Mike Pike

The 'Hammer" got hammered! Not sure of the final tally for Hamilton but our schools were closed, no garbage pick up, etc. I missed work too. The ploughs didn't get to my street 'til this afternoon so I couldn't get to work. The only thing I saw moving this morning was a snowmobiler which is pretty strange in Central Hamilton! lol

Oh yea.. sorry Beast. My presentation recommendation is for perch, of course. Don't know if you were planning on fishing for perch with Mitchel's or if they go deep for lakers and whities.

Welcome aboard Beast. I've never been to Mitchel's but you can't go wrong with a little #2 or #3 jiggin' Rapala. My fav is the perch pattern. Get 'er down to a foot off bottom. Other than that, most operators will supply you with minnows, the preferred bait of most Simcoe guys. Good luck, and let us know how you made out.

I got myself one of the top-o-the-line suits Mustang makes( Atlantic Class? ). Not sure the model but the one that you see around for $400 usually. Anyhoo, I can't say enough about how great it is. I used to own a Bouy O Boy and there is no comparison. The Mustang one-piece insulates so well, yet you have good movement in it. It's not as stiff as other suits I tried on. Even the hood is insulated and the seal you get around your head and chin area will really hold in your body heat. In the case of a survival suit, you get what you pay for and I think a little extra spent now to enjoy many cold days out in your boat and out on the ice is well worth it.

I have a 9-foot St. Croix Avid series rod( Med-Heavy )with a fast action that I like to chuck spoons with. I like to cast 8lb Berkley Trilene, myself, for the distance. I think a longer rod with maybe a Medium action would give me a little more distance on the cast but I like to 'work' the spoon back on the retrieve. Goodluck with your choice FishFinder.

Nice report and pics to share with us, Pikie! Enjoy the meal, including the 'bonus' smelt!

The FishCrisp article was a really interesting one. I sure hope the new company doesn't go changing the recipe or anything. "Original" and "Blue Batter" are my favs! I also hope that Rock Masden could find a position with the new company because he's pretty much the face of the product, not to mention the inventor. Sounds like he may have sold the business too soon.

I'm a NASCAR fan too. And what's helped me enjoy the sport is the way it's covered. Lots of insightful shows on the cars and the drivers. I think NASCAR has done a tremendous job of promoting their sport. Love the way the drivers also host some of the shows. Real personalities and NASCAR let's 'em bring it out. Which always makes me wonder why coverage of a a sport like F1 sucks as badly as it does. Race feeds are taken from which ever country is hosting the race and the commentary is done in-studio. For what so many considered the top level of racing, I find F1 race coverage almost unwatchable.

Fishing Fanatics, eh? That's a cool name. I wish the boys luck. I always thought that for a place the size of K-W, it was short a tackle store or two. Natural Sports is a great store (IMHO) with a good stock of specialty stuff, and now it sounds like there's gonna be a a place for people who live on the other side of town.

A friend of mine said she drives by this plaza in Kitchener on Albert Street near Philip and notices a portable sign that says there is a tackle store opening up there in March. It's close to where I work so I'm happy! Hoping it's a nice shop. Just an FYI for K-W anglers.

Rob Hyatt.

Spiel those are some great pics of some great fishing! I used to fish the lake in the late 70's and early 80's and I remember my cousin telling me of a huge walleye he caught there. I always thought it was just a story but now that I see your pics, I probably owe him an opology, eh? lol That lake has a special place in my heart because the first bass I ever caught was right there. Like maybe 1980 or 1981. Anyhow, I remember the fish and the fight like it was yesterday. I think for many of us Hamiltonians, that was our first taste of fishing and the great outdoors. Thanks for posting those photos!

Nice report and pics guys. A good time and some fish for the fry pan. The Finbore is a great auger! Makes quick work of drilling with not too much effort so you don't mind jumping around to different spots chasing the schools.

What DouG said! ..whatever it means.

Some biggun there CF. WTG!

Well, I'd say you did pretty good today, especially for your first time! Guess it helps hooking up with a pro like Goran though, eh? Congratz on the perch and you'll enjoy ice fishing even more once you fry yourself up some of that perch. Thanks for that post.

Thanks for posting the pics and the vids, Terry. Good on ya gettin' out there. I was out at Valens Reservior in Cambridge today and tried for some bluegills but the bite was almost non-existant. Might give Cooks a go tomorrow though. Cheers!

I'll look for ya, DMASSE. I'm either gonna fish there tomorrow or Roches, epending on where I can find parking? Goodluck.

Well, if I don't actually go ice fishing on Simcoe Saturday morning myself, I'll watch the show! I love when Bob does local stuff!

What a community! Darn nice move TJ, Rick and anyone else responsible for the themporary merge. Welcome Lake Simcoe guys( I'm a member there too )! Now let's start posting those ice fishing reports! Cheers!

Interesting that this time though( And it's still really early )there are more people who would like to separate the forums. I've had a change of heart on this one myself and would like to see a seperate fishing and non-fishing section. Definately don't want to stir the pot, though, and can live with things the way they are.

Wow, didn't realize you could get a GLoomis for that price! I have a few GLoomis rods and love 'em all. I have a 6'2" walleye series that I use for bouncing grubs and dragging tubes and love it. As long as it has a med-fast action and a bit of stiffness that lets you reeeeally feel every rock 'n weed your tube comes across, it's a good choice. IMHO. Hopefully someone with the Frontier series can tell you more.

I've never seen it myself, Roy. Wondering if it was 'frozen' channa and, therefore, legal to import??? Don't know. Either way, I don't think I'd want one looking up at me from my dinner plate! lol

Too bad. And right during the start of the ice-fishing season! Oh well, that's why I cut our Mods a ton of slack. They've got a lot of tough calls to make( and take plenty of grief for some of 'em ), but in the end, THIS board continues on.

The size of the hole doesn't affect the fishing but it DOES affect me! Later in the season when the ice gets nice and thick, I leave the 8-inch auger at home and go out with my 6-inch. It's a little easier to to get holes drilled with it so I'm more likely to move around from spot to spot when things slow down. So, I guess the size of the hold DOES affect my fishing!