GreenCanada

Yea I sometimes find a few small pike in the same area, though upstream of the river run centre is difficult but good fishing.

18 1/2" rainbow on Saturday, Caledon, from shore.

Thanks for sharing your adventure! Great story and lots of memories, good and bad!

I'm green with envy. Those are some gorgeous looking catches! Great pictures

Beautiful shots of by far my favourite species of fish. I would trek through anything just to get to them. The feeling I get when I see them or catch a few is beyond description. Thanks for sharing.

Great fish and an even nicer rod! I'm starting to read up on custom rod building myself, though I think that project will have to wait until the winter.

Superb brookies, great job!

Beautiful rod, which I'm sure will see many pickerel in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. Way to go!

Hey All, So I got a chance to hit up my honey hole from an old stomping ground this past weekend and it didn't disappoint! I got out around 10am on Saturday in Caledon and went out to my old honey hole expecting a nice mid-morning fishing adventure. I didn't really expect a ton of action as it was beautiful fishing conditions for me, but as it often turns out, not super great for catching. Well I was pleasantly surprised, when I had a few small rainbows follow my lure to shore. They didn't seem to be in the hitting mood, so I switched it up from my go to Rapala to a spinner in a pattern I had never tried, but have heard great things from my brother. He's caught countless trout across the globe with it, including recently in Tajikistan while conducting field research. After a couple of casts with this newly tied on spinner, I had a really strong strike and a good 10 minute fight on my new ML 6'0" St. Croix spinning rod (thanks for all the input last month!) After a valiant fight I landed this beautiful 18 1/4" rainbow. I truly have never seen a bow this pink and glowing. After landing this beauty, I caught a solid 14" bow just downstream in another great hole. The rest of the day consisted of 7 more rainbows from 7"-12" from another location downstream, which I have not fished for a couple years. All in all, Saturday turned out to be not only great weather, but a great day for fishing! On Monday, I thought it was only fair to give my current home range a chance to compete for my fishing time, so I hit up the Speed River in Guelph, which I do typically 4-5 times a week. I have been finding the number of pike in the Speed to be decreasing the past couple of years, but I have still managed to catch quite a few pike. This beautiful specimen is what I would consider average for the Speed. My shoe is about 11 1/2" in length so it gives you an idea of the size. I also caught about 7 OOS smallies, but whenever I would catch one I would move spots so that I wasn't pressuring spawning pairs. No photos of them since they go right back in the water asap. (will post photo in reply) Lastly, for all those carpers out there, I tend to see this every time I go to a secret spot in Guelph. Though, there was an exception this time. I saw about 25-ish carp in an area no bigger than an above ground swimming pool, with the majority of them likely topping 20lbs. I kid you not, I see carp all the time in Guelph, but I saw a pair of carp in that group that easily topped 25lbs. I don't fish for carp, but I'm definitely going to give it a try for one of those beasts. The picture is quite poor because it was from above and with a blackberry, but if I can get another photo I'll post it later. (will post photo in reply) Anywho, I hope you enjoy!

I'll pretend you're being serious, because I agree, thank goodness they punished someone for taking more fish than allowed under the regulations they agree to adhere to when purchasing a fishing license. Don't like the lake littered with gill nets ( ) as you so eloquently put it, why not take the fishing pressure you exert while on the lake and put it to use on a different lake? Then you won't have to worry about getting all bothered by something you have no control over. All in all, I love hearing about poachers getting what they deserve!!

I just thought I should throw my two cents in. 1) It was not just young drunken people. 2) They WERE hockey fans and non hockey fans. I'm pretty sure hundreds of anarchists don't go out and spend that kind of cash on vintage Pavel Bure or Trevor Linden hockey jerseys and then forget to cover their faces... 3) It was classless of those that participated, and equally classless of those who stood by watching/cheering/standing around. If those that were not participating just left the area, then 1) the police could have moved in and arrested/beat down the ones participating, or 2) the participators may have calmed down a bit because they didn't have an audience. To me this doesn't speak to how Canadians are as a whole, but to the poor organizing that led to 100,000 people crammed into a 2-3 block area. It's like giving a child an unlit firecracker in one hand and a match in the other and telling them not to light it on fire. It was going to happen. It was disappointing to see, but I'm glad no families who were there to watch the game died. It could have been much worse...

I quit a couple years ago, though I'm still only in my late twenties. What worked for me was reminding myself how bad the smell of old stale cigarette smoke was on a few people I had passed while walking down the street one day. The thought of never wanting to smell like that is what kept my motivation up. I feel you have to go cold turkey and be away somewhere that smokes are not available. If you can manage a few days without any, you will find that it is really easy to CHOOSE not to buy more. It takes some dedication, but if you are quitting for yourself and not for someone else, you will kick the habit. I wish you the best, and as other members have said, imagine how much fishing stuff you can buy with that cash!!! :D

So after reading another post on the forum, I was left with a rather odd but reasonable question. If an angler is required to forfeit their fishing equipment to the Crown, what is done with it? Is it put on auction like the police occasionally do, so other may bid on it? Any information on this would be appreciated, as it's left me scratching my head.

9 fully matured maple and oak trees pushed over on my street in Guelph from the Monday night storm! One crushed a car...

Great to hear and see your success! I really enjoyed the close ups of the mayflies. Quite impressive!

These setups all sound great. I was looking at a President yesterday at CT, but from my understanding the only size they have on sale is the 6735, the largest of that reel line. Since I have a 6' ML St. Croix, what size President could handle a ultralight setup primarily but could be used as a backup to my ML rod? I may go as long as 5' 6", but this rod would be used most often hiking through thickish brush, so small size is ideal. Does anyone have any commentary as to the quality of Berkley Lightning rods, when comparing them to ones made ~10 years ago? I just seem to remember as a younger person the Lightning rod was a go to ultralight, but now I have heard very mixed reviews on them. Thanks for all the responses thus far!

Hello again, So with the communities advice in mind I went out and got myself a 6' medium light action 2-piece premier series St. Croix. Now the time has come to put another equally important question to you all. I want a 5' 2-piece ultralight rod to replace my aged and much loved 20 year old Shakespeare from Canadian Tire. She has caught me countless fish and it is time to move on. So I am looking for a rod and I may as well get an ultralight reel while I'm at it. So what are your suggestions for a 5' ultralight rod and reel setup? (If possible I would like to use this reel as a backup to the 6' rod) Oh yea, and for price point, I'm thinking preferably no more than $150 before taxes for the setup. As always, thanks for the advice!

Great report and beauty PB's! My dad is heading up to Lake Nipigon this weekend for his annual 12 days of fishing. Hopefully his time is as fruitful as yours was!

I'm certain I know the store, if you are talking about one in Guelph. I personally haven't been back to Hook Line and Sinker / The First Cast Fly Shop in Guelph because of the elitist attitude of the owner there. I have been in on countless occasions and every time I attempt to ask a question I get the impression he thinks I'm an idiot who is wasting his time, not a customer and fellow angler who is interested in learning more and buying product. The store is nicely laid out and very well stocked, though the prices aren't great. I would shop there, except I can't stand supporting someone who is as disrespectful and impatient as he is. Kingsway is by far the best and to me the only option in Guelph for quality customer service.

My pleasure. Hopefully others on the board will check them out if they haven't already. Two great videos that contrast each other nicely.

If you haven't checked this rebate out, it might help lighten the load on the wallet! http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/promotions0/10-10-20_canada.download.-mainParsys-000100-downloadFile.html/10-10-20%20rebate%20form.pdf

I agree, Kingsway is the best tackle/fishing store in Guelph, hands down. The owner is helpful, knowledgable, and willing to go that "extra mile" we all sometimes need.

Adult beaver on trout opener this year... thought it was a trophy brown when I hooked it because the water was like chocolate milk. That is until it tail slapped 10ft from me and made me crap my pants... well nearly.