Big Cliff

I stopped by yesterday, only saw a couple of them, I think the spawn is just starting here.

Had a few chores to do yesterday then I decided to check out a few of my favorite spots for fiddle heads and crappie. Well, it's way too early for the fiddle heads (up here at least) and I didn't have much better luck with the crappie. I checked out a spot I know on Pigeon lake, water level is way too low yet and there is still plenty of ice on the lake. Cameron Lake had a few open spots but I couldn't get a bite. I was about to head over to check out a couple of spots I know on Sturgeon Lake when the sky opened up. Oh well we have a couple of warm days coming up and I think I'll check out Sturgeon Lake today, got to get me some fresh fish ?

Any time Bruce, just let me know when. I'm going up North next weekend to spend Easter with the kids and see if we can find some smelts but apart from that I should be around! Have fishing rod, will travel ?

Good reminder! ?

Ok, now you have made me hungry, guess I'll have to go see if I can find some open water and a few crappie ?

So nice to hear from you too Cliff, I came across the CD you gave me years ago with some of your music on it, brought back some wonderful memories! If you ever feel like a road trip up this way I'd love to see you guys again. Just made me think of the time Sidney went swimming in our big bath tub with a life jacket on ? so many wonderful memories!

Tried that one time (fish guts) came out the next morning and my garden was all dug up. ?

I don't know about down here but up North it's usually about the 2nd or 3rd week in April.

My son got down this morning and it was so cold and windy we decided to go over and check the show out, small but I actually thought it was pretty good! Some of the prices weren't as good as I had hoped. I was surprised to see a fire arms dealer from Bradford there, he had some interesting stuff. Had a great talk with Brook Schryer from the OFAH about invasive species, some good information!

Well I don't usually go to these shows but I am going to try to hit this one on Sunday just to support it.

A huge thank you to Garnet who not only came through with some roe but even aranged for his buddy Rob to deliver it right to my door. That's going above and beyond, I really appreciate it!

Thanks Bill, tried that last year, guys with roe were catching, we didn't get a hit. Could be we just didn't know what we were doing. I haven't been since Photoz and I used to hit the tribs years ago. Sure do miss that man, he was one of a kind!

Looks like Garnet has fixed me up but that's a very kind offer, thank you!

Would love to!!!!

Yes I can, (well sort of), I do have the sac material and thread ? if you can help it would be very much appreciated!

My son is coming down Friday to spend a few days with me, he has never caught a rainbow or salmon and I would love to let him experience that thrill. Problem is I don't have any roe and can't seem to find a place where I can buy some. Do any of you know where I can buy some roe, I only need enough to tie about a half dozen sacks. I tried every bait shop in the Port Hope area (and beyond) but no one had any.

How long have you had yours? I was warned that they're not exactly quiet ?

Just managed to score a really good deal on a brand new Honda 2.3 HP 4 stroke air cooled outboard, out the door with a 5 year warranty for a little over $950.00. I had been looking for something small and light for a while now because I want to fish a few small out of the way lakes this summer. We have a small boat stashed at one of them but trying to paddle the boat and fish especially if it was windy at all proved to be a real challenge for me last year. I had thought about getting an electric trolling motor but then I'd have to lug a battery around, this motor weighs 29 lbs and according to the specs should give me about 3 hours of trolling on 1 L of gas. The other big advantage for me is that it's air cooled (no impeller to worry about and it can be run very shallow, even out of water) and has a centrifugal clutch (no need to shift into neutral, just throttle down). The other advantage is that we can use it as a kicker motor on my son's boat when we fish bigger water. Come on soft water ?

Right on the money!!!! I have had some fantastic days on Simco. I typically fish in about 30 fow. we don't usually keep anything under 10 or 11". but often run into 11+" fish and in good numbers.

I miss her beautiful smile, and the way her eyes just lit up. Her incredible hugs, we'll it was something I always looked forward too. She was a very special lady.

Thanks for all the replies, I am really looking forward to getting back out fishing and enjoying time with my friends again. Part of the reason I got the larger place in Myrtle Beach for next winter is that I'm hoping a few of you will come for a visit for a week or so ?

Bahia Principe Coba I talked to our travel agent after we got back and she told me they won't even sell that property any more because they have had so many incidents there lately.

Thanks Art, I'm afraid I wasn't very good company for a while, self pity and alcohol don't work well together.

First of all, sorry to hear this but I hope all will work out ok in the end! I am interested in following this one, my granddaughter just bought their first house, it closed on March 1. They had a bit of cleaning up to do before they moved in, just painting and stuff. Before they even spent a night in the place it burnt to the ground, fire marshal investigated and said it was an electrical fault caused by rodents chewing on wiring, fortunately they had insurance (haden't even made the first payment yet). I guess it's all covered but I'm not sure what the process is.

I've had a bit of a rough patch for the last year and a half, loosing Sue really took it's toll on me, tried drowning my sorrows for a while, all that did was give me hangovers. Tried running away from things, that didn't work either. Thankfully my friends and family have stuck by me and I am starting to get myself sorted out! This winter has gone by so fast, the late ice on Simco kind of messed up my ice fishing plans, my son came down and we did manage to get out three times and get some perch but that was it for Simco. I had hoped to get out several times but..... Went to Mexico for a week in Feb.: that didn't work out so well, it had been years since I'd flown anywhere, massive confusion at the airport with all the new; scan this do that, sit and wait.... Got robbed on our second day there, some how they got into our room and into our safe (which the resort said couldn't be done) yup $2000.00 cash between my buddy and I gone and a watch his late wife had given him..... turned out we weren't the only ones, we found out several other people had similar problems and this was a 5 star resort. Resort wouldn't do anything, just kept saying they were investigating. Besides that the beaches were a mess with seaweed. Won't do that again!!!! Now on a brighter note; Went to Myrtle Beach from Feb. 24 to March 24, we were going to just do a road trip and tour around the South but when we got to Myrtle Beach I decided to go over to Apache Pier (I'd been there years ago and had a blast). I decided to ask if they had any rental units available in the camp ground and it turned out that they did (they call them " leisure Living units" which are really trailers type units on a permanent site. We managed to rent a really nice 2 bedroom for the month for $750.00, 3 minute walk to the pier, 5 minute drive to Walmart and all kinds of shopping. It wasn't as warm as Florida but there wasn't any snow and it wasn't busy. Fell in love with the place all over again, went pier fishing almost every day, caught whitings galore (a little fish crisp and deep fried, you can have your shrimp, this is MUCH better), crokers, shark, slicks, puffer fish, even a crab that decided to hang on to my bait and wouldn't let go. Met up with some really great guys, one of them lives just South of me, small world isn't it? Some of our neighbors that live in the park most of the year were kind enough to show us some of the local favorite dining spots etc.. If you ever see a place called "Mission" in your travels, Smoked meat sandwich with a side of slaw (don't bother ordering the fries the sandwich is a 1/2 lb of meat alone), best smoked meat I have ever had! I have already booked for all of next winter (Jan. Feb. March) but a slightly bigger 2 bedroom place (but 1 and 1/2 bathrooms) still only 3 minutes from the pier so..... ? Anyway, just thought I'd check in and try to catch up.