Winter 2012 by Real Fishing

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VOLUME 18 • ISSUE 1 Just $3.95

Winter 2012

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Contents Features 30 TIP-UP TIPS FOR PIKE A step-by-step look at locations, rigs and presentations for trophy pike through the ice. By Tom Gruenwald

40 LAKE SIMCOE LAKE TROUT High-tech has its place in ice fishing but, on Lake Simcoe, simplicity is often the key to success. By Geoff Coleman

52 EARLY ICE CRAPPIES Where, when and how to cash in on the early season crappie bite. By Lindy Fishing Tackle

56 WINTER TACKLE MAINTENANCE Caring for your gear in the off season can pay huge dividends once the open water season arrives. By Jonathan LePera

48 MORE THAN A MOUSE: Kissimmee, Florida, Sparkles with Natural Gems Kissimmee offers fabulous fishing, family fun and warm weather - the perfect escape from a Canadian winter. By David A. Brown

Winter 2012 Volume 18, Issue 1 Editor Jerry Hughes Art Production Rossi Piedimonte Design Publisher Fred Delsey National Advertising Izumi Outdoors Tel: (905) 632-8679 President Wayne Izumi Contributors David A. Brown, Geoff Coleman, Patrick Daradick, Tom Gruenwald, Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Jonathan LePera, Steve May, Jason Mohring, Derek Strub, Dave Taylor, Charles Weiss Real Fishing is published by Izumi Outdoors Inc. 940 Sheldon Court Burlington, ON L7L 5K6 Tel: (905) 632-8679 Fax: (905) 632-2833 subPrivacy Policy: Occasionally, we make our scriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our subscribers. If you prefer to have your name removed from this list and not receive these mailings, please write to us at the above address.

We welcome manuscripts, but will not be held responsible for loss of manuscripts, photos or other materials. Published four times each year: January (Winter) April (Spring) July (Summer) October (Fall) One year subscription is $9.95. For USA add $10 all others add $30. Subscriptions: Real Fishing 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington ON L7L 5K6

Columns 6 OPENING LINES

20 THE WATER’S EDGE

By Jerry Hughes

By Dave Taylor

10 SPORTSMEN’S ALMANAC

22 THE VINTAGE TACKLE BOX

News, trivia, event listings and more from the world of fishing

By Patrick Daradick

24 REAL FISHING FISH FACTS 14 WHAT’S NEW

Freshwater Drum

The latest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories

16 FISHING Winter Work By Bob Izumi

18 FLY FISHING By Steve May

Subscription inquiries Please call: 1-877-474-4141 or visit www.realfishing.com

26 BEST FISHING TIMES Doug Hannon’s moon phase calendar

Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40015689 Customer Account No. 2723816 GST Registration No. R102546504

28 THE HOT BITE

Postmaster: Please return front cover/label only of undeliverables to: Real Fishing 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington ON L7L 5K6

60 TALES FROM THE ROAD The trials and tribulations of life as a professional angler By Bob Izumi

65 WHAT’S COOKING On the cover: Giant Tip-Up Pike Photo by Izumi Outdoors

66 ART OF ANGLING

opening lines By Jerry Hughes

Ice Fishing and Beyond Some of you reading this column are probably happy that the hard water fishing season is upon us and some of you are probably dreading the next few months of ice, snow and cold. That’s okay, because fishing is like that. Everyone has their own favourite season, preferred species, fishing technique and so on. There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy fishing and that’s one of the great things about it. We understand that one angler’s dream fishing adventure could be another angler’s nightmare, that’s why we try to fill every issue of Real Fishing with a variety of topics from the world of fishing. Of course we keep the seasons in mind and tailor the magazine accordingly, but there’s always room for something outside of the traditional, especially if it helps you to become a better, more proficient angler. This issue opens with a look at hard-water pike fishing with tip-ups. Despite what you might think, there’s more to it than just cutting a hole, dropping a bait and waiting. The tip-up is part of a strategic approach to pike fishing, much like a rod is a part of your summer arsenal. Knowing which style of tip-up to use, how to use it efficiently and, most importantly, where and when to use it, is all part of the recipe for success. HT Enterprises’ Tom Gruenwald explains everything you need to know about this stealthy system in his aptly titled article, Tip-up Tips for Pike, on page 30. Keeping with the ice fishing theme, outdoor writer and ice fishing aficionado, Geoff Coleman, dishes up a long-held, secret tactic that will put the odds in your favour the next time you’re chasing lake trout on Lake Simcoe. No, it’s not a secret new bait and there’s no fancy rigging or technique involved. In fact, you’ve probably heard about it or even tried it at some point but have since passed it over in favour of a more highbrow approach. If lake trout are your preferred winter species, you’ll want 6 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

to read Lake Simcoe Lake Trout, on page 40, where Geoff reveals what could be the most reliable method to consistently score on the big lake’s trout population. Our final ice fishing feature focuses on early-ice crappie fishing. Despite their size, crappies are aggressive predators, a fact missed by many anglers. While it’s true that diminutive offerings presented on gossamer-thin lines have been the standard approach, it’s not the only way to go. Ice fishing fanatic, Bob Bohland, prefers to tap into a crappie’s natural aggression by “running and gunning” for active fish. In Early Ice Crappies, on page 52, you’ll learn all about Bohland’s tactics and how to put them into practice wherever you decide to fish this winter. Like I said at the beginning of this column, not everyone is in love with ice fishing. If you’re one of those folks, maybe a trip to a warmer climate would help cure the winter blues. Only a couple of days drive away, the Kissimmee region of Florida is a Mecca for snow-bound Canadian anglers. Largemouth bass fishing rules on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and some of the best angling happens between January and March when the fish are spawning. Adding to Kissimmee’s appeal, especially if your trip will include non-angling family members, are its many museums, parks and historic sites, and, it’s only about an hour’s drive from Orlando and Walt Disney World. David A. Brown explores both the fishing and the family vacation possibilities in his article on the Kissimmee Region beginning on page 48. Whether your winter plans include ice fishing, heading south or just curling up on the couch and watching fishing shows for the next few months, there’s something you

should take care before the spring rolls around and that’s cleaning and servicing your tackle. While it’s true that today’s technology and production standards are light years ahead of what they once were, your rods, reels and lures can still wear out if they’re not taken care of. Rod guides can get bent and inserts can become dislodged; reels can collect dirt and gears and bearings can dry out; hooks can get dull and lures misplaced. A little winter maintenance can prevent most common problems and there’s no question that it will make all of your equipment work better and last longer. As a tournament angler, Jonathan LePera knows how important it is to keep his tackle in top shape and he shares some of his tips and insights in his Winter Tackle Maintenance article on page 56. Along with our feature stories, this issue of Real Fishing contains a wealth of other information; from winter fly fishing tips to tackle collecting to cooking your catch to new product releases and much more. We hope you enjoy the magazine and that it helps you get more out of your fishing this winter, whether you ice fish or not. ?

The first catch of the day.

ÂŠ Tim Hortons, 2009

Even in the depths of a Canadian winter, when most anglers are holed up in an ice hut or busy tinkering with tackle in the basement, there’s always somewhere to wet a line. No one knows this better than steelhead anglers, a hardy group who won’t let a little ice or snow get in the way of their fishing. We’re not sure if it’s the unpressured fish, the lack of other anglers, or the spectacular scenery that makes this sport so appealing, but there’s definitely a reason that otherwise sane people brave the elements just for the chance to hook up with a fresh-run winter steelhead.

8 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Winter 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Fishing 9

AL LINDNER INDUCTED INTO THE INTERNATIONAL GAME FISH ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME On October 25th, 2011, Al Lindner joined the ranks of fishing’s elite by being inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. During a 50-year career spanning the most revolutionary years in sport fishing history, Al Lindner ranks among the most renowned leaders in the angling world. Besides finding new and better ways to catch fish, he has worked as a fishing guide, tackle designer and manufacturer, tournament fishing champion, book author, lecturer, radio host, magazine publisher, video producer, television host and a pioneer of professional walleye tournament fishing. As the host of Lindner’s Angling Edge and Fishing Edge television series, Al is logging in his 42nd consecutive year in outdoor television programming. Along the lengthy road Al has traveled in the world of

sport fishing, he and his companies have garnered more than 58 excellence-in-craft awards for work in various fields. Along with Al’s induction into the IGFA Hall of Fame, he has been inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, first as a Legendary Angler and later enshrined into the Hall as an educator. He is a member of the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Normark Hall of Fame for the indelible mark his involvement has made on the history of sport fishing. Al has also been inducted into the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and, most recently, was given the Samuel C. Johnson Fishing Journalist of the Year award for his contributions to the fishing industry in the fields of journalism, conservation and philanthropic leadership.

BASS PRO SHOPS AND XS GAMES ANNOUNCE $100,000 HUNTING AND FISHING VIDEO GAME SWEEPSTAKES 10 Lucky Contestants Will Go Head-toHead for Chance to Win A 2012 Toyota Tundra 4x4 and Other Great Prizes! Bass Pro Shops® and its publishing partner, XS Games, have announced details of their $100,000 The Strike and The Hunt Champions virtual hunting and fishing tournaments. The two distinct tournament opportunities – one for hunters and one for fishermen – are based on two new video games for the Nintendo Wii: Bass Pro Shops® The Hunt: Trophy Showdown and Bass Pro Shops® The Strike: Tournament Edition.

“The Hunt and The Strike video games can be played by anyone who loves fishing or hunting. We are pleased to partner with Bass Pro Shops to deliver the first-ever virtual fishing and hunting tournaments,” said Chip Pedersen, President of Outdoor Partners. Registration for the sweepstakes begins on December 5, 2011 and participants can enter by finishing either game to unlock a sweepstakes code, or by registering directly at www.xsgames.biz. Five winners from each contest will be randomly selected and flown

10 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

to the original Bass Pro Shops store in Springfield, MO on September 2, 2012 where they will play head-to-head for some incredible prizes. FIRST PRIZE: 2012 Toyota Tundra 4x4 regular cab pick-up S E CO N D P R I Z E :

2012 Tracker 175 TXW boat with trailer and motor THIRD PRIZE:

2012 Arctic Cat 550i GT FOURTH PRIZE:

MARAUDING MUSKIE Tournament angler, Derek Strub, was enjoying a day of fall smallmouth fishing – or rather, trying to enjoy a day of fall smallmouth fishing – when he came across some muskies with the same idea. The ‘lunge must have thought that hooked smallmouth made better hor’s de ouvres than free-swimminng ones because Derek had two of them attack bass he was fighting. “To give you an idea of how big the muskie in the photo is, the bass measured 17-inches once we landed it," said Derek. “Twice we could have netted this fish if we chose to, it would not let go of the bass! During this trip

to St. Clair we had two muskies over 45-inches grab onto three-pound bass. We also saw a much larger fish that was swimming around on a sandbar in four-feet of water with what had to be a four-pound plus largemouth bass in its mouth.“

$5,000 Bass Pro Shops gift certificate FIFTH PRIZE:

$2,500 Bass Pro Shops gift certificate

It’s not uncommon for muskies and large pike to try and make a meal out of a hooked bass or walleye, especially in the fall. What is uncommon is having a camera ready and being able to get a photo of the action as it unfolds.

Gamers and armchair anglers can get all the sweepstakes details at www.xsgames.biz

E V E N T S Calendar TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW January 14 - 22, 2012 Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place Toronto, ON www.torontoboatshow.com CALGARY BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW February 9 - 12, 2012 BMO Centre, Stampede Park Calgary, AB www.calgaryboatandsportshow.ca SPRING FISHING AND BOAT SHOW February 17 - 20, 2012 International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga ON www.springfishingandboatshow.com BRIDGENORTH WINTER PANFISH FESTIVAL February 18, 2012 Chemong Lake at B.E.L. Rotary Park Ennismore, ON www.clearvieworganizing.com

OTTAWA BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW February 23 - 26, 2012 CE Centre 4899 Uplands Drive Ottawa, ON www.ottawaboatandsportshow.ca MONTREAL HUNTING, FISHING & CAMPING SHOW February 23 - 26, 2012 Place Bonaventure Montreal, QC www.salonexpertchassemontreal.ca CANADIAN ICE FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP February 25 - 26, 2012 Lake Simcoe Georgina, ON www.luresandtours.com WAWA ICE FISHING DERBY March 2, 3 and 4, 2012 Wawa, ON www.wawaicefishingderby.com

TORONTO SPORTSMEN’S SHOW March 14 - 18, 2012 Metro Toronto Convention Centre 222 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON www.torontosportshow.ca EDMONTON BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW March 15 – 18, 2012 Edmonton Expo Centre Edmonton, AB www.edmontonboatandsportshow.ca QUEBEC HUNTING, FISHING & CAMPING SHOW/QUEBEC BOAT SHOW March 22 – 25, 2012 Centre De Foires D’expocité Québec City, QC www.salonexpertchassequebec.ca NIAGARA OUTDOOR SHOW March 24 & 25, 2012 Optimist Club, Morrison St. Niagara Falls, ON www.niagaraoutdoorshow.com

ONTARIO FAMILY FISHING WEEKEND February 18 - 20, 2012 License-free fishing in Ontario www.familyfishingweekend.com

Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 11

READER’S PHOTOS

Send us a photo of your best catch and you could see your picture in a future issue of Real Fishing Magazine! Send photos to: Real Fishing, 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington, ON L7L 5K6

Liam Farquharson Bolton, ON Walleye

Charles Weiss Toronto, ON Pike

Shawn Good Rutland, VT Muskellunge

Bev Louie Oliver, BC Smallmouth Bass

12 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Jamie Antoine Cornwall, ON Largemouth Bass

Catch BOB on the Tube! BOB IZUMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REAL FISHING SHOW SCHEDULE Bob and Bob in Oklahoma B.C. Feast Watsit Jigging at Old Post New Jersey Stripers Big Bass in Oklahoma Bring the Fuzz Catching and Cooking Peacock Bass in the Amazon 3 Bobs in a Boat Late Season Smallmouth Georgian Bay Pike/ TBA TBA Costa Rica Run

January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28 February 4 February 11 February 18 February 25 March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31

STATION LISTING & AIRING TIMES* MARKET

PROV./STATE

STATION

DATE & AIR TIMES

Atlantic Canada

Global (CIHF)

Saturday 10:00 am

Calgary

Global (CICT)

Saturday 10:30 am; Sunday 6:00 am

Edmonton

Global (CITV)

Saturday 10:30 pm; Sunday 6:00 am

Manitoba

Global (CKND)

Saturday 9:30 am

Ontario

Global (CIII)

Saturday 9:30 am

Quebec

Global (CKMI)

Saturday 10:00 am

Regina

Global (CFRE)

Saturday 9:30 am

Saskatoon

Global (CFSK)

Saturday 9:30 am

Vancouver

Global (CHAN)

Saturday 10:30 am

Canada/USA

WFN

Check www.wfn.tv for dates and times

*Station listings, airtimes and show descriptions are subject to change. Please refer to your local television listings for the latest show schedules.

What’s

NEW

2012

ELITE SONAR SYSTEM The new Lowrance Elite-5 IceMachine features a precision internal 16-channel GPS antenna, built-in basemap and microSD card slot. It has a five-inch color display with 480 x 480 pixel resolution that offers no-fade viewing in temperatures down to -20°F. A custom ice fishing transducer and unique new float system make this the ideal unit for hard water fishing. The Elite-5 comes with the PPP-18I Ice Pack, a completely portable system including a weatherproof, soft-side pack with zippered front and rear access, zippered accessory pockets, mesh stow pouches, two tackle trays, a 12v sealed battery and charger, and an adjustable display platform for easy viewing.

www.lowrance.com

SOLO ICE HOUSE The Insta-Shak 1-Man portable ice house is HT Enterprises’ new, revolutionary pop-up style shelter. It features a sturdy fiberglass frame, two easy access doors, four removable draped windows, top ventilation and tackle storage pockets. It includes a carry bag with suitcase-style handles and shoulder straps for ‘hands-free’ transport. Ice anchors and anchor ropes are also included. The 1Man Insta-Shak measures 5 ½’ L x 5 ¼’ W x 5’ H when set up and weighs only 17-pounds!

www.icefish.com

NEW FROM BRECKS MEPPS AGLIA: For 2012, the venerable Mepps Aglia will be offered with a gold/orange blade featuring a black chevron accent. This color pattern is a favorite that has proven its effectiveness, but which was not previously available in the Aglia series. The new Aglia will be available in plain treble hook, dressed treble hook or single siwash hook versions, in sizes #1 through #5. WILLIAMS NIPIGON: The Nipigon is a slender bodied, 2-1/2", 1/3-ounce spoon that imitates a baitfish in distress. This multispecies lure can be worked at a wide range of speeds making it ideal for both trolling and casting. The Nipigon is offered in eight colours, all featuring a red treble hook and a red, 3D eye with a UV reactive chartreuse halo. WILLIAMS YUKON: The new Williams Yukon spoon was designed for trout, salmon, walleye and pike. This wide-bodied, ½-ounce casting spoon is offered in six colours and is finished in Williams' trademarked genuine silver and 24-carat gold. All of the Yukon spoons feature a red treble hook and a 3D eye with a UV reactive chartreuse halo.

14 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

We welcome submissions from manufacturers and distibutors for our New Products section. Products that appear in this section have not necessarily been tested or endorsed by the staff at Real Fishing. Submissions can be sent to: Editor, Real Fishing Magazine, 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington, ON L7L 5K6

RANGER REFINES THE Z500 SERIES Ranger’s Z520 and Z522 enter the 2012 model year with a long list of refinements. Most notably, both boats will feature a raised front casting deck, delivering the optimum height for flipping and pitching in bass-filled shallow waters. A recessed foot pedal is standard. Without changing the hull design, the increased height of the casting deck allows more space in the boats’ storage and rod lockers. All 2012 Ranger Z500 Comanche Series models will also sport Ranger’s innovative console, which delivers more protection from the elements, increased leg room and more space for back-mounting today’s popular large-screen electronics.

www.rangerboats.com

WINTER WARMTH Columbia Sportswear’s new Midweight Tight and Midweight Long Sleeve Top baselayers offer the ultimate in winter warmth and comfort. The exclusive Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective silver dot lining reflects some of your body’s heat to help retain warmth while releasing the excess. Moisture is moved away from the skin for quick evaporation, keeping you comfortable and dry during intense activity. The new baselayers are available in camouflage and non-camouflage styles. Columbia’s Mossy Oak style, Magnum Full Zip Hoody features a cozy fleece lining that is made cozier with Omni-Heat® thermal reflectivity, which uses space-blanket technology to capture and retain body heat without compromising breathability or adding bulk. This soft, stretchable and super-warm layering piece sports clean lines and sleek raglan sleeves for the kind of smooth silhouette that excels for any outdoor activity.

www.columbiasportswear.ca

BUGGING PANFISH The new Lindy Bug is a versatile ice jig that presents a natural bug imitation with lifelike, 3-D eyes and a tantalizing, rocking/jigging motion that perch, bluegill, panfish, walleye and other gamefish can’t resist. Designed with ice fishing in mind, the jig’s head features a flat surface on top for optimum feedback to flasher or sonar units. The Lindy Bug is available in #14 and #12 hook sizes, and comes two per pack.

www.lindyfishingtackle.com

Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 15

fishing

Bob Izumi is the host of The Real Fishing Show.

By Bob Izumi

Winter Work Whether you’re fishing hard water, soft water or not fishing at all at this time of year, the winter is a good time to get those little things done that you may not have time to do once spring rolls around. From organizing your tackle to shopping for a new boat, there’s always something you can do to make sure you’re ready to go when the new season opens. One of my most important winter jobs is backing up my GPS waypoints. I fish a number of different lakes every year and my tournaments alone take me to about 15 to 18 different lakes. I literally have thousands of waypoints on my GPS units. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard guys say, “I didn’t have my waypoints backed up, my GPS crashed and I lost all of the spots it had taken me years to find.” What I recommend is to back up your GPS waypoints on a hard drive, a memory card, in your computer or on whatever storage device you like, but back them up somewhere. I can’t stress enough how important this is, especially if you fish offshore structures that can be as small as the front deck of your boat. It can be next to impossible to find those honey holes when you’re out in the middle of a big lake with no landmarks to guide you. The winter is also a good time to get your boat fixed. Many shops have a lot of time on their hands and they have lots of time to work on your boat. For instance, if you’ve

16 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

got a fiberglass boat that has some scratches or gouges in it, the winter months are the perfect time to get them touched up. I’m sure you’ll find that they are more than accommodating during this time of year. It seems like everyone either waits until the end of the season or until the first of the season to get a lot of their boat work done. Why not get it done during the winter? I plan about 90% of my fishing trips for the next year during the winter. Because of my tournament addiction and TV shooting schedule I have to book a lot of rooms in advance, in various areas across Canada and the USA. That alone requires several hours of work just figuring out when I’m going to arrive and when I’m going to depart. While I’m at it I research the lakes, the lodges, the ramps, the cities - all of the places that I’m going to go to. Whether I’m taping a TV show or fishing a tournament, I want to get the lay of the land before I get there. I’ll research all of these locations because there’s nothing worse than driving 10, 20, 25-hours to a location with my boat in tow, getting there late at night and not having any time to get familiar with that particular area. I highly recommend that you plan your fishing trips in advance so there are no surprises when you get there. I also use the winter months to order a lot of the specialty tackle I’ll need throughout the year. Being a tackle junky, I’m always ready and willing to try the new latest and greatest thing that’s on the market. For me part of the fun is always looking for a better mousetrap. Winter is a good time to visit the tackle stores and search the internet for what’s new, innovative and exciting. Part of the fun for me is shopping for new tackle – it never gets old. I’ve become very accustomed to having my iPad with me when I’m on the road. Having

The winter is a great time to attend to all those little things you may not have time to do in the spring.

WiFi availability to check on weather, directions, mapping and all of those things is so important. The winter is a great time to get all of your fishing files organized and to check out some of the great apps that are available. I have become very fond of the Navionics apps that provide incredible mapping for the lakes that I fish many of my tournaments on. I can study the lake on my iPad during the off season so I have an idea of how big it is, what it looks like and where some of the interesting depth contours and structure areas are. Then, once I arrive at that particular lake I already have an idea of some of the different areas that I want to fish. Navionics also has their Navionics Newsstand, an app with a lot of great articles on fishing and boating from a number of different publications. Another great fishing source is Apps for Anglers. They have a ton of information on specific lakes around the country broken down into regional apps. There’s iFish Ontario, iFish BC, iFish Sasdkatchewan and iFish Alberta with more to come. These are wonderful, inexpensive apps that give you all kinds of information including lake reports, regulations, launching areas, accommodations and many other things that are applicable to the area you want to fish. We are definitely in a high-tech world in this day and age and I have to admit that I really do appreciate it. It has been a great shortcut for me and it should be for you too. With limited amounts of leisure time available, why not get the most out of what you have by being prepared once you hit the water next spring. ?

SPRING

Feb. 17-20, 2012 INTERNATIONAL INTERNA TIONAL CENTRE 6900 Airport Rd. 路 Mississauga ON springfishingandboatshow.com springfishingandboatshow .com

SHOW BOB IZUMI Host of the REAL FISHING Show

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fly fishing

Steve May is the Stewardship Coordinator for Waterloo Region with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. When not working to improve local fisheries Steve can be found guiding or fly casting on his local rivers.

By Stephen May

Flying Through Winter Many people ask me, “When does the fly fishing season end?” My quick response is, “I don’t think it ever does!” This surprises many, especially in areas where the snow piles up high and the lake water is frozen solid for months at a time. You shouldn’t have to hang up the waders for the whole winter. Many rivers have good fishing through the cold water period. Where I live, in the Great Lakes region, numerous spots have a year ‘round open season for steelhead and brown trout at river mouths. Across the border there are many more opportunities. Constant flows and lack of ice below some dams also make for fine winter fishing. Winter fishing concerns are not so much bug bites and sunburn, but frostbite and iced-up rod guides. Guide icing can usually be reduced with a thin coat of ChapStick, cooking spray or WD 40. To avoid the cold, dress properly with layers of fleece under waterproof and breathable fabrics, and keep your adventures relatively short. I like to pack a couple of extra pairs of dry gloves, a toque and a

18 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Effective winter presentations are deep and slow. Fish usually can’t hold in faster water, so put your fly where they can rest comfortably and can easily track down your presentation. I have found egg patterns, meaty nymphs and woolly buggers fished deep in the guts of runs and pools to be some of the best flies to use. Pools with springs that provide fish attracting cool water in summer, and warmer water in the winter, can be real hotspots in winter.

Rivers are often big pools of slush early in the morning

thermos of hot soup or coffee. I don’t usually head out fishing until the afternoon, when the slightly warmer water usually makes sluggish fish more active. Another reason I wait until the sun gets high before hitting the water is that the rivers are often big pools of slush early in the morning. I watch the long-range weather forecasts to pick my fishing days. I look for warming trends because better weather usually offers more mobile fish and more comfortable angling. When it gets below about -5°C you might want to think about other options.

Another option to get your fly fishing fix when the mercury dips and the snow piles up is to take a trip south. A saltwater fishing adventure, or a going south to a river that is not frozen, can break up a bout of cabin fever. Ice fishing can be another good option. If you are dedicated to fly fishing, nymphs work well for under-ice panfish and trout. The only tough part is casting into that tiny hole! Seriously, try using flies on a drop shot type rig. It works! Sharing past season’s stories and adventures with friends while tying up some flies, or joining a local club meeting is all part of the fly fishing culture. I like to call this the “flies and lies” season. It is a ton of fun to share your passion for fly fishing with friends over a drink or two when the weather outside is frightful. It is amazing how some stories just seem to get better as the weather gets colder! ?

Dave Taylor is a well known photographer and naturalist from Mississauga, Ontario

water’s edge By Dave Taylor

Golden Eagle For the first time in decades a golden eagle was recorded at Riverwood, the park where I work. The park spans the Credit River in Mississauga, and is only minutes away from one of Canada’s largest shopping malls. The eagle was seen by two of our volunteer birders, who know their birds, so there is no doubt about the accuracy of the sighting. Golden eagles are one of North America’s largest raptors and have a wing span often over 2-meters (6-feet). Locally, only young bald eagles or turkey vultures come close in size. Turkey vultures are easy to identify because of their bald, red face and their overall black appearance. It is easy to mistake an immature bald eagle for a golden eagle as both are brown, but this bird was clearly an adult golden eagle, complete with “golden” head.

20 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Golden eagles have a range that includes most of the Northern Hemisphere. Across this huge area it feeds on a variety of prey including turtles, goats, rabbits, marmots, fox, ground squirrels and the young of mountain goats, ibex, deer and wild goats. It has also gained a reputation as a killer of domestic sheep and goats while folklore has it even carrying off human babies! While the amount of economic damage it does to farmers is debatable it has, never-

the-less, been a species that, until recently, has been persecuted. Today it is recovering from its heavy losses because its value to the world’s ecosystems has been recognized and the bird has gained protection under the law. The golden eagle’s true economic value to agriculturalists is now recognized as it helps control rabbits, ground squirrels and other consumers of our grains. Across its range, over 200 species of animals have been recorded as prey for the golden eagle. It is not known to fish in the manner that bald eagles do, but there is little doubt that the one seen at Riverwood was lured there by the Credit River’s fall salmon run. Most of the salmon in the river are Pacific salmon and these fish die after spawning. Golden eagles are not above scavenging a meal and the annual run provides a bounty of easily obtained carcasses. Most of my encounters with this eagle have been out west or in Alaska. In many people’s minds the golden eagle is a bird of remote wilderness mountains but, in fact, it is more a bird of the open tundra, plains and steppes. I’ve seen it most often scavenging wolf kills, often sharing the remains with ravens and bald eagles, but I welcome the possibility of seeing one just minutes from where I live. ?

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the vintage tackle box By Patrick Daradick

Patrick Daradick has been collecting vintage fishing tackle for over 23-years and is a specialist in Ontario made tackle. He enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge and can be contacted through his website at www.ontariolures.com or by phone at 613-398-7245.

Northern Tackle Company -

The Flash Tail Lure In the year 1943, Sudbury native and inventor, Vaino Lehto, designed, then placed Canadian and American patents on his Flash Tail plastic sensation lure. Vaino Lehto was employed at the time at Inco’s Copper Cliff Smelter. During World War II, with Canada fully involved in the war efforts, nickel produced by this Northern Ontario company was crucial in the manufacturing of items like armour plates, gun forgings, etc. With this demand for metal products, Lehto’s Flash Tail lure did not go into production until the late 1940s. In fact, most Canadian tackle makers turned their production efforts toward making items for the war. From 1948 until 1953, Rod & Gun magazine displayed many ads for Vaino’s inventions and ads picturing his Flash Tail lure were common during these years. The ads heralded the Flash Tail as “The Liveliest Imitation Bait In The World.” The Flash Tail lure was a work of art and innovation. The tails would twirl, the head moved frantically and water swirled through the body, giving it the most lifelike action of any artificial bait. The plastic molded lures had a design that allowed water to pass through the mouth and exit through holes near the fins and gills, creating bubbles. With a twirling tail and a nickel plated prop on the front of the lure, the “Flash Tail” lived up to its title as, “The Bait that Breathes.” Vaino’s years of lure making experience and experimentation went into the design of this plastic wonder. The resulting lure was a thoroughly successful fish getter. The Flash Tail lure was manufactured in six beautiful, hand-painted colours. They were packaged in green cardboard boxes with instructional inserts and the wording, “For Casting or Trolling,” printed on the outside of the boxes. Priced at a $1.65 in 1949, the Flash Tail lure was available in two body designs. The 22 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

model #4 had a pronounced belly and was made for trolling, as noted on the stamping inside the box. The belly was more of a rudder, to help stabilize the action while trolling. This style was made without the holes through the body and had painted eyes. The other body design, the model #3, was made with glass eyes, had a thinner body design and included the holes through body. My guess is that this model would be used for casting purposes. Vaino Lehto’s Northern Tackle Company also made marked fishing line with colour changes every 50-feet. Another invention was the Northern Minnow, a lure with the same waterthrough-the-body concept as in the Flash Tail. The difference was that this lure was

solid-bodied and did not have a front prop. It did, however, feature separated fins where the water would exit the body to enhance fish attraction. Although the lure was advertised in an issue of the Rod & Gun magazine, and the advertisement showed the image of this lure, to this date no Northern Minnow lures or boxes have been located. It isn’t known if the “Northern Minnow” ever went into production, making it a very rare find – if any exist. The success of Vaino Lehto’s lures, and his company, was quite an accomplishment during the lean and difficult years of the 1940s. With very unique and beautiful hand-painted designs, his Flash Tail lures are highly sought after. The green boxes and paperwork are even more difficult to locate and are highly desirable to collectors as well. Today, a Flash Tail lure in good condition and in the original box would fetch $300 or more while individual lures, without the box, are valued at between $150 and $200. ? Thanks to Gary Peck for sharing his research on Vanio Lehto.

Congratulations Bob! “Wherever I am, I’m thinking about fishing! And Navionics is always close at hand to help me zero in on the best spots. Before heading out, I’ve already created a game plan and marked my waypoints with the PC app that comes free with my Navionics charts. I download my waypoints to a chip and upload them to my unit. In the boat, Navionics shows me where I am, and where I want to be so I can work my spots and focus on catching the winning fish. Later on, I can review my routes, add my own Navionics UGC, and show off my catches — all on my mobile! If I can do it, so can you!” Bob Izumi, Winner, 1000 Islands Tournament, FLW Outdoors EverStart Northern Division, July 2011

And now, you can read Real Fishing on the Navionics NewsStand!

navionics.com

real fishing fish facts

Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens

The freshwater drum is a deep, narrow fish with a humped back and a somewhat triangular shaped head. They have dark green to olive brown backs, silvery sides and white bellies. The pelvic fins are white to cream colored, the pectoral fins are clear and the remaining fins are dusky. It has a small mouth which is overhung by a blunt snout. Drum have two dorsal fins connected by a narrow membrane and there is a distinctive notch between the two. The frontal dorsal is spiny, usually with eight or nine spines, while the rear dorsal is soft rayed and extends to the

24 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

base of the rounded tail. The anal fins have two spines, the second of which is long and extremely stiff. Drum have large ctenoid scales covering their head and body, extending to the base of their soft dorsal fin. The scales have growth lines that can readily be seen under magnification. A unique feature of the drum, and perhaps the feature it is best known for, is its oversized otolith, the flat, egg shaped “ear bone” that is used for hearing and balance. The bone has a white, enameled surface with alternating light and dark bands and is often kept as a good luck charm or made into jewelry. Freshwater drum have one of the largest latitudinal distributions of any freshwater fish, occurring from as far south as Guatemala to as far north as the Nelson River in Manitoba. In Canada they can be found in the upper St. Lawrence River, the Ottawa River, north to Lake Abitibi and in all of the Great Lakes except Superior. Drum are also found across the Hudson Bay drainage of northern Manitoba and into southwestern Saskatchewan. Drum spawn in late spring or early summer, once water temperatures reach between 65ºF and 70ºF. The females produce an average of between 200,000 and 350,000 eggs, with some large individuals reportedly laying up to 500,000. The eggs are unique among North American freshwater fishes in that they float at the surface until hatching, usually within a day or two of being fertilized. This ability of the eggs to float allows them to be carried by currents and is likely one of the reasons for the drum’s large range of distribution. Neither the male nor the female guard either the eggs or the newly hatched fry. Drum prefer large, shallow bodies of water and can most often be found in depths of less than 60-feet. They prefer

DID YOU KNOW? Female drum can lay up to 500,000 eggs that float until they hatch.

FAST FACTS Colour: Green to olive brown on the back; greenish, golden or silvery brown on the flanks fading to cream or white on the belly. Size: Two to ten-pounds on average but can grow to over 50-pounds. Life Span: Up to 70-years. Habitat: Large, shallow water bodies with mud or sandy bottoms. Spawning: Late spring or early summer in water temperatures between 65ºF and 70ºF.

RECORD The current IFGA All-Tackle World Record freshwater drum was caught in Nickajack Lake, Tennessee, back in 1972 and weighed 54-pounds 8-ounces. clear water, but can readily adapt to more turbid conditions. Freshwater drum are primarily bottom feeders as suggested by the position of their mouth. Young of the year drum feed primarily on zooplankton and chironomids, turning to larger insects as they reach fry size. As drum mature, fish and crayfish become part of their diet as do mollusks like snails, clams and zebra mussels. Freshwater drum are considered more of a commercial than a sport fish species although they are caught frequently by anglers targeting other species. They are a strong fish that put up a good fight when hooked and they can grow to impressive sizes. The average size of an angler-caught freshwater drum will be around two to three pounds but double-digit fish are not uncommon. The current IGFA all-tackle world record is held by an incredible 54-pound 8-ounce monster caught in Nickajack Lake, Tennessee, back in 1972. ?

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26 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

JANUARY FEBRUARY

MONDAY

5:06 - 7:06 5:30 - 7:30 11:33 - 1:03 11:57 - 1:27

5:54 - 7:54 6:18 - 8:18 NA 12:45 - 2:15

TUESDAY

3 6:42 7:06 1:09 1:33 -

10:42 - 12:42 am 11:06 - 1:06 pm 5:09 - 6:39 am 5:33 - 7:03 pm

11:30 - 1:30 11:54 - 1:54 5:57 - 7:27 6:21 - 7:51

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4:18 - 6:18 am 4:42 - 6:42 pm 10:45 - 12:15 am 11:09 - 12:39 pm

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2:42 - 4:42 3:06 - 5:06 9:09 - 10:39 9:33 - 11:03

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NA 12:42 - 2:42 6:45 - 8:15 7:09 - 8:39

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3:06 am 1:54 - 3:54 3:30 pm 2:18 - 4:18 9:03 am 8:21 - 9:51 9:27 pm 8:45 - 10:15

9 11:30 - 1:30 11:54 - 1:54 5:57 - 7:27 6:21 - 7:51

am pm am pm

3:42 - 5:42 am 4:06 - 6:06 pm 10:09 - 11:39 am 10:33 - 12:03 pm

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9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42 3:45 - 5:15 4:09 - 5:39

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10:06 - 12:06 am 10:30 - 12:30 pm 4:33 - 6:03 am 4:57 - 6:27 pm

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3:42 - 5:42 am 4:06 - 6:06 pm 10:09 - 11:39 am 10:33 - 12:03 pm

4:30 - 6:30 am 4:54 - 6:54 pm 10:57 - 12:27 am 11:21 - 12:51 pm

6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30 12:33 - 2:03 12:57 - 2:27

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12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54 6:57 - 8:27 7:21 - 8:51

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LEGEND

Excellent times shown first in bold font. Good times shown below in regular font.

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8:42 am 7:30 - 9:30 9:06 pm 7:54 - 9:54 2:39 am 1:57 - 3:27 3:03 pm 2:21 - 3:51

10:42 - 12:42 am 11:06 - 1:06 pm 5:09 - 6:39 am 5:33 - 7:03 pm

1:54 - 3:54 2:18 - 4:18 8:21 - 9:51 8:45 - 10:15

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8:42 am 7:30 - 9:30 9:06 pm 7:54 - 9:54 2:39 am 1:57 - 3:27 3:03 pm 2:21 - 3:51

10:18 - 12:18 am 10:42 - 12:42 pm 4:48 - 6:28 am 5:11 - 6:41 pm

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9:54 - 11:54 am 10:18 - 12:18 pm 4:21 - 5:51 am 4:45 - 6:15 pm

3:30 - 5:30 am 3:54 - 5:54 pm 9:57 - 11:27 am 10:21 - 11:51 pm

18 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06 2:09 - 3:39 2:33 - 4:03

9:54 - 11:54 am 10:18 - 12:18 pm 4:21 - 5:51 am 4:45 - 6:15 pm

5:06 - 7:06 5:30 - 7:30 11:33 - 1:03 11:57 - 1:27

3:06 am 1:54 - 3:54 3:30 pm 2:18 - 4:18 9:03 am 8:21 - 9:51 9:27 pm 8:45 - 10:15

am 6:42 - 8:42 pm 7:06 - 9:06 am 1:09 - 2:39 pm 1:33 - 3:03

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4 8:18 - 10:18 8:42 - 10:42 2:45 - 4:15 3:09 - 4:39

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SATURDAY

9:06 - 11:06 9:30 - 11:30 3:33 - 5:03 3:57 - 5:27

12 am pm am pm

FRIDAY

8:18 - 10:18 8:42 - 10:42 2:45 - 4:15 3:09 - 4:39

3:30 - 5:30 am 4:18 - 6:18 am 3:54 - 5:54 pm 4:42 - 6:42 pm 9:57 - 11:27 am 10:45 - 12:15 am 10:21 - 11:51 pm 11:09 - 12:39 pm

9:30 9:54 3:27 3:51

NA 12:42 - 2:42 6:45 - 8:15 7:09 - 8:39

THURSDAY

7:30 7:54 1:57 2:21 -

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3:30 - 5:30 am 3:54 - 5:54 pm 9:57 - 11:27 am 10:21 - 11:51 pm

am pm am pm

WEDNESDAY

4 8:42 9:06 2:39 3:03

10:18 - 12:18 am 10:42 - 12:42 pm 4:48 - 6:28 am 5:11 - 6:41 pm

9:06 - 11:06 9:30 - 11:30 3:33 - 5:03 3:57 - 5:27

MARCH

Best Fishing Times 2012

DOUG HANNON’S

To order your copy of Doug Hannon’s 2012 Moon Clock Calculator please visit www.moontimes.com or send $9.95 (USD) plus $3.75 (USD) for shipping & handling to: Moon Clock, Department RE, PO Box 724255, Atlanta, GA 31139

SUNDAY

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8:54 9:18 2:51 3:15

am pm am pm

3:18 3:42 9:15 9:39

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8:54 9:18 2:51 3:15

am pm am pm

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AS PROUD AS A PEACOCK Nope, it’s not a world record perch, it’s a massive Peacock bass that Bob Izumi caught last November in Brazil’s Rio Negro River. “On this trip we stayed aboard the ‘mother ship,’ The Santana, and fished out of comfortable aluminum boats during the day. We had incredible guides and, over our six-days of fishing, the 18 of us caught 886 fish. That includes 40 Peacock bass weighing between 10 and 21-pounds! I caught my personal best on this trip too, the 17-pounder you see in the photo. What an awesome trip!” – Bob Izumi

28 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

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TIP-UP TIPS FOR PIKE By Tom Gruenwald

30 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Ice fishing offers an array of attractions. There’s the exhilaration of lowering a transducer into a hole and seeing the screen light up. The intensity of watching one of those marks rise to your bait. The breath-taking excitement felt when your rod responds with a deep bend and a heavy fish starts taking drag. And what compares to the thrill of seeing a tip-up flag pop? The initial, surprising realization that a fish has struck, followed by a sudden burst of adrenalin as you approach and see the trip shaft turning and the spool feverishly spinning out line. A mind-boggling bevy of questions begins. Is the line flowing smoothly? Has it caught on any weeds? How far has the fish run? Does the fish have it? Should I set the hook now, or wait? Is it a big fish? Few things match the heart-stopping excitement of tip-up fishing for pike. Thousands of eager anglers look forward to this special season, anxiously heading out to their favorite frozen waters, hopeful with anticipation. But turning hope into productivity requires more than drilling random holes, dropping a line and watching flags fly. Consistent success requires a knowledgeable, systematic approach. The first trick to consistent tip-up action is working the right locations. It’s no secret that pike are attracted to shallow, weedy flats and associated weed edges. Pike utilize them and spreading tip-ups throughout such areas will catch ‘em. Trouble is, these shallow, vegetated flats and weed lines are often extensive and the pike are often scattered. If you’re looking for consistent action, especially with larger fish, you must use a more strategic approach. Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 31

Begin by checking a map. Today’s best ones have specific, productive spots premarked, providing a great start. But don’t neglect to research on your own. Look for locations similar to those revealed that remain unmarked. Highlight these potential hotspots on your map, then carefully consider the time of year and local environmental conditions when evaluating and prioritizing the most productive places. At first and last ice, for example, pike will move into classic, shallow bays and flats. Just keep in mind that they’ll often stick closer to bottom and more tightly to dense cover in clear water or bright conditions than they might in stained water or during overcast conditions. To further increase your chances of intercepting pike throughout the winter, look for edges--but not just any edges. Start with depth. Edges located along the deepest water in the area usually hold the most and largest fish. On some waters, these depth changes may be large and distinct. A weed line bordering a steep drop-off in a natural lake or a stump field lining a plunging river channel in a reservoir, for instance, may be lengthy and significantly deeper than the surrounding flats. Other edges, however, may be much more subtle. If you closely examine a threedimensional cross section of a flat within “dishpan” bottomed waters, you’ll find less obvious bottom irregularities. A pocket in a natural lake or a building foundation in a reservoir might only drop a foot or two and encompass a relatively small area. These are harder to find, but well worth the effort. Pike may relate to an obvious drop-off or channel edge but, with that feature potentially extending a long distance, it’s important to determine the specific, high-percentage locations along the primary break. Examine each contour, looking for points, bars, inside turns, pockets or holes along the steepest breaks. These are great spots for pike to herd and trap baitfish. But don’t stop there. Even these spots are not all created equally. Turns and features offering edges coinciding with a change in bottom content, for example, may result in a transition from one type of cover to another, which often leads to a corresponding change in the available forage, meaning greater opportunities for pike to both hide and feed. 32 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Again, depending on the lake, these areas may be relatively obvious. A change from a muddy, soft bottomed, dense weed flat to a rocky, hard bottomed channel lined with flooded timber forms a distinct break and isn’t difficult for someone knowledgeable with the use of maps and sonar to find. But you’ll need more than general knowledge to pinpoint a smaller, micro transition from a marl bottomed cabbage flat to a sand bottomed coontail patch situated within a pocket on an otherwise homogenous flat. Depending on the environment, it’s these not-so-obvious edges that may be the secret to consistent success. Mark such locations on your map, determine GPS coordinates and then assemble an efficient strategy for accessing each. Once you hit the ice, you can use the combination of your map and GPS to ensure you’re focusing on the right spots. Then use your sonar to confirm specific edges holding fish. After doing all this work, you won’t want to risk equipment failure so stick with premium gear. My go-to tip-up is HT’s Polar. For pike fishing, they’re packed with useful features. The frame won’t freeze down, the large spool option allows greater line capacity for hard running pike, and a supersmooth flowing internal mechanism is guaranteed not to freeze-up. The adjustable tube

height settings allow you to raise or lower the trip shaft, creating a steeper flag wire angle, which in turn increases tension on the trip so you can fish large baits without false flags. A line guide clamp prevents line from inadvertently spinning off the spool, so large baits stay fixed at the depth you set. And the special frame design allows you to wrap your line around the outside anytime fast pick-ups are desired. Premium! When conditions get brutal, I switch to a different member of the Polar family, the Polar Therm. This unit offers the same internal mechanism as the Polar but is

TIP-UP TIPS

A. When fishing in gusty winds, position the flag wire on the upwind side of the trip shaft so gusts blow the flag toward the central tube mechanism instead of away, eliminating “false flags.” B. When fishing in strong, sustained winds with swirling gusts, use the wind trip wire. This simple apparatus prevents wind trips by surrounding the tube, preventing wind from popping the flag but still allowing a fish to trip the release. C. When fishing with larger baits, bend the flag wire upward where it meets the trip. This way, when the trip slides along the wire, it will catch and press the flag wire down slightly before releasing. This extra tension reduces the ability for large minnows to cause false trips. D. Tie a snap swivel on the terminal end of all your rigs. When it’s time to fish, the swivel can be clipped onto the barrel swivel leading to your Dacron backing for quick set-up. When packing your tip-ups away at the end of the day, simply unclip the snap. Loose rigs can be stored on a snelled hook holder or pieces of slit cardboard by hooking the swivel in one slit, wrapping the leader, and securing the hook in another slit. Now you can conveniently transport a variety of standard, quick strike, slip and hot rigs of different lengths, designs and components in a neat, organized, tangle free manner. E. There’s always controversy about how to set the hook on a tip-up. I recommend resting the line gently over your hand or a fingertip and feeling for weight or a tug while noting which direction and angle the line is going. Pinch the line between your forefinger and thumb, and give a short, quick pull in the opposite direction and the result should be a head shake or pull by the fish!

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mounted within a hole cover frame to block light and seal out blowing snow. This design also traps the thermal energy of the water below, meaning neither the mechanism - nor your hole - will ever freeze-up. Another great model is HT’s Arctic Bay Polar. Like other Polar designs, this model features a smooth, freeze-proof trip, but it’s incorporated into a super tall frame and flag assembly that stands high, making it an ideal choice when fishing in deep snow.

When spooling, quality braided Dacron makes excellent backing. It’s strong, durable and easy to handle when handover-handing fish onto the ice. Black is standard, but sand colored line camouflages nicely in sand bottomed, clear water environments. Green is advantageous in slightly stained or green tinted waters, red is a good choice in turbid conditions, and yellow may be good in dark waters where increased visibility is desired. Classic rigging involves the addition of a leader, connected via a good quality barrel swivel to the Dacron. Depending on the situation you’re fishing, leader material may consist of heavy monofilament, fluorocarbon or wire. When fishing heavily pressured, clear water environments under bright conditions, fluorocarbon would be my first choice, as it becomes virtually invisible in the water. In most other cases, clear or green monofilament will do. For most pike applications, I wouldn’t use anything less than 17-pound test; 20 or 25 is even better. In either case, be sure to check your leader for damage after every caught fish by running it through your finger tips or lips. Don’t take any chances. If you detect a rough spot, replace the line immediately. When fishing in darker water or for larger pike, wire is a better option - the stronger and thinner, the better. Flexible is good, too.

Some of the new wire leader materials are even designed to not kink. Be sure to check out soft, tie-able wire too. Having the option of being able to tie standard knots makes rigging with wire much easier.

Tip your leader with a treble hook of the desired size - most anglers use #10 to #1/0 smaller when using downsized minnows for fussier fish, bigger when incorporating larger baits and seeking trophies. Pinch on a split shot with just enough weight to sink your minnow to the right depth and hold it there. To restrict bait movement, pinch a heavy sinker close to the hook. To allow increased motion, use a lighter split shot and place it further up the leader. If you need weight to get your bait down but also want to allow movement, place a large shot high up the leader–then add a series of progressively smaller shot in sequence downward, toward the hook, until you attain the weight needed to properly position your minnow. Many of today’s tip-up anglers are also using quick strike rigs - a modification of the above rig usually made of wire and featuring 34 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

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an additional hook or two. Double hook quick strike rigs feature a sliding hook that can be adjusted to accommodate baits of varying sizes - further apart for larger baits, closer together for smaller ones. The mobile hook is slid up the line before a second is tied in place. A piece of material such as surgical tubing is used to hold the free-sliding hook in position. Three-hook quick strike rigs feature one fixed position and two adjustable hooks which can be positioned as desired, allowing precise balance by placing hooks strategically through the front, center and rear of the bait. This system works especially well with large, cut or dead bait presentations. Virtually all commercially produced quick strike rigs feature a flashy flicker blade or two. This helps pike find your bait by providing flash and creating vibrations whenever the presentation is moved. It also makes the multi-hook rig legal in most states and provinces. Best of all, quick strike rigs live up to their names. Due to their multi-hook design, you need not wait long to set the hook. If a fish strikes, you can pretty much set anytime and be quite sure one of the hooks will stick. Hot rigs are another alternative. Two hook hot rigs feature two fixed position hooks adorned with colorful beads and

Two popular tip-up rigs, the 2-hook “Hot Rig” (left) and 2-hook “Quick Strike Rig” (right).

38 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

flashy spinners. Each hook is positioned for the best combination of balance and hooking potential. Depending on the situation, that may be with the two hooks spread equidistant from the center of the minnow for a natural, horizontal placement, or one positioned slightly back so the head hangs down, resembling a minnow feeding on bottom. Three hook hot rigs work the same way, but feature three fixed position hooks, with one central balancing hook located between the other two—a great set for larger baits. Slip sinker rigs work well when fishing current, where standard presentations may be lifted out of the desired strike zone. A standard egg or “walking” style sinker is slid onto the Dacron line before tying on the barrel swivel and leader of desired material and length. When the tip-up is set, the sinker is rested on bottom and the bait allowed to bob within the current above. A floating jig head may be added if you want to position the bait higher, such as when fishing over weeds. Speaking of baits, lively shiners or suckers are popular favorites. Go smaller when the fish are finicky; larger during periods of greater activity or when the goal is a trophy. Dead baits are also effective, with oily minnows like herring, cisco or smelt being good

choices. And don’t forget about cut bait, such as belly slices of the above. When it comes to depth setting, a good rule of thumb is a half foot off bottom for every three feet of depth, but I recommend keeping the bait lower when fishing bright sun or deeper water, and higher when fishing shallow, during overcast conditions or over thick vegetation. In really shallow areas, positioning a minnow just beneath the ice will often produce better than anything else. Regardless of how deep you position your baits, set your tip-ups then move away. Avoid going near them, particularly if the water is clear or there isn’t much snow cover. Although it’s advisable to periodically clean each hole, check your sets and raise and lower your baits to draw attention, don’t overdo it. You must be stealthy to avoid spooking fish. Once laid out, the anxious anticipation begins. Hunker down and continue scanning your set carefully. Always approach your pike efforts systematically, occasionally moving lines as patterns appear. While experimenting and testing theories, you’ll gain knowledge and begin experiencing increased success. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll even develop a tip-up science all your own! ?

LAKE SIMCOE LAKE TROUT By Geoff Coleman

I can say without a word of a lie that two years ago I was the only guy in the group of men I ice fish with that got his limit all season long. Unfortunately, by that I mean it took me all year to get one limit! The ignorant lake in question was central Ontario’s Lake Simcoe, a trophy fish factory for perch, crappie, walleye and, more to the point of this article, lake trout.

40 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Winter 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Fishing 41

Last year I did much better than the previous, catching fish on 10 of 14 trips. The change was largely due to the advice of my neighbour and 30-year Lake Simcoe veteran, Mark Switzer. I shamelessly picked his brain on the slightest nuances of how he approaches the fish and, to his credit, Switzy patiently passed on his experience. He claims he owes a lot of his success to fishing with guys he considers veterans, but it’s clear he has also learned a thing or two on his own during the 40-plus days he averages on the lake during the hard water season. The first thing Switzy convinced me to do was invest in a permanent hut. Creature comforts aside, the best thing about a hut is that you can fish unaffected by waves, current or wind and your lines will remain stock-still. In short, huts allow you to redefine finesse fishing. Open water finesse techniques can’t hold a candle to finesse fishing inside the box. Even if you were dropshotting from a 20foot bass boat, double anchored and grounded on a sandbar, wind would still be a factor, even if just by putting a bow in your line. In a hut, there isn’t enough wind to blow out a candle, so you can use the most natural presentations possible. And, while there will be days later in the season

when any method will catch fish, for consistent action from the first safe ice to March 15th, a finesse approach is not only deadly, it’s almost mandatory. The reason is simple: water clarity. If gin didn’t exist, we’d say, “Lake Simcoe-clear.” Even without an underwater video camera, I have looked down through 45-feet of water and watched trout swim up to a rig, bump the sinkers and swim away, oblivious to the shiner going ballistic a foot away. I know whitefish will pick up dead minnows from the bottom and not eat them all; exhaling certain ones even though they are the same size, sex, and species. I have witnessed fish do an inspection of a jig and minnow that would make Mike Holmes look like he was phoning it in! If I can see all that, what can the fish see from six-inches away? Calling them smart may be giving them too much credit, but if there is anything wrong with your presentation they won’t hang around long. There are plenty of other guys fishing with baits they can turn to, not to mention everything else Mother Nature has on the menu, so your presentation has to be as realistic as possible. In other words, the finesse game is on. First, the easy part of the Switzer system - the bait. Use live minnows. Lake Simcoe

An ice hut lets you fish without having to contend with cold weather, snow or wind.

42 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Lake Simcoe shiners are cheap, readily available and they catch huge fish.

shiners. They are cheap, readily available and, despite their size, catch huge fish. `Nuff said. As a general rule, hooking them through the lips is a good practice. Next, the sinkers. Typically, in lake trout water like the 60-plus feet we are talking about on Lake Simcoe, the standard method to maintain contact with your bait is to add more weight. Factoring in current, that could mean up to an ounce of lead hanging off the line. Not even those guys on the “Hand Fishing” television show would consider that finesse fishing! Instead, Switzy likes a couple of #4 split shot pinched 18inches up the line from the hook. Yes, it may take time for the minnow to reach bottom, but the slow death spiral is exactly what a real minnow would do and it even sparks a bite now and then. Wingless shot since they twist less as they drop - make sense here, too. Some finesse fishermen religiously give shiny new shot a baptism in vinegar to dull them before use. In terms of hooks, Mark doesn’t have a preference for a particular brand, but insists on a wide bend hook with out-ofthe-box sharpness. Switzy observes that the points on these hooks are so small that sharpening doesn’t leave much room for error, so he prefers to spare the file and trust the manufacturer to get the edge right. Matching the hook to the size of the minnow may seem like stating the obvious, but in the quest for finesse you can actually get too small and end up using a hook with very little point exposed. The importance of hook strength cannot be overstated. The days when 20-pound lakers were as common as Kardashians on television may be gone, but you can still get them, they still have hard mouths and they know how to fight in that cold, oxygen-rich water.

Finesse lake trout ice fishermen ask a lot of their line. It has to be thin and hard to see. It has to stand up to wear and tear on the ice. It can’t create any problems on the reel, and it has to have very little memory. Despite the variety of lines on the market, Switzy prefers a top quality, super-thin diameter monofilament in four or six-pound test, as much for how it works out of the water as in. Since he uses baitcasting reels, his line has to lay down evenly on the retrieve and pay out smoothly when a big fish runs. Spooling up with the wrong line was probably the biggest mistake I made during my less successful year. I went with a super-

THE SCIENCE OF LOCATING TROUT Big lakes churn out big trout but they also present a big challenge: finding fish. In a 2003-2004 radio telemetry study by Paul J. Blanchfield, Lori S. Tate, John M. Plumb, Marie-Laure Acolas, and Ken G. Beaty, the researchers tagged lake trout in a northwestern Ontario lake and followed their movements through two summers and winters. It was one of the only studies up to that time which gathered information about below the ice activity and their findings point out a few trout tendencies that might make locating them easier. As expected, in summer the fish were confined to a narrow band of water below the thermocline. What wasn't expected was the discovery that winter fish were even more concentrated. Instead of taking advantage of the uniformly cold water and moving everywhere under the ice in winter, the tagged fish retreated to the central basin of the lake. And, they were consistently found above the deepest parts of that basin. This amounted to an area that was only one-quarter the size of what they accessed in the summer. Interestingly, there was absolutely no overlap from summer to winter in the use of what the researchers called “core areas;” the habitat most commonly used by the fish. In other words, a summertime hotspot is not likely to produce in the winter. The good news is that core areas were mainly associated with zones where lake depth changed rapidly. The final point of interest for anglers was that lake trout showed considerable movement during both seasons, but more in the winter. On average, a trout would swim 780 meters per day in summer and 1,062 meters in winter. So if we extrapolate the findings of the study lake to Lake Simcoe, a time-proven pattern emerges. Fish the deepest water in the central basin and try to set up somewhere that has access to a relatively steep drop. You can be some distance from the structure and fish will still find you on their kilometre-long daily swims. Since they are homebodies, if you find fish early in the season you will likely be successful all season long. The tagged fish did move shallower as the year went on, so be prepared to move at least once or twice for the most action. Either that or just look for all the huts and drill your holes a respectful distance away!

line, thinking it would best transfer the energy of the hookset from 70-feet above. However, it never would uncoil fully with just some small sinkers pulling it down and I definitely missed fish because of that extra slack. It was also very easy for me to see in the water, so it must have looked like hightension cable to the fish. Interestingly, Mark doesn’t use a swivel – just something else for the fish to see - so line twist is inevitable. He will re-spool several times in a season to keep mint condition line on the reel, noting that on tough 44 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

days you might only get a few chances at fish and you have to ensure that all systems are go when the time comes. That`s the rigging taken care of. Lots of fish have been taken over the years with nothing else involved. Since the wind is negated, you can lower the sinkers, tighten up the slack, and the rod tip will start bouncing when fish are around. Grab the line and you can feel the fear factor of the minnow, and hopefully a bite after that. You can`t get any more fine in finesse, unless you introduce electronics to the hut.

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As clear as the water is, you usually can’t see bottom where you are fishing, so a graph or flasher is required reading to let you know exactly what is going on down there. Hooks, line and sinkers won’t add up to much through the season, so spend the rent money on a good finder. Because you are in a hut and your line is as still as a rabbit with a hawk overhead, you can easily position your minnow directly below the transducer. Standard operating procedure is to crank up the sensitivity until the bait just appears on the unit. Since it is the smallest thing down there, any fish larger than the minnow will also register, letting you know it`s time to seal the deal. I use a three-colour flasher because of its instant feedback. Lift the rod tip and it registers immediately, without the slight delay found on LCRs. It is also better for a visionimpaired friend of mine who finds it easy to read the red bar that indicates a fish. And, if I am fishing with another guy in the hut, we can both use flashers without them interfering with the signal from the other unit. That way both fishermen can set up their own ‘finders and see them without worrying about glare or having a sore neck at the end of the day. However, most of the guys I fish with use an LCR graph. The scrolling screen displays have the advantage of showing a few seconds of the action at one time, giving you a 46 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

more complete picture of what is happening down under. And, hundreds of vertical pixels provide so much detail you can basically see if the minnow has come off the hook. Regardless of the technology you choose, monitoring the action on the screen is just plain fun. Few aspects of fishing can match watching a fish come in, examine your bait and then respond to your angling technique.

The ability to consistently turn that fish from tire kicker to hot buyer comes with a lot of practice and is the real skill in this finesse approach. Nine times out of ten, Switzy will hand-over-hand the line while gauging the fish`s reaction on-screen. That sometimes fickle response could be a nearimmediate bite, a follow of 30-feet or more

before snapping, a follow with no hit, or any number of variations. Switzy tells the story of a trout that came around his friend’s hut every day like clockwork for a week straight. Appearing onscreen somewhere between 9:30 and 10:00 in the morning, the fish would check out the minnow, follow it for 15-feet or so and then abort the mission. On the sixth day, the fish decided to bite, a decision he evidently had been making all morning since he had 128 minnows in his belly when the post-mortem exam was made! To trigger a bite, most of the time Mark relies on a steady, consistent retrieve. He notes that you are simply trying to imitate what a minnow would do with a predator closing in for a look. He starts the minnow in motion as the trout nears the hook, but hasn’t taken the final step. Mark’s retrieves are generally made to match the speed of the pursuing fish. It’s not unlike what my wife says, “I let you chase me until I caught you.” Mark`s only rule for retrieving the minnow is, if you have a fish chase but not hit, try something different the next time one comes around. To illustrate that point, he can name anglers who pull their minnows up as fast as humanly possible, and regularly get fish. You’d have to have hands faster than a Vegas blackjack dealer to pull a minnow away from a lake trout that has decided he wants it. And, we can all recall times when – as we poured a coffee, or ate a sandwich - fish hit a minnow that wasn’t going anywhere. Experimentation is crucial to consistent success. And so is a finder that can generate a bottom lock and a split-screen so you can still see activity if an indecisive fish follows halfway to the surface. I certainly count myself among those who enjoy standing on the ice of a back lake in March, jigging with spoons, Swedish Pimples and re-purposed saltwater baits for lake trout but, when dealing with heavilypressured fish in clear water, I am a converted finesse fisherman. When you can present a live minnow in 80-feet of water and know exactly how fish are reacting to it, you have the best chance you’ll ever have of convincing a fish to bite. Even if the spindrifts outside the hut make you think you’ll see the ghost of Sir Edmund Hillary about to summit Everest at any moment. ?

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Most anywhere in the world, families heading to Kissimmee, Florida, hear their friends saying, “Have fun at Disney World.” Fairly so; the sprawling entertainment Mecca built from the visions of cartoonistturned-developer, Walter Disney, gets top billing in Sunshine State tourism. However, Osceola County has much more to offer those willing to look beyond its theme parks. No doubt the Disney Empire, along with other nearby attractions such as Sea World in Orlando, may have garnered Kissimmee its notoriety as the Vacation Capital of the World. But, while Mickey Mouse and friends are a proud part of the local climate, this Central Florida gem sparkles with many facets. Venture off the beaten path of Highway 192 and you’ll find a colorful tapestry of cultural and historic elements ranging from county fairs to Friday Night Rodeos to the annual Great Outdoor Days festival. Each merits a visit, but the real treasure lies in the area’s amazing natural resources. Osceola County is literally smattered with inviting bodies of water covering more than 100,000 acres. A collection of creeks, rivers and lakes create a lush environment that provides homes and forage for abundant wildlife, including the largest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the continental U.S.

WONDROUS WATERWAYS

MORE THAN A MOUSE: Kissimmee, Florida, Sparkles with Natural Gems By David A. Brown

48 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Foremost in this layout, the heralded Kissimmee Chain of Lakes starts just a few blocks from Kissimmee’s historic downtown district. The north-to-south links include Lake Tohopekaliga (aka “Toho”) and East Lake Toho, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee. The headwaters for Florida’s Everglades, these lakes connect via flood control canals, which route water released by locks at Toho’s south end through the chain and out of Lake Kissimmee via its namesake river and into Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee played a significant role in Kissimmee’s past by linking the town to international shipping lanes via the Okeechobee Waterway. During the late 1800s and early

Like most Florida lakes, the Kissimmee Chain’s are shallow – averaging around seven-feet. Periodic drawdowns and bottom scrapings have dramatically improved lake health by removing volumes of mucky buildup, exposing the natural sand floor and prompting the expansion of native aquatic plant growth. More vegeKISSIMMEE & ALLIGATOR CHAIN OF LAKES tation equals more bass cover and that equals better fishing.

1900s, downtown Kissimmee was home to a major ship building operation, while the shores of Toho became Central Florida’s largest shipping port. Cattle, citrus, sugar and other goods from around the state arrived here for transoceanic voyages.

AWESOME ANGLING ACTION Quality and quantity – expect both when fishing Kissimmee’s C A bountiful chain. Like all largeL K M mouth waters, big fish availability J sees seasonal highs and lows, but D persistence typically pays big diviB N dends and trophy bass of 10H pounds plus are no rarity. When Kissimmee’s largemouth bass spawn, between late January G and March, it’s time to go shallow. Anglers find consistent spring action by Texas-rigging worms, lizards and tubes (green pumpkin, junebug or black/blue) with a 3/0 to 4/0 hook and a ¼ E ounce bullet weight and flipping it to bass beds visible in the shoreI line vegetation. There’s no lack of targets so make a few presentations. If you don’t connect, move on to the next customer. Boat Ramps Bass may spawn on any clean H - Lake Gentry Boat Ramp/Smith’s Landing A - Brinson Park Pier I - Lake Marian Boat Ramp B - C-Gate 33 Boat Ramp shoreline but protected creeks and J - Partin Triangle Park C - Chisholm Boat Ramp quiet bays off the main lake – parK - Sexton Boat Ramp D - Granada Boat Ramp ticularly those with scattered grass L - St. Cloud Lakefront Park E - Joe Overstreet Boat Ramp and lily pads – seem most attracM - Trout Landing F - Kissimmee Lakefront Park G - Lake Cypress Boat Ramp N - Whaley’s Landing Boat Ramp tive to the biggest fish. Sunny days quickly reveal the nesting sites but Lake Toho (18,810 acres) and East Lake if clouds or wind stymie the sight-fishing Toho (11,968 acres) are the chain’s second game, fan cast likely looking areas with holand third largest, behind the 34,948-acre low body frogs, buzz toads or surface skipKissimmee. Hatchineha and Cypress fill in the midsection with 6,655 and 4,097 acres respectively. Because of its metropolitan location and convenient accessibility, Toho sees the most traffic but it remains a consistent fish producer. Boats often blow right through the center lakes, as canal channels traverse only their outer edges. Those who stop are often rewarded with wide open stretches and more cooperative fish. Nevertheless, Kissimmee’s vast, unspoiled habitat has a way of coaxing anglers to launch and run straight down to the chain’s lower link. F

ping plastics like the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig. For the surface game, Bassmaster Elite Series pro and topwater specialist Ish Monroe designed the Snagproof PHAT Frog with habitat like Kissimmee’s in mind. While walking or popping the bait in and around dense weeds will bring big bass charging, Monroe knows that a stationary presentation is what you need to irritate a big fish into blasting topside. For this, he’ll point his rod tip at the bait and impart the same side-to-side walking action as he would in open water, only the slack line keeps the bait in place for a bassenraging display. Beyond the weeds, Monroe suggests employing hollow body frogs in various atypical uses. Throwing to weeds is most common, but he’ll also cast his PHAT Frog toward docks, sea walls, overhanging limbs and laydowns. “Everyone thinks that a frog only imitates a frog – but it also imitates a bluegill, shad and rodents swimming across the surface,” Monroe said. “It imitates anything that’s in the water (or may end up in the water) that a bass is going to eat.”

During the warmer months, bass will chase bait in open water early in the morning and then head to the thick, shady cover of shoreline vegetation as the sun heats the lake. Topwater plugs – especially prop baits and poppers – are a good bet for these active fish, but once they duck into the weeds, it’s time to break out your heavy flipping stick and pester the fish into reaction strikes. Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 49

M E M O R A B L E E XC U R S I O N S Between fishing trips, there’s plenty to see in the Kissimmee/St. Cloud area. Starting with Lakefront Park on Toho’s north shore, a family-friendly landscape welcomes picnics and offers plenty of room for sports and relaxation. Casual anglers can wet a line from the seawall or the wooden pier. On the park’s south end, the War Veteran’s Monument is dedicated to those lost during America’s military conflicts. Nearby, the

Other attractions include: Forever Florida: A working cattle ranch and nature preserve centered on the heritage of the Florida Cracker Cowboy. Nature tours by horseback or elevated cracker coach often provide candid glimpses of wild turkeys, whitetail deer and other native critters, while a thrilling zip line ride offers stunning views from above. (866-85-4EVER, www.foreverflorida.com) Gatorland Zoo: View all sizes of Florida swamp dragons from a safe distance. Also includes ecotours, wildlife exhibits and daily gator shows. (800-393-5297, www.gatorland.com)

The Bataan-Corregidor Memorial honors the sacrifices of Americans and Filipinos during WWII.

Bataan-Corregidor Memorial honors the sacrifices of Americans and Filipinos during WWII. And, at the corner of Johnston St. and Monument Ave., the Monument of States assembles an eclectic blend of stones, bones, meteors and petrified wood from every U.S. state and 20 foreign countries. Historic Downtown Kissimmee includes the Osceola County Courthouse (Florida’s oldest courthouse still in daily use); Makinson’s Hardware (opened in 1884, it’s the state’s oldest operating hardware store) and First Presbyterian Church (Kissimmee’s oldest church, dedicated in 1886) featuring Steamboat Gothic architecture. Strolling through this pedestrian-friendly area is a great way to stumble across nuggets of Osceola County history – often through wall murals depicting various scenes of early settlement days. Standing vegetation makes a fine target but warm winds pile dense mats of floating weeds against shorelines, especially after summer storms beat the lakes. Extending 20-yards or more from the “hard line” of solid ground, these conglomerations offer prime opportunities for flipping into open pockets or punching through a solid layer with big Texas rigs. The intrusion often awakens slumbering giants who respond aggressively to anything that disturbs their nap time. Nose right up to the thickest mats and don’t hesitate to probe way back into the cheap seats. Just beware of inhospitable reptiles. Alligators and cottonmouth water moc50 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Concentrate on flipping heavy cover and you’ll stand a good chance of connecting with a big bass.

Osceola County Historical Society & Pioneer Museum: An authentic 1898 “Cracker House,” pole-barn, blacksmith shop, sugar cane mill and artifact museum offer insight into the daily life of the county’s early settlers. (407-396-8644, www.osceolahistory.com) Boggy Creek Airboat Rides: Skim across shoreline shallows and experience Kissimmee’s wild habitat from a unique perspective. (877-304-3239, www.bcairboats.com)

Photo courtesy of the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau.

casins sunning themselves on weed mats are most likely to flee long before you arrive, but surprising one of these locals can make for a tense interlude in the old bass boat! Schooling activity continues into fall, but the fish typically hang closer to the edges of vegetation. Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters and flukes will produce. As autumn yields to winter, most bass bury into cover where flipping with ultra-slow presentations does the trick. Look for intense feeding before a cold front and absolute lockjaw on the backside. Corking wild shiners is a 24/7 no-brainer and November through February yields

tremendous live bait action. Bigger is better, and a 10-inch bait won’t offend a hungry largemouth. Rig shiners on 3/0 to 5/0 wide gap hooks and use stout rods with 30-pound line. If you toss a shiner into cover and he immediately leaps back out, you’re in the strike zone. Given the influence of Kissimmee’s flood control system, lake current can factor significantly in bass behavior. Depending on how much water has been released, the flow may or may not be immediately apparent. Area pro, Terry Seagraves, suggests picking a fixed object, like a stump or a grass point, and watching it closely to see if water breaks around it. Now, if hurricanes have an upside it is the promise of lake current. Indeed, these tropical temper tantrums dump such concentrated volumes of water in such short periods of time that the Kissimmee Chain frequently bulges with hurricane water while anglers are carving Thanksgiving turkeys. Scott Sills, who grew up fishing the Kissimmee chain, offers this day-to-day advice. “For most people visiting the area, I’d say concentrate on the heavy cover with flipping sticks and you’ll stand a good chance of connecting with a big fish. But for numbers,

Surprising one of these locals can make for a tense interlude in the old bass boat!

try Rat-L-Traps, flukes and topwaters in the open water around the edges of vegetation like Kissimmee grass or hydrilla lines.” Seagraves adds, “If you don’t know where to start, look for points – whether that’s hard points or grass points – and you’ll get something going. The bass will orient themselves to spots where they can ambush prey.” Complimenting superb bass action, the Kissimmee Chain also holds stellar speckled

perch (crappie) action that sees hundreds of boats bristling with long poles during the peak winter season. During the spawning periods, shallow grass lines will hold loads of specks, while open water brush presents yearround opportunities. Bluegill, catfish, pickerel and Florida gar round out the cast of Kissimmee Chain regulars. Next time you’re eyeballing Central Florida for a vacation, consider Kissimmee’s

The Kissimmee Chain also offers stellar crappie action during the peak winter season.

VISITOR INFORMATION If you’re flying into the area, Orlando International Airport is less than an hour from downtown Kissimmee. The main driving corridor, U.S. Highway 192, runs right into Disney Theme Park entrances on its west end, and provides easy access to a broad range of lodging, dining and entertainment as it continues east through town and across to St. Cloud. The convergence of Interstate 4, Highways 441 and 17/92, and the Florida Turnpike, facilitates transit to and from anywhere in Osceola County. For all things fishing, contact Big Lake Toho Marina at (407) 846-2124 or visit their website at www.bigtoho.com. For additional information, contact the Kissimmee-St. Cloud Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 407-742-8200 or visit www.visitkissimmee.com.

well-rounded persona. There’s nothing wrong with theme parks, but after you’ve shaken hands with a tuxedoed mouse you’ll find that this town holds another magic kingdom with a distinctly genuine flavor. Here, the star attractions are always ready to put a bend in your rod. ?

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Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 51

Want to load up on slab crappies? Then start drilling holes in the ice as soon as it’s thick enough to be safe. In Minnesota, where ice fishing fanatic Bob Bohland lives, that usually happens by the first week of December and sometimes earlier. Why does the early ice yield the best crappie fishing? Three reasons. One, the crappies are still active because their metabolism isn’t as slow as it will be later in the winter. Two, the crappies are feeding heavily in preparation for a long winter. Three, the crappie’s menu has been infused with a rash of young, bite-size bluegills and perch that measure one to two-inches in length.

EARLY ICE CRAPPIES By Lindy Fishing Tackle

52 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Baitfish Bonanza In the summer, submerged aquatic vegetation grows from the shallows out to depths of 15feet or more, depending on the water clarity. The dense greenery provides a safe haven where young-of-year bluegill and perch can escape crappies and other predators. When the water temperature chills in autumn, the grass begins to die. By the time the early ice forms, there are fewer places for the young bluegill and perch to hide. They concentrate in small patches of grass on flats in six to 15-feet of water. This is where crappie forage on the baitfish, and it’s where you can reap a harvest of slabs. “The early crappie bite lasts until the ice gets 10 to 12-inches thick,” Bohland says. “That gives you a window of two to four weeks before the bite tapers off.”

Find Grass First Bohland usually doesn’t drop a lure through the ice until he locates several grass patches that have crappie potential. He drills 50 to 100 holes over flats and looks for grass with a flasher or depthfinder and an underwater camera. “Coontail is one of the best weeds,” Bohland says. “But anything that’s thick enough for minnows to hide in can be good.”

When Bohland sees promising grass, he marks the hole as a waypoint on the handheld GPS he wears around his neck. When he’s finished drilling holes, he goes back and fishes only the ones he has marked with waypoints. Bohland also wears a pair of ice picks around his neck and a life vest. They allow him to claw his way to safety should he break through a thin spot in the early ice.

A big lure, like the 1 1/3 or 1 3/4-inch Lindy Darter, catches the biggest, most aggressive crappies during the early ice phase.

Go Big “I start with a big lure like the 1 1/3 or 1 3/4-inch Lindy Darter,” Bohland says. “A big lure catches the biggest, most aggressive crappies during the early ice phase.” The Lindy Darter is similar to the lipless, rattling crankbaits that are popular with bass fishermen. The Darter sports two treble hooks, a rattle chamber that mimics the sounds of distressed baitfish, and it has a vibrating action. Bohland rips the Darter up four to 12inches and lets it wobble down on a slack line. He repeats this two or three times to make the rattles sound off and attract crappies. Then Bohland “pounds” the bait by working his rod as though he were pounding in a small nail with a hammer. He interrupts this with short pauses. Bohland also uses the same action when he fishes 1/16-

and 3/16-ounce Lindy Rattl’N Flyer Spoons. In stained water, he opts for bright colors, such as Techni-Glo Red and Techni-Glo Firetiger. Bohland favors natural perch and bluegill colors in clear water.

Jigs After Bohland picks off the more aggressive crappies with a Lindy Darter or Rattl’N Flyer Spoon, he switches to jigs to entice

Isaiah Collins with a slab crappie.

Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 53

When the aggressive bite shuts down, jigs can entice the slow biters.

“That makes the jig kick to the side when I twitch it,” Bohland says.

Watching the Bite

slow biters. Although many ice fishermen prefer jigs with #10 or #12 hooks, Bohland ups the anti with jigs molded on bigger #6 or #8 hooks. One of Bohland’s mainstays is a Genz Techni-Glo Fat Boy jig dressed with a chewy, soft plastic Lindy Micro Mini Munchies Tiny Tail. The line eye protrudes from the top of the Fat Boy, making the lure hang horizontally in the water, like a suspended minnow. When Bohland wants to tempt crappies with a livelier presentation, he ties on a Genz Bug. The line eye extends from the nose of the Genz Bug, which makes it hang vertically in the water. Bohland rigs a Munchies Tiny Tail on the hook so it bends at a 45-degree angle.

54 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Bohland always puts his flasher’s transducer into the hole while fishing so he can see his lure and how the crappies are reacting to it. He claims he can tell when a bite is imminent because two lines on his flasher come together when a fish approaches his offering. “I’ve watched crappie swim up 10-feet to take my lure,” Bohland says. If a crappie approaches the lure but doesn’t nab it, Bohland coaxes a bite with a tactic he calls “the lift.” He slowly pulls the lure up while gently shaking it. The crappie strikes because it doesn’t want the meal to get away. When Bohland fishes in water no deeper than 5-feet, he ducks into a portable shelter that flips over him like a tent. This prevents the crappies from being spooked by skylight emanating from the hole. It also lets Bohland see into the water and watch the crappies react to his lure.

Impatience Patience is not a virtue when it comes to early ice crappies. If Bohland doesn’t get a bite on a Lindy Darter or Rattl’N Flyer

Spoon in two-minutes, he moves to another hole. Should he pick off a few slabs quickly, he switches to Genz jigs and fishes a little longer. “I don’t want to sit there and coax crappies to bite,” Bohland says. “I’m after the aggressive fish.” Any hole that produces crappies is marked with another waypoint. Bohland fishes other spots and gives the productive hole a rest. When he returns 15 or more minutes later, he is often greeted with more quick bites.

Tackle An 18- to 30-inch spinning rod matched with two to four-pound test line rounds out Bohland’s crappie ice fishing gear. He likes a super-thin, copolymer line because it doesn’t soak up water like monofilament, and it stays limp for better lure action and greater sensitivity. Icing slab crappies is easy early in the ice fishing season. All it takes is a little knowledge about their location and a few tempting baits to experience some of the best action of the year. Just remember to check the ice conditions and don’t venture out until it’s safe to do so. No crappie is worth a mid-winter dunking. ?

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WINTER TACKLE MAINTENANCE By Jonathan LePera

As winter is now in full swing, cabin fever is sure to set in soon enough! It will not be long before the television becomes boring, all of the fishing magazines have been read and, while ice fishing is fine, you find yourself longing for soft water. Winter offers the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with your rods, reels and tackle and get a jump on next year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned the best way to do that is to take care of the gear you have and help it to last as long as it possibly can.

56 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2012

SMOOTH SPINNING A candid chat with Shimano Service Technician, Chris Giles, (www.chrisgilesoutdoors.com) left me with plenty to think about on the topic of caring for your reels. To avoid problems, create a regular maintenance schedule for your reels that includes lubricating and cleaning. I usually do this within a week of putting my boat to sleep for the winter. Start off by visually inspecting each reel. Handles and bail assemblies often get bent on spinning reels, as they do not take kindly to being dropped or stepped on! Be sure to spin the reel handle to ensure that all of the internal parts spin freely, that no grinding is present, and that the spool is not dented causing the reel to pulsate. Chris suggests you release the anti-reverse on spinning reels to help relieve presShimano Service Technician, sure on the roller Chris Giles clutch assembly. Visually inspect the drag washer, as it can become warped and cracked. The last thing you need is for that trophy fish to make one last run at the boat only to have your drag lock up and the line snap due to being overstressed! The best way to prolong the life of the drag washer is to loosen the spool cap

or rear drag adjustment when your reel is not in use for long periods of time. Then take all of your reels off their rods, strip all of the line from them and clean them thoroughly. A big box of Q-Tips comes in handy for getting into all the nooks and crannies where dirt builds up. Next, I’ll lubricate my reels as indicated in the owner’s manual. Some reels have a maintenance port screw that can be removed to add oil without disassembling

the whole reel. Personally, I’ve never liked taking spinning reels apart. They are sealed with good reason and I only open them up if I absolutely have to. A couple of drops of the oil provided by the manufacturer when you bought the reel is all it takes. If you run out of oil, Chris Giles says that mineral oil is also used by the Shimano Service Crew. For grease, they use Permalube and medium light grease. Don’t forget to add some oil to the drive gear bearings when you remove the reel handle. Everyone enjoys a smooth and effortless retrieve, and a drop of oil goes a long way towards achieving this.

Reel cover bags help to prevent scratches and they help keep dirt from getting onto your reels.

Giles recommends using Shimano’s reel cover bags for both spinning and baitcasting reels. Not only do they help to prevent scratches, they help keep dirt from getting onto reel. “Some reels are very expensive, take the time to protect your investment,” says Giles.

BETTER BAITCASTING I’ve been fishing a baitcaster for almost 25years and I have learned that if you neglect the care and maintenance required for this type of reel it will pay you back when you least expect it. If you like to lock down your drag on the hook-set, know there is a price to pay! Yes, the battle with the fish will be short and sweet but so will the life of your pinion gear! This gear controls the spool shaft, engaging when you cast and holding the spool in place when retrieving. If you

Guide and tournament pro, Jeff Gustafson

Although it is possible to use line for several seasons, I would not recommend it. Based on the advice offered by guide and tournament pro, Jeff Gustafson (www.gussyoutdoors.com), I began re-spooling my line each year. He mentioned that freshly spooled line will not only cast farther but it is easier to manage, and his words of wisdom bode well for my fishing this year. If you are flipping, pitching or skipping your lures, you will definitely notice the difference. Despite using some of the line conditioning products on the market, I have found that fluorocarbon and monofilament will retain memory, especially if left for several months without use. Your line represents the most direct link between you and the fish, so why leave your success to chance! notice that the spool slips on the hook-set, the pinion gear can be the culprit! To clean the pinion gear, simply remove the sideplate and spool, and the pinion gear is impossible to miss. While you have the spool out, clean the brake collars or replace them if they are broken, dirty, or missing. Clean the spool assembly and add a drop or two of oil to it and the shaft to keep them running smoothly. Feel free to add a drop of oil or two to any of the bearings that you come across. Remember that when adding oil, less is definitely more. Adding too much oil will impede your casting distance. Another symptom of poor casting distance is blown bearings, something I’ve only had happen once. When the lure was in flight and the spool was in revolution, all I could hear was a high-pitched squeal. Chris Giles pointed out that bearings are sealed components and, if they wear out, the only repair is to replace them. It is imperative that you keep your bearings lubricated as running them dry creates undue friction and wear, compromising their functionality and lifespan.

HIGHSTICKING IS A PENALTY I’ve been fishing for 33-years and have owned more than my fair share of fishing rods. In all that time I’ve only broken one, Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 57

REEL TECH If you are adventurous, you can visit http://fish.shimano.com and learn to take your reel cleaning techniques to the next level by inspecting your gears, roller clutch inner tube, star drag washer and other, more intricate parts. For the less adventurous, you can send your Shimano reels to Shimano Canada Ltd., Reel Repair Service, 427 Pido Rd, Peterborough, ON, K9J 6X7 and have them professionally cleaned or repaired for a fair price. and that was due to manufacturer’s defect. Yet Chris Giles sees rods being returned on a daily basis due to all-too familiar culprits: misuse and abuse. Graphite fishing rods do not like being stressed beyond a 90-degree angle, which is usually what happens when anglers try to swing or ‘crane’ fish over the side of the boat. More often than not, the upper half of the rod will break. Keep in mind, most warranties do not cover misuse and abuse and most service centers can identify how the rod failed by inspecting the breakage point. As well, every bump, bruise, scratch and small nick on the blank can and will cause rods to fail, even under the lightest of loads. Such damage can be the result of anglers being rough with their rods, tossing them on the boat deck, stepping on them, letting them bounce around in rod lockers, hitting the trolling motor during a cast, and coming into contact with a tree branch when setting the hook or nicking a boat cleat. Even the regular bouncing around that rods take while you are transporting them in your car, or boat, is enough to do damage. I have always been puzzled by those who affix their lures to the rod guides. Sooner or later, unless the guide is titanium recoil, it is going to scratch or chip. The moment your line comes into contact with the damaged part of the guide, I guarantee it will create a weak spot on your line that will only be noticeable once your trophy fish swims away with your lure after the line breaks! Most of today’s rods have hook keepers - use them! The best way to check if a rod guide has been damaged is to rub a Q-Tip along the inside of the guide. If a crack or chip exists, the cotton will snare itself on the blemish. 58 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Clean and store your rods in an upright position if possible (rod holder/stand) and release any tension on them so they don’t stay bent or under load for the winter season. I always check the reel seats on my rods to make sure they’re tight. We’ve all seen the blooper videos where an angler sets the hook on a fish only to have the reel pop off of the rod. If you tighten your reel seat down, and the ring keeps spinning without locking tightly in place, you may want to get in touch with the manufacturer. Rod sleeve protectors like the Rod Glove only take a few seconds to slide on and they are a great way to help protect your rods from scratches and marks. They also keep your rods from getting getting tangled with one another and the cost pales in comparison to that of your rod!

thing: more money to buy even more tackle! As the boat goes into indoor storage, so does all of my tackle. Despite my garage being insulated, I do not like the moisture that comes with the different temperature changes during the winter. I do not want any of the salt sweating out of my baits nor do I want my hooks or lures coming into contact with any moisture as they are sure to rust come spring. Come the end of the season, I take everything out of my boat, starting with my drift socks. While I do my best to air them out during the season, I check for any moldy spots or areas that need to be washed before they get stored for winter. The same goes for my survival suit. Like I said earlier, it is always best to protect your investments. We have all been guilty of neglect at one point or another and it is a bitter pill for your wallet to swallow on the day of reckoning!

TACKLE ORGANIZATION There is nothing more frustrating that knowing the exact lure you need to trigger fish to bite, yet not having the first clue where to find it! Whether you have one tackle box or several, labeling each box can really simplify your fishing experience and maximize your fishing time. I even label the specific compartments inside the box to let me know specific lure and sinker weights. While I’m at it, I’ll check all of the hooks on my baits and sharpen or replace them as needed. I also take an end-of-season inventory of my favorite baits and make note of which ones I need to replace or replenish my selection of. The winter provides the perfect opportunity to take stock of what you will need for the following year and there are some great deals to be had during the off season. The various sportsmen’s shows always have great prices and many tackle shops have sales during the winter and early spring. Being a frugal shopper means one

While talking to Bob Izumi last year, he gave me a tip on using the large and extra large Ziploc storage bags for my fishing gear. Now I keep a change of clothes, rain gear, my camera bag, and all of my fuses and tools stored neatly in my boat compartments in these waterproof, sealable bags. I cannot believe how much room this opened up now that everything is so organized! By staying in tune with your gear, you’ll put more fish in the boat the following season. Not only will your tackle be better organized, you won’t hesitate to trust the sharpness of your hooks, condition of your lures and functionality of your rods and reels. This is definitely one of those times where a little effort goes a very long way. At the end of the day, it is all about the almighty fish and doing everything that you can to put the odds in your favour! ?

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Tales from the Road By Bob Izumi

In my last column I said that I was heading to Maryland to fish the final Everstart Northern Division tournament of the year on the Potomac River but I had a number of things to do - including two other tournaments – before heading south. I started off at Bark Lake in the Haliburton Highlands, taking the winners from our highly successful, annual Off! Deep Woods/Canadian Tire contest, out fishing. A number of tournament pros show up with their boats every year to help us and it’s always a lot of fun for everyone. We set up a mini-tournament with prizes for the contest winners and the pros fish for bragging rights. As much as I hate to tell you who won, I will say that I had a few tricks up my sleeve this year. That’s all I’m saying about that.

Weighing in at Bark Lake.

After Bark Lake, I was off to Mercury Marine’s national headquarters in Milton for a fishing themed luncheon with the Mercury staff. Mercury Marine was my first sponsor and it was a lot of fun to see some of the familiar faces I’ve worked with for, in some cases, up to three decades. We had a casting contest and a few other things going on, including a fish fry. What can I say, it was a great day and everyone had a lot of fun. Then I was off on a 23-day road trip. My first stop was the FLW Open on Lake Champlain. The fishing was extremely good and after day one I was sitting in 19th place with 18-pounds. I had one largemouth that I caught on an OSP Blade Jig in 60 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

shallow water, and four smallmouth that were caught by dropshotting three-inch GULP! Frys and Minnows. After the first two days the top-20 anglers go on to fish the third day and the top-10 from that get fish on day four. I was sitting comfortably after day one and just had to go out and do it again, but day two turned out to be a disaster. I just couldn’t catch a decent fish and I ended up with a small limit that weighed 10.02-pounds. The tournament paid back to 60th place and I barely squeaked in for a cheque at 59th. My buddy, Rick McCrory, who fishes as a co-angler, fared better on day two. He weighed in a monster mixed bag of bass to make the top-20 cut. It seems like when he does well I do poorly and vice versa. One of these days both of us will make the cut so that one of us isn’t a spectator. After Rick finished it was time to hit the road and get up to Lake St. Francis, essentially part of the St. Lawrence River, to fish the B1 tournament. The B1 is a Canadian tournament out of Valleyfield, Quebec and is held on water I really enjoy fishing. I got a day and a half of practice in before I had to leave my boat at the hotel and get another hotel room in Ottawa for a speaking engagement on Parliament Hill. I spoke to more than 60 Members of Parliament and Senators on behalf of the Outdoor Caucus. The focus of my talk was the importance of hunting, fishing and trapping here in Canada, and how much revenue they generate annually. I never in my wildest dreams thought that, as an angler from a small town in Ontario, would I ever be talking on Parliament Hill. I’m about as far from politics as I am from Mars. Still, it was truly

an honour and a privilege to be able to talk about something that is so near and dear to my heart to influential people who can certainly help all of us down the road. Then it was back out on the water for a couple of more days of practice before my son, Darren, and I were ready for the B1. Successful tournament fishing is really nothing more than making the right decisions at the right time. After fishing tournaments for over three-decades, I can say that you have to live and die by your decisions throughout the day. My son and I were going to fish for smallmouth on day-one of the tournament. As we were running down the lake, instead of continuing to do a milk run of smallmouth spots I turned left into a largemouth spot and started flipping. I guess I did that because I shook off so many fish flipping the weeds in practice I thought there was an easy 16 to 20-pound limit of largemouth in there. There were days that I had over 40 hits that I wouldn’t set the hook on, and I figured that some of them had to be three to five-pound fish. I was thinking; why not get a decent limit of largemouth to make the cut for day two (only the top 50 boats would make it) and then go for some smallmouth. Well, we caught largemouth. We had a limit in the first hour but not one of those fish was over 2 ½-pounds. We continued to fish a bunch of spots for largemouth when my son said that we really should go for smallmouth. He reminded me that we had won a Renegade Bass tournament with smallmouth on these same waters, catching the biggest weight ever for a 5-fish limit in Renegade history. I agreed, so we left the largemouth and headed after some smallmouth. On the first spot we stopped at we spotted a fish but couldn’t catch it. With 45minutes of fishing time remaining we went to another spot and caught two big ones that culled two of our largemouth. We weighed just over 15-pounds on day-one and snuck into the day two cut. When day two rolled around I agreed

with what my son was saying; we should be going for smallmouth. So we went deep and he got one decent fish - but I couldn’t get bit. Then we went shallow and he proceeded to get four big fish in two different areas. For whatever reason, I could not catch a fish that day. I couldn’t catch them deep and I couldn’t catch them shallow. Darren caught our entire limit that day, just under 18-pounds. We ended up sneaking into the prizes, winning a couple of pairs of extremely cool sunglasses. I can definitely say that we didn’t break even in this tournament, but we certainly had a lot of fun. My son still reminds me who caught all of the fish on day-two! I’m very proud of his abilities, but I’m still shaking my head because I couldn’t catch anything that day. I guess that’s why they call it fishing, not catching. Immediately after I weighed in, my wife, Sandy, and I started driving down through the ‘States to the Potomac River for the last Everstart Northern Series tournament of the year. With a 14-point lead for Angler of the Year, I was sitting pretty going into this tournament. The only problem was that I would only have a day and a half to practice on waters that I’m really not that familiar with. Despite not having a lot of time, we had a pretty decent practice. We caught a number of good fish on frogs, crankbaits and flipping, and I thought that I should be able to do pretty well in the tournament. Well, sometimes when you think you’ll do well in a tournament you don’t, and sometimes the tournaments that you’re not really sure about are the ones where you end up doing great. This one turned out to be a disaster. I couldn’t catch any good fish and ended up in 96th place. I also didn’t win the Angler of the Year. Congratulations to fellow Canadian angler,

Cory Johnston, from Peterborough, who ended up in second place overall in the tournament and won the Angler of the Year title. As I left that tournament I knew it was going to be a long drive home. I had some sponsor videos to shoot for the TV series and a lot of other work to catch up on since I’d been travelling pretty well straight for a number of months. Once I got some things done around home base it was time to pack and head for Alabama for my last two tournaments of the year.

fish that were under the minimum 15-inch limit and ended up with a big, fat goose egg for the day. I wasn’t the only one who blanked that day, but I will say that there were some very good fish caught by some of the other anglers. On day two I ended up catching three fish for just under 10-pounds. I caught them on a surface frog as well as by flipping a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss in the heavy weeds. When a bass came up, missed the frog and blew a hole in the mat, I would flip the Pit Boss around the area and catch it. I ended up in 119th place, once again out of cheque-cashing range. At least I left on a positive note knowing that I didn’t blank out for two days in a row! As soon as I weighed in, my wife and I hit the road towards Kentucky Lake for the Everstart Championship out of Paris Landing State Park in Buchanan, Tennessee. We drove about two-thirds of the way to Kentucky Lake before we stopped and got a hotel room

Practice fishing on the Potomac River.

The first was the FLW Open on Lake Guntersville, a renowned U.S. reservoir that many of the U.S. pros call their favourite lake. I’d never been there before and I had very limited information on that particular body of water. The only thing I had was what I’d read on the internet, so I went there pretty much hoping for the best. My wife, Sandy, Rick McCrory, and I did the official three days of practice together and we ended up catching quite a few fish. The last fish I caught, on the last evening of practice, was just under five-pounds so I was feeling pretty good. On day one I went to an area of the lake where I thought I could catch a decent limit and I stayed there all day. I was stubborn in my approach. Normally I run and gun and fish a lot of water in a day but in this one I decided to play it a bit more conservatively and concentrate on getting my five fish. Well, I caught a couple of short

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Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 61

62 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

I learned that there was a bait rig that just blew away the field at this tournament as well as the Guntersville tournament called the Alabama Rig. This rig is a device that has five wires coming off of a single area that you tie your line to. You can attach five swimbaits, grubs, spinnerbaits – five of any lure you like – to it. In some States and Provinces this system could be illegal because it would have too many hooks, so you should check your regulations carefully before you try it. The bottom line is that everybody in the top-10 on the final day at Guntersville utilized the Alabama Rig and the winner of the Kentucky Lake tournament, along with a number of the other top-10 finishers, used it as well. I tried desperately to get my hands on one, searching the internet with my iPad as my wife was driving from Guntersville to Kentucky Lake, but couldn’t find one anywhere. I The Alabama Rig blew even called all of away the fields at the FLW the tackle stores tournaments on Kentucky Lake and Lake Guntersville. that had them listed on their websites but couldn’t find one. Photo by Brett Carlson, courtesy of FLW Outdoors.

for the night. I qualified for this prestigious, year-end championship by getting seventh place in the Angler of the Year race. On our first practice day we launched in one of the many creeks on Kentucky Lake and immediately started catching fish on lipless crankbaits and on a new crankbait that Hiroshi Nishine had made for me specifically for this tournament. It’s a hand-poured, hard plastic crankbait that actually has a spinner blade on the belly of it. It’s one of the most amazing shallow water crankbaits I’ve ever used. You can cast it to trees and logs and it literally rolls over the branches and deflects. It has a really good searching action to it and is a pretty cool crankbait. Anyway, my wife and I caught a lot of fish during practice; enough to make me think that I could do pretty well in this tournament. I had about eight spots that were holding fish in the back ends of creeks where the mud flats would start. The bass were pushing shad up into about one to two-feet of water in the backs of these creeks. The water had some colour to it in the area we were fishing and I was feeling pretty confident going into the tournament. Well, on day one I weighed three fish for 6pounds, 9-ounces; on day-two I had four fish for 9-pounds, 11-ounces and once again missed out on cashing a cheque.

Apparently the small manufacturer that made them couldn’t keep up with the orders and has since sold out to a larger tackle company. Now there are a lot of knockoffs on the market that are made by other tackle manufacturers. The Alabama rig resembles a school of baitfish coming through the water. Why is it so effective? I guess in those lakes there’s so much bait that the bass are keyed on shad and other baitfish and this rig is a perfect imitation. I’m not whining that I didn’t have one of these rigs in those two tournaments, but they really did clean up in both events. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Even though it was windy when I got home, I scheduled a day of fishing on Lake Erie with Chris Hockley and some folks from Pure Fishing. We got on the water and I must say that it was really rough and cold. We all got very wet just getting out to our spot. After a short while we decided that it was time to call it a day. Rather than get wet and bounced around in the rough water we thought it would sure be nice to have a good hot meal in a restaurant. Neither Chris nor I ever like to turn down a meal so we ended up calling it a day. Sometimes it’s just nice to throw the towel in and that was one of those days. I was glad to get off the water and get into some dry clothes. My nephew decided that he was going to surprise his mom (my sister, Lynn) on her 60th birthday by having a surprise party for her. It was a fun get-together with family, friends and relations and it was a good break to get away from the hectic schedule I had been following since the first of the year. The following week was our annual fiveday shotgun deer hunt. We had some good success, harvested a few bucks and got some much needed rest. I did take a break from hunting one day to get some shots for a trip to Brazil that was coming up as well as my flu shot. I got five needles in one day: three in one arm and two in the other. I must be turning a little soft in my older age because the next day it felt like somebody had been punching on both of my arms. After our hunting week I slid down to Cornwall for some walleye and muskie

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fishing with my friends, Jack Levert, Rick McCrory, Steve Barnett, John Ward and Tim Allard and the fishing was exceptional. We didn’t get any big fish but we caught about 150 walleyes in two part-days of fishing between a couple of boats. We only spent about an hour and a half muskie fishing but we managed to raise two muskies. Rick had a 30-pounder on to the boat and I landed one that was 42-inches long. Then it was time to head home and pack for the Amazon. We were heading into

64 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

Brazil to fish the Rio Negro River. I fished there 10-years ago and was biting at the bit to get back. The trip was put together by Hooked On Adventures. David McCarthy, out of Fresno, California, operates this company and I must say it was an awesome trip. We flew from Toronto to Miami, over-nighted in Miami, then flew from Miami to Manaus, Brazil; over-nighted there and then flew to Barcelos, in the heart of the Amazon, the next morning. There were 18 of us in total on this sixday fishing excursion and it was one of those trips where everything is looked after for you. You don’t really even have to take your rods and reels if you don’t want to because they have the lures, the rods, the reels and everything. It’s really a first-class operation. On this trip we stayed aboard the “mother ship,” The Santana and fished out of comfortable aluminum boats, complete with casting platforms, during the day. We had incredible guides and over our six-days of fishing the 18 of us caught 886 fish. Out of those 18 people, some weren’t too serious about fishing. There were a couple of

the group, (no names mentioned) who were more into sightseeing and only fished maybe an hour on some days. Some guys, who might have had a few too many cocktails the night before, would opt out the early morning fishing. You know how the story goes. In total we caught 40 Peacock bass between 10 and 21-pounds and I caught my personal best, a 17-pounder, on this trip. Generally the most effective technique is to use great big ripper-type baits – big wooden baits with props on the rear end of the lure. You rip them very hard and fast to provoke a surface strike. I say generally because the best technique on this trip by far was trolling hair jigs. One guy in the group, who does not fish a lot, ended up catching 10 fish himself between 10 and 18-pounds, all by trolling a hair jig. The funny thing is, this

young fellow wasn’t very good at casting so he opted to troll and ended up catching a quarter of the 40 fish that were over 10pounds. All in all it was an awesome trip. As I wrap up this column in early December it’s starting to colder outside and I know it won’t be long before the ice fishing season gets started. Having said that, I think there’s still time for a few more open water trips before the big freeze sets in… ?

What’s COOKING

Grilled Curried Salmon with Tomato, Sausage and Basil Hash INGREDIENTS

METHOD

6-ounce Salmon Fillets

1 tbsp

Vegetable Oil

2 tbsp

Curry Powder

1-pound

Mini Red Potatoes

½ cup

Corn (frozen or fresh)

½ cup

Green Beans (frozen or fresh)

Andouille Sausages

1 bunch

Basil (julienned)

1 1/2 cups

Tomato Juice

Salt & Pepper

Mix the curry powder and vegetable oil. Place salmon fillets in curry and marinate between one and three hours. Dice the potatoes and blanch in boiling water until tender but still firm.

Place tomato juice in a pan and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and sausage and reduce heat to a simmer. When juice is reduced by half, add the remaining ingredients. Continue to reduce until potatoes absorb all of the tomato juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon hash onto plate and top with salmon.

Pre-heat barbeque to medium-high. Grill salmon fillets for four-minutes, flip and grill for an additional three-minutes. Remove and let rest. Special thanks to Jason Mohring of Tecvana Corporation for providing this recipe.

Winter 2012 – Real Fishing 65

SUNDOWN ON THE SHOAL Walleyes Attacking Perch

The walleye have very good eyesight in the low light giving them an edge over the yellow perch. In this painting I'm trying express the fading light and the underwater drama unfolding at the end of the day. – Charles Weiss

Artist:

Charles Weiss

Dimensions: 18” X 24” Medium:

Acrylic on canvas

Contact:

Charles Weiss 34 Hughey Cr. Toronto, ON 416-752-4363 www.charlesweissart.com

66 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

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