Bill Shearer

I have fished with the same guy for 50 years! We commonly split up on the rivers to zero in on the fish. We know that if we haven't seen each other after 20-30 minutes we better find where the other is, as he's probably into fish. We never needed cell phones to communicate. The system usually works very well. When we do fish the same run/pool, we always use different baits and tactics. Beads/bags/jigs/heavy trotting/loose drift etc. It really helps to make a good day better, most of the time. The other factor is the safety issue. We fish pretty remote spots sometimes, and just knowing there is someone who can call for help, or assist in getting back to the car is great insurance.

Well done! Lessons learned, Loose lips sink ships. A well known quote from WW2. Can be adapted to fishing today very easily. Great video that hides the bad stuff!

Looking great Dave! A man of many talents and determination! Very well done!

There are so many super products on the market now! Dave, you are on top of them all, when it comes to your far North build! A big thanks for letting the rest of us know whats out there!

I believe you are talking about MAR, ON. Bass and maybe even pike below Sauble falls now, but the onset of fall will bring on the Salmon, and then Steelhead. A great place to fish for them! A beautiful stream to fish, but beware of the wood slabs below the wire at the falls. They must have a huge collection of lures, hooks, and various fishing appliances....

Art is correct. What Ive found is that sometimes a bright lure catches nothing. Other times they want it bright. Probably depends on water clarity and lighting on the pier etc. So start out with a two minute charge and then work your way down to 30 seconds using ten casts as your base. Adjust from there

Thirty seconds to a minute is usually all it takes for the lures I use

I hate fishing in the rain! The last few years I have been taking a week and heading to BC for Steelhead. It rains out there. A lot! Had no choice but to stick it out. On the rainy days I never caught a fish, but before rain hit, or after it stopped? Fishing was good to great! Around the great lakes I don't even bother to go if the rain POP is over 50%.

Kudos to the men that are going! There is a huge difference in fighting fires in Ontario and BC, just due to the terrain, let alone any other factors. I have tried walking in the bush out there, and unless you have legs as long as a moose, good luck! Plus it always seems to be either straight up, or straight down.

Surprisingly the dryer sheets (Fleecy) dipped in water will make your job easier. I'm sure you have smashed a few Love Bugs while in Florida. The dryer sheets worked on them and up here too. Much easier than other stuff I have tried. Let me know how it works for you. Sooner the better

Thanks Dave! I tried the Channel cats many years ago from a quarry out near Hagersville. I found they tasted 'musty'. Never tried them from the Grand though. Has anyone eaten the smaller 3-5lb fish from there? I'd be willing to try again but don't want to kill them if they taste the same way. I'm wondering how Paul Prudhommes Blackened spice might work on them?

I used to do roofing years ago, but from what I see on your photos, the roof didn't have much life left in it. I'd be accepting the offer, rather than fighting for more. Just my opinion, FWIW.

There is quite a learning curve to using them! You basically do NOT set the hook! The fish takes the bait, and hooks itself. If you become impatient and try to hook the fish, 6/10 times you end up pulling the bait out of the fishes mouth. If patience is not your virtue, then get Octopus hooks. All this depends on whether the fish swims at you when it picks up the bait. If that happens then hook-up rates are terrible, with either hooks, based on my experience.

Dave is correct, shrimp are a very good bait for channel cats. My favourite concoction, is a 1/4"X 1 1/2" strip of squid with a chunk of shrimp, on a 6/0 circle hook. The shrimp we use is frozen, uncooked, the same as the squid. Pretty stinky stuff, which the cats seem to love. Good luck on your search for the cats!

I sure hope not Dave! I have not had an outdoors card since I no longer needed a fishing license. (70 now)

Sounds like "normal" as the self policing goes.... Kind of like the inmates running the prison?

As the person who was paying did you not inspect the prep work? Were you there when the concrete was being poured? I had a concrete double drive put in many years ago. With contract in hand I inspected the area they dug out. It was supposed to be 14" deep. They only went down 8". I showed the operator of the back hoe the contract as he was getting ready to load the machine. He dug it all out as the contract stated. I think it's imperative that you check each part of the process otherwise some people will try and take the easy way out. I'd make them redo.

Lesssons to be learned by Kathleen and her money hungry crew!

I've shipped rods to Alaska and BC as part of extra sports baggage a few times in a 4" ABS rod tube. Not had any issues. I padded rods with bubble wrap for extra insurance. If the baggage handlers wanted to ruin your day no amount of packing and tube strength will matter. Years ago on a direct Air Canada flight from Montreal to Vancouver, a baggage truck managed to smash 4 rods in a ABS tube. We could see the tire marks on the tube. Apologies were not offered, and pursuit of damages was a waste of time.

Gas stations use a paste that they smear on a dip stick to test their tanks for water. It turns colour up to the point where the water is on the bottom. Try NAPA or something similar for it. Then all you have to do is siphon/pump off the gas and leave the water for disposal. (I'd maybe add a couple of inches leeway)

For any that might be interested, I went out to Dunnville this morning to see if there were any channels cats left to play with. In spite of the cold front and the north west gusty winds there was a good number of decent sized fish and a couple that might hit the scale at 12-13 lbs. There were other guys fishing but most were above the dam.

Sure would appreciate an update on the Channel cats if anybody was out there on the weekend!

I got into a few today, in the same area. Some good ones still around! Thanks Steve!

^ I think that might be for the lawnmower thread? lol

No sympathy at all. Super talented individual who squandered it.