Sunday, March 11, 2012
First Catch of the Year
The weather was good today so I decided to hit the Thames for a couple of hours. I saw a few people fishing, not much was biting but I did manage one sucker for the afternoon (About 2 pounds). The kids had fun building forts on the banks. Their biggest regret was not bringing string to practice their lashings and knots.
Friday, March 9, 2012
I Won a Prize
A couple of weeks ago I enter a contest over at the FishingFury.com blog. I won and the prize arrived yesterday. It was a selection of KIWI products. I'm going to try them out at cmp next week. Thanks to FishingFury.com for the awesome gifts.
I've been following their blog for about 4 years now. It is great and I encourage you to check it out.
I've been following their blog for about 4 years now. It is great and I encourage you to check it out.
My Greatest Day of Fishing
My greatest day fishing was August of 2009 when my family was camping in the Kingston area. We went down to Lower Brewer's Lock to get some sunfish for the kids. We took 3 rods, perch rigs and 18 worms. The sunfish were plentiful and we stopped counting at 100 catch and release in the first hour or so. The sunfish kept up like that all day, including some big ones. We spent more time unhooking fish than having our rods in the water. The only time we stopped was for the steak and shrimp lunch my wife prepared on the BBQ. When we got tired of the sunfish many hours later I started to target bass. 2 cast with a tube jig against the far shore and I had a 3 pounder on the end. After many, many bass and hundreds of sunfish we had to call it a day.
The fishing and memories were so good, I'm thinking of doing a 6 hour drive just to fish it once more on a weekend this summer.
The fishing and memories were so good, I'm thinking of doing a 6 hour drive just to fish it once more on a weekend this summer.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
License Renewal
I renewed my Fishing License today online. Can't wait to get out and start catching this year. I might try to get out Sunday as the temperature is set to hit 11+ degrees.
The new online way of renewing is very easy and convenient. A lot of local tackle stores are no longer offering licenses because of new government rules about having Internet access and dedicated phone lines.
The new online way of renewing is very easy and convenient. A lot of local tackle stores are no longer offering licenses because of new government rules about having Internet access and dedicated phone lines.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Bait Bucket List 2012
This year I'd like to try a few different/new things fishing.
Fishing from a boatI fished from a boat in 2011 for the first time. (A sinking paddle boat with a hole doesn't count) I was looking after 8 kids on our Cub houseboat trip, so my boat fishing was limited to about 30 minutes on the last day. I'd like to get out on the water for the whole day and just relax and fish. I'm thinking of doing a charter this year.
Using less live bait this year
It's no secret that I like to use live bait. Sitting on the river's edge with a perch rig and a box of worms is a great day for me. I want to try some more active fishing this year. My most successful year in terms of numbers of bass was 5 years ago when I threw nothing but artificial lures.
Trying more hard body baits
When I do use artificial lures I prefer to use tubes and jigs and inline spinners. This year I am excited about try some Live Target lures and some Storm hard body baits. I'm going to work on retrieval technique and see what I can make the lures do.
Catching 2 new species of fish
I don't care what they are, or where they are, I want to try and target and catch two new species of fish this year. Learning to catch new fish will allow me to employ new techniques in my everyday fishing.
Catch a really big catfish
I've caught lots of 5-6 pound catfish in the Thames. This year I want a 15 pound+ fish. I may have to take a couple of road trips further down the Thames or out to the Grand River to catch this fish. I can't wait to see the rod straining against this monster.
Fish Toronto Harbour before a Jays game
I haven't been to a Jays game in nearly 20 years. This summer I want to take my son to a game and before the first pitch, we'll get our lines wet along the lake front. I've seen some pictures of nice fish pulled out of there.
To catch more bass this year
The last few years have been poor for catching bass. A couple of small one here or there. (Exception: some of the big ones I pulled out in Perry Sound) I am going to target them as of June 23rd. I've got a couple places in mind to start. Hopefully with the new lure selection and some research I'll get my fill of bass this season.
Learn and break down and clean my reels properly
Armed with online instructions I'm going to be tearing down my reels before spring hits. I'll clean, grease and oil them and put them back together. It should be fun and will preserve my equipment longer.
Fishing from a boatI fished from a boat in 2011 for the first time. (A sinking paddle boat with a hole doesn't count) I was looking after 8 kids on our Cub houseboat trip, so my boat fishing was limited to about 30 minutes on the last day. I'd like to get out on the water for the whole day and just relax and fish. I'm thinking of doing a charter this year.
Using less live bait this year
It's no secret that I like to use live bait. Sitting on the river's edge with a perch rig and a box of worms is a great day for me. I want to try some more active fishing this year. My most successful year in terms of numbers of bass was 5 years ago when I threw nothing but artificial lures.
Trying more hard body baits
When I do use artificial lures I prefer to use tubes and jigs and inline spinners. This year I am excited about try some Live Target lures and some Storm hard body baits. I'm going to work on retrieval technique and see what I can make the lures do.
Catching 2 new species of fish
I don't care what they are, or where they are, I want to try and target and catch two new species of fish this year. Learning to catch new fish will allow me to employ new techniques in my everyday fishing.
Catch a really big catfish
I've caught lots of 5-6 pound catfish in the Thames. This year I want a 15 pound+ fish. I may have to take a couple of road trips further down the Thames or out to the Grand River to catch this fish. I can't wait to see the rod straining against this monster.
Fish Toronto Harbour before a Jays game
I haven't been to a Jays game in nearly 20 years. This summer I want to take my son to a game and before the first pitch, we'll get our lines wet along the lake front. I've seen some pictures of nice fish pulled out of there.
To catch more bass this year
The last few years have been poor for catching bass. A couple of small one here or there. (Exception: some of the big ones I pulled out in Perry Sound) I am going to target them as of June 23rd. I've got a couple places in mind to start. Hopefully with the new lure selection and some research I'll get my fill of bass this season.
Learn and break down and clean my reels properly
Armed with online instructions I'm going to be tearing down my reels before spring hits. I'll clean, grease and oil them and put them back together. It should be fun and will preserve my equipment longer.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Species I have caught
- Bluegill
- Pumpkinseed
- Bullhead
- Channel Cat
- Largemouth Bass
- Smallmouth Bass
- Rainbow Trout
- Carp
- White Sucker
- Redhorse Sucker
- White Bass
- Sheepshead
- Northern Pike
- Rock Bass
- Perch
Thursday, March 1, 2012
2012 Spring Fishing & Boat Show
I'm a goal maker. It might have been evident in my discussion of the 2010 show, it might not have been. Either way, this year I set some goals for the 2012 Spring Fishing & Boat Show: find some Storm Kickin' Sticks or other lures, find some cheap waders, maybe find a new reel. Then I expanded the latter to be find a baitcasting reel.
And I was off! Working my way through the show with all these goals. Mark and I had to decide: watch IF4 (International Fly Fishing Film Festival--hence IFFFF, or IF4) or watch Dave Mercer. Ultimately, we decided on Dave, as it gave us more time for the show, and I was looking forward to seeing what he'd sell me this year. That meant that aftersleeping in travelling delays, we had about an hour and a half to kill before Dave took to the aquarium stage.
Mark wanted to swing by the hunting show, which was an addition this year, or at least expanded. Guns, bows, air guns, neat stuff, but not a whole lot for me to get too keen over, as I really don't need another expensive hobby. Then, like the red sea parting, the crowd cleared and I saw it: the best fishing apparatus a man could want... at least, a coffee drinking angler. A hand-pump fueled espresso maker. Long story short though, I couldn't find a clause on my Spousal Approval Form for the acquisition of coffee making supplies at a fishing show, so I decided to defer the purchase... but someday, I might get one!
I noted the fly casting pond as we passed, and committed to returning for a few tips on my roll cast. Later that day when I did return, I was able to get some good instruction, which after re-reading the online articles I'd read on the roll cast solidified my understanding of the process and some of the key areas where I need improvement. Ultimately, as with everything fly-casting: it's all about a straight-line path of the rod tip.
I did score a pair of waders through the show. Mark pointed them out, and the sign showed an MSRP of $40, but they were on 'show special' for $25. I asked about them, and they only had size 9, so I held off. Wandering through the show, I later re-considered and decided to try them on. There seemed to be enough room for them to fit, so I bought them and we'll see how they hold up this year. I figure worst-case scenario I can sell them on Kijiji for $20, and buy a larger size at MSRP.
As for the Storm Kickin' Sticks, the whole show was a shut out, I found an 8" one, but that was it! On the other hand, I did happen across a 3-segment Live Target. It's a herring, but the general feeling is that Pike won't care. Also, after Dave's show, I mentioned to him that I'm a big fan of the Storm Kickin' Stick, and that since I can't find them, what were his thoughts on the 3-segment Live Target. Ultimately, he said they perform the same, and there's still a "kicking" action, but I think it's clear Dave's sponsorship has moved from Rapala (owner of Storm) to Live Target, so I question that advice--at least, until I see it in action.
I also picked up a 3.5" Live Target mouse. During my Pike fishing trip one of my co-anglers used a mouse and it attracted a lot of attention (in fact, I was a prick and after 3 failed bites on his mouse, I threw a Storm Kickin' Stick right over his path, kicked it twice, and caught his fish), so I was eager to get my hands on one.
Last but not least I held off on the new reel, especially the baitcasting reel after I found out I'll need a new rod too (to get the ringer grip thingy). Not to mention the benefits I learned of microguides which when factored into the baitcasting format should add quite a bit of distance to my cast and has me quite excited. I figure that'll be a 2013 addition to my tackle box, and I'm looking forward to it.
All things considered, a good show, and I'm looking forward to getting on the water!
And I was off! Working my way through the show with all these goals. Mark and I had to decide: watch IF4 (International Fly Fishing Film Festival--hence IFFFF, or IF4) or watch Dave Mercer. Ultimately, we decided on Dave, as it gave us more time for the show, and I was looking forward to seeing what he'd sell me this year. That meant that after
Mark wanted to swing by the hunting show, which was an addition this year, or at least expanded. Guns, bows, air guns, neat stuff, but not a whole lot for me to get too keen over, as I really don't need another expensive hobby. Then, like the red sea parting, the crowd cleared and I saw it: the best fishing apparatus a man could want... at least, a coffee drinking angler. A hand-pump fueled espresso maker. Long story short though, I couldn't find a clause on my Spousal Approval Form for the acquisition of coffee making supplies at a fishing show, so I decided to defer the purchase... but someday, I might get one!
I noted the fly casting pond as we passed, and committed to returning for a few tips on my roll cast. Later that day when I did return, I was able to get some good instruction, which after re-reading the online articles I'd read on the roll cast solidified my understanding of the process and some of the key areas where I need improvement. Ultimately, as with everything fly-casting: it's all about a straight-line path of the rod tip.
I did score a pair of waders through the show. Mark pointed them out, and the sign showed an MSRP of $40, but they were on 'show special' for $25. I asked about them, and they only had size 9, so I held off. Wandering through the show, I later re-considered and decided to try them on. There seemed to be enough room for them to fit, so I bought them and we'll see how they hold up this year. I figure worst-case scenario I can sell them on Kijiji for $20, and buy a larger size at MSRP.
As for the Storm Kickin' Sticks, the whole show was a shut out, I found an 8" one, but that was it! On the other hand, I did happen across a 3-segment Live Target. It's a herring, but the general feeling is that Pike won't care. Also, after Dave's show, I mentioned to him that I'm a big fan of the Storm Kickin' Stick, and that since I can't find them, what were his thoughts on the 3-segment Live Target. Ultimately, he said they perform the same, and there's still a "kicking" action, but I think it's clear Dave's sponsorship has moved from Rapala (owner of Storm) to Live Target, so I question that advice--at least, until I see it in action.
I also picked up a 3.5" Live Target mouse. During my Pike fishing trip one of my co-anglers used a mouse and it attracted a lot of attention (in fact, I was a prick and after 3 failed bites on his mouse, I threw a Storm Kickin' Stick right over his path, kicked it twice, and caught his fish), so I was eager to get my hands on one.
Last but not least I held off on the new reel, especially the baitcasting reel after I found out I'll need a new rod too (to get the ringer grip thingy). Not to mention the benefits I learned of microguides which when factored into the baitcasting format should add quite a bit of distance to my cast and has me quite excited. I figure that'll be a 2013 addition to my tackle box, and I'm looking forward to it.
All things considered, a good show, and I'm looking forward to getting on the water!
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