manitoubass2

Have you found the bass? This time of year on rainy river(which isn't too far from you), when the bass start to feed heavy the pike are right near by. They mix in at periods then move back out a little. I'd look shallow early and mid/late afternoon. This time of year I'm tossing plastics crawfish (black red fleck), booth pot belly spinner baits (black/silver, chart, white) and money minnow swim baits or Berkeley ripple shads. Hope this helps. I'll also ask my neighbour, he guides on the English river as well

I just lip it. Just make sure you have a good grip and don't fidget if the fish shakes. I've caught a lot of smallies in my life and rarely do I have them shake once lipped

Wunderground for weather wind and radar. Navionics and that's it for me

Congrats on the fish!!! Holy geebus that's a monster. Oh and congrats on still having your hand after removing the hook haha.

Almost all my lures are rapalas. Reasonably priced, great selection of styles colors, and the action is what they say it is. I also use some strike king lures, northland tackle lures

Just down Down from my house I see catches quite often and some are comical to watch, pulling boats all around the river lol. They are so strong it's crazy! The big one I landed from shore took a little over an hour to get to shore. Caught it first cast and that was the end if my day lol. My shoulders and back just took a beating, as did my bass rod. I could feel the pressure right down to the reel seat. Incredible fish, I'd love to be able to catch and release one day

Oily but good smoked. You can only eat abit before you'll be running for a washroom

Yeah, I've worked in fort, red lake, ear falls etc. now I'm just outside of Emo in manitou or RRFN

yep that's sportsman. There is also a tackle shop in Nestor falls that's had a lot of photos taken right by my house, lots of 7-8 footers. Next time your around fort Frances hit me up for some fishing. We can hit rainy lake or rainy river, or any of the crazy good lakes up cedar narrows on the 502

I literally have sturgeon in mass quantities 100 yards from my house. The numbers here are staggering. I never have targeted them, but I've watched a lot of people do it. And the MNR is present. They don't seem to care as long as its catch and release. Then again, I'm on the us border, and maybe it legal for them? In 5 years, I've caught two incidental sturgeon, and I must say the fight is like no other. One was about ten lbs ice fishing, the other was 80-100lbs, that I had to walk into the water to release. I wish I coulda took pics, but by the book, that's illegal

The lakes are easy, it's rivers that are tough. Rainy river for example, for years we had a sandbar off a point that was deadly for walleye pre and post spawn. 2 years later and it's all rock now. The river is constantly changing. I find water levels to be the most confusing to figure out year to year

I actually keep journals for lakes lol. I make notes on water temp, structure species etc. so my way points are easily found in my journal

I did this last winter while board and tinkering with my tackle(lol). The flash method is horrible, maybe slightly better then a 60 watt light bulb. I use northlands glow jigs at night while ice fishing and the charge lasts about 15-25 minutes. I find white holds a charge the longest. Never really tried it with any spoons though. The only plastics I use that glow are these cigar style worms and a 3" paddle tail minnow. They barely glow as per stated, but they sure work well. I forget the brand but there sold at Canadian tire, I believe the company is called lunker?

MM has it dead on. But I'm also mainly fishing a river as well

Hey rc, I just heard on the radio that another group is looking at taking over the experimental lakes project. Anyhow, I'm not sure if it means anything, but the MNR are out full force in NW Ontario. I've never seen so many out in all my years. Maybe a last ditch effort to show what type of finances they can generate? That's just a speculative guess however

That's crazy Limey. I was out on big sawbill this weekend(a very small lake known for big crappie) and my partner and I found a deadhead that was producing big time. We pulled a half limit each in about an hour and ran into shore for a quick bite to eat. As soon as we hit shore 4 boats quickly sat up shop on the same spot(which is fine, we did leave). But I had to laugh, we were only a few hundred yards away so I was watching through the binoculars to see if they were catching like we were. 4 boats, surrounding one deadhead, and they had a marker buoy out???? Like what the hell? Your ten feet from the stump that's clearly visible????

Birdsnests with a spinning outfit???? Is it possible you spooled your line too loose? I don't mean to sound like I'm putting you down or anything, but that shouldn't be happening at all unless there is operator error involved IMO. For the record, I don't like super slick either, I much prefer the original. But the one set up I have with super slick has def not performed like you stated?

What is a china knot? Lol. Maybe you uttered that term and offended your line?

Wow man that really sucks! I lived in Alberta for awhile working, and there are a lot of good folks there, but just like anywhere you'll also find the tool bags. Nice pics and glad your ok. Hopefully that jackazz has some karma heading his way

Heaven

It's weird to hear so many say braid cuts like butter on rocks etc. I use light braid in the rapids hear bass fishing a lot, and I never remember being sliced off by bass, walleye or pike??? I can even feel the fish wrap around rocks etc. I typically use 8-15lb braid either pp or 832. Last year when the water really cleared up I decided to start trying fluoro leaders and I lost a lot of fish I normally would have landed easily. BUT, I was using vanish at the time. And since then I've heard nothing good at all about that line

I always use a pline barrel swivel when using a leader. No issues at all. One bonus is you never have to worry about the line diameter differences. I also pre tie my leaders before heading out so I have a bunch of extras ready to go

I think sometimes people just get a lil excited when a good fish gets a great picture(speaking more on the experienced anglers side). I've had lots of 3-3.5lb bass that look much bigger in the pic than they actually are, and vice versa. I tend to have some horrible photos of big walleye that measure over 30" but look to only be 6lbs or so in the photo. I love a good fishing story though so those that just downright lie about it I find it humerous. It's all fun and games when angling is a hobby and not a profession

Go against the " rules" and look for the bigguns just out of shallow bays with a drop off. If you find sand, at the right time they'll be sunning real shallow