Originally posted by: Norhternpike48 on 11/24/2004 2:27:26 AM

Pappadiddy,
Sometimes the road of life takes us into what seems like a dark valley. The climb out takes us longer than we thought. It's a good feeling when a hand or two is there to help us out.
Like they say life, is not a straight road. I think as long as you can stop at a fishing hole along the way it gives you time to put things in perspective.
Been there.

Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 11/24/2004 6:35:58 AM

Northernpike48 I've posted several times after a fishing trip that the fishing was "so-so" at best, or "crazy good-crazy bad" except for a trip to a local fishing pond (absolutely wild). Our summer was cooler and somewhat wetter than past summers but the last 4 years have been excellent for fishing. Thus, perhaps this year was a "catch-up year" for the fish to rebound a bit? I was talking with a native guide in August about how slow the fishing had been this year and he believes it is nature's cycle where the fishing slows to allow for a replenishing period. He asked me; quote:"If you continued to catch fish like you have in the past 4 or 5 years where do you think the fish would come from?" I think that's a pretty fair question and perhaps we may be in a downward spiral for a couple of years to come?

Originally posted by: Norhternpike48 on 11/24/2004 10:03:47 AM

W.W
Well, your response makes sense. I was getting kinda tired of bombing the lake with everything in my tackle box and thinking, maybe I've just lost my touch. (the eye of the tiger...lol) Could be part of the reason but, a lot of people have found the fishing a little slow to downright frustrating this year.
If nothing else it makes things more challenging and that's what it is all about. That's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching"
Good luck on the ice Wayne, I'm going to sit the frozen season out this year. (I think <!--graemlin:;)-->)

Originally posted by: davesett2000 on 11/24/2004 10:09:34 AM

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Originally posted by johncail:
<!--graemlin::cool:--> <!--graemlin::eek:--> no kitty cats in ontario? wrong!!! the ottawa river is a major cat fishery, they are really promoting it. not as big as down south but lots to catch. it's on half there fishing shows this week.

down here in new brunswick we also have cats but they are only really kittens, big ones go a couple of pounds, brown/black bull heads. <!--graemlin:;)-->

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Originally posted by: johncail on 11/24/2004 1:20:53 PM

<!--graemlin::cool:--> <!--graemlin::rolleyes:--> i would have to agree the catch was down. i also noticed blue was much less effective than last year. the only lure with blue that i had any real amount of luck with was an ice tiger patern that i bought for striper (nope) but which worked for smallies and big shouldered white perch. ( i should have checked the lenght on the biggest white perch - i probabley filleted a local record-ohps <!--graemlin::rolleyes:-->)

but as a whole fewer fish and hits than last year, with trout being a rare keeper now. for trout that isn't much of a change, the last few years have been bad, mostly a habitat problem but also an invasion of swimmers!! lol <!--graemlin::eek:--> <!--graemlin::confused:--> <!--graemlin::rolleyes:-->
this year it became my curse, i would leave my early morning spot for a more consistant hit. mostly pools below ripples and rapids, the occasional falls. great spots for holding trout but instead they were all full of people swimming!! this made for some interesting views but no place to cast. the first time it happened it thought no big deal, i just moved past down to the next pool. more swimmers, next...and the next mile of river all swimmers!! <!--graemlin::rolleyes:--> so i climb up out of the valley, walk half a mile to a nearby lake with nice trout and even some black bull head catfish.... and.... 4 different groups swimming!!! i felt like giving them directions to a swimming pool but just started laughing, after all when i go swimming i prefer the trout pools too! <!--graemlin::cool:--> <!--graemlin::D-->

oh, and i did have a few good days for trout. early spring sea runs had no swimmers - they would have turned blue. <!--graemlin::eek:--> and then i just switched to rainy days, just driving and fishing the road side pools teaching some newbeis how to fish trout. i took them to one spot that always produces, warning them first the size may vary a lot but there would be at least a few fish caught. they were a little leary, already soaked from the earlier spots and wondering why we didn't drive this far out to begin with. i told them the local kids know all about the spot and would have fished it out early in the day but the pool would now have calmed down and be holding trout. this was about 2 hours before dark. the pool was full... and this time with trout!! <!--graemlin::D--> they were all sizes. we landed some from 5 to 9" first and then a couple of 10". normaly you catch the big guys first but the smaller ones didn't give them much of a chance. this stired things up so the bite cooled off.
i took a little time then to show them how to work the pool. the first novice that tried working the bait down the ripple and slowy rolling the lenght of the pool was rewarded with a nice fat 13" brookie that expolded out of the water when it hit - at a range of only 3' from shore. the newbies were hooked on trout fishin'and spent the next 2 weekends driving around trying to find that spot again, and then catching a few more nice fish. <!--graemlin::D-->

<!--graemlin::)-->fish? they are still out there, i think it was just an off year. <!--graemlin::rolleyes:--> <!--graemlin::D--> <!--graemlin::cool:-->

Originally posted by: Norhternpike48 on 11/25/2004 7:13:53 PM

John C,
Funny you should mention colour, I can't remember what post It was on this site, But they talked about the last defense go-to lure.
Anyway, as I've said the fishing being slow this year my blues, black, purple, even chartreuse and oranges just were not do'in it. I remember the post and how he had said his father always went with a Storm Wild Eye Shad in Pearl. To make a long story short, I bought some went back to the same location and bang I was pull'in them in. smallies all afternoon. Now it was sunny and hot, the water was 12 -14 feet and crystal clear. I ain't no biologist but what should not have worked did. Are the fish looking for something different after the major influx of plastic worms etc.?
Well I guess your never too old to learn. I would just like to thank the individual who posted that piece and tell him to listen to his dad more often

Originally posted by: Beamer on 12/3/2004 2:37:48 PM

Hi, another Life member from Thunder Bay. Love the brookie and steelhead fishing not to mention the walleye,northern and muskie fishing the area has to offer.Good to see other Canadians using this bulletin board.So long from T/Bay

Originally posted by: LIPRIPPER on 12/3/2004 4:05:55 PM

Hi ya Beamer and welcome to the BB glad to see another member from North Of The Boarder. Ya might want to hook up with Walley Wayne our other member from Thunder Bay. Make yourself at home and if ya have any Questions or tips just jump right in and would you click here Hi I'm Beamer and tell us a little more about yourself and don't forget the funny page section Bloopers and read all the funny stuff on your fellow members.
So welcome again and hope to see ya around here more.

Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 12/3/2004 7:00:10 PM

Welcome aboard Beamer. Where in T. Bay are ya? I live in Fort William.

Originally posted by: John C. Taylor on 12/4/2004 3:24:39 AM

I was really glad to see Pres. Bush publically thank the Canadian people for their kindness and caring toward U.S. citizens in the aftermath the 9-11 terror attack. We are all greatful for the friendship of our northern neighbors.

Originally posted by: Beamer on 12/5/2004 8:47:46 AM

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Originally posted by WalleyeWayne:
Welcome aboard _Beamer_. Where in T. Bay are ya? I live in Fort William.

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Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 12/6/2004 5:01:21 AM

Beamer I'm very familiar with Fort Frances; we have a cottage on Bears Pass, Rainy Lake and have spent a lot of time hunting & fishing (let alone hockey/baseball tournaments) in the Dryden area. Lake Nipigon is a great place for specs & steelies but both can be caught in any of the rivers flowing into Lake Superior. FYI...Whitefish Lake & Lac des Mill Lacs are both open for ice fishing. If you need any info. on our surrounding area just ask.

Originally posted by: LIPRIPPER on 12/6/2004 2:44:37 PM

Hey Wayne it's been a few years since I've been up there but use to go fishing at Eagle Lake by Dryden till they cut down the # of fish we could bring home and raised the price <!--graemlin::(--> eye sure do miss not going up there though <!--graemlin::(-->

Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 12/7/2004 4:45:40 AM

You know Lipper it really is a tough call. The walleye possession limit for our American friends is way too tight (1 in possession). Slot size & creel limits I agree with (for everyone) but why squeeze someone because they are not Canadian? There were, and continue to be, a few that come accross the border and are caught poaching but that doesn't mean we have to paint everybody with the same brush. We have game wardens that are paid to look into this stuff so just let them do their job. The resort owners have lost millions because of the restrictions. My camp is right on the Canadian/USA border and I am surrounded by resorts who cater specifically to our border friends. Hence, there is a 4-1 ratio of Americans vs. Canadians fishing where I fish and almost all are very friendly and respectful. I have run into the occasional "rogue" fisherperson who has followed me around the lake and all but anchored onto my boat (it happens once or twice a year). I know they're American because of the boat numbers but again that has been the exception, not the norm. For any of you guys or gals from this BB that get a chance to come fish Rainy Lake let me know in advance and I'll show ya'll some real Candadian hospitality <!--graemlin:;)-->.

Originally posted by: LIPRIPPER on 12/8/2004 4:23:49 PM

Wayne I agree with you 100% on this matter and we will have to talk about this if you make it to the La Crosse meet in Now let me see when was that meet going to be <!--graemlin::confused:--> ever since eye un-pluged my zip hard drive for the holidays like eye promised ol joda it's hard to remember these things <!--graemlin:;)--> <!--graemlin::D-->

Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 12/9/2004 5:18:00 AM

You keep rackin' your brains like that Lipripper and you'll have to plug the zip drive back in <!--graemlin::eek:-->. You can only tax the ole' cranium for so long before it gets overloaded and decides to shut down <!--graemlin::D-->. How come you unplugged 'er anyways <!--graemlin::confused:-->.

Originally posted by: LIPRIPPER on 12/15/2004 2:14:45 PM

Wayne eye'm not sure <!--graemlin::confused:--> but eye think that eye promisses ol joda not too <!--graemlin::p--> any members till after the Holidays <!--graemlin::rolleyes:--> sort of a Christmas present to him so to speak and ifn eye didn't unplug it that would be next to impossable <!--graemlin::D--> even with it unpluged eye'm sure you have seen some <!--graemlin::p-->'s slip out ever now and then <!--graemlin:;)-->

Originally posted by: WalleyeWayne on 12/16/2004 7:00:20 AM

You bet Lipripper and that's what keeps things light and fun around here <!--graemlin:;)-->.

Originally posted by: davesett2000 on 12/16/2004 7:05:33 AM

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Originally posted by WalleyeWayne:
You bet _Lipripper_ and that's what keeps things light and fun around here <!--graemlin:;)-->.

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Originally posted by: Norhternpike48 on 1/10/2005 3:04:22 PM

Walleye Wayne,
Need some info on Whitefish lake. Might move up your way in a couple of months and was wondering what the lake was like.