craigdritchie

OMG that's so bad ... wish I had thought of it myself!

A friend sent me this, thought I would share it. Oh well, it was a nice looking gar. You can click to enlarge.

When I was a young man, buying a house was also a pipe dream ... the fact that interest rates at that time were at one point over 21% (as opposed to less than 4% today) didn't exactly help when it came to financing anything - homes, cars or boats. We had low-paying jobs and gobs of debt too. Yet people went into hock for boats back then because the fishing on the big lake made it totally worth it. Today? Not so much. The economic impact of Lake Ontario's fishery decline would easily measure into the hundreds of millions ... if not more.

Interesting slide show, thanks for posting it. Interesting that MNR doesn't feel that reducing the number of Atlantic salmon stocked would have any impact whatsoever, in spite of the fact they continue pouring 700,000 of the things into Lake O every year. Could this finally be an admission that the stupid things just don't survive and contribute to the fishery? I doubt it. First major return of chinook was in the fall of 1978, into Bronte Creek ... I remember writing about it, and going there to take photos. Bronte was selected as the stocking site because the MNR fisheries managers of the day thought they could better monitor the results by keeping the chinook separated from the then-booming coho run into the Credit. Of course that was back in the day when Bronte Creek actually had water in it ... long before the subdivisions and urban sprawl dropped the water table and led to the current microscopic water volumes in the creek. Agree 100% - coho are still a superior sport fish to chinook in every measurable way. Though they don't reach the same maximum size, IMHO coho outfight chinooks and are way more fun to catch. Even in the lake, chinnies are little more than carp with teeth, as a friend of mine says. It's nice they can pull line, but they don't jump and they don't turn and twist anything like a coho. Unfortunately, it costs a lot more to raise coho in a hatchery than it does to raise chinook, and that's precisely why chinook are the focus of the salmon program today. They're cheaper. Back in the heyday of the coho program, on any given Saturday there would be 2,000 boats fishing for salmon between Toronto and Bronte. The derby used to attract 10,000 entrants, and hotels along the Lakeshore were booked solid through August and September. Tackle shops sold rods and reels and equipment by the carton. Boat dealers sold a ton of boats and engines. It was good, in spite of some economic uncertainty and interest rates being five times higher than they are right now. Today, the number of boats out there is probably measured in the dozens. The derby survives, but it's not what it was. Hotels and tackle shops have closed due to lack of sales. Boat dealers aren't exactly flipping salmon boats like crazy either, despite financing rates at all-time lows.Yet there are more anglers in southern Ontario today than there were back then. What does it tell you? It tells me that Lake Ontario is being BADLY mismanaged. Every year they dump in hundreds of thousands of lakers that no one could care less about catching. They stock only a tiny number of browns, and spread the stocking so thin that they're basically never seen again. Coho plants have fallen through the floor, to a fraction of what they once stocked, and now they're put in at such a small size survival is pretty much zero. They still waste money and hatchery space on stocking hundreds of thousands of Atlantics every year, in spite of that program having been proven a complete failure 25 years ago. And for decades they've relied on natural reproduction to support the steelhead fishery (in both the rivers and the lake) in spite of overwhelming evidence it simply can't keep up. Were it not for chinook, Lake O would be a complete and total wasteland. If MNR wanted to actually provide a good fishery and get people out there the way they once were, they would save the small fortune they waste each year on greasers and Atlantics and use it to fund a serious coho program. Stock rainbows on a put-and-take basis into urban rivers to create fisheries there, and take pressure off wild fish. And concentrate their brown trout stocking so people have a chance to actually catch the things. It's not rocket surgery. Yet all we ever hear are excuses after excuses.

In my office at Real Fishing, trying to find my desk under a mountain of mail. First day back in the office in a week or two ... Bob, the crew and I had just flew home from some lodge in Quebec the Friday before. I'm still opening my Hortons when he says turn on the radio, a plane hit the World Trade Center in New York and its on fire. I had a small clock radio in my office and there were three or four of us huddled around it, listening, when the second plane hit. And all I could think of - selfishly, I admit - was I don't know what's going on, but man am I ever glad to be home.

Bottom line is, none of this would ever happen if people would just practice common courtesy and respect. The problem is, there are a large number of so-called "anglers" out there who are ignorant, obnoxious, self-absorbed Class A idiots. And there seem to be more of them all the time, at least if the growing number of no trespassing signs is any indication.

Interesting story and photo of Eric Clapton's 28 pound Atlantic salmon, said to be the largest caught in Iceland this year. The article is very poorly written, and says he fought it for 2.5 hours. I personally think that has to be somewhat exaggerated. That said, the fish looks to be in better shape than him! Enjoy ... http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/articles/eric-clapton-just-caught-the-biggest-salmon-in-iceland-w433301

Evinrude's new web page for the 150 - 200 hp G2 is now live for those who want to see more on the new stuff: http://www.evinrude.com/en-CA/engines/e-tec-g2/150-hp-200-hp.html

Can't speak to a value because it all comes down to condition, but if I were you, I'd try to sell it asap. Evinrude officially unveiled that new 150 E-TEC to its dealer network last night in Milwaukee, along with the new G2 150 HO, 175 and 200. They're in production now and will be in dealer showrooms by late October - early November. I spent most of yesterday driving some early production models of each, before the official unveiling at the Wisconsin Center last night. The 150 has a ton of torque, and the 150 H.O. is almost on par with the 175. Same coloured side panels as the original G2s, plus now you can get it in camo. The new G2s apparently kick out the lowest emissions in their horsepower class, and are a bit better than the original 200HO - 300 G2 line from two years ago. The unveiling was crazy, they had a whole stage show with engines lowered from the ceiling ... at one point they even lowered a twin-engined pontoon boat down from the rafters. It definitely made an impression! You can read more about the new engines here http://www.boatingbusiness.ca/news/article/004483/Evinrude-Unveils-New-E-TEC-G2-Engines

Received this in my email today - some company in Tennessee is offering a free internet TV channel, with all fishing content. Interesting. WAYPOINT TV LAUNCHES STREAMING VIDEO PLATFORM Chattanooga, Tenn. – Waypoint TV, provider of premium outdoor video content to a growing audience of streaming viewers, has announced its official public launch. Founded by Jason Fisher of Cornerstone Technologies in Germantown, Tennessee, Waypoint offers outdoor videos through its website, as well as mobile apps, Smart TVs, and a wide variety of over-the-top (OTT) platforms to allow free access to the latest episodes of the newest and highest-quality shows available. “I noticed my own viewing habits becoming more focused online and was surprised to see that my favorite fishing shows were not easily accessible,” said Jason Fisher, CEO of Waypoint. “We designed Waypoint TV to give people premium fishing and outdoor programming, serving up quality television shows from hosts that are well known and respected, in a format that is available to viewers anywhere, any time, on any device.” The new platform is free to use and can be streamed directly on Smart TVs, Roku, Apple and Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, and Google Chromecast. For those without a compatible device, a notebook or desktop computer can be used to view shows directly on the Waypoint TV website. Currently featured programming includes the latest episodes from Bass2Billfish with Peter Miller, Costa Films, Lindner’s Angling Edge, Silver Kings, Money Fish, Sweetwater, Flats Class, Saltwater Experience, The Next Bite, Into The Blue, and Seasons on the Fly. “Everyone’s viewing habits seem to be shifting toward digital streaming video or even cutting the cord of cable television entirely,” said Tom Rowland, host of Saltwater Experience. “We have been searching for the perfect distribution platform, not to replace conventional television, but to regain the growing number of people who would rather just watch our shows wherever and whenever they want or even binge on the whole series at once. Waypoint TV is the first service that does all of this while providing our latest episodes to our loyal viewers free of charge.” For more information on Waypoint TV, the Waypoint TV App or the full line of available programming, please visit waypointtv.com. -30- About Waypoint TV: Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Waypoint TV provides premium outdoor video content through a dynamic website and streamed directly on a growing list of Internet devices. Available on Smart TVs, Roku, Apple and Android mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, and Google Chromecast, Waypoint TV offers exciting videos anywhere, any time, on any device. Currently featured programming includes the latest episodes from Bass2Billfish with Peter Miller, Costa Films, Lindner’s Angling Edge, Silver Kings, Money Fish, Sweetwater, Flats Class, Saltwater Experience, The Next Bite, Into The Blue, and Seasons on the Fly. Visit waypointtv.com for the latest list of supported devices and programming.

Given the number of scandals that have been connected to the Wynne/McGuilty Liberals and the Martin/Chretien gang in Ottawa before them (adscam, etc) you could probably argue that the LIberal party qualifies as a criminal organization. Every time the Liberals form a government, it seems to end the same say - with police investigations and people going to jail. I'll never understand why fools continue to vote for them.

Lakers have been stocked into Erie for years. The east end of the lake has a really good summer lake trout fishery, with lots of big fish. As Dave mentioned, the NY state record laker came from the east end of Erie about 12 years ago, and was over 40 pounds. On a side note, according to some old OOD mags I have (thanks again Spiel!) the first big planting of chinooks into Lake Ontario was 100k+ fish into Bronte Creek in 1974. That would put the first big returns around 1977.

Thanks Mike. The poor thing stood out like a sore thumb in this little brook. I was quite surprised to see it there. Hope he makes it back to the lake okay. Pretty sure I know where you're fishing. One of my spring spots still has a ton of dropbacks hanging around, but I haven't seen a pre-spawn fish there since opening week. Now that the water has warmed up, they're almost impossible to land. I've been getting a lot on spinners. The hits are absolutely murderous, just crushing it. After a couple months of finesse fishing with the centerpin, it's a treat to chuck hardware and have your arm almost pulled off!! Trout and salmon can be tricky to tell apart when they're sitting in the water like that. Most of the time the gill covers are the key - red on spawning male rainbows, and green on chinook salmon. The photo doesn't really show it well, but this guy is all rainbow. I don't think anyone fishes this particular little creek, it really is just a tiny trickle that runs through some suburban back yards. The fish was sitting in one of the largest pools, which is maybe the size of a Toyota and possibly a foot deep LOL! Made the fish look as big as a lake freighter!

Took an afternoon stroll down to the tiny creek at the end of my street and happened across this guy. A bit late to the party, but looking pretty good considering how low the water is. Nice fishie, maybe 30 inches and 10 - 12 pounds? You're seeing pretty much the whole creek here, you can easily jump across it in spots. Not sure if he had any friends.

Deductible might be more than the canoe is worth. Depends on the policy of course, but on a commercial property a $5k deductible is fairly common. That said, if the shop took it in for work, they are responsible for it.

Been catching spawned-out fish off the Bronte pier since March break. Even that's slowing down now, starting to see more carp than anything else.

Mr. Erskin-Smith is a Liberal. Why is anyone surprised by this?

Starcraft makes a great boat, which is why you see so many older ones still on the water. All but the smallest Starcraft fishing boats have the aluminum I-beam type of internal frame that give the hull strength. When the economy took a dump some of the other other brands stopped doing this in order to cut costs, while others now only have the I-beams in their top-end boats, not all of them. No wonder you don't see it mentioned in their ads any more. I like how the wood transom on Starcrafts goes all the way to the floor, and not just across the top where the motor bolts on. On some boats, it's just sheet metal below the engine mount. Cheaper, for sure, but not very strong. I like that even small things like cleats are through-bolted on Starcrafts, and not just screwed on as is the case for many (if not most) other brands. Through-bolting is much stronger, and won't pull out when stressed. I like the way Starcraft sprays the foam flotation in between the hull and the deck, so it expands as it cures and completely fills all the cavities. It gives the boat a quieter ride, and it prevents rain water from pooling in there and forming mold. Some other brands just pour the foam in, then screw the deck on top, leaving gaps underneath. That's where deck rot begins. I also like that Starcraft is still a family-run business, still owned by the same family that started it in 1903. The people that run the company are boaters and fishermen, not accountants and lawyers looking for ways to cut costs. How's that for a start? And no, I'm not on the company payroll. But I do like the product. If the right six numbers ever show up on my lottery ticket, that 2050 STX will be in my driveway the same day.

That's why I like Starcrafts. When they say lifetime warranty, they really mean it.

Not so. Lenses are made from all sorts of different materials. Some are much more optically correct than others, which means far less eye fatigue. Some lenses scratch easily, others don't. Some are more resistant to impact, like a split shot or a spinnerbait zinging your way after some fish shakes the hook in mid-jump. Some lenses are much heavier than others, and other types are more resistant to fogging. There are even more differences in frames. Some are heavier, some are lighter, different materials take more abuse than others, some have spring-loaded hinges so the arms won't snap off if they get extended the wrong way. It probably is true that some fashion brand sunglasses may cost a lot more than they're worth. But saying that there's no difference between any of them is just foolish. That's like saying all fishing rods are identical except for name and price. Makes no difference to me ... I'm stuck to wearing prescription ones.

Also look at eBay, though I'd stick to buying from people who have tons of positive feedback. Henry's has an eBay presence, and they sometimes have smokin' deals. Late to the party here but can't agree enough with those who suggest you put your money into lenses rather than bodies. I consider DSLR bodies as being disposable. Not that the body will fall apart or anything like that, but no matter what you buy, after two or three years another newer body will come out with way better performance and it will only cost half the price. Because of that, bodies depreciate in value really quickly. But today I can still sell lenses I bought 15 years ago and get pretty much what I paid for them. Good glass doesn't depreciate at all.

It may not be that ridiculous if they're getting money for it. That seems to be the primary reason some other Atlantic programs exist.

I would expect it's probably not quite as black and white as that. Go through the ice very early in the winter when it's just forming, or in early spring when everyone knows it's breaking up and the insurance company could argue you didn't take reasonable care to prevent the accident from occurring. Insurance isn't mean to cover stupidity or negligence. Just saying ...

Buy a book called Ports Cruising Guides - they sell one for the Trent-Severn. It has EVERYTHING you need to know - marinas, restaurants places to stay, things to do, where the LCBO is, I mean everything. Costs $38 but worth every penny and then some. http://www.portsbooks.com