Biking for bass
LOCAL TRAILS LEAD THE WAY TO FISHING NOOKS AROUNG THE CITY By Tim Allard | Photos Tim Allard
The work day had been bad enough that I wanted to unwind outside and be near water. With too little time to take my boat, I opted for the next best thing – I grabbed a few lures, strapped my rod to my bike, and peddled to some shoreline fishing spots along the western Ottawa River bike path. I stopped at a small bay, locked the bike and walked a well-worn path to the water’s edge. In a few casts, I hooked a smallmouth bass that put up a scrappy fight before being released. It was that simple. After two more fish, I biked to a sandy flat for some topwater action at dusk. I got a few more bass that smashed my floating lure as the sun hung low in the sky. By now it was time to head home. Setting off at a steady pace, I breathed the cool evening air and watched the warm light bathe the cityscape. The pleasure was en-
hanced knowing I had spent an evening fishing within an hour’s bike ride from my city home.
THE SIMPLE APPROACH I love my boat, but at the end of a long day it’s sometimes not worth the hassle of towing it in traffic, putting in at a busy launch, and unloading gear. Cycling a pathway and fishing from shore is a simple alternative with many benefits. A bike lets you cover greater distances than walking. With wheels you can quickly fish
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