Big Cliff

I hear ya BUT! Were you put in any danger or were you just ticked off because they bothered you? I live right near a reasonably busy chanel and you would be surprised how many fishing boats insist on fishing in the chanel or close to it. If other boaters slowed down every time they came near a fishing boat, they would never get up on plane. Often, slowing down and taking your boat off plane results in a bigger wake than staying on plane. That doesn't mean that commonsense shouldn't apply, a couple of kids in an canoe shouldn't be out in a busy chanel but they do it sometimes. Right or wrong, they don't deserve to get swamped. In fact, you could get charged! Perhaps slowing down and explaining to them that they aren't in a very safe place might be a good option. Safe or not though, they do have a right to be there and in most cases you are obliged to approach and pass them in a safe manner and give them the right of way. Now, some idiot buzzing around you at full speed when you are fishing or cutting closer to you than they need to...... well, that is called dangerous operation and if you can get their registration # and report it, they could get charged!

I know there will be a lot of you heading out this week, please be careful both on the road and on the water. Depending on what the surgeon has to say tomorrow I may be dropping by to spend some time with you on the weekend! I'm keeping my fingures crossed! Good fishing!

I fished and guided on the Lower French for many years, the fishing can be excellent but the rapids can be a real challange and very dangerous for someone that doesn't know where they are going. I would suggest that if you are going to fish the lower French, you either hire a guide for your first day or find someone that knows the area really well and will actually take you down and up the shoot for one or two trips. Once you start down there is no turning back and if you make a mistake, you can do a lot more than damage your boat. Solopaddler is right, the Delta has perhaps some of the best fishing I have seen anywhere and you can put walleye in the boat almost any time of the day. There are some really big fish hiding in the back eddies just waiting for a free meal to come drifting by. I don't know the Upper French very well at all, I have only fished it a couple of times but I have fished both up stream and down stream from Lacair with my son on a few occasions and we have always managed to put some nice fish in the boat, I guess I would suggest the Upper French more from a safety perspective for a first timer without a guide. As for the rattle snakes, well, as I said, lived there, worked in the bush, camped, fished, had one or two try to come at me but never got bitten. MNR will tell you they are not agressive; Bull turd, I have seen a few of them be quite agressive. Just keep your eyes open and be careful.

Boy, it is so hard to make a recomendation, there are just so many variables; type of fishing you are doing, water clarity your style of fishing....... I fish walleye most of the time and prefer drift fishing or casting to weed beds. Line type can make the difference between getting hits or not. For the type of fishing I do, the more invisable the line, the better. Now, if I was fishing pike or bass, it would be a very different story, a good quality braid is going to put more fish in the boat because it is less likely to break off especially if there is any cover around for those pike to head for. Up until this year I hadn't used leaders much so I rigged one of my rods with a braid and am going to try using a fluorocarbon leader on it. The strength and durability of a braid, the invisability of a fluorocarbon. I'll let you know how I do.

Hope I'm not too late! Have a wonderful and safe trip, looking forward to all those pictures when you return!

Guelph Lake has smoe nice crappies and perch in it too, I would be trying some very small spinners or some small jigs cast around cover.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "fell off the back of a truck" LOL. I would put an add in the paper, you might get a really good deal on one that would match your set exactly!

Thanks GCD. The water clarity here is quite good most of the time, zebra mussels have really done a good job of that even in the past 5 years or so, I have noticed a change. Also, this year we haven't had much rain or strong winds to muck things up. So far I have only used the Fluoro on spinning equipment. I understand the importance of line when fishing clear water, when I lived in the French River, I would almost always outfish everyone in the boat even when using the same bait etc. Not because I was a better fisherman but because they would be fishing with 10 or 12 lb test mono and I would be using 4-6 lb test in the smallest diameter I could find. After all the reports, I am anxious to try this P-Line and I have one bait casting rod that I spooled with a braid last year, I like the line for strength and durability but have found that when the water is clear, I don't have as many hits on it, I am going to try using a fluoro leader on it and see if that helps.

Well, Dutch, first of all, take heart, you didn't get a house that would have been a money pit. Good thing you had a home inspection! Sue and I lost out on a few places when we were looking for a variety of reasons, in hindsight, I'm glad we did because this place turned out to be much better than any of the previous ones. As for realestate agents, they are no different than anyone else, there are good and bad. The best thing you can do is do your home work before selecting one. Was this one refered to you by someone you knew and trusted? Just like choosing a mechanic, lawyer, or any other professional to help you, you should know what you are getting, just because they passed the test doesn't mean they are any good. When we bought this place, our agent saved us thousands of dollars and took care many details for us. The agent we used to sell our other home in Milton also did a fantastic job by helping us determine a proper selling price, we ended up with two people bidding on our house and actually got more than what we expected and almost to the dollar of what she told us we would get. So, in my experience, choose well and you will do well! I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get your dream home but now you can take some time to look and make sure that the next time you do put in an offer you are getting exactly what you think you are getting. In the mean time, I'll bet that pool would make a good bass pond LOL!

Since I only use a 4-6 lb test line anyway I don't see much point in using a 6 lb leader. I think I will probably stick with the monos, I have had really good luck with them over the years. Misfish thanks for the very kind offer, I will get one spool of the P-Line to try and let you know what I think of it.

Ahhh, thanks for all the kind and encouraging replies! It means a lot! I don't know about Lacair, I see the surgeon on Monday afternoon and he will let me know then what I can or can't do. Right now just getting in and out of a car is quite uncomfortable, I have no idea what a 4+ hour drive would be like for me. I guess I'll just have to play that one by ear. As for the fishing.... well, as long as I don't try to bend over to net anything I should be OK, I may give it a try tonight.

A couple of weeks ago I posted about trying Berkley's new Fluorocarbon line Transitions. I wasn't very happy with it, especially the castability of it. I had also sent berkley an email telling them of my findings and my impression of the product. I thought the concept was good but was disapointed in the quality of the product. I put a fair amount of time and effort into providing them with product codes and everything and explaining in detail what I had experienced. Berkley US did respond to my email with some very helpfull information but that information also confirmed the problems I had been having with the product weren't uncommon. Berkley US then refered me to their Canadian Distributor who kindly emailed me and asked me to call them at their toll free number. Well, I did try many times but when I could never get through to the person I was supposed to speak to I finally gave up and just sent him an email explaning that I had tried on many occasions to no avail. The other day I received a package by courier, it contained a replacement spool of line, Vanish, not the Transitions, no note or anything else, just a spool of line. I guess I shouldn't complain but I really feel that someone wasn't listening. I didn't like the product, they didn't send me a replacement for what I bought, incase I just got a bad spool or old stock, just a different product. I will give this spool a try but if it is no better than the previous one I won't be using Berkely fluorocarbons again.

Last Friday evening I started to have a bit of pain in my stomach, nothing serious but I noticed a lump protruding from my stomach about the size of a walnut and I wondered if it was a cist or abscess. Not to worry, I am Big Cliff; I am tough nothing a good night sleep won’t cure. By Saturday morning the pain had increased to the point where any pressure in the area hurt quite a bit. Oh well, life must go on and I had things to do so I did them. I did however stop in at the walk in clinic and a nice Dr. there looked at it, decided it was some sort of an infection and gave me a prescription for antibiotics. Saturday evening we were out for dinner at friends but by now the pain was getting really bad, we called it an early evening I dropped Sue off at home and I and I decided to drop in to emergency at the hospital and get a second opinion. Turned out to be a wise move! By 10:30 pm the first Dr. had been in to see me and they had me hooked up to IV. By 11:00 pm they had a second Dr. in to see me and confirm the diagnosis, and by 11:30 pm the surgeon had been in to see me and tell me that they were going to prep me for surgery. Turned out I had a “strangulated hernia” (the abdominal tissue and possibly the bowl had breached the mussel and twisted; it was trapped there and could soon start to die if not relieved quickly). Now you should understand that at 61, I have never had any sort of operation other than little things where a local anaesthetic was needed, and I had never had a general anaesthetic, I have to admit I was kind of scared but the people around me were doing everything they could to help me relax. By 12:00 am I was parked on a stretcher outside the operating room while they waited for the last of the surgical team to arrive (Lindsay is a small town they were all in bed sleeping when they got the call). Since I had only eaten supper a few hours before they were concerned that I might have a problem with the anaesthetic and they decided to freeze my throat in case they had to install an airway during the surgery. To do this, they had to sit me up on the stretcher so I had one lovely nurse standing behind me supporting me and talking to me, she kept rubbing my back (I didn’t get your name but thank you so much, it was a little thing that brought so much comfort when I really just needed someone there to hold my hand so to speak) The stuff to freeze your throat is awful tasting stuff, it was making me gag, and I was having trouble swallowing, at one point I remember gasping “I can’t swallow”! and I think I might have started to panic. The anaesthesiologist looked at me and smiled and said “it’s OK; I’m going to give you something to help you relax”. I remember seeing him insert the hypodermic into the IV tube and that was it (whatever happened to count backwards LOL) until I woke up in the recovery room somewhere around 2:30 am. By about 3:00 am they were moving me to a room on the surgical floor, the nurses were fantastic, morphine if and when I wanted it, anything at all, just ask (as if they hadn’t done enough already). There was another younger man already in the room, Scott, who kindly offered to get me water and even managed to find me a cup of coffee long before the cafeteria was opened. What a nice young man, never met him before but he treated me like I was family, offered to let me use his cell phone to let Sue know where I was (she knew I had gone to the hospital but I hadn’t let the nurses tell her about the surgery) She would have only spent the night sitting at the hospital worrying. Anyway, by Sunday evening I was home, a cute smiley face under my belly button with 11 shinny silver teeth, a little sore, can’t do any lifting for a while but I’m well on the road to recovery thanks to the wonder people at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay!

Brian, that is sad news! Perhaps it is an opportunity for you to step up to the plate now and help your aunt and your father. There are some really good resources available at American Cancer Society and also at Canadian Cancer Society There is a lot of information that will help you to help them. In the meantime, prayers are sent. be strong!

Got me grinning ear to ear Dustin, Nice looking family tou have there! Congrats to you all!

You have PM.

A very well thought out and well written response. I owned my own business for many years and know how important good customer service is but I also realize that crap happens and you can't please everyone all the time. By the same token, I can understand how someone who has saved all year to get away for a week could be frustrated or disheartened when the week doesn't go quite the way they had hoped regardless of who's fault it is. Guess it just proves that there are usually two sides to every story.

Don't you people ever sleep?

CTC has cedar planks on this week @ 2/$5.99.

Ah, I am a man of many tallents LOL!

I can only imagine the heart ache you are feeling right now. Good luck on finding that good home for him!

Nice report, glad you tied into a few!

I'm not sure where I got this one from (some cooking show most likely) Hope this helps. 1 cedar plank (6 by 14 inches) 2 salmon fillets (1 1/2 pounds total) Salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 tablespoons Dijon mustard 6 tablespoons brown sugar Soak cedar plank in salted water for 2 hours, then drain. Remove skin from salmon fillet. Remove any remaining bones. Rinse the salmon under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Generously season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. Lay the salmon (on what was skin-side down) on the cedar plank and carefully spread the mustard over the top and sides. Place the brown sugar in a bowl and crumble between your fingers, then sprinkle over the mustard. Set grill for indirect grilling and heat to medium-high. Place the cedar plank in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat. Cover the grill and cook until cooked through, around 20 to 30 minutes. The internal temperature should read 135 degrees F. Transfer the salmon and plank to a platter and serve right off the plank. Cook's Note: A direct method to grill the salmon may be used. Soak the cedar plank well. Spread the mustard and brown sugar on the salmon, but do not place the fish on the plank. Set up the grill for direct grilling on medium-high. When ready to cook, place the plank on the hot grate and leave it until there is a smell of smoke, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the plank over and place the fish on top. Cover the grill and cook until the fish is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 135 degrees F. Check the plank occasionally. If the edges start to catch fire, mist with water, or move the plank to a cooler part of the grill.

Glad you got it figured out. You are quite welcome, always glad to help when I can! There are no strangers here, just some OFNr's that you haven't met yet and we all help each other. Your turn will come LOL. keep my number handy. Big Cliff

Don't spend too much time on it, I can probably have it fixed in about 20 minutes, I've had lots of practice. Hwy. 36 from Lindsay to Bobcaygeon. About 5 minutes out of Lindsay turn left onto Snug Harbour Rd. our address is 313 Snug Harbour Rd. Call and let me know if you are coming and about what time so I'll be sure to be here. 705-328-0750 Cell 705-879-1765