pikehunter

I headed down to the river this morning, played hooky from work ( I told the owner he could reach me on the cell if I was needed, I did however not tell him I can't get a signal downstream from Dunnville ) I had no camera with me as my son had it at school but I did get a couple of pictures of my catch when I got home. The day was great! My first incident almost happened right in front of Fishmaster's store. I was about to pull in to the parking lot and was slowing to a crawl, thank God! Right in front of the van a doe shot across the street! She must have only been about 3 feet from my front bumper! If I hadn't been starting to make a turn I would have been going faster and that would have been the end for her. She had ran right through downtown Dunnville, across my path, through Fishmaster's parking lot right past his 24hour bait shack, past the trailers and on into some back yards! I was really surprised to see a dear like that right in downtown! Scared the crap out of me. If I had hit it this would have been my second time hitting one! Well as it turned out Steve's bait shack was about dry, all but a few little ones were left, sorry Steve. I picked up some minnows at Port Maitland and launched there. I tried 3 times to get the boat to float off the trailer! I couldn't figure it out Then I realized...the winch was still connected to the bow! OK, I'm a dummy there's always a first time for everything, wonder what it will be the next time? Headed out for perch and got many hits, many of which were gobies, one of them was huge! It had to be about 8 inches long. Biggest one I have seen. I kept one good sized perch and one smaller one. After the bight fell off I headed up the river to my favourite spot where a few others were trolling around. I joined in with the train of boats and then dropped off to the side to anchor and throw in a hook and minnow rig. Hit one really big sheephead and pulled up the rig and joined back in with the trolling line up. One fellow in a Lund had near his limit. I switched lures just as he was leaving and right away brought in a 19 inch pickeral! Nice, it made my day even better! Then got a small one which was about the size of the huge gobie and let him re-join his friends back in the river. All in all it was a good day, this weekend will be busy in town as it looks like a carnival is pulling in, probably the Mudcat Festival? So today was a perfect day to hit the lower Grand. Quiet, warm and sunny. Back at home And in the sink

You and your wife are in your legal right. She hasn't a fishing pole in her hand, or either she or you has it in use so she is not fishing. The kids can fish without a license if they are under 18 they do not need one.

If this is going to be the trend then I have one answer..."Anyone wanna buy a boat?"

OK then I read through all the replies and no one has said what the hell a hellgramite is so I had to Google it. Hellgramite I agree, they look nasty!

Either that is smoke from one of dem thar Yankee cigarettes or you been smokin' one dem thar contraband Cuban Ceegars. and lettin' da smoke cross in front of the lens.

I had no appointments booked with customers today so with the great weather I hooked up the boat and hit the Grand. Just pulled into Dunnville and I realized I had forgot the camera! I rememered the worms, cellphone, drinking water and even my hat! But left the camera sitting on my dresser. It was a great morning on the water, clear sky, nice air temp and the water was just under 70 F. Launching at the BBQ where there was only one other trailer parked was good, but the fee is up a dollar this year to 8 bucks. Headed down past and through my favourite spots without a hit. Made it down to my very best spot and drifted through a few times using minnows, nothing. Changed over to a Meps with a worm and that did it! Reeling it in I felt a little bump. I stopped for a fraction of a second thinking it could be a Walleye, (hoping) Started to reel a bit and it took it. The fight was on! I was using 8 lb. mono with the drag set pretty loose. He put up a good fight and I finally got the net ready and brought in a 29 1/2 inch cat fish. Nice size and the hook was just in the upper lip. I brought him into the boat for a quick measure and let him go back to play with his buddies. The cats were surfacing and jumping all around the boat. It also looked like some little splashes on the surface that were probably minnows, I guess the cats were chasing them? I then packed up and headed out to the river mouth to try for perch without any luck. Several other boats were trying too, but I don't think they had much luck. On the way back I tried 3 times to give the rest of my minnows away. Finally the last person I offered them to was at the seasonal dock at the BBQ and he gladly took them! He even had a minnow pail for them on hand! Made him happy anyway, I hope he had a good day too. No picture to show off todays catch, but it was still a good morning to get out for a little fishing.

A good day fishing for sure When the little ones tell you it's time to go fishing ya gotta go! There will be a day when you are standing there wanting to go fishing yourself bugging him to go fishing and he won't want to. Unfortunately this will probably happen so take every opportunity that comes along when you get it. Great set of pics and a monster rocky!

I'm very sorry to hear about your brother Lew. It sounds like you have many thousands of hours of good times to reflect on, this is fortunate. Keep a place on the boat for him and I'm sure that there will be days when he will be there right along with you enjoying the good times in spirit. Keep your chin up and his memory with you, enjoy every moment that you can. My best wishes are with you and your family.

Darn nice lookin' boat!

Great place to camp at! Spent many weekends there back in the late 70's and early 80's. It used to get pretty loud back then, before the booze ban.

OK, glad to hear you had a smooth trip over the border. But I'm curious to know if after all the costs including the exchange, meals accommodations, wear and tear etc is all factored was it really a good deal in the end? This always intrigues me, I find that cross border shopping generally never truly pays off. On the surface perhaps, but in the end? I prefer to buy from my home soil first. We used to cross the border about once a month back in the mid eighties and stay the weekend. Did it work out? No after all costs were weighed it always seemed to balance. Now days so many items are close in price or in some situations cheaper here even before the exchange rate is calculated. For my wife and I shopping on the other side of the river turns out to be nothing more than a day of different scenery and environment for my wifes amusement. I hope you enjoy your new ride and have many hours of enjoyment and you catch tons of fish. Aren't Princecrafts Canadian made?

Yep the old emergency stop function. I've forgot to insert the little plastic thing more than once. One time I was trying to get the motor started at a boat ramp and just couldn't get anything to happen....tried and tried and tried but mothing, no kick, no starter, wouldn't even turn over. I had left it in gear and that was the prob, did I ever feel like a moron

It means this is the end of an era. If you wish to go to a fishing show then it will cost you an arm and a leg from now on. I should say it "Will cost 2 arms and 2 legs!" Maybe this will help the more regional local fishing shows such as the one in Fort Erie? No doubt it will also bring more people to BPS for their own spring fishing sale.

Great report, nice pictures too. Glad to see that you had a good day and even caught some fish

They have become educated and learned your tactics Photoz Damn fish always traveling in schools! Maybe pick up a can of spam and give it a try? Can't hurt to try can it?

Could not agree more GCD. It takes time to prepare a fishing post with the pictures and everything. Sometimes I go out and catch nothing so don't bother to post that. And then other times it takes a lot of time to post the pics, resizing and the rest of the effort that is all a part of it. So to those who have made recent fishing posts I join in with the other posters and offer my appreciation. I will have to tear myself away from the chores at hand and work so as to get out fishing this week in order to make a post! Hmmmm...Crap! I should have loaded up this early morning and headed out since I couldn't sleep anyway!

FishDawg, I think this is the place you mentioned. Brewers Marine Supply

If he has an address in Ontario he is considered to be a resident! It is stated in the regs as so. I believe that to be technical he may have to prove to the ministry that he has held an Ontario residence for one year. I had a German student last year in one of the classes I was teaching at that time. He was here on a student visa and held a Hamilton address. The guy in Fishing World got ticked at him for wanting to buy a non-resident license since he had a Hamilton address. He was given the resident conservation license. Edit: From the regs. What is the definition of a resident of Ontario? A resident of Ontario is defined as a person whose primary residence is in Ontario and who has lived in Ontario for a period of at least six consecutive months during the 12 months immediately before applying for a licence or using a licence. Also this: What is the definition of a resident of Canada? A resident of Canada is defined as a person whose primary residence is in Canada and who has lived in Canada for a period of at least six consecutive months during the 12 months immediately before applying for a licence or using a licence. SO there lies the answer as spelled out in black and white. Your son-in-law may enjoy fishing in Ontario because although not a true landed immigrant he is lawfully considered a resident

I agree with uncle Buck, Hamilton Bayfront Park. It is a relatively sheltered area where the ramp is. If you should have an immediate problem then you have no worries. If you venture out into the bay just beware of the wind direction, it can get quite choppy on the open harbour especially if you haven't much experience, you will be OK though in a 17'er but I used to have a 12' boat and it was nasty a couple of times. My 16 handles it better. 2Nd choice would be the Grand River, Dunnville. Launch behind the arena or across the bridge at the Grand Island BBQ both charge a fee. You can put it in on the upper river for free above the dam just before the high school. It is a good launch with a new dock this year, but parking is limited when it's busy. Have fun and maybe you may even catch some fish

I hear you Badger, we are both on the same page. I haven't used my Visa card in about a year because I'm still paying for the gas I had to buy last spring! I ran about $500 bucks a month in fuel purchases last year for my van alone, and that doesn't include what my wife spends on gas. I have to pay all my own expenses for working, gas, insurance, repairs, my own phones, the whole enchilada! It hurts real bad some weeks! I try to drive gently to reduce my consumption. I cannot believe all the drivers that do not judge stoplights, stop signs or traffic ahead and the jackrabbit starts that I witness all the time, UNBELIEVABLE! Then as I'm trying to conserve by driving with thought the impatient ones get pee'd off at me! I mean take it easy, the light ahead is red, so why race to it? Some of theses guys must get worse gas mileage with smaller cars than I do in a van because of their poor driving habits. But back to the original idea of the post, yes gas costs more than it should. Just do a comparison with the States and you will see there is an unjustified difference. I feel for those living in more rural areas of the country, you guys are really getting the gas hose shoved up your backsides!

Howdy Mike!

Caught a good one once while perch fishing, kept it and it went into the pan. Tasted OK. I figured why not try it? It's another panfish of a different colour that's all. BTW, are you managing to keep the neighbourhood cat's, 'coons and skunks away from your patio with the lingering scent of fish on it?

Saw a car on the shoulder last week. I assume he was carp fishing along Eastport at the usual place. I was going to stop and say hi but as always there was a car right on my rear bumper so couldn't make a stop.

After you get the stopper out give all that you can a cleaning out, needle nose pliers to get the visible guck and hair, and pick up one of those palstic barbed things at Can. Tire that ccmtcanada mentioned. They do work and can get the junk out that a plunger doesn't dislodge.