Clampet

I hear Williams Wobblers, Meegs, Simcoe Bug. They say that a Williams Wobbler laid to rest on the bottom in aprox 75 feet then lifted just enough to barely get the hooks to come off the bottom is what was enticing the Whitefish to hit it. And... they were not tipping the spoon with any bait. Here are some threads I found for you: 1. Have found that the bite on hardware has been slower then usual with minnows on light line getting more action. Currently getting Trout and Whitefish working different area's from 53' (on rock) to over 87' on a soft bottom. A nice chunky Laker nailed a #9 Jigging rap with 1/2 a minnow worked slowly bouncing off the bottom in 77 fow. 2. A Ling Cod (Burbot) was a huge surprize while working for Whitefish.... it hammered a Silver/Blk jigging Rap 3. A nice Whitefish also hit a Rap in the same area as the Ling 4. I'm having more success fishing Raps and Meegs then my favourite Williams.

Well, Miss Hathaway and I attended the Tyler Meet and Greet in Alcona, Innisfil, On. Gotta say Maureen (Motivator) did a real great job of organizing the event. Everything went without a hitch. Food was well prepared and hot. The guys, BPS Bassman, Big Cliff, and I’m sorry I’m terrible with names, did a great job of serving the vittels. Got to meet and see the following OFC Board members: Terry, Fishnsled, Beans, TonyB, Lexxington, Loonietoon, Ladywalleye, Big Chev 4x4, Dave Masse, Bowshep, Gerritt, Cliff and Carole and their daughter, Mr JR, Joey and Tybo, and of course Maureen, and Tyler. After registering, Catherine and I headed out onto the Lake, and walked for about 15 minutes and I guess maybe ¾ of a mile out, slightly away from the slight congestion of huts. In the midst of setting up shop, Dave Masse and Bowshep, stopped by on their way out. Unfortunately, when they started to walk away, Bowshep stepped into this large (14”) diameter hole not 5 feet from where I was standing. It was concealed under a thin layer of snow and ice. Anyway, he took a fall, and his leg went down up to past his knee. He took a soaking. Dave decided that he and Bowshep should return to shore immediately, as his leg started to freeze up. So they turned around and headed back to shore. A quick end to their outing. Anyway got the Tarpus Maximus set-up. And, you guessed it, about 30 minutes later the wind decided to switch from the North to the West North West. So I took out Tarpus Minimus and married (co-joined) it to Maximus to created Tarpus Supremus. This evolution took care of the situation. Did not get a bite, but today was about Tyler, and that made it all worthwhile. Here's Tyler taking a mini break:

Yeah, that's what I need alright.

Got the slow-cooker going fer when I return. Trouble gettin' granny up.

Thanks for the update. 8 inches huh? There you have it boys and girls. Eight inches of ice is not enough fer haulin huts and fer vehicles.

Thanks fer the heads up.

Good pre-fish report Glen. We are all exited!

Why you goin' to Gilford? That guy will be open, in a convenience store, just as you round the corner comin in to Gilford. Heres the number: 705-456-7672 There's also bait in Innisfil.

Cleveland HO!

Just read in the latest Ontario Out of Doors mag that MPP Ernie Parsons will be putting through Bill 156 to permit the hunting of the Double Crested Cormorants in Ontario. Of course, animal activists are trying to stop this "private members" bill. "Collectively it is estimated that the 450,000 to 500,000 cormorants in the Great Lakes basin consume 42 million pounds of fish each year, which has caused a serious erosion of fish stocks in some areas," said Mike Reader, OFAH's executive director. They go on to say that their effect "has reduced some islands in Lake Ontario and the Manitoulin area to burned out shells". My rant is: Why did it take so long"? The Hunters and Anglers have been complaining about this for what, 15-20 years. So now they decide to do something. I know, better late than never, but why don't they take faster action, instead of waiting till there is serious collateral damage incurred?

Ketchup chips happen to be a favourite of Pamela Anderson. She expressed the same concern a few years ago, because she had to bring her own from Canada.

Wow Keram, now that's what I call a donation! Yer a fine board member!

Thanks Edward. Buy something neat!

What Joey said.

Dang (Kin I say that too?) Granny an I were lookin' forward to meetin' Tha Dougster, also known as dooGle. Hope you get better soon.

Buddy, were all headin' to Innisfil Beach fer the very Important: "Fishing For Tyler" charity event. Do you read this Board?

Well, at least you "BROKE THE ICE" !

Does anyone use a technique known as BACKREELING, in order to land large fish hooked on light line? This would not apply to baitcasting equipment where 30- 50 lb Powerpro line is used. I understand that with that type of set-up, you just horse the fish into the boat. No, I'm talkin' here about hooking a large (10lb +) fish, on say... 6lb test line on a spinning reel. One wrong move, one quick surge of the fish, and sssssssssssssssssssnnnnnnaaap goes the line. Never mind about smooth drags, they are a compromise. By compromise, I mean this: You can set the drag to slip at boatside distance, as prolly most of you do. Now take that same drag setting, and see what happens when you hook a large fish, say 10 to 20 yards out, say, while trolling. That's right... it won't slip now. Now your rod is describing the big C bend, while you frantically start loosening the drag, to alleviate pressure on that 6lb test line. Then what happens? Well, if you are fortunate enough to get the fish closer to the boat, you will notice that now the drag is too loose, as you turn the handle the spool is turning also and you are not gaining any line, just adding more line twist. This ever happen to you? What do you think is the solution?

Well, decided to head out today to a different spot. Got there around 10:45 AM, walked fer about 20 minutes, beautiful day, did not need to wear heavy clothing while walking just too warm. I avoided setting up around a huge conglomeration of Ice Shanties. Elected to stay away from the crowd. Did not need Tarp today, very nice. Made my first hole. Tipped offering with a nice lively shiner. Caught a small Perch, and put it back down the hole. There were some green weeds there. Every now and then I would snag them and bring them up and throw them beside the hole. After about 15 minutes decided to move about 20 paces. Caught another 3 Perch, then nothing for about 10 minutes. Decided to move again about 40 paces. Drill the hole, use the scoop to remove the ice from hole. Bait the lure, lower it to the bottom, crank a half turn on the reel handle to raise the lure slightly off bottom.....then......tick...I feel something, could be a weed, but I just hold the rod steady, neither pulling nor giving any slack. Then I notice a slight pulling, very slowly. I say to myself this is a fish. I know from the way it is pulling it is not one of those dinky Perch. So I pull very slowly and steadily upwards. Now I get the full gist of what is happening. It feels like a pail full of cement. There is a large fish on. I am exited. Anyway I take my anti-reverse off my spinning reel, as I do not trust drags, especially in colder temps. So for the next 15 minutes I am engaging this fish. I pump it up about 5 feet, it pulls back, I back reel just enough to keep the line from parting, and keep enough tension so that the hook doesn't come out. I tell ya, my arm was getting sore. I tried to give it a break by holding the rod with my left hand but just for a few seconds. What a fight. This thing was heavy. I could feel the weight when I pulled on it. I don't think I had it foul hooked sideways, as I felt it bite initialy, suggesting I had it hooked in the mouth. So, I'm thinking, if I can get this thing up to the hole, will it fit? Visions of a gaff hook come to mind, but I don't have one. I begin considering hollering to the nearby anglers fishing out of the rental huts, but dismiss that idea, as I don't want to be beholding to any strangers. I start to think that this thing, whatever it is, prolly won't fit thru my 6 inch ice hole. But no time fer that, I am still reefing on this thing, and it it is pulling back too. So after about 15 minutes I notice that there is no longer any give. I figure that the fish has reached the hole. I try pulling, nope it is solid. I try to give a bit of slack, but none is taken. I figure the damn fish is crossways under the ice, so I reach fer one of my tarp poles un my sleigh. I manage to get a pole loose from the velcro, and with one hand I hold the rod, and with the other I carefully push the pole down the hole. I try swishing the pole around, trying to feel the fish. But I feel nothing. The line is angled (there's that word angle) down the hole and probably hooked to the edge of the hole, I reason cause there is no longer any pulling from the fish, and I cannot get the line to budge. I break it off after a few minute of trying, and pack everything up and begin the walk back to shore. I make it to the car at 2:59 Pm. I landed a 19 lb Pike in the French River some time ago, and this fish that I lost today felt considerably heavier.

She's a beaut. Which store did you purchase it from?

Here is a picture of my Dad. He was born in 1895, and was 60 years of age when I was born. He passed away in 1969 when I was 13 years old. He was a heck of a guy who was loved by everyone who knew him. When I was a kid, people would ask me, "Who are you" when I replied, their faces would always light up, and they would say things like, "Boy, I really liked your father, he was the greatest guy, he was a joker, he helped a lot of people", etc, etc. My father knew he would not live long enough to see me grow up. He spent most of his time trying to instruct me, in the ways of life. He could not do any physical activities with me because he had a bad leg, and was also partly hunchbacked. I remember he had a job as a Watchman at the Sawmill, our town at the time had the third largest sawmill in Canada. My mom, and I would bring him a hot lunch, around 5:00 O'clock, and after he ate, he would take me and mom behind the Planer building, which abbuted onto Lake Nipissing's Cache Bay, where he had stowed a couple of long poles outfitted with that green heavy gauge dacron fishing line, hooks and sinkers. He also had the worms nearby. I remember catching Pike and Sunfish, all I had to do was lift the pole, and because of it's 8-9 foor lenght, the fish would come swinging in and hit the back wall. Anyhow, here is a picture of him when he was 22 years old, that would be 1917...

You may want to investigate this website: http://www.tno.on.ca/fishing.htm The Clearwater-Pipestone Chain of Lakes The Clearwater-Pipestone chain is long, narrow, and sprinkled with islands (about 75 miles from end to end), so inclement weather does not necessarily keep the fishermen from their favourite pastime. Unlike some of the larger lakes, both shores are always visible. Reefs are few and marked. No navigational charts are needed on these waters. Clearwater (Burditt) Lake Our home lake is 77' at the deepest. Excellent bass, northern, perch, and walleye. Muskie hunters should head for the north end of the lake. Pipestone Lake A short ride over a mechanical portage and you are on one of the areas deepest lakes. Up to 275' deep. Great for trout, muskie, bass, walleye and northerns. Many local people say that Pipestone hold's the world record Muskie.

Here's a link showing the filleting process fer Pike: http://books.google.ca/books?vid=ISBN08657...TJg93ZeiGXtScbI

I've been one fer a long time.

I think the idea there is to lie the fish along the bottom of the trough, and have the measuring tape glued to the upper side out of the fish slime.