Fall 2012 by Real Fishing

Canada Post Mail Product Agreement No. 40015689

VOLUME 18 • ISSUE 3 Just $3.95

FALL 2012

DISPLAY UNTIL JANUARY 2013

EXCLUSIVE! BOB IZUMI TALKS FALL FISHING

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ultimate edge...

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Contents Features 30 HOW TO CATCH YOUR BIGGEST MUSKIE Eight of North America’s top muskie anglers discuss how, where and when to catch the biggest ‘lunge of your life. By Charles Weiss

42 DELTA DIVERSITY The Louisiana Delta is a Mecca for anglers and a great place for a winter fishing getaway. By David A. Brown

54 TIMING IT RIGHT Get the most out of your fishing time by planning your trips when the fishing is at its best. By C.J. Howard

FALL 2012 Volume 18, Issue 4

Editor Jerry Hughes Art Production Rossi Piedimonte Design Publisher Fred Delsey National Advertising Izumi Outdoors Tel: (905) 632-8679 President Wayne Izumi Contributors Curtis Atwater, David A. Brown, Patrick Daradick, C.J. Howard, Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Steve May, Dave Taylor, Chef Tim Tibbitts, Charles Weiss Real Fishing is published by Izumi Outdoors Inc. 940 Sheldon Court Burlington, ON L7L 5K6 Tel: (905) 632-8679 Fax: (905) 632-2833 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 Postmaster: Please return front cover/label only of undeliverables to: Real Fishing 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington ON L7L 5K6 Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in Canada

On the cover: Muskellunge! Photo by Izumi Outdoors

Columns 6 OPENING LINES By Jerry Hughes

26 BEST FISHING TIMES Doug Hannon’s moon phase calendar

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

14 WHAT’S NEW

28 THE HOT BITE

The latest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories

16 FISHING By Bob Izumi

18 FLY FISHING By Steve May

60 TALES FROM THE ROAD 20 THE WATER’S EDGE By Dave Taylor

The trials and tribulations of life as a professional angler By Bob Izumi

22 THE VINTAGE TACKLE BOX By Patrick Daradick

65 WHAT’S COOKING

24 REAL FISHING FISH FACTS

66 ART OF ANGLING

Walleye

opening lines By Jerry Hughes

Fall Fishing Well, it’s that time again; time for another summer to go into the history books. I hope you had a stellar season with lots of bragging moments. For some of you the end of summer heralds the end of fishing until next spring; for others, it simply marks the end of one fishing season and the beginning of another. We at Real Fishing tend to fall into the latter category. We look forward to the shortening days and cooling temperatures of autumn because we know that this is a signal to fish. Bass, muskies, walleyes, perch – they will all be feeding heavily from now until freeze-up. Most species will group up in predictable locations, near still-green weeds; near dropoffs offering access to deep water wintering areas and on deeper flats. Others, like steelhead and salmon, will ascend rivers to spawn and feed, offering fishing opportunities wherever seasons are open for them throughout the fall and winter. It’s a fishing bonanza for those who choose to take advantage of it. One of the greatest things about this time of year is the potential it provides to catch truly huge fish. From migratory salmon and steelhead in rivers, to huge walleyes in eastern Lake Ontario, to trophy-class muskies in places like Georgian Bay, Lake Nipissing, the Ottawa River, Lake St. Clair

6 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

and others, some of the biggest fish of the year are caught in the fall. In this issue of Real Fishing we take an in-depth look at muskies and how you can increase the odds of catching the biggest one of your life this year. Muskie fanatic Charles Weiss rounded up eight of North America’s top muskie anglers and guides and asked them to share their knowledge on the timing, locations, baits and techniques they use to regularly put huge fish in the boat. From Kenora to the Ottawa River; from Lake St. Clair to Nipissing, the insights these pros provide will definitely steer you in the right direction in your quest for a trophy. If you want an even bigger challenge, how about catching that trophy muskie on a fly rod? Fly fishing expert Steve May has been experimenting with this unusual, yet highly effective technique for a couple of years and he shares his tips in this issue’s Fly Fishing column. Also in this issue, C.J. Howard explores timing your fishing trips and how being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference in your success… or lack thereof. C.J. looks at how seasonal patterns, as well as local weather systems, can

influence fish behaviour and how you can pattern fish effectively, regardless of species, by correctly reading the conditions. If cold weather fishing just isn’t your thing, David A. Brown’s article on fishing the Louisiana Delta just might get you in the mood for a southern road trip this fall or winter. The Delta offers both fresh and saltwater angling opportunities in a relaxed, laid back atmosphere far removed from the hustle and bustle of the traditional winter getaway spots. From largemouth bass to redfish and sea trout, it’s all available in the Delta’s relatively protected system of waterways. There’s a lot more on tap in this issue of Real Fishing but I don’t want to give it all away. Suffice it to say that I’m sure you’ll find something interesting and entertaining to tide you over until the next time you hit the water – whether that happens to be next week or next spring. Good fishing! ?

Always in season.

ÂŠ Tim Hortons, 2012

NO SWIMMING! Flipping a jig probably isn’t a very good idea either. This large alligator didn’t want intruders sharing his piece of Lake Okeechobee real estate and decided he would swim out and make his point to the encroaching anglers. Suffice it to say the anglers agreed and, after snapping a few photos, they headed for safer waters.

8 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

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

FISH WITH BOB IZUMI! There’s still time to win a day of fishing with Bob Izumi. Until the end of November, CRC Industries, makers of PhaseGuard 4 Ethanol Fuel Treatment, are offering a chance to win an allexpense paid fishing trip for two with Bob Izumi. Along with the grand prize, there are a number of weekly prizes of a $50 Canadian Tire gift certificate available to be won. Drop into your local Canadian Tire store and look for the contest display or visit www.realfishing.com for full contest details and entry information.

CONTEST EL TREATMENT FU L O N A H ET RD4 CRC PHASEGUA ALL-EXPENSE PAID TRIP ®

YOU COULD

AN E EXCLUSIVE FOR TWO TO TH EAT IN CENTRAL TR RE KE LA BARK ARY H WITH LEGEND FIS TO O RI TA ON . MI IZU B BO ER CANADIAN ANGL o receive an

N WIIN

nner will als Each contest wi pack. outdoor prize

BE PLUS, CRC WILL 0 A $5 GIVING AWAY GIFT E CANADIAN TIR EK CARD EVERY WE EST. NT DURING THE CO

CLASSIC CHAMPIONS As summer comes to a close, so does the competitive bass fishing season in Ontario. With that comes the Classic Championships for the various bass tournament organizations. In the Classic tournaments, the best anglers from the years’ events face off for the end of the year title of the “best of the best” in their respective tournament series. The Top Bass Classic was held September 8 and 9 on Balsam Lake, in Coboconk, Ontario. 75 teams took to the water for the two-day

event that was marked by horrendous rain on Saturday and a vicious cold front on Sunday. Despite the conditions, the top teams all managed to find and catch some good bass over the two days. When the final weights were tabulated, the team of Scott Burns and Jay Macdonald came out on top with 32.79pounds for 10 bass and took home the $12,000 first place cheque. The CSFL Classic was a three-day affair that ran from September 7 to 9. The first two days were held on Rice Lake, near Hastings, Ontario and the top 20 teams then competed on day three, which was run out of Peterborough. Rob Lafleur and Pete Garnier brought good limits to the scales each day and their consistency paid off. They duo ended up nailing down the Classic Championship title with 53.35-pounds of bass over the three days. In the Ottawa region, the Renegade Bass Series held their Classic on September

Top Bass 2012 Classic Champions Scott Burns (on left) and Jay Macdonald.

10 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Renegade Bass Classic Champions Carl Roy (on left) and Eric Clemont.

15 and 16 on Muskrat Lake, near Cobden, Ontario. After an extremely close first day that saw six teams separated by just over a pound, Carl Roy and Eric Clemont put it all together on day two and brought the second biggest limit of the day, 17.31-pounds, to the scales. That, combined with their first day weight of 16.49-pounds gave them 33.8-pounds overall which was enough to nail down the Classic Championship. Carl and Eric took home the first place prize consisting of a fully equipped Ranger Z119 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude E-Tec HO outboard, two Lowrance HDS units, a Motorguide Tour Edition 24-volt trolling motor, 3 batteries, an on-board charging system, a stainless prop, and a Ranger travel cover.

LIMITED EDITION IZUMI WINES Izumi Outdoors and Between the Lines Winery are pleased to announce a limited edition of Izumi wines. Brothers Yannick and Greg Wertsch have created two specialty wines, a red and a white, on their Estate winery in Niagara. They believe the job of a winery is to release and exhibit the unique character of the grapes created by the soil and sun so they blended the Izumi wines to reflect the tastes of the region rather than try to mimic wines from elsewhere. Izumi Red is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet with a 0 sugar code rating. The nose combines dark cherry, cassis and vanilla and the taste is very smooth with lots of

cherry and a nice smoky finish. Izumi White is blended from 50% Riesling and 50% Gewuerztraminer with a sugar code rating of 1. Citrus, grapefruit and lychee aromas give way to a big mouth feel that starts sweet and finishes dry, with lots of lychee in the taste. Limited quantities of Izumi wines are available by the bottle or by the case and can be purchased exclusively through the Between the Lines store at the winery. In a nod to conservation, Between the Lines will donate $1 from every bottle of Izumi wine to Fishing Forever in support of fisheries conservation and rehabilitation.

Between the Lines Winery 991 Four Mile Creek Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, L0S 1J0 Phone: 905-262-0289 www.betweenthelineswinery.com

ICAST NAMES BEST NEW FISHING PRODUCTS From July 11 to13, some 9,000 representatives from the global sportfishing community, including exhibitors, buyers Abu Garcia’s and outdoor media, conRevo line of verged on the Orange County reels won in the Best Convention Center in Orlando, Freshwater Reel category. Fla., for the world's largest sportfishing trade show. The 55th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, (ICAST) represents the cornerstone of the sportfishing industry, driv-

ing sportfishing companies' product sales and showcasing the latest innovations in gear and accessories. Making up a special section of the ICAST show is the New Product Showcase, which provides unique visibility for the latest innovations in sportfishing gear and accessories. The submitted products compete in the “Best of Show” competition where buyers and media members judge each new product. This year the Hobie Cat Mirage Pro Angler 12 took top honours in the Boat category and was also voted Overall Best of Show. Pure Fishing took six category titles including best

fishing combo, best freshwater and saltwater reels, best kids’ tackle, best line and best terminal tackle. Congratulations to Hobie Cat, Pure Fishing and all of the other winners at the 2012 ICAST Show.

Berkley’s GULP! jigheads were named Best Terminal Tackle at the 2012 ICAST show.

EVENTS Calendar Overall Best of Show Apparel Boat Boating Accessory Combo Electronics Eyewear Fishing Accessory FishSmart Tackle Fly Fishing Accessory Fly Fishing Reel Fly Fishing Rod Freshwater Reel Freshwater Rod Giftware Kids' Tackle Line Hard Lure Soft Lure Saltwater Reel Saltwater Rod Tackle Management Terminal Tackle

Hobie Cat – Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 Columbia Sportswear – Airgill Chill Zero Long Sleeve Shirt Hobie Cat – Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 JL Marine Systems, Inc. – Power-Pole Drift Paddle Pure Fishing, Inc. – Penn Battle Combo Johnson Outdoors – Humminbird 360 Imaging Costa del Mar – Costa 580 P Sunrise Lenses American Premier Corporation – The Ultimate Line Winding System Finovation Inc. – The SeaQuilizer Luna Sea, LLC – Master Guide Fly Rod "Cush It" Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle – Wright & McGill Sabalos Saltwater Fly Reel G. Loomis – NRX Fly Rod Pure Fishing, Inc. – Abu Garcia Revo St. Croix Rods – Legend Xtreme 3D Picture Store, Inc. – Jigsaw Pure Fishing, Inc. – Shakespeare Hide-A-Hook Bobber Kit Pure Fishing, Inc. – Berkley Trilene XL/XT Koppers Fishing & Tackle Corporation – Live Target Frog Popper Lunkerhunt LP – Bento Baits Pure Fishing, Inc. – Penn Spinfisher V St. Croix Rods – Legend Inshore Magnetic Marine Products, Inc. – Gear Grabbar Lure Hangar Kit Pure Fishing, Inc. – Berkley Gulp! Jig Heads

CAFTA ANTIQUE TACKLE SHOW October 14 Belleville Fish & Game Club 170 Elmwood Drive, Belleville, ON www.cafta.ca BASS PRO SHOPS LAKE SIMCOE OPEN October 20 Lake Simcoe, Couchiching Beach Park, Orillia ON www.simcoeopen.com FROSTBITE LAKE ERIE OPENS Weekends from November 3 - November 25 Lake Erie, Sugarloaf Marina, Port Colborne, ON tymike@sympatico.ca KIDS AND COPS FISHING DAYS Youth oriented fishing events Various dates and locations www.kidsandcops.ca TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW January 12 - 20, 2013 Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place Toronto, ON www.torontoboatshow.com

Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 11

READER’S PHOTOS

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

Guy Mitchell Betsie River, MI Chinook Salmon

Ryan May Guelph, ON Walleye

Stefano Caravaggio Toronto, ON Smallmouth Bass

Vinh Trinh Ottawa, ON Muskellunge Kids and Cops Fishing Day Rodney, ON Carp

Michael Chevers London, ON Largemouth Bass

This photo was taken at the Kids and Cops Fishing Day held this past summer in Rodney, Ontario. From left to right are Antone Barnes (who helped to net the fish), Hannah Mote, Kate Welch, Allison Buck (who caught the fish) and Olivia Caines.

12 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

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

October 6 October 13 October 20 October 27 November 3 November 10 November 17 November 24 December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22 December 29

STATION LISTING & AIRING TIMES* MARKET

PROV./STATE

STATION

DATE & AIR TIMES

Atlantic Canada

Global (CIHF)

Saturday 10:00 am

Calgary

Global (CICT)

Saturday 10:30 am

Edmonton

Global (CITV)

Saturday 10:30 pm

Manitoba

Global (CKND)

Saturday 9:30 am

Ontario

Global (CIII)

Saturday 9:30 am

Quebec

Global (CKMI)

Saturday 10:00 am

Regina

Global (CFRE)

Saturday 9:30 am

Saskatoon

Global (CFSK)

Saturday 9:30 am

Vancouver

Global (CHAN)

Saturday 10:30 am

Canada/USA

WFN

Check www.wfn.tv for dates and times

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

What’s

NEW

2012

OSP BLADE JIG Part spinnerbait, part crankbait and part flipping jig, the OSP Blade Jig combines the best of all three into one unique bass catching lure. The Blade Jig is especially good as a searching lure that can be fished on a straight retrieve, with a jerking, twitching retrieve or it can be ripped and popped through weeds. Its rolling, wobbling action is unlike anything bass have seen before and it attracts fish under the toughest conditions. The Blade Jig is available in a 3/8-ounce size that runs up to nine-feet deep and a ½-ounce version that works down to 12-feet. There are seven colours to choose from and each package includes two plastic trailers for even greater bass appeal.

www.o-s-p.net or www.osp-lures.com

COSTA DEL MAR INTRODUCES 580P SUNRISE LENS Costa’s new, high contrast, 580P™ sunrise lens is lightweight, impact resistant and allows for maximum light transmission and enhanced depth perception. They cut glare and allow anglers to see through the water more clearly in the early morning or late afternoon when outside light is low. The 100-percent polarized 580 lenses block yellow light from entering the eye, creating razor sharp color enhancement and superior visual acuity. Winner of the Best New Eyewear award at the 2012 ICAST fishing industry trade show, the new 580P sunrise lens is available for some of Costa’s most popular performance sunglasses including Corbina, Fisch, Fathom, Hammerhead, Jose, Zane and others. Frame color options include black or tortoise.

www.costadelmar.com

THE REEL GLOVE Protect your favourite fishing reels with the new Reel Glove from VRX Fishing Products Ltd., makers of the popular Rod Glove. Available in both spinning and baitcasting styles, the Reel Glove is made from durable, 4-way stretch neoprene with finished edges to ensure long life. The spinning reel design fits reels up to 3000 series sizes and there are two baitcasting sizes to fit new, small-frame reels as well as older, large-frame baitcasters.

www.vrxfishing.com

14 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

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

RANGER Z520C CARBON Z ANNIVERSARY PACKAGE Celebrating 45-years of boat building excellence, Ranger introduces the limited edition Carbon Z Anniversary Package, available exclusively on the 2013 Ranger Z520C. Highlighted by a unique paint process, Ranger’s custom Viper Silver Metallic paint is applied to the top of the gel coat for a rich, show-quality appearance. The custom look and feel is complemented by a carbon fibre lamination package which is highlighted in every compartment lid and in other strategic locations throughout the boat. Measuring 20-feet, 9-inches and rated for 250 horsepower, the all-new Ranger Z520C sports a completely redesigned deck and is available with a wide range of precision-matched, factory-rigged outboards. The Ranger Touring Package comes as standard equipment and includes a deluxe boat cover, American Racing aluminum trailer wheels, parking brake, keel protector and integrated Oxygenator system.

www.rangerboats.com

BLAZ’R LINE GUIDE The new BLAZ’R Line Guide increases casting distance and reduces wind knots with any spinning rod, reel or line type. It smoothly transforms the circular motion of line coming off the reel into linear motion, reducing line “slap” on the blank, resulting in longer casts. As line is retrieved, the 316 stainless steel spring wobbles, which places a slight tension on the line as it is put back onto the reel thereby reducing slack line and wind knots. Simple to install, the BLAZ’R Line Guide simply snaps onto the butt guide in seconds.

www.malinco.com

MARMOOSKA TUNGSTEN LUNAR JIGS HT Enterprises Inc. is pleased to introduce the newest model in their revolutionary and popular Marmooska Tungsten Jig line: the Marmooska Tungsten Lunar Jig. These first class, premium ice jigs feature an offset head for unsurpassed hooking ability; small, light wire barbed hooks and a premium epoxy coated paint for superior fish attraction and durability. They are made of tungsten, a material 70% denser than lead, so they drop super fast. You get all the benefits of a small profile jig, but with the added strength of a heavy design that gets down to the depth you want to fish – fast! Marmooska Tungsten Lunar Jigs are available with your choice of #10, #12 or #14 hooks, and come in HT’s wildest new colors: zebra and reversed zebra.

www.icefish.com

Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 15

fishing

Bob Izumi is the host of The Real Fishing Show.

By Bob Izumi

Autumn’s Bounty Many of the biggest fish come during the autumn. Why? Because they’re actively feeding before the long, cold winter. They are they bunched up and they become very predictable in their location and feeding habits. I’ve spent numerous hours night fishing for giant walleyes during the fall of the year and there’s no question this is the best time to get some real giants. In fact, the biggest walleyes I’ve ever caught have come after dark in the fall. My favourite way to catch these fish is to use long, slender crankbaits and cast or slow-

ly troll with the electric motor. I target large feeding flats that drop into deeper water and I concentrate on the thickest remaining green weeds that are closest to the drop. The key with this type of fishing is to go slow. You want your bait to have a wide, lazy wobble that puts out a lot of vibration. On one outing many years ago I remember catching one just shy of 15-pounds this way during the witching hours on the Bay of Quinte. Although we only caught two fish that night they were both trophies - the other 16 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

one was around 10-pounds. Walleyes that size are just amazing. The 15-pounder had eyes the size of quarters! They’re just a magnificent fish and there’s no better time to catch them than in the fall, after dark. When I think of fall smallmouth bass I think of schooling fish, fish that are moving to their wintering areas. When Derek Strub and I won the Quinte Series Classic tournament two years in a row, we found just those kinds of spots. One was in current, the other was in open water, but the fish were schooled up on both of them. We caught giant smallmouth from just under to just over sixpounds in both of these tournaments. What made those spots significant is that they had plenty of food. When you find food you’re going to find the fish. In this case it was clouds of baitfish that the smallmouth were feeding on. We marked the bait on the graph and then started dropshotting Berkley Gulp three-inch minnows and three-inch fry in the area. Both of these baits are great replicas of the baitfish those smallmouth were feeding on. When you get into a school of aggressively feeding smallmouth in the fall you’re going to catch a lot of fish, whether they’re deep or shallow. A few days of fairly steady weather can really help to get them fired up so try to plan your trips accordingly. There’s no question that as the weeds die off and you get those last green weeds in deeper water, you can get bunches of largemouth bass on lipless crankbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs, a jig and chunk, soft plastics and a number of other baits. You can load the boat with largemouth this way during the fall of the year because they are so aggressive in their feeding. The thing to look for is green weeds that have deep water nearby. In the fall, fish will funnel out of the shal-

lows and start to group up on these edges. I like to look for the deepest weeds off of a giant bay or flat. It could be a weedline or it could be patches or clumps of weeds, as long as they’re deep and green they have the potential to hold bass. Start by fishing a faster-moving, horizontal bait, like a lipless crankbait or a spinnerbait, around the weeds. This presentation will catch a lot of the more aggressive fish. Once the bite slows, or if you don’t get a bite, switch up to a vertical presentation and work the weeds more slowly. Pay special attention to points or inside turns along the weed edge or to clumps that are sitting outside of the main weedline because these types of areas can be fish magnets. Big predators, like muskies and pike, can often be found cruising around the areas where bass and walleyes group up, looking for an easy meal. In fact, it’s not uncommon for these toothy guys to clamp onto a hooked bass or walleye. If you are targeting pike or muskies, start with large crankbaits or spinnerbaits fished around the areas where bass and walleyes are grouped up and you could be rewarded with a true trophy. Why not give fall fishing a try this year? The crowds are gone from the lakes, the crisp air is invigorating and the fish are schooled up and feeding heavily. What more can you ask for? ?

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

fly fishing By Stephen May

Big Time Some people just have to push the limits. In fly fishing circles there are people who chase big fish that you would not think about as being suitable for fly tackle. I am one of these people. Believe it or not, it is common for people to fly fish for sailfish, tarpon, tuna and Dorado. In freshwater, northern pike and muskie are fly fishing targets. I have a soft spot for muskie fishing with big flies. There is fly fishing gear designed for extreme fishing. This heavyweight equipment will cast flies bigger than many of the fish that small stream dry fly fishers catch. I use baits about seven-inches to a little over a foot long when targeting big predators. Over the past few years I have worked with people from across North America to design flies that turn the heads of big fish. These flies combine long, flowing hackle feathers, bucktail and synthetic materials to create giant “flies” that are still reasonably easy to cast on appropriate gear. Gear designed for saltwater fly fishing is fine for presenting these flies and subduing big freshwater predators. A seven to 10weight outfit should get you into the game.

18 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Just make sure you equip the business end of your stout leader with some 60-pound test fluorocarbon to prevent the fish of a lifetime from biting off your fly. Bulky, yet lightweight flies have a superb action that just can’t be duplicated with hard baits or even soft plastics. Well designed flies slink through the water and rarely result in “follows” that muskie anglers using heavy gear commonly encounter. The constant motion provided by supple fly materials flowing in the current make the bait look alive and very edible. I am confident they will usually out-fish anything else in shallow water muskie fishing situations. Fly fishing for muskies is a visual affair. Slap the fly down next to the bank, a dead-

fall, weed line, ledge, current seam or log jam and give it a hard strip followed by a short pause. Be ready, as the fish often hit immediately. If you don’t hook up right away, an irregular retrieve that keeps things moving can result in a hit at any time. Watching a foot-long bait disappear into a toothy mouth in a giant swirl is one of fishing’s biggest adrenalin rushes and it makes the tired casting and stripping arms seem worth the effort.

Big flies do a number on muskies but they also work on a variety of other freshwater predators. Chinook salmon, brown trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and northern pike have all eaten flies intended for muskies. In a couple of places we fish we are actually seeing more and more giant smallmouth eating these flies. On a recent trip to Montana I met a couple of hard core anglers using very similar flies for huge brown trout! Doing a little research, I discovered that most predatory fish prefer to eat things that are about one third of their length. So an 18-inch fish is looking for six inch prey. The two-foot long ones prefer eight inches of fly. Bigger fish don’t mind flies that stretch out over a foot long. Pushing the limits of fly fishing is a ton of fun. Working on the latest flies and swimming them through big fish water to see what giants will eat them is certainly an engaging adventure in fly fishing. ?

THE ORIGINAL BUGABOOT® WITH OMNI-HEAT® OMNI-HEAT’S LITTLE SILVER DOTS REFLECT YOUR BODY HEAT U COLUMBIA.COM

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

water’s edge By Dave Taylor

American Bittern I was out doing a fishing assignment one day in the marshes of Long Point when I first heard a strange deep pumping sound. It was late May and the sound was coming from deep among the cattails and bulrushes. “Oong-ka-choonk”. The anglers I was with listened. The call seemed close at hand and yet far away, almost as if its maker were toying with our hearing. After some discussion we agreed that it was the mating call not of frogs, but of the American Bittern. Although a common spring and summer resident of most marshes over 25-acres in area and within its range in Canada, the American Bittern is more often heard than seen. Its striped, brown pattern is very well suited for blending in with the reeds. To increase the effect it points its bill straight up into the air and, given even a slight amount of cover, it is almost invisible. Bitterns are predators, like virtually all herons. They feed on amphibians, insects, small fish and reptiles. About a quarter of their diet is made up of large insects including dragonflies, water beetles and grasshop-

pers. Their main predators are hawks, owls, snakes, raccoons and mink. A solitary bird, it is rare to see more than one at time. Mating season is about as social as this bird gets and even then the pairs are seldom seen together. Males will display to other males in an attempt to drive them away from their territory. This often results in chases over the marsh. American Bitterns are sort of monogamous. Pairs are together for a mating season but do not necessarily pair up again the following season. Males may have two or three nests that they defend so their loyalty to one female over another is suspect. Females may consort with other males as well. Recent DNA studies of birds have dispelled the myth that many species mate for life. Mute swans seem to be very loyal but most species cheat on each other. The Bittern’s nest is made of local vegeta-

tion and is usually built among the emergent reeds and cattails. Females build the nest but the male guards it. Two to five eggs are laid and these are incubated for about a month. The chicks are fully fledged in a little less than two months after hatching. They soon disperse and have no further interaction with their parents.

The American Bittern migrates to where there is open water in the winter; typically the southern states.Their departure leaves our northern marshes a bit quieter until the following spring when their distinctive call will once again intrigue anglers and naturalists alike. ? 20 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Deep Snow Has Met Its Match.

The NEW Power Max® Two-Stage Snowblowers

COMPACT YET POWERFUL AND EASY TO USE Blizzard in the forecast? No worries. Toro Power Max® two-stage snowblowers are made for the toughest conditions. With durable components and a patented Anti-Clogging System (ACS), they make quick work of hard, compacted snow. They’re also compact and easy to handle. It’s the perfect mix of Toro dependability and snow-clearing muscle for longer driveways and heavier snowfalls. Find your nearest dealer at www.toro.ca/dealer.

www.toro.ca/snow

the vintage tackle box

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

By Patrick Daradick

Tackle Box Trinkets Opening a regular tackle box one finds the typical lures of all sizes and varieties. However, most vintage fishing tackle boxes display some unique and common items not associated with lures. While some vintage fishing lures command high prices today, let us not be fooled by what the bottom of the tackle box might hold and how collectible these items are. Many of these items are usually thought to be of no value and are often discarded. To experienced tackle collectors, however, the bottom of that rusty tackle box has many pieces that hold moderate to high values. One of the most sought-after and collectible items are split-shot tins. Many companies manufactured these tins to hold their products and they were sold in many shapes and sizes. They usually had fine graphics and you can find these tins in nearly every collection. There are collectors that specialize in collecting just these tins and, with the vast amount produced, they are sight to see displayed. The round split-shot tins are the more valuable style and were made similar to celluloid pin back buttons of the 1930s, with a compartment on the back containing the shot. These tins, in excellent shape and with sought-after company logos, usually bring between $75 and $150. Small, square-style tins with sliding tops and snap tops are still collectible but much less valuable, generally bringing between $15 and $25. Fishing scales are another tackle box find that were made in so many styles and shapes. From the old, round-style Sportsman model to the famous â&#x20AC;&#x153;De-Liarâ&#x20AC;? scale, most tackle boxes held one. Scales usually have more value if the original boxes are intact. Wooden line spools from the early 1920s to 1940s are very collectible. These spools had beautiful graphics and pictures placed on each side to entice fisherman. Values 22 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fall 2012

range from $10 to sometimes over $100 for these unique, wooden line spools with the black silk, braided line. Hook tins are another prize to find in a tackle box. As with split-shot tins, hook tins were sold in many styles and shapes and featured incredible graphics. Many of the higher priced tins originate from England, from companies like Milwards, Allcocks etc. A hook tin from Croft & Sons Canada would fetch $100 today. One of the most valuable items you could find in an old tackle box would be an empty cardboard lure box or the empty card that would have held a metal spinner or spoon. With the proper company logo or graphic on these boxes or cards, one would easily see them sell for between $20, for the more common ones, to $750 for the rarer boxes. Many collectors have vintage lures but lack the original box. They would happily pay to add the box or card to complete their lure collection. Original brochures or pocket catalogues from lure boxes, showing the other lures the company made, are also very

sought after and, depending on age and condition, always sell very high and are very elusive. There are too many items one could find in the bottom of a vintage tackle box to discuss in detail but, in general, if you find the likes of pin-back style fishing licences, fly boxes, reel oilers, gaffs, stringers, rulers, knives, line grease tins, paperwork or anything that looks unusual, do some research or contact me. You would be surprised at the value those gadgets can hold. Tackle collectors love to display these items with their fishing lures. ?

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real fishing fish facts

Walleye

DID YOU KNOW?

Sander vitreus

The walleye is the largest member of the perch family and is closely related to the smaller sauger and the European zander. Despite being commonly referred to as “pickerel” in many areas of Canada, the walleye bears no relation to true pickerels, which are members of the Esox, or pike, family of fishes. Walleye are easily identified by their large, glassy eyes and white marking on the lower tip of their tail. They have large, rounded teeth and a razor sharp plate on the rear of the gill cover. Walleye have two separate dorsal fins; the frontal one is rounded and features 12 to 16 strong, sharp spines while the rearward dorsal is squarish in shape with a single, fine spine and 18 to 22 softer rays. A walleye’s colour can range from bluish green to olive to almost black on the back with a gradual lightening to olive, yellow or brown on the flanks and finally to milky white or yellow-white on the belly. The blue walleye that once roamed lakes Erie, Ontario and possibly Nipissing had a slate or steel-blue back that faded to icy blue or silver on the sides and silver to silver-white

24 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

on the belly. The blue walleye was originally listed as a separate species but its status was changed to that of a sub-species. In 1970 it was placed on the “Rare and Endangered” list and today it is generally considered to be extinct. Walleye are widely distributed in Canada and the United States. In Canada they can be found in the eastern half of Quebec from the St. Lawrence River north to the eastern shore of James Bay; throughout Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan; in most of Alberta with the exception of the extreme southwestern portion; the northeastern section of British Columbia and through the western Northwest Territories as far north as the Mackenzie River delta. Walleye spawn in the spring, when water temperatures reach 42°F to 52°F. Their pre-

In 2004, nearly 14-million pounds of walleye were harvested by commercial fishing operations, making them second only to whitefish as the most caught commercial species in Canada. Walleye are ranked first on the list of favored recreational species too. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s 2005 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada, nearly 51 million were caught in Canada by resident and non-resident anglers in 2005.

FAST FACTS Colour: Background colour ranges from olive to olive-brown to golden brown to yellow with darker tones on the back becoming lighter on the flanks and belly. Size: 14 to 18-inches and 1 to 3-pounds on average but can grow to over 30-inches and 15-pounds or more. Life Span: 10 to 12-years in the south and up to 20-years in the north. Habitat: Primarily large, shallow, turbid lakes and large rivers but are also found in clear lakes with suitable deep water areas. Spawning: Spring or early summer when water temperatures reach 42°F to 52°F.

RECORD The IFGA lists the current All-Tackle World Record walleye at 25-pounds even. The fish was caught in Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee, in 1960.

ferred spawning sites are in rocky, fast water areas of rivers or on boulder to coarse gravel shoals, and occasionally shorelines, of lakes. The eggs hatch in 12 to 18-days and the fry disperse to the upper levels of open water within 10 to 15-days of hatching. By late summer the young fish move toward the bottom and are most often found relating to it in 20 to 30-feet of water. During the first several weeks of life, walleye fry feed primarily on tiny crustaceans like water fleas and copepods. As they mature, their diet switches primarily to other fishes, including their own species. In some areas walleyes will also feed heavily on mayfly larvae or nymphs and other aquatic insects for part of the year. The walleye is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America and is highly regarded for its firm, mildly flavored white flesh. Anglers pursue them throughout the year with a variety of live and artificial baits and commercial fishing operations harvest several million pounds annually. ?

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26 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

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

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

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

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

SATURDAY

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

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

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FRIDAY

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

5:18 - 7:18 am 6:06 5:42 - 7:42 pm 6:30 am 12:33 NA 12:09 - 1:39 pm 12:57 -

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THURSDAY

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

Good Time

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

WEDNESDAY

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Excellent Time

10:54 - 12:54 am NA 11:18 - 1:18 pm 12:06 - 2:06 5:21 - 6:51 am 6:09 - 7:39 5:45 - 7:15 pm 6:33 - 8:03

DECEMBER

Best Fishing Times 2012

DOUG HANNON’S

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

SUNDAY

22 7:06 7:30 1:03 1:27

28 10:42 - 12:42 am 11:06 - 1:06 pm 4:21 - 5:51 am 4:45 - 6:15 pm

29 11:30 - 1:30 11:54 - 1:54 5:57 - 7:27 6:21 - 7:51

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You never know what you’re going to catch. That’s especially true when you’re fishing in unfamiliar waters or waters that have been invaded by nonnative species. While practicing for a tournament on the Potomac River last year Bob Izumi had an encounter with an unusual fish that you may have heard of – the snakehead. Bob was flipping a crayfish bait along some weeds when the fish hit. At first he thought he’d hooked a giant largemouth bass but soon realized it was something entirely different. After a spirited fight the snakehead was landed and photographed for the “guess what I caught” files.

28 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

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Article and Illustrations by Charles Weiss

How to Catch your What’s your biggest muskie to date? 30-pounds? 40-pounds? Have you ever caught a 50-inch muskie? Regardless of the number, think back to when you caught it, to how you were overwhelmed with adrenaline. You had to stop, sit down, catch your breath and stop shaking. Think how its mouth seemed big enough to hold a basketball. Remember the exciting moment when you showed your fishing buddies the photograph? Sure, the moment the drag on your fishing reel starts to click and whine is fun, but there’s not a lot that can compare with actually landing the biggest muskie of your life. 30 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Biggest Muskie When you make your muskie fishing plans catching a trophy - your personal best should be at the top of the list. To help make this happen we contacted some of the best big-fish anglers from across muskie country to see what it takes to put a giant into the landing net. No, it’s not that they get to fish places like Georgian Bay or Eagle Lake in Northwest Ontario that makes them great anglers. In fact, because not every fisherman has a world-class muskie fishery as his home lake, I’ve broken down the following tips to make them apply to as many different bodies of water as possible.

Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 31

If there is a big fish swimming in your waters the advice from these muskie fishing folks, their thoughts and methods, will give you the best chance to catch the biggest muskie of your life.

haven’t caught many muskies, but I just don’t have a great interest in hooking these smaller fish and possibly damaging or injuring them. RODEL MISA – The Kawartha Lakes

are my local waters. A big muskie starts at the 45-inch mark and can go to 50 or 53-inches and beyond. The fishing is consistent and action is going to happen. I believe there are many good muskie fishing years ahead in the Kawartha Lakes. JOHN ANDERSON – A big fish is an

What do you consider a big muskie from your local waters? PETE MAINA – In my local area of

northern Wisconsin, we have natural lakes of many different shapes, sizes and water colors as well as many reservoirs and rivers to try. These waters have very differing potential for trophy production. Our trophy potential waters will grow muskies to an upper limit that is generally 54-inches with a handful of (legitimate) fish up to 56. Many of our lakes would be classified as middle-of-the-road, producing good numbers of fish with a slight realistic expectation of a 50-incher, but with good shots at mid-to-upper 40-inch fish. We have a fair number of waters with fairly slow growth rates and these are “fun waters” offering good numbers, although fish over 40inches are rare. GRAHAM BRISTOW – I fish big fish

water and see fish in the 20 to 25pound class almost every day, so my perception of size is a little warped and I consider a 20-pound muskie to be a small fish. The big fish that get me exited are the ones over 50-inches and in the 30-pound and bigger range. GEORGE UNIS – In Lake St.Clair, in

Southwestern Ontario, a muskie 52inches long or longer is considered a big one. A muskie 50-inches long with a wide back is an impressive sight and will weigh from 30 to 40-pounds. My biggest is 54 ½-inches in length. GORD PYZER – While I love catch-

ing muskies in general, I consider anything pushing 50-inches plus to be a trophy. I’ve been fishing for muskies for a long time now, and to be honest, I’ll pull away from a fish that looks to be in the 46-inch and lower range. We call them “snot rockets.” They’re fun to catch if you 32 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

individual judgement based on a person’s muskie experience. For me, a big fish in the Ottawa River is something over four-feet although there are some fall fatties a few inches shorter that definitely qualify as big. GREG VIDEKI – In my local waters

I’d consider a big muskie larger than the last big one you’ve landed. My opinion about Lake Nippissing is that they are big when they are longer than 48-inches. Also, nearby Lake Nosbonsing and the Mattawa River system have smaller muskies in the 40 to 41-inch length. MARK FORABOSCO – In my

opinion, any muskie that reaches lengths of 48-inches or longer and attains a weight of 30-pounds or more would qualify as a trophy muskie. Of course it is also relevant with regards to which waters you are fishing. In some Kawartha Lakes for example, where it’s more of a numbers fishery, a 30-pound fish might be on the high end whereas on a system such as Georgian Bay people might not get excited until a muskie reaches or surpasses the 40pound mark.

What season do you consider the best for catching big muskies? What about moon phases and local weather patterns? PETE MAINA – Weather and the

effects of barometric pressure is still the single biggest factor affecting fish activity – and this certainly includes big fish. Being on the water with changing weather is, in general, a good plan. Ideally, you want a large, slow-moving frontal system following a period of stability. If you see or hear of something like this coming, it’s a great idea to plan to be on the water on the day it is coming in. (Work some other time!) Slower-moving systems generally mean extended feeding periods as opposed to the real quickmoving, violent fronts that generally mean tight windows as well as potential dangers to anglers. Secondary considerations are moon phases, its rises and sets, as well as periods overhead and underfoot of the moon. You want to be out during such periods if possible. Odds are better for a big fish as long as these periods don’t attract too much fishing pressure. GRAHAM BRISTOW – I don’t follow

moon phases too closely anymore because I believe, regardless of the moon phase, the daily weather patterns will affect muskie feeding a lot more and is therefore more important. I’m usually catching big muskies from the opening day in June until the end of November but my most consistent success with big fish is in August, September and the first half of October. GEORGE UNIS – Big muskie time is

in the fall, after the first hard frost when the leaves are just falling off the trees, around the end of October. The muskies are eating aggressively, really putting on the feed bag. Gord Pyzer and Doug Stange with a beautiful muskie.

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GORD PYZER – My favourite time

to target big muskies is late summer, during the last couple of weeks of August. I love this time frame regardless of the moon phase, but if there is a full or new moon so much the better. Gotta’ be honest with you, though, I don’t pay a lot of attention to the moon phase. Instead, I pay far more attention to the specific weather patterns and conditions. My favourite conditions for late summer are as hot and humid as possible, so muggy that sweat is dripping from my arms and face. Those are perfect “big fish” conditions in late summer. Of course, having said this, the two biggest muskies I’ve ever caught, including one that weighed 57 ½pounds based on length and girth calculations, were caught trolling in the fall. But, I much prefer to cast for big muskies and late summer is my favourite time to do it. RODEL MISA – Big fish can be

caught at any time. In early fall, with the cooling water, big muskies can be caught more often when they roam across the open lake. Moon phases are a good way to organize your strategy, planning your time on the water by fishing your very best spots but weather is the most important factor in your muskie fishing. You’re looking for a three-day progression of consistent weather with a sunny day in the mix. Big muskies like the warm days in the fall. JOHN ANDERSON – My favourite

time to catch a big muskie is late June and the beginning of July. During the time they move from their spawning beds to their summer ranges, we always catch at least a few big

34 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

fish. My favourite time to catch a giant muskie is in the fall. The big fish are putting on up to a pound of weight every week from the beginning of September to the end of November. This is when the biggest, baddest fish in just about any body of water will be caught. The moon is a subject for an entire book on muskie behaviour but suffice to say that the biggest fish I have put in my boat for clients have been related to the full moon. My favourite weather pattern is a dropping barometer, especially when a big storm is approaching. Hurricane season in the fall is great for muskie fishing. The day or two prior to a weather event arriving usually involves a serious barometer drop and some crazy muskie happenings. GREG VIDEKI – Late summer when

the water is still above 68°F and the weed beds are still flourishing, then through until the middle of fall, when the water temperatures are above 45°F. Moon rise and moon set are predictable times for hooking larger muskies. Sunrise and sunset periods occurring every day are even more predictable. Classic low light is when the baitfish are moving shallow. Once the sun is high in the sky the muskies will have followed them back to main lake bays and deeper areas. As for weather, stability in weather patterns with several days of low pressure and bluebird skies, like you encounter at the end of summer or late fall, are ideal. The fishing should be more predictable before a cold front moves in and causes a sudden change. MARK FORABOSCO – The fall is

when I fish the hardest for big muskies so I’ve had my greatest success from October to the end of the season. But in all fairness, large fish are caught throughout the year. I don’t dispute that moon phases may have some effects on fishing, but there are far too many other variables to consider. When did that fish have its last meal? Has there been a cold front or a storm moving through? These are other determining factors that, in my opinion, far outweigh moon phases. Say some careless sucker gets too close to a large muskellunge. That sucker is history, regardless of the moon phase or what the peak feeding window time is. I would rather fish on a weather pattern that has remained stable for a number of days. Some cloud cover with a mild chop along with seasonal temperatures for the fall of the year would be my choice. Unfortunately that’s not always the case and all you can do is fish hard and put in your time - don’t give up. Muskies are opportunistic and will hit under many different conditions.

What do you look for in a fishing spot for big muskies? What defines “good” and “bad” structure? PETE MAINA – Big muskie spots

usually make sense. By making sense, I mean that the areas big fish frequent are generally classic areas with structure as well as shallow and deep water easily accessible. Ideally such a spot may have several different types of structure like weeds of different types, rocks and a sharp and irregular breakline. Sometimes a big fish spot is a simple indentation or extended point on a shoreline structure, or maybe a small deeper spot or thicker weed patch on a flat. Possibly a deflection of current too; or it may make no sense at all. If you see a big one though, whether the spot makes sense or not, keep coming back. Heavy muskie pressure will move fish (especially the bigger ones) off classic spots. Look for waters that receive a lot of pressure to have big fish staying out in deep water or holding court on those “doesn’t make sense” spots that most would pass by. GRAHAM BRISTOW – The type of

structure I fish is dependent on the time of year and where the baitfish are located. In general, an area with deep water, weeds and rock combinations are good structure on Georgian Bay. The most important thing about structure is that there are baitfish using it. Even the best looking structure can be useless if there is no bait there. Sometimes my best spots are right beside another guy’s best bass, walleye or perch spot. When it comes to big muskies, all other fish are just bait. GEORGE UNIS – What I look for in a

big muskie spot is a high/low weather pattern. Also, water clarity for an area, where it’s between clean and dirty at a river mouth. Run-off at a rivermouth can be slightly warmer in temperature. Muskies like this and so do the prey fish they eat. During the whole season the muskies and prey fish migrate to these spots. Sand bars along beaches and near rivers in an east/west direction will have schooling shad and small carp. The subtle rippling edges of the sand will be ambush points for muskies. GORD PYZER – It varies of course,

from one lake to the next. At the top end of Lake of the Woods where I live, we don’t have any weed cover since rusty crayfish invaded the system about 25-years ago, so weeds are not something I concern myself with. But I grew up fishing a muskie lake in the Haliburton Highlands in southern Ontario that had marvelous cabbage

THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS

“I first started using SHARK jigs in my first World Ice Fishing Championship held in Poland in 2009.That’s when I learned that small is a relative term…and the advantage of tungsten was drilled into my head. I could now use a super small jig and get it to fall as fast as a much larger lead jig. One neat trick that I have learned and applied in my home state of Michigan is when we get a slow bite in deep water, say around 30feet, I drop one of those small jigs down there, and it always triggers the fish into striking. It takes a while for it to go down and it is a very timid strike, but it makes all the difference between sitting on a bucket and catching fish.When I won the 2010 World Championship held in Rhinelander, WI, my go-to jig was a 3mm rain drop with a blue/glow eye.They are the best jigs in the world! 2013 brings the World Championship back to the U.S., and we have assembled a formidable team that will have high expectations of winning some medals. Armed with a good supply of SHARK jigs, I’m confident we will bring home the gold.” Mike Boedeker, 2010 WORLD ICE FISHING CHAMPION, 5-TIME USA ICE TEAM MEMBER.

weed growth, so I know how effective vegetation can be in terms of big fish habitat. One of the things I am definitely conscious about is the location of deep water. If you take two identical pieces of muskie structure and/or cover, the one that lies the closest to deep water is the one I’ll pick ahead of the other every time. Something I tell folks who haven’t fished for muskies a lot, especially on a rocky, Canadian Shield type of lake like Lake of the Woods, is to go smallmouth bass fishing. It is amazing how many good smallmouth locations also attract muskies. The other thing you need to pay attention to is current, especially wind induced current. Some days you’ll find the fish on the upwind sides of structures, other days the exact opposite. Regardless, current plays a major role in positioning muskies and when you find the pattern for the day, it is amazingly consistent. RODEL MISA – Look for the first

rocky point of land or a rocky submerged spot in an open bay. Also in open water, on structure or cover away from the shore. The green weeds are your casting targets. These spots are fished a lot less than the usual shore-oriented spots. River fishing should be around rocks or where another creek enters a river. Places with extremely thick milfoil, surface weed and algae are to be avoided when muskie fishing. JOHN ANDERSON – The catch

phrase these days to describe many good muskie spots is, “complex structure.” This means an area with diverse structure - deep and shallow water, weeds, rock, and current all in the same area. You know the fish are there and it is just a matter of figuring out exactly where and how to get them going. All of my favourite spots over a 40-mile stretch of river seem to have unique current happenings on them or near them. Muskies generally do not want to hang out in current and therefore the slack and sheltered waters around it become gold for a muskie chaser. As you progress in the fall, baitfish become better structure than structure and we begin to focus almost exclusively on them in the late fall. GREG VIDEKI – Classic weedbeds,

weed flats, points, drop-offs and mid-lake underwater humps are good spots. You need a combination of green weeds in the waters where you fish and consistent wind direction. Fish around submerged rocks and fallen wood branches that are partially submerged. Keep an eye out for dirty mud lines in the water column and fish them thoroughly. 36 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

MARK FORABOSCO – I prefer to

fish lakes (under six-miles in length) with a lot of rock structure. Most of these are not numbers lakes and their deepest areas usually max out around the 30 to 35-foot mark. The reason I pick these systems is because it is much easier to dissect a smaller lake and that’s important, especially if you only have two or three days to fish. Forage plays a big role as well; choose waters that have fatty fish such as suckers, shad, or herring over one that has more of a small fish diet like perch and sunfish. Deep water rock structure will always hold muskies and consistently produce fish, as will deep water weedbeds. These locales are ideal if trolling is your principle method. As far as bad structure goes, in some areas in the fall the weeds start to turn brown and die off, which indicates poor oxygen and because of that the fish will abandon those locations. Under that scenario I might try to locate baitfish/forage and go with that approach.

Do you have a preferred method to catch big muskies? Do you have any unusual approaches? How about favourite lures or colour patterns? PETE MAINA – Generally, I use big-

ger baits on average but I’ve caught plenty of big fish on smaller stuff. Having fished all over the continent, I learned quickly that what works in one place is definitely not a “standard.” There is a patterning process that must occur for each place. It pays to do some research on what is common knowledge (what folks recommend at bait shops) and what is hot. For big muskies though, common knowledge may be what you want to do the opposite of. Depending on how long the “hot” thing has been hot, it could be old - if you know what I mean. For some reason, big fish seem to be susceptible to soft plastics (providing everyone is not tossing them) and anything different. Topwater baits

may be a sleeper when other things aren’t producing. Favourite colors definitely vary on different water bodies, and can change with water clarity and fishing pressure. In all cases, be adaptable. I would say one of the two most unique things I do is go after fish via vertical jigging. This tactic seems to work especially well in the fall, or anywhere fish are relating to very tight breaks. Another little-used tactic is the use of downriggers. I’ve had some success with big fish by running shallower-running baits precisely where I want them. GRAHAM BRISTOW – The lures

and colors I use depend on the water conditions, the structure and baitfish in the area. It’s good to be versatile and try different things. A saying I sometime used on the Moon River is, “Any color is a good color as long as it’s black.” One unusual method I use is fishing from the shallow side out. Almost every muskie angler will pull up to a piece of structure or shoreline and cast at it, but I don’t. I usually drive right up and onto the structure, or I’ll put my boat a few feet from shore in about three-feet of water, and follow the shoreline or structure, casting out into the deep water where the other guys’ boats would normally be. Most anglers think the muskies would be right up on the structure, or in the shore weed lines, and that if they want to catch them they have to cast to them. I believe if a muskie is that close to shore or structure, and my boat is also that close to shore or structure, the fish will move as my boat gets close enough to it. The best part is, once you move a muskie from its resting spot it’s not resting anymore and hopefully it’s aggravated enough to bite my lure. After seeing over a thousand muskies a year follow lures to the side of my boat I’m pretty convinced the boat isn’t enough to scare them from biting. Bringing your lure towards the weeds or rocks, verses towards open water, means a muskie needs to eat it before it loses it in the cover. I believe that my bite to follow ratio is

in the 40-plus pound category. I caught every single fish on that old, beat-up Grandma lure. The only trouble is, I broke the lip on it so now I need to get it fixed and I worry it won’t produce like it used to when it is repaired. RODEL MISA – Try to start fishing a

A selection of Woodie lures.

much higher with this method. I’ve been doing this for about 10-years and I’ve yet to see another angler or guide do it, even though it has paid off with many big fish for me and my customers. GEORGE UNIS – Larger shad in the

8 to 10-inch long size arrive in late September/ October with hungry muskies chasing behind them. There are over a half a dozen good size rivers and creeks they are seeking and large muskies follow, gorging on the shad. Depending on the weather, you can cast from break walls along the rivers with a variety of lures such as surface lures, glide baits or shallow running crankbaits. Flexible soft plastic lures, like the Bull Dawg, are great at this time. Slow trolling from a boat in shallow water at 2.5-miles per hour with large, straight crankbaits like the 8 to 10-inch long Believer, Nils Master, Invincible, or my own Woodie Lure called the Thumper can be good too. Effective colours include Chocolate Perch, Yellow Perch and White Perch; the brighter, high-contrast colours that imitate shad or yellow perch. GORD PYZER – I normally start

with a fast surface presentation using a walking style bait, buzzbait or bucktail/cowgirl approach. Then, I’ll switch to the opposite extreme and work heavy jigs and swimbaits down near the bottom. Finally, I’ll fish the middle of the water column. If none of those approaches produces a fish - or at least a follow - I am off to the next location to do it all over again. The bottom line, especially if there are two people in the boat, is that one person should fish fast, the other slow. One should fish high and the other should fish low. Do that on each high percentage location and you’ll be successful. Of course, I have many favourite lures. I have an old Grandma bait that is probably 25-years old now and I’d hate to think how many fish I’ve caught with it. I am not sure what it is about the bait, but it attracts and triggers muskies when nothing else will work. One time I was filming a muskie show for an American television program and, in one 12-hour period, I raised nine fish, landing five of them. The biggest was a monster 38 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

spot with a jerk bait like a Suick Thriller, Fudally Reef Hawg or a Phantom. The way a lure is retrieved, and how a muskie follows it, will allow you to “interview’ the muskie. The fish will show its reaction and willingness to bite by the speed or start-and-stop retrieve action of the lure. This will help you start to put a pattern together on how the muskie are reacting on the day you are on the water. Lure colours that are effective mimic the natural patterns of yellow perch, carp, suckers and other fish. A lure with a combination of colours, including a dark back with light sides and a yellow bottom, are effective. Trolling with body baits that dive deep are great too. The lengths vary, between six-inches to 14-inches. The Legend Plow or Outcast are my first choices. Spinner baits are good lures to cover a lot of water with. My unusual trolling method includes suddenly stopping the boat for a short duration of about three-seconds before putting it back in gear. This method should be done near a good fishing spot along a weed edge or rocky shoal. This stop-and-go pattern is trying to imitate a jerking casting retrieve that makes the lure look vulnerable to any muskies swimming close by. JOHN ANDERSON – I am a caster

at heart and will usually choose to cast for fish first. Soft plastics like a Bull Dawg or Red October Tube are probably what we end up casting Rodel Misa plies the Kawartha Lakes for big muskies.

the most in the fall. Cowgirls and jerkbaits like Sledges, Leo Lures or Suicks are also must-throws. In terms of trolling, I upsize my baits a lot. Thirteeninch Jakes and Grandmas are great fall baits. I don’t have an unusual method but I do have one that is typically not employed much in Canada. I find big schools of Emerald shiners and I jig soft plastics in and under them. The schools of bait get so thick here in the fall that many times both the muskies and sturgeon will hang out in the middle of them. Red October tubes are awesome for fishing the bottom when your fish are down low or you have a little current to help you drift through the baitfish. GREG VIDEKI – I like large spinner-

baits and bucktails with double blades, which can be cast or trolled, to cover a lot of water during the low light part of the day. Darker days call for dark colours. In dirty or stained water use bright coloured, high contrast lures with a lot of vibration. Bright days call for the use of light and/or metallic coloured lures. During fairly calm days use surface lures that cause a lot of commotion. I try different things with lures. Later in the fall, when muskies can be found near rocks and have moved off from the dying weed beds, I like to crash crankbaits into rocks and submerged, middle of the lake underwater humps. I’ll also try trolling a topwater bait with a spinning delta blade or a single spinning blade, like a Top Raider. MARK FORABOSCO – I predomi-

nately troll very large, homemade body baits. As the water starts to cool, I believe muskies start to feed more aggressively and it’s for that reason that I choose to troll with lures 12-inches or larger. Some are similar to the old Cisco Kid

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Melissa releasing one of four big muskies she caught in a day of fishing.

models but jointed; others are related to the Pikie Minnow only they are double jointed. I run a three to five-ounce weight about 18-inches up from the lure to get it down to the 15 to 20-foot mark. As far as colour goes, I believe in matching the forage base. If I was to use a store-bought bait, I’d recommend the Depth Raider in a shad or perch pattern. I also like to toss topwater lures over weedbeds at dusk, usually Globes or Creepers. Often muskies that suspend in deep water during the day move into shallow water weedbeds in the evening to feed. You can catch some big fish that way. I don’t know if it would qualify as unusual, but I really enjoy casting from breakwalls and piers for muskies. I went up to Lake St.Clair one day last year and everything was mudded out, nothing was going on trolling. So I went down to cast from one of the breakwalls into the Detroit River and got into five muskies in an hour. That was a lot of fun and it saved the day. Recently I started trolling a large sleigh bell, which is basically a long wire with three very large blades attached to it, tied to an 18-inch fluorocarbon leader with a large Williams spoon at the end (an old lake trout method) on my down rod, trolling right in the prop wash. In theory it sounds promising, but ultimately it’s up to the muskies to prove if my idea has any merit!

tomer caught a 56.5-inch muskie and only a couple hours later he caught a 54-incher. Those were the first two muskies he had ever caught. His buddy also landed his first musky and lost two more later in the day. A couple of weeks later, a women I guided caught her first muskie, which was 57.5-inches. A few hours later her husband landed his first, a 54-inch muskie. I believe they caught four that day and lost a couple more. GEORGE UNIS – I don’t fish this

Do you have a memorable fish that you or a guided guest caught or had a follow from? PETE MAINA – Early in my guiding

career I didn’t put a lot of big muskies in my boat, partially because initially there was no release so large muskies were extremely rare. As release got more popular the odds got a little better, but quite often I was just fishing for action – not really targeting the lakes that had trophy potential. My clientele later became such that it was all repeat and pretty serious anglers. At that stage there really were a lot of bigger muskies caught. For the most part I only targeted big fish water and, due to catch and release, there were more big fish. I had many personal bests and I have several clients who have caught multiple fish over 50-inches with me. GRAHAM BRISTOW – My personal

biggest musky is a 57 x 28-inch fish which I estimated at over 55-pounds and I’ve caught many more over 50inches. Many of my customers have had success with some very big muskies and I’m happy to say I’ve had hundreds, and maybe over a thousand, customers who have caught their personal best muskies in my boat. Last year one cus40 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

time of the year as much as I used to. Late fall has been a good time for big muskies with fish almost 50pounds being caught. They can be caught earlier in the year and they are still impressive but they will not be as large in girth at that time. GORD PYZER – About 15-years ago

the Molson Big Fish contest was a huge annual event in Ontario and I was lucky enough to catch and release the biggest muskie in Ontario several times. A couple of years after I won the last Molson Big Fish Contest, I was fishing within a few hundred feet of where I had caught and released the previous winner. To make a long story short, I caught my biggest muskie ever - one that converted to 57.5-pounds - and I like to think it was the same fish. There is no question that catch and released has maintained the quality of muskie fishing in Ontario. RODEL MISA – I guided a guest to

catch and release his first muskie of 51 1/2-inches in length. The fish had a massive girth of 26-inches. It was caught while casting a medium size crankbait. Yes, there are big muskies in the Kawartha Lakes.

JOHN ANDERSON – Guiding peo-

ple to big muskies is what I do for a living and so I have lots of these stories. I take pride in creating the memory of a lifetime for the seasoned musky chaser by helping them land the fish of their lifetime. That is my biggest reward as a guide; when someone tells you the story of the biggest fish they ever caught and they tell it in vivid detail as they remember everything about the day and the events surrounding their fish. Melissa from New Jersey had never caught a musky casting before and ended up catching four giants in one day. GREG VIDEKI – I caught my largest

muskie during the last days of summer a few years ago, on a day with my favourite bluebird skies and a light chop on the lake. In the middle of the afternoon I was trolling a big spinnerbait with gold blades and black and orange hair. This big muskie hit and suddenly pulled my boat 40feet. I set the hook and got her close to the boat quickly. She leaped clear of the water and what a sight! I pulled her to the boat, grabbed the bottom of her lower jaw and dragged her into the boat. She measured an amazing 57 ½- inches in length with a girth of 26-inches! A fifty pounder! MARK FORABOSCO – I’ve never

been much of a numbers fisherman because of the muskie lakes that I’m fishing and the size of the fish that I’m targeting. But, over the years I’ve been lucky on occasion and I’ve landed some fish in the 30-pound class and above. My largest muskie, if you use the length times girth times girth formula, went between 49 and 51pounds. I’ve lost a couple that may have been larger but I’d rather not talk about that!

Do you have a funny story where the landing and release was memorable? PETE MAINA – Probably the most

memorable was not as much funny, as it was odd. My dad, Tex Maina, has a friend by the name of Joe Kriegel who was in the area on a trip, had done very little fishing and had never caught a muskie. Joe wanted to catch a muskie and a big walleye. We got out for the afternoon and the weather was high skies, quite hot and with no wind. I didn’t think the odds were great at all so I decided to troll in open water. When we finally got a strike it didn’t seem like a monster, but at least I’d gotten him a fish. It turned out to be a big walleye, just shy of 30-inches. Back to trolling we went. I’m thinking that I would turn the corner on the inside turn, go along the edge of bar one, then to bar (as in reef, not tavern) two, and if nothing bites, I’d have to bag it. As I’m thinking this, I hear “Hey, hey...” One of the rods had a reel with a broken clicker but dad noticed that the tip was down in the water, bouncing around, while line peeled off. After much vocalizing by all involved, Joe caught and released a 51 ½-inch super-hugely-built muskie. I informed Joe that after catching those two huge fish it was best if he just quit fishing for muskies and walleyes. He agreed that was probably wise. GRAHAM BRISTOW – One day a

few years ago I guided a guy who was releasing a big musky. I was taking my time putting away the release gear and when I was done I noticed he was still holding the fish’s tail in the cold November water. So I said to him, “Are you going to release her or just hold her there all day?” He said, “She won’t swim away, she doesn’t want to go.” So I said with a smile, “Lighten up your grip and slap her on the ass.” “What?” he said, with a weird look on his face. I repeated, “Slap her on the ass, slap her hard on the ass and watch what happens.” He looked at me funny again and then slapped her on the tail. She gave one big tail kick, splashing him in the face with some water, and took off like a bullet. He was amazed at how well that worked and now uses the “ass slap” when releasing all his fish. GEORGE UNIS – I witnessed an

adult seagull get attacked by a muskie. The swirl in the water was large. The suffering seagull surfaced a short while later, unable to fly away. Another time I saw a big shad burst out of

the water, skip across the top for 20-feet and land with a splash and swirl right in the mouth of a muskie. The muskie left only a few scales on that water spot. GORD PYZER – My good friend,

Curtis Atwater from Lowrance, was fishing with me in late summer on a super spot. Out of the blue, as I am reeling in my lure, Curtis said, “Do you really think that figure-eighting works?” No sooner had he spoken when I spotted this massive monster coming in behind my bait. I was transfixed and immediately went into a figure-eight. I watched the muskie open her jaws, flare her gills and attack my lure. I let her run maybe 10-feet with the bait in her mouth, then I set the hook and she came out of the water alongside the boat, tail-walking like a giant tarpon. Anyway, I turned around, smiled, and looked at Curtis and his eyes were as big as dinner plates. Then he said, “I guess it does!!!!”

GREG VIDEKI – One eager client I

guided was Dave Anderson, he was determined to revive and release a 53 ½-inch long muskie. He stayed in the water with the fish for two hours. Eventually I convinced him to keep the fish. She just was not going to make it. MARK FORABOSCO – I had made

this long drive out to a favourite lake couple of years back in late October. The wind was gusting; there were three-foot swells and not one other boat was out on the water. But sometimes I’m stubborn and I had driven all this way, so I bundled up and just trolled the shoreline. I was out there for maybe 15-minutes and I hooked into a thick, 48-inch fish. She’s going crazy, just a tremendous fight. At the same time I’m trying to control the boat as I’m being pushed over these large, shallow rocks while I’m trying to net this muskie. It was chaotic for a while. I’m lucky I didn’t tear my lower unit off! I finally got the fish in, let her go and went home. That was enough excitement for one day.

RODEL MISA – The strangest and

most unexpected muskie I’ve caught was while re-positioning my boat. I was just slowly turning away from a spot with my Reef Hawg jerk bait floating a few feet away. Suddenly, a splash and a massive strike. I eventually landed and released a 52-inch long muskie! JOHN ANDERSON – Once I was

So there you have it, the straight goods on how to put the odds in your favour when you’re hunting for your own trophy muskie this fall. Heed the advice of these pros and there’s no reason you can’t catch the fish of a lifetime. When you do, consider releasing it to fight another day so that other anglers can experience the thrill of catching their biggest muskie too. ?

trolling with a guest and after fiveminutes I looked back at the rods and one of them was thumping away. I got to it just as the last of the line was going off the reel. The rod loaded up and my line broke where the knot was tied onto the reel. Apparently I had not engaged the clicker all the way and thus we did not hear or notice the strike. We were sad to lose the fish but more sad to have left the lure in the fish with all the line attached. Twenty minutes later the rod went off again. My guest, Don Dewey, commented on how strange the fight was. When he got his lure to the boat it had a line attached to it. I quickly determined there was still a fish on the line and re-threaded it onto the rod and reel. Don brought in the 100-yards of line and a big fish. How lucky is that to catch the same fish twice in one afternoon! Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 41

DELTA DIVERSITY By David A. Brown

Southeastern Louisiana abounds with inshore fishing delights

42 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fall 2012

It’s unlikely that the coastal species of Louisiana’s Mississippi Delta region have studied Maslow’s theory on the Hierarchy of Needs. Nevertheless, with levels one and two – physiological and security – in ample supply, the Delta’s diverse menu of sport fish flourishes in a scenario blessed with quality and quantity. Indeed, the Delta boasts vast expanses of salt and brackish marshes linked by major river passes, bayous, bays and pipeline canals dredged decades ago by the oil industry. With nutrient-rich Mississippi River water coursing through this labyrinthine wonderland, enroute to the Gulf of Mexico, Southeastern Louisiana’s inshore fishing Mecca functions as a 24/7 forage production facility, constantly cranking out a briny buffet of crustacean and finfish prey to satisfy the hunger of redfish, speckled trout, white trout, flounder, sheepshead, black drum and the occasional jack crevalle. Push deeper inside, to the purely freshwater marshes, and largemouth bass, crappie, bream and catfish offer additional options. Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 43

Captain Anthony Randazzo and his guest admire a nice speckled trout.

Popular launch areas include (north to south) Hopedale, Lafitte, Port Sulfur, Empire, Buras and the jewel of Delta fishing – Venice. Although Hurricane Katrina devastated the Delta, infrastructure and commerce rebounded well and visiting anglers find lodging, restaurants, groceries and fuel readily available. For an insightful look at fishing the Delta, we spoke with Captain Anthony Randazzo, whose Paradise Plus Guide Service/Lodge sits just a short drive from Venice Marina. “The Delta region is so productive due to the confluence of fresh and saltwater at such an enormous proportion compared to other estuaries along the Gulf Coast,” Randazzo said. “Not only does a very unique habitat exist here, with many different types of foliage and structure, but so does a variety of fresh and saltwater forage 44 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

that both fresh and saltwater species can feast upon effortlessly and simultaneously.”

WHERE TO FISH

newcomer to the region is to look for areas that have green water on the surface or at least slightly below it,” Randazzo said. “This is an indicator that salt water is present to some degree, even if not 100 percent. There are bound to be redfish and speckled trout in this green water. In late summer and early fall, when the entire Delta is

The river’s influence bears profound impact on life in the Delta, as the mixing of fresh and saltwater determines where forage and predators concentrate. Spring rains and melting northern snow swells Redfish are one of the most popular the Mississippi during species in the Delta. the first half of the year, with water often spilling over roadways. Randazzo bases his fishing locations on the seasonal integration of river and Gulf waters. “The number one tip that I could give a

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Roseau cane is a fish magnet throughout the Delta.

essentially green, look for areas that are obviously inundated with baitfish. Mullet, pogies, shrimp, and storm minnows are the preferred forage during this season.” One of the biggest challenges newcomers face in the Delta is that it all looks “fishy.” Truthfully, you can catch something just about anywhere, but some of the more productive habitats include the edges of aquatic weed beds (hydrilla, milfoil, hyacinth), oyster reefs, jetties, sandy barrier island beaches, oil and natural gas structures and the prominent Delta vegetation known as Roseau cane. Scientifically named Phragmites australis, Roseau cane offers attractive habitat for a bevy of Southern Louisiana species. Redfish, black drum, sheepshead, flounder and speckled trout are all common “cane campers” and interested anglers who learn the intricacies of this seemingly simple habi46 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

tat will find themselves reeling plenty to the boat. Whether it’s a long, orderly row of cane that looks recently groomed, a ragged pond bay perimeter with lots of nooks and crannies, or a random smattering of storm-torn patches, there’s no denying the productivity of this vegetation so emblematic of Delta fishing. “Across the spectrum of the entire year, we target Roseau cane about 60 percent of the time,” Randazzo said. “When the Mississippi River is high (generally during the first six months of the year) the fish are forced to the extremities of the Delta and that’s laden with Roseau cane.” Roseau typically forms closed stands along marsh and slough edges. These stands are often dense, with up to 19 stems (live and dead) per square foot. Randazzo said that cane closer to the coast is usually most productive, as it provides a buffer zone between the seasonal movements of marsh fish. A lot of the backwater areas also have Roseau cane, and this habitat offers a promising target wherever you find it.

“I think Roseau cane makes great structure because of its orientation,” Randazzo notes. “It grows near the bottom and it grows close together so it allows water to flow along it and through it. This also allows baitfish to hide in it. Roseau cane is just a very unique shallow water structure. You have the obvious cane plus the underwater root structure that creates additional habitat for fish.” Obviously this presents a serious snagging hazard but Randazzo said the rewards more than justify the risk. “I’d rather fish 50-yards of root structure with water flowing over it than one point with water flowing around it because I know the fish have a great big runway of feeding area.” The other habitat description you’ll hear a lot throughout the Delta is the term “duck pond.” Nothing more than a body of marsh water enclosed by spartina grass, these ponds (the larger bodies are called “lakes”) typically have shallow, muddy edges with deeper centers often holding oyster reefs. Redfish, black drum and sheepshead feed within these sequestered areas on higher tide stages and position near the outlet

“Corking the cane” is one of the easiest ways to hook up with Delta gamefish.

drains on falling water. Find a pond drain with a steady outflow and you can expect to find loads of predators staking out the current edges for disoriented prey.

HOW TO CATCH ‘EM With liberal daily bag limits of five redfish, 10 flounder and 25 speckled trout, the Delta provides ample opportunity to secure a fine dinner of fresh seafood. Even if catchand-release is your plan, it’s not too hard to fill a day with rod-bending revelry. For general duty, a 7- to 7 ½-foot medium to medium-heavy spinning outfit with braided line and 18-inches of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader will handle most anything you encounter in the marsh and coastal areas. Hanging live shrimp, croakers or cut menhaden (pogies) under corks, or floats, is a good way for kids or novices to learn the Roseau routine without worrying too much about casting accuracy. Corking natural 48 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

baits is also a technique used by more expe- prospecting tools with which to cover rienced anglers looking to test an area broad areas and locate active fish. Around the Roseau cane and other vegebefore committing to a more time-consuming artificial approach. Cast a corked bait tation you can work baitfish imitators withupcurrent, let the rig drift along a cane edge in a foot or so of the cover, but with spinand note when, where and if you get a nerbaits, proximity prevails. Cast as close to taker. In areas lacking current, just reel your the cane edge as possible and don’t hesitate rig along the edge at a slow, steady pace. to slap the stalks. Dropping noisy spinnerTwo or three passes will tell Jig spinners tipped you if there’s fish to be caught. with soft plastics are For more targeted presentagreat prospecting tools. tions, anglers often rely on soft plastics on a 1/4- or 3/8ounce jig head. Rigged with or without a jig spinner, or suspended under a popping cork, the top colors are purple/chartreuse tail, black/chartreuse tail and glow/chartreuse tail. Spinnerbaits, shallow diving crankbaits and chatterbaits also tempt Delta fish near vegetation, oysters and jetties. In open water, gold spoons and topwater plugs make good

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Casting the cane.

MUNCHING MUD BUGS The Delta’s fertile waters produce a diverse array of seafood and freshwater delicacies. All are worth a taste, but none enjoy the iconic status of the crawfish. Often called “mud bugs” for their habitat preference, crawfish look like miniature Maine lobsters and their tasty tail meat is delicious in gumbo, etouffee, and the classic crawfish pie. However, nothing says “Louisiana” like an outdoor crawfish boil.

baits right off the vegetation’s edge mimics a crab scampering along the muddy boundary. Opportunistic redfish and black drum cruising for something crunchy will make short work of any object that even sounds like a crustacean. “The fish can be right up on the base of those canes, so you have to start right at the cane and move out,” Randazzo said. “But there are times when we know that there’s a lot of structure in the water so we’ll position the boat against the cane and fish outward.” In any scenario, consider that Roseau cane grows in clumps and that means a constant threat of snagging – especially in spots where dislodged bunches lay in awkward angles. Turning the root structures toward the surface creates different cover for forage species and the gamefish that seek them, but it also increases the snag potential. Avoid 50 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

such entanglements by keeping your bait moving and responding with light tugs if you do hit something solid. Preferring a worst-case-scenario strategy, Randazzo said: “I always approach these areas with the mindset that I’m going to get snagged on every cast. So I start with the top of the water column, work my way down until I find that snagging point and adjust my baits accordingly.”

UPS AND DOWNS Wherever and however you fish throughout the Delta, consider that the Gulf’s daily ebb and flow controls the marsh water level. Fish move closer to shorelines and deeper into aquatic vegetation on rising tides and they pull out to deeper holes and channels on the outgoing cycles. Consider also that vegetation filters the falling water, which pulls baitfish, crabs and other forage out

Loaded into a large pot, along with corn on the cob, redskin potatoes, onion halves and garlic cloves, the mudbugs simmer in seasoned water simply called “the boil,” until the shells turn red and the veggies are cooked. You can get as fancy as you’d like, but locals cover a picnic table with old newspaper and dump the whole deal right there in a big, mouthwatering pile. An authentic slice of real Louisiana culture, this roll-up-your-sleeves-and-dig-in meal blends the bounty of Delta waters with the warm, fun-loving nature of the folks who call this place home. Just don’t get caught peeling the shell off your crawfish tail. There’s a very distinct method of popping off the heads and exposing the succulent tail meat, so if you don’t know just ask a local. Everyone has their personal style and they’ll happily show you theirs and debate why it’s superior to that of their fishing buddy.

Tidal currents dictate where fish position themselves.

LODGING AND GUIDES

from the cover. Therefore, the edges where deep water borders Roseau cane, grass or marsh weeds are prime outgoing tide targets, as predators flock to the cleaner, foodladen flow. Randazzo adds: “When the tide is rising, we catch a lot of fish on the actual Coast where the salty Gulf water first makes landfall. There are always hungry gamefish waiting along the coast to take advantage of the rising tide bringing good water and baitfish to the shallow shorelines. On the other hand, the falling tide is very productive in the inland waters where duck ponds and 52 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

shallow bays drain into both minor and major tributaries of the Mississippi River and surrounding marshes. These areas are locations where gamefish await baitfish to exit the shallow sanctuaries where they find shelter on the higher stages of the tide.” Bear in mind that most of the Delta’s bottom is soft mud so if you get stuck on an outgoing tide there’s simply no way to get out and push a boat free without sinking to your waist in oatmeal. Daily tide tables (available on Smartphone apps and marine electronics) will keep you on the right side of the day’s schedule, but within the Delta’s vastness, homogenous appearances can lead to disorientation. If you find yourself way back in some shallow pond or lake and you

Several fishing lodges provide complete packages of guided fishing trips, lodging and meals. Here’s a selection to cover the upper, middle and lower Delta. Silver Side Lodge (Hopedale) http://www.captaincharlie.com J-Bar Sportsman's Lodge (Empire) http://www.j-barlodge.com Waterfront Fishing Lodge (Lafitte) http://www.jeanlafittecharters.com Paradise Plus Guide Service (Venice) http://www.paradise-plus.com

can’t remember where that narrow opening was, just follow the current. Falling water always runs to the easiest exit point so watch floating vegetation (or even your topwater plug) and you’ll find the door. ?

Everyone who enjoys fishing has dreamed about hitting the fishing jackpot. We all want to experience one of those days when the fish are suicidal and biting on everything we throw at them. We’ve all heard people talk about 100-fish days, or days when every fish was a giant, and we want to get in on some of that kind of action. We ask the standard questions about which baits are hot, how deep the fish are, whether they are in weeds, rocks or wood and, armed with the answers,

TIMING IT RIGHT By C.J. Howard

we head out expecting similar success. As often as not though, after following the trail of the elusive hot bite, we experience fishing that’s just average and we hear the same old line about how we should have been there yesterday, or last week, or last month. So what gives?

54 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Chances are the folks who handed you the line about being here yesterday or last week aren’t liars, what they’re telling you is true. That’s how critical timing a fishing trip can be. Hit it right and the world is your oyster (or pike or bass or walleye), hit it wrong and you’re out there struggling to catch a few small ones - never mind landing trophy after trophy. A 1970 study on the pike spawning run in Ontario’s Lake Simcoe illustrates just how critical timing can be. The first female to show up on one of the monitored spawning areas arrived on April 11. The number of fish in the area rose rapidly and peaked by April 18, then declined rapidly until April 20 when the run was finished. That’s a window of just nine-days when the bulk of the pike moved into the spawning areas, spawned, and then left. Although Lake Simcoe is not open to pike fishing during the spawn, the point is clear – timing is critical. If you’re off by even a day or two, you could miss out on some incredible fishing. Everyone who’s spent any time chasing steelhead or salmon in rivers can attest to the importance of timing. Hit the water when it’s low and crystal-clear and you’ll be facing a tough day. Too soon after a rain and you’ll be fishing in chocolate milk, where your chances of hooking up are greatly reduced. But get it right, time it when the water levels have peaked and are starting to drop, when the water takes on that slightly cloudy, greenish hue, and you could be in for a banner day. Depending on the size of the system you’re fishing, this change from flooded to crystal-clear conditions can take place over a span of a week or more, or it can happen in as little as a day or two. So when is the best time to go fishing? The old response is, “anytime you can,” but to experience above average success on a regular basis you’ve got to be a little more specific and consider things like the weathIdeal steelhead water is slightly cloudy with a greenish hue.

Fall is another seasonal period when some er, fishing pressure, water temperatures, time of day, the particular waterbody, the species will group up or become quite pretime of year, your target species and a host dictable in their location. Salmon congregate of other influences. All of these factor in around rivermouths before heading upstream when you’re trying to determine where fish to spawn, perch will group up to feed on will be located, their mood and your deeper flats and smallmouth bass make a chances of catching them. Spring crappie runs bring lots of fish – and Time of year is one of the most anglers – to shallow spawning areas. important considerations because at certain times fish will group up in relatively confined areas, making it easier to catch them in big numbers. A prime example of this happens in the spring when a lot of our favourite species are spawning. Walleyes, for instance, will ascend tributaries or set up on shoals or shorelines in huge numbers in the spring. Pike too are spring movement towards dropoff areas leading to spawners and early in the season is by far their winter ranges. If you time your fishing the best time of year to find big fish concen- trips to coincide with these seasonal movetrated in shallow water. Perch, crappies, ments you’re well on your way to experiencsteelhead and many other species offer some ing some fantastic days on the water. Although seasonal movements, especially of the year’s best fishing around their spring during spawning periods, are the best in spawning periods. Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 55

Smallmouth group up on structure in the late fall. Find the fish and you can catch them ‘till your arms hurt.

Low light conditions, especially in the evening, can be fantastic for walleye fishing.

terms of concentrating fish in easily defined areas, there are a number of other situations when the correct timing can result in better than average catches. In general terms, on most bodies of water, fishing is better early or late in the day, when boat traffic and fishing pressure is minimal. On some waters, especially if they’re very shallow or clear, night fishing can produce the kind of results that daylight anglers can only dream about. And who doesn’t know about the hot bite that occurs just before a storm hits? There are other situations when the right timing is based on a combination of events. They might happen over a large area or they could be confined to a specific location, and a single event can have different effects on different waters. Take a mayfly hatch as an example. On soft bottomed lakes, a hatch can spell the end of good walleye fishing for a while as the fish will 56 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

be keyed in on this food source and will not respond well to traditional baits and techniques. Head to a small stream during a hatch though, and you’ll find that the trout

are eating anything that looks remotely similar to a mayfly. The fall turnover is a time when fishing gets tough on a lot of lakes but it can spell

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the beginning of fabulous musky fishing, especially if the water you fish has a population of whitefish or cisco. These species spawn in late fall and turnover marks the time when they start moving towards their spawning areas. Find the schools of baitfish and you can experience some of the best musky fishing of the year. These are just a few examples of how timing can affect the success of your fishing trips. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of factors that can be combined in a multitude of ways and they will each have an effect on your fishing, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Some, like spawning runs, will have a major effect on fish location and your ability to catch them while others, like the time of day, can have different effects on different bodies of water. Obviously there isn’t room here to go over every conceivable cause and effect on every 58 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

lake and river in the country. There are too many variables to consider. What’s really important is the concept of timing your trip to coincide with the times that the greatest number of fish will be available and when conditions are such that those fish will be willing to bite. Ultimately, successful fishing starts with keeping up to date on what’s happening on the particular body of water you’re planning to fish, as well as having knowledge of how various natural and human influences will affect the fishing on it. You can get a lot of the general information from fishing shows, fishing magazines and

on various fishing websites, but the best information always comes from first hand experience, either your own observations or those of your trusted fishing buddies. ?

Tales from the Road By Bob Izumi

As usual, I’ve been going hard since my last column. We’ll start this one with some non-fishing. Tim Horton’s Camp Day in the first part of June is something I’m always happy to support and this year I started really early in the morning doing some store visits in the Guelph area. It’s always fun to meet viewers of the show, talk fishing and support a great cause. This year Camp Day raised a record $11 million. Having been to all but one of these kids’ camps I can tell you they are all first-rate and will give kids an experience they’ll never forget. I’m glad to be a part of it. Right after my store visits I headed up to Bolton for the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association golf tournament, an annual get-together to raise funds for the fishing industry. The “who’s who” in the Canadian fishing world attend this golf tournament. Dealers, distributors, manufacturers, they’re all there to support the cause and raise money for the association. Overall, it’s a well run event. We didn’t win but we had a lot of fun.

Then I was off to Port Bruce to attend a Kids and Cops event. I have never been to this particular event and it was great to see a lot of smiling faces on the kids and a lot of the police from the Elgin County OPP. There were some pretty big catfish caught and all the kids who attended went home with a prize. 60 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Then it was time to pack the bags and head to Florence, Alabama. National Guard bass pro, Jonathan Newton, invited me down to do some taping on Pickwick Lake in Florence, in the northern part of Alabama. I’ve been down there a number of times and have fished Pickwick in a few FLW tournaments so I was excited to get down there. First and foremost I must say that the people in Alabama are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Their down-home hospitality is refreshing and I always look forward to getting down there both to fish and to just spend time with the locals. The folks from Florence/Lauderdale Tourism hosted us on this trip and I soon found out there are great restaurants, fantastic fishing and world-class golfing to be had in the area. Jonathan and I got all the fish we needed for the show in about eight-hours of fishing over two days. We caught lots of largemouth on offshore structure. We were catching them on a variety of baits. One thing I like about Jonathan is his threepronged approach to fishing. He’ll first approach them with an aggressive presentation, then he’ll slow down with a swimbait or a similar subtle horizontal presentation and finally he’ll go to a vertical presentation with something like a dropshot. It’s amazing how he’ll catch fish on one presentation;

when the bite slows he’ll catch them on another and when that bite slows down he’ll catch them on another. He understands that you catch the catchable fish on one then when it slows down, try something different and rake the area again. It was interesting to fish with him. I’ve known him for a number of years but have never spent any time with him and I really enjoyed my time down there. Then it was back to Ontario to do an appearance at the new Sail store in Burlington on behalf of Columbia Sportswear. It was a hopping store – it was crowded, people were in the buying mood and I got to meet lots of great folks. Even though the next day was the opening of bass season, I had agreed to do a reality show called Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All on the Discovery Channel. Because I signed a confidentiality agreement I’m not allowed to say what happened until the show airs. Let’s just say that it was very interesting to participate in this production with some pretty smart people. And in case you’re wondering, no, I wasn’t a contestant on the show. The next day I fished Bassmania’s Casey Cup tournament on Lake Simcoe. My son Darren and I had a very good day on the water and I thought we would have fared better than we did. We came in with five National Guard bass pro, Jonathan Newton

fish for 24.3-pounds and ended up in a four-way tie for seventh place. The father and son team of Huw and Liam Spicer won it with 27.55-pounds for a five fish limit that included the big fish of the day – a 7.4pound smallmouth bass. What a phenomenal day they had! Simcoe never ceases to amaze me with the number of big fish it kicks out every year. Then I was off to Mississippi Lake to fish the first Renegade Bass tournament of the year. Mississippi Lake is one of those lakes that gives up a lot of fish. Not necessarily the biggest fish on our tournament trails, but lots of fish. I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into this tournament. I was just going to catch some fish, get some points and move on. Even though my brother and I won a tournament there in the early years I feel that for me it’s a bit of a crapshoot. Darren and I managed to weigh in a limit of 11.6-pounds and ended up in 41st place. It certainly wasn’t a career highlight. We decided to stay for another day to get in a few hours of practice on the Ottawa River for the next Renegade tournament. Even though it was a couple of weeks away, with the schedule the way it was I wouldn’t be able to get up there again until the Friday night before the event. We had a very good practice and I felt confident that I had a good starting area. After getting home it was time for a little fun fishing down on Lake Erie. My buddy, Steve Chantler, and his son, Cole, joined me and John Linde for some bass fishing and we ended up catching a bunch of smallmouth. It was a beautiful, flat day out there which made for a really nice outing. Then I had to pack and head to Georgian Bay for a Bassmania tournament. I was excited because I’ve probably only fished one day for bass up there in the last 12 to 15-years so this was a real treat. We decided to stay close and fish for big smallmouth rather than run up to Parry Sound for largemouth like we did last year. Because of the fishing regulations up there you can only weigh-in three fish per team. Unfortunately Darren lost one monster fish but we still

weighed 10.75-pounds for our three-fish limit and ended up in 17th place. We didn’t cash a cheque but we did get some good points to go towards the Bassmania Classic qualifying race. Then I took a quick flight to Florida for the annual ICAST show. ICAST is always a treat to go to, to see the latest and greatest in new fishing gear. We got there the day before it opened and spent the next 2 ½ days at the show in Orlando. The attendance was up and the show was buzzing, even in these tough economic times. It was good to see that there were a lot of manufacturers, distributors, dealers and media people in attendance. I had a chance to spend some time in the Columbia booth this year, the first time they’ve ever had a booth at ICAST. They won Best of Show in apparel with their new Omni-Freeze Zero. You’ll be hearing a lot about this incredible technology in the near future. It is one of the most amazing fabrics I’ve ever seen for fishing during hot weather. As soon as we got back I had to unpack, hook up the boat, pack the fishing gear and head up to Ottawa for the Renegade Bass Ottawa River tournament. The Ottawa River is one of those big, fertile rivers that holds a decent population of fish but it hasn’t necessarily been all that good to me over the years. I’ve had some “not bad” finishes and have caught some big fish on it, but for the most part it hasn’t been easy pickings for me. The Ottawa River isn’t one of the easiest places to just go and get a big limit from. It’s one of those rivers that can really get you. Darren and I caught some smallmouth on crankbaits, including our biggest that came on a lipless Sebile Flatt Shad. This bait actually has liquid inside of it. It comes in sinking, suspending and extra-heavy sinking models in a number of different sizes and colours. When it was all said and done we ended up with a mixed bag weighing 14.08-pounds. We finished in 28th place, got some points and moved on. I went straight from there to get ready for the Canadian Open in Kingston. The Canadian Open is absolutely my favourite

tournament of the year. Having won it three years in a row in the mid-90s, I have a lot of fond memories of this tournament. I finished second another year and have had a lot of top-10 finishes as well. Wayne won it for two-years in a row in the early 90s as well. It’s one of those tournaments I really look forward to. When you go to Kingston you have two options. You can fish deep or you can fish shallow for giant smallmouth or you can go for largemouth. My game plan was to find smallmouth, both shallow and deep. I decided to forget the largemouth because I figured the tournament would be won with small-

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Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 61

mouth. As it turned out, the waters were fishing pretty good and the weights were amazing. I figured it would take about 62pounds to win the three-day tournament but I finished in third with 63.85-pounds. Derek Strub was second with 65.45-pounds and one half of the hot Johnston brothers, Cory, ended up winning it with 71.9-pounds. He blew away the field with that monster weight, proving that he is an incredible angler. His brother Chris came in fourth with 62.6-pounds. The thing I like about kids like the Johnstons, and some of the other younger tournament anglers, is that they are Daren Izumi won a boat and motor for his second place finish on the non-boater side at the Kingston Canadian Open.

making me fish three times harder than I want to. They’ve got energy, they’ve got youth on their side and I love it because they keep me working hard out there.

My son, Darren, ended up in second place on the non-boater side and won a Lund boat/Mercury motor package. This is the third year in a row that he’s won a boat and motor. In the last three years he’s finished second, first and second again. It was so great to see him almost win two years in a row. The following week the crew and I were literally packed to go to British Columbia to fish at a fly-in lodge out there when I got a call from Mark Pendlington, the long-time host of Sportfishing BC, who was hosting us out there. I was going to be a guest on his show and he was going to be a guest on mine. He phoned me the day before we were to leave and told me that the Coho salmon were biting well but the Chinook fishing was off and it was best to reschedule our shooting for another time. Even though I was packed and excited to go, it was also a bit of a blessing because I had been on the road so much for so many months and this would give me a few days to get some other work done. So I got a day of corporate golfing in, you know, when you have those “meetings” on the golf course. I love those kinds of meetings and this one was a lot of fun. Then it was time to start a 20-day road trip which I have just come back from. This trip started with me heading all the way down to Belleville to attend the funeral of a very good, long-time friend of mine, Peter Thompson. Peter ran the Quinte Fishing Series for many years and was the Tournament Marshall for the old GM Pro

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62 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Bass Series. I’ve known Peter for at least 25years, maybe more. He died suddenly of Lukemia at just 55-years of age. Peter had been sick for a number of weeks and he arranged everything he wanted, including the songs and prayers. Six of the Quinte Series tournament anglers were dressed in their tournament attire and they held up crossed fishing rods that the procession walked under. It was very, very touching. After the funeral, my son Darren and I launched the boat and fished on the Bay of Quinte until dark. Then we headed up to Peterborough and arrived about midnight. I was up at five the next morning to do the morning show on the local radio station with NHL player Tim Brent. Tim and I have fished the Casting for a Cure tournament together for two years in a row. This event is held in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. It’s a 12-boat event held on Little Lake in Peterborough. Last year was the first time I’d fished Little Lake and that bit of knowledge gave me some confidence that we could do well this year. We went out there with the attitude that we were going to fish hard. As it turned out, we ended up winning. We were fishing in some shallow water when I said to Tim, “Isn’t that a fish over there?” He looked over and agreed that it was a fish so we both cast to it. We threw about five casts with no reaction. Then I threw a bait towards it and the fish ate it. I fought it all the way to the boat, and saw that it was a big, black smallmouth that was close to four-pounds, before it came off. To get a fish that big in Little Lake is pretty crazy because the bass tend to run pretty small in there. We moved around a bit and caught a fish or two before moving back to the area where we’d lost the big one. About 30yards away we saw another smallmouth. I cast to it once and nothing happened but on the second cast my line jumped. I lifted and got it on. It weighed 3.85-pounds and I think it may have been the same fish I’d lost earlier. In any case, our five-fish limit weighed 8.75-pounds which was enough to

win this event. To tell you how tough the fishing was, the biggest single fish weighed in, other than ours, weighed less than twopounds. J.P. DeRose was second with just over eight-pounds for the day. It was nice to support the cause and to have some fun with a great bunch of anglers. The next day I was back down to the Bay of Quinte to get a bit of practice in for the three, one-day CSFL tournaments that were coming up. The first two days were restricted to the Bay itself while the third day was open on the Bay as well as on Lake Ontario. On day one Darren and I decided to gamble. We tried deep water and shallow. We caught a largemouth in 39.6-feet of water on a dropshot and another while fishing a spinnerbait off of a windblown point in about a foot and a half of water. We got a third largemouth from under a willow tree and that was it for our day. We only weighed three fish that day but we jumped around a lot and tried some very unorthodox, oddball areas that no one else was fishing.

Why? Because there are lots of options. Shallow smallmouth, deep smallmouth; flipping for largemouth – it’s got it all in about 20 some miles of great fishing water. I felt really good going into this tournament. Our practice wasn’t bad and we had found some fish here and there. On day one Darren and I were stoked. We went to one of our areas that produced a win for us in the past but didn’t get any fish, but that was fine. We moved to our next area, which was actually our best area, and Darren got a sixpound plus smallmouth on. He was fighting it and fighting it and it jumped three times. He finally got it close to the boat. I didn’t go for it with the net because it was about a foot under the water. I wanted to wait until he tired it out a bit more but the fish did a power dive under the boat and the hook pulled out. A six-pounder. A few minutes later I made a cast, got a hit and set the hook. About a four-pounder comes to the surface then dives down and gets off. We lost 10-pounds in two fish and didn’t have anything in the livewell. Let’s just say the father/son/partner/team type atmosphere changed and it got pretty quiet in the boat. For the next 40-minutes you could have heard a pin drop. Then Darren hooked up and got one over four-pounds, put it in the boat, got another one over four-pounds and

A bonus walleye caught while pre-fishing in the Cornwall area.

put it in the boat too. I was high-fiving him and telling him to keep catching them. When day one wrapped up we were in 13th place with 19.26-pounds. Overall we salvaged the day. We should have had at least 23 or 24-pounds but that’s how it goes. Mike Desforges and Jay McCormack ended up winning with 24.12-pounds The shallow fish were running really small for us on day two so halfway through the

The third one-day CSFL Trenton tournament was the third event Bob and Darren Izumi have won as a team.

On day two we had high winds and scattered thunderstorms and the tournament ended up being cancelled. On day three we decided to go for big smallmouth out on Lake Ontario. We weighed in 23.05pounds and won the event by almost twopounds. It was great to win because this is the seventh year in a row that I’ve had a first place finish in a tournament and the third event I’ve won with my son. After this tournament my extended road trip continued with a run to Cornwall to fish two, one-day Renegade Bass events on Lake St. Francis. I love Lake St. Francis. It is one of the top five places I love to fish for bass. Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 63

Eastern Lake Ontario is teeming with big smallmouth bass.

day we decided to go for deep fish in the current. We ended up in 22nd place with five fish for 17.75 pounds. Jean Martin Landry and Pat Milot won the day with 24.13-pounds for their five-fish limit. I’m not sure how they caught their fish but the shallow bite was really, really off for us. But, no complaints. We gained some valuable points and looked ahead to the next Renegade event. Next up for me was the FLW Everstart 1000 Islands tournament. As the defending champion of this tournament I was stoked. Even though there were some great anglers in this tournament I just knew that if I didn’t have any hiccups, mechanical problems, lost fish or rough weather, I had a chance to win this one. Now, I’m not being cocky. In tournament fishing there’s a fine line between being cocky and being confident and I just had a lot of confidence. Darren and I had just won the one-day CSFL tournament; I had finished third at the Canadian Open and had been averaging over 20-pounds a day on these waters. I’m still in shock that I was able to do that. Day one ends up being pretty calm so I can fish anywhere I want on Lake Ontario. I decided to run a lot of different areas and things just worked out right. If you can believe it, I didn’t lose a fish in three days of fishing that would have affected the final outcome. The day started off just mediocre with a fish here and a fish there but I ended the day with 21.15-pounds. Although I take very good care of my fish, I had one die on me and was penalized eight-ounces. Despite that, I was sitting in second place after the first day. 64 Real Fishing – Fall 2012

Day two was a little different. It was blowing hard out of the west and there were four to eight-foot waves out on Lake Ontario, but I decided to venture out with my co-angler. I caught two and he caught one but we were taking waves over the front of the boat and he was “chumming” over the side. I was feeling pretty good but after re-tying my dropshot rig at one point I started feeling queasy. I never get seasick so this was a weird feeling. We kept on fishing for a while but the conditions were unbearable so I decided to run back into the St. Lawrence River. I scraped up a couple more fish and ended up with four pretty decent ones in the three to four-pound range but I needed another one. It was getting late in the day when I caught a 13-incher to fill out my limit. I checked my watch and saw that there was about an hour to go. In tournament fishing, if you don’t roll the dice sometimes, you’ll never, ever win. Rolling the dice is something I do a lot in tournaments because I’m always going for the win. I hate playing it conservatively. So I rolled the dice and ran to a shallow, spinnerbait spot that was almost 20-miles away, leaving me only about 10-minutes to fish. I went in and caught a black smallmouth that was just under four-pounds, put it in the boat and culled out the small fish. That gave me a decent limit of 18.09-pounds and dropped me two places, into fourth, but it was enough to make the top-10 cut and be able to fish on day three. Day three rolled around and there were still ground swells and a bit of a chop out

on the lake but it was manageable. We did a lot of running that day, in fact, I had to fill the boat with gas part way through the day. I probably burned close to $300 in fuel on the final day doing a milk run of several different areas. On one spot I ended up catching a sixpound plus smallmouth. While I was putting it into the livewell we drifted off the break about 30 or 40-yards and my coangler hooked up with one pushing sixpounds. We ended up doing a milk run on the lake and put a number of fish in the boat. I finished the day with 22.07-pounds, missed first place by 14-ounces and ended up in second place. I couldn’t win it backto-back but I did end up in second place overall so I was pretty happy with that. My buddy, Derek Strub, who was leading going into day three, slipped to fourth place. Derek drew a very good friend of his, Joseph Stois Sr. as his day three co-angler and Joe ended up catching 18.05-pounds with Derek and won the first place Ranger boat on the co-angler side of things. We got home late the Saturday night after the weigh-in and the next day we had a family party at my brother Wayne’s place. It was nice to see all of the family and to get back to a little more normal pace after my 20-day run of tournaments. Getting two firsts and a second on this road trip certainly wasn’t too shabby, although I might need a bigger boat for my ego... Have fun on the water this fall! ?

What’s COOKING

Serves 6: (with extra condiments) Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi 24 oz.

block of trimmed sushi grade tuna, center cut with bloodline out

Cut the tuna into smaller blocks, 1” high by 1 ½” wide with the grain across the top. Slice on a double bias against the grain, 45-degrees in 2 directions. This will cut the protein strands in a way that creates the texture sushi fans love. Cut the pieces approx 1/3 of an inch thick. Keep extremely cold.

Crispy Sushi Rice 1 cup ¼ cup

sushi rice (cooked to manufacturers specifications) sushi rice vinegar

Cook rice according to manufacturer’s specifications and let cool slightly. Turn out into a non-reactive bowl. Once steam starts to subside, drizzle sushi vinegar over the rice. Mix rice and vinegar in a cutting motion to evenly distribute vinegar throughout the rice and keep rice from clumping together. Let cool. Form rice into ¾” balls and deep fry in vegetable oil at 350-degrees until golden brown. Serve hot.

Soy Fluid Gel 4 oz. 2 oz. 2 tbsp

high quality soy sauce water Ultratex 8 modified tapioca starch

Mix soy & water together in a high-sided measuring cup. Add Ultratex, 1 teaspoon at a time, incorporating with a handheld immersion blender. Continue adding until desired consistency is achieved.

Sesame Powder 1 oz 3 oz

Asian style sesame oil Tapioca Maltodextrin

Add Maltodextrin to the bowl of a food processor. With machine running, drizzle sesame oil into machine until the maltodextrin comes together. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and reincorporate. The finished product should be light and airy and not thick or wet looking. The aroma of sesame should be strong.

Lime Wasabi Air

Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi, Crispy Sushi Rice, Soy Fluid Gel, Sesame Powder, Lime Wasabi Air When I was a youngster growing up in Canada, my Saturdays revolved around waking up and heading to the TV to watch Reel Fishing with Bob Izumi. Now living in the Bahamas, they revolve around waking up and cooking real fish. Here is one of my favourites. This recipe comes direct from the menu at Flying Fish Modern Seafood. The techniques and ingredients may be a bit foreign to most but the results are spectacular. If you can pull this off at home you will be the king or queen of the dinner party scene! If you have questions regarding this recipe please contact me at chef@flyingfishbahamas.com to help guide you through the steps. – – Chef Tim Tibbitts Special thanks to Chef Tim Tibbitts, Flying Fish Modern Seafood, for providing this recipe. www.flyingfishbahamas.com; www.ninetynineone.com; www.timtibbitts.com

Juice of 6 Limes 3 tbsp water ½ tsp bloomed wasabi powder (powder with enough water added to come to a thick firm paste) 1 pinch kosher or sea salt 1 tsp soy lecithin powder Using an immersion blender, mix all the ingredients together and let stand for 15-minutes. Blend again by tilting the container and blending just the surface to incorporate air. The lecithin will stabilize the foam.

To assemble: Place a large dollop of soy gel to one side of a large plate. Drag a spoon through it making a swipe across the plate. Add three balls of sushi rice across the swipe, one at the beginning, one in the middle and one at the end. Place slices of sashimi overlapping, between each ball of rice in a nice presentation. Place a teaspoon full of sesame powder strategically around the tuna. Dollop the wasabi air over the tuna, away from the powder. Garnish the plate with thin strips of scallion and small dots of sriracha chili sauce for some heat. Omit if heat is not your thing. Most importantly, enjoy!

Fall 2012 – Real Fishing 65

CLEAR WATER SPECK Description: A northern clear water stream is alive with life as a large speckled trout patrols the pristine environment. Early autumn instinctively means heading up-stream to a gravel bottom for nest construction.

66 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fall 2012

Subject: Speckled Trout Size: 16" x 20" Medium: Mixed Medium

Contact: Curtis Atwater Atwater Fine Arts 6 Cranston Drive, Caledon East, ON L7C 1P8 Email: atwaterfinearts@sympatico.ca Website: www.natureartists.com/ atwaterc.htm