manitoubass2

thats a retarded report, seriously..... So many good pics leaves me wondering how many were caught that werent pic worthy. TDunn are you around thunder bay at all???

Oh you b********! I started my year off with some over 40", then it just died right off and I haven't been able to produce for like 3 weeks now Amazingly nice fish man and it sounds like you guessed right!!!! Thanks for sharing, much appreciated!!!

Black bears can be ultra aggressive if your in between momma and cubs, trust me. Other then that, they will not bother you. When I lived/worked in Ear Falls, I literally drank beers on my deck with bears, almost daily. Grizzlies and cinnamon grizzlies are another story... Totally unpredictable. Back to the topic, I'd have some anti-histamines on hand, they can work wonders in various bad situations. I'd opt for a long lasting version, as per convenience. It's already been mentioned, but its worth a third or fourth reminder. And have an extra ziplock to gather some pine cones and or dry pine needles/birch bark, nothing starts a fire easier outside of fuel, lol

fish beans and beer, not necessarily in that order. oh, slow cooked steak over a campfire is also a real treat

Finally got the last video from last night to upload. 2 fish cleaning their gills. I told the kids if they told the fish to jump, they would. The sturgeon were real champs about it and gave us two water breaks. Enjoy!!!

Sorry guys, no more vids today. Water is way too blown out from high winds

D'oh, turns out it was Bruce Lee moves, not Jackie Chan, lol. Thanks for taking the time to dig it up

I have no idea where it is??? I could probably find the quick picture I snapped before I thought I was going to die though Here ya go

Awesome report BB, thanks for posting! Those crappies have really nice looking color! I bet they'll be tasty too

Didn't you guys read my report last year where I went face to face with a 400lb bear??? All you need to do is swing around a fillet knife and pretend your Jackie Chan! I survived to fight bears another day....Thankfully

Thanks KF, glad you enjoyed it! I have one more video where the kids are hollering at the sturgeon in an attempt at getting them to jump, lol, but it's taking forever to upload. I'll post it up a little later so you can see two fish rise to clean their gills

Hahahahaha, thats my Lilybug! Shes only been down to the rapids a few times, so I always try to get a few good pics! Thank you Paul! I like em too! No problem, I thought you guys would enjoy that. It def. not something you see everyday, thats for sure. I'll try to get some better shots today after fishing

The top two are video! Not the best, but cool. The water levels are holding, the river will clear up. I'll try my darndness to get some good clean pics/video in the next few days

Well, the past few days of bass fishing I noticed the sturgeon spawning a small area upside of the rapids. It truly wa awesome to see in the right light conditions and weather conditions. After witnessing it, I promised to show the kiddos, but weather wouldn't co-operate. But after some fishing today in harsh winds, It looked like the winds would die and conditions were favorable to witness these amazing creatures in the act. We headed down after a phone call from Limeyangler where we spouted off about trout, lol. Always good talking to ya dood! Upon arrival, the light was perfect for a mere moment, so I got busy with the camera. I shot a few short videos and took a few pics. The kids were astounded by these beautiful fish. So violent in the current, yet so subtle and elegant. It lasted all of ten minutes, but the kids will have it etched in their minds for a long time to come. The Rainy River Sturgeon!!!!

Call the MNR tips line, seriously.

You'd be hard pressed to find anglers that agree with the treaty rights of Natives when it comes to fishing/hunting. So I understand the comments totally. But the law is the law, and for the time being, whether you like it or not, it will continue. But for every bad apple there are tons of great work being done in regards to protecting fisheries/wildlife done by Natives. Up in NW Ontario, where I live on reserve land, I witness alot of the work done by the locals. Heck, even white Canadians and Natives working together to protect the fishery!!!! I know, amazing right! We have a sturgeon hatchery program here as well, to help keep the populations healthy. The sturgeon are spawning as we speak. I went to take some pictures upside the rapids two days ago, and far from scientific, but the numbers I'm witnessing suggest very healthy populations of sturgeon in the Rainy River. I live in a small community, but sturgeon do get harvested here. But it's in very small numbers for a annual ceremony (maybe about 20 small sturgeon). Anyhow, just some things to think about... Again, as an angler I don't agree with it, but thats not gonna stop anything. and this guy is a totally gonna be disappointed trying to feed his family with a sturgeon that size, all the smoking in the world won't make a fish that big edible.

Natives are allowed to target sturgeon for ceremonial purposes, within reason. Outside of their treaty area is completely illegal in my understanding, and fishing spawning walleye in a sanctuary is just a no no for obvious reasons.

Your on the right track. I would right down a few problematic scenarios that could occur, then brain storm and write them on the back of your list. In a bad situation, you can easily get dehydrated or suffer sun stroke, and having the written instructions might save your life. As its nearly impossible to think when sun stroked or very dehydrated. I spent 10 days on small secluded island on the north arm of rainy lake, and it was a gnarly situation. Spent 4 days in the hospital for severe dehydration/sunstroke. And have a good safe trip, good on you for posting this before hand!!!!!

It's pretty funny that musky on spinnerbaits was brought up today. I went shore fishing with my kids for the fourth day in a row, still casting that black/silver tandem pot belly, and I caught my fourth rainy river musky! Just a baby, but man o man was it a gorgeous colored fish. Only got 4 bass today, so that musky really made my day

Right before spawn in the evenings, when they chase shiners to the shoreline. Again in fall when the shiner run begins again, same scenario. This is on a river system though where the walleye/baitfish migrate into LOTW for the summer. I'm not sure if it happens on other lakes or not? They hit top water frogs and x-rap popper style baits in 3FOW to 6" of water. It's super fun because it's not "typical" walleye behaviour, or most would say/think that. But they would be wrong, lol

My favorite technique is jig retrieving for walleye/bass and pike. I just love how it allows you to cover water, alter the presentation on a whim, depth control etc. I also like the fact that it gives me total control over how I'm presenting the package, and pick apart structure etc. I enjoy trolling time to time, but it's always rod in hand. Top water walleye is the most exciting thing ever IMO, too bad the window is so small though

I think he was referring to bass style SB MM, maybe not??? That safety pin/beetle spin and muskie would not mix too well I would think, there not heavy duty thats for sure. If you could get bit, you'd have to change the pin after each bite, lol.

I def. tie all my own harnesses, way way better then pre made IMO. And once you use quick change clevises you'll never go back. Paul, I forgot my boy got snagged up and lost the bait I was going to post a pic of. It was the same grub/beetlespin but it was attached to a black round head jig. For the sake of the pic, I rigged it onto a Strike King Bitsy jig(which also happens to be a deadly combo) On this jig (or my sons rig) you can fish 2FOW on one cast, 20FOW on the next cast, super versatile lure.

The "Beetle spins" I'm talking about Paul are a little different then that. I'm not too sure about others though. I'll take a quick pic of one my sons used yesterday with a Kalins Bluegill grub. I think there also referred to as "close pin spinners"? Something like that anyhow.

I have done it! It was a whopping 25" bwahahahahaha Just an update Paul, went casting with the kids again for an hour tonight and caught 12 more bass on the same black/silver tandem SB.