Ralph Field

What about using clothes line pulleys? I use to own home made down riggers with clothes line pulleys for the spools and they worked just fine.

I assume you are taking PFDs.

I have fished since the age of 4 and have caught almost all species of fish. I sold my boat after fishing from it at Doe Lake for over 25 years. My girls out grew going to the cottage we rented and my wife really isn't into fishing. I never used the boat for fishing near my home in London. I'm back to shore fishing now and spend most of my fishing time pursuing steelhead. I love the simplicity and the complexity of fishing for steelhead. I love walking the rivers in search of them , then trying to find the bait that they will hit. Some days it seems simple while at other times it is a complex process to find what they are interested in. Since I fish alone most of the time I can go river fishing with little preparation needed and can return when I want if nothing is happening.

After you fillet the fish there is a row of bones near the thickest part of the fillet. To remove these bones you can either pull them out with pliers one at a time or you can cut a strip out containing these bones,which is my method of choice.

Thanks for posting! Those guys were sure dedicated to catching the world record.

I wish all the best for your father. The staff, for the most part, do an excellent job in the emergency rooms. The fact that your father is talking about going home I would take as a good sign, however if he needs an operation he will get it faster if he is already hospitalized.

A better opener is hard to imagine.

Wow! Those are some mighty good looking fish

I think that boaters in the Niagara region have been dealing with these changes also. At least they seem to be applying the same set of rules on our boundary waters.

Watching your children catch fish is one of life's best moments.

Amazing photos, you made an ugly day a little brighter.

My bet would be that those holes were the result of a sea gull attack in shallow water.

I used Netflix on Rogers during my first recovery stint and streaming a movie from Netflix takes less bandwidth than from most other sites. Rogers charges up to a maximum of only 50 dollars a month if you exceed their plan. I did have to increase my bandwidth after Rogers reduced my bandwidth on my original plan. I will be using it again and I'm not worried if I use more bandwidth than I currently have. Bell likely has no cut off.

Congratulations! Life as you know it will never be the same, it will only get better.

There is no shortage of jerks in any nationality you choose.

Thanks everyone for your kind wishes for my recovery. Misfish doe Lake is at Katrine as you suggested. This operation is called the final solution which means that they will be fusing my ankle this time which "should" eliminate the constant pain that I have had to endure this past year. I forgot to mention in my introduction that I'm from London Ontario.

I think that it is time I introduce my self. My name is Ralph Field and I am a 64 year old retired high school mathematics teacher. While teaching I ran a fishing club at the school to excite students about fishing. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. When my children were young we took them to Doe Lake fishing each summer. This went on for many years and even when they lost interest ,because of their jobs my wife and I continued to go for a few more years, 26 in total. I have fished for most of the fish that swim in our waters. Many of my fishing partners are not able to fish due to health problems or have past away so these days I fish solo most of the time and mainly only for steelhead now. Due to a snow shoveling spill last February in which I broke my ankle I missed all of the fishing in 2011. I will be having a third and final ankle operation in April which means that I will be laid up and will miss the spring run again. Looking forward to the fall run by which time I'm hoping to get back on the water. Hope you all have a great spring and summer season and look forward to your pictures and stories until I can rejoin you on the water.

I will have to get the Lindy rigger kit to hold my pre tied bead set ups for steelheading. I didn't know that they made a plastic box to hold them. I have just stuffed them into my fishing bag.

I'm sorry that Molly didn't work out for you. Our rescue dog,a look alike to Molly, can't be left alone in the house so we have to hire a dog sitter whenever we go out together.

Where is Ruby , the rescue dog that you adopted?

I have always managed to find them around Mother's day.

You may have to think about getting a doggie ladder to help him get back into the boat.

I love it when pier fishing for perch , and you catch a four inch perch and before you release it the fisherman next to you asks if he can have it.

There is always the option of using the epoxy made for this purpose. It used to be sold at CT. Clean the area then heat the area with a propane torch, then melt the epoxy with the torch and allow it to settle in the crack. Drifter 16's solution is likely better than my cheap solution, because he has more knowledge of boats.

I use chicken liver usually when I'm out for cats. I use the same basic set up but I run 10 lb. test.