Canada, and frankly I would want more power than a 115 so that's kind of irrelevant anyway. Point is, it won't be a $65,000 boat. Expect it to start showing up at dealerships by the end of October. Click here to read more and see a picture.

According to a report in today's Toronto Star, a Michigan State University (MSU) study has found that sea lamprey in the Great Lakes could be controlled by the smell of ..... dead sea lampreys. No foolin. Click to read more and see a video of lamprey going nuts.

Basically what Mike Pike said. I haven't been on the pier in a while, but when I drove over the Skyway bridge the other day it looked like their equipment was all gone.

Tunas are a riot. There are tons of them around Cuba as well (most of the beach hotels can fix you up with a charter). Love the "tips are appreciated" sign on the seat back. Real subtle!

Quite honestly, the best thing you can do for a five year old is go catch some perch or sunfish. Bring a five-gallon pail and keep one or two fish swimming in the pail so he can play with them. Then let the fish go when you pack up, and go grab some ice cream. After a half-hour most kids will become bored and want to go do something else anyway. Make fishing fun for the kid - don't sentence him to hours in a charter boat where he will likely become bored out of his skull before you even set lines. Or worse yet - seasick. If you're taking a young kid fishing, you have to make it all about the kid and what he or she wants to do. It has to be fun all the way, or the kid will quickly turn off fishing and never want to try it again. If you have to drug the kid ahead of time by making them take Gravol, then what's the point? Where's the fun in that? Just go catch some pannies and have a picnic and make it enjoyable. Hopefully you'll also find a garter snake or a frog or a turtle. Keep it simple and the kid will be bugging you to go fishing all the time. By age 9 or 10 you can think about a salmon charter.

Looking at the girth on that guy, I'd say that is one very successful coho. Reminds me of the ones we used to catch in the late 70s. They were shaped more like smallmouth than salmon.

Ottawa River has lots, if you just want to catch one to say that you've done it. Most sauger are smallish fish ..... two pounds, tops.

Best way is to not hold it at all - leave it in the water while you reach down with needlenose pliers to pop the hook loose. Fingers in the gills can easily result in a dead fish, so I would not recommend that approach for fish to be released. Even if you are very careful, one ill-timed flip or wriggle on the fish's part is all it takes to do inadvertently do some major damage. As Frankie notes, lipping a rainbow of any size is not a great idea, especially if you like your skin. Their teeth are more pronounced than those of a bass - and sharp as needles. ChrisK - I love that photo! Gorgeous fish too.

Zero beer in the boat, regardless of what it's content is supposed to be. It's kind of like if your teenage daughter came home to tell you she's pregnant .... but it's okay, she's only a tiny weeny bit pregnant. The amount doesn't really matter. You might get lucky and face an officer who gives you a break (because he agrees no one will ever get drunk on this stuff) but officially, the OPP has zero tolerance.

Every dog has its day. Sometimes live baits work really, really well. Sometimes artificials work really, really well. You need to understand when each one has its place and make your decision accordingly. Read everything you can about fishing. TV shows can be helpful, but you'll find better information in books. See if you can find the old Hunting & Fishing LIbrary series of hardcovers, which were published by Cy Decosse in the 1990s (click here to see some of them). They were outstanding. This one is pretty good too.

Any single-cylinder engine will vibrate more than a twin, but the vibration on new engines isn't bad at all (and nothing like it used to be). I've run Yamaha's current 6 hp and did not find it objectionable in the least. But to give yourself peace of mind, why not buy the motor from a dealer that's on the water, and ask if you can give it a test drive first. Since it's a portable motor, they shouldn't have an issue clamping it to something and letting you take it for a five minute spin. Yamaha's old 6 hp twin was the same block as the 8 hp, but tuned down for lower hp ... hence the weight being the same. The current 6 shares the same block with the 4 hp, so it is much lighter.

Five Classic Lures That Should Be In Every Tackle Box