solopaddler

I've fished it a few times, but when I did there were no designated campsite on Blackfox thus you were not able to "book" the lake nor "legally" camp on it. It's a small heavily stocked lake and easy to read. No spot in particular stood out, they were all over. Work the shoreline and cast to any downed timber... (If you're going in on the opener you can traditionally expect lots of company)

That's one huge freshwater cod, very impressive! Did you batter him up?

Looks a tad bit chilly....but fun! Nice lookin' fish bud.

Armstrong on the cnr tracks N/E of Thunder Bay. So many of my expeditions have begun or ended there, it holds a lot of memories for me.

Dick Swan used to make pieced together IMX rods up to 18'. Waaaay too long IMO, but if that's what you really want, post a wanted ad on the various steelhead sites and you'll probably get one.

Right on bro nice fish, didn't realize you had any pic's! And yeah, you've got a treat in store for you when that water's fishable. On a side note you were right about my muffler noise. (We put my truck in 4WD and drove into a huge mud hole with it. Afterwards it was making some unseemly noises...) It was the mud like you suggested. After spraying it off she's fine now.

Yes, blank only. I ordered mine online from Schoff Tackle in the States back in December. There are some sources here in Ont although you'd have to wait a bit longer to get the blank. I know Cliff Plummer in the Niagara region builds Rainshadow rods, he'd be a source. Also Ernie up in Owen Sound. There's also a distributor in S/W Ont, Jay's Fly Shop (I think?). In any case Batson could confirm that...

Yes, the new stick: 13' 2pc Rainshadow XST. It's amazing, incredibly light, softish tip, but tons of power in the butt. All the fish I landed I didn't follow, so basically I had to stand on them and work them upstream against the rushing current. I was impressed. Ferg was so impressed he wants to sell his IMX now LOL! One of the nicer rods cosmetically and action wise I've fished.

I finally managed to get out on Thursday with a couple of friends for some chrome. The uber mild weather from a couple weeks back had opened up all the rivers completely. Subsequent cold weather caused the lower ends of the trib's to re-freeze, but the upper reaches of the creeks were still flowing (although shelf ice was a bit of a problem). Bill and Ferg hoofed it upstream and left me to my own devices contemplating a small deep slot that looked kind of interesting. Standing knee deep in front of an ice shelf and dodging mini icebergs, some large enough to knock you off your feet, made things interesting. I managed to subdue a good number of fish all from this one small slot without another soul in sight. None of which would have been landed without the net, with the fast moving water and shelf ice it would have been next to impossible alone. Here's a couple of the better pic's: After meeting up with the lads it was decided we'd make a move to another river. Ferg had managed a couple of scruffy looking hens upstream, Bill drew a blank. The pressure was on as Billy was really wanting to break in his fancy new reel. Amazingly the lower reaches of the next river was partially open, although a huge thick ice shelf extended out from the side I normally fish on. Ferg and Bill found a place to wade over and worked there way down to the sweet spot standing with their backs against a wall of jumbled rock. I hung back and watched... Almost immediately the boys were into fish. They both hooked a good number (not sure exactly how many?), lucky to find a pod of unmolested fish. Bill was pretty happy! Here's a couple of long range pic's from my side of the river: I just didn't feel like wading over, but still couldn't resist casting beyond the ice shelf. First drift a mint chrome fish clobbered my bait and started running amok. It took multiple attempts and at least 15 minutes of give and take, but I finally managed to get his head over the ice shelf and surf him over to me. That was kinda fun, I figured I deserved a medal for that one LOL! It was getting late and time to go so the guys finally packed it in. Not an easy thing to do when you're walking away from a bunch of hot fish that you've got all to yourself! Not a bad day at all for this time of year, and things will only get better. Cheers, Mike

Excellent Wayne looks like a blast! Was up at my camp at the same time and had to break trail to get into a couple of back lakes. It's fun isn't it?

He really got his panties in a knot didn't he?

Relax buddy you seem tense, knotted up in fact.

Doug don't you sleep? LOL! At least I've got a reason for being up.

What a great story Drew! I'd love to know what really happened to FLOAT's snowmobile LOL!

Did you guys even look at the picture? Ummm...that ain't Port Hope!

Stellar as usual Ben.

Nice fishies!

The fish you caught weren't sterile. Northunter and Dr. Salvelinus together were right, JohnBacon capped it in a nutshell. In order for Brook trout to spawn in a lake they either need a suitable tributary creek or most commonly upwelling springs. Most stocked trout lakes don't have self sustaining populations because they have no upwelling springs, they're just not viable. As mentioned the fish still produce eggs, they're just not laid and are eventually reabsorbed into their body. Sometimes this takes months.

Nice reel bud! The spring season starts in earnest this week, stay in touch.

Ones I can recommend: http://www.georgianbayfishing.com/ http://www.redpinelodge.com/ http://www.rayscamps.com/ http://www.horwoodlakelodge.com/ http://www.airivanhoe.com/fishing-in-ontario-boat-ins.php http://www.quebec-outfitters.net/deerhorn/index.htm All within your driving range. If you're willing to drive a bit further (10-12 hours) there's many more options.

I've done it before so I'm sure I could do it again.

I'd love it if Loomis still made float rod blanks, but they don't unfortunately. On a side note I'm very very impressed with the 13' 2pc Rainshadow XST blank. Fantastic blank to build a custom rod with and not too expensive. Its spec's are very similar to the highly touted 13' IMX but it's got way more power in the butt.

That's correct Chris, I've seen the blanks including the 15'er and they're pristine. For those of you who like the new GLX's but aren't too thrilled with the sub par factory build here's your chance! Already posted for sale in the floatboard classifieds: have 3 GLX Floatrod blanks, 1- STR 1562 GLX blank $650.00 cdn 1- STR 1563 GLX blank $650.00 cdn 1- STR 1803 GLX blank $700.00 cdn These are factory rods that have been stripped. The blanks have been completely cleaned and are in pristine condition. There is a small amount of epoxy residue where the handle was. This would be less than 20" from the butt of the rod. These rods took me no less than 4 hours each to strip and considering the retail on these rods the value of my labour is pretty low. I would prefer that you would pm me if you are interested. These prices are firm. No trades. Pick-up only. I am in the Niagara region.

While you're at it why don't you mortgage the house and get one of those slob lakers from Great Bear done?

We spent 2 full days on Pyagosk, had shore lunches there each day. Walleye fishing was considerably better than Nettogami. No big pike in either lake and we tried hard. Could have been a seasonal thing though. I'd imagine if you were there in late May/early June you'd do better for larger pike. Goes without saying you'll be able to get to the south end of Nettogami, it is the same lake your outpost is on LOL! We found fishing to be pretty consistent all over the lake. Typical shallow, featureless James Bay lowland lake. Weedlines and reed points are key structure..