big daddy

I've been fishing out of a 13.5ft Sit-on-top (Ocean Kayak Trident 13 Angler) since 2010, including 3 months in Florida each winter. I got into kayak fishing after I retired at age 60, and I wish there had been SOTs 20 years ago. (I also have one of those expensive fishing boats.) I've had a blast fishing from my yak, in small lakes, large lakes (Lake Huron, Lake Simcoe, etc), & both oceans on the east & west coasts of Florida & in the Florida Keys, catching a huge variety of species, including a 5ft shark. You get to fish in places that most guys never see, or in areas where even skinny-water boats can't go, and the fishing is always very up-close and personal, which is the biggest rush.. My advice is to buy the highest quality, most stable kayak you can, (nothing wrong with buying used quality) and one that you can load by yourself, so try it out first, for paddling and loading. Also buy the best seat and lightest, strongest paddle you can, and a rudder system - when you are faced with a long paddle against or across a stiff breeze you will know why those 3 things are important. Add an anchor trolly, which lets you anchor from the bow or stern. If you are new to kayaking, a re-boarding device might be also a good idea, although the only time I used mine was to test it in the first week - now its just a security blanket. Don't listen to the naysayers - kayak fishing is comparatively cheap, great fun and good exercise.

Thanks for the good advice Headhunter. BD

Thanks for all the info guys. Got some choices at least. Where would you say is the best ramp and parking anywhere on the Bay?

Got a new (for me) boat set up for walleye fishing - so where do I go? Bay of Quinte sounds hard to beat. I'm trying to plan a trip to BOQ before freeze up and will probably be staying in Picton, so can anyone tell me where the decent boat ramps with parking are in the area? Thx.

Hi guys, Just moved into the Collingwood area, and I have a boat I can take offshore. I'm mainly interested in smallmouth and the area seems a natural with all the rocky shoals. Still, the bay is pretty big, so any advice for areas/tactics to try would be appreciated from anyone who knows the area. thanks in advance

I WEAR A MANUAL AT ALL TIMES, IRREGARDLESS OF WATERBODY - BOUGHT THE COLLAR-STYLE, DON'T EVEN NOTICE IT ANY MORE.

Heading up to the Minden area this week, thought I would try Boshkung Lake for lakers, usng a portable hut. Anyone known where we can get access and parking? thanks, Brian

thanks for all the good info guys - now if we can just get some ice!

I'm looking for a 2-man shelter than can be easily hauled by hand, if there is such a thing. I looked at the Bass Pro 2 man huts, they go around 75 to 95lbs, depending on the "thermal" or regular material, and I wonder if they are too heavy to pull without a machine? thanks & good fishing, Brian

Thanks for the info guys, looks like I'll wait for spring so I can motor up there in person to be sure.

I have a question for those who fish the top end of Buckhorn in the open water season (if they haven't all fled to Florida!). Can anyone tell me if Sandy Creek is navigable past the bridge which goes over the road at the north end? I'm looking for property on the creek but I'm not interested in this area unless I can take my fishing boat (18 Ft Lund) out to the lake easily. thanks, Brian

Just a heads up to anybody using Walker Downriggers. This is my third season with them and I was fishing Simcoe in a downpour, using the riggers for the first time in a heavy rain. When I pulled a rod out the holder, the metal tube flew out of the bottom section & into the lake. The other three tubes were all loose in the rod holders, I didn't know whether they were originally supposed to be glued or held in place by friction. All the rain that day supplied just enough lubrication to overcome the friction between the metal tube and the plastic base. About 2 hours later, I was pulling up for a hit, forgot the tubes were loose and guess what ...another flying rod holder. After giving the idiot (me) a colourful dressing-down, I released the little shaker and gave up for the day. When I get the replacements, they will be securely siliconed in place. If you own Walkers, be sure to check the tubes - they are built the same on all models. (Otherwise, the riggers peform without any problems.) Big Daddy

Fished the lake on Saturday June 14; caught 5 'eyes from 2 to 3lbs, all on a chartreuse spinner rig and worm behind planer boards. (Lost 2 more at the boat.) Since we weren't familiar with the lake, we just starting trolling the main lake around any weed edges we could find in 8-12 fow. Conditions were just about perfect, warm, overcast & a nice chop on the water. All of the fish were caught from 8:30am to noon and then they seemed to shut down, so we dropped some jigs but only produced 2 smallies and a catfish. Since this was our first crack at Rice Lake, we felt pretty good with the results. (Thanks again to Smokey for helpfu boat ramp info.)

Thanks Smokey, I'll try the Islandview one if the weather holds - but the weather doesn't look too great for anything after Thursday. If I get out, I'll post a report.

I'm new on the board, so I guess a short intro before my question is in order. I live 15 min from Lake Simcoe, almost retired, fish for everything and keep very little. Home water is Lake Simcoe, but trailer to Quinte, Parry Sound, Muskoka/Haliburton, basically wherever they're biting. I'm planning to hit Rice Lake (walleye?) this week for the first time and would appreciate some info/locations on launch ramps/parking around Bewdley, or close to that end of the lake. (Searched the board for the last hour - lots of good discussion but not on that.) thanks