Weeds

True. While a medium heavy won't chuck Believers and Bulldogs it's still plenty solid for throwing some substantial bucktails and spinnerbaits. Definetly not the perfect musky rod but I feel you could still responsibly use it for a bit of musky fishing. On the other end of the spectrum most medium heavy rods work pretty well with 1/4 jigs and lures which offer you a relatively decent amount of finesse. P.S. Sombody is mis-spelling finesse and I'm guessing it's me.

Alot of folks might tell you that there really is no such thing as an all around rod but in my opinion, and having recently searched for the perfect all rounder, I'd say go with a 7 foot one piece medium heavy. Providing it's made by a quality manufacturer, Shimano, I hear good things about the Compre, St. Croix, G. Loomis, etc, I think you'll end up with a good stick, strong enough for big fish but still fairly sensitive for smaller species. I'd suggest checking the classified section on this board, used rods are often like new and you end up with a quality item for the price of something mediocre if you buy new.

You guys are a fountain of information as always. Thanks. Never caught a Musky on any kind of topwater before but it sure looks like fun!

Hey all. I know musky season is still a few days off (alright, like 5 months) but its never too soon to start stocking the tackle box for next season. My question is this: Has anybody used the Poes Giant Jackpots? I've only ever seen them on "Simply Fishing" on WFN and like everything else you see on TV they seem pretty nice. I just picked up a Magnum Zara Spook but can't get out to test it; is it basically the same thing with the same type of action? Are the Jackpots even available in stores in Canada or is it a mail order type of item? Thanks, Rossco

Cutting through 2 or 3 inches of ice must be nice. I remember 2 or 3 years ago trying to bore through a foot and a half with my dull auger; makes you feel like pretty wimpy after a few holes! Nice report, can't wait to get out on the ice myself.

Yeah, that kind of thing.

I've spoken in favour of LeBarons superior pricing in several of my posts previously, I think they are in some cases at least, considerably cheaper than the Bass Pro Shop. Musky lures definetly seem to be cheaper(I think a Slopmaster Spinnerbait is like 13 bucks at LeBarons and 19 at Bass Pro, same kind of difference for big MG spinnerbaits) I went todayto pick up a 201 DHSV Curado today and was surprised to find they sold it for $269, about 40 bucks more than LeBarons, fortunately when I mentioned this the Sales guy said he could match the price and dropped it to about $224. So that was pretty cool. Generally speaking Bass Pro has a greater selection but you pay a little more.

It's on right now? Damn, I would like to have seen that. Down visiting in Toronto and don't get the food network here, although I do in Peterborough. I have never eaten carp but would, the only recipe I consistently come across is that "throw away the carp eat the wood plank" joke. Any idea when it might re-air?

I thought it was good too. The intro was the best bit with that first cast. Looked real familliar.

Do you mean camping now or in the summer?

You can't blame the police officers. It's part of the police package that they disconnect the signals at the factory. Saves money on bulbs.

Is Toronto zone 18? I'm more familliar with divisions and my computer is taking ages to load up maps.

So does anybody know if I can use frozen Sardines?

Hey everybody, I have a few questions regarding dead baits, as I have never really tried using them before. I have read the regs (2006-2007) and am curious if I can use something I might buy at the supermarket, frozen sardines or mackerel for example. It's not one of the species they mention in the guidlines but I kind of figure they are referring only to live bait with their limitations, as they make no mention of chicken livers, bacon or any of the other strange baits I have heard of people using. It would just be more convienant for me to occasionally hit the supermarket or China Town than speciality bait shops. Thanks I have also heard a rumour that according to the new regs that: "Only Live or Dead Baitfish less than 5.1 inches in length can be used as bait. This is for all of SE Ontario (Zone 18) with the exception of the Ottawa River (Zone 12). I guess that wouldn't effect me but I imagine others won't be too happy.

Not exactly my backyard but sticking with the animals in an urban setting; has anybody else seen Deer in the Don Valley? I saw 2 last year, one on the bayview extension (dead) and the other (alive and well) amidst a a clearing at the side of the DVP by the Bloor off ramp I believe (maybe a couple KM from Bloor and Yonge). I've never spoken to anyone else who's seen one in the area but imagine with so many members on this board from the Toronto area some of you might.

Wouldn't mind a Shimano Curado 201DHSV. Not sure that I've been that good though......

Great report, makes me feel like going fish'n! Travel Safe and looking forward to some European Pike reports!

I'm not a real true blue musky fisherman but I might have to say yes. I'm big on catch and release and almost never keep anything I catch; definetly never for a trophy (although who am I kidding, I don't catch trophy size fish). But...If it would guarentee a serious financial windfall for my familly I'd give up my principals and go for the cash I guess. I'd feel bad/guilty about the fish but it would be a difficult choice......I don't honestly know what I'd do.

Snag wins the prize, which is as equally non existant as my pike. I won't give up. DSN, were you Carp fishing or piking? I would imagine Carp must be getting pretty near dormant, but then again I've seen the occasional pic when someone gets them through the ice in the dead of winter.

I took up smoking the occasional cigar after I quit smoking cigarettes after my boy was born. Sure they stink but on the plus side it cloaks the stench of skunk I so regularly get while fishing. I smoke them much more regularly in the summer, nothing beats sprawling out in the sun with a big frosty mug of beer and a cigar, enveloped in billowing clouds of smoke. Not all that particular, so long as the beer is cold and the cigar is lit you're golden in my books. I can't honestly say I can really appreciate the difference between a Cheap Century Sam and and a Quality Cohiba, despite having had both on numerous occasions.

Well, thanks for the words of encouragement. I will indeed try again. Every dog has it's day and I know mine is coming. It will just be that much sweeter when it finally happens. We can add a little trivia. Name that tune. (Line from song- "I'm a driver ,I'm a winner, things are gonna change for me , I can feel it.) PS. Anybody editing their posts at 3:32 is probably not going fishing the next day.

Wandered down to the waterfront today for a little bit of piking action. Had a spot in mind but found it was frozen over. Moved over to near the base of the spit. It felt like 0 in most of toronto today but the wind was really coming off the lake which must of made it negative something cause it was pretty cold. Every 7th or 8th cast with the Damn mono on the baitcaster it would tangle, I can't understand why anybody could favour it over braid. Not only was I getting some wicked tangles but the line was freezing up. It was ugly. Just as I was about to quit, a big pike did not come up over the drop off and strike my lure. Nor did he manage to throw the lure, becuase he never hit it in the first place. Releasing him was particularly easy. You know that deep sense of satisfaction you get when you catch a nice big pike? Well, I don't. So in summmary I had zero follows, zero hits and went zero for zero on caught and landed. No pike were harmed in the making of this report as no pike were encountered. I'm getting sick of getting skunked on these Toronto pike. Seems like anybody and their grandma can catch one.....cept me. Driving me CraZy. Rant, Rant, Rant.

I imagine if you were seriously concerned with saving sportfish in Canada you'd come up with a more creative and less controversial solution than tossing the odd carp you catch onto the riverbank. Got anything else? Maybe if they reclassified Carp as a "Sportfish" it would solve your problem? Why not lobby for that? Give er.

Just watching it on TV right now. 2 hours long is probably a bit much for all but the most die hard of Carp fisherman though. But hey, I'm sure some folks love every minute of it.

Fish o Mania is not the most interesting thing on TV admittedly but don't be fooled, carp fishing for real rather than watching it on the tube can be pretty entertaining. Big, strong, and plentiful.