4x4bassin

We are getting a bad squall blowing through right now in my area ,so Barrie your next !

Very nice Steve , That ice looks a little sketch to me ! Are you still using the pearl coloured swammers or having better luck with another colour ?

Sitting here thinking about my annual late spring trip into my favorite lake trout lake and was wondering something,This first trip of the year is always a great time except for the blackflies . Some years they are not so bad but other years as you all know can be brutal. I was trying to get some info. on the thermacell but found nothing really on it and how it works with blackflies just mosquitoes. Does anyone here have any good/bad experiences with the thermacell and blackflies ? Thanks

That is the exact reason why I don't like to fish Simcoe ,even though it has a world class fishery I would rather drive the extra couple hours north and be away from it all. That is just BRUTAL

Very nice lakers guys , that second video is great

Like others have said , no need for riggers in the spring. The lake trout will be in the upper water column (50F-55F water temp. is key)so really all you need is a deep diving minnow bait like a Rapala Tail Dancer or something like that and let out "alot" of line because the lakers will scatter once the boat goes by but almost always come back . I use to go with the heavy inline trolling weights and spoons but found that there was no need for this setup in the spring.If you do go with the inline weight system I wouldn't go any heavier than 1oz. and a flashy williams (Trophy 2 has been good for me,lots of flash/wobble)and troll real slowwwww for both setups.Remember lake trout almost always feed above them so dragging a spoon under them in deep water reduces your chances of hooking up ! Once the surface temps. start exceeding past 65F (June in central Ontario) then the lakers start moving deeper and that is when you start with the heavier weights or riggers and a good finder will help alot at this time of year as well to find the deep holes in a lake , the lake trout will almost always be in that deep basin or around it come early summer and into late summer. Believe it or not but I have had my best laker fishing in late August when the fish are schooled up on the ledges and deep basins and I was able to find them on the lowrance and send down a heavy bucktail jig (1oz) and catch them in 50-100 feet of water, that my friend is fun and the way to do it but can be difficult/frustrating until you get the hang of it. Good luck with the trolling and thanks alot for getting the spring lake trout fever going so soon , I love catching those fish !

We were fishing just north of Huntsville and there was lots of snow (12") Sleds were buzzing around as well ! I found that during the drive up it varied with lots of snow around my place and Barrie ,then not so much just north of Barrie then more around Huntsville and north.

So true Roy , so true

Headed out early yesterday for a small speck lake to try our luck. It was really cold out -20C when I left home and when we got to the lake it was -25C BRRRRRRR We tried everything but only managed a couple hits (minnow thieves) all day. It was a long day but even though it was cold it was a brilliant day to spend on a wilderness lake in central Ontario. I'm not sure but I will blame the fisless day on the temps. because I know there is lots of specks in there ! I will be back . The ice conditions were good with 5" of black ice and 4" of white and surprising there was a fair amount of slush.One of my friends got a little to close to a muskrat house/bog and actually went through,lucky for him it was only 3' deep . It is amazing how little ice there is around those things and close to shore , lesson learned !!!! Sorry for no pictures , camera didn't make it out yesterday.

Thanks alot everyone , outstanding tips ! I'm sure they will help alot of people here . About the stocking , I have a couple friends in the Parry Sound/Bracebridge MNR so I will ask them .

I am going to try my hand this weekend for some specks and I'm heading out in the next couple days to get some supplies . I have a couple things to try but I thought I would ask here before heading out on what to use in the way of lures or your "go to bait/lures" These speck reports that are being posted have got me chomping at the bit !!! Thanks everyone

Thanks for the info. guys , i'm going to try a couple places this week .

I am trying to find a hunting bell (small cow bell) for my springer but I can't seem to find one anywhere . I have seen them on the web but was hoping for a store in the area. I have tried bear bells on her but they get snow in them and you can't hear them and if there is no snow once she is 30 feet away in the bush you can't hear her anymore. Thanks

Nice fish , if you don't mind me asking what was the bait/lure of choice ? I'm heading out to a similar lake next week to try for some specks for the first time through the ice.

Great report , that is some great landscape don't you think

They are starlings ,and they create havoc around my blue bird boxes in the spring . A real pain in the ass!!!

Beautiful dog and good on you for rescuing him , congrats

I'm not sure what your situation is but if you don't plan on using the atv much other than plowing snow it won't be worth it in my opinion , i'm lucky enough to have both a blower and an atv/plow and the blower is hands down better for getting the snow off the drive and "out of the way" I use the plow for getting the job done quick and for under 15 cm but get the blower out for anything over 15-20 cm. Something to consider.

Those are some great videos Mike , these first impressions of the great outdoors and fishing for the young guy will last a lifetime. He is hooked forever , good job

I use a suzuki 300 to push snow around and we get alot here and it does the job well,It is of course 4x4 and has a locking diff. which helps but like tb4me said I would go with something a little bigger ,say a 400-500 just so you have some more power to get through those drifts ! O ya do you have some where to put the snow when you plow it off your driveway because you will run out of room in a hurry if we get alot of snow, also an understanding town plow driver always helps because I put alot of snow down the side of the road and he takes it away ! Good luck

I always enjoy your reports here and in the mag. and yes i'm in on the contest,thanks Justin !

Those are some nice fish , congrats !

My condolences to you and your family

Great video , thanks

Happy Birthday Lew Cheers