Winter 2016 by Real Fishing

Canada Post Mail Product Agreement No. 40015689

VOLUME 22 â&#x20AC;¢ ISSUE 1 Just $3.95

WINTER 2016

DISPLAY UNTIL APRIL 15, 2016

8 MUSKIE MY THS EXPLODED

Get the choice of champions behind you. The tournament-proven, direct-injected Mercury® OptiMax® Pro XS™ gets you to the fish first, lets you fish longer, and gets you to the weigh-in on time. That’s the power of the fastest engine on the water. For outstanding acceleration and top speed, nothing beats it. That’s why more pros want Mercury behind them. Including more than 80 percent of the past decade’s Bassmaster Classic champions and Anglers of the Year. Mercury behind you, the world before you. Visit your Mercury Dealer or mercurymarine.com.

©Mercury Marine

he all-new FS multi-species series from Ranger ®. Permeated by nearly four dozen pioneering features, this is a revolutionary leap forward in total performance and fishability. Inside and out, the designs are so advanced that, while we didn’t change everything – for the world of fishing – everything has changed. Highlights include a deeper wider interior, more fuel capacity, larger livewells, integrated tool holders, a skid-resistant floor that’s soft, cool and dries faster than carpet, a flush-mounted keel protector*, patent-pending Power Ventilation Rod Storage™, huge rod capacities, room for the largest back-mounted electronics, vertical rod holders, and much more! Experience the unparalleled ride and water-crushing strength of every exclusive FS hull. Touting 19, 20, and 21 foot models, these designs are performance engineered to do more than raise the bar – They’re Setting A Whole New Standard.

The New Ranger

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Digital Switching*

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TM/® are trademarks/registered trademarks of Ranger Boats, LLC or suppliers. © Copyright MMXIV Fishing Holdings, LLC d/b/a Ranger® Boats R-4111

For The Name Of Your Nearest Ranger Dealer, Call:

1-800-373-BOAT (2628)

Contents Features 30 LAKE SIMCOE ICE FISHING THEN AND NOW Lake Simcoe has undergone many changes in her fisheries over the years. Here’s how savvy anglers are changing with her in order to be consistently successful. By Wil Wegman

40 TREKKING AND TROUTING IN ALGONQUIN PARK Looking for a new fishing adventure this year? A canoe trip through Algonquin just may fit the bill. By Jim Baird

49 8 MUSKIE MYTHS – EXPLODED Getting to the truth behind 8 of muskie fishing’s biggest myths. By Charles Weiss

54 ICE FISHING FOR CANADA’S TOP PREDATOR Tips and techniques for tackling winter lake trout. By John Whyte

Winter 2016 Volume 22, Issue 1 Editor Jerry Hughes Art Production Rossi Piedimonte Design Publisher Fred Delsey

Columns

National Advertising Izumi Outdoors Tel: (905) 632-8679 President Wayne Izumi

6 OPENING LINES

26 BEST FISHING TIMES

By Jerry Hughes

Doug Hannon’s moon phase calendar

Contributors Curtis Atwater, Jim Baird, Patrick Daradick, Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Steve May, Dave Taylor, Tim Tibbitts, Wil Wegman, Charles Weiss, John Whyte Real Fishing is published by Izumi Outdoors Inc. 940 Sheldon Court Burlington, ON L7L 5K6 Tel: (905) 632-8679 Fax: (905) 632-2833 Privacy Policy: Occasionally, we make our subscriber 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 Subscription inquiries Please call: 1-877-474-4141 or visit www.realfishing.com Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40015689 Customer Account No. 2723816 GST Registration No. R102546504

10 SPORTSMEN’S ALMANAC News, trivia, event listings and more from the world of fishing

14 WHAT’S NEW

The latest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories

16 FISHING By Bob Izumi

18 FLY FISHING By Steve May

20 THE WATER’S EDGE By Dave Taylor

22 THE VINTAGE TACKLE BOX By Patrick Daradick

24 REAL FISHING FISH FACTS Burbot

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

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

64 WHAT’S COOKING

66 ART OF ANGLING

On the cover: Lake Simcoe Laker Photo by Izumi Outdoors

28 THE HOT BITE

opening lines By Jerry Hughes

Knowing Fishing Most of what you see, read or hear about fishing revolves around the how, where and when aspects of the sport. It seems we are always thirsty for the latest bait, technique, pattern or location that will give us an edge and ensure us a successful outing. Heading to the hot steelhead streams based on internet reports; stocking up on a crazy lure because they won some tournaments in the USA; selecting a fishing lodge based on a fishing article or TV show – we all do it at one time or another. Sure, sometimes things pan out and we enjoy a day of stellar fishing, but what if they don’t? What do you do when there’s no room on the river; the new lure drags up more weeds than fish or the fishing at the lodge isn’t as great as you thought it would be? Do you get a little sinking feeling in your gut? Do the excuses start forming in your mind? What separates the average anglers from the great ones is that the great ones don’t fret when things go south. It isn’t because they’ve got fancier gear or bigger tackle boxes, it’s because they’ve got the knowledge and mental mindset to be able to assess the situation and adapt to it. They have learned the basic habits of the fish they’re after and they know something about the waterbodies they plan to fish. When there’s no room on the hot steelhead steelhead river they move to another one and adjust their approach and expectations. When the bass don’t gang up on the killer lure, they use something else and catch fish. When the pike at the lodge don’t cooperate, they switch to another species. Their mindsets are always positive because they have the knowledge to be able to make things happen. This issue of Real Fishing is all about sharing some knowledge that will, hopefully, provide some insights that you can 6 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

put to use this year. Starting off is Wil Wegman’s look at the history of Lake Simcoe, one of Ontario’s most heavily fished lakes. Wil explores the rise, fall and re-rise of the big lake’s coldwater fisheries; the invasion of zebra mussels and gobies, and how anglers today must adapt and fish differently than they did back in the “old days” because of these changes. Then, avid canoeist, angler and outdoorsman Jim Baird shares some of his back country expertise in his story about a trout fishing trip in Algonquin Park. Jim’s article shows how thorough planning and knowledge of the area resulted in a successful trip despite high water and less than ideal conditions. Muskies are one of the most prized, yet misunderstood, species and a lot of what we “know” about them is based on halftruths and outright myths. In this issue, Charles Weiss talks to a few of Ontario’s top muskie anglers in order to separate the facts from the fiction behind these great fish. His findings may change some of what you thought you knew about muskies and provide some insight into how you can up your odds of catching a true trophy this year. Rounding things out is John Whyte’s timely article on ice fishing for lake trout. In it, John looks at the trout’s habits and movements throughout the winter season and how anglers can use this knowledge to intercept the fish. From the types of areas to fish to the best presentations for each part of the season, John shares his timetested approaches and methods that can be

used to catch lakers wherever they swim. There’s so much to learn about fish and their environments that we can only scratch the surface in this magazine - but we hope the concept of knowledge-based fishing is clear. Stocking up on hot lures or trolling the internet for hotspots may result in a few good fishing trips, however, it’s knowing about the species and its habitats that will ultimately make you a better angler. ?

CATCH OF THE DAY.

Â© Tim Hortons, 2015

On June 12, 2015, Fishing Forever held their annual Fundraising Golf Tournament at Turtle Creek Golf Club in Campbellville, Ontario, in support of the Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Days program. Over 100 sponsors, supporters, professional anglers and friends showed up under mostly cloudy and rainy skies to take part in the festivities and raise money to help underprivileged kids enjoy a day of fishing in their local communities. Although the weather was far from ideal, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dampen the spirits of the golfers, who helped to raise just over $26,000 for this great cause. We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part and helped make the day a huge success, and we hope to see everyone again next year.

ROUGHING IT?

8 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2016

Most anglers tote a thermos if they want a cup of coffee while they’re out for a day of fishing - but Bob Izumi isn’t most anglers. Rather than settle for a cup of stale thermos-brew, Bob prefers to whip up a hot, fresh coffee whenever the mood strikes!

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 9

REAL FISHING PARTNERS WITH VIRTUAL PHOTO WALKS The Real Fishing Show has allied with Virtual Photo Walks in a program that will allow Bob Izumi to share some of his angling adventures with people who are unable to physically get out on the water for a day of fishing. “I’m happy to be a part of Virtual Photo Walks”, said Bob Izumi. “This is an incredible concept that will let folks enjoy the experience of fishing even though they may not be able to actually get out on the water.” Founded by John Butterill, virtualphotowalks.org is a charity that harnesses the power of the internet and mobile communications to enable the disabled, infirm and those isolated by illness - young and old to visit distant places in a real-time, interac-

tive experience. Using Virtual volunteer guides equipped with a smart phone, the disabled can participate in an immersive, real-time experience in places they will likely never see first-hand. Participants are connected through the internet in real-time via video and voice so they can interact with each other and with their virtual photography guide in a private video conference. Through text and voice connections, participants can make special requests of their videography guide to personalize the experience. You can learn more about Virtual Photo Walks, or make a donation, on their website at www.virtualphotowalks.org/ donate or on their FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/VirtualPhotoWalks.

WALLEYE FISHING CLOSED ON LAKE SCUGOG Ontario has approved a regulation to close the walleye fishery on Lake Scugog as of January 1, 2016. Starting in the New Year, no walleye fishing will be allowed on Lake Scugog until further notice.

As of January 1, 2016, walleye will be off limits in Lake Scugog until further notice from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The walleye population in Lake Scugog has been monitored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for decades and the data collected indicates recent declines in the walleye population. Ontario is taking action now to ensure Lake Scugog’s walleye population remains healthy and sustainable in the future. The seasons for other fish species on Lake Scugog are not affected by this decision and will remain open to recreational angling under current regulations. For more information, please contact Lisa Solomon, Management Biologist, at 705755-3305 or by e-mail at lisa.solomon@ontario.ca.

10 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

ONTARIO’S LICENCE-FREE FISHING DAYS As part of the Ontario Family Fishing Events initiative, Canadian residents can experience fishing in Ontario waters without the need for a fishing licence between February 13 and 15. It’s the perfect opportunity to get outside and introduce non-fishing family members or friends to the sport of fishing. The Ontario Government designates two periods throughout the year as license-free: February 13-15, 2016 and July 2-10, 2016. During all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase a valid fishing license to legally fish in Ontario. Anglers fishing without a license must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. With the exception of the licensing requirement, Ontario fishing regulations, fees and limits continue to apply during licensefree days. Printed copies of the summary are available at licence issuers and ServiceOntario Centres. You can find out more about Ontario’s licence-free fishing days on the Ontario Family Fishing Events website at www.ontariofamilyfishing.com.

EVENTS Calendar KIDS AND COPS FISHING DAYS Youth oriented fishing events Various dates and locations www.kidsandcops.ca

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW January 8 – 17 Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place Toronto, ON www.torontoboatshow.com

SIMCOE COUNTY HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT

BC BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW / BC HUNTING SHOW 2015

February 13 Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay Barrie, ON http://icefishingbarrie.ca

March 4 - 6 Tradex Abbotsford, BC www.masterpromotions.ca

ONTARIO FAMILY FISHING WEEKEND

WAWA ICE FISHING DERBY

February 13 - 15 License-free fishing in Ontario www.ontariofamilyfishing.com

March 4 – 6 Wawa, Hawk and Manitowik Lakes Wawa, ON www.wawaicefishingderby.com

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW January 20 - 24 BC Place and Granville Island Vancouver, BC V6B 4Y8 www.vancouverboatshow.ca

HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW February 18 - 21 Exhibition Park Halifax, NS www.masterpromotions.ca

CALGARY BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW February 4 - 7 BMO Centre, Stampede Park Calgary, AB www.calgaryboatandsportshow.ca

MONTREAL BOAT AND WATER SPORTS SHOW February 4 - 7 Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec, www.salondubateau.com

SPRING FISHING AND BOAT SHOW

March 5 Lake Simcoe Sibbald Point Provincial Park www.perchinforms.com

MONTREAL HUNTING, FISHING AND CAMPING SHOW

EDMONTON BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW

February 18 - 21 Place Bonaventure, Montreal, QC www.salonexpertchassemontreal.ca

March 10 - 13 Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands Edmonton, AB www.edmontonboatandsportshow.ca

OTTAWA BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW

QUEBEC CITY HUNTING, FISHING, CAMPING AND BOAT SHOWS

February 18 - 21 EY Centre Ottawa, ON www.ottawaboatandsportshow.ca

TORONTO SPORTSMEN’S SHOW March 16 - 20 International Centre Mississauga, ON www.torontosportshow.ca

PERCHIN FOR MS

March 10 - 13 Centre de Foires ExpoCité Quebec City, QC qchfcs.sportshows.ca

MID-CANADA BOAT SHOW March 3 – 6 RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, MB www.midcanadaboatshow.com

MONCTON BOAT SHOW April 1 - 3 Moncton Coliseum Moncton, NB www.masterpromotions.ca

February 12 - 15 International Centre Mississauga, ON www.springfishingandboatshow.com

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 11

READER’S PHOTOS Brent Willis Courtice, ON Largemouth Bass

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

Steve Hanson Harley, ON Chinook Salmon

Robert Yalaksa Simcoe, ON Lake Trout Steve Male Fergus, ON Muskellunge

Jackie Perry Napanee, ON Largemouth Bass

12 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

Catch BOB on the Tube! AN ALL NEW SEASON OF REAL FISHING CASTS OFF ON JANUARY 2! Tune in every Saturday morning on Global, and weekly on WFN, as Bob Izumi and his guests show you where, when and how to tackle the biggest fish from the hottest Canadian and international destinations.

STATION LISTING & AIRING TIMES* MARKET

PROV./STATE

STATION

DATE & AIR TIMES

Atlantic Canada

Global (CIHF)

Saturday 8:00 am

Calgary

Global (CICT)

Saturday 10:30 am

Edmonton

Global (CITV)

Saturday 10:30 pm

Ontario

Global (CIII)

Saturday 8:30 am

Quebec

Global (CKMI)

Saturday 8:30 am

Regina

Global (CFRE)

Saturday 7:30 am

Saskatoon

Global (CFSK)

Saturday 7:30 am

Vancouver

Global (CHAN)

Saturday 10:30 am

Winnipeg

Global (CKND)

Saturday 7:30 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

2016

ON POINT New for 2016, Berkley® Fusion19™ hooks are engineered to be the sharpest hooks on the market and to stay sharper, longer, than any other brand. These needle-point hooks can withstand the toughest, thickest cover without damaging their structural integrity, and a technologically-advanced polymer coating called Slickset™ allows Fusion19 hooks to penetrate easily and with less force so you can catch more fish. Fusion19 hooks come in nine bass-specific designs including extra-wide gap (EWG), superline EWG, weedless EWG, weighted EWG, offset worm, dropshot, heavy cover, swimbait and weighted swimbait hooks.

www.berkley-fishing.com

JUMP START Weego Jump Starters are the fastest, easiest, and safest way to jump start your car, boat ATV, Jet Ski or any other engine that needs a boost. These 12-volt lithium-polymer jump starters are designed to not only start your engine, but also charge your phone, tablet, speakers and other USB devices – and they’re small enough to fit in your pocket or glove box. A Weego Jump Starter only loses 2-5% charge per month when stored so it’s always ready when you need it and every model will withstand 1000 full charge and discharge cycles. Weego Jump Starters are available in standard, professional and heavy-duty models and come with an 18-month warranty.

www.myweego.com

BRIGHTEN UP Coleman’s new 200L and 250L Conquer LED headlamps are the first of their kind to offer no-touch control lighting. The 250L model features the Kinesix™ gesture control system that lets you change modes with a swipe of your hand. The five modes - high spot, high flood, low spot, low flood and red – all provide the right light for the task at hand. Both headlamps feature the exclusive Reax™ light sensor that autoadjusts the beam pattern and brightness for lighting short and long distances, and Coleman’s Batterylock™ system that stops battery drain to preserve battery life and reduce corrosion. The headbands have soft, fabric tensioners that are fully adjustable while wearing the headlamp and the light’s rugged exterior offers increased impact resistance.

www.colemancanada.ca

14 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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

SNUG AS A BUG Waterproof and breathable, the Heatzone 1000 TurboDown Hooded Jacket is one of Columbia’s most awesome and warmest jackets. The Heatzone 1000 gets it¹s insane warmth from 900-fill, 1000 TurboDown Wave Insulation, water-resistant goose down and 100g of Omni-Heat insulation. Featuring zippered hand pockets, a helmet-compatible hood and a thermal reflective lining, the Heatzone 1000 Turbodown Hooded Jacket will keep you warm regardless of the outdoor conditions.

www.columbiasportswear.ca

TIE THE KNOT Stren® is making anglers’ knots more reliable with its newest offering, Stren Power Knot line. Power Knot is self-lubricating, allowing less-than-perfect knots to hold strong and great knots to perform even better. Power Knot is a low-memory monofilament that handles great and can hold virtually any knot - basic or complicated - without worry. Stren® Power Knot is comes on 220-yard filler spools in Lo-Vis green or clear and is available in strengths from 4 to 20-pound test.

www.stren.com

TROLLING ALONG The new X5 bow mount, cable steer motor is MotorGuide’s most advanced, tournament-caliber motor. It’s engineered to deliver best in class performance for precise control, quiet operation, and rugged durability. Serious anglers will be impressed with the X5’s solid construction and patented Variable Ratio Steering (VRS) technology. This innovation allows anglers to make subtle and precise steering adjustments, and it virtually eliminates torque steering feedback that can compromise boat stability and control. Other features include composite shaft material, digital variable speed control and integrated sonar on select models. The X5 comes in four power ranges: 55, 70, 80 and 105 pounds of thrust; three shaft lengths: 45, 50 and 60-inches; and is available in 12, 24 and 36-volt configurations.

www.motorguide.com

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 15

fishing

Bob Izumi is the host of The Real Fishing Show.

By Bob Izumi

Polarized Sunglasses If you’re serious about fishing, or even if you’re not, good quality polarized glasses can make all the difference in the world. I’ve worn polarized sunglasses since I was a teenager (I believe I bought my first pair at age 15) but for quite a few years I wore the inexpensive kind. As I get older, and my eyes are not quite what they used to be, I wish I would have switched to a quality pair of polarized glasses years ago. For the last four-years I’ve worn Costa sunglasses and I cannot believe the difference between these and the “bargain” glasses I used to wear. There are a number of reasons why good polarized glasses are helpful for you. First off, they cut down the glare on the water so you don’t have to squint or strain your eyes all day. I remember one day, about 25 or 30-years ago, when I forgot my polarized glasses and went out fishing with just a regular pair of sunglasses. After spending the day on the water I couldn’t believe the headaches I had that evening from being out all day without proper eye protection.

16 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

High quality lenses are another reason to pick premium glasses over the bargain brands. Inexpensive lenses are not always optically correct and they often contain small flaws that end up causing blurring. That puts stress on your eyes that can make them red, sore and teary. Low quality lenses are also more prone to scratching, which makes it hard to see clearly and can also lead to eye strain. Too much eye stress and strain can actually lead to permanent eye problems. That could mean you end up wearing corrective glasses years earlier than if you had protected your eyes properly. Good eyewear can also help protect your eyes from some of the hazards we face as anglers. I remember a time when I was fishing for largemouth bass in Florida and decided to swing a largemouth into the boat with my flipping stick. As I was lifting the fish, the ½-ounce jig sling-shotted out of its mouth and hit me square in the lens of my sunglasses. The lens shattered but didn’t thoroughly break and to this day I think that my sunglasses probably saved me from being blind in one eye. Of course good glasses can protect your eyes from other hazards like twigs, dust and bugs too. The main reason I like good polarized glasses is so I can see what’s under the water. When light reflects off of flat surfaces, such as a lake or river, the light waves create intense glare. The filters in polarized lenses block these horizontal light waves, substantially reducing the blinding glare and creating greater visibility in the water. Personally I use three different lens colours for the various fishing conditions I

encounter. My favourite all-around glasses have gray lenses, which are especially good on really bright days. Amber coloured lens offer the brightest field of vision and they make a good choice for high-contrast sight fishing. For early in the morning, late in the day or on dark, overcast days I use the sunrise lens. They offer high contrast and allow maximum light transmission. With the right coloured lens you’ll be able to see weedbeds, weed patches, dark spots on the bottom, rocks, logs and maybe even fish that you couldn’t see without polarized lenses. A case in point is when my son Darren and I won a Renegade Bass tournament a number of years ago. We were fishing on a flat, catching some big smallmouth bass by wacky rigging. At one point my son spotted a bass and pointed to it. I looked down and there was a giant smallmouth sitting by a boulder in about eight feet of water, about 10-feet away from the boat. I asked Darren to hand me a rod that was rigged with a tube bait. He picked it up, slowly passed it to me and I made an underhand pitch about five-feet beyond the smallmouth. Then I dragged the tube up to within about a foot from the fish and let it sit. I was just about to drag it away when that fish tilted up and sucked the bait in. I set the hook and before it even had time to fight Darren had a net under it. That bass weighed over six-pounds and anchored our limit that weighed just under 24-pounds! We ended up winning the tournament, as well as the big fish award, with that fish. Had we not been wearing polarized sunglasses I guarantee you that neither of us would have seen that bass and I probably would have spooked it with the electric motor. I’ve got dozens of other stories about how polarized sunglasses have helped me to catch fish, but I don’t have room in this column to tell you about all of them. Let’s just say that my polarized sunglasses are so important to my success on the water that I won’t go fishing without them. ?

Our desire is to put superior fishing gear in the hands of those who love this sport as much as we do. In doing so we are able to make good anglers great and make great anglers the best.

The Strongest, Most Abrasion Resistant line. Period.

The Thinnest, Most Sensitive line. For the lightest jigs (or presentations)

Special 100% Fluorocarbon formulated for Ice fishing.

Premium mono for quick hookups.

berkley-fishing.com

find us:

Mono for Cold Weather Flexibility.

fly fishing By Stephen May

Winter Preparations Winter is a great time to share flies and lies. It is the perfect time to work with old friends, share a few laughs, plan future fishing outings and strategize how to fool the biggest fish in the river. This is one of my favorite parts of the fly fishing “season”. Fly tying can be a core part of enjoying this sport. I know that I get additional satisfaction from hooking up with a fly made with my own hands, or those of a close friend. One of my proudest moments was seeing my five-year olds tie their first flies and then catch wild brook trout with them.

If you don’t fly tie you should at least consider it, as it can be a great way to expand the social element of fly fishing when you can’t get on your favorite waters. To get started with fly tying, a good strategy is to work with a local club or fishing store. Flies are not difficult to tie and there are standard patterns that work in a variety of situations. Many fish can also be forgiving to below average examples. Starting your fly tying efforts with simple and effective patterns is highly recommended. Even ugly woolly buggers will catch fish! There are a number of simple dry flies and nymphs that will also be successful on the water. The natural materials used in fly tying are very effective fish-foolers. 18 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

When the white stuff is piled up outside I replenish my fly boxes and work up new patterns for special situations I hope to encounter in the coming season. If this takes place with a couple of friends around my fly tying bench, all the better. Fly design theories, and how to integrate new materials into old standbys, are debated and new patterns are created. Every year I assemble fly selections for the trips I plan to take. Boxes for spring dry fly trips, bold streamers, flies for hot summer smallmouth outings, fall muskie hunting and steelhead selections are all arranged and compiled through the winter months, waiting for their chance in the coming season. Winter also offers the chance to go to various fishing shows. Some are fly fishing specific, others have a dedicated area where the folks with feathers hang out. This can be a super opportunity to learn about new fly

patterns, fishing strategies and fishing destinations. It is a perfect way to extend the season if you can’t get somewhere south. Fishing shows also give you a chance to talk with operators of potential destinations. Learning about other fisheries, and the strategies to get hooked up in far flung locations, is always a fun learning experience. Bucket list destinations can be worked on.

A new addition to this off season dreaming are fly fishing film festivals. These events usually feature high quality independent short films that can really get you excited about new and exciting fishing opportunities. Planning new adventures and remembering past trips is a big part of fly fishing. Hopefully, you will get a chance to dream and scheme this winter. ?

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THAN A TRADITIONAL TWO-STAGE*

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

water’s edge By Dave Taylor

The Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

The common muskrat is often mistaken for its much larger and very distant relative, the beaver, but muskrats are more closely related to voles and lemmings than they are to beavers. Beavers have flat, wide tails whereas the muskrat’s tail is long and thin. It must be admitted, however, it easy to mistake a muskrat for a young beaver until you get a look at their tails. Muskrats and beavers have ranges and habits that overlap, but there are some significant differences. Muskrats do not build dams and therefore do not create wetlands like beavers do. Muskrats do not cut down trees for food. About 95-percent of their diet is plant material and the other five-percent consists of freshwater mussels, small fish, frogs and small turtles. Their organic food preferences include plants such as bulrushes, cattails and arrowheads. The preferred parts are the shoots, roots and bulbs. By dining on these, muskrats help control the spread of plants, like cattails, that can overrun a wetland. Muskrats help keep open water and by doing so help promote the biodiversity of the wetland. In marshes they build “popups” that resemble beaver lodges except that they are made up of the shoots of cattails and other marsh plants. Some of these “lodges” can reach eight-feet in diameter and stand over

20 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

three-feet high. These larger mounds will be home to a mated pair and two or three sets of that year’s offspring. Smaller mounds will be present throughout the marsh as well. These are used as feeding spots. The muskrat “popup” is often used by other wildlife in the wetland. Canada geese will nest on them as will other waterfowl. Mink will use them for shelter as well. Muskrats are not confined to marshes and ponds. They will burrow into banks along rivers and lake shores as long as they have access to nearby food sources. Burrows are their preferred homes in winter and these bank dens can be quite extensive. One was measured has having over 300 feet of tunneling! Muskrats can be found almost anywhere in North America where their preferred food grows. Muskrats breed year ‘round in the southern part of their range but further north they may breed only in July and August. The young are born about a month later with litter sizes ranging up to 10 offspring. By a month old the young are no longer nursing and will forage independently of their mothers. Males may have more than one mate but will only help their primary mate with the rearing of the young. A second litter or even a third might share the den, however, if food is scarce the older siblings may eat their younger ones. In March and April the surviving young disperse. Some may range as far as 1.6 kilometers from their natal home. Males are

three times more likely to move out of their parent’s range than their sisters are. Muskrats are active all winter but they do face a problem of carbon dioxide buildup in their snow covered dens. They are much more tolerant of this gas than we humans are, still, if the buildup becomes too great they will leave the den for fresh air. This is when they are most vulnerable to predation. Many species prey on muskrats. Great blue herons will eat young ones, snakes may raid the den and large fish may take the occasional young animal. Other predators include alligators, fox, coyotes, bobcats, eagles and large owls. Their primary enemy is the American mink. It is sleek enough to enter any of the muskrat’s escape holes and usually fast enough to catch them, although adult muskrats can outswim a mink. A single mink might kill all of the offspring if it catches them in the lodge. Muskrats are also trapped for their fur across their natural range, which includes most of North America, as well as where they have been introduced in Europe and Asia. China is the biggest market for muskrat fur today. Muskrats have become so well established in some parts of Eurasia that they are now considered pests. Muskrats are important to the health of our wetlands and to our economy. They go through regular patterns of abundance and decline that repeat every six to ten-years. Anglers out at dawn and dusk are the ones most likely to encounter this busy rodent. ?

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the vintage tackle box

Patrick Daradick has been collecting vintage fishing tackle for over 25-years and is a specialist in Ontario made tackle. He enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge and can be contacted online at www.ontariolures.com or by phone at 613-398-7245.

By Patrick Daradick

Hex Baits, Brockville, Ontario Hex Baits was founded by Hector MacLean and, from the 1930s until the 1950s, the company produced some of the finest wooden, plastic and metal Canadian fishing lures on the market. The company was actually situated in a two-storey barn in back of the MacLean household. Hector was born in 1899 in the Rocky Mountain coal-mining community of Fernie, British Columbia. His father, William, owned the Fernie Lumber Co. which he sold in1899 when he headed east to North Bay, Ontario to continue in the lumber business. After selling his interests there, the family moved and settled in Brockville. Hector was just 15 when his mother passed away in 1915 at the age of 38. In 1916 Hector pledged allegiance to King George V and became a member of the 156th Overseas Infantry Battalion. The military later realized they made an error in calculating his age and scrawled on his certificate, “Underage - otherwise very good”. After being overseas and seeing his ambitions of combat dashed, Hector returned to Brockville at the age of 19 where he earned income as a local trapper and fishing guide.

22 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

Hector was also a star athlete and he played on many minor pro baseball, hockey and rugby teams. In 1922 Hector opened a small store in Brockville selling postage stamps, stationery and paper goods to local industrial interests and downtown retailers. He met his future wife, Bea, at the local skating rink in 1923 and it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, the age of consent in Ontario at this time was 21 and Bea was only 18. Rather than wait three-years, the couple decided to ferry over to New York State where they were married in a brief ceremony. Hector closed his small business and took employment as a salesman for CanadaSwift packers. By 1930 he and Bea had saved enough money to purchase a house at 55 Kingston Road, which would eventually house the Hex Baits business.

As the depression era was taking hold, Hector established a wholesale fish business, purchasing fresh pickerel and perch from Lake Ontario’s commercial fishermen. The business flourished and soon he had a profitable route stretching from Kingston to Brockville. Because the business was seasonal, Hector also had a trapping licence that granted him rights in the White Lake district. With these ventures he was able to maintain a good income to provide for his family. Hector Maclean was also quite the craftsman and he made wooden fishing plugs and canoe paddles in the basement of his home. His items were sold by Fred Kay’s store in downtown Brockville. Although he was able to produce about 400 fishing plugs a year from old pine broomsticks and scraps of cedar, Hector found it hard to maintain pace with the orders for his fish catching wooden plugs. So, in 1937, he secured a loan from a local bank manager in order to move the new business from his basement to the old two storey barn that sat behind his home. The barn that once housed livestock was renovated by Hector and a friend. Hector’s first machine was an old treadle-operated sewing machine that was converted into a wood lathe. His company name was derived from his own name, “‘Hec’s Baits”, to officially become, Hex Baits Limited. Hector turned out some of the most sought after lures for fisherman of the day and for collectors of today - including the Bassos, Pikie Minnows with the red eyes, Scout plugs and jointed Pikie minnows. After buying a stamping machine, many wellknown metal lures were introduced to his catalogue of tackle. Hex Baits would later venture into the production of plastic lure styles like their famous Bunty Plastic Plug, Wheelrite, Luminous Plug and the Floater. Hex Baits were all sold in attractive cardboard boxes. Today, a wooden, glass eye Basso or Pikie lure, in its original long style box, would easily fetch $300. There’s no question that Hex Baits in original boxes are a “Hec” of a find for collectors! ?

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real fishing fish facts

Burbot Lota lota

If you do any ice fishing for lake trout or whitefish you’ve probably been surprised at one time or another by accidentally catching a burbot. These fish are easily identified by their unusual appearance, looking something like a cross between a fish and an eel. The most identifiable features of burbot are their elongated dorsal and anal fins that run from the middle of the body to the tail. The dorsal fin is actually comprised of two fins, a low, short one that is similar to dorsals on other fish, and a second, longer one that extends to the tail. The shape of the front half of the burbot, from the head to the anal fin, is nearly round. From there to the tail it is laterally compressed, like other fish. It has a broad, triangular head that features small barbels extending from the nostril openings, and a larger one extending from the chin. Burbot range in colour from yellow to light brown to dark tan and they are usually darker the further north they are found. The background colour is overlaid with a mottled pattern that gives the fish a spotted or lace-like appearance.

The burbot can be found in most of the suitable freshwater habitats of North America, Europe and Asia lying north of the 40th parallel, with the exception of Scotland and Ireland, the Kamchatka Peninsula, most islands and the extreme north. Burbot are one of the few Canadian fish that spawn in mid-winter, under the ice. They prefer to use areas from one to fourfeet deep with sand or gravel bottoms. During spawning, up to 10 or 12 burbot will become intertwined with each other, forming a writhing ball of fish that moves across the bottom spreading eggs and milt. Burbot do not build nests, nor do they care for their eggs or fry. Spawning only takes place at night and the spawning areas are deserted during the daylight hours. As a sport fish, burbot have never been high on most anglers’ lists. They are rarely

targeted and are usually caught incidentally by ice fishermen in search of other species. There are exceptions however, and there are areas where burbot are prized and actively pursued. Their flesh is white and flaky and resembles the taste of its close relative, the cod. Burbot has been called “poor man’s lobster” due to its similarity in taste and texture after being poached and drizzled with butter and lemon. ?

DID YOU KNOW? Burbot were once so abundant in the Great Lakes that they were considered a nuisance to commercial fishermen. In the early 1900s, pound-net fishermen who regularly handled tar-soaked netting would often use burbot liver oil as a hand balm for protection against the tar.

FAST FACTS Colour: Yellow to light brown to dark tan background with a lighter, mottled pattern in the foreground. Size: 15 to 20-inches and two to threepounds on average but can grow to over 30-inches and 15-pounds or more. Habitat: Deep freshwater lakes and large, cool rivers of the northern hemisphere.

RECORD The current IGFA All-Tackle world record burbot is 25-pounds, 2-ounces and was caught in Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, in March, 2010.

24 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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26 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

JANUARY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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

Good Time

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

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

5 8:42 9:06 2:39 3:03

am pm am pm

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

6 9:30 9:54 3:27 3:51

am pm am pm

7 9:06 - 11:06 9:30 - 11:30 3:33 - 5:03 3:57 - 5:27

3:06 3:30 9:03 9:27

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

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

3:06 3:30 9:03 9:27

13 am pm am pm

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

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

9:54 - 11:54 am 10:42 - 12:42 am 11:30 - 1:30 am NA 10:18 - 12:18 pm 11:06 - 1:06 pm 11:54 - 1:54 pm 12:42 - 2:42 4:21 - 5:51 am 4:21 - 5:51 am 5:57 - 7:27 am 6:45 - 8:15 4:45 - 6:15 pm 4:45 - 6:15 pm 6:21 - 7:51 pm 7:09 - 8:39

am pm am pm

1:06 1:30 7:33 7:57 -

3:06 3:30 9:03 9:27

am pm am pm

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

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

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

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

am pm am pm

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

3:06 3:30 9:03 9:27

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

4:18 - 6:18 am 5:06 4:42 - 6:42 pm 5:30 10:45 - 12:15 am 11:33 11:09 - 12:39 pm 11:57 -

19 7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

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

3:30 - 5:30 am 4:18 - 6:18 am 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 pm 4:42 - 6:42 pm 5:30 9:57 - 11:27 am 10:45 - 12:15 am 11:33 10:21 - 11:51 pm 11:09 - 12:39 pm 11:57 -

2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18 9:21 - 10:51 9:45 - 11:15

am pm am pm

1:06 1:30 7:33 7:57 -

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

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

2 7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

21 am pm am pm

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

am 10:06 - 12:06 am NA pm 10:30 - 12:30 pm 12:06 - 2:06 am 4:33 - 6:03 am 6:09 - 7:39 pm 4:57 - 6:27 pm 6:33 - 8:03

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

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

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

am pm am pm

1:06 1:30 7:33 7:57 -

3:06 3:30 9:03 9:27

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

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

am pm am pm

2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30 8:33 - 10:03 8:57 - 10:27

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

1:18 1:42 7:45 8:09 -

am pm am pm

8:06 8:30 2:03 2:27

am pm am pm

6:54 7:18 1:21 1:45 -

8:06 8:30 2:03 2:27

am pm am pm

am 3:42 - 5:42 am 4:30 - 6:30 am 5:18 - 7:18 am 6:06 pm 4:06 - 6:06 pm 4:54 - 6:54 pm 5:42 - 7:42 pm 6:30 am 12:33 am 10:09 - 11:39 am 10:57 - 12:27 am NA pm 10:33 - 12:03 pm 11:21 - 12:51 pm 12:09 - 1:39 pm 12:57 -

23 9:06 - 11:06 9:30 - 11:30 3:33 - 5:03 3:57 - 5:27

am 3:42 - 5:42 am 4:30 - 6:30 am 5:18 - 7:18 am 6:06 pm 4:06 - 6:06 pm 4:54 - 6:54 pm 5:42 - 7:42 pm 6:30 am 10:09 - 11:39 am 10:57 - 12:27 am NA am 12:33 pm 10:33 - 12:03 pm 11:21 - 12:51 pm 12:09 - 1:39 pm 12:57 -

20 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54 2:57 - 4:27 3:21 - 4:51

10:18 - 12:18 am 10:42 - 12:42 pm 4:48 - 6:19 am 5:11 - 7:41 pm

am pm am pm

am 9:54 - 11:54 am 10:18 - 12:18 am 10:42 - 12:42 am 11:30 - 1:30 am pm 10:18 - 12:18 pm 10:42 - 12:42 pm 11:06 - 1:06 pm 11:54 - 1:54 pm am 4:21 - 5:51 am 4:48 - 6:19 am 4:21 - 5:51 am 5:57 - 7:27 am pm 4:45 - 6:15 pm 5:11 - 7:41 pm 4:45 - 6:15 pm 6:21 - 7:51 pm

13 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18 9:21 - 10:51 9:45 - 11:15

7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

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

am pm am pm

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

am 10:42 - 12:42 am 11:30 - 1:30 am NA pm 11:06 - 1:06 pm 11:54 - 1:54 pm 12:42 - 2:42 am 4:21 - 5:51 am 5:57 - 7:27 am 6:45 - 8:15 pm 4:45 - 6:15 pm 6:21 - 7:51 pm 7:09 - 8:39

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

1:06 1:30 7:33 7:57 -

7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

3:30 - 5:30 am 4:18 - 6:18 am 5:06 3:54 - 5:54 pm 4:42 - 6:42 pm 5:30 9:57 - 11:27 am 10:45 - 12:15 am 11:33 10:21 - 11:51 pm 11:09 - 12:39 pm 11:57 -

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

am pm am pm

4:18 - 6:18 am 5:06 4:42 - 6:42 pm 5:30 10:45 - 12:15 am 11:33 11:09 - 12:39 pm 11:57 -

10:42 - 12:42 am 11:30 - 1:30 am NA 11:06 - 1:06 pm 11:54 - 1:54 pm 12:42 - 2:42 5:09 - 6:39 am 5:57 - 7:27 am 6:45 - 8:15 5:33 - 7:03 pm 6:21 - 7:51 pm 7:09 - 8:39

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

7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

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

1:06 1:30 7:33 7:57 -

5:06 5:30 11:33 11:57 -

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

am pm am pm

FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY

Excellent Time

10:42 - 12:42 am 11:30 - 1:30 am NA 11:06 - 1:06 pm 11:54 - 1:54 pm 12:42 - 2:42 5:09 - 6:39 am 5:57 - 7:27 am 6:45 - 8:15 5:33 - 7:03 pm 6:21 - 7:51 pm 7:09 - 8:39

MARCH

Best Fishing Times 2016

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Largemouth bass can be caught on a wide variety of baits but when the bite is tough it’s hard to beat a soft stickbait like the Berkley Havoc Flat Dawg. Just ask Steve Niedzwiecki, owner of Chaudière Lodge on the French River. Steve was filming with Bob Izumi last summer during one of those “slow bite” days - until this porker took a liking to the Flat Dawg and turned a mediocre day on the water into a great one!

28 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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30 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2016

ICE FISHING – THEN AND NOW By Wil Wegman

Unlike my open water fishing experiences that began while I was just out of diapers, my first hardwater fishing didn’t begin until I was in high school. Although my dad loved to take me fishing during the warmer months, the winter period was never really on his horizon. But, by the mid-’70s, some of my high school buddies introduced me to this whole new world and I’ve been hooked ever since. And, growing up in southern Ontario about an hour north of Toronto, there really was but one ice fishing destination and that was Lake Simcoe.

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 31

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Back in the ‘70s, vehicles were commonly used as portable fish huts.

Back then it seemed like everyone drove their vehicles onto the ice to get to their huts or to fish out of their cars. We would chisel our way through three-feet of ice with a homemade spud bar, unwrap our wooden tip-up sticks and begin fishing. Most of the time lakers, whitefish and cisco were the target species. Big burbot or ling were caught regularly but most anglers didn’t know or care that these tasty, “poor man’s lobster” made excellent table fare. I still recall the site of ling carcasses left scattered on the ice by anglers who thought they were doing the lake a favor by not putting them back because, “they ate so many baitfish that the other, more desirable, species could be eating”. Unfortunately, today we see very little evidence of these historically significant fish. Even yellow perch were, for the most part, left for “The Americans” to chase. Today, they are the most popular species in the lake for residents and non-residents alike, regardless of the season! Yes, ice fishing sure has changed since then, but so too has Lake Simcoe. She was a completely different body of water than she is today. Zebra and Quagga mussels were non-existent. Black crappie and bluegill sunfish had not found their way into the lake. Spiny water fleas, rusty crayfish and round gobies were not even on the horizon. Cisco (lake herring) were so abundant that catch limits were unlimited and ice anglers would typically fill bushel baskets with the silverycolored fish. Non-native rainbow smelt were at their peak and were often an annoying, yet unavoidable, bi-catch when ice fishing. Dip netting bucket loads of smelt after 34 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

ice out was a time honored tradition for thousands of fishermen. Spring die-offs of smelt were common when water temperatures fluctuated dramatically, but otherwise the lake seemed healthy. It showed little evidence of the more recent fish-killing diseases like Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (2011 & 2012) or the Koi Herpes Virus that killed thousands of carp in the spring of 2008. The effects of climate change were not as evident and we typically fished hard water from early December right thru to mid-April. We also can’t overlook the fact that development, although steady, was relatively slow by today’s standards and the surrounding population was nowhere near what it is today. Barrie, for instance, had just 27,676 residents in 1971 whereas by 2011 it had grown to more than 136,000. Why bother re-hashing all these influences on what is still the most intensively fished inland lake in Ontario? Certainly it is not to suggest that the lake and her fishery is in dire straits; quite the contrary. In many respects it is thriving and is healthier today than it was back then. How can this be, with so many more people influencing the lake? Consider, for instance, that septic systems of the past were a mess and most leaked directly into the lake. Sewage treatment plants were nowhere near as high-tech as they are today. Phosphorus reduction strategies had not yet begun and agricultural runoff from the Holland Marsh and other farms was at an all-time high. Lake trout and whitefish reproduction was showing serious signs of decline and, a few years

The cisco fishery has made an amazing comeback thanks to improved environmental conditions in Lake Simcoe.

later, the cisco fishery would all but collapse, with zero evidence of natural reproduction. Today, both lake trout and whitefish are reproducing successfully on their own and cisco have made such a remarkable comeback that their season was re-opened in 2015. Consider for a moment just how amazing this re-opening really is and you would be hard pressed to find another example like it anywhere in North America. Try to find a lake that had a native species totally closed off to all fishing only to reopen less than 15-years later without the aid of any kind of stocking program! These cisco came back completely on their own because environmental conditions improved to such an extent that several successful year classes have developed strictly through natural reproduction.

A Healthy Lake The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change continually tests contaminants in fish from thousands of Ontario’s lakes and their Guide to Eating Ontario Sportfish demonstrates how safe to eat most of the fish from Lake Simcoe are. Yes, the health of the lake has, in many respects, improved tremendously thanks to government programs such as the previous Lake Simcoe Environmental Management Strategy and, more recently, the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan that came about as a result of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act. So, despite all these changes, our beloved Lake Simcoe still offers tens of thousands of anglers some of the finest hardwater fishing opportunities in the province. Ah, but there’s a catch. They can’t fish like me and thousands

of others did way back in the mid-’70s and expect any great level of consistent success. Those days are long behind us. A big part of the reason is because both the lake and her ice anglers have adapted to changing times. This very notion has become the cornerstone of the ice fishing seminars that I host every winter across Ontario, from Niagara in the west to Ottawa in the east and north to Sudbury. At these seminars, I’m often asked just how anglers can adapt. Of all the ways we can adjust to the changing lake and the changing times, there is one guiding principle that stands out above all the rest: mobility is the key to success. As discussed, Lake Simcoe’s fish community is in a continual state of adapting to ever-changing conditions. Areas that were hot last winter may be void of fish this win-

ON LAKE SIMCOE, GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN… • Using minnows was the best way to get bit and anglers didn’t leave shore without them • Wooden tip-up sticks and double spreader rigs were standard fare • An ice angler’s tackle box was a rusty, metal contraption with just a few Williams spoons and pearl droppers in it • Fishing ‘blind’ (without a high quality sonar and GPS unit) was all that you knew • Those who got bit the most were the die-hards who owned their own wooden huts • Hut owners consistently caught fish from first ice to last in the same area • Social media and fishing forums were just a figment of someone’s imagination • Yellow perch had virtually no catch and possession limits and truck beds full Simcoe’s jumbo’s caught thru the ice made their way south of the border for sale at American restaurants and seafood stores • Ice safety wasn’t top of mind with most anglers • Keeping your limit of whatever you fished for was your primary goal • Every angler carried a gaff to pierce and pull every fish that would come thru their holes • Ice fishing was synonymous with drinking

ter. Although other factors that we do not yet fully understand may come into play, one that we definitely know of that influences where fish are is the presence or absence of food. A perfect example is the recent phenomenon that many anglers have discovered when it comes to whitefish. Those who now spend time working shallow waters with rocky bottoms - in the 20 to 30-foot range - are secretly catching whities for the first time in several years. The reason why can be almost directly attributed to the abundance of round gobies and zebra mussels, which the whitefish find to their liking. 36 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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Finding forage is not necessarily an easy task and, although Simcoe’s gamefish have an incredible abundance of it, pinpointing schools of baitfish without high-quality sonar is an effort in futility. Some anglers still prefer flasher units and, for some weedoriented, shallow, perch fishing applications, they are still great. Many converts, however, realize the all-around benefits of a high definition, full color LCD unit like the Lowrance Elite Ice Machine far outweigh the limited applications of a flasher. These can clearly identify baitfish (and game fish) for you and, with their big wide screens, marks on LCD units don’t disappear in the flicker of an eye. The new Elite units are even available with detailed mapping and GPS that allows you to save waypoints wherever you find fish. A few anglers, such as myself, still don’t mind fishing on the open ice so we can quickly and easily do a great deal of moving around. However, we are now in the minority as the portable ice hut craze is more prevalent on Lake Simcoe than anywhere else in the province. Admittedly, on those

38 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

extra blustery days I will opt for the warmth and comfort of my HT Arctic Bay portable flip-up style shelter as I move from one spot to the next. Naturally, the ability to stay mobile and fish many different areas is much easier with a snow machine or ATV, but this doesn’t mean that those of us on foot cannot fish a significant section of the lake effectively. My approach involves choosing an area of the lake with some diversity and walking out with a game plan to fish an area about the size of a football field. For lakers and whities, pick a spot with various depths and substrates. If you’re fishing for perch, have some holes over weeds, others close by and others on sand flats far removed, then cover that football field area by moving from hole to hole, spending a few minutes in each until you locate the fish. For lake trout and whitefish, the threehole method rocks above all others. Drill two holes just over three-feet apart, and then another one in the middle for your transducer. In one hole, jig a bright, flashy spoon to bring fish in. In the other, have a set line 10-feet or so off bottom for lake trout, or just a foot or two for whitefish. Rig it with a swimbait or tube jig. You’ll be able to watch your graph clearly identify the straight line of the jig and the up/down movement of your spoon. When a fish

comes in to see either bait, begin reeling in and you should see that fish chase your bait. Some days they want the spoon, other days it’s the soft bait that gets the attention. They don’t always bite, but it sure does get the adrenaline flowing watching it all unfold in living color on your sonar! If and when they do bite, you may just see it happen on the screen before you feel it. Now there’s some excitement we couldn’t have even imagined back in the ‘70s! This winter you may have to work a little harder to enjoy the piscatorial benefits that Lake Simcoe offers, but rest assured that if you keep an open mind, are willing to experiment and keep learning about the fish and the fishery, you should be rewarded. Have a safe and successful ice fishing season everyone! ? Wil Wegman is an award winning outdoor writer who was a member of Team Canada at the World Ice Fishing Championships on Lake Simcoe in 1991. Wil and his son, Izaak, won the inaugural Perchin’ for MS event on Lake Simcoe in 2011, and he came 3rd the following year. He is the only two time winner of the Bill Bond Memorial Award presented annually to the individual who demonstrates their commitment to conserving and promoting the fishery of Lake Simcoe. Although he loves to ice fish new lakes, Wil spends most of his winter on Lake Simcoe.

Trekking and in Algonquin

40 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2016

Trouting Park By Jim Baird

Photos by Jim Baird and Tori Farquharson

The wind is blowing hard out of the northwest when we reach our put-in at Algonquin Park’s Lake Opeongo. I can see whitecaps building as I look out towards the big lake from the dock near the park office. It’s still morning, about nine o’clock, and I fear the waves will only grow in size. Opeongo is the largest lake in Algonquin Park and one of only two lakes out of the park’s staggering 1,500 where motors of unlimited horsepower are permitted. Not that that matters much to us, as we’ll be paddling a canoe - or does it?

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 41

We’d chosen a 115-kilometer route via two rivers and allotted six-days to complete it. My girlfriend Tori, and our Husky/Malamute cross Buck, are along for the advanced-level trip which is stacking up to be Tori’s longest, toughest, canoe adventure to date. Right now, I’m feeling like we’re biting off more than we can chew. The large waves, coupled with the danger of the cold spring water temperature, mean we won’t be able to safely make it far on Opeongo today.

Highway to the Interior Given our current predicament, Tori is quick to mention the water taxi service offered though Algonquin Outfitters supply store, which is adjacent to the park office. The water taxi service on Opeongo provides an obstruction-free highway into the Algonquin Park interior. “No self-respecting voyageur would do such a thing”, I think to myself. Besides, I want the chance to tangle with some of Opeong’s lake trout. They’d been eager to bite on my last trip to the lake. Looking at the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes map, we weigh the possibilities. The map marks the countless portages in front of us including one particularly ugly looking, three-kilometer carry on the Crow River. Also notable are the four-kilometers of portaging on the Petawawa River, followed by numerous runnable rapids.

Tori makes the executive decision: we’re taking the water taxi. I swallow my pride as a 200-horsepower, welded aluminum boat whisks us across the lake to our first portage on the northeastern side of Opeongo’s north arm. Cheating aside, we still have 100-kilometers of demanding river in front of us. On the Crow River, just east of Big Crow Lake, we paddle past the trail into an old growth forest marking a hike we’d taken on our prior trip to the area. Trying to put kilometers behind us, we paddle and portage on, finally reaching our campsite just before dark. With all the portaging on the Crow you may think, why bother paddling it? Funnily enough, it’s actually the difficulty of the river that indirectly draws anglers to it. You see, black flies lay their eggs in clean moving water and, in the spring, black fly larva are abundant in many of Algonquin’s streams and rivers. The water temperatures of spring allow brook trout, a cold-water species, to venture into the rivers to feed on the larva. As the rivers warm, the trout retreat to the cool thermocline of Algonquin Park’s lakes. Add the pressurelimiting factor of the Crow’s horrific portaging to the mix, and you have a strong trout fishery. The Crow offers a glimpse into what fishing used to be like in the old days of the park.

Deep in the Backcountry It’s morning on day-two and we begin catching brook trout on almost every cast in some places. Small silver spinners are my “go-to” but I also land a couple on a small jighead tipped with a Berkley PowerBait leech. Late in the afternoon I feel a strong wind at my back as we approach Lake Lavieille, the largest lake on the Crow River system. I switch my spinner out for a spoon and troll, hoping to hook into a laker as we cross the large lake. The crossing gets sketchy as big waves hit our stern and surf us on occasion. We’re traveling quite fast and my lure is running too shallow, but I don’t bother reeling in. After all, you’re 100% more likely to catch a fish with your line in the water than out! With the wind pushing us into Lavieille’s outlet, I feel a strong hit and quickly grab my rod and set the hook. After a good fight I land a nice lake trout. It’s one of two fish we keep before the day’s end and I grill them to perfection as night falls over our campsite.

We awake to pounding rain on day-three. It’s not easy to climb out of the tent into this kind of weather. We get a slow start and are feeling pressed for time. Luckily, I’m able to line and solo-paddle through a couple steep parts of the river, effectively bypassing some long portages. Lining, as applied here, is when you walk down the side of the river controlling your canoe at the end of a long rope that’s tied to the stern. It can be a dangerous skill to use as losing your canoe could put a fast end to your trip, not to mention strand you in the middle of nowhere. Very few people are traveling in the park at this time of year and you need to be self-sufficient; we’d seen no 42 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

one past Lake Opeongo. I always make sure to keep a waterproof survival kit in a fanny pack around my waist in case I should lose the canoe and our outfit. Stumbling along the bank, I look ahead and see a huge downed tree across the river. This is succeeded by numerous chutes and it’s clear I can line no more. Tori and Buck wait on the trail some 15-meters above the river. It’s not easy hauling our outfit up the steep, slippery hill to the trail, but it’s a lot better than portaging the entire distance. We continue on in the pouring rain and land some decent trout by pitching our spinners into shore eddies along the route. The weather finally breaks as we arrive at our Blueberry Falls campsite. It’s a beautiful site, perched on a rock terrace beside the falls that are thundering with the high waters of spring.

Warm- Water Fish & White-Water Rapids A short paddle down from the falls and we reach the Petawawa River, an ancillary tributary to the mighty Ottawa, and the largest volume river in Algonquin. We are

still feeling a little pressed for time with 60kilometers of advanced level river in front of us and only three-days left to paddle it. We’d chosen the Petawawa for its whitewater thrills, the best Algonquin has to offer, but the excitement for such a challenge doesn’t come without a healthy dose of apprehension. After all, Petawawa is a native Algonquin word meaning, “noise

heard from afar”, which refers to the river’s many thundering rapids. The section of the Petawawa most commonly run in the park is from the Lake Travers put-in to the McManus Lake take-out, which is reached via the Sand Lake Gate at the park’s eastern border. Now on the Petawawa, we are still well above Lake Travers and it’s our goal to

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on this trip to help make sure Tori has a good time. Questing for the rod, I’m jumping from rock to rock at the water’s edge when my foot slips between two large boulders and I start falling over sideways. I feel a rock dig sharply into the side of my shin and I fear I’m about to break my leg. Luckily my foot slips, freeing me from the leg breaking hold, but I go ass-over-tea-kettle into the drink.

make it there before dark. From Travers, most trippers take three-days to paddle the 48-kilometers to McManus Lake. This section of river incorporates about 14 rapids, varying in intensity from class 1 to class 4. The most impressive is known as Rollaway Rapids, an 800-meter, class 3/4; then Crooked Chute, a class 4 chute that is immediately followed by a tough, class 3 at spring water levels. Several other exciting “big water” class 3 runs await in this section of river including Little Thompson and Natch. Don’t let the white-water scare you off if you’re not into running it. These rapids can be portaged fairly easily and the runs are much calmer should you decide to do the trip in the summer or fall. The river also holds dramatic scenery, some of it captured by avid fisherman and artist Tom Thomson, influencer of The Group of Seven, in his paintings of the river. Possibly the most famous of them is “Petawawa Gorges”, which depicts the towering 100-meter cliffs of Precambrian granite that flank the river immediately succeeding Natch Rapids. Although not common, large brook trout can be caught in stretches of the Petawawa. It’s also the only place in the park where warm water fish species such as muskellunge, walleye, and smallmouth bass are native. Schooner and Five Mile Rapids provide long stretches of unbroken class 1 and 2 rapids that would require over five-kilometers of portaging to bypass, so it’s not a good idea to plan a spring trip on the Petawawa, unless you are comfortable running some class 2 rapids.

Sometimes it’s Okay to Say the F-word It’s late in the evening and we run a couple short class 3 rapids with Buck in the canoe. We usually let him out at the top of 44 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

a rapid and he’ll meet us at the bottom, but it seems he doesn’t mind a little white-water fun either. Soon we’re portaging around Devil’s Cellar Rapids and then almost immediately we begin another 1,300-meter carry. We’re still hoping we can make it to Lake Travers before dark but it’s not looking good as we’ll need to complete yet another long portage and more paddling before reaching the lake.

I get out of the cold water and say the Fword, really, really loudly as I keep walking. After scrambling along the side of steep hills, clambering over boulders and crashing my way through dense bush, the moment of truth arrives as I approach the end of the last portage. And the rod is there, leaning up against a tree, thank God! I’m relieved my mission has not been pointless. I return from the four-kilometer walk with a less than positive outlook but Tori

That’s when Tori asks me where my fishing rod is. Having lost one to Davy Jones’s locker earlier that day, we were down to our last rod. “Um, I don’t know, I thought you were carrying it,” I say with distinct panic. “Maybe it’s back at the beginning of the portage,” Tori suggests, but I know it’s not. I realize it’s likely back at the end of the last portage, a two-kilometer walk each way with half of it a total bushwhack. I decide to go anyway but I’m clearly not a happy camper. “I hope I didn’t seem too pissed,” I think to myself as I walk. I want to stay positive

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smiles and tells me it didn’t take me long. She seems happy. My leg hurts and it’s swollen, but Tori’s warm demeanor cheers me up. With our energy tanks running low, we complete the last portage of the day and paddle on to Lake Travers in the setting sun. Despite the road access, we have the lake to ourselves and pick a beautiful beach campsite, the nicest one on the lake.

Pushing it on the “Pet” It’s morning on Travers, and Tori and I know we have to make good time today. The day starts out with running both Little and Big Thompson rapids while Buck watches us from shore. The adrenaline burst I receive from the big class 3s makes me forget that I didn’t have time for coffee this morning.

Soon after that, Tori and I portage our gear around the pièce de résistance of the Petawawa: the infamous Rollaway Rapids. I go back for the canoe and see a trophy-size brook trout slowly swimming upstream near the head of the portage. Annoyingly, it doesn’t even bat an eye at my spinner.

46 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

A look back down the portage trail helps me muster the courage I need to solo our 17-foot canoe down the rapids, and I successfully eddy out at their base near a cross that commemorates the death of another paddler who died here. To be safe, we wade up to the large drop on Crooked Chute and portage around it. Unlike Tori and I, Buck seems to enjoy the portages; they’re a fun walk for him. A little jealous, we make plans to sew him a large doggy backpack for our next trip. The long class 3 following the main drop of Crooked Chute is a great run and Tori is game to go for it. Barley missing the large hole at its top, we complete the wild ride with the open side of our canoe up! Continuing to make good time, we run both Schooner and Five Mile rapids while Buck stands on our spray deck. The continuous class 1 and 2 rapids are extremely fun and we even see a moose along the bank as we make our way down them! We’ve had a very fun but long day when we finally pull over to make camp at dusk, only nine-kilo-

meters from our take-out. We’d been on the water for almost 12-hours.

Mistake Muskie Hoping to catch a walleye, I troll towards our take-out on our last day when I feel something crush my lure. It turns out I have a muskie on that is likely about sevenpounds. Not targeting muskie - as the sensitive species is out of season - I release it as quickly as possible, but catching it evokes dreams of hooking a leviathan on my next trip down the “Pet”. The day is sunny and warm, a swift tailwind picks up, pushing us effortlessly to our take-out and we complete the trip before noon. Our vehicle is waiting for us in the parking lot, as we’d arranged to have it shuttled there by Algonquin Portage Outfitters. I look at Tori and ask if she had fun. She smiles and I know the answer is yes. I give her a congratulatory kiss, we get in the car and ten-minutes down the road we begin planning our next adventure. ?

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Article and Illustrations by Charles Weiss

8 MUSKIE

MYTHS

EXPLODED

In large parts of North America the muskellunge (or muskie) is king and no other freshwater game fish approaches the legend and lore associated with this fish. Their size potential, predatory habits and ornery personality have endeared them to anglers ever since manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first encounter with this long, toothy fish.

Winter 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Fishing 49

I’d like to explore some of the myths surrounding the muskie, but with less discussion of the fantastical aspects and more talk of the beliefs that possibly originated from some truths - especially those beliefs that can influence actual muskie fishing. There’s always some hard science on the side of mythology. For example, what governs the growth of giant muskies and how big can they get? Unlike land animals, aquatic animals have their bodies supported by water so they are not subjected to gravity as a factor that limits growth. This means that if the conditions are right they can keep on growing throughout their lives - so called “indeterminate growth”. A mature fish will have lots of surplus energy and some of it will go towards growth depending on available food quantities and environment. So a giant muskie is a possibility. I’ve interviewed a few veteran muskie fishers who each have several decades of muskie fishing experience and have asked them for their insights into some of the more common muskie myths. Gord Pyzer is one of the most successful and renowned muskie anglers on Lake of the Woods and a former manager of the Kenora District Office of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. John Anderson has several decades of muskie fishing experience on the Ottawa River and runs the Ottawa River Musky Factory guide service. Gord Bastable has spent several decades muskie fishing on Eagle Lake where he and wife, Susanne, have owned and operated Vermilion Bay Lodge for over 20-years.

MUSKIES ARE BEST CAUGHT ON CHOPPY WATER Gord Pyzer: “Absolutely untrue - although on some clear lakes muskies become more easily spooked on flat water conditions. Anglers with quality Polaroid sunglasses will have a better chance to make pinpoint casts to structural elements at greater distances when the water is calm. Many of my most productive days casting throughout the entire season have been on flat water days.”

John Anderson: “No. but it helps. The world underwater changes greatly when waves are on the surface. Light is refracted 50 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

much differently and the colouring on the side of the muskie is harder to see.”

Gord Bastable: “I think there is some truth to this. Anything that adds to the presentation of your bait may trigger a strike. A surface bait is harder to scrutinize and may seem more elusive to the muskie. An extra element of calamity that means feeding time.”

MUSKIES ALWAYS HANG OUT IN WEEDS Gord Pyzer: “Absolutely untrue. In the late summer period, many muskies shift to rock or gravel areas for two reasons. The first is that the forage species have shifted to these areas. Second is the warming effect that the sun creates hitting the rock and the surrounding water. Some muskies will only visit the weeds during the spawn or to digest large meals.”

John Anderson: “Muskies are not always caught, but they are always in the weeds at least this was the finding of Sean Landsman when he did the Project Noble Beast study. In tracking muskies with transmitters over a season on the Ottawa River there was one constant: no matter what the conditions there were always muskies in shallow, in the weeds.”

Gord Bastable: “It is definitely an underwater element that gives predators the edge over their prey and therefore can attract and hold muskies. But, if you limit your vision to only weeds you are missing opportunities. I would suggest the bigger and older a muskie becomes the less time it spends in the shallows.”

THE SAME MUSKIE STAYS IN THE SAME SPOT Gord Pyzer: “Not true. Typically a structure that holds larger fish will hold multiple large fish. The reason for this relates to the quantity and quality of forage that is available in that spot. Scientific studies have shown muskies move considerable distances in their quest for food and in the digestive process. Of all the muskies that were recaptured in the tagging and tracking program that happened on Lake Scugog from 2000 to 2006, only one fish was caught multiple times in extreme close proximity to its prior capture. A detailed radio tracking program on Lake Wabigoon showed muskies travel long distances on a day to day basis.” John Anderson: “It’s common to see muskies in the same spot, especially in the summer months. Radio telemetry studies

John Anderson: “I am a Sasquatch kind of a guy if you have a picture of you and a Sasquatch, and the Sasquatch is on a weigh scale and it reads “100-pounds” then I will believe you.”

Gord Bastable: “A nice tale to give to the local Chamber of Commerce and to area resorts as something to brag about. Giant fish are occasionally netted, but 100-pounds? Fantasy.” have shown that during the summer muskies establish a “home range”. This is an area of perhaps a couple of acres that act as home. The muskie will wander off this range to hunt but will always return. If you come across a muskie during the summer there is a good chance that the fish is living there.”

Gord Bastable: “They tend to have areas staked out that they move around in, most likely based on a food supply. As the food supply changes over the season so will the spots they frequent. One golden rule will apply - the true giant that only comes around once in your fishing career will never be seen in that spot… by you!”

MUSKIES WILL EAT PREY TOO LARGE TO SWALLOW Gord Pyzer: “Yes, It does happen, but not on a regular basis. Look at the number of large or even trophy class muskies that are caught by panfish, bass and walleye anglers every year on lures that represent a snack. Most top predators or opportunistic hunters. If an easy meal comes within reach it will get chomped.”

John Anderson: “True. I have come across muskies choking on fish that were too big to swallow and I’ve also seen muskies with the tail of another fish sticking out of their mouths.” Gord Bastable: “Muskies, through millions of years of evolution, have refined their aggressive “reaction strike” and will suddenly bite a moving object of larger size in the water.”

MUSKIES EAT ALL THE OTHER FISH IN A LAKE OR RIVER Gord Pyzer: “Absolutely untrue. Muskies can and will only eat as fast as their metabolism can digest the food that they have already consumed. Like any other apex predator, muskies will favour an easy meal, so they target the sick, the injured and the weak because the forage in this state of health requires the least amount of energy to catch. So in fact the muskies are helping to cull out the unhealthy members of the forage population. Also, their targeting of panfish and baitfish helps to reduce size stunting in these species caused by over-population. Thus, muskies actually enhance the population and size of other species in the lake that they typically inhabit.”

John Anderson:

100-POUND MUSKIES HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN NATURAL RESOURCES NETTING SURVEYS Gord Pyzer: “Not in the Province of Ontario. Senior OMNR Biologist Mark Ridgeway told me a number of years ago that he had not seen documentation on any muskie that had been netted at any point in the season that would go much beyond 35pounds in any Kawartha Lake. The muskie that was caught in the net by Bernard Lebeau on Wagigoon (and was subsequently lost before it could be measured) is believed to be the largest muskie ever caught in an OMNR net. Depending on who you talk to, that muskie was estimated to weigh between 60 and 75-pounds. The photo of it confirms it was indeed a big fish, but well short of 100-pounds.”

“Muskies are opportunity feeders and will eat just about anything, so any fish that swims could look like a meal to a muskie at different times. That said, studies show that muskies prefer soft finned fishes when given a choice so in most bodies of water their preferred forage is shad, mooneyes, cisco and the like.”

Gord Bastable: “In a natural lake, like Eagle Lake in Northwestern Ontario, muskies don’t eat all the other fish in the lake. Only when a fish like a walleye or a northern pike is struggling will it bite them.” Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 51

BIG MUSKIES DON’T BITE IN THE SPRING Gord Pyzer: “In geographic areas where such fishing opportunities legally exist, it may be necessary to go to smaller lures and slower presentations, but muskies do eat year ‘round. Interestingly, I have historically found that the second and third weekends of muskie season in Ontario mark periods where I have consistently had some of my best ”numbers” catches. This would appear to be driven by the fact that water temperatures are warming, increasing the muskies metabolism. At the same time, many muskies have gone months without seeing a lure tossed their way, or without being spooked by heavy boat traffic.” John Anderson: “In fact, Muskies Canada logs show it takes less hours of angling to produce a 50-inch muskie at the end of June and through early July than at any other time of the year.”

Gord Bastable: “Muskies bite when they want, and that has nothing to do with the season. Muskie fishermen fish when they think the muskie will bite, which usually means the summer or fall. It’s sort of a selffulfilling prophecy.”

MUSKIES CAN’T COMPETE WITH NORTHERN PIKE Gord Pyzer: “Muskies thrive and survive in waters they share with northern pike. 52 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

Competition from another predator fish creates an environment where they can fine tune their feeding habits. Most large waters (like Georgian Bay and Eagle Lake etc.) that muskies share with northern pike are waters where record size muskies grow.”

Gord Bastable: “Nothing like a small pike for a nice light muskie snack! Muskies and pike can co-exist, each having developed strategies for survival based on millions of years of evolution. Most of the best trophy muskie lakes in North America have pike as well.”

John Anderson:

So there you have it folks, eight muskie myths exploded. Now that you know some of the truths behind these little gems, you can consider refining your approach to muskie fishing and start catching the fish you’ve been missing. I sure hope you do, because you’ve just lost eight great excuses for fishless days! ?

“Muskies and pike compete. They spawn in the same places and, in general, one does not find waters with strong populations of both pike and muskies. One fish becomes dominant. Muskies still rise to become the top predator in any system and the one who wears the crown rules the water.”

54 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2016

ICE FISHING FOR CANADA’S TOP PREDATOR It’s another cold winter on Lake Simcoe. The sun is up and the -15° air is crisp and By Jim Baird clear. The auger starts and the blade chips through the ice until it breaks through Photos by Jim Baird the other side of 24-inches. I shovel the area clean and pull the hut over the holes. and Tori Farquharson On this morning the heater goes on first, then the sonar.

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 55

The Sebile Vibrato is a great bait choice for big lake trout.

The screen is clear to the bottom in 28feet of water, on top of a structure that has produced big fish for me recently. Typically I would drop a lipless crankbait, swimbait, or some other aggressive offering to start the day. But I have a go-to bait loaded, a Sebile Vibrato, and in shallow water it can get enough attention.

56 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

I drop the bait and watch it strobe its way down. I can now see it dropping on the sonar. It hits the bottom and I give it three bounces to kick up some debris. On the last lift the bottom swells and the rod loads and stops dead. Then the fish immediately peels out 80 to 100-feet of line on a tight drag without stopping. There is no mistaking

what this is. This is a big lake trout. There is no other fish that has that kind of power in the winter. Your biggest pike or walleye can be stopped and turned after a 25 to 30foot run with a medium heavy rod and good quality spinning or bait casting reel. But a big trout can make you believe you are about to be spooled. I pump and reel the fish back about 50feet, feeling the slow, deep thump on the other end, but the fish was just resting. It starts a second run, equal to the first. It is times like this I’m glad I use my best open water reel. My Pflueger Patriarch drag system is like silk under a heavy load and the temperature doesn’t change its performance. Close to 15-minutes later I can see a huge fish below the hole, still pumping. If I’m lucky I will be able to turn the head into the hole the first time. I do get lucky. The fish goes vertical at the hole and I lift, forcing it into the hole. It can’t swim backwards so I’m in control now. As the head comes out of the water my heart is pounding as the

body barely fits through the eight-inch hole. I remove the hook and lift the laker with one hand under its belly. I can feel the weight. This big, beautiful silver fish is well over 20-pounds and, with picture in hand, I point it down the hole and watch as it rolls away and then heads straight down to sulk on the bottom. If I didn’t catch another fish this day I’m still happy. You would think that this magnificent predator is a fish of a lifetime but in recent years they are becoming more common on several lakes in Ontario. One of the fins was clipped on this fish so it was stocked 18years ago by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. In Ontario, our Ministry stocks more lake trout per weight than any and all other species. Much of this is part of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a binational treaty between Canada and the United States to manage fish stocks in shared waters. One of the main objectives of the GLFC is directed at rehabilitating native species. Lake trout rehabilitation is at the top of the list and consumes much of the joint efforts and resources.

In Ontario, lake trout are stocked throughout the province. Many open water anglers would rather see more resources directed to other species but, for ice anglers, lake trout are growing in popularity. They are relatively easy to catch, they offer the best fight under the ice, and they are abundant in many lakes. They are an extremely hardy fish and make for a great catch and release species. They are also reasonable table fare, so anglers are rewarded with the best of both worlds. How do you catch lake trout through the ice? First, you will have to gear up for them. In many lakes these fish average under five-pounds, but there are just as many lakes where they can exceed 20-pounds. This calls for the right tackle.

Rods and Reels Choosing a rod for lake trout is relatively easy. You don’t require the most sensitive rod because big trout don’t nibble, they crush the

bait, and there is no mistake when a fish hits. Where sensitivity is required is to ensure proper bait action. When I’m using a jigging spoon, like a Vibrato, I want the bait to be moving just fast enough to get the spoon vibrating. This requires a fast tip. Most good quality rods are sensitive anyway but a fast tip will provide more feel, particularly when using braided line. Rod length can vary, depending on whether you’re fishing outside or in a hut, but the minimum length should be about 30-inches. The overall length of the rod is a matter of grip preference - the important issue is the distance between the reel spool and the rod tip. This is where you have control and the rod should be long enough to do most of the work. When a fish is running almost any rod will do but the important time is when the fish is near the hole. This is when you need control and the right rod really pays off. More fish are lost at this time than any other instance of the fight. A medium heavy rod with a fast tip will give you enough backbone to hold any size fish.

FIRST IN ICE SINCE 1974.

See over 1000 ice fishing products or find your nearest HT retailer at www.icefish.com. Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 57

My rod of choice is a 36-inch MH Fenwick Elite Tech. This rod has all the backbone I need, is sensitive enough to feel my baits working, and the progression of the bend of the rod provides great control. When fighting a big fish under the ice it is important not to let the line go slack and this rod has excellent recovery so when the fish surges and pumps I can keep the rod loaded. There is also a 42-inch version I use for fishing outside and I have a little more room to maneuver.

There are 7 waypoints marked with red “Xs” on this structure and surrounding area. Start on the shallowest points, then work your way deeper and rotate around the shoals. In the early morning, spend more time on the high points. In the afternoon, spend most of the time on the four deeper marks. Every shoal will look different but the same idea will apply to most of them. You should also download the Navionics Smart Phone App and use this to mark your waypoints. That way you can transfer them to any device and make notes when you get home for your next time out.

The Pflueger Patriarch and Supreme XT reels have excellent drag systems for fishing in extreme cold weather.

When it comes to reels, the tendency for many ice anglers is to use small line capacity reels of lesser quality. This is the exact opposite of what they should be using. Big fish can run a long way, even under a heavy drag. You do not want to worry about the fish of a lifetime spooling you! It is an ugly feeling watching your line peel down to the backing wondering when the fish will stop. You need a reel that has a line capacity of 120-yards of 15-pound test micro braid. I use the same reels I would use for bass fishing which are Pflueger Patriarch and Supreme XT. But the Pflueger President or equivalent also have excellent drag systems for the cold and their performance will not change, even in extreme cold weather. Make sure your reels are well lubricated and protected when travelling.

Finding Big Lake Trout Lake trout spawn on shoals and on shallow gravel in late fall, normally through October and November. After the spawn they will remain in the area well into first ice. Whitefish and cisco (herring) also spawn in these areas, right after the trout. Since big trout eat whitefish and cisco, the post-spawn forage starts here. During extremely cold winters, trout may stay shallow all winter. Small whitefish and cisco will remain the primary target forage, but lakes that have goby and sculpin provide an alternate food source. A lake trout’s diet can be quiet diverse, but goby are easy prey. On water bodies like Georgian Bay, gobies have become the primary food source for trout.

All Shoals Are Not Created Equal If you have ever been on Georgian Bay, or any of the Great Lakes with a lot of structure, there are shoals made up of perfectly smooth rock that gently find the depths. These are very pretty, but they don’t hold a lot of fish. There is nowhere to hide for the lower end of the food web. They are 58 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

only good for ambush. You want to find shoals that have produced food through the summer. Those broken gravel, moss covered shoals that are infested with zebra mussels are the ones to look for. Fishing for trout during early ice is very predictable, once you understand a structure and timing. During their most aggressive periods, such as early morning, trout will be on top of shoals and points so setting up on the crown will get the most attention. Depth really doesn’t matter as big fish can be found in less than 20-feet of water. I have found big trout sitting right on top of structures and even the noise of the sled and auger doesn’t seem to move them. Sometimes the noise attracts them because they are so curious. This will be the easiest catch of the day. When the morning wears on, these fish will drift off the structures and comb the base of them. They may have already devoured a whitefish or some other large prey. Now they are scrounging the gravel and rocks for snacks such as goby or even the odd deep water crayfish. If there are cisco or smelt near the structure the bite might be high in the water column. During this period, I like to rotate through three types of baits. I will start with a lipless crankbait and work the middle of the water column. If I am not getting a reaction, I’ll change to swimbaits and oscillate the bait through the lower one-third of the water. Finally, I will work the bottom with a Vibrato. I use the same technique I would if I was on top of the structure. Drop the bait to the bottom, bounce it three or four times to stir up some debris, then let it sit just off the bottom.

Trout are victims of habit. They seem to follow the same feeding path day after day. I have found that one side of a structure will be consistently productive while just 50meters away, on the other side of the structure, I’ll come up empty. After a while you can almost time their arrival. In a normal winter the trout will follow the food to deep water. The shallow shoals and structures have been exhausted of easy food and smelt and herring are the targets. There are times when large schools of bait with thousands of prey fish are corralled by many trout. The trout will circle the school and pick off the weak. They may stay in the same area for up to two-weeks until that food supply is exhausted or disperses. Lipless cranks are my tool of choice when I find these large schools. If I am not getting a reaction I’ll go to swimbaits. There are periods during the winter when everything has slowed. Most of the time this is in February. In fact, we call them the February blahs. Fish don’t move as much

and, even if you can get them to come up off the bottom, they tend to do more investigating than biting. Most of the time I would deadstick a tube well off the bottom when this happens but in recent years I have found I can deadstick the same bait I would be working the bottom with. My Vibrato, which I used to only use for jigging and working the bottom, is much more versatile than I thought. Ultimately I get bit more on the bottom during these dry spells. The final part of the ice season is last ice. This is when big fish are high in the water column and they seem to come alive again. They will chase and pin ciscoes to the bottom of the ice. The reason the bait is near the surface is because something happens when the periods of daylight hours become longer. Oxygen is being produced by the new plankton in the top one-third of the water column. Recent research shows that some of the highest levels of dissolved oxygen of the entire year are in the top part of the water column during this period. The

food web moves to the surface and so do the predators. Working shiny, loud baits from the surface down yields some of the best results of the hard water season. Every lake has its own characteristics and the lake trout’s adaptive nature will see them vary their position and feeding patterns based on the particular forage available. In general though, the preceding guidelines will help you find and catch Canada’s top predator in most water bodies. ?

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Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 59

Tales from the Road By Bob Izumi

Over the years the Ottawa River has had a reputation of having some decent fishing, and the largemouth fishing has always been fairly strong, up until the last few years. There’s a lot of speculation that fishing pressure may have hurt it a bit or that the winter kills they’ve had up there in the last bunch of years have killed a lot of bass. Regardless, it’s been pretty good to my son Darren and me over the past couple of years and we have fared pretty well up there.

It was the fourth and final one-day qualifying tournament of the Renegade series and it took 17.93-pounds to win. We had 16.61-pounds for third place, including a 5.34-pound largemouth that was the third biggest bass weighed in during the tournament. We caught our fish by fishing various visible objects on the shore – lily pads, weeds, reeds and wood. Finishing the tournament in third place moved us up into third place in the Team of the Year standings, just 1.81-pounds behind the leaders. After the Renegade tournament I was off to Lake Erie for a fishing day with some of the folks from the marketing department at Columbia Sportswear. We headed out to Long Point on Lake Erie to fish for smallmouth in the area of Long Point Bay and we caught a number of fish by wacky rigging Havoc Flat Dawgs. 60 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

Then the folks from Ontario Tourism contacted me and asked if I would take some people from the Japanese media out fishing, so I loaded up the Ranger and headed to Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake. It was mid-afternoon when I arrived and met up with Miho Akimaru and a number of other media people. Miho, also known as Mippi, is Japan’s most famous female saltwater angler and she appears on a number of TV fishing shows as well as in magazines and at fishing events. It was a hot, absolutely flat calm day with zero wind when we got out there. As we were fishing dropshot rigs along a weed edge on a hump, Miho caught her first walleye ever. She was really excited as she had never caught a walleye before. Near the end of the day she hooked up with a smallmouth on a crankbait. It was fighting kind of weird and when she got it near the boat it turned out that she had two smallmouth on at once - one on each treble hook. Unfortunately one of the fish got off, but it made a great ending to a fun afternoon.

After spending the Labour Day weekend at home it was off to Bark Lake in Haliburton to do our annual SC Johnson/OFF Deep Woods fishing promotion. This year they invited a number of Home Hardware and Canadian Tire staff, who had won a fishing contest, up for a day of fishing. After a fun day on the water I had

to pack up and head straight down to Eastern Ontario to meet up with my son, Darren, for the Renegade Classic. Darren was pre-fishing with a friend while I was in Haliburton and they had a great day on the water – they probably caught north of 22-pounds of fish – so we were pretty well set for what we wanted to do for the tournament. Our game plan was to run about 120 to 150-miles, one way, from Morrisburg out to Lake Ontario to fish a couple of spots and then run back. Well, as it turned out, on day-one we couldn’t even get out of the St. Lawrence River. We ran about 90-miles, got to the mouth and there were solid, six-foot waves on Lake Ontario. I looked at my watch, did the calculations and decided we would have zero fishing time - if we even reached our destination. It was pretty disheartening to know that we couldn’t reach some of our best smallmouth areas. We played around a little bit trying to catch some smallmouth near where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River but only got one small fish, that didn’t even measure, before we had to start back. We had 40-minutes to fish on the way and managed to catch three largemouth that weighed 8.96-pounds. That was it for our day of fishing and we ended up fifth from the bottom of the entire field. We had nothing to lose on day-two so we made the run again but, when we got to the lake, it was nothing but eight-foot waves. We tried to catch some smallmouth bass but fishing in eight-footers is not an easy thing to do. So, with an hour and a half to fish, we headed back and caught five largemouth along the way. They weighed 11.4-pounds and put us in 29th place out of the 40-boat field. All in all it was a very disappointing tournament for us. After the Renegade Classic we got together with Charter Captain Scott Walcott, from West Lake Willows in Prince Edward County, to do a night walleye show. We fished until about three in the morning and ended up catching four walleyes, including a giant that was over 11-pounds. Overall it was a great night and we got some good

footage shot for the TV show. Then it was back home to do the CTC Fall Product Parade show, which was held in downtown Toronto. I spent some time with the folks from Mystik Lubricants in their booth and the following day I was at the CRC booth talking about PhaseGuard 4 and some of their other products. I’ve always found it interesting to work at these corporate-only trade shows and talk to people who are behind the scenes. It’s cool to learn about the trends, the products that are available, what the consumers’ read on these products is and where the market is going. While I was working the show, my son Darren was fishing the CSFL Lake Erie Open on the Thursday/Friday and Wayne was fishing in the Tri-Bays Classic on the Saturday/Sunday. It was one of those few weekends where I was actually committed to working and they were both fishing in tournaments. Darren had a mediocre day-one, weighing 16-pounds and change, and he was sitting way down in the standings. On day-two of that tournament he happened to draw a non-boater who was a friend of ours, Sue Watson. They proceeded to weigh-in 25 ½pounds, which was the largest weight of the entire tournament, and he moved up to second place, just ounces of winning his first pro-am event. It was without a doubt one of my proudest moments as a father. There were a lot of really good fishermen in that tournament and this was only Darren’s second tournament as a boater. For him to do that well was just amazing. To top it off, Wayne and his friend, Joslyn Leung from Angling Outfitters, won the TriBays Classic. Overall it was a good weekend for the Izumi clan – even though I didn’t even pick up a fishing rod! Then it was time to pack up for one of the tournaments I look forward to fishing every year, the Berkley B1 in Valleyfield, Quebec. This tournament has been going on for a number of years and it’s one of those events

that has really had my number. My son Darren and I have fished this tournament for three or four years and, as much as I love Lake St. Francis, I’m going to confess that it’s a love/hate relationship. We won a Renegade qualifying tournament there a few years back with what, at the time, was the biggest weight Renegade ever had for a five-fish limit - just a hair under 25-pounds. But for whatever reason, and as great a fishery as it is, there are times that Lake St. Francis has thoroughly kicked us in the rear end. It’s an incredible fishery where you have the option of fishing smallmouth shallow or deep, or you can target largemouth, but every time we’ve gone after largemouth in a tournament we have not placed in the money, so I promised Darren we wouldn’t fish largemouth. Well, by the end of this tournament that promise may have been broken. On day-one we stuck to our guns and went for smallmouth. We didn’t catch a lot of fish but we did get some good ones and weighed in 22.40-pounds, which put us in fifth place. On day-two we hit all of our shallow smallmouth spots but by 11 o’clock our livewell was empty. It was pretty dismal. I looked at Darren and said that we had better go and catch some largemouth, just to save face. So we changed gears and ended up with a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth that weighed 13.32-pounds, which dropped us down to 19th place. Even though we cracked the top-20 we left the tournament saying that Lake St. Francis beat us again.

I got home for four-hours on the Monday after the B1 tournament to unpack and repack before driving over 20-hours to Northwestern Ontario. I had planned on meeting up with the Crappie Country folks, Dan Dannenmeuller Sr. & Garrett Steele, on Tuesday night at Crystal Harbour Resort in Sioux Narrows. They fish the professional crappie tournaments throughout the USA and they’ve had a great track record over the years. I met them at ICAST a few years ago and I wanted to show them a little bit of the crappie fishing we had here in Canada as neither of them had ever fished up here for crappies before. Darren and I arrived late into Sioux Narrows so we met at Crystal Harbour Resort for breakfast the next morning. After fueling ourselves up we got out on the water to see if we could catch some crappies but sometimes things don’t go as planned. We tried a variety of soft plastics but just weren’t catching much. Since the fishing was so slow my son Darren, who shoots the show for us, asked if he could put the camera down and fish for a little while. I said sure, so he tied on the smallest Johnson Thinfisher that’s made and started jacking the crappies. We all switched our soft baits for Thinfishers and ended up getting the show done, catching all our fish on these metal baits. I will say that it’s nice to have a cameraman who also fishes! The next morning we had to shoot a bit of video at the resort, do a few interviews and get some footage about the lures we were using. Garret Steele, who is also an accomplished Country and Western singer, even played some tunes for us with the camera rolling. But, because I’m a fish head, I wanted to go fishing and just have some fun. So we went out and caught some more crappies before we had to head back, as we had to drive over to Clearwater Bay that evening to stay at a friend’s cottage. I was following my GPS trail and looking at my Navionics chart as we were making our way back but obviously I wasn’t looking closely enough ands I missed the trail by about 10-feet while going between an island and the mainland. I didn’t realize that there was a big rock in the middle of the channel until I heard a bang and my 250 Verado’s lower unit was done. Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 61

We had to go about a mile-and-a-half by electric motor to Indianhead Lodge and, when we pulled up to the boat ramp, the owner recognized me immediately. I had met him and his son years ago at the Kenora Bass International. Back then I had said to his son that one of these days he would win that tournament and it turns out he did win it a few years back. It was pretty neat to hear that story. After a little reminiscing, we called back to Crystal Harbour and had one of the guys’ wives to come and pick us up so I could

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62 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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get my trailer and truck to load up the boat. After getting the boat loaded, and saying our goodbyes, we headed off to Clearwater Bay where my friend, Phil Reid, had arranged for our American friends and ourselves and to stay at his friend’s beautiful log cabin. We had a wonderful steak dinner and stayed up ‘till the wee hours. Darren and I had to get up at 3:30 in the morning to meet a driver who was going to take Darren back to Winnipeg to catch a flight to Toronto for a Taylor Swift concert that evening. After I dropped him off I went to the Tim Hortons in Keewatin. I got there at about 4:35 but they didn’t open until five so I sat out there, caffeine starved, for 25minutes until I could get a coffee for my drive up to Reid’s Birch Island Resort in Minaki. I had gotten a voice mail couple of days prior from Jeremy Torrie, who is the director of a movie that was being shot at Reid’s called Julianna and the Medicine Fish. It’s based on a book by Jake MacDonald and it’s a pretty cool story. The plot includes a world record muskie, but that’s all I’m going to say about it. Canadian actor Adam Beach stars in this movie and, from what I understand, it was being shot to air on CBC, APTN and PBS. Phil Reid had told me that they needed extras for the movie so I thought that maybe they wanted me in the background as an extra. Well, as it turned out, they had written me into the movie a few days earli-

The Johnson Thinfisher isn’t just a crappie lure. This amazing and versatile blade bait is deadly on smallmouth bass, walleye, lake trout and most other species. It can be fished vertically or horizontally, in open water or under the ice. Three tow points let you adjust the action from a tight, fast wiggle to a wide, slow wobble so you can match the bait’s movement to the mood of the fish. Thinfishers are available in deep body and thin profile (called Thinfisher Ice) configurations ranging from 1 3/8” to 2 1/4” in length and from 3/16 to ½-ounce in weight.

er. I didn’t realize that I had so many lines until I opened the email that they had sent me a day or two in advance. Because I was busy filming and entertaining the folks I was with, I didn’t even read my lines until the morning of me being on camera. When I got up to Reid’s I pumped a little more coffee into me and the cameras started rolling. I can’t wait to see how it turned out. The following day we did some walleye fishing, caught a ton of fish and had a won-

derful shore dinner. It was a relaxing time after a pretty hectic couple of weeks of hard traveling. Then it was time for this old fella to hit the road for the 20-plus hour drive home with the Ranger in tow. I got home for a day and then it was time to get down to Lake Erie and check it out before Darren and I fished in the Canadian Tire Open out of the Niagara River. As you’ve read these columns you’ve probably figured out that it doesn’t matter if I’m in my vehicle or in my boat, traveling long distances does not spook me. Well in the case of the Canadian Tire Open, Darren and I decided we would run further than anybody in that tournament and we ended up running from Chippewa Creek - which is just above Niagara Falls - clear down to Nanticoke. I had four deep water spots in that area where I had located some large fish and I thought we’d catch 20-pounds so quick it would make your head spin. Well, between the four spots we caught one smallmouth that was about a half-inch too short so we moved to

some shallow water and put together 17pounds of smallmouth, just to have something to weigh in. Even though we didn’t do as well as I expected, it was a great event, we had a lot of fun and I got to visit with a lot of my friends at the weigh-in. The following week Joslyn Leung, who owns Angling Outfitters, and I headed to Port Burwell to go perch fishing with Captain Jim Fleming on Drifter II Charters. We got out in 46-feet of water and the three of us caught our limit of 150 perch – along with one sheephead, one eight-pound walleye, one 12-pound channel cat, two white perch and one silver bass - in less than four-

hours. It was so much fun to get out there and just catch fish, even though I had a lot of perch cleaning to do the next day! The next weekend I was scheduled to fish the Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open but because the forecast was for high winds they cancelled the tournament. Instead of fishing I decided to start getting caught up with some work, which is what I’ve been doing for the last couple of weeks. I’m pretty close to caught up so I’m going to get my boat ready and head down to the New York side of Lake Erie tomorrow morning to get my fishing fix. ?

Winter 2016 – Real Fishing 63

What’s COOKING

Classic Mussels In White Wine “This is my version of classic French style mussels in white wine. We have mussels quite often and this is the fastest and easiest way with the best results. Remember, the quality of the ingredients you start with will be represented in the final product.” – Tim Tibbitts

INGREDIENTS

METHOD Scrub and de-beard the mussels. (Note: A mussel is alive if it reacts. Its shell should be closed. If it is open, tap the mussel on the kitchen counter. If it closes it is alive and good to eat. If it doesn’t, throw it away.)

2-pounds

live mussels

1 tbsp

unsalted butter

3/4 cup

white wine

chopped scallions (or 1 chopped shallot)

chopped green garlic shoots (or 2 cloves of chopped garlic)

Heat the butter over medium-high heat in a large, wide-bottomed pot with a lid. Sauté the shallot or green onion until it is soft but not browned. If using garlic cloves, add them now. If using green garlic, leave it out for now. Add the white wine and bring it to a boil. Add the mussels in one layer if possible.

Special thanks to Tim Tibbitts, chef and owner of the Flying Fish Modern Seafood in Freeport, Bahamas for providing this recipe. You can see what Flying Fish is all about at www.flyingfishbahamas.com or www.facebook.com/flyingfishmodernseafood and you can follow Tim on Twitter @flyingfishfreep.

64 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

Cover the pot and let the mussels steam for three to five-minutes. After three minutes, check the mussels; many should be open. You want them all open, but some will do this faster than others. As soon as most of the mussels are open, turn off the heat and toss in the green garlic, if using. Cover for a minute while you prepare bowls and plates then, spoon out plenty of the mussels and broth. . Throw out any mussels that did not open. Serve with crusty bread, more white wine -- and an extra bowl for the shells.

There are better ways to say ‘Thanks’. COME AND GET IT. Our wines are only available direct — either in person or by delivery from our vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. It’s taken 14 years to get it right, to perfect the craft of making wine that is drinkable, accessible, and affordable. It all happens here in our Big Red Barn. Our modern-rustic space houses our cellar and is part tasting room, part clubhouse. There’s no pretension or mystery here. All that we know, we’re ready to share with you, to delight the novice wine lover and the veteran oenophile alike. Visit us or order ahead for your next big trip and for each purchase of an Izumi wine, Between the Lines will donate $1 to the Fishing Forever Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of Canada’s fishing resources.

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CLOSE CALL

– Chinook salmon and Orca

Artist: Curtis Atwater

“Chinook salmon searching for their home rivers encounter Size: 12" x 16"

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Medium: Acrylic on canvas board

hungry, but best to exit the scene immediately in case things

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change!” – Curtis Atwater

66 Real Fishing – Winter 2016

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