turtle

Years ago first night of a week long canoe trip with people I didn't know well. I used the latrine pit and made a real mess. I'd recently read one of the Bill Mason books and he had burned his toilet paper. I decided to do the same but Bill Mason was in the Arctic on rock when he did it, not on an island on Temagami. A few hours later I woke up to the smell of smoke and the latrine pit was now a 6X6 foot glowing fire. I moved quickly and got it out with many trips down to the lake and back with a cooking pot. I was now the idiot who set the island on fire on the first night.

Good message. I've been bit twice this year (belly and below armpit), luckily both times I noticed the ticks and removed them before the "bulls eye" rash started. First time I went for a blood test (negative for Lyme), second time I didn't bother. Lots of ticks in north Durham where I am. 99% of the time in the bush I have long pants and boots on and brush myself & the dog off before getting into the truck. You can bring them in on your clothes or on the dog and then they jump on your skin and move around to find a feeding site.

I'm interested in waterfowl hunting this year and want to get out in my sit-on kayak. I'm in Durham region though. I saw 100's ++ of ducks this spring on Scugog, maybe a touch down on a flyway. There are some ducks and geese around where I am in Haliburton but the local black ducks seem too tame for me to hunt. Although they would be hard to miss.

My mother had a cottage on 12 Mile 1985-99 and I fished those three lakes quite often, mainly open water. Caught smallies, rock bass and lakers and heard of catches of small muskies and the odd whitefish (in winter). Never head of pike being caught but now they appear to be common in a number of Haliburton lakes.

Water levels still above high water mark but starting to drop, black flies out but temps cold enough they're not that active, surface water temp 8-10C, caught 3 lake trout & lost 1. Saw more deer & deer sign this spring than in the last few years in local area, maybe a comeback?

Last weekend at cottage north Haliburton had to boat in & walk out as access road washed out -actually about 10 days ago. Heard handing out sand bags at local community centre on the radio. Water where I am is up maybe 2 feet over high water mark. Hwy 118 between West Guilford & Carnarvon water was close to the road. I didn't go into Minden but would assume Gull River is up and over its banks. Lake was between 4-5C and trout catching slow. I drove the boat and 2 friends caught 3 and lost 1 in 3 rainy then snowy trips. Should be good shortly but could be a buggier spring due to standing water.

My 2 cents worth. If you've torn something that needs to be fixed by surgery don't delay. Otherwise it heals up with scar tissue and won't be the same. 1999 I partially tore my pec muscle off my shoulder, didn't get it fixed and now I have shoulder and elbow issues on the same side and my pec contracts into the middle of my chest. One of a number of boo boos acquired over the years. Pain should tell you to take it easy and rest but I've done the opposite many times.

Yesterday north end of Haliburton ice still on lake and bay but looked like 1-2 days left max. All the hwy 35 lakes were open south of Carnarvon. Still snow and ice on some back roads and in the bush. First time I've put the dock in with ice on the bay.

Thanks for the info. I'm planning on practicing a dump and self-rescue at a boat ramp with a spotter before I head out. Rescue stirrup looks good, also seen tying the paddler to the boat with carabiner-bunjee so the kayak doesnt get away in a dump.

I'm now a SOT fishing kayak owner and want to get out early while the water is still cold. I'm aware I have to be suited up for a dunk and be able to get back on the kayak quickly. I've looked at the options & seems to be more $ full dry suit and less $ wader & dry top combo. I don't want to wear my Mustang floater suit. What gear & clothing do you go out in the colder weather? Also interested in trying the yak for waterfowl this fall. Thanks.

I was on Simcoe at Sibbald Point March 17th -est. 12 inches but looked like ice particle board. Best trip out of 6 this year. Also Haliburton small bay of large lake March 21st -est 12-24 inches. On the way back a large part of Grass Lake (West Guilford) is open, same for Moore Lake. Still huts at Miners Bay.

Walked out of Sibbald Point PP yesterday morning ($10.25/day to park). 1-2 feet of snow on the ice & at least another 6 inches fell while I was out. Tough walking but good for sleds. Almost whiteout conditions at times but I was in a portable hut. Ice estimated at least one foot closer to shore & a few inches less going further out. Only caught 12 perch but 8 were nice jumbos. MNR doing creel survey in the parking lot. Area of bad ice/slush right in front of boat ramp -on foot should go around it.

Good new about your sister. That moose would certainly build her confidence. Lots of work but lots of memories and meat. I took this buck just before Xmas. First deer since 2010 and first buck since 2007. Solo hunt including a 2.5 hour drag.

I have an annual 2 day perch & party trip with a group booked at Hales for Jan 27-28th. How was the ice holding up when you were in the area yesterday.? BTW over the years (more than 10) my catches there ranged from at 80-100 keeper perch biting all day long to only maybe 5 in a day and I'd like to think I know what I'm doing but no pro. Depends on the day. I agree generally bigger perch on average but lower numbers than Cooks Bay.

I'm looking for half (or more) decent ice cleats that strap over full sized winter boots. I sometimes walk several km in a day on the ice. What do you recommend and where did you get them? Thanks. Also drove from north Haliburton down on hwy 35 yesterday, main part of Kennisis still open, Grass/Green iced over with some open water & one hut out, 12 Mile & Mountain ice over but saw no one out, Gull Lake at Miners Bay est. 10 huts out.

He's 71, fish is 3-4.

Filed a proposal in bankruptcy on Sept 21. Could be a restructuring & keep going or complete closure. Despite its flaws I spent money there since the 1980's. Still not using electronic SKU bar codes in 2016?

I was Saturday out of Beaverton in a howling wind most of the day and the perch fishing was slow. Bite was very lite, no tap-tap first & sometimes you'd lift the rod and one would be on it without moving anything. Highlight was a 14in perch and a large herring caught by friends but overall few keeper perch.

I also fished out of Tim Hales huts with a group of buddies Friday & Saturday this past weekend. Friday was better size, numbers & a bonus small whitefish with Saturday slower & smaller fish. No great hauls either day but a good fish fry each night. Two of the group were first timers on the ice and had a good experience, caught & ate fish. Only two herring caught & didn't see any schools go through.

I also like Tim Hales, what you're paying for is the hut, service and transport & his are very good. Good private parking on his own property & very interesting collection of mounts & old Simcoe gear in the office.

It's been $50-$60 for the last few years, more for the laker/whitefish grounds. Apart from the previous 2 years the operator seasons and revenue has been short for the last 15 -this year maybe only 1.5 months.

Spent a week in the bush 2.5 hours from home hunting them only to see two wolves, a fox and a marten -all close. Took the dog for a walk 10 minutes from home last week and saw a similar buck, good sized body & smallish rack, who only ran away 50-60 yards, turned around & watched us. Eventually he got up on the top of a ridge and looked down on us.

Kennisis

I fish a similar lake up the road from Redstone and find it difficult to find a smallie over 1 pound. Lots of 8-12 inch sized bass however. I once caught a 3 pound fish but that's it. I've caught small fish in 5-30 FOW and suspended in deeper water. I think its due to the lack of bait fish, at least in the lake I'm on. Last two weeks I caught and kept a few lake trout 19-22 inches and their bellies were empty apart from bugs -maybe spiny water fleas.

I spent a week on Iran in 2001 with some of it as a passenger in a car. i was amazed i only saw a couple accidents although the aftermath of one looked bad. Traffic lights were pretty much irrelevent, same as lane markings. I was on a 3 lane highway and there were 5 cars across it. Also saw 2 5-8 year old girls in the bed of a pick-up truck with 2 guys in the cab on the highway. The 2 car parts to wear out first were the horn and high beams as they were going non-stop. Mirrors and turn signals were not used.