Rob's Fishing Tips!

Fishing Walleye With Jigs

2008-05-06T15:54:00.002-05:00

No lure will catch walleye as regularly as jigs. The jig is a natural choice for walleyes because it's easy to keep on bottom where the fish are most of the time.

Jigs are one of the most versitile artificial lures, jigs can be fished in so many differemt ways. You can cast from an anchored or drifting boat, jig vertically while drifting with the wind or current, or troll slowly while bumping the jigs off the bottom. You can fish a jig plain when walleyes are biting, or tip with live bait when fishing is slow.

Casting is the most widly used jig fishing techneque, casting works best in shallower water. Also when the walleyes are in the shallows, drifting or trolling over them, or even anchoring close by, will often spook them, If you anchor at a distance and cast in to them you should have good results.

To fish a shallow reef, anchor in deep water so the wind pushes you into position for casting to the desired area of the reef. If nothing bites within a few minutes, pull up the anchor and reposition the boat in different spot. Just continue moving untill you find the fish.

To fish for walleyes suspended off the bottom, count your jig down to a different depth after each cast, then begin your retrieve. When you get a strike, repeat that count on more casts.

Catch That Muskie: Get That Picture

2008-05-03T08:34:00.003-05:00

North American muskie anglers have gotten into the habit of catching that big lunge then snapping a good shot of the prize then releasing for future andglers to enjoy and hoprfully do the same. A great way to ensure the future and a healthy population of the species.

In july and august with temperatures in the 80s and 90s it is prime time for catching muskies. You need lots of patience and endurance to take fish consistently, but remember muskie fishing is the best.

My favorite area for these lunker muskies in summer is the North Channel of Lake Huron, fishing from Manitoulin Island. This area among many small islands provides great action July, August and right into the fall. There are huge trophy muskies in these waters.

A lot of anglers are hesitant to fish the bigger water of the North Channel, but with a good boat it is a super area to fish for these great sports fish. Lake Huron in this area has a huge population of muskies and should not be overlooked. From Little Current to Meldrum Bay there are numerous places to launch your boat, and explore the numerous islands of the North Channel.

Just get out there and enjoy fishing, you will see lots of other wildlife on a fishing trip on this great waterway in Northern Ontario.

Be Prepared!

2007-12-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

When you are preparing for your fishing trip whether it is by boat or on a river or stream you should plan ahead, your outing can be spoiled by just not beeing prepared.

All year long the sun will be and issue so just having sunscreen, lip balm, good sunglasses are a few handy items to have with you.

In the spring summer and fall remeber where you are, insect repellant is also a good thing to carry. Footwear is important to consider good hiking style boots for the tough stuff and good quality athletic shoes for your boating. Rainwear is a no brainer, light and loose fitting enough to allow free movement. In the colder weather wool fingerless mits come in handy and you will still have the feel you want.

Now your tackle well I believe that you can not be over stocked, I always carry lots of tackle and then you are prepared for everything that comes along!

So just get out there and enjoy nature catch a few fish and relax!

Rob

Hunting Walleye!

2007-06-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

When weather and other conditions change walleye do not stay put. With the technology we have today it is easier to go hunting walleyes and find these wandering schools. Weather changes and water temperature effect the movement of walleye the most. So don't expect them to be where they were just the previous day, be prepared to hunt these walleye.

Post spawn walleyes can be difficult to hunt down. After spawning walleyes usually drop back into deeper holes adjacent to their spawning grounds to recuperate and gain strength. Then move into shallower bays to hunt and feed. After they regain their strength they move on to weedlines with new growth to feed.

Now lets get out there and start hunting these walleyes and enjoy!

Lunker Muskie Through The Ice!

2007-02-01T18:13:00.000-05:00

Watch as these guys catch this monster muskie through the ice. It was a huge chore to get this Lunker throught that small hole!

Muskie Fishing Tips!

Ice Fishing

2007-01-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

The sport of ice fishing has undergone many changes over the years. As a result it has become one of the more popular winter activities. It rivals skiing and snowmobiling as the top winter activity.

Long before it became such a popular winter recreation it was pursued just for survival in the north. Even back then ice fishing was a way to suppliment other sources of food.

LURES

If you go back in time many hunters and trappers had little choice but to use their ingenuity to come up with ways to catch fish. They fished with materials they had on hand boot laces, string, wire, can lids, and old kitchen knives and forks bent into srange shapes, or other gadgets on hand if food was needed now. Their techniques have long been forgotten and have not really been described in much detail for us to read about.

No doubt in the early years of ice fishing most of the rudimentary tips came from Inuit and native peoples who where the real experts in ice fishing for their livelihood. Native americans used what they had at hand, making lures from animals and bones. Because of remoteness and no tackle shops to visit their lures were made in this way out of necessity.

Today we have a huge selection of gear for ice fishing, just visit your favorite sporting goods store and your in business. Rods, reels, lines and the variety of lures is huge. Lures are now made for every type of fish and they are made in all sizes, colors that you will ever need.

CLOTHING

In days of old dressing for ice fishing was a problem from the long johns to heavy wool pants and shirt for the next layer. Then for the feet you had heavy wool socks then heavy felt lined boots. Then the heavy parka to top it off, then woolen gloves and heavy mittens, very uncomfortable for movement and flexabillity.

Modern clothing allows ice fishermen to fish much more comfortably remain warmer and safer.

TRAVEL

Travelling on the ice one hundred years ago meant getting out the snow shoes and putting all your fishing gear and food in a backpack and lumbering off to the nearest remote lake or river.

Todays ice fishermen have little concern for these old problems, he has some problems but is much better eqipped to handle most problems.

The invention of the snowmobile has changed the lifestyle of everyone living in snow country, including eskimo and natve peoples. The dog teams of old are slowly disapearing. Snow machines involve much less work and worry for all.

The snowmobile has become a way of life for all outdoors people everywhere. It has also had a great effect on ice fishing. Just by hooking up a small sled to the snowmachine you can handle all the gear needed for a successful ice fishing trip. Fishing on the ice is no longer a great problem from travel to keeping warm and even to catching those fish technology has made things much easier and of course it is great fun.

Ice fishing huts today come in all shapes and sizes just look and you will find styles and sizes from basic shelters to huts with all the comfort af a camper. But just get out there and enjoy, be safe, warm and catch some fish.

ICE FISING

Bass Fishing Tips - Spinnerbaits

2006-11-28T14:25:00.000-05:00

Bass Fishing Tips - Spinnerbaits

Spinnerbaits offer the the angler a virtually snagproof and weedless way to fish for bass. The great action of the bait is tantalising to most active bass, especially on weed flats.

Spinner blade variations and different sizes dictate the depth you fish at and the rate of retrieve. Large Colorado blades pull a lot of water, allowing a slow and shallow retrieve. Just by raising tyhe rod tip you can cause this blade to break the surface, causing fish attracting commotion and create strikes.

Stop and go retrieves are favored with these baits. When you allow them to free-fall, single blade Colorado's will give a helicopter effect.......great for dropping into weed holes.

The use of spinnerbaits is a great wat to fish active feeding bass because yuou can bump into sunken loge and other structure with very little fear of snagging. Even in weeds just a quick ripping action will generally free the bait and also remove the weeds.

Just get out there and enjoy nature and catch some bass!

Bass Fishing Tips (Crankbaits)

2006-11-17T13:15:00.000-05:00

Crankbaits give the angler the opportunity to fish a very wide area at many different depths to find, catch large and smallmouth bass. The average depth you will achieve with crankbaits is between 6 and 9 feet. But you can reach 20 feet with the larger lipped baits.

An effective way to fish crankbaits is with a stop and go retrieve. Just crank the bait with a fast retrieve and then stop letting it float up. Try to continue this at various depths untill you get that first hit then continue fishing that depth with a steadier retrieve.

Crankbaits are not considered weedless but at times it is necessary to generate that wanted strike. If you run into weeds just use a quick jerk to rip it free this usually clears the weeds. A lot of those strikes will occur right after you rip to clear the crankbait.

Color choices vary with your own preferences, bright colors like yellows, whites, silver are great early in the season. For mirky water try chartreuse, reds and oranges.

The larger lipped crankbaits are great for fishing sunken structure like logs, large rocks and around docks. You can bump into these and generally still be snag-free. Small lipped baits closely resemble bait fish and are great for shallow fishing, trolling over weed beds or rocky bottoms.

Just Go Fishing!

Bass Fishing Tips -Spinnerbaits

2006-11-17T05:11:00.000-05:00

Using spinnerbaits allows anglers an easy to use lure that is snagproof and weedless. The great action you get from spinnerbaits makes them very effective for active feeding bass especially around weedbeds.

The spinner blades various sizes dictate the depth at which you fish and also effect the speed of your retrieve. The larger blades will move a lot of water and you will get a slower shallow retrieve. Also just by raising your rod tip you will break the surface causing strikes from very active feeding bass attracted by such a commotion.

Most anglers like to use a stop and go retrieve with the spinnerbaits. Single blade spinnerbaits when you allow the to free fall will cause a helicopter like action which is reat for dropping into holes and breaks in the weed cover. Because they are virtually weedless spinnerbaits can be dragged and vrtually force through most cover. Many strikes can be attrcted just by this and bumping into this stucture.

The double or the tandum blades give and even more flash and action to the lure. Choose and experiment with the colors of the baits.

Just Go Fishing!