Spiel

Good to know I'm not the only one who has days like your Mike. I had to keep reminding myself it was your post and not mine....LOL Thanks for the laugh.

"Salmonidae", exactly, the one thing they all have in common is the adipose fin. Though I've never eaten grayling I have had plenty of whitefish. Delicious!

I don't think I'd even want to be fishing that deep Brian.... If it's big kings you want you don't need to be that far out....

Actually there's only 7 of us.

Study: Soft plastic lures harm trout, salmon April 27, 2009 Beth Staples / villagesoup.com A soft plastic lure is next to a brook trout that consumed it. (Image courtesy of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife) AUGUSTA: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife strongly encourages anglers to protect Maine’s fish by changing from soft plastic lures to biodegradable ones. A discarded soft plastic lure consumed by a brook trout from the bottom of a freshwater shoal likely remains in that fish’s stomach for the rest of its life and may cause health issues such as ulcers and weight loss. Soft plastic lures are most commonly used by bass anglers, often in waters shared with trout and salmon. IF&W is cooperating in studies on the effects of soft plastic lure ingestion by trout and salmon, including one recent experiment at Unity College, which was conducted by IF&W Pathologist Dr. Russ Danner, Unity College Professor Jim Chacko, PhD., and IF&W Fisheries Biologist Francis Brautigam, and in another study currently under way at Southern Maine Community College. The study conducted at Unity College found 65 percent of brook trout voluntarily consumed soft plastic lures if they simply were dropped into water. “We found that fish retained the lures in their stomachs for 13 weeks without regurgitating them,” said Dr. Danner. “They also began to act anorexic and lost weight within 90 days of eating a soft plastic lure.” Without regard to the chemical toxicity of ingested soft plastics, the fact these lures are occupying space in a trout’s stomach limits the amount of space available for natural food. Veterinary medical evidence exists that foreign bodies in the digestive tract cause ulcers, weight loss, and anorexia. “We strongly encourage anglers to voluntarily purchase biodegradable and food-based lures rather than soft plastic ones,” said Dr. Danner. “Also, we are asking anglers not to discard plastic lures into any waters, and also to attempt to retrieve any soft plastic lures that have become unhooked.” For millennia, trout and salmon have foraged the waters of Maine for nutritious natural forage such as small fishes, insects and other invertebrates. In the last 20 years, food mimics made of soft plastic have begun to compete with these nutritious natural forage items. The effects of soft plastic lure pollution on freshwater ecosystems are not well understood yet, but it is unlikely that eating soft plastic lures will be found to be a good thing. “The wide assortment of soft plastic fishing lures is staggering,” said Dr. Danner. “Soft plastic lures come in every color, a myriad of sizes, and resembling every swimming, crawling, and flying creature a fish could imagine eating. Large fish searching the waters of Maine are bound to come upon brightly colored soft plastic lures lost or discarded by anglers and consume these imitators of natural food items.” There are estimates that as much as 20 million pounds of soft plastic are being lost in freshwater lakes and streams annually in the U.S. The average life expectancy for these soft plastic lures is more than 200 years. “We need all anglers to do their part to protect Maine’s valuable fisheries from this serious threat,” said Dr. Danner. “Natural lure alternatives are available at many retailers and online, and should become the choice of people who love to fish Maine’s waters”. To learn more about the experiment conducted at Unity College, a report on the project was published in the Northern American Journal of Fisheries Management. It is available at American Fisheries Society

ENFORCEMENT BLITZ IN HURON COUNTY SANCTUARIES April 23, 2009 The Ministry of Natural Resources laid charges during enforcement patrols in Huron County over the April 17-19 weekend. The blitz focused on unlawful angling activity in sanctuaries. The areas targeted were the Nine Mile River in Port Albert, the Bayfield River in Bayfield and the Maitland River at Falls Reserve Conservation Authority. Conservation officers contacted 21 people, laid 10 charges and issued one warning. The violations included: Unlawfully fishing in a sanctuary Unlawfully angling with more than one fishing line Failing to produce fishing licence Consuming liquor in a public place. The public is reminded that all fishing in a sanctuary is unlawful. Sanctuaries are in place to protect species and to ensure that species such as rainbow trout can reproduce with minimal human contact. To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). O.C.O.A.

Road trip.... Nice fish guys, sail fin whities.

Those are some real brutes. I'll have to start taking the dog for walks over that way and try and catch up with a few of you guys for some social yakking. :blahblah1:

And I'm sure she damn well deserves it Lew, good on you. Nice boat.

I'll finish this one with a little excerpt from the board rules. "Spam will get you banned faster than anything else. Spam is any unsolicited business ad or offer. If someone happens to ask about a product or service you may offer, then you are of course free to mention it. If you come in here and spam, you will be given a pretty rude welcome by the population and it will only hurt your business! We have very reasonable ad rates and can set you up very quickly.Contact TJQ for ad rates."

Definitely frame it and double doors would look best.

Literally "ripping" a suspending jerkbait through crisp green weeds is a killer tactic for walleye.

Exactly what I was going to post.

Good attitude Congrats and happy boating.

Well it may not be enough to cause opening day chaos but I did see one steelie a week before opener while out for a walk with my dog. For the record it was in a shallow pool just below Queenston, I'm sure it's long gone (due to loneliness).

It's been some time but I do remember the Polar Bear Express stopping en route to let anglers/canoers debark and board.

Sorry I can't help you with the fishing in that area but welcome to the board. I'm sure help will be along soon.

Time out...........

Well I don't think this will go anywhere but in circles. So I'll lock it down whilst I go enjoy a ice cold one in peace and quiet.

Look after yourself too Ryan or you'll be no good to anyone. We'll still be here when you find time.

Some great shots Mike.

Congratulations, you gots a full house. Luke like a keeper to me.

Thanks again everyone. Well Fidel they have co-existed since the browns were first introduced into this stream several decades ago. The area of the creek I'm fishing is the lower limits for specks as summer water temps tend to become too warm. Since they are in direct competition with the browns the specks here tend to average over 13"s and upwards of 18" to 19"s. In 10 plus years of fishing this area I can count on one hand the number of specks I've caught (seen) that are under 10"s, anything smaller is just a meal for the big browns.

Oh boy do I hear you loud and clear Jen! Great shots of the boys. I need to get my son back out there and use up all this bait I bought last time I was there.

Enlarged and framed.