Dave Bailey

The long reef extending south from Chiefs Island holds sunfish the size of dinner plates, and plenty of them.

If a snap-swivel doesn't affect it (and it doesn't) why would an extra swivel mess it up? From what I've seen a spinnerbait is self-righting, no matter which way it hits the water it always retrieves with the blade on top.

Hmmm, I've got a bunch of small O-rings, never thought of that. Wouldn't be as quick as my idea, but worth a shot.

I know the question of 'open or closed' has already been done, and it seems to be personal preference. Obviously the open eye type can be a pain when using snap-swivels instead of tying directly on, but for some of us who travel with minimal equipment snap-swivels are just so much easier and quicker. So, how about this: Take a short section of line, tie it directly to the spinnerbait, and at the other end put a normal swivel. Then you can easily hook it to a snap-swivel. Has anyone else done this? Can't see it affecting the action, and can't see why it wouldn't work. I'll probably try it this weekend up at Silent Lake PP.

Yeah, more like a battleship kayak, but I still want one.

Found this page, http://www.kentuckyhunting.net/forums/showthread.php?28957-berkley-sqwormers-10-in with this info:

Too many people need to be reminded of the obvious. Too many more don't even see the obvious. And, believe it or not, too many don't even care.

"Sudbury lake research links fish size and forest health Research show fish in areas with abundant forest cover had more robust populations" http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-lake-research-links-fish-size-and-forest-health-1.2701120?cmp=fbtl

THIS!

Maybe this is too simple, or maybe I'm missing something, but why do they need to do surveys? Why not just ensure that the river doesn't get polluted, and that development is kept to a minimum to reduce run-off diversion, and the issues should take care of themselves. You maintain a healthy river that is good for all three groups they're concerned about.

Not mine, just passing on a request from a fellow angler: http://www.kawarthaanglers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9583

No P.R. exec is that dumb!

It is, a President. Was on a matching rod until I broke it, Tightlines in Pickering (I miss that place) replaced it no charge with a Shakespeare when Pflueger took ages sending a replacement. Apparently they come off the same production line and are virtually identical. Doesn't really matter to me, as far as I'm concerned the most important thing in fishing is to get something in front of their nose, they don't care what it's attached to.

Condolences. It never gets easier, but it isn't supposed to. Your pictures are beautiful, and I hope we see many more in future. Haven't spent a lot of time at Moose Factory, but they were memorable times. It's a lovely area.

As luck would have it, on the FMZ 17/18/20 bass opener my boss handed me a run that would take me past some nice bass holes. Hmmm, gotta be careful how you say that... Anyway, I decided to make a video at one of them. It didn't go well. Step one, set up tripod and camera Step two, short intro on lure selection Step three, proceed to make six casts and catch three bass, each one about a pound, pound and a half Step four, beam proudly and tell the viewers how the Xzone Swammer on a weighted hook is an absolute bass magnet Step five, notice that the video camera hadn't been turned on. RESTART! Step one redux, start casting again, completely forgetting the intro Step two, catch small pike that destroys the last Swammer Step three, switch to a Slammer and get nothing, not surprising since they're better for drop-shotting RESTART AGAIN! Step one (again), Switch to a spinner bait Step two, utterly fail to notice that the rod has been assembled with the guides totally out of alignment Step three, proceed to catch smaller bass because you've given the larger ones sore mouths Step four, post embarrassing video anyway, because FISHING! Enjoy. Or not, I wouldn't want to be arbitrary. Watch at 1080p for maximum embarrassment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llDs30GLRfI

Found one today. Identify where you left it, and the type/brand, and I'll return it. Might cost you a meal, with beer. Thought of leaving it there in case someone came back, but more likely it would have been scooped by someone who wouldn't be as honest and do what I'm doing now.[/cynical_s.o.b.]

Wish I could join you, it's a lovely town and a nice area.

I give them a lot of credit for intelligence, but until they can be shown to have the ability to, as I said, communicate complex and abstract ideas, I doubt that they understand what death is. In the meantime, I would say that society should go out of its way to treat them humanely, just in case. They definitely have emotions, nobody will convince me that they don't.

There is something they definitely do not experience: the mental anguish and emotional torment that we would feel when we are in pain. We have not only the intelligence, but the learned knowledge, that pain might lead to death, but no other animal, in my opinion, understands death. Unless they have the ability to communicate complex and abstract concepts, the idea of death would be alien to them. The average fish that we catch has a brain the size of a few grains of rice, and no ability to teach each succeeding generation that there is a finality to life. I am not saying that causing suffering should rest merely on their understanding of death: a dog doesn't have the ability either, but I wouldn't condone causing one to suffer, they still have emotions. But a fish? I doubt they have any ability to feel emotions. Now, where's my bag of Swammers? And the Chug Bug, don't forget the Chug Bug.

Protocol, but not law (as far as I know), says that on Canadian soil, the Canadian flag flies higher than any other on a group. And putting both flags on the same staff is, well, tacky.

Woke up this morning feeling as if I'd been kicked in the head. Here's what to do folks: head to your nearest pharmacy, go to the counter (not available on shelves), and ask for Novo Pheniram. You won't find a better antihistamine. And it isn't expensive.

Latest update from the town regarding the harbour entrance reconstruction. Looks like a lot of new shore fishing opportunities will soon be here, I can't remember when it was last possible to walk out on the breakwaters. http://trca.on.ca/the-living-city/green-infrastructure-projects/environmental-assessment-projects/frenchmans-bay-harbour-entrance-class-environmental-assessment.dot

And yeah, I'm giving away locations, not like these are big secrets anyway, I'm sure many of you have been to them. Lucked into a run to Huntsville yesterday, so why not try the reliable town dock, says I. The answer was "yes", so the raincoat went on and the casting commenced. I've got pike here before, usually deep, so a weighted hook with an Xzone Swammer, green and white, was chucked straight out, and then hauled along near the bottom. After a few casts a snag... no... it moved. Typical pike, not much of a fight. A shade over 2ft, wasn't going to bother hauling out the tape measure for a definitely non-trophy. But still a nice way to spend a few minutes. Hit a few other spots on the way back to Chez Bailey in Pickering, another everyone will be familiar with is the narrows on Lake Dalrymple. Serenaded by an osprey while there, strange how such a big powerful bird can sound like a sparrow or warbler. Flung a large Zara Spook, again hunting for Esox lucius, had one nice burble, no hook-up. Okay, try pulling it through the same spot... BAM! Oops, OOS largemouth, maybe 3lbs. Released quickly, and decide to head off in case I got another. No point carrying on with OOS fish. On the way back found a Blanding's turtle nesting alongside Kirkfield Road, nice to see as they're rare in Ontario. Some areas have healthy populations, not sure how they're doing in the Carden Plain but nice to see. Now please Boss, can you send me to Sudbury today? Smallmouth are open year-round in most of FMZ 10!