jediangler

It's good to see that they can still survive and thrive in the upper Grand. If they were stocked as fingerlings and grow to that size it is a good sign. The fish was released after the photo.

Fishing has always been a passion for my family. My Grandfather took his 7 sons fishing and they passed the addiction on to my cousins, my brother and I. On Sunday I had the opportunity to take two of my cousins out to wet a line in the Grand river in Kitchener. In order to keep the tradition going for another generation, I took my 7yr old daughter along as well. She set the pace as we walked the 1km distance down the trail. The weather was perfect and the conversation was all fishing. From left to right, our cousin from Calgary, walleyeguy, our cousin from Barrie, wabbiman, my brother Joonmoon and his wife Goog. Walleyeguy was excited to fish for smallmouth bass, for a change, since they don't have any in Alberta. He catches this little bass on his first cast with a 1/8oz white jig & grub combo. Wabbiman wasn't too far behind with his 1st smallie of the afternoon. Then Goog caught what was probably the biggest one of the day. Followed closely by brother Joonmoon who caught this one on a tube jig. I was the last one to land a fish despite hooking and losing the first 4. I quickly returned it to the river before anyone could take my picture. Everyone caught a few more of the same size and lost some larger ones that jumped and spit the hook. Uncle Joonmoon kept my little one entertained by catching some sticklebacks and a crayfish with her butterfly net as well as a fuzzy caterpillar for her to play with. Then walleyeguy's rod is bent over pretty good. I kept expecting to see a good smallie break the surface, but the fish stayed down. Then he says "it's a walleye". Now my brother and I have been fishing the Grand in KW for over 25yrs and never caught a walleye in this section of the river. I assured walleyeguy that it must be a sucker or a pike. Then he lands this 22.5" beauty. We shouldn't have been that surprised though since our Uncle, walleyeguy's Dad, used to have a gridlock of boats and trailers in his driveway from walleye tournament wins in Alberta. The apple doesn't fall far from this family tree. So after 2hrs of fishing, and a good hike up and down the trail, we all went for a family BBQ. Can't wait to do it again sometime. Both walleyeguy and wabbiman expressed an interest in catching their first muskies, so hopefully we can get them up to the Kawarthas next time.

Ha, ha, good one Terry. Driving a Ford and eating those Salmon should be punishment enough. I applaud your efforts ranger, keep up the good fight.

We stopped holding our annual musky weekend at Elephant lake after going there from 1991 until 2000. During that time we caught many muskies and no pike. We had heard that they had a foothold in Baptiste lake so we knew it would only be a matter of time. In 2002 we caught 14 pike and no musky. I've seen several pics of tigers from both Elephant and Baptiste. If a tiger is what your after, these lakes could be your best bet.

The Browns usually follow the Chinooks. Just downsize your spoon sizes a little.

Great report & pics. I love fishing in the rain, especially for muskies.

Congrats on the sweet smallie, there is nothing better.

I'd take a 21" smallie for my birthday. Congrats Bro, on the sweet bass, and the Birthday. Nice to see Gadget get his first ski as well. I might have to go back to the Kawarthas for my b-day.

Way to go Bro, and Sis in-law. Good variety of fishes you got there. Everything but the eyes eh? By the way I've still got your cradle from the Big Jake weekend in my car. E-mail me when you're going to be home, I'll bring it over before work. I know you and Gadget are getting out later in the week and will need it.

Thanks all. BPS BASSMAN, I've been going to Ashtabula since 2001 with the boys and since 2004 with the family. Great people with great cottages and very decent rates for the Kawarthas. The location is also very nice.

I use the cheap 6'6" Gorilla sticks from CTC for everything from casting bucktails to trolling. Around $50 each.

Here are some lily pads I shot in the grand river while kayaking.

Well it's that time of year again. Our 11th annual "Hunt for Big Jake" musky weekend with the Cherry Hill Gang at Camp Ashtabula on Pigeon lake. Brother Joonmoon was a no show this year thanks to a continental work week at his new job. We missed you Bro. The Impaler and I had one rental boat while the Shipper and his brother, the Dalai Lama, teamed up in another rental. First quarter the wind was 30km/h with 40km/h gusts that forced us to seek refuge behind some islands for cover. I caught the first musky on my 10th cast with a orange blade & black buck Slopmaster. It was only 23" long, so no photo, but I was happy to see some action early on. As the morning progressed the winds picked up to 40km/h with gusts at 50km/h. When we went in for lunch it was a real battle to keep the little 14 footers with 9.9hp on track. Here's the brothers trying to make some headway into the wind. With the winds too strong for our rentals, the second quarter was to be a shore fishing adventure. We fished Pigeon river from the bridge by Emily Provincial park, Sturgeon lake from the launch at Scotch Line, Buckhorn from just above the locks and even tried Sandy lake from the public beach. I caught 2 perch in Sturgeon and a smallmouth in Buckhorn and put 130km on the cars during our travels. Sunday morning was beautiful. The winds were down to 10km/h and the sun was shining. For the 3rd quarter we headed north to fish behind Big Island where we have had some success in the past. While trolling up, the Shipper gets this 36"er on a Polish Perch and takes the lead in the tourney. The Impaler and I saw no action while casting any of our offerings so we settled in for a long troll back to the cottages. The brothers went to where I caught my little one and His Holiness caught his first ever musky on a gold blade/yellow buck Mepps Musky Killer. It was 24" and although his brother had to unhook it for him, we were all very impressed that he held it for this photo. After a hearty lunch we poured over the map to decide where to go for the 4th quarter. We decided on the north again and trolled and casted the side of the Big Island that faces Bobcaygeon. The brothers wandered all the way up to Nogies creek while the Impaler and I worked the shoals at the south of the island. Without seeing so much as a follow, we decided to go down to Gannon's narrows to fish close to the cottages before the sunset. Just as the sun went out of sight I had a hit on my gold blade/black buck Mepps Musky Killer. I knew it was large when I couldn't get it to come to the surface. The Impaler did an extremely professional cradle landing and after unhooking and measuring it, I held up my new PB 48" musky for a pic. And of course the obligatory release shot. So I win the Trophy and braggin' rights for another year, as well as beating a personal best that has held up for 4 years. Another excellent weekend and time well spent with friends that have known each other for 36 years now. I'll leave you with this sunset pic taken by the Impaler on Sunday evening.

Sounds like a great trip, would love to see some pics as well.

I can't remember what they are called but I know I had one years ago and it ran like crap. Always pulled to one side and when you went fast, it rolled over. No way to tune them either if I remember correctly.

I'll find out today when I get to work at 3pm. We heat treat engine blocks and various other components for GM suppliers. I guess if they are not supplying parts, I won't be heat treating them. Personally, I wouldn't mind a few weeks off so I can do some fishing. Just nothing as long as a month.

That would be lucky to weigh half that

Yeah you have to pay on the other side. It's cheaper to go to the gatehouse and pay, then put the stub in your window and drive around to the other side. They have envelopes and a drop box. When they come to collect the envelopes they go around the parking lot and check for the stub in your window. I once saw a guy get fined for putting Canadian tire money in the envelope instead of cash. If they really wanted to collect some cash they would go a week before pike opens and fine all the poachers that fish there before the season opens. I went a week early to check water levels last year and there were at least a dozen people fishing, some with live minnows. They all knew that they were fishing illegally because when they saw me coming they all had guilty looks on their faces.

Personally, I'd much rather kick the bucket while fishing, than driving there on the 401. At least he was doing what we all love and not taking out the trash or raking leaves. Oh yeah, if I go out while fishing, first come first served as far as my gear is concerned.

You might have some luck at Mountsberg, but fishing there is tough from shore. Now that the water levels are down and the weeds are up it will be even harder. My advice would be don't try and skip the fee, the C.O's are always around and the fines are in the $60 range. Better to pay the $10. Get yourself a canoe and try again in the spring when pike opens, then you'll get into some real good numbers and possibly a fish over 30". Good luck.

Good luck man, I'll be arriving at Ashtabula myself next Friday with the "Cherry Hill Gang" for our eleventh annual "Hunt for Big Jake" musky weekend. I'll be looking forward to hearing how you did.

You have a PM.

2004 Dimension Escapade 1994 Sportspal 14' transom

They're so cute when they're small. I just want to pinch their little cheeks. Here's a baby from earlier this year in the kayak. Be proud of them all, no matter the size.

Congrats on the two nice fish. That's the worst algae bloom I've ever seen