solopaddler

Dave (Drifter_016) just sent me this butt cap and matching winding check. Wood is cocobolo with the bottom part of the cap made from a hockey puck. The finish is incredibly smooth and shiny, like glass. I'm not 100% sure how Dave achieved the finish except I do know he used crazy glue and buffed it up. Thanks buddy, very nice.

Yeah right. Don't you be messing with my thread colours now.

It hasn't been a particularly bad winter here in southern Ontario, but for me it's been a long one. I have had the chance to get out steelheading a handful of times throughout the winter with decent success. The Niagara especially has coughed up a few brutes for me. Yesterday was special though as it was the first time I've fished in such warm spring-like temperatures with obviously bright fresh run fish. Spring is in the air folks! In addition I was finally able to hook up with John (FLEX ROD on the board). Once again the greatest thing about this board is the quality of its members and the new friends that you meet. It was a pleasure fishing with you yesterday John and I'm sure we'll do it again! The water at our river of choice was running extremely high and slightly stained from spring runoff. This freshet pushed goodly numbers of steelhead into the system and provided almost perfect conditions. Fish were caught on a mix of brightly coloured jigs as well as the usual oversized roe bags tied in chartreuse. Here's a few from yesterdays outing. With spring fully upon us and the weather cooperating there'll be a lot more of the same in next 2-3 weeks. Cheers, Mike

No worries that's a problem inherent with every single Islander and many other float reels as well. Fortunately it's a very easy fix. The problem as you mentioned, if you crank down on the screw the reel doesn't spin as well. If you back off on the screw a bit to get the reel spinning properly you run the risk of having your screw fall out on the river. Here's what you do: Wrap a tiny chunk of 4lb mono around the screw then screw it in to the point where you want it. Any small tag ends of mono sticking out can be trimmed. The mono holds the screw in place and is much easier than using something like loctight.

Regardless of what the so called experts say it can be beaten. Looking forward to your next fishing report as well!

I sold my snow blower last week, brace yourselves for snowy armageddon.

Hey cool, good for you Doug!

Nice way to cap the season Emil. Once again wish I could have joined you!

2pc baitcasters are actually quite common at least in the Canadian market. Look harder you'll find what you need. I have two, one a 61/2' St. Croix Premier, the other a 7' Fenwick HMG. I primarily use them while on my canoe trips...

A trip that few people are privelaged to experience, outstanding!

I'm a little slow on the uptake but I get it now. If I created rain every time I pitched your kind of tent we'd be living in some kind of weird futuristic water world ruled by dolphins.

That's cool. Me? I've got an uncanny ability to produce monsoon-like rains on demand by simply pitching a tent. I swear on my extended 4 month trip in the bush people were building arks. Farmers should pay me for my services when drought hits.

Quit it you know what I mean.

Hey buddy, this is off topic but.... how about some pic's of the new arrival?

Nope. Although it's highly probable you did and I forgot. As you know my brain is turning to mush.

Chris I'll guess that you know how to cast properly? If you're a pull caster or wallis caster you can get away with a lot less line on your reel and do away with backing.

The standard is usually 30lb dacron fly line backing for me. I have one float reel though that has an incredibly deep spool with a ridiculously huge capacity. If I were to fill that reel with backing and mainline it'd take a thousand yards and weigh a ton. For that particular reel I wound on a level 4wt fly line to use as an arbor (weighs nothing and fills up the space), then have my mainline on top of that.

I like 12lb Raven mainline in the green colour. It's very thin with the diameter of most 8lb lines. Without getting into the whys I'm not a fan of any of the floating lines or hi vis lines. Just this spring I've begun to experiment with Fireline on my float reel. The original Fireline is not a braid, repels water and floats so it has good properties for a float reel. The jury is still out on that but it does have some big advantages. As far as spooling goes, pencil through the spool, reeled onto the reel with tension.

There's one dock in the water, you'll be good to go.

Both videos are outstanding! This one hits close to home though, 'cause, well, I'm in it. Dave I had no idea you made this man! Awesome memories.

It's wide open no problem.

Great report Ryan! (It's steelhead time if you're looking to get out and scratch the itch. )

Of course it is.

Word to the wise you're not representing your association very well here. Wow

I've heard some people on the board recently wonder what the attraction is for ice fishing. That they just don't get it. Well here's your answer right here! Great story and an even nicer pike! (Can't believe you chopped holes with a hatchet! )