Ice Fishing

On Saturday I took the cubs out ice fishing.  A special thank you to Stan and Brian at WOFGPA for making us feel welcome and for being our guide for the day.  Although we didn't catch anything, the weather was great (sunny and -4) all of the cubs had a great time.

What's down that hole?

Toronto Sportsman Show

The Toronto Sportsman Show begins today.  Derek and I will be there on Sunday.

Ice Fishing

I go ice fishing for my first time ever on Saturday.  The Western Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association invited me and our cub group to an ice fishing derby on their private trout pond.  I'm looking forward to the experience and will hopefully have pictures of the event.

New record for low water levels

New record for low water levels
The Windsor Star

An all-time record for low water levels was broken during the month of January for Lake Michigan and Lake Huron - which in part explains how area residents have witnessed the Detroit River reach its shallowest levels in years.

Many longtime Windsor area boaters and fishing enthusiasts told The Star last week how they believe the river has fallen two to three feet compared to last year and reached its lowest levels in decades.

Read more...

 

Master Angler Catalogue

I received my Master Angler Catalogue from Bass Pro Shops last night. I usually like to buy my fishing gear from Lambeth Rod and Tackle. I do however spend a lot of money at Bass Pro Shops on clothing and footwear. I look forward to seeing what cool new fishing products there are.

Fish cannot feel pain say scientists

Fish cannot feel pain say scientists
By Josie Ensor
The Telegraph

A study has found that, even when caught on a hook and wriggling, the fish is impervious to pain because it does not have the necessary brain power.

The research, conducted by a team of seven scientists and published in the journal Fish and Fisheries, concluded that the fish’s reaction to being hooked is in fact just an unconscious reaction, rather than a response to pain.

Read more...

Licence to Fish: Expired!

With the new year come and gone, licence expired, what is an angler to do? If you're an ice angler, get it renewed, and continue on. For most of us though, now's a great time to clean your gear, plan your season and get psyched for the springtime trade shows.

Clean Your Gear

Look, when the river's running and the bass are biting, who wants to clean fishing gear when you could be out fishing? As such, winter's a great time to pull all that gear out of your bag and really take stock of what you're doing with it.

If you put your gear away wet, it's probably got some rust on it by now. Throw out those rusty hooks and buy new ones. Put a dash of WD40 on your gear--some say it acts like a fish attractant and everyone knows it's a great lubricant and prevents rust.

Take a look at what you've got and think back on last season. Did you use all of it, or did you stick with favourites? Can you reduce your tackle overheard to simplify your on-water (be it river or lake) decision making? We always ask ourselves "What are they biting on?" and the more tackle you have the harder it will be to answer that question. Focus on Dave Mercer's tactics: hit the water first with your fast lures, then your medium ones, then try the slow ones. For me that means I start my day with Storm's Kickin' Stick or Live Target's Blueback Herring. From there I'll run a jighead for awhile, then onto the sink worm. If those three don't get results, move on to the next hole.

Plan Your Season

Holes. Honey holes, producing holes, non-producing holes, favourite holes, secret holes, trespassing holes; we've all got them, but besides witchcraft, how do we know which holes are the best? Did you keep notes last season?

First off, get a map and take a real good look from a bird's eye view of your holes. If you marry that with Google Maps' satellite view, maybe you'll discover some sweet-looking spots close to your old faithfuls.

Once you've got a bird's eye view, figure out how many times you'll actually get your rod wet this coming season, and when you do get your rod wet, will you be hitting multiple holes in a day? Knowing that, you can schedule holes and plan around season openers, species preferences, estimated water temperature, etc.

Take notes this year! Buy a small notebook ($1 at the dollar store, $20 if you want a slick Moleskin notebook), a pencil and throw it into a ziplock baggie. Note the date, hole, approximate water temperature, air temperature and fishing method. Keep these notes consistent through the season, and you'll have some real hard data (instead of witchcraft) to prep with for next year.

Springtime Trade Shows

We're barely recovering from Christmas bankruptcy and all these tackle shops and gear afficionados want us to spend more of our credit on new gear, upgrades and expansions. Maybe you'll find something new and exciting (see my Russian Lure story), maybe you won't, but either way you'll be in the company of kindred spirits and can talk shop for the day while looking at shiny new gear and dreaming of The Big One.

We'll be at the Toronto Sportsmen's Show this year. It should be much bigger than the Spring Fishing and Boat Show we went to last year, so I'm pretty excited. The Toronto show is earlier this year, so we can't help but wonder if they're feeling pressure from the Spring show.

I'm especially hopeful to see a couple revisions of Live Target's 3-segment hardbody... preferably in realistic perch colours... here's to hoping! (Edit: nothing new on the 3-segment hardbody list on Live Target's website, so I'm disappointed).

Image source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/75003

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

Have you every had someone give you a hard time about fishing? Luckily I haven't, but if you do, the law is on your side.  A woman outside of Ridgetown was charged with obstructing hunting. The rule pertaining to this are as follows (on the date of this post):

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 

Section 13.1 
A person shall not interfere with lawful hunting, trapping or fishing by,

1. tampering with traps, nets, bait, firearms or any other thing used for hunting, trapping or fishing;
2. placing himself or herself in a position, for the purpose of interfering, that hinders or prevents hunting, trapping or fishing; or 
3. engaging in an activity, for the purpose of interfering, that disturbs or is likely to disturb wildlife or fish. 

Section 13.2 Notice without authority
A person shall not purport to give notice that entry to premises is prohibited for the purpose of hunting or fishing or that hunting or fishing is prohibited on premises unless the person has authority to give the notice. 1997, c. 41, s. 13.

Fish hard!

Great Lakes stressed out

Great Lakes stressed out
By Debora Van Brenk, The London Free Press

If the Great Lakes were human, they'd be in serious need of stress counselling and intervention.

A comprehensive study analyzing and ranking 34 stressors the giant freshwater lakes are battling against, and where the biggest issues are, has just been released to policy makers and researchers.

Read more...

Why Do I Fish?

When they go fishing, it is not really fish they are after.

~Henry David Thoreau

Why do I fish? Some people fish for the competition, the thrill of the hunt.  Some people I know are not happy unless they are catching fish.  While I prefer to catch fish, if I don't I'm usually not disappointed. So why do I fish.

• To be close to my children
  I fish often with my son and daughter.  We laugh, we have fun, I teach them skills, we spend time together outside. I get to see their little victories and the little failures. I see them grow as people, in their confidence and there abilities. My daughter who used to be afraid to touch a worm will now jump off a dock and unhook a good sized catfish with pliers now. My son can now do everything that I can do fishing, I have seen him pass those skills and knowledge on to random kids that are fishing by us. From year to year I watch my children grow.


• To be close to my father
  When I was a kid I used to fish with my dad. We would get up early Saturday or Sunday mornings and go to a local pond, river or creek.  I never did catch anything too big, but I remember what I did catch. Like most kids I was back then all about the fish. I didn't appreciate at the time my dad getting up early on his days off, the company we had together or the lessons he taught me. I stopped fishing with him by the time I became a teenager and didn't pick it back up until my 30's, but I still remember the places, the sounds and the fish. My dad has moved on to different hobbies, but I have been back out with him a couple of times. I still fish with one of his old rods.
• To be by myself
  Sometimes you just need some time alone. Fishing can be a wonderful solitary experience.  I like to sit riverside after dark with some catfish bait. I listen to the city, or the outdoors depending on where I am. Once in a while I'll drift off in my chair waiting for a fish that may or may not come. Other times I'll close my eyes and try and sense everything around me.  Just being alone with my thoughts, relaxing, doing something I love is very therapeutic. I joke with my wife and say women have emotions, men have hobbies.
• For peace in my life
  I find fishing very relaxing, until you hook into a 15 pound carp. (Which is big for my area) It allows me to recharge. I disconnect temporarily from my responsibilities. Fishing allows me to be a better person.
• To be outside
  I like the outdoors. I am involved in Scouting, we hike, we camp, we occasionally fish. I camp with my family as well. I like being outside. I like the smells, the sounds, the unexpected finds. The outdoors feel like untapped opportunity. Fishing is an outdoor sport it and gives me another excuse to be outside, weather in the city or the woods.
  
• To acquire a skill
  Fishing is a series of skills. In my work life I look at data, analyze it, find patterns and develop systems to produce the best results for the lease amount of work. Fishing can be a lot like that. On a hot summer afternoon you feel the heat, see the sun and observe the river, you analyze the temperature and water levels, you know from previous experience that fish prefer cooler water during the day so you look for deeper water with shade.  After enough time, it becomes second nature to look over a body of water and start making guesses about the best spots to start fishing. I've learned a few different knots fishing. I've learned how to cast a lure and now I have enough practice to make that lure go where I want it to go. (most of the time) Skill acquisition can be fun and fishing has afforded me the opportunity to get new skills.

Why do I fish? There are a lot of reasons and most of them don't include the fish.

New 2013 Regulations

The new recreational fishing regulations are out.  Click here for the full document. There are no changes in zones 16 or 19. (The two closest to me)  There is some good news, Bass season opens on the 3rd Saturday of June for zones 17, 18 and 20.  Sounds like a road trip to me.

Fishing Fury Win

I won a photo caption contest on FishingFury.com and received a Water Gremlin t-shirt.  Thanks to the guys at fishingfury.com.

Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows

Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows
By Tom Greenwood The Detroit News

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is anticipating all-time record low water levels for Lakes Huron and Michigan in early 2013 after a continued lack of rain and snowfall impacting the Great Lakes Basin.

In a report released Friday, the corps of engineers projected Huron and Michigan will break levels set in March 1964 — 576.05 feet above sea level — while all of the Great Lakes are predicted to see low water levels.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121130/METRO/211300454#ixzz2E6vwJzhL

Toronto Sportsman Show

I haven't been to the Toronto Sportsman Show in a while for a couple of reasons. 1. I didn't like their new location at the convention center and 2. There were always on the March Break week and I've been doing Scout camps on the weekend of the show. So I normally go to the Spring Fishing and Boat Show.

This year things have changed with the Sportsman Show. The new dates are February 7 - 10, 2013 and they are back at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. It looks like I'll be attending this year. In addition the have a new web site.

Proposed Changes to FMZ 5 for Bass

I was made aware of a possible change to the Bass regulations in Ontario's zone 5. (Northwestern Ontario) I emailed the MNR regarding this and received an email back later that day.  The information package included the Draft Fisheries Management Plan for Fisheries Management Zone 5 and the FMZ 5 Fisheries Management Plan Comment Form - Bass. I was impressed at the speed of the information sent back to me.

FMZ 5 Background
Smallmouth bass are not native to FMZ 5 and were first introduced into the zone approximately 100 years ago. They are now known to exist in over 560 lakes throughout the zone with populations being found in new lakes almost yearly. Largemouth bass are also not thought to be a native species in FMZ 5 although they are found in much fewer lakes (~100) located primarily in the south and west part of the zone. Most of the discussion and available data on bass populations in FMZ 5 is focused on smallmouth bass.

FMZ 5 bass populations have supported world class angling fisheries and have traditionally been popular with non-resident anglers and the tourist industry which has likely contributed to their spread throughout the zone. In more recent years, bass fishing has become more popular with resident anglers and several tournaments in towns such as Fort Frances, Kenora and Atikokan have become important events within these communities.

Proposed objectives for bass management in FMZ 5

The current regulation is:

Dates	Catch Limits	Size Limits
Jun 30 - Nov 30	S - 4, C - 2	.
Dec 1 - Dec 31	S - 2, C - 1	less than 35cm
Jan 1 - Jun 29	S - 2, C - 1	less than 35cm

The proposed regulation is:

Dates	Catch Limits	Size Limits
Jun 30 - Dec 31	S - 4, C - 2	.
Jan 1 - Jun 29	S - 4, C - 2	less than 35cm

The alternative proposed regulation is:

Dates	Catch Limits	Size Limits
Jun 30 - Dec 31	S - 4, C - 2	.
Jan 1 - Jun 29	S - 2, C - 1	less than 35cm

Rationale for the proposed regulation change

Eliminate reduced limits in winter/spring and simplify size limit season

The proposed regulatory management action is the same as the current regulation but eliminates the reduced limits during the winter and spring (i.e limits would remain at S-4/C-2 all year) and simplifies the dates of the size limit season to January 1st to June 30th. This maintains protection of large bass during the spring/winter periods but provides more harvest opportunity of smaller sized fish during that period. One of the concerns expressed about the current regulation is that the combination of the size limit (none larger than 35cm) and reduced limits (S-2/C-1) severely restrict the opportunity for anglers to harvest bass for consumption during the spring and they are forced to harvest more traditional species such as walleye or northern pike. This has been particularly noted for tourist guests with conservation licences who are currently limited to 1 bass less than 35cm. The proposed management action meets the objective of maintaining angling and harvest opportunities while also maintaining current protection of large bass in the winter and spring when they are vulnerable to anglers. By providing the opportunity to harvest more small fish, it may help in balancing harvest across the fish community. The angling and harvest of some bass at all times of the year is considered important to the tourist industry in marketing bass angling opportunities as well as allowing opportunities for bass to be harvested instead of traditional species such as walleye. With no size limits in the summer, this regulation does not restrict bass angling tournaments to weigh limits of large bass and meets the objective of maintaining opportunities for tournaments. It also simplifies the regulation by maintaining the same catch limits throughout the year. One concern of the proposed management action is that it does not provide protection for large bass throughout the remainder of the year.

The option also adjusts the size limit season from the period of Dec. 1 - June 30 to Jan. 1 – June 30 to address what was seen by the Advisory Council as confusion in the angling regulation summary. Because the summary is prepared as an annual summary and season dates cannot cross calendar years, the size limit period must be written as two separate periods (i.e Jan 1 –June 30 and Dec 1 – Dec 31). Members of the council felt the wording of regulation could be simplified by eliminating the December period. It was also felt that angling during the month of December was very limited because of typical ice conditions at that time of year and there would be very little risk to bass populations from this change.

Rationale for Alternative Management Options

Alternative Option 1: current regulation
Alternative Option 1 is the current regulation which meets the objectives identified and is providing healthy bass populations and high quality fisheries in most lakes in the zone. The current regulation has many of the same advantages as the proposed action (year round 29 Draft Fisheries Management Plan for Fisheries Management Zone 5 angling opportunities, protection of large bass in winter and spring when they are vulnerable to anglers, maintains opportunities for tournaments, etc). It also provides some protection of smaller spawning bass in the spring. Concerns with the current regulation include lack of biological rationale for reduced harvest of small bass in the winter and spring, the potential that this may eliminate the ability to reduce harvest of traditional harvest species such as walleye during this period and that the reduced limits during this period add additional complexity to angling regulations. As discussed previously, the dates of the current size limit season add to the complexity of how the regulation appears in the Fishing Regulation Summary.

Alternative Option 2: current regulation with simplified catch/size limit season.
Alternative Option 2 is the same as Alternative Option 1 with the simplified size limit season. As discussed previously, changing the dates of the size limit season to Jan. 1st to June 30th simplifies the regulation while having minimal impact on bass populations.

An additional option of the current limits of 4 for Sport licence anglers and 2 for Conservation licence with 1 fish over 35 cm for the entire year was considered and would have been preferred by OMNR as the simplest regulation that meets all the management objectives with the exception of maintaining angling tournament opportunities. It is felt that the implementation of this regulation would have had negative impacts on bass tournaments by eliminating the ability to weigh the 5 largest bass caught by the team. One potential advantage of tournament permitting is the ability to exempt tournament anglers from regulations such as this proposal providing the tournament meets fish handling and release conditions. Because this option is not currently available, this was not considered as feasible as a management option at this time.

MNR biologists believe that all options being presented will achieve the protection of the biological sustainability of FMZ 5 bass populations and meet the guiding principles and proposed bass objectives. The different options are expected to favour different objectives and MNR is expecting that the draft plan consultation will provide more direction on what management objectives and actions the public would prefer.

Personal Analysis

My thoughts are alternate option 2 is the best choice. It simplifies the fishing seasons from 3 date ranges to 2 and still protects the winter and nesting bass.  I know in some areas of the north the bass is considered a nuisance fish, much like the carp in Southern Ontario. We should celebrate a strong bass population, especially one that includes larger specimens.  Northern bass take a longer time to grow than their warmer water cousins and additional fishing pressure could definitely cause problems in the next decade.  Large females produce more eggs than smaller ones and larger males are more able to defend the nests. We should protect the winter and spring bass.

Officials work to thwart the invasion of 'fishzilla'

Officials work to thwart the invasion of 'fishzilla'
By Douglas Quan, Postmedia News

With razor-sharp teeth and dark, slimy skin, snakehead fish imported from Asia make for some pretty exotic pets. And some foodies say their tender, white flesh make for some tasty filets.

But if they are ever released into the Canadian wild and start reproducing, experts warn, the predatory fish - which have been dubbed the "fish from hell" and "fishzilla" - could wreak havoc on our lakes and waterways, destroying native plants and fish populations.

Read More...

Thames River Watershed Report Cards

The new 2012 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards are now available! Every five years the UTRCA produces 28 report cards to assess local environmental conditions in the 28 watersheds within the upper Thames River watershed.

Each report card grades that watershed’s surface water quality and forest conditions, summarizes watershed features, provides recommended actions for improvement, and highlights progress made over five years. New information has been included on groundwater, connections to the Great Lakes and extreme weather.

Link to the Report

Thames River gets Cs and Ds

Thames River gets Cs and Ds
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press

Most of the 28 watersheds in the Thames River system are holding their own, but not excelling, according to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority report cards issued Thursday.

Based on water quality testing and analysis of forest conditions from 2006 to 2011, the 28 watersheds in the river system can be given C and D grades.

Read more...

Ice Fishing with the Cubs

This winter the Western Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association has graciously invited our cub group to go ice fishing on their private stocked pond in London, Ontario.  This is a great opportunity for the kids and me, since I've never been ice fishing before. I'm really looking forward to the chance. Hopefully we'll catch a few and are able to field dress and cook up some trout. I'd like to thank the WOFGPA for giving us this wonderful opportunity.

Let hope for a decent winter so we have some ice.

Survey finds Great Lakes full of plastic

Survey finds Great Lakes full of plastic
By Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer

University researchers found surprising amounts of small pieces of plastic this summer in the waters of lakes Huron, Superior and Erie.

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