A Great Soft Water Season 2011

[mercman]

Those of you who have taken the time to get to know me a bit, know that this was my second year back to fishing, in over 20years.

Last season i bought a small 14' aluminum with a Merc 8hp, and i hit the water running The fishing bug resurfaced in me, and i spent last summer fishing anything i could catch.

At the end of last season, i knew that i would need a bigger,more powerful boat if i was going to fish all the places i wanted to. I had seen the boat i wanted, that July, and i was hoping that the dealer would still have it at the end of the year. So, Middle of January, back i went, and there she was A whole lot cheaper than she was in July Picked her up April 20th.

Now, i was brought up as a Bass fisher, so this year started off with a trip with my brother for Large Mouth Bass in a small lake outside of Ottawa.Opening day and we had our limits in 4 hours.

As the season progressed, i had fun with perch. Got into a mess of them and had some good eats.

Some nice Pike were the first slime my new boat had on her.

Found out that the stretch of river i fish here had some really nice Small Mouth Bass and walleye too.

Then on a fateful trip to Lake St Francis,........I busted my prop and skeg on the only rock pile in the lake

I say fateful trip, because a member of this community read my thread about busting my prop, and commented that he knew where i did it. I started to talk with him via PM, and the rest is history. Musky Mike has become a very good friend of mine.I expressed my desire to learn from him, and asked if he would help me catch my first Musky.My first and PB.Small by many standards, but 42" first is fine by me.

Well after that day, he posted a thread with pics of some great walleye he had caught.He offered to take me out the next week. Not only did i catch some of the biggest walleye of my life that day, but also a PB 9lber

At this point, i decided that Walleye would be my target species.They are such a blast catching, and there are so many, that it makes for a great day on the water, fishing them.

Mike is an excellent teacher and a top notch guide,so My brother and i hired him for a day of walleye fishing on the Franny.Along with some excellent Walters, my brother got a personal best smallmouth, and i caught my second a third Muskies.Mike also took me Carp fishing for the first time.No pics, but i did catch a nice one.Can't wait to get out for them again in the spring.

I would just like to say a thanks to each and all of you here.You have taught me much. I hope to get out with some of you next year, so i can keep on learning.Also, hopefully next season i will be outfitted for cold weather fishing.

 

Tite Lines All

 

Paul

[limeyangler]

Great recap Paul.

 

I still cant believe you get to keep the boat and 20 a day though

[MCTFisher9120]

Thanks for sharing, looked like a fun season!

[Grimace]

Congratulations on a good season and making the decision to come back to the best pastime there is.

[scugpg]

Wow that is a great year by the looks of it.

 

Congrats on the boat that is a sweet rig!

[Skipper D]

The pleasure up til now has been all mine , best of luck to you out there next year Paul , don't forget to watch out for the new up coming star to invade the waters some where ner ya ............ lol .

Edited November 14, 2011 by Skipper " D "

[Leecher]

It's great you got back into fishing Paul... 20 years away from it, is a long time but from this report, I see you still have the passion

You've caught your first musky, PB walleye, bass and perch Congrats mon ami

Great job

Thanks for sharing!!!

Jacques

[mercman]

Great recap Paul.

 

I still cant believe you get to keep the boat and 20 a day though

 

 

I must be really good at something

[highdrifter]

Awesome. OFC for life bud.

 

cheers

HD

[kickingfrog]

Nice. Soooo you gettin' a bigger boat?

[mike rousseau]

Now all I have left to teach you is how to hold a fish in a picture...lol

 

Glad I could help you enjoy our piece of heaven...

[Rod Caster]

You went from a bass fisherman to a real fisherman in only one year

 

With a boat like that, how can you NOT want to fish all the time?? She's such a purdy boat!

 

Good stuff Paul. Thanks for sharing your recap.

 

PS. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the walleye you and Mike catch put mine to shame.

[Moosebunk]

Holy Crow MercMan!!! Outta the gate this year and just flying. You certainly have found fishing again, and the fish. Lots of greats packed into that season, including the new boat. Congrats. It's gonna keep getting better for ya I know it!

[Roy]

Great recap Paul. Lots of fine fish. Lots of pictures for posterity and the eagerness to do even better next season. Way to go and thanks for sharing that.

[Billy Bob]

VERY NICE report....I really enjoyed reading it..

 

And I REALLY LIKE the color of your boat...

 

Bob

[spincast]

congrats on a fine year MM . Some nice specimens there - gives you some big targets for next year! I found year 2 with the boat a little more challenging when it comes to catching PB's

1 month down, 4.5 more till launch

[Skud]

Great pics. Beauty way to break in the new boat

[mercman]

Thanks everyone. One of my goals for next year, is to make it to at least one G2G. Most likely Lakeair.I like the warm weather

One thing for sure, is that this place keeps me enthusiastic about fishing,12 months a year.You are all a great bunch of guys and gals.