bigugli

I don't know how many of you are pet owners and animal lovers. We currently have 2 dogs and a kitten. For years I have always been worried about one of the dogs getting hooked or snagged. Always ragging on the son to put his tackle away Well the young kitten got into the son's stack of rods and got stuck on a rattling bait, a Frenzy, that he left tied on. I knew nothing til the one dog came upstairs whining and talking and kept running to the stairs. There was the kitten caught up in the rods and lines with one treble through the lip and one in the paw, as frantic as all can be. Took a few minute to untangle her from the rods and cut the lure off the line while holding her firmly so as to not hook herself or me any further and busted the treble off the lure. Down to the vet to sedate the cat and punch the barbs through without the cat suffering any further. The cat will be fine. I just have to pay off the vet with some fillets in trade. Don't know why my son chose to ignore my warnings. He had a dog that chased baits all the time. I'm sure I will calm down later, but his lures will be put away or his St Croix rods will be out on the stret

I guess it would depend on how tough things get. I don't think it will change too much. Simply put, modern Canadians have gotten too used to supermarket conveniences. As an example, I went to an annual fishing camp in the spring on Nippissing. We decided that every body should do all their own filleting rather than dumping it on 3 of us. Now there are 40 guys there. At the fish fry us fish carvers were smart enough to keep our fillets separate. Let the other guys spit out bones How many people actually know how to carve meat off a quarter? Those skills are lost to most people. So I don't see the catch ratios getting too high.

We are not, repeat, not, crazy. If anything the rest of this society has come off its hinges. We still recognize and feel a zest for life. The challenge and thrill of the primordial hunt, and the satisfaction of a successful outing. No different than the farmer who prides himself on the fruits of his labours. We need to produce and succeed. It is part of our instinct. Far too many people live in an electronic, computer generated, world of fiction and fantasy. Phony reality shows where we watch a group of fools create their own little soap operas in paradise while millions watch the circus. We, on the other hand, are very alive and real. Our pleasures are found in a real world. As one psych prof put it. Insanity comes from a) the inability to distinguish the difference between fiction and reality, and the transposition of fantasy over reality. Who cares if the rest of the world can't figure it out.

I learned a number of years back that life is far too short to spend time waiting for good weather, the right moment,other people's schedules, or my family to wake up. Paradise is calling. I don't care what species I'm after as long as I'm outdoors and sucking in the clean fresh air. And there is a special rush I get when that air is cold.

After feeding my clan? HA! HA! HA! Piranhas leave more scraps. I thought I had cooked enough to have leftovers for brekkie

Considering the wind you guys did O.K. Beats sitting in the house.

I didn't get BIG waiting for the fish to clean themselves Besides I get a lot of practice.

Just some biker lost his way from the clubhouse. Easy to mistake for a lumbering bear after a few too many

That is one beautiful specimen.

Thank you GCD However I don't like to expose my fishies too much. Here they are , all dressed up with somewheres to go

As the family all lay comatose in the house, I grabbed the trusty backpack and gear and went wandering. First stop was St. Catharines to net me a bucket of shinners. Then it was off to Welland to hit the Rec canal. We started at a couple of places that usually surrender a few smallies. No disappointment there. By 11 is really started to blow, so drop shotting was suddenly a bust. Went further down the canal to one of the decent prching holes. Hard to feel the bite in the wind, but I still managed to land 20 odd, and kept enough eaters for tonight's dinner. By 3:30 it finally started to rain and I called it a day. Good thing too. The sky went black and stayed that way ever since. We're getting lots of T-boomers and hail.

Jump fishing for silver bass on L. Erie years back. would watch for the surface action, run in and hit 10-20 minutes of action. Would have 2 rods baited to get a couple of quick catches in case the school moved. All of the panfish will behave like that at different time. Crappie, even Gills

Hadn't been able to find them down my way so I settled for the Hushpuppies. I also remember Clark Wallabees only too well. The first pair lasted 6 years. 2nd pair only 6 months, but man were they comfortable.

They've been around since the late 50's. Suede with a crepe rubber sole, made by Hushpuppies. I still wear a pair. Not quite as comfy as my mocs, but better for city walking.

Amen on the Pfleuger President reels. Best reels ever were my 300A and my Gramps old Luxor. The Mitchell sits in glass now that the bail spring is gone, but the Luxor still works fine. As for worst reels, anything made by Mitchell today. Nothing but cheap shiny trash that won't hold up to 6 months use. I bought into the 300X and the 310ultralite because they were "better than the old 300's could ever be". The salespersons staked their reputation on it. After 6 months the gears on the 300X started to grind. 2 months later the reverse lock on the 310 was pooched. Went back to the store and got nowhere. Was then told I should have bought a Stradic. Needless, I don't shop there any more. Sradics are a nice reel but the bail wires have a habit of breaking. Weak weld and wire too thin.

Amazing report fellas. Great catch of fish. Doug, what is it with Finns and singing. Were we all brought up watching Hymn Sing on CBC?

The entire lineup of the Philadelphia goon squad. They were busy keeping Bobby Clark from getting beat up.

I've got my 2 dogs well trained. They kicked the wife out of the bed some time ago I need my sleep

Yer on your way to becoming to becoming a reel fishhead, like the rest of us junkies. By the way, you'll learn there is no such thing as a non-fishing season. But for the colder months invest in the survival suit. They insulate as well as keep you afloat. The Mustang suit is so warm that a couple of my buds wear nothing but a smile inside the suits. It doesn't take much to suffer from hypothermia from fall through to spring if you don't prepare for the weather. Enjoy the addiction, and to help avoid the "skunk" have a couple of plan "B"s for when the target species won't co-operate. Who cares what species you catch as long as you're out fishing.

I know what you mean. I grew up in the Skokas when pike and (in the old days) pickerel were plentiful and easy to catch. Down here perch are plentiful and you have to work at the pike and walleye.

Good night Mrs Calabash. Wherever you are! Haa chaa, chaadachaa!

They can't behave like a wet blanket all the time The young princes seem to have the same spark of mischief that Uncle Andy had. He was a real s---e disturber at times. Of course, the Windsors all have the same problem when it comes to keeping things buttoned up "in" their trousers

"Here comes Shack down the track" . How could anyone forget Eddie and his beaten and battered shnozz I've forgotten how many times he got that thing broken in the game.

. Saw the bottom line and had to spend 3 minutes cleaning off the screen