Photoz

Yesterday someone gave us a 'heads-up' concerning a sale on April 15 at Fishing World . . . . which many of us are generally happy to hear about. However . . . . as I went to mark this on my callendar, I discovered April 15 is a Sunday. Since I thought this a little odd, I mentioned it in a reply . . . . . checked again about 11:30 . . . . couldn't find the post? I suspect quite a few people may have seen this . . . . and I'm surprised no one has asked? Just curious . . . . what is the story . . . . unfounded or (mistakenly) erronius info?

We don't deliver the S. I. swimsuit edition until ALL Postal Workers have had a boo . . . . we have a responsibility to make sure this smut is NOT distributed to homes where innocent readers could be exposed to it accidentally . . . . . so we must inspect every one, VERY closely . ... occasionally several times . . . . just so you realize how well we protect the public, eh? Tough job . . . . somebody's gotta do it though! I've been doing midnights, in-station sorting, for a couple months . . . . banged up my heel and discovered a couple bone spurs at the time . . . . a little tough getting around!

Yeah h h h . . .. . I suppose it would depend on when the present boundary was mapped . . . . if it was a land-locked lake / pond then, it would likely be Division 6 . . . . . but if there was a clear entranceway to Lake Ontario, I supposed it would have been considered Division 8?? And a storm, with a south wind can either pile sand up, and close it off, or wash it all out? Kinda unique?

Last year I tried several times for carp just east of the G. M. office building, at the west end of Darlington, at McLughlin Bay. Saw lots, never even got a sniff. However, it looks like a good spot for ice fishing, likely a few pike and maybe jumbo perch cruisin' about. Now the problem . . . . I have had 2 opinions (hard to actually pinpoint on a map) one that it's Division 8, because it's connected to Lake Ontario, the other . . . . it's Division 6, because, when the water is low, the sandbar at the entrance is ALL above water, so it IS NOT part of Lake Ontario, but a landlocked pond which makes it Division 6, which closes it to ALL fishing when the Kawarthas close in November? Is there anyone on this board who actually knows which Division it is in? Or does it change from Division 8 to Division 6 when the water is low & it becomes land-locked? Since I KNOW there's fish there, it is just as good a place to get skunked as any other?

Personally I prefer my blackberries with lotsa whipped cream! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM good!

Yeah h h h h . .. . . a bunch of us at The Post Office had a look at them before the carrier delivered 'em . . . . . . a couple of us were going to test a few for you, but it's tough finding enough open water for this these days. We were VERY careful, rewraping 'em, as we didn't want to look like a bunch of snoops. U h h h h h . . . . . . howcum you don't subscribe to a few good fishing magazines . . . we get sick of Charelaine, Readers Digest & Toronto Life when it's slow!

HARK! The self appointed guru / prophet of the Simcoe board expells some of his great knowledge & opinions upon us . . . ? Perhaps he should hook up with Peter & go back to whence he came? And Lew . . . . my hat is off to you for your efforts, and even more for your restraint.

But does it play 'OH CANADA' when you sit down, and if you're a good Canadian, of course, ya gotta stand at attention?

The first of the year I generally start off on the ice (but not THIS year, obviously) . . . perch, lakers & whities, and crappie, if I can find the elusive wee boogers! Weather permitting I sometimes hit a few shore spots where rainbows hang out, then by April, ice is gone (hopefully) and again it's perch, crappies or rainbows. The Lake Simcoe sucker run is a lotta fun, I find the Beaverton area about the best spot to hang a chunk of worm under a slip float, light panfish gear, 3 or 4 pound test . . . . a 3 to 5 pound sucker can put up a good scrap! In between I've sometimes tried washin' lures along the lakefront for pike . . . got a quite a surprise last weekend when one hit hard enough on a red & white Daredevyl to almost take my rod. One jump, with a few violent headshakes, and thanks to me, some slack line and the spoon flew one way, and the pike, the other!! There goes my theory that pike are lethargic in cold water, THIS one sure wasn't, had to be 10+ pounds!! Then, by mid to late April . . . . what I live for CARP!! Nothing like hearing your buzzer scream as 25 pounds of carp takes off like a freight train, almost smoking up your reel!! I fish them . . . . EVERYWHERE . . . until the salmon start to come in if conditions are right, by early August, usually in the wee hours. Then, by October, back to rainbows, and perch, and the cycle starts again! Ain't life great??

Perhaps it should be forwarded over to Peter on Cook Bay . . . . . he's the local pikeskie expert?

Well, like you said WALEYE GUY, it WAS about 2 cents worth! But . . . . I'm curious . . . . if I should be fishing my fave trout stream, and catch a bass . . . . would you suggest I KILL it, because, in my opinion, it didn't 'belong there?' Or perhaps a pike in my favorite musky waters? KILL it too?? Yup . . . . if ya don't think it belongs, KILL IT!!

AMAZING . . . . just simply amazing!! Great read . . . . great shots . . . . about 4 more months I dust off the ol' carp rods. Still not sure what to do with the 12' Nexave & Technium I got a Fishing World at BELOW rock bottom price . . .. I guess a Stradic 6000 & a 4500 Baitrunner will fit 'em? One question . . .. howcum EVERYBODY I introduce to carp fishing, OUTFISHES ME?

Lookin' to 'donate' a good rod & reel to the 'TROUT GODS'? Leavin' it set with a wee stick like that . . . . and takin' your eyes off it . . .. . even for a minute or 2 . . ... YIKES!! Nice to see ya enjoyed yourself . . . . I generally get my camera working when I'm not catchin', (which is often) but if you've taken shots of one duck, goose or sea gull, you taken all you need! Sooner or later you'll cash in . . . . . you just gotta be there when the fish are! Keep those pics comin'!

Have a GRR R R R R E A T trip, and enjoy yourselves down there. wanna take the boat up to Jack's when you come back for crappie? Not likely will have safe ice!

Carp peacefully co-exist with ALL other species of fish in ALL places I fish them. A very popular 'ol' wives tale among the uninformed is that when the carp move in, ALL other species leave. Generally, when this happens, it means the water quality has gotten so bad other species cannot survive. Carp do 'root around' in shallow, tepid marshes, and stir up the water . . . . . but again, the water is generally so bad by then, even if you cleared ALL the carp, other fish couldn't survive. A true sportsman, who knows of what he speaks would NEVER advocate just killing off a fish that thousands of us enjoy catching, just because they believe many tales handed down by earlier generations, who didn't know either. I'd suggest you do a bit of reading on the subject, before wildly proclaiming the carp as 'enemy #1! Here's a good start . . . . .

HISTORY OF CARP IN THE UNITED STATES

Prior to 1900, most native fish were viewed as vital food resources. Fish designated as sport fish today were harvested commercially and shipped by rail to the cities. The results were gravely declining stocks of river and lake fish at a time the U.S. population was greatly expanding. In 1871, Ulysses S. Grant and Congress ordered the formation of the U.S. Fish Commission to oversee the nation's fisheries interests. By 1877 the studies of European fish farming techniques indicated the carp would contribute to the strength of the nation.

By 1874, the commission after long study issued a report entitled, "Fishes Especially worthy of Cultivation." It went on to say that no other species except the carp promises so great a return in limited waters. Cited were advantages over such fish as black bass, trout, grayling and others "because it is a vegetable feeder, and although not disdaining animal matters can live on vegetation alone and can attain large weight kept in small ponds and tanks."

In 1876, the commission enumerated other good qualities such as high fecundity (a count of ripe eggs in the female fish), adaptability to artificial propagation, hardiness of growth, adaptability to environmental conditions unfavorable to equally palatable species, rapid growth, harmlessness in relation to fish of other species, ability to populate waters to it's greatest extent and fine table qualities. By 1877, citing the above reasons and adding, 'there is no reason why time should be lost with less proved fishes," the commission, convinced of the value of carp, imported 345 fishes of scaled, mirror and leather carp from German aqua culturists. On May 26th, they were placed in the Druid Hill Park ponds in Baltimore, Maryland. The ponds proved inadequate and some were transferred to the Babcock lakes on the monument lot in Washington, D.C. the following year.

So did they somehow escape from these confines to populate nearly everywhere? No. Now state governments get involved. Records indicate about 6,203 fingerlings were produced in the Babcock lakes in 1879. These were shipped to 273 applicants in 24 states. About 6,000 fingerlings were produced in the Druid Hill ponds that year and were stocked primarily in Maryland. One year later, 31,332 carp were shipped to 1,374 applicants. In 1882, carp production increased to 143,696 fish and distributed in small lots to 7,000 applicants. In 1883, about 260,000 carp were sent to 9,872 applicants in 298 of 301 congressional districts and to 1,478 counties. During the years 1879 to 1896, the U.S. Fish Commission distributed 2.4 million carp, some of which were sent to Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico. By 1897, the Commission discontinued the stocking because carp had been distributed nearly everywhere and many states assumed the task of propagation and stocking of carp.

Just spotted this . . . . . couldn't be much more accurate!!

Not exactly apologizing . . . . . but geeze . . . . with the flack we 'fish-killers' sometimes take these days, it makes you feel kinda guilty sneakin' the odd ONE home. P3TA lurks EVERYWHERE!! Port Hope was a virtual tomb today . . . apparently the days of 'limiting out' on trout here are gone . . . . I talked to a local this morning, he bets there were less than 10 trout caught in town all weekend . . . . I know I never even saw a hit in 5 hours this morning . . . . . between the 10 or 12 people fishin'! Waitin' with much anticipation for the new regs . . . . hopin' they drop the trout limits out east like up Georgian Bay way . . . . it seems to have worked okay up there?

I'd almost for got what a decent trout on the receiving end of my line felt like . . . . the last 4 times out . . . about 4 'line bumps,' didn't even see many hits! Yesterday I was FINALLY rewarded when I took my eyes off my rod for about 5 seconds . . . and looked back to see it wildly bouncing, and a nice 8 pound trout doing a back-flip about 200' out. In my haste to get to the rod, I slipped in some loose gravel, and NEARLY ended up going for a swim! My dear ol' Auntie knows how to stuff & roast these guys better than any turkey . . . I can hardly wait for dinner today! But . . . . I don't keep many (hell, I don't CATCH many) but on those good days I don't know which is worse . . . . seeing people taking 5 large trout home . . . . or those who catch 10 or more, hold the big ones up by the gills for shots, then uncerimoniously KICK it along several feet frozen ground, across gravel & concrete & into the water, after it's flopped around for several minutes? I likely 'kill' less in a year than SOME (definately NOT all) of these proud 'conservationists' do in an outing!! Oh well . . . . . what can ya do?

I believe the OFFICIAL record for a carp in Ontario was 38.6 pounds, caught over by the first stand of willows at the Ganny in Port Hope. My best (pictured) was just over 34, from Port Credit, near the rivermouth. I have landed (for others) a 41+ at the ol' 'stacks' at Lakeview, and a 43 at Hamilton Harbour. I've caught a lot in the 15 to 20 pound range up in the Otonabee . . . but rarely have seen any over the 25 pound range. Out of all my spots, pound for pound, the Kawartha carp SEEM to be the best fighters . . . . even with the 13' Technium (3 pound T/C) and a Thunnus, I've had carp run several hundred feet up there, with the drag pretty tight!!

As for killing a 50 pound carp, just to see my name in the record book . . . . . it would never happen . . . . if he's been smart enought to live long enough to get this big, I don't think it deserves to die for it!! As for the BIGGEST . . . . . from all the information I read, the lagoons on the Toronto Islands seem to hold the biggest . . . . and toughest to catch. EVERYBODY who goes there, sees MONSTER carp, but can't seem to entice a bite!!

Check the this thread . . . . . http://www.ofncommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1714

I went into Lebaron's on Boxing Day for a package of hooks & 2 spools of line . . . . . . 5 minutes later I left with a package of hooks & 2 spools of line . . . . . ? Already got enough lures to use a different one every 10 minutes for several days . . . . . . AND STILL CATCH NOODNIK!!

You mean there's nothing wrong with the 'PAYPAL' & 'E-BAY accounts I don't have? And it's been MONTHS since I have had an offer to help transfer money outta Nigeria? Geeze . . . . I feel left out . . . . . I guess Wayne's gettin' my share?

I've been watchin' SEVERAL boards for mention of the Spring Fishin' Show . . . . not a whisper? After a relatively poor showing, and down-sized show last year, there were rumblings it MIGHT be the last one. Anybody out there have any info on this?

Your best bet will be up #400 to Essa Road, come east to Tiffen (a couple klicks) right, a short block to Lakeshore Drive, left, and you'll see a parking lot on your right . . . . just pick a spot, hang a worm or minnow about 12' under a slip float, and cast out as far as you can. Or, you can go north half a klick on Lakeshore to the Barrie marina, fish off the slips around past the boat ramp. If you're takin' kids, these are FLOATING docks, put floatation devices on 'em!! Again, either a float or bottom fish . . . . minnow, worm, small plastics, jig head. Or . . . . come just a bit further north, to a big junk pile (sculpture??) of scrap metal . . . . . cast into the channel anywhere along the path. These are 3 decent spots, if there's an on shore wind, the shelter of the marina is best. Good luck. Simcoe Bait & Tackle opens around 07:00 . . . I don't have their address, I THINK they're on Tiffen though, not far from Essa . . . . they'll be on Google. Good luck & enjoy.

P. S.

The 'junk pile' I refer to is right across from the bus station . . . . the marina 5 minute walk south.

In the north end of the city where I deliver mail, (along the Don River Valley) the robins have stayed all winter for about 10 years . . . . I often see a large flock of them in the trees along my route, picking the berries, and many people put stuff out for them. It's just like the ducks & geese in this city . . . . when the winters were longer and colder, they ALL went south . . . . . until people started to feed 'em . . . . . . now there are nearly as many in winter as summer!

P. S.

I think Vans is out compiling more data to fine-tune & upgrade his prediction of ice huts on Simcoe by mid-December. Some of the Simcoe guys are considerin' puttin' pontoons on theirs! But, this'll give him a bit more time to get his flasher (which I'm patiently waiting for) on the store shelves . . . . . I'll letcha know when I see the first one!

I'd LOVE to support my local shop, and I DID try today! First stop . . . Gagnon's in Oshawa . . . CLOSED?? Boxing Day?? Oh well, Tightlines it is then . . . . pulled off the highway at Brock Road in Pickering . . . . CLOSED TOO?? Geeze . . . . all I want is a couple reels spooled up with line . . . . next stop . . . Angling Specialties way y y y y up on Kennedy Road in Outer Scarberia . . . . UNBELIEVABLE!! ALSO CLOSED! So o o o o o . . . . . the one that EVERYBODY loves to hate . . . . . . L-E-B-A-R-O-N-'S . . . . . do THEY want some business? As I approach, I see the parking lot is full . . . . . SOMEBODY wants my money! Pretty good crowd . . . . I get a few items . . . . out the cash line in minutes. THIS is how to compete with the 'big (nasty) box stores' . . . . be open when they're open!