Kawartha Musky


The fish of 10, 000 casts….
Those of us lucky enough to fish the Kawarthas, may disagree with this “myth”
These chain of lakes are easily accessible to anglers, and offer some of the best Musky fishing in the world. Musky season opens June 1st in the kawarthas and goes until November. Early and late in the season is know to be the best chance, for it is when these fish are most active.
Chances of  hooking into one of these fierce predators of freshwater in the kawarthas may be the best odds you’ll find, compared to anywhere else that holds Musky… although the size may not match other places, the numbers are extraordinary, and there are 50 plus inch monsters to be caught… Multi Musky days are not uncommon and double digit days can be had!

Scugog, Buckhorn, Pigeon, Balsam, Rice, and Sturgeon Lake are just a few of the lakes that are worth exploring and will give you a good shot at catching one of these so called elusive gamefish. Like most anglers already know, patience and persistence play a key role in fishing for Musky.
You could go out for 6 hours and catch 3 Musky… all of those fish may come in the last hour of the day however.

Kawartha Muskys are for the most part eager to show interest in most presentations that match the local forage in the area. Ive caught some of my biggest Musky on Bass lures and simple presentations…. Just make sure to have a wire, or heavy flourocarbon leader, as it dosen’t take much for a Musky to break your line due to their set of teeth… Bass anglers get bit off in tournaments constantly in the kawarthas, which has caused a bit of a bad rap for these fish on a tournament basis.

Muskys love the weedbeds, and these spots are a good spot to start for the beginner.  Throw a Spinnerbait, Bucktail, Minnow bait, or jig tipped with your favourite plastic in and around the weedbeds and you have a good chance at getting bit. Get a rod that can handle these fish also…. Something with a backbone that can pull these fish out of the weeds with a good reel to go with it….. A good bait cast reel with a Medium - Heavy Rod that’s 7 to 9 feet in length will help you considerably while casting some of the BIG Musky baits that are on the market… as well as help you fight the fish.
Most of the local tackle shops are willing to help you out and point you in the right direction. The best advice is to ask someone experienced in Musky fishing to teach you the basics.

Next time your heading out and  want to catch the “Big One” that dident get away… give Musky fishing a shot. Bring a big net, and a good attitude and your chances are better here than anywhere else. Also remember to bring a good set of pliers with you for you don’t want to get your hands anywhere near there teeth!
Handle Musky as little as possible and release them quickly after a photo for these fish are a lot more sensitve to rough handling than most fish….

Give Musky fishing a shot next time your out,  and you may be in for a BIG surprise! Good luck on the water and Tight Lines al Always!



Steelhead video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N19V0cY0RqE

Motivation too all the Steelheaders across the country.. May 2013 be the best year ever.. Happy new year.

The video shows passion and devotion for the sport. Some people say fishing is all about luck... obviously they have never fished Steelhead:)

Phots

Do your part

I'm fishing one of my favourite holes in my local area.... its late fall and I'm hoping for a chunky Brown Trout. Its a warm November day and I cant help but get every minute into me before the bite of winter sets in....
As I watch my line, waiting...... I can help but notice a grocery cart, laying in the back end of the pool I'm fishing....
Anyone that fishes the Great Lake Tributaries, especially the ones that run through major cities are probably all too familiar with this circumstance.
My line tightens and a respectable 5 pound Brown is beached and released...
Anyone that fishes Brown Trout know that they are a respectable game fish and a great challenge to catch!
It seems though that anglers take advantage of this for there immediate pleasure, and don't think about the line, garbage, plastic, etc,  that they leave behind, and how much the future of the fishery gets affected by our carelessness.

As I walk further down the river to my next spot I cant help but notice all the garbage littered along the river.
I cant help but wonder what our rivers would look like and how much better the fishing would be if we took that extra second to think... and maybe show a little care for what we have.
I'm not speaking for everyone for I know there is many people out there that care, however it seems like everyday we are becoming the minority, and it is impossible to keep up with the damage we do to our waterways due to our own greed and ignorance towards the freshwater that we are blessed with in this Country!
One person cant change this, but if we all did our part, I think we could do so much better to preserve these important resources we have.

I don't think I need to get into what we need to do to keep our rivers and lakes clean.. I think we are smart enough to figure it out ourselves..
Just do your part.. and clean up after yourselves as individuals.
If we continue to abuse this sport, and the resources that we are so lucky to have... then they will be there NO MORE!...
Personally I couldn't imagine life without fishing and the outdoors.
If we all took a second to think about the consequences of our actions, and thought about the consequences it could cost us for the future, instead of our immediate pleasure and greed than we could do more for the outdoors than we could even imagine!..
Do your part:)

Fly Fishing Steelhead Ontario

Ontario has many great Tributaries to catch trophy Steelhead on the the fly...  The River was low and clear this day...so the 4lb, 9ft, 5x tippet and black stone nymph excelled, and was stealth for the spooked fish.  Cant beat fresh chrome on the fly!

I myself am a rookie, when it comes to fly fishing. I have learnt enough though through my elders and people that are better than me, to be able to keep up with most:) Keep an open mind and have patience.. Once you hook your first... you ll see... Its totally different from anything else.. I was a sceptic at first, however now I cant wait to bring out the fly rod.
The best piece of advice I can give you for your first outing is to get a well respected fly fisherman, or someone that just plain knows his stuff to set you up for the first time!... It can be confusing for the new angler, and can mean the difference between a good day, and a horrible day!
Knots, different insect hatches, types of line, and casting are just a few skills that come with time and research.
Don't take it from me... go to your local tackle shop.. find someone that fly fishes... and check it out yourself.. It may surprise you, and gives a whole new aspect of fishing to conquer:)

.

The Multi Species Angler

To be good at fishing for a certain species of fish is impressive...  However to be a great angler at many species, and be able to fish anywhere, and catch fish, at any give time anywhere in this world productively is a whole other story. If your a one species angler, or think you know it all, are going to be destroyed in this industry.. One thing about fishing is you never stop learning....and unless you are Kevin Van Damn:).there is always someone better than you!

Every fish has different tactics and patterns... as well as different waterbodys..Go out West in Canada and drift fish for Steelhead or Salmon, and you will quickly learn how much the patterns and techniques can differ drastically from region to region.. You would never see anyone drift fishing with a baitcast combo for Great Lakes Steelhead... however out west it is common and good to know!
 It is good to be versatile and never jump to a conclusion on what works before you hit the water... every day may present new obstacles depending on many circumstances that may present itself.  Never get stuck on a confidence bait, no matter how well it has done for you.
Never be to full of yourself, and always be open to suggestion... I would never be the angler I am today if I never listened and appreciated the advice my elders, and local fisherman gave me. I am always open to learning and becoming better.
I remember my first Steelhead outing on a river located in Goderich, Ontario. I showed up with a heavy duty 6 footer, filled with 20 pound mono, a classic red and white bobber the size of a beach ball, not to mention a Dew worm with a hook that could land a shark:) You could imagine the glares I got as I bombed that sucker out into the locals favourite pool.:)  as a younger kid i thought any bobber and worm could catch any fish regardless. I learned fast:)
20 minutes later a nice older fellow was nice enough to show me the ropes, and not laugh at me and glare like a few of the others. I hooked into my first chrome Steelhead shortly after, and the looks from others quickly came to a hault:)
I have been hooked on Steelhead ever since.
I am very lucky for the area I live has most of the species of fish that are available in Canada. I pride myself at being a good angler at all species...
Do your research and swallow your pride... it will be a big help in making you a better angler all around!
Fishing has endless possibilities if you look. I couldn't imagine fishing for Bass my whole life, or the same water body.. One of the great things about fishing is exploring new waters, and the limitless great experiences it can provide you... There are enough lessons and species of fish to last a lifetime. I will always keep on learning and never know enough.
Put me anywhere in this world and I will catch fish!.....

Never stop exploring and fish hard always!

Fishing is Life

    Ever since my grandfather tied on the first 6 feet of line, on the end of a stick with a hook and worm to catch the local Rock Bass that hung out under the water pump beside the dock..... to my father casting frogs under the raft that used to attract smallmouth about 20 of the end of our dock on sunny days, fishing has kinda took over my life. To say the least :)
My Father would say "watch Ryan theres one biting" as the line would jerk, and dart along the surface as he would wait a few seconds with the bail open to let the Bass take the frog.The feeling I got as he'd set the hook, and I'd see the rod bend I still get today as I set the hook on my own fish.
I thought that my desire to fish all the time would slowly subside as I grew older.
Im 29 years old and enjoy it just the same as when I was 4 and picked up my first rod.....probobly more.

    When Im down, there is always a lake, or river to wash away  my worries and I feel refreshed afterwards.
With all the "ups" of fishing, the sport has also caused many "downs" in my life.
I've lost jobs, missed meetings, spent money I diden,t have, and have had some relationship problems just to name a few. Im sure there is many anglers that can relate:)
However the natural highs, and "positive life experiances fishing has provided me has outwayed the negative tenfold.
Not to mention some of the basic life skills it has taught me....patience, confidence, and a respect for the outdoors are just a few!

     Today I take it on as a challenge, and try to take my fishing skill to the next level everyday. I have focused my career in the fishing and outdoors field. I have a wonderful partner that accepts me for my love for fishing, even though it may get on her nerves sometimes. I live in probobly the best fishing area in Canada as far as multiple species of fish, and trophy waters.  I do what I love everyday!
Some may disagree...or even call me lazy,..but I say "Love what you do" and "Do what you love"
I have no clue what Id do if there was no fishing... "Fishing is Life"

" The Original "

I'm writing this article to pay respects to the " The Original " Rapala Floating Minnow.
Never have I used a lure that was more versatile, and consistently caught fish for me on any given waterbody. Not to mention this lure can also be used to catch almost any species of fish!

You can twitch this lure slowly on the surface as a topwater, or you can add weight and run it just above bottom or bounce it off bottom as you would a crankbait. As long as the lures moving, it produces the classic "Rapala Wiggle" which mimicks an injured baitfish... Im sure all the lakes you fish have baitfish, or small fish and this is one of the reasons this lure is so deadly!..
I remember the days where you only had a few colours to choose from, but nowadays there is so many variations it can make you a little confused...
I personally, in clear water use a silver/ black original, or any natural colour depending on the baitfish in that area...If the water is murky, or it is a dark day I will use brighter colour combinations... Keep it simple, and if you can try and mimick the local fish that are in the waterbody it can pay off huge.

Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, Bass, Musky, and Walleye are just a few species I have caught on this lure..
Every tackle box should have one at least if not a few.

 I must end this by paying Tribute to Mr. Laurie Rapala for crafting a lure that has been such a big part of my success with fishing, and providing me with many memories   and more to come Im sure.... Tight Lines Always

Catch and Release

I myself  am a "Catch and Release" angler. That dosent mean I dont keep a few for shore lunch. I like to call it "selective harvest". The Ministry has limits and "slot" sizes for all species of fish to keep the fishery healthy for generations to come..

Make sure your familiar with your regions rules and regulations... The authority in your area can put a quick stop to your fishing, and hit you with some pretty hefty fines!

The bigger the fish, the worse it is for eating!  .... A 2 pound Walleye tastes much better than a ten pounder.
Which brings me to the point " Let go of the breeders"!  any female fish of good size, of any species should be let go....These are the "Breeders" and these fish insure that we have great fishing for future generations!
Take a picture, and then let go of the "Breeders"

Here is an example that catch and release does work

I caught this smallmouth on 3 different occasions in the same area. The only way I knew was the chunk taken out of its lip.

Open Water February?

Unless you have the luxury of going south in February, most of,February consists of ice fishing, negative temperatures, fingers to numb to feel the line, and dragging your ice hut out onto your favourite water body, just to drag it back a few months later.... if your anything like me, fishing through a hole in the ice, just isn't the same as fishing open water.Due to all the high quiality huts these days in can however make your experience a lot more enjoyable.

This February however has been the  opposite. .. Beavers, ducks, muskrats, and plenty of big trout, have been occupying the OPEN water in most of the Tributaries along Lake Ontario...giving the avid angler not only a head start on Steelhead season, but a way to avoid ice fishing all together.

10 pound + trout in open water is better than any day on the ice for me....
Pound for pound, it is hard to beat the fight of a fresh Steelhead, or Brown Trout in open water.. just another way to fish 12 months a year.