Spiel

My thoughts on this exactly. I caught one such "droppy" in Bronte (under the QEW) some years ago, nice fish it was.

.....Oh I remember the day very well. I also remember meeting Gerritt and his wife for the first time at the funeral home with an amazing amount of mail the good members off this board sent to me so that I may be the messenger. For that I'll be forever grateful as it has allowed me to get to to know Gerritt well and allow me the opportunity to call him "friend". God bless you all.

....Well that's still a lot less clothing than the last time I saw you in person. Good job on all those wee fishies!

NVCA accepting conservation award nominations Sep 30, 2008 The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) is inviting the public to nominate 'Conservation Champions' who've made a significant contribution to the health of the watershed. "Some individuals go above and beyond their part in helping the environment and we want to recognize their inspiring efforts, time, skill and enthusiasm," Shannon Stephens, healthy waters program coordinator, says. According to the NVCA, Conservation Champions can be individuals, community groups, businesses and partners of agencies. There is also a Young Conservation Champion category, open to youth age 18 or under, the NVCA said. The authority noted it will accept self-nominations. Eligible projects include environmental restoration projects, tree planting and forest management, environmental publications, environmental education, donation of conservation land or easement, financial contributions towards the purchase of land, implementation of environmental policies or advocacy for the NVCA to stakeholders and decision makers. The NVCA said it will recognize recipients in November. Application forms can be found at http://www.nvca.on.ca./ws_par/groups/publi...spar_012641.pdf Nominations are due Fri., Oct. 17. They should be sent to the attention of Shannon Stephens at [email protected]; by fax to 705-424-2115 or by mail to 8195 8th Line, Utopia, Ont., LOM 1TO.

Lake Simcoe Protection Act moves closer to approval Sep 29, 2008 John Slykhuis / www.simcoe.com The Lake Simcoe Protection Act, Bill 99, got second reading in the provincial legislature last week prompting cheers from groups like the Ladies of the Lake who were responsible for raising the issue of the lake's deteriorating health. "It was amazing. It was like this love-in for Lake Simcoe," LOL co-founder Annabel Slaight said. After watching the proceedings she said, "The Ladies of the Lake were applauded no less than 10 times as the prime movers bringing attention to Lake Simcoe, which resulted in the birth of this act and plan." She noted other groups like the Lake Simcoe Coalition and Campaign Lake Simcoe all got kudos from the MPPs debating the second reading. "I feel very positive. I actually feel that we're getting to the point where this lake is going to be saved. I wouldn't have said that months ago," she said. The act now goes to committee and public meetings later this fall. Slaight said the final draft of the act must be "tough and decisive. It's got to show real progress. Obviously the funding is of concern". Slaight, who was on the Lake Simcoe stakeholders' advisory committee said they worked hard "to bring community, business and government together. It was interesting to see all those groups come together. Everyone was in high gear. It was just great." She warned if the act "gets watered down, it won't work. It means some people may have to make some sacrifices, I mean everyone will have to step up to the plate." Slaight said she hopes there will be the funding provided beyond the $30 million committed by the federal government and the $20 million committed by the province thusfar. "There are lots of innovative ways to get the money that's needed," she said. The goal is to ensure "something really amazing happens in 10 years" for the health of the lake. Slaight said that when she and LOL co-founder Jane Meredith first started their campaign to bring attention to the state of the lake five years ago, the issue wasn't on any elected representative's radar. "We were told, no, it's not an issue. Well look at it now." The bill was introduced for second reading by Environment Minister John Gerretsen, who noted the Huron name for Lake Simcoe was "Beautiful Water...It is still a beautiful water, there is no doubt about that, but sadly it has not always been treated with the respect it deserves". Gerretsen said "Lake Simcoe is a vital resource, important to the strength of our people and of our province, yet it is not in good health. The lake is under stress and under increasing pressure from urban as well as rural development, population growth, pollutants and invasive species, as well as climate change. These pressures have affected the shoreline, the water quality of the lake and the general ecological health of the surrounding area as well." ‘ He added, the McGuinty government "is absolutely committed to protecting Lake Simcoe and restoring the natural balance of the ecosystem". Liberal MPP Mike Colle said he recalled going to the De La Salle Camp as young boy, noting the radial railway would bring families up to the lake. "So it has always been a lake where ordinary people could go and spend a weekend...because it's also very close, the problem is that there has been a byproduct of urban sprawl...subsequently a lot of feeder streams and springs that go into Lake Simcoe have been paved over". Colle also warned about "megacottages" being built. "If you come to a lake, you don't have to replicate what you have in the city". Opposition environment critic Toby Barrett said his party leader John Tory announced last year that a Progressive Conservative government "would move quickly to clean up Lake Simcoe" charging that Primer McGuinty "turned his back on the deteriorating health of this invaluable and recreational resource for the past four years". His colleague MPP Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North) noted the Ladies of the Lake calendar sale raised about $240,000 and he had just purchased 100 of the latest version to sell in his riding. He also praised the efforts of Gayle Wood, chief administrative officer of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. York-Simcoe MPP Julia Munro questioned the government's commitment to fund the bill. "Why do you continue to refuse to fund a cleanup of the lake? Your last budget did not provide any funding, this bill would not provide any, and we have no guarantee you will provide funding in the future," she said. "What is needed is money, not new legislation or more bureaucracy...sadly, this bill that we are debating here does not provide any money for specific projects". The bill has been referred to the standing committee on general government.

....Those are some soweeeeeet trout!

....I had an Olympus D-535, 3.2 megapixel for a few years and it served me very well till I drowned it in lake water (yes another one!) this past Labour day weekend. To replace it I picked up a Canon PowerShot A580. It has 8.0 megapixels and the picture quality and clarity is a vast improvement over the Olympus 3.2 megapixel camera. I might mention that I also purchased it for less money than the Olympus and with my HBC reward points it cost me a whopping $29.00 plus tax. The pictures I've downsized for the board are clearer than ever.

....Like Kickingfrog said...."Priceless".

....All the time I've spent fishing with you and didn't know you had curly hair....LOL

....You seem confident in your ability to do it Lew and I know I'd certainly try and do it myself. What's the worst that could happen if you can't do it, take the disassembled parts to the dealer? You'll have done half the work for them.

....I recently picked up a St Croix Triumph musky rod. Seemed solid enough though I never landed any giants with it. Price was a very reasonable $109.99. Just be sure to check that the reel seat is in-line with the guides.

....Nice! So many great fall fishing species and too little time.

....Hmmmmm, just when I was beginning to think you knew nothing at all bout musky.

....Yes! ....Yes! ....and yes!

Best fishing of the year yet to come Sept. 26, 2008 TERRY CURTIS / northumberlandtoday.com Another summer has come and gone already! It seems like only yesterday we were digging out our spinning and bait-casting gear in anticipation of a few months of heavy bass and walleye action. Now fall is upon us and it won't be long before our thoughts will be turning to ice fishing. But don't go looking for your ice gear just yet. We've still got a few weeks of open water season before it closes (in our area Nov. 15), and the best walleye, bass, pike and muskie fishing of the year is yet to come. That might be hard for Kawartha Lakes anglers to believe right now, but it's true. Fishing in our neck of the woods, as well as the Kaladar region, has really dropped off in the past two weeks due to a later-than-usual "fall turnover" and catch results are slow, slow, slow! On the contrary, bass in the Bay of Quinte are still eating with gusto, likely because The Bay, as it is known, is a much larger body of water than any of the Kawartha or Kaladar waters, and isn't affected by the turnover the way they are. For my money, The Bay is the place to be right now, if you want steady action. But if you do choose to fish any of the other waters I've mentioned, there are some key things to keep in mind. None of the Kawartha Lakes (especially Rice Lake) has turned putrid green yet, as they normally do at this time of year, so instead of using the chartreuse-and-orange-tipped baits we normally would be throwing at this time of the season, do yourself a favour: stick to natural colours for now. When it comes to bucktail jigs for walleye, the best colour right now is black. It's outfishing all others for the time being. Keep your crankbaits to a craw or black/silver tone for both walleye and bass. If plastics are your favourite for either species, go with natural colours, as well. Black, brown or smoke are the ticket until the water really gets messy. Even though we usually go with brighter hues at this stage of the season, the most successful anglers I've spoken to in the last week or so are going with natural tones. It's hard to argue with success, isn't it? For Bancroft/Kaladar fish chasers, here's a heads-up: The lakes are very clear and the fishing is really tough. Again, the trick to getting bites here is using natural colours. But here's the real deal for outsmarting the fish in these lakes right now: downsize your baits and fish as slowly as you can. Think that will work on Rice Lake, too? Count on it! Those walleye seemed to like my tiny black bucktails last time out, and the good fishing is just starting!

No cash coming for carp clean-up Sept. 25, 2008 Scott Howard / mykawartha.com "Fish die-offs remain a regrettable, but naturally occurring, event on our watersheds." Brock Township has struck out on its request for government funding to cover the cost of the summer's carp clean-up. Back in July, council passed a motion calling for the provincial Ministry of the Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to reimburse municipal costs for the carp clean-up. While the Region footed the bill for the curbside pick-up of the dead fish, Township staff had to comb public areas -- such as beaches and lakeside parks -- to dispose of the fish. According to works director Judy Avery, the Township spent nearly $11,000 to keep municipal property clean. “There should be some compensation to municipalities,” said Mayor Larry O’Connor in July, adding that more than 12 tonnes of the dead fish were collected in Brock Township alone. At last week's meeting -- the first since summer recess -- council received correspondence saying there would not be funding forthcoming. "Unfortunately, (the) Ministry of Natural Resources does not have funds available to consider your request to offset the costs of carp disposal incurred by your and other affected municipalities," reads the letter from Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield. "Fish die-offs remain a regrettable, but naturally occurring, event on our watersheds."

Lake is not great Sept. 28, 2008 AMY CHUNG / Toronto Sun Police divers put on wet suits and dove deep into Lake Ontario yesterday to recover submerged litter in a bid to help ensure it truly deserves to be called a Great Lake. "I found a toilet, kitchen sink, fire extinguisher, scooter, pop cans ... garbage and lots of it," said Const. Steven Balice, who was at the foot of Bathurst St., near the National Yacht Club yesterday. The police dive was part of the kick-off for TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, which starts tomorrow and runs to Sept. 28. Some 60,000 volunteers are expected to help tidy up stretches of shoreline, including Ashbridges Bay and Woodbine Beach. Among the rubbish pulled from the water was an electric scooter covered in zebra mussels -- an indication that it must have been in the lake for years, said organizers. Every year, 1 million of the world's birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die because they become entangled in or eat litter. "Divers find what most cleanups don't," said John Nightingale, president of the Vancouver Aquarium. The Toronto Police marine unit dispatched eight divers to pull trash from the lake yesterday. "One week every month we train our divers. This week we're killing two birds with one stone," said Const. Gary Gibson. The shoreline cleanup first started in Vancouver, where participants discovered cigarette butts and plastic articles were the most common types of underwater litter, Nightingale said. "Plastic breaks down pretty quickly into small pieces which last forever. We have ducks and fish ingesting that plastic and that can get into their digestive system and the chemicals can also interfere with reproduction."

Scientists monitor growing Lake Erie algae bloom September 25, 2008 / www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com CLEVELAND (AP) — Giant floating fields of algae are back in strength this year on Lake Erie and scientists are trying to figure out why. The blooms of the pea-soup colored algae — so big they’re showing up in space in recent weeks — are dangerously toxic to fish and small animals and irritating to humans. The lake is cleaner than ever, yet the toxic algae continues to thrive. “Algae is a big deal, especially the microcystis, what is often called the blue-green algae,” said Tom Bridgeman, a professor of environmental science at the University of Toledo’s Lake Erie Center. “It’s not aesthetically pleasing when it gets on boats or rots on the shore, but it can also be a health hazard.” Nine of 11 samples taken Sept. 3 from near West Sister Island were more toxic than guidelines set by the World Health Organization, said Geoffrey Horst, a Michigan State University graduate student who studies the algae. It won’t kill people, but at minimum it’s going to give swimmers a rash. Water utilities along Ohio’s Lake Erie shore spend thousands of dollars a day to kill the thick algae, officials said. The chemicals also treat the water for bad smell and bad taste that the algae causes. But it’s not going away. “It’s now blooming in the proportions that it was in the bad old days of the 1960s and early ’70s,” Bridgeman said. “There’s a mystery to it because the lake seemed to be getting cleaner, but now the algal blooms are worse.” Even dead, the algae poses a problem: When it dies, it consumes oxygen and creates oxygen-free dead zones in the lakes. “There has already been a fish die-off in Lake Erie this season,” said John Hageman, laboratory manager at Ohio State University’s Stone Lab on Gibraltar Island. Researchers suggest the algae blooms might be coming from phosphorus, which is running into the lake from increased suburban development. “The same nutrient-rich fertilizers which cause our grass and crops to grow can cause the algae to grow in the lake,” said Bridgeman, who jokingly calls the algae Green Kool-aid.

Simms to stop using felt in wading soles Sept. 21, 2008 / www.great-lakes.org DENVER, – Simms president K.C. Walsh announced that Simms would stop using felt as a material for soles on its wading boots effective with the launch of the 2010 line. Walsh said Simms’ decision to do away with felt is a result of the material being implicated in the spread of aquatic nuisance species and fish-killing disease. Walsh noted that anglers have always been among the nation’s first wave of conservationists, and with options to felt now on the market, anglers had a responsibility to both the resource and the tradition of angling to cease their use of felt “We know felt is not the only material that has spread invasive species and disease,” Walsh said, “but felt is surely part of the problem. At Simms, we’ve decided to be part of the solution.” Walsh’s announcement comes as Simms unveils the world’s first fishing-specific Vibram-soled wading boots. For 2009, Simms will offer six boot models, a wading sandal and a wading shoe with soles featuring Vibram Streamtread soles. Additionally, Simms boots and waders are designed with “CleanStream technology,” a design philosophy that uses materials and production techniques making it more difficult for microorganisms to attach and makes wading gear easier to properly clean. Simms and Vibram have worked together to produce an ultra-grippy, super-sticky rubber sole that works as well as felt in virtually all wet and aquatic conditions. The partnership between Vibram and Simms has resulted in a boot that combines the best performance features of felt with the environmental benefits of rubber. The new soles have been field tested extensively and will perform far, far better than any rubber soled fishing footwear currently on the market. New Zealand has placed a ban on felt boots for the upcoming 2008 season. A number of U.S. states where aquatic nuisance species are found have reportedly discussed the possibility of outlawing felt-soles. Additionally, Simms has agreed to work with conservation organizations and other companies within the fishing industry to develop a certification process to highlight gear designed to help prevent the spread of ANS and disease.

Four of Ten Freshwater fish species in peril; study Sept. 21, 2008 / www.great-lakes.org WASHINGTON (AP) –About four out of 10 freshwater fish species in North America are in peril, according to a major study by U.S., Canadian and Mexican scientists. And the number of subspecies of fish populations in trouble has nearly doubled since 1989, the new report says. One biologist called it "silent extinctions" because few people notice the dramatic dwindling of certain populations deep in American lakes, rivers and streams. And although they are unaware, people are the chief cause of the problem by polluting and damming freshwater habitats, experts said. In the Great Lakes, four native species are extinct, three are possibly extinct, two species are threatened and eight are vulnerable, according to the study. The extinct species include the Arctic grayling, blue pike, harelip sucker and deepwater Cisco. All of the Great Lakes species listed as extinct or vulnerable were harmed long ago by excessive fishing, logging practices and dam construction. The grayling was driven from Great Lakes tributaries in the late 1800s by logging and excessive fishing; deepwater Cisco were eliminated by high numbers of smelt and alewives in the mid-1900s; and lake sturgeon, a species listed as vulnerable, were driven to the brink of extinction in the lakes in the 1800s and early 1990s by excessive fishing, logging and dams that eliminated much of their spawning habitat. Sturgeon are recovering in some parts of the Great Lakes; there is a resident population in the Muskegon River that dates back to the pre-settlement era. Repeated efforts to reestablish Arctic grayling in Michigan rivers have failed. The study, led by U.S. Geological Survey researchers, was the first massive study of freshwater fish on the continent in 19 years. An international team of dozens of scientists looked not just at species, but at subspecies -- physically distinct populations restricted to certain geographic areas. The decline is even more notable among these smaller groups. The scientists found that 700 smaller but individual fish populations are vulnerable, threatened or endangered. That's up from 364 subspecies nearly two decades ago. And 457 entire species are in trouble or already extinct, the study found. Another 86 species are OK as a whole, but have subspecies in trouble. The study is published in the current issue of the journal Fisheries, the monthly publication of the American Fisheries Society. Researchers looked at thousands of distinct populations of fish that either live in lakes, streams and rivers or those that live in saltwater but migrate to freshwater at times, such as salmon that return to spawn. Some vulnerable fish are staples of recreational fishing and the dinner plate. Striped bass that live in the Gulf of Mexico, Bay of Fundy and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence are new to the imperiled list. So are snail bullhead, flat bullhead and spotted bullhead catfish. Sockeye, Chinook, Coho, chum and Atlantic salmon populations are also called threatened or endangered in the study. More than two dozen trout populations are considered in trouble. About 6 % of fish populations that were in peril in 1989, including the Bonneville cutthroat trout, have made a comeback, said lead author Howard Jelks of the U.S. Geological Survey. But one-third of the fish that were in trouble in 1989 are worse off now, said the Gainesville, Fla., biologist. The study includes far more species and populations than those that are on the official U.S. government endangered species list. Jelks said the number of species in trouble was close to double what he expected and that means people should be "considerably worried." The biggest cause, Jelks said, is degraded freshwater habitat, both in quality and quantity of water for fish to live in. Invasive species crowding out native fish is also to blame, he said. Fish "live in a freshwater habitat that's pretty much under assault by people," said Duke University marine biologist Larry Crowder, who wasn't part of the study. "Things are tanking all around us. When does it have to be bad enough to get people's attention?" Many of the species in trouble or already extinct are small minnows and darters whose absence is little noticed, but they play a vital role in the food chain. Hardest hit is Mexico where nearly half the fish species are in trouble. One in three species in the United States are in peril -- up from about one in five in 1989. About 10 % of Canadian species dwindled. In the United States, the most vulnerable populations are in the Southeast, not counting Florida. In the U.S. 263 fish species are in trouble or are already extinct, and nearly 500 have no problems. The number of fish species and subspecies in North America that went extinct rose from 40 to 61 since 1989. Anthony Ricciardi, a McGill University biologist who was not part of the research, found that about 10 years ago freshwater extinctions were happening at a faster pace than on land or in the sea. And yet few people notice, he said. "A lot of silent extinctions are happening," Ricciardi said. "What we're doing is widespread, it's pervasive and it's rapid."

Watershed deal aimed at protecting Great Lakes September 25, 2008 Martin Mittelstaedt / The Globe and Mail Compact largely bans massive transfers The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday approved a historic compact that largely bans major diversions from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, protecting the world's largest body of fresh water from massive transfers. The measure had already been passed by Ontario, Quebec, and the eight states along the water system, and goes into effect on Dec. 8. U.S. President George W. Bush must still sign it, but this is considered a formality, because he has pledged to do so. Environmentalists said the new protections go a long way toward removing one of the gravest threats to the Great Lakes - that parched areas elsewhere in North America or abroad would try to grab some of its waters. "It's a good signal to the rest of North America that they can't depend on the Great Lakes water when they get into trouble," said Mark Mattson, president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a Toronto-based conservation advocacy group. "Hopefully, it's a signal that we're going to start keeping water in our watersheds." Although public support has always been overwhelming in Canada for protecting the integrity of the Great Lakes, the need for the compact arose when a former Ontario Conservative government in 1998 approved a plan to allow a company to use tankers to scoop 3 billion litres of water from Lake Superior for sale to Asia. The idea was dropped after intense public criticism, and led the states and provinces to negotiate the water protection pact over the past seven years. "The passage of this is reassuring and very timely," said Adèle Hurley, director of the program on water issues at the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies, which has published research indicating Canada's water isn't well protected from diversion. Ms. Hurley said the compact's approval has come at an opportune time because water levels in the lakes will face pressure from the effects of climate change and from rising populations. She also said that with an economic downturn in the offing, it might have become more difficult to get such a comprehensive environmental protection measure passed. Although the lakes are massive and contain 18 per cent of the world's fresh surface water, most of this resource is the legacy of melting from glaciers at the end of the last ice age. Only about 1 per cent of the water is considered renewable each year from precipitation. The pact is known formally as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, and doesn't require federal approval in Canada. Under the arrangement, new diversions of water are almost completely banned from what is known as the Great Lakes Basin, or all the drainage areas where rivers and groundwater flow into the five big lakes and the St. Lawrence. However, a minor exception allows diversions for communities that lie partly within the basin. This occurs in some parts of the United States, such as Illinois and Wisconsin, where parts of municipalities drain into the Mississippi River and other parts into Lake Michigan. These communities will be able to draw water for public supplies. They may also be required to return water to the basin after it is used. Bottled-water businesses will also be prohibited from shipping water out of the basin in containers larger than 20 litres. The Ontario government issued a statement yesterday saying the House approval is "great news" for the province because it "further protects" waters in the Great Lakes.

Maintenance work planned at Woolwich Dam September 26, 2008 / GRCA The Grand River Conservation Authority is going to dig up a small section of the surface of the Woolwich Dam near Elmira to learn why it is settling more than the usual amount and then do any necessary repairs. The work will start Oct. 7 and last about a week. To allow the work to take place, the reservoir will be drawn down early to its winter holding level. Normally it reaches the winter level in mid-November. In addition, the trails around the Woolwich Dam will be closed on Oct. 6, about one week earlier than normal. The Woolwich Dam is an earthen embankment about 12 metres high (40 feet). It was built on the Canagagigue Creek in 1974 to provide flood protection for Elmira and to store water for release to the creek during the summer. It is normal for earthen embankment dams to settle over time, but the amount has been greater than usual. GRCA staff have noted some minor slumping in the road along the top of the dam near the concrete gate structure. As well, a guard rail along the road has started to lean toward the reservoir. Part of the asphalt road and about one metre of soil will be removed from the top of the dam. Staff will examine the embankment, looking for areas of loose or uncompacted soil. When they have found them, they will put new soil in place, compact it to the proper standards and then restore the area. The reservoir will remain at its winter holding level after the work is done. --------------------------------------------- Further information: Dave Schultz, GRCA Manager of Communications Phone: (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 Fax: (519) 621-4844 E-mail: Dave Schultz

Cloudy lake is clearly a fisherman’s dream Sept. 14, 2008 Eric Sharp / DETROIT FREE PRESS RICE LAKE, Ont. — We were visiting friends Bob and Barb Campbell at Lake Muskoka when my wife mentioned that our next stop would be Rice Lake, about a two-hour drive away. “Why would you want to go there? It’s cloudy and full of weeds,” said Barb, whose cottage in the rocky Laurentian Shield country sits on some of the clearest fresh water you’ll find anywhere. “The only people who go to Rice Lake are fishermen.” As the kids say, Barb, “Duh!” Who else would be more eager to visit a place that claims to have more fish than any other inland lake in Ontario? That’s why Jim Peterson of Knoxville, Tenn., was there with his brother, Alan, and three friends who have been making a trip to Rice Lake each summer for 19 years. “We’re bass guys, and the bass fishing here usually is really good — better than we get at home. You have largemouths and smallmouths, and there’s a real good chance of catching fish over five pounds,” he said. “I had a largemouth yesterday that went five pounds nine [ounces] and two smallmouths over four pounds. And that was along with seven or eight smaller bass, three walleyes and three perch that were over 12 inches.” Peterson said it was about the same distance from his home to Rice Lake as it was to Lake Okeechobee in Florida, another bass Mecca. “Okeechobee is fun because there’s always the chance you’ll get a 10-pound largemouth. But I’d say Rice is a better all-around bass lake, especially the past few years when the water levels have been so far down in Florida,” he said. I’ve fished Rice Lake several times, always in spring and early summer for its wonderful bluegills and other panfish. When the gills are bedding, you can easily catch and release 50 to 100 in a day on a fly rod or spinning tackle, and some will honestly reach the 11-inch mark on a ruler and push 1z poun 2/3 1/3 . The reason the fishing is so good — and stays that way year after year despite being 90 minutes northeast of Toronto — is that Rice Lake is open to fishermen only from late April through mid-November and is closed to ice fishing in the winter months. This year I decided to try Rice Lake in late summer and look for the big largemouths I’d heard so much about, and it was worth the effort. In about eight hours of fishing over two days, I caught and released seven largemouths, three of them five to six pounds. But I also caught four smallmouths and two walleyes, and when I went in search of bluegills with Yo Zuri Snap Bean crankbaits, I caught enough 6-to-9-inch perch in two hours to half fill a bucket, along with a dozen 9-to-11-inch crappies. For the bass, I concentrated on shallow weedbeds, mostly 3 to 6 feet deep, with plastic critter baits in dark green and purple that mimicked crayfish and salamanders. Several dozen resorts and fishing camps on the lake offer two-bedroom cabins for $80 to $120 a night. Many also rent small boats for $50 to $100 a day, depending on the engine size. For more information visit www.ricelakecanada.com

....Soweeeeet! I'm hoping that the weather is nice enough for me to get out there on Monday.

....The only disappointment is knowing it'll be 9 months befur I see y'all 'gain. And I surely hope Les will be coming back.