chrispyke

Hey Thanks Bob !! Really appreciate the info. I agree about SBL, I stayed for a couple of days a few years ago with the previous owners and I beleive it is still the same, a set time for dinner and breakfast. How are you supposed to schedule eating around the best fishing times !! I do appreciate the reply and helpful tips ! Anyoune else ?? BL

Thanks Stubbex, will definately try that being so close to it. Any suggestion for colour or size ? BL

We are going up to Sand Beach Lodge next week and need some help. Sand beach itself is a great place to stay, a little expensive, but the wife could use a break ! I have been here before with limited success, in fact, I showed the guide the one spot I caught walleye by crooked rapids All though there is a lot of water in this section of the french, I find it difficult to find those 'eyes unless I make the 40 minute trip to the crooked rapids. I've read the reports of the french that water levels are down and the fishing is tough. They must be somewhere. In some past reports the opening around shell camp is good and look for areas of the river that have bottle necked to create current. Is there much to fish west of the 69 bridge, that water is moving pretty fast ? I read in another post across from cross island can be good. Is there any really good walleye spots closer to the camp and Dry Pine Bay. I have a 75hp and can get anywhere pretty good. Any help would be appreciated ! On another note, I know the Woolsley bay section very well and am happy to pm details of spots to those heading to Woolsley Bay. I have map that shows 20+ years of fishing success for that part of the river. Why not go there ? Th acommadations and food at SBL are very good, we considered Lochaven, but it is pretty isolated on an island not good for the odd day trip to Sudbury or Kilarney We are not only looking for walleye spots, pike, bass muskie are useful too...not that I'm asking for too much ! Thanks in advance ! BL

Way to go !! Hope to be out this weekend ! Water temps have really come up, last weekend they were hovering around 70 degrees. Very pretty looking fish as well...and yes it looks like pike are here to stay....although I have yet to catch one ! BL

I have fished the french on and off since 1991. I know the Woosley Bay section the best. I usually fish for Walleye and have seen some huge skis in these spots, feeding on the walleye I beleive. Both times it was near fast water in the early morning before 8 am. The firs wast in the circling water just outside five finger rapids. While fishing walley and bringing in a sunfish.... a huge ski came up to get it but it was spooked by the boat...scared the crap out of me. The other one I was told by my guide is a resident fish, it is a long boat ride away, in the big pool just outside the very narrow entrance to Chaudiere Dam...don't go in towards the dam, stay in the pool. There are some weeds on the edges. I had a follow from another big fish casting a big bucktail. Found no musky in the north channel, plenty of small mouth and walleye, even pike up in the rapids. Heading to lower french possibly in a three weeks. Good luck !!

I know this is a long shot, but maybe someone can help me out with my April trip to Florida. I plan to spend a lot of time on the Juno Pier or renting a boat and doing some near shore fishing. If anyone knows anything about the area, local tackle shops, and possible tips, it would be greatly appreciated! BL

What happens to the people that want to get the 5 now ? Is BPS going to up grade them to a 7 for the cost of the 5...you never know unless you ask...

I got to the store at 9:15 am and saw the line up, walked over the marine counter and saw the stacks of Graphs...did think much of it. Checked out some other things. Met with my buddy there and he found out about the deal. Once i realized how good of a deal it was, I realized how much I need a new graph . I was the 8th last to get one when I lined up again around 10:15. My Buddy opted out because of 'the warden', only to find out later she told to go ahead and get one...he was a more than a little PO ed. BL

I've heard others tell me the same as you...with most of the caught in either West Bay or North Bay close to the entrance/exit of the Trent. Have you caught any in South Bay by chance ? BL

I went to an ice fishing Seminar late last year at Radio world and the MNR biologist for the Kawartha Lakes was there giving a presentation about the new regs. He told us Pike are in Balsam for a few years but not a huge population as yet. I've heard of them being caught and have caught a few tiger muskies, but have yet to see a pike come out of that lake...hoping to catch one through the ice BL

Me and the boy went fishing Saturday night and early Sunday morning. On live bait in summer, I seem to catch a lot more perch than walleye. In winter it is the opposite. We caguht 8 good sized perch this am all around sun rise...not much after. Saturday night was the all walleye show....all live released in the hole...no harm done. Over the two days about 6 hours of fishing total we had 8 perch and 8 walleye..lost some others as well. I'm actually not complaining about it all..it's just different...yet to see a crappie, pike, sunfish, rock bass etc....I actually love going out to fish with my little guy I've fished from the same spot in about 8' of water pink jig tipped with a live small shiner..6lb ice line. I'm sure if I drilled a couple of more holes into the shallower weedbed, may do better with the perch. Just like the comfort of my hut and the results aren't horrible. Balsam doesn't seem to have very much pressure...the local cottagers look at you like you came from the moon! Drove out to the end of long point and saw only 1 other hut in South Bay. Are people not interested in fishing some Kawartha lakes for Pan fish ? Didn't drive around into west bay or up into north bay as the ice had a big pressure crack at the end of long point. How are others doing on Balsam ? Anyone with different results ? The excitement for the boy is what it's all about for me ! BL

A buddy of mine filmed a fishing show for Getting Hooked yesterday somewhere in Haliburton they caught 15 lakers and 7 whities over about 4 hours...He's used to doing much better. The biggest laker was 8lbs....maybe that will peak your interest a little. BL

I've fished up and down the Gulf Coast for years. You will see very few people fishing from Piers with a 9.5' rod unless they are fishing at night for sharks...Usually a 7' salt water set up is fine...believe it or not Walmart sells a decent combo for about $40 US or less. I always used live bait, usually shrimp...brought down an aerorator and bait bucket in the top of my golf bag carrier as well as the rods in the holes for the clubs. The bait shops down there sell a bait fish stringer/catcher wathcamadoodle...you basically drop it off the pier and wrap it around a post...threadfins swim into it and get gill hooked...you then have live bait. If you are fishing from the surf....watch or ask around for under tow. Usually use 12lb test with a 25lb flourocarbon leader about 2' long...it is really all you need for most species....if you get something really big....it will likely spool you. I've caught and seen caught off the pier shark, lady fish, red fish, snook, pompano, sheepshead, jacks, grunts etc... This time of year is getting into sheephead season with cooler water temps off of piers, fish close to pilings on the pier.(Black and white striped drum), they kinda of hit weird where you have to wait a sec after you feel the tap to set the hook... Good luck ! BL

You know what...I'm all ready a little concerned about the ice. I was out on Sunday and noticed a couple of these hair line cracks showing up...that were not there the day before....and that is with the high temp of around -4. My hut has lots of ice under it, much more than the 5" close to shore....wouldn't want to punch my sled through the ice coming off the shore. I think I'll be walking out a bit just to be safe. BL

Just got back off Balsam...turns out my hut is in 8' - 9' of water over a mud flat...can clearly see the bottom. Beleive according my gps close to deep water on one side 15 -18 ' and weeds of 5'-6' on the other. Caught about a dozen perch missed that many as well on live shiners. Was hoping to see the odd pike but no such luck...the 6 lb line would not have handled them. A few of the perch hit the split shot, so maybe small jigs may be in order. It was a great start and fealt a little like a historic occasion. Pattern may be like the bog and better action in the evening/dark...going to give that a go tommorw. Best of Luck ! BL

Never go to the boat show...last time I went it cost me $20,000 ...much cheaper to stay home ! BL

I didn't have my graph..but went by 2 hand held gps. This spot throughout the year has produced plenty of pan fish, musky, odd walleye. Hoping to get into Pike. I expect the depth is around 13-16 fow. Don't know yet for sure...but it sits on the edge of a weedline that goes up to 6 fow. Hoping for the best...I can always move the hut. If your out in South Bay it is near the bottom...can't miss it...I'm the only one there right now. Going to pike up some small minnows from Talbot...he gives you a ton of bait for $10. Should be out there on the weekend for sure. Stop by if you're in the area. BL Good Luck !

Just got back from Balsam....put my hut out today. A solid 7" of black ice + 2" of white ice on top....no problem for my sled. Lots of sled tracks around...will be fishing it hard this weekend. I'm in South Bay and the only hut out there at the moment. Good luck ! BL

Was on the ice today skating with the family and punched a couple of holes. the first hole was 20 yards of shore at the bottom of South Bay. I measured 5". The second spot was about 100 yards off shore in 4 fow measured 4" - 5". I wouldn't say it was all black ice either. Definately safe to walk on. Later in the day a couple of sleds came by about 400 yards of shore...they kept pretty close to shore and didn't venture into the main lake too far. I do know...I think I'm going to wait another week or so. Plus the fact that there is a big pressure crack just in front of my shoreline with water on either side making it difficult to get the hut out. I saw no other sled tracks anywhere....I would be very careful!! BL

Here is a link to view Ontario from Satellite. Does the black colour of the lakes mean open water ? There must be some lakes frozen by now meaning they would look whitish from the satelite. Does anyone have a better satellite feed/link ? http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/data/satell...ont1_ir_100.jpg I would expect to see more lakes frozen over in the next few days, but Simcoe looks pretty black still. BL

I have been to Provo in Turks and Caicos a couple of times. It is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Th reef is about 1-2 miles out and provides for protected swimming/snorkeling etc...As for the fishing, I mostly fished with bait either from shore or rented a skiff. There wasn't much live bait, so I bought frozen squid from the grocery store and it worked really well cathching anything from barracuda, snapper, grouper, grunts etc... You will need a fishing licence and there are protected zones that you can't fish. One of my favorite spots was in Turtle Cove Marina at the breakwater...if you walk out to the end of the rocks you will catch a bunch of things. As for the bone fishing. I did go looking around the whole island and did find some shallow grass flats, but no luck with bone fish....didn't see any really. I think you would need a guide. Also, unless things have changed, boat rentals and guides are very expensive. There is a pretty big Montreal connection to T & C, quite a few run businesses there...seen a few quebec plates as well on the island. Hope this helps, if you have any questions, I'll try to help out. BL

I always leave my fishing licence in my boat which sits at the dock all summer. Now the boat is stored and shrink wrapped...can't get at the licence till spring. Is there a way to get a temporary card ? Or do I just suck it up and get a new one. BL

It is going to be an intersting winter on Balsam. I'll be down in south bay looking for pan fish....there are not too many pike in South Bay...yet. I think since it has never been fished in winter it may be hard to find them. I'm not sure whether to run and gun or throw a hut out. Everyone be careful as ice conditions are different on each lake. The safe sledders know where to run...but different for ice fisherman venturing to a winter lake for the first time. BL

I agree steel hooks are unlikely to dissolve in a couple of days, but if I hook an out of season anything with a a hook in the gullet, I'm going to cut the line and hope the fish lives. Bringing it out and trying to get that hook out usually ends bad from my experience. Thanks for all the helpful advice and yes if you are out on Balsam in South Bay close to the end...come say hello. Still looking for a hut by the way. Cheers, BL

Now I'm a little paranoid...I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars to buy a hut and put out a hut on Balsam, might be the only one out there, so it is conveniet for me and friends and kids can fish whenever we want in a comfortable enviroment....and some guy who doesn't like the new regs might come and burn it down...nice ! Balsam Laker