troutologist

Thanks for the responses folks. Something that we can all continually improve on. Thought I'd take a minute to highlight this and hopefully others will not have to make all the mistakes I did.

Here is a bit of a diatribe about a topic that I've been turning over in my mind for a while now. Fish handling by anglers when catch and release is the intention. Basically, it needs to be better, each angler if catching fish to be released, owes it to the resource (and subsequent users) to be as efficent and effective in landing, unhooking and handling the fish as possible. Obviously fish caught that are unusual, be it in size, new species or memorable will (and should) be subjected to photos, and/or measurements. Everyone wants to capture that special moment and rightfully so. In this process with trophy fish, still anglers need to have their ducks in a row: 1. landing aid, a net or cradle, this will reduce the fight time and prevent the fish from fighting to exhaustion. Fish can sit in the water while you collect youself to unhook them. This means fish aren't lying on the bottom of the boat or in the mud. 2. release tools: unpacked and ready, pliers, spreaders, cutters; reduce the time the fish is detained and usually out of the water. 3. measuring, cameras unpacked and ready, possibly even thought given to how, where etc a fish will be measured or photographed. Being aware of these factors and how each reduces the stress on fish will work to reduce post-release mortality. Notice I didn't mention weighing fish. There are weight calculators available, take a length and girth and plug this in, its close enough. Did you catch a potential IGFA record? Then worry about weighing it on a certified scale. The potential for damage to a fish from most scales far outweighs the benefit of telling your buddy you caught a 4lb 2oz bass. I've seen many fish dropped off of a scale multiple times only to be rehooked with the hook through tissue to weigh it....uneccessarily. I've been guilty of this. If hell bent on weighing a fish, use the net to hold it. Maybe I'll take flack for this, actually I hope I do and it sparks some debate and conversation, more importantly provokes some thought.... You don't have to take a picture of every single fish you catch. Is this something that has become a requisite in the digital age? Weighing and photographing 20 1.5lb walleye is not neccessary. I'll wager that in the course of subjecting these 20 fish to this treatment, there are going to be a few (likely more than a few) that are dropped, squeezed, or mishandled; end result is less healthy fish. I believe this mindset of documenting every fish needs to change. As inferred in another thread, this is not a 'holier than thou' attitude. I've made alot of mistakes in how I've done things. I have however taken an active interest in how I can reduce my impact on fish I've angled. Quite frankly, it would have been nice if someone had taken the time to show me how to handle fish better, though I suspect this comes as a somewhat recent topic in sport fishing. You will always catch more fish, think about the consequences of overhandling them. Really why does every fish need to be catalogued? Even the ones that you take pictures of, take time to be ready to do it properly. In my opinion, taking a picture of a fish on the ground at your feet after its rolled around in mud or gravel for a while does nothing to capture the moment....it looks bushleague. Not a shot at any individuals here, just something I see that seems to go part in parcel with the internet and fishing. Its the responsibility of every outdoorsman to take every step possible to protect the resources. With the myriad of factors effecting the natural environment these days, coupled with the dismal allocation of resources by Goverments to combat these issues, sportsmen, more than ever, need to be on the front lines of conservation and stewardship.

Another vote for 12lb Raven. I've not had an issue with it. Been very disappointed in the performance of some other lines I tried. I find the Raven, to be mix of floating, low memory and inexpensive. This way it is easy for me to keep fresh line on my reels. I use the grey colour, a preference, I personally have no use for hi visibility lines while float fishing.

Fishing a pink worm is a great time to experiment with really holding back on the float and letting the worm float up....vicious hits.

Tie your rigs in at your desk while on conference calls. Put the phone on speaker/mute and tie up a bunch of leaders, lindy leaders, spinners or slow death of various lengths, colours with some different twists. Having all the options ready makes experimenting quicker, easier, thus more likely to occur. This is a good time to sharpen hooks, on everything in your box. Every lure should have hooks on, and sharp and ready to go. The game plan is key, set up a few spots and then adapt. For a net I use one of the thicker rubber ones for fun fishing, which tangles less, though does have a spatula type effect since its shallow. When in the boat, have your release tools at hand and camera at hand. As fishermen the best activity to save time on or become more efficent at, is the landing, handling and release of fish. This is something I see that can be done much better. There is a lot of literature on the best practices for C&R. ...also not every fish needs to be photographed, weighed or measured, but that is another can of worms.

Learn the wallis or BC style cast and line twist becomes a non-issue. Though at the end of the day its always a good idea to cut off your rig and let your line out in the current to eilminate any twist there is. This ensures you start your next day, with twist/tangles out and a new rig...always a good practice. I'm a big fan of the BC cast, after some tweaking of the tension screw on your reel and a bit of practice its great. Though does wear on the shoulder. I still use the side cast if I really want to reach out there, but I find if has the greatest potential to tangle/twist...which results in less time effectively fishing.

Well played sir, just awesome!

Generally the higher the fat content of a fish, the greater potential to accumulate the aforementioned toxins. These are fat soluble and thus stored in the fat reserves of fishes. By practicing selective harvest of smaller, eating size fish you limit the amount of time the fish (meal) has been in the ecosystem and thus limit the potential for it to accumulate toxins. Further, fish that are eating a steady diet of oily baitfish, (read: smelt, alewives, cisco) will accumulate toxins to a greater extent that a fish that eats aqautic inverts or plankton. Each step up the food chain causes what is referred to as biomagnification of contaminants, essentially the highest order consumer (you in this case) will be eating the lake trout's meals, the smelt's meals, etc. for the entire lifespan of each. Again, selective harvest. Lake trout fried is awesome by the way. Smaller fish from inland lakes or those further north typically have more orange or red flesh which is a good indicator of good tasting trout.

All about crashing bottom and pulling the cranks off structure, notice which hook the fish in the pic came on....hitting it from below, this was consistent.

A few like minded folks got together to learn how we could start targeting trophy walleye on deep diving cranks such as reef runners and TD11 rapalas. I had very little confidence in this technique and it would take some convincing to keep at it. Well after a few depth and colour tweeks we got onto something. After lighting up the fish last week Lindy rigging and jigging, we found out what some bigger fish wanted....cranks. They crushed them! Sure, I've got a lot to learn before dialing this right in, but its a very good start. Next time your out fishing, pick a technique you want to learn and stick with it...its all about expanding your arsenal as an angler to consistently improve your odds of catching more and bigger fish.

Didn't have to go far...nice fish. Did they take you on the tour up river to stark? Thats a fun ride.

Thats both good and bad...hopefully the talks about a FMZ 10 review of brook trout regs will bring a reduced limit into fruition...

I understand keeping fish, and often do just that; but don't get the fact that people are changing how/where they fish just to accomodate harvesting more. I don't think that winter fishing for lake trout would be ruined for me since I can (in practice) keep just 1 fish....

A similar issue is going on out here with the litter associated with permemant ice shacks. Despite increases in patrols and public policing, the COs have found it tough to charge anyone with littering unless they actually observe the offense. Unfortunately it takes privlidges being removed before certain knuckleheads take notice, the mindset of these mental midgets is unreal, zero regard that they are THE PROBLEM! When I go to great lengths to pack out my garbage and pick up others trash, I have no patience for those that can't walk 10ft to a garbage can.

Can you put SOME fish in the boat everyday regardless of weather and other natural factors. Also accounting for widely varying skill levels that may comprise your sports. Average sizes mean very little, consistency, being dynamic and being able to make it fun in 6' waves in a blizzard is what makes a guide. Also there are various insurances, 1st aid, MED A3 and things I would take into condiseration. Also being able to provide quality gear to clients. Good luck

Have fun in Looks OK. Fishing should be pretty decent just off the mouth of the river still....depends on the baitfish run. Always interesting at FFL...Guy is a great cook too.

That must have been a pretty intense few moments. Pretty cool for sure. All the stuff I've heard about bears predating on fawns/calves seems like they use sight and past experience (likely locations) more than in their other feeding endevoours. Thats a good nose you're pup has. I recently moved near a river in town and with the flooding the deer have been walking around the neighbourhood...they're driving my dog nuts!

The muskie release came on saturday...I was driving the camera boat.

After a long spring of full time home renovations I finally got out for a much needed solo fish last week to relax and find some fish for some projects I had coming up this weekend. Weather was hot, sunny and calm and the fish were everywhere. It was fun to be able to chase walleye using whichever method you wanted to practice. Caught fish in 6-10fow on cranks, swim baits and rip jigging and also caught fish rigging and jigging humps in 20-30fow. There was a definite segregation in fish size in different schools, even as close as opposite sides of the same hump. One side provided lunch and the other side some photo worthy fish. Some self timer shots... Later in the afternoon I started chasing some muskies, casting various lures around growing vegtation around shallow rock structure, I had a number of follows even had the same fish come in 3 times but no takers. Though on the weekend we managed to get a beauty 50" fish from an offshore reef. Saw an interesting nature interaction on the weekend as well. Pulled up to a current area near some islands and saw a bear just getting to an island and headed into the bush before the camera was ready. About a minute later a doe and fawn hit the water and headed for the mainland....young fawns are supposed to have little scent which makes me wonder if the bear saw the deer or knew from past experience where to find fawns. Only 4 days of work until 4 more days of fishing....I'm liking this balance.

I like to think you're referring to me

That seems to be the way things go, there are a lot of seasonal contracts, just have to be willing to move around to where the work is....best advice is to try a few and decide whether he really wants to be a bio. If you really want to then you will have to move to where the work is (not just in Ontario), there are certainly a lot more trained people in Canada than jobs available. Lots of pros and lots of cons to Govt work, not all huge salaries and cutting edge equipment like some would think. Once you get into the 3-5yrs experience range you have a lot more options. Being young is a great time to travel and do some extended field work, lots of opportunities to see some amazing places on the company's (Queen's) dime.

Lake Winnipeg offers another drive to destination with consistent double digit fish.

Same comment I've made on this topic a number of times. If you're not using the golden shiner through the ice, you're not catching as many walleye as you could, the pitch of the rattle really makes it unique, though the Lindy Darter has the loudest rattles I've used yet. Nothing but great experiences with Live Targets, really like the deep diving smelt patterns for 'eyes.

Thanks...might wait another few days to let things settle down a bit then, lots of lake to fish in the meantime. Good luck on the water.

Always stop in Prawda on the way. Did you check the water temp?