solopaddler

Hope it works out for you.

Absolutely Phil, I'm looking forward to getting together with you and laying a beating on 'em.

Glow tubes under a float at night is pure genius. Thanks for the tip.

Young William has learned his lessons well. Just to rehash a few points that have already been made: 1.The only place I enjoy fishing for them is piers and estuaries. Once they've run upstream you can have them. 2.Throwing lures like glow spoons and rattle baits are very effective especially so at night. 3.Keep your retrieve slow you'll get more hookups. 4.My favourite technique is drifting giant gobs of skein under a float. 5.Large is better. Anywhere from a Toonie sized to a chunk the size of a good sized plum. 6.For whatever reason the salmon love hot pink skein even in crystal clear water. 7.As Bill already mentioned it pays to run an extremely short lead under your float when angling off a pier. Especially if they're actively porpoising and rolling. 8.Bring a large net with a long handle to net your catch off the high pier walls. It never ceases to amaze me how many newbs come down unprepared.

If you read my recent post about my trip to Chapleau you'll know I really beat up my 16' flatback Sportspal. My uncle offered to drop my boat off at the factory in North Bay for me as he was driving through last Friday enroute to his camp. Here's the list of things I needed done: Both foam sponsons replaced. Aluminum front deck at bow of canoe replaced. Thwart directly behind bow seat replaced. Carry handle at bow removed and re-rivited (it was horribly loose). Re-caulk seams inside and out. (After the bush bash it leaked a bit. Calking the inside is major as it nessecitates the removal of the inner foam and aluminum ribs) Touch up entire boat with a matching can of spray paint. In any event I get a call from Steve the manager of the sportspal factory. They're going to fix everything on my list. In addition he offered to prep and paint my entire boat in their paint booth to make it right rather than just touch it up. Guess how much the entire bill is with taxes? $208 I can't believe it. On top of that he was a true pleasure to deal with on the phone and will have my baby ready for pick up when I drive through there on Friday. I am pleased.

It's a good deal. Just buy it and be done with it.

Just a bump. Amazingly still no one committed yet. I've also included my cel number as I'll be at my camp in QC from the 13-21. Call after 8pm please when I'm up there. If you don't reach me keep trying! Cheers

Not sure about the bloody nose colour. The Hot Lips are readily available from dozens of internet sites: http://www.luhrjensen.com/products/walleye-lures/hot-lips-troller

I've caught billions of the vile creatures. South shore Erie trib's are full of them in the spring.

How ironic.

World class fishing right there, very impressive.

No matter how he spins it there is absolutely no excuse for what Mr. Lavers did. I'm wondering as a camp owner and caretaker of the resource, how would he handle one of his own guests staying at Merlands pulling the same stunt? My guess is quite harshly.

Although it's been years, I've stayed at the Salzberger Hof many times and always in October. We used to head up there religiously to fish for steelhead in the rivers between the Soo and Wawa. Always a great place to stay and a decent German restaurant as well. I remember one time in the motel though. The walls were somewhat thin and you could here the young couple in the room next to us: Her (yelling): "One week's holliday a year and you drag me up here?!!" Him: "But, but..." Her: "People are weird up here, they're all hicks! It's cold, there's nothing to do. NEVER AGAIN!! Him: "But honey isn't it beautiful?" Her: "There's nothing but rocks and trees, what are you nuts!!!" At that point the power went out and she raised her lambasting to an entirely new level. I quietly snuck out, went to the office and got some candles from them. When I arrived back she was still laying into the poor bugger. My buddy loudly says "Oh great you got some candles from the office, now we can see!" The she-devil next door suddenly realized we could hear every word and all went quiet. About 2 mins later there was a knock on our door. It was her. Looking sheepish she asked us where we got the candles and if there were any more. I looked at her and said "Try the office. But be careful the owner is weird hick" I don't think I've ever pitied anyone more than that womans husband. Was good entertainment though. (Long story but you jogged my memory. )

I cannot believe anyone would attempt that in an inflatable. Regardless of their stupidity I'm very glad to hear they survived.

That's what it's all about, nothing better.

Excuses excuses, Connie is right!

How ironic, that's too bad Terry. Still no one committed yet.

Several people have contacted me but nothing firm. Just so we're all on the same page here, it's first come first served to whoever commits. Cheers, Mike

You've just described what is a very typical fly in experience in the James Bay lowlands north of Cochrane (Kesagami being the notable exception). Smallish walleyes by the boatload, substandard grody outpost camps, and mostly shallow featureless dishpan lakes. Still it's a good experience and I can relate to your sentiments. Thanks for taking the time to write that up, very enjoyable. (Side note, but I can't view the videos for some reason. )

Don't worry buddy there'll be other opportunities. As you mentioned fall steelheading is just around the corner as well.

Eddie's first year in business has been a huge success largely due to the bookings and support from the OFC community. After talking to him recently he would like to give something back and has extended what I think is a pretty generous offer. He has an open week available for up to 6 people on Sept 4-11. This week sits squarely in between his last fishing party and his preparations for the fall hunt. He's offering a full week at his camp for up to 6 people for $650 Canadian dollars tax in. Regular price is $1500. If anyone has been contemplating a trip up there this may be a golden opportunity. Obviously a group of 6 would be great but he'll book smaller groups together as well. I believe there's now two kitchens so groups that don't know each can be autonomous if they wish. It's prime time as well. I went the same time last Sept and had a fantastic trip....lots of trophy pike. He's currently at the camp and somewhat hard to reach so I'll be handling this for him, including procuring deposits of $200 per man. If anyone is interested contact me directly at [email protected] You can view Eddie's website here: http://eddienorth.com/index.html Cheers, Mike

Agreed on the slower presentation. IMO hard and soft "swimbaits" are so obviously different in every way you can't really classify them in the same category though. I've been having limited success so far this season using hollow bodied paddle tail baits from Basstrix. They're a great bait and they'll have a time and place especially for walleye. Only thing is....they're not that much different from the 6" sassy shads I've been throwing for over 25 years. I routinely cut a chunk out of the bottom of the bait down to the tail to make the action more pronounced. Rigged with a resin jighead for shallower water, they've been a mainstay for me for years. The action of the Basstrix baits is eerily similar. The one huge advntage they have is colours though. Man do they look nice.

Mackenzie is a bit of a wordsmith, nicely done. Good luck, you've got my vote.

You guys are making me blush. Thanks for the flattering comments and once again I'm glad you enjoyed the story! Cheers

Famous last words.