Rich Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Sugarpacket, Splenda and I headed out east to Nova Scotia to visit family this week. I've never been out east before and Sugarpacket has only been during the winter. Beautiful area of Canada that's for sure. Most notably, the people out here are something else. Everybody we ran into on the rivers or in town was willing to share their fishing spots and tactics, and not only that some were actually willing to take us there or give us their hot baits. Totally different mentality from Ontario, where you ask someone where they caught their fish and they say "in the mouth". Obviously, having no experience in the area we were mostly scouting spots for the entire trip. Trout was on the agenda. The first few spots we stopped at had a few specks cruising through but we weren't having much luck. So we headed to the local tackle shop in Aylesford (Vimy Ridge Hunting & Tackle) and asked for advice. Brice Carey, the owner was very kind and not only told us the hotspots but actually wrote down directions for us. The first river we hit was the Cornwallis. Beautiful looking river. We headed here because Brice told us the smelt were running, and the browns would be up to follow them and feed on them. Brice was right. It took no time to get into enough smelts to feed the three of us. And I gotta tell ya, the sea run smelt are so much better than the lake run smelt we get in Ontario. MMMMM I see Curtis was in Nova Scotia, as he left this bottle of Colt 45 behind for us to store our catch in. The smelts were vicious, one even attacked my X-Rap. The browns were being difficult, but I did manage to get one on a rainbow trout pattern X-Rap. Another tip from Brice. Just a beautiful trout river that I will be happy to fish again next year. Of course, while I was there I had to enjoy the Nova Scotian lifestyle. Next stop on our trip was yet again the Cornwallis River, but much further up. We actually found this spot ourselves and searched for browns. First cast at one particular hole I had about a 6 pound brown come up and roll on a Panther Martin. After that, he had lockjaw. But I did manage a nice brown which some local kids helped me land. The speck fishing in Nova Scotia is amazing. Pick any creek, whether it be a ditch or a river and you'll probably get into some. We all had fun with the specks on the Cornwallis. Yesterday, Brice from the tackle shop was kind enough to offer to take us out to some of his spots. Great guy! We hit yet another section of the Cornwallis first, and the fish were lockjawed. A few hits from some specks of course, and Sugarpacket had an encounter with a nicer brown but it managed to shake the hook. After trying a few spots on the Cornwallis, Brice told us he had a guaranteed spot for numbers of specks. Sounded good to us, so off we headed about a half hour back on a fire road, which was pretty much a quad trail. Definitely some backwoods fishing. The creek was beautiful, and we were into natural run specks right off the bat. Yesterday, we ended the day with the best feed of trout I've had in years. We didn't keep more than we needed, just 2 browns and 3 specks. Best trout I've had in years. I was surprised that the browns actually tasted better than the specks. I tell ya, great eating. As much fun as we've had here, unfortunately today is our last day. 7am tomorrow we'll be on a flight to Toronto where we'll make a run to Bass Pro Shops and then head home. This is just a beautiful province. We have to give a great big THANK YOU to Brice from Vimy Ridge Hunting & Tackle as he went way above and beyond the role of tackle shop owner to take us out and give us the good spots. Thank you so much to Brice and Krina (his wife) for being so kind. If you're ever in our neck of the woods, we will be more than happy to return the favour. I'm sad to leave this area, but at the same time a little homesick. I miss my channel cats. Our original plan yesterday was to go striper fishing on the Bay of Fundy, but apparently it's just a couple weeks early for them to be running. Guess we'll have to plan our trip a little later next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyk Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 great report Rich, thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a great trip out east. Never been out there myself, hoping to make it there one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatherof3 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 great report,sounds like an awesome trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinggeek Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Awesome! You've convinced me to add another that on my fishing to do list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Sounds like a fabulous trip Rich and it's good to hear you enjoyed the East Coast so much. I spent alot of time out there in the 60's and have been back several times on vacations and you'll never meet nicer, friendlier people anywhere !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Just super pics and report Rich. What an awesome trip. Those smelts look mighty tasty. Joey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfville Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 I fished around Wolfville, Nova Scotia (located at the tip of the Bay of Fundy) for about two years.... I gotta say you are so right about that place. Nice People and Good Fishing! One thing though, you reminded me how we caught those smelt... but we didn't have the colourful part of the lure if you know what mean That's the way people catch smelt around that area. And do they taste good. You pick the right time to be there...the run is only for about 1 to 2 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunksmurf Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Did you go visit Markus while you were there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mepps Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 nicely done! I must be fishing in the wrong places, becuase my experience has been the exact opposite of yours. Unfriendly fisherman, not willing to share ANY tips. The guys here hide their lures when you walk buy so you cant see what they use. Even in Canadian Tire, if you are in teh same isle as them they wont dare pick up a lure till you leave. Then again im In Halifax - I guess I gotta take a road trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster4 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 awesome report nice fish and looks like you guys had a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 nicely done! I must be fishing in the wrong places, becuase my experience has been the exact opposite of yours. Unfriendly fisherman, not willing to share ANY tips. The guys here hide their lures when you walk buy so you cant see what they use. Even in Canadian Tire, if you are in teh same isle as them they wont dare pick up a lure till you leave. Then again im In Halifax - I guess I gotta take a road trip! I found the same thing when I was in Halifax but when I got up Antigonish/Stellarton way it was great. And so was PEI anglers and people in general were very helpful. But then again so were they in Labrador. I think its just an out east thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowPoke Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Great report Rich! I'm sure Brice is telling some stories right now about a nice family from Ontario that wandered into his store! -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Nice report Rich and congrats on the great catches. I never catch anything on my clown head x-rap...lol...maybe I should take up smelt, hehe. Lovely vacation. Thanks for sharing! reefrunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Good stuff Rich. Glad you enjoyed your visit. The Cornwallis river is a great system. It see's a lot of pressure, but it's always good for a few fish. Come back and visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyb Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 wow...great report! The g/f is from Halifax, and constantly telling me that we gotta get out there...now I just might start to take her seriously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handlebarz Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Awesome report rich I love the looks on them kids faces I bet it was not the shock of the catch but the fear of you wanting them to come over to talk LOL I gotta get back out there its been to many years gotta love that place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Great report Rich. Lots of cool pics and the meals look great. I haven't had a feed of smelts like that in about 20 yrs, now I have a craving for them. Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCTFisher9120 Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 We went to Nova Scotia (Antigonish) last summer, we had a blast. My pappa and I cought at least 20 or 30 Mackeral. We used Willams Silver and Blue spoons. They fight like there 100lb's. Lot's of fun and easy to catch, glad you enjoyed your trip as much as i did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJL Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 AMAZING report Rich! I love eating fried smelt...Never fished for them myself but it looks pretty cool. Good job on the trout...Love the colours on the brownies and specs. Thanks for sharing Top Angling to you and the missus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdrifter Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 I had no idea they had browns out east! Noicely done Rich. Thanx. HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greencoachdog Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 (edited) Great report and pics Rich!!! ... but it looks like God put the eyeballs a little too close to the buttholes on most of those fish in N.S. eh? Edited April 29, 2008 by Greencoachdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b2kptbo Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Beauty report, glad ya's had a good time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Cooper Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 AWESOME report and pic's Rich.... Thanks for sharing your holidays... Enjoyed the read too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookslav Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Very nice! Those creek shots had me salivating...a fly rod would be oodles of fun there I bet! Nice brownies too, beauty colors on them. thanks for shareing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeXXington Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Super Report Rich.. how long till you get your own fishing show on TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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