turtle

I fish the lake up the road but havent fished Redstone. Sunday I caught 2 good fish about 45 feet down in 60-70 feet. Both before 7 am slow trolling minnow baits. Look for 40-50 foot areas close to deep water, they can also suspend over deep water.

Try bleach and or borax. If it was smaller and older I'd convert it to a boat cooler for fish.

Great report! The start of the story reminds me when I was the new guy on a canoe trip in and around Temagami and the first night I set the island we camped on on fire .

You watched me this weekend? I am guilty of using tactics that produce regularly even though this time of year not so much. I've caught a few trout in shallow casting tubes and spoons but stick to trolling leadcore. I caught fish this weekend 40 feet down over 50-60 feet. Didnt mark any shallow but would probably mark less with the motor running. Surface water temps doubled this weekend past over two weekends ago.

I have a cottage on the lake. Recommend trolling (slowly/stop-start/change direction)pulling 3-4 inch minnow baits (bombers etc. in realistic minnow colours)or 3-4 silver/gold/1/2 & 1/2 spoons like williams whitefish, wabler, thinfish, sutton river flutter spoons.

Congrats on the bird. Heard 2 toms right at first light, didnt respond too much to my calls, one sounded close at one point but didnt see either. 1 hen came right in at 30 yards. Coyote circled me at 75 yards. Overall quiet where I hunted.

The anticipation of opening day, watching the sun rise, listening to the forest come alive around you and hoping to hear a not so distant gobble makes any weather conditions OK, just need to be properly prepared for it to enjoy it more. Not getting out is a gauranty to get skunked. You never know what will happen and it can happen fast in both fishing and hunting.

North east part of Haliburton my cottage lake is still 80-90% iced over. Smaller lakes and to the south are more open. Still 3 feet of snow in the bush where the sun cant get it.

Anywhere from est 10-35 FOW, small fish caught in all holes. The slush wasnt too bad, just more scooping than usual. I've fished there a number of years ago when the slush was brutal but the the fishing was good, just needed a big split shot a couple feet up, s ski pole and a push.

I was out last saturday am at Willow and yesterday pm at Sibbald Pt. Didnt measure but estimate 16-18 inches of ice, maybe less in spots. Shorelines were OK at both to get on and off. There are cracks forming and the ice is getting that grey colour on top. Caught a mess of small perch especially yesterday. Very few good sized fish for me but a buddy did get some on Saturday. Yesterday for a change the perch seemed to be more males vs. females.

I agree that the ravens seem to show up right after a gun shot and hang around waiting until you leave the pile behind. The first one to show up seems to fly around calling his friends. This fall in nw ont I saw both ravens and bald eagles on the pile.

While they may not be intelligent, I spooked 2 toms riding my bike and they both ran along and rammed their heads and crashed into a wire fence instead jumping 5 feet up and over it, they are smart enough to avoid me killing them during hunting season. Or does that speak to my intelligence?

I find it interesting to see turkeys active and feeding out in nasty pouring rain, blowing snow and windy conditions. You would think that the noise of the rain and wind would take away 1 of their 2 defenses - sound, the other being sight. There has to be a reason for it, maybe get some food now in case it gets worse. I've also seen deer moving and out on the fields eating when the snow and rain is coming down, but not ususally in strong winds like I see turkeys.

For me depends on the lake and also how bright the sun is and the particular lake. I catch perch all day long on Simcoe but do best 9-11am and 3-dark. Although I dont fish it much Scugog is known as a dusk and dawn bite. My cottage lake produces mid-day for lake trout but if its bright sun only dusk and dawn. I think the weather plays a big part as time/sunlight.

Forgot to mention, binoculars for both. That way you can check something out from a distance without getting up and spooking game. I've found in a forest hunt turkeys sometimes will use the trees for cover and sort of loop around towards you and if you can see them 100-200 yards away before they see you first at 30 yards you'll have a better chance.

Definately a pop up/tent ground blind for turkey with a bow. It will be difficult to draw a bow in the open with a turkey 20-30 yards away. I prefer to hunt turkey with a shot gun, no chasing and looking for them. You need full camo preferably real quiet stuff like wool and full face mask. For deer because its a 3 month season you need layers, good warm boots, hand muffs. For equipment a good short knife for gutting, good bright flashlight, some rope or other gear to drag,flagging tape and a gambrel/hoist. I like to use a bleat call. Of course some of this gear is optimistic for the end of a successful hunt but if you put a deer down or have to look for one you'll need it.

Thanks for the info, I'll grab a lake map, depth finder and give it a go, I dont expect much fishing a new lake but in the past with some research I'vd done OK or better. I fish Haliburton area and Simcoe so it sounds like I have the right gear already.

"I love the St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout as well". Its my favourite stout by far but can be difficult to find, my local stores dont normally carry it. I tried the Fyying Monkies amber ale (?) on the weekend and enjoyed it. 15+ years ago I lived in the south west end of Toronto, you could go to the Upper Canada brewery on a Sunday and have a nice fresh draft beer and buy some for home. Now its gone, owned by Sleeman who is owned by Sapporo. upper Canada used to make a "Winterbrew" a bock style high alcohol beer that was very tasty. I still like Creemore, especially the Urbock, now owned by Molson Coors.

any takers?

I will be ice fishing next month at the south end of Lake Muskoka, just up from Gravenhurst. I will be starting out from Bear Bay and walking, so max 1-2 km out from Bear Bay. I am told Bear Bay is pretty shallow and more of a pike area. What other species are around this area in deeper water - lake trout, walleye? Any suggestions on where to start (I know get a hydrographic map) and what to use? Not looking for waypoints just general info. Thanks.

I live about 20 minutes south of that farm. When I first saw the 2 bull elk there I stopped a had to do a double take - 500 lb whitetail with massive rack? Both are farm not wild elk, there is also a llama or two there. Very impressive animals.

Crazy video!! I agree the buck that was down looked hurt. The winner buck wasnt giving up even with hunters and dogs around. Based on the number of deer I saw last year in my hunt, if that was me, I would fill 2 tags, even if its not sporting. The hurt buck might not make it anyway in the long run, maybe by wolf or coyote if it couldnt get up.

I was out yesterday morning at Willow Beach for perch, the lady at DW bait shop at JP said people are fishing at Sibald Pt. Willow had approx 6-8 inches of ice out to where I fished, maybe 20-25 FOW. I'd say probably more ice at Sibald because it's more sheltered. I caught around 30 but kept only 6 9+ inches. I used to fish Sibald alot but it seemed not too productive for me in the last 5 years, maybe I'll try it again.

I was out yesterday morning at Willow Beach area for perch -1-1.5 km from shore. Still at least 20 inches of ice but starting to get soft, power auger went through it quickly. Still cars, trucks, sleds and ATV's on the ice. I parked on shore and walked out. Still a bit of snow on top. High traffic area had a bit of water and ruts. Perch was slow, kept 11 in 4 hours, put back maybe 4, missed a few. Fished 3 different areas 20-30 FOW. Got most on a gold spoon. Like to get out one more time next week for the perch depending on conditions.

I was out yesterday for perch with outfitter Tim Hales. South of Thorah in about 29 ft. There was est 12 inches of clear ice, harder to say being in the hut. didnt see any trucks or cars where we were, just sleds, ATV's and outfitters bombardiers. The ice surface closer to shore had some bumpy broken up areas that refroze. Pretty slow day, only caught maybe 35 between 2 fishing and kept 9. Saw a whitefish est 15 ft down but couldnt get it to commit. The shallower huts seemed to do better.