OutdoorDan

Definitely in whether it's on Simcoe, Nip, or wherever else. Had a great time last year on Nip. Would be glad to help out with food and I *might* be able to get my hands on a BBQ.

Just to clarify my position - I am not justifying the behaviours described in this thread. I completely agree that there is so sustainability without C&R. I'm not defending the behaviour. I was just trying to explain that it's a more complicated and sensitive issue than just people having a lack of respect or being uneducated. Lots of people know the limits but choose to go over them just because they are wired differently. Explaining things doesn't usually go far either because people will justify or find excuses anyway. Ideally, you want to solve problems such as this through education and awareness but I don't think that works very well in practice. What you need is stronger deterrence. The reason most people don't go 150 on an empty highway isn't because they think it might be dangerous, but because if you go 50 over your car gets impounded. Right now, the risks to minor poaching are so small that when people weigh risk/reward they choose to poach. You are pretty unlikely to get caught in the first place, and even if you do the consequences seem pretty small. I actually don't mind light punishments for lighter stuff (say you keep 2 walleye but one is in the slot). The problem is that the consequences for the heavier stuff are non existent. Every now and then, relatively major poaching stuff comes up in the News section of OOD and the consequences are a joke. For poaching of big game you would often see something like losing your licence for a year and a fine in the 4 figure range. When someone reads that, of course they are going to think that if they keep 75 crappies nothing will happen to them. And unfortunately, they are right.

Who's been flushing sticky socks down the toilet?

I don't think it's any of these things. It's a cultural/contextual divide. If someone from Europe or Australia visits Canada and they get a meal at the restaurant and don't tip, is it because they don't respect/care about the waiter? No, it's because they are used to a different set of values and consider different things to be culturally appropriate. The same thing is happening here. I'm not really buying the financial argument either. Even if you go somewhere that is an hour's drive away, you are likely spending at least 20$ bare minimum on gas. So even ignoring the cost of a licence, tackle and equipment, the cost of the trip could get you several pounds of fish at the supermarket. I only skimmed through this thread so sorry if this has been mentioned, but some people/cultures actually find it offensive/inappropriate to catch and release edible fish. This concept shouldn't be hard to understand. I am sure the hunters on this forum would be disgusted if I suggested that if you like to hunt but don't eat much meat, you should hunt with a tranquillizer gun, then take the picture while the animal is tranquillized, then go home, letting the animal get back to roaming shortly. To some people, C&R is the same.

Way to go! I went out also for a few hours, but only got this little guy. Was off Toronto Island. Uploaded with ImageShack.us

OK, everything makes perfect sense now. Thanks you so much, Bill.

Sorry for dumbing up this thread, but I am still confused. I downloaded the Navionics PC app. It was free since I already had the Gold edition for the plotter. So, the chart opens fine from my computer, but when I go to import data from the card, no files of the type it can import show up. It's a Hummingbird 788ci. Are the waypoints saved locally by default and not to the card with the Navionics chip?

Thanks, Bill.

I still don't understand if we can take the chip out of the GPS and run it on a computer or not. It would help a lot with re-naming/organising a lot of spots I have marked.

Hopefully the drivers will pull though okay. I really hate to say this about something that involves an accident - but man this is fascinating.

Does anyone know if you need the Harbour Licence if you are docked in Outer Harbour marina and are only going straight out into the lake from the docks and not into the inner harbour? It's a little unclear to me.

Unfortunately I doubt that if it actually came down to it you would have much luck proving that you were operating a firearm legally and as per safety standards if you shot someone.

If you just want liability insurance it is insanely cheap. The marina that I'm going to be docked at this year actually requires 2mm liability coverage, I think this is a pretty good policy.

Damn, a fish for every 10 guys is a really tough day, at least you got out there though...

Could someone recommend me a place to store my boat around the 401/400 area? I'd like to have the option to store it inside year-round but the problem I'm having with most of the self-storage places is the 100" beam which won't fit into the standard 8' door most places seem to have. Any recommendations? Cheers.

Nothing huge but it beats the dinks I've been getting previously. Lost another good one at the hole, not great for a whole day out but at least the weather was nice. Still 2 ices in some parts of the lake, this winter weather is getting ridiculous. Still having difficulty really nailing them though - I've been out a few times and get the odd bite, but it's nothing like I read about. Don't know if I'm just hitting the bad days since the setups seem really standard. Oh yeah, and the dogs got to the tail before I got the camera - fish came out undeformed

Main lake looked open from the satellite pics today . Great fish though! I've been thinking of heading up to the Haliburton area myself.

Yeah, unfortunately everything got blown over pretty good. The smaller stuff that was under the shelter before i blew off got covered up real fast. The fish we had in the shelter was under about 8" when we were digging up the area as we were packing up.

Great report! It was very nice to meet everyone and I was having a blast (before the storm started). I actually did end up finding my cover. I knew where it should be at because all of the other things that blew away were in a straight line. On my way back once I paused driving in the area where I thought it would have been on the shoreline, and sure enough there was the cover wrapped around the wheel of someone's truck in their driveway. So yeah, it made it's way pretty high up on shore.

No ling - we didn't get much fishing done after the storm set in as it was really hectic trying to prevent everything from blowing away - a big thanks to Nick and Jason for helping and saving my clam from blowing away. My cousin's shelter ended up blowing away. It was anchored in well but all 4 ropes ripped off and left the anchors in the ice - that's how strong the wind was. Luckily we found it the next morning (thank you Jason for helping me look!). I was 100% sure my tent would go too even though I anchored it really well, I am still surprised it didn't blow away. I was afraid to even try opening it - because I knew as soon as I opened a door it would kite up and be gone. Kevin, thank you for providing accommodation, I am certain many more things would have been blown away if it wasn't for you. It's my cousin's. Setting it up yourself is hard but very easy with two people. It's easily roomy enough for two people to fish in, I think it's a fine shelter under at least close to normal circumstances. I can't even really blame the manufacturer for the ropes ripping and it flying away either - those wind gusts were by far the strongest I have ever seen on the ice and I don't think any portable would stand up to them.

I'm all packed and ready to go. Going to try to make it for ~8:00 tomorrow but it depends on how the drive will be from Mississauga. I'll be the guy in the grey Armada. See you all tomorrow!

I am bringing 8 burgers and buns also, as well as a pretty big iron frying pan. Getting really excited!

Once everyone gets back from the GTG I'm sure there will be lots of reports.

Holy that is huge.