troutologist

Bring them in with loud baits like a Lindy Darter or Live Target Golden Shiner. If they don't commit have a 3-4" white tube rigged and ready with at least a 1/2oz head....need to get the followup down quick. If there are fish that hang around and dont hit for a while, try a 1/4oz Northland Buckshot with a minnow or minnow head. Also have lots of gas for your auger. You can sit on a spot and catch some fish, but you will always contact more aggressive fish if you move alot.

I would encourage anyone considering guiding to give this serious thought. It is an unbelievable part of the world to spend time in and every time your lure hits the water you have a chance at a fish of a lifetime. You learn alot about fishing, people, bushcraft and get a good introduction to the North. Get yourself a good rainsuit, a GPS and go have fun. Any questions feel free to PM me.

I have a similar feeling, as long as things are in decent repair, and someone shows they are working hard and willing to burn some gas, and makes some changes if fishing is slow, thats all one can ask for. Even better if they can fill in the quiet time with some sort of candor. Safety, in my opinion is paramount. I would have a hard time being satisfied if the same safety equipment I (and the law) require the use of is lacking

Rapids are open 365

If you are interested in catching walleye through the ice, the golden shiner series is awesome. One of the big differences with these is the tone/pitch of the rattles. This subtle difference between, Live Targets, Clackn' Raps, Rattln Raps and Rattle traps really can mean the difference between a few or many fish. Proven again today, Live Target and Lindy Darter, both or which have louder, lower pitch rattles outfished the others.

On large, somewhat featureless lakes like Lake Winnipeg finding fish can be tough,sometimes you need to call them to you. Fish are roaming massive flats searching for smelt and shiners, I can imagine similar situations exist in the Great Lakes and other lakes seeing walleye spread widely in search of food. Ripping lipless cranks like the Live Target Golden Shiner proves to be an effective way to call fish to you and illicit some vicious strikes. This tactic will bring a lot of lookers in on your flasher, so it is important to have a small spoon like a 1/4oz Buckshot or small Lindy Darter ready on a second rod. Sometimes tipping these baits with a minnow head makes all the difference.

Check out Berts Custom Tracks...lots of mounting options and easy to take on/off. They have risers, downrigger mounts etc. Used them with Down East Rod holders and they are rock solid. Looks like they will fit on the carpeted sections near the transom. Congrats on the new ride. Tillers rule!!

One thing to keep in mind if you are going to be using this with braided line, is to opt for the lighter action, for me short rods and no line stretch can cause a few more fish to "pop" loose. Last fall I switched from one company's 6'6 ML Fast to another's and found a lot more bend further into the blank. Bring the reel you intend to use and try various rods for balance and feel. Compres are anice rod in your prices range.

I hear you on the slush, was guiding on some sunset country trout lakes myself this weekend, it was nuts! Sled travel was tough even for the tundras and you were standing in slop all day, sometimes over boots. The rain made a nice touch to soak any part of you that wasn't drenched already. Fishing was good though!

Bill check out cabelas.com. I bought a yukon trifold ramp in dec, it was on sale, something like 134 shipped to my door. PAs ramps were 169. I see some still on sale there.

Like you mentioned, about warping the auger where the blades mount, this will render if pretty much useless. This happened to my fin bore and new blades didn't help, replaced it with a swede bore which seems to take abuse better and is more easily sharpened in the field. When I was snowshoeing alot the augers took a beating.

Wow, I had no idea about this....thats a whole different animal than the flyin debate. Somewhat disconcerting, for this to be closed with no park/reserve in the works, similar to the Algoma Headwaters.

Haven't seen tempers flair on ice, usually theres enough space. But there have been a few trying moments on the rivers, some people are so clueless its nuts. Mostly I'd rather just move but sometimes people need to be educated on how things work. Worst trouble I've ever had was telling some joker that he's 2 fish over his limit already as he bonks his 5th...didn't particulary cotton to me taking photos of him and his lisence plate after, this is after I commented as he stringered his 3rd fish what the limit was. Sometimes its literally amazing how dense people are, last fall the first time I had ever launched my brand new boat, this character tries to back his jon boat in beside the lauch where theres not enough room, I shout that he's going to hit my boat, he pulls forward, waits 10 sec and then proceeds to back up again, crooked and laying a deep 6" scratch through the Lund decal. First time in recent memory that I snapped....started to pull this guy out the window of his truck...he's got a young lad with him there, so that stopped quickly, I bit my tongue while I got his insurance info, all the while he is swearing at me in front of the youngster.....man did that fella push it...saving grace was 2nd fish ever in the boat was a 10lb 4oz greenback!

Was there in the summer a couple of years ago, seemed like plenty of water. OK fishing all small fish, We fished the SW end near the launch coming from Aubrey. Seemed like there was a few folks fishing all catching.

Great video buddy, love to see people's first reaction when they tie into a big laker.

Yup its brisk out there today, but it looks like sunday and into next week we're getting a reprieve....minus single digits! Good luck today!

Has anyone had problems with their stradics? Mine have all been bullet proof for years now, from portage trips to submersions in winter steelhead river, and many days on the water. Haven't found a better reel for a reasonable price. Have a pfluger president and hate it, anti reverse fails all the time while icefishing. Though I prefer the FIs and older models, the CI4 has stood up very well for the time I've had it and I was pretty skeptical about its durability.

Wollostan Lake, is a first class operation, pricey but very well run. This is coming from guides that have worked there. Also Scott lake lodge, is an unbelievable fisherey, with great facilities, I was just having coffee with a guide there this morning actually. Lots more focused on lake trout here, but there is big pike and grayling as well.

I would think the sentence following the one you quoted is the part of the ruling that gives a lot of authority to keep tabs on his activities as well as issue any secondary charges. I would have to suspect there is a chargable infraction if he is caught hunting with or without a lisence. Hopefully this give the MNR the clout to serve more severe penalties.

Yup throw the book at resource offenders. Obviously some people make mistakes, but these gross offenses deserve tougher penalties than have been doled out.

Yup something is not right with it in very cold temps this year. Changed the plugs, gas lines and new gas this week. Plus lots of seafoam....I need a Strikemaster!

Great photos Aaron! Looks like you're right into them, good stuff.

New videos added in 1st post

Thanks for the comments folks. I can't wait to get out this weekend, we're in a deep freeze right now, but its forecasted to warm up in time for a weekend laker trip.

I've been using a 40" Thorne Bros Walleye Sweetheart MH for lighter baits like buckshots and smaller tubes. Also use a 40" Thorne Bros. glass predator rod for bigger plastics and traps. Their not the cheapest but awesome rods and built, with the components I wanted. The extra length is key if you're taller and fish outside...less line above the ice for wind to catch and kill sensitivity.