Dave Bailey

What I would like is to have the entries as 'Canadian' as possible. I realise that it's very difficult (at least for me) to find out where the metal was mined, smelted into steel, and turned into the hook dangling on a Lucky Strike lure, but if the company is based here and the bulk of the manufacturing is done here then I'll include it. If it's based elsewhere, or if they manufacture off-shore, then no, I wouldn't consider it Canadian made. There are some things that are unavoidable, for instance if a bass plug was made from balsa, a wood that doesn't grow in Canada, then I'll make allowances.

Hard to tell about the bird without something for a size reference, but it's either a cooper's hawk or a sharp-shinned hawk, both in the accipiter group, and with almost identical plumage. It doesn't look like the correct profile for a goshawk, another accipiter which is much larger. Plus it appears as though the streaking on the breast is reddish, common to both smaller species, the much larger goshawk has grey streaking. As in most falconiformes the females are bigger than the males, and the female sharp-shinned is about the same size as a male cooper's.

Just did a search, not a lot of info except that their 'Baitmaker' trademark has been canceled. Maybe I'll give them a call next week, or even drop in since I'm often in the area.

Minor update, Strikezone Tournament Baits is now Xzone Lures, web site has been overhauled, but nothing else has changed. Translation - those baits are still winners!

Strange how they don't even know the name of Canal Lake, it's just 'unnamed water body'.

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS! All kidding aside, I did start getting out for a mall walk each morning, but it seemed to be no help at all. Then a blood test revealed that for some reason my B12 level had basically disappeared, so now I'm on a regimen of shots and supplements. Hopefully I'll have a bit more energy soon.

I solemnly resolved to drink a little more, loaf around a little more, and fish a little more. Now that the ice is out I'll get cracking on #3.

A local once told me that some of the best fishing around there is right off the town dock, at the west end of the bridge. I tried it with the kids and it was good for panfish, my wife got a small pike when she chucked a Rapala under the bridge.

Used to have a lot of fun fishing for chipmunks, I think the chipmunks got a kick out of it too!

Here's a web page with all sorts of baitfish found in Ontario, you'll see that some of them look a lot like the round goby - Link

Whoa, not so fast on automatically stomping the goby. There are quite a few native species in the sculpin and darter family that look similar, make certain you have a round goby before applying the boots. The identifier is a black spot at the rear base of the front dorsal fin, and from that pic it may just have one, but it's hard to tell for sure. If it is - STOMPAGE!

Yeah, sure, you're just trying to keep us away from your honey-holes. Screw that, I'm putting on a par of chest-waders and going... holy crap... just a sec... glub, glub, glub...

2011 regulations for Zone 16, under the heading 'Rainbow trout, Brown trout, and Pacific salmon open all year' (page 80), says 'Rouge River - City of Toronto between Hwy. 2 and Lake Ontario'. So the upper limit is not the 401 but Kingston Rd., a wee bit further north. It does not specify the north or south side of the Hwy. 2 bridge. Glen Rouge campground is still north of that, so if they were targeting or keeping those species I would say they were breaking the law. But I can't find anything that says suckers, or other species not covered by the regulations, are off limits to fishing. The Rouge River is not mentioned in 'Exceptions to Zone 16 Regulations', pages 80 to 83.

As long as there's a hole in the ice big enough for a canoe I call it the start of open water season! Man, I hate the cold...

The 'running on water', also called liquid mountaineering, has been exposed as fake.

Sounds like a blast, what a way to start the open water season! Prettiest member of the entire canidae family, in my not so humble opinion.

Okay, THAT could be 'quote of the year'!

I do, but I've been thinking of cutting back to just twice from three times. Getting older does that.

Strikezone Slammers, great baits! Link

Title tells all. It seems to be entirely surrounded by private lane, but wondered if any of you experts knew differently. Tried the 'search' option, someone asked a similar question on here 4 years ago but there were no replies.

Drive south on West Shore Boulevard until you can't go any further, turn left to go east, and keep driving until you see a sandy launch area on the north side of the road. It's free, and so is the parking.

FedEx clears up a loose end from the movie Castaway.

One of my favourite places. I love BPS, but I'm also a firm believer in supporting the local shops.

Ah yes, the Falls View. Food quality isn't 5-star, but it's still good, and the selection is quite varied, Greek food, Italian, English/North American, basic burgers, I can't see anyone going here and not being able to find something they like. And the view is terrific!