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A quick google search shows the Ontario record Smallmouth to be 9 plus pounds. Presumably it took it a few years to go from 7 plus to 9 plus. What makes you certain this fish would not make it through the winter?

I think people can disagree with a guys choice to keep a fish without it being seen as bashing him. Some folks are passionate about catch and release; they are just as entitled to speak their opinion as anyone else. When you decide to excercise your right to keep a trophy fish you are inviting others to excercise their right to disagree with you. That's how it works. And that once in a lifetime fish thing becomes especially true if you decide to keep it, once in the anglers life who keeps and it and denies anyone else a future shot at that fish getting any bigger. But, sure, it's within his rights to do so. It's within my rights to fart in a crowded elevator too but...well...I've probably already said too much.

Why? What's up with your Aunts tomato garden? Darn. Dan beat me to it.

Wow, loads of good information and differing opinions. I'll have to google half the baits mentioned. Smalliefisher, that sounds great; looking forward to it. I almost bought one of the Airrus Rods you were selling a while back.

I have to agree with Harrison. You can get alot further away from the city should you choose to move East of it and still spend the same time commuting as people who are much closer, say those in Mississauga. Naturally it all depends on where and when you work. I was commuting from Peterborough for awhile but that was a bit of a stretch. Newcastle would be a good distance.

Congratulations. So peaceful and sweat. Enjoy it while you can because before you know it she'll be big enough to be breaking your favourite fishing rods....

Thanks JP, wish I'd seen the show, sounds like it would have been a good one. I'd like to pick up a few different frogs and see what I like best but I'll probably wait till next season. At 4.99 the Strike King King Rat seems alright for a cheapie, although not technically a frog I guess. I was actually using spinning tackle for the scum frogs, them being so light, a 7 foot medium light St. Croix but it did't have enough backbone for any kind of vegetation. It was probably the closest thing I've ever used to a really good all around rod; I loved it but my son snapped the tip off it a couple weeks back. Rizzo, you pulling my leg, right?

I just got into throwing topwaters for bass this season; actually I spent most of the season throwing Senkos and discovered how cool frogs were about the same time the weather turned cold. But, as there's always next year and I happened to have a few "spare" dollars burning a hole in my pocket I splurged and picked up a used Quantum Signature Series Dean Rojas Frog Rod. Now, I have not actually caught anything on it yet but it seems to be a pretty slick stick. There seems to be quite a broad range of so called frog rods, ranging from Medium actions to heavy and I believe I've even seen extra heavy. I imagine the heavier action rods might excel at hauling fish out of the thickest slop but I can't imagine they'd be particularly effective at actually casting fairly light frogs (say a scum frog). I'm guessing a good flipping stick could do double duty working frogs in thick weeds and pads (so I picked up a used Quantum 7'6 Tommy Biffle Heavy flipping stick for good measure just in case the frog rod left me feeling under powered). Anyways, love the frog rod but can't flip worth a Damn. So...anybody got a favourite frog stick?

Dude, 5 hours later that's still funny.

Awesome! The leafs are going to kick so much rear this year that they are sure to Bring home the cup!! They are still awarding it to which ever team is the best at compiling penalty minutes and winning scraps, right? Waaa-hooooo!

When I think about it I'd say Spinnerbaits are most effective in areas that receive minimal fishing pressure. Obviously all baits are but I don't have alot of confidence throwing spinnerbaits in an area that gets fished intensly. I think in more remote areas a Spinnerbait is a great bait. Largemouth, in my limited experience, are neither line, lure or leader shy so spinnerbaits will probably work, although not optimally, even in situations where they are fished somewhat heavily. If I'm fishing Bass I like the cheapies too.

I like Slopmasters. Can't remember ever actually catching a bass with it but did get my first Musky on one.

Nice to have you back CC, feel good to be home?

I'd suggest bringing a few lures that have some weight to them. I'm not saying you can't throw Senkos on a Baitcasting set-up (although I think I prefer spinning tackle for them) but on your first outing with it you might find it a little tough/frustrating. Bring a few spinnerbaits or something....Bass and musky both like spinnerbaits.

Good link Raf, thanks.

I bought a spool of 10 pound Vanish about 3 years ago with the intention of using it as a leader material but never did. This year I got back into spinning rods and away from baitcasters so I figured I'd fill a spool with the Vanish. I'd heard about it being brittle so I was a little hesitant but it's been good. Caught a bunch of decent fish on it and I tend to horse them in. I don't recall ever having had a breakoff with it (not counting snags on the bottom) I am starting to notice the occasional tangle on a cast towards the end of a seasons worth of use, could just be line twist as I never use a swivel on my spinning set up.I don't know if I'd buy it again at 20 bucks a spool but that's more because I like trying new stuff rather than any beefs with the Vanish. It might be worth noting that I always tie a palomar knot; it's basically the only one I know but it seems to work well.

Well....I've been reading so much about other members having fantastic outings going topwater that I figured I'd give it a go. It was cool....Sitting down by the river in the Darkness by yourself is kind of creepy but once you get past that it's also kinda nice. Almost immediately I hook into what I'm pretty sure is a decent Musky on my Scumfrog close to shore, took the bait completley silently, big head shakes, strong steady pull, huge boils and...........gone. Spat the hook. Over the rest of the evening I must have missed closed to 2 dozen hits. Ended up with 2 Rockbass, one biggish, and two small Smallmouth. Interestingly I had most of my hook-ups when I set the hook as soon as I felt the fish rather than waiting although It was dark so they may have already had the lure for a second or two; it was hard to tell what was going on exactly. It was a lot of fun all the same, nice to know I can fish 24 hours a day. Somebody do me a favour and tell my familly I'll be back mid November when the season wraps up.

It's been awhile since I've had 2 people in it but If I remember correctly it didn't sit alarmingly low or anything. I guess it probably depends on the size of the two guys and how much gear we are talking about. According to this website capacity is 500 pounds. http://www.bwmarineproducts.com/sportspal.htm

Nice score; I got mine for 50 bucks too, I think it's the same size as yours although mine is not as nice looking as yours. I don't have the foam on the side although mine didn't leak. It does now, not enough to worry about though, probably a couple cups an hour.

Congrats. Sounds like it would be interesting but I'd hate to see my favourite Musky from shore spots on TV. We're all pretty tight lipped around here (on the internet at least) about revealing any of our honey holes for fear of them being swamped by lurkers. I can only imagine the increased fishing pressure profiling exact locations on TV would bring. I know Fishing Canada gives GPS points but most of their destinations are remote and/or you'd need a boat to get to them. The more I think about it the less I like the idea really; I'd probably watch the show but it seems potentially damaging to the resource. Just my 2.

Awesome day! I don't see any small musky there, they all look pretty darn good!

Nicely done! I love catching smaller musky, the patterns are always really distinct and beautiful. I'm taking a bit of a break from Bass fishing and going after the big fish for a while I think. Got the Musky Fever. Again.

Good luck. What lure did you end up getting instead of the Grandma? I'm still pushing some kind of Bucktail.

Although I've never caught Musky on Scugog I have landed quite a few on Blue Fox Vibrax Musky Bucks here in the Kawarthas (got one yesterday). I like the black and Silver ones the best, they are nice and light meaning you can cast them all day and cover alot of water, they spin well when worked either fast or slow, they are not terribly expensive, you can find them at pretty much any Canadian Tire and...they work. They are also light enough that they won't snap your line (shouldn't if you're using a reasonable strength braid) in the event of a birdsnest.

I'm pretty sure that's Taylor Creek at the bottom of Dawes Road. Just take the number 23 bus from Main Station.