The JAY

Thanks folks! Good info.... Now to find out where the ice is nice and thick....,

Thanks guys. Really, I'm looking to see what is available for ice fishing. A day trip is good, or even sleeping in the truck, if I can find ice thick enough to drive on. As for species, I'm not particular. The only reason I mentioned Colbourne was that someone had mentioned smelt through the ice there was a lot of fun. There, Dunnville, Dover... I'm just trying to get an idea what is a viable option without driving all over the Golden Horseshoe. Simcoe is an option too...

Okay, been away a while, but I'm back now!!! I'm curious if anyone is ice fishing in the Port Colbourne area for smelt, or anything else. We did a weekend up on Lake Nippising last weekend, but it was a total bust. We are thinking of doing another weekend up on Temagami or somewhere, but in the meantime we want to do some local fishing. Not really a fan of Hamilton Harbour, but I have heard people fish in the Port Colbourne area. I'm hoping someone is willing to give me an idea what's going on locally, so I can get out a bit for day trips, etc. Thanks in advance!

Thanks from me too. I was about to ask... LOL

Thanks for the news. Temps look warm for the next 7, so my fingers are crossed. There will be a report, one way or another. Let's hope it's not filled with expletives aimed at Mother Nature....

Hey! I'm supposed to be heading up on a fly-in May 12th to a "Star Lake". To the best of my info, it's somewhere near the Mississagi Provincial park. I'm wondering if there is anyone in the area on here that can give me an idea of ice, if there is any, conditions. I'm still waiting to hear from the outpost and thought I may get a quicker response here. Thanks!!! (I am so hoping for a killer report from this trip)

Never heard of it.... Getting the sarcasm yet? A bit more of a 'hello' and a better worded question would go a long way...

I second the vote for Ellen Island. The owners are great, the fishing is amazing at times, and it falls within all your requirements. I've been twice, and maybe headed up for a third this year... If you're going, let me know!

I've lived in this city all my life, walked around all parts of it at all hours of the day and night, and never been scared or worried. Ever. The only time I was ever threatened was when a guy pulled a knife on me, at a pool hall coincidentally, down in Stoney Creek... Just sayin...

Oh man... I loved that show. I started working Saturdays in '80 or '81, but until then I watched faithfully. As a city kid it blew me away to see WHERE these guys fished. I didn't know places like that existed at the time. When I did my first fly-in a few years ago it brought all the memories flooding back as I watched the plane come in for the first time to pick us up. I still get goose bumps standing on a dock way-the-hell up North watching the plane come in....

Mooneyes are all over the Grand. Very silver, and I have seen the bigger ones have 'stripes'. Never seen one launch itself though...

Good report. I knew there were fish in the Grand, and I'm glad you finally learned that there are too... Keep looking, they get bigger, especially when you get to the walleye and pike...

White has been the hot colour up there all year. The bass love 'em, and the 'eyes took them with a bit of a worm trailer.... I'm going to have to stock up... And buy new line again.... Grrr....

I'm with spincast; what it lacks in size is more than made up for in the colourful pulmage!

It was the additude they gave me when I caught them! No, I believe bass are like most fish, and the females tend to be larger. I could be wrong there though...

I hear you about the addiction that is fly fishing... As well as the "What are you buying now" look from SWMBO.... You've got a nice little collection going there!

Well, with the full moon upon us, I decided I'l go up to the Grand for a little smallie fishing. Short version: 2 and a half hours, 47 fish, the biggest was around the 4 Lb mark... Longer version: As I've said, I have a trip to Lady Evelyn in...8 more sleeps . I wanted to try out my light action rod with new line and some new jigs. The line totally sucked, and a big waste of $20, but the white jig and tails were a giant hit with the bass! They couldn't get enough of them. wading across the river I made a few casts into areas I expected a few little guys to be. 5 casts, 4 fish. Looks like I picked a good colour. None of them were huge, but all fought well above their 1Lb weight. Got over to the far shore and started wading my way to a honey hole I know. The fish were on fire, and getting bigger as they went. When I pullled the 3rd bass out of the hole I was working I saw a whole bunch of fish porpoising on the surface a little further up. Waded up to that point and proceeded to haul out a TON of big females. I don't know if female bass school up like that normally, but they were in there thick! Undoubtably it was my best night of smallie fishing, ever. Period. I must remember to charge the camera next time. All I got was 1 picture of a fish as they started to get bigger. My hat's off to Phenix for their jig heads! Gammy hooks rock!

Thanks! I have managed to avoid that for 3-4 years now, and you just brought it all rushing back! What's next, Saladfingers? (If you think the unicorns are strange, try this....

Incredible. Those are some impressive pike, to say the least! Well done!

And Plasma, LED and LCD are the 3 main types of consumer television picture technology....

Dave, I'm sorry to hear about the bust fishing-wise, but even more sorry about the deadbeats that would take a tacklebox. To paraphrase John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, "It would have been worth them doing it, I could have caught them doing it..."

Well, except for DanC who totally missed the point of the post, thanks everyone for the comments, both public and PM's. I should point out, for those that weren't able to figure it out, my buddy got GREAT service at Bill's Bait, up here on the Mounatain in the Hammer. Greg and Tim always go out of their way to help someone out, no matter the total of their purchase. Greg went as far as to become a distributor for a new fly gear company, just on a conversation I had about getting a new fly outfit from this company. He liked the look of their product, liked how enthusiastic I was, and ordered in some outfits from them. I'm in there at least once a week, and always drop a few bucks at least (Tying flies you are always running out of something or other).

LOL, actually, my buddy is so laid back, he doesn't really care, especially after how well he was treated elsewhere. He just called to tell me that the place in question has 5000 rounds of ammunition on sale for one of his new guns, but he won't be buying it there...