Spring 2012 by Real Fishing

Canada Post Mail Product Agreement No. 40015689

VOLUME 18 • ISSUE 2 Just $3.95

Spring 2012

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 15, 2012

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Contents Features 30 A HEAD FOR TOURNAMENTS Bob Izumi explores the mental aspects of tournament fishing. By Bob Izumi

42 THE LOST ART OF STEELHEADING There’s more than one way to catch steelhead. Here’s a look at some tried and true methods for those days when float fishing doesn’t work. By Dan Robson

48 SPRING PANFISH Tips, tactics, locations and presentations for early season panfish success. By Wil Wegman

56 HIGH & LOW ON THE GREAT LAKES Big water trolling tactics for walleyes. By Mark Hicks

Spring 2012 Volume 18, Issue 2 Editor Jerry Hughes Art Production Rossi Piedimonte Design Publisher Fred Delsey

Columns

National Advertising Izumi Outdoors Tel: (905) 632-8679 President Wayne Izumi Contributors Patrick Daradick, Mark Hicks, Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Steve May, Jason Mohring, Dan Robson, Dave Taylor, Wil Wegman 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

6 OPENING LINES

20 THE WATER’S EDGE

By Jerry Hughes

By Dave Taylor

10 SPORTSMEN’S ALMANAC

22 THE VINTAGE TACKLE BOX

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

By Patrick Daradick

24 REAL FISHING FISH FACTS 14 WHAT’S NEW

Northern Pike

The latest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories

16 FISHING Spring Patterns By Bob Izumi

18 FLY FISHING By Steve May

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

26 BEST FISHING TIMES

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

Doug Hannon’s moon phase calendar

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

28 THE HOT BITE 60 TALES FROM THE ROAD

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

65 WHAT’S COOKING On the cover: Bassmaster Bob! Photo by Izumi Outdoors

66 ART OF ANGLING

opening lines By Jerry Hughes

Familiarity Has Two Faces The arrival of spring heralds the beginning of a new openwater fishing season and there’s anticipation in the air as anglers everywhere prepare for the first trip of the year. A return to familiar haunts for some; the beginning of a new tradition on unknown waters for others. No more bundling up to brave the elements in the hope of catching something from below a sheet of ice. No more putting one’s life in the hands of the thickness of that ice. No more hunkering down in a fishy smelling shack and sucking up propane fumes in exchange for a bit of warmth. No sir, not anymore. It’s springtime. Grab a rod and hit the shoreline. Dump the boat and blast off. Good times are here again! And therein lies the problem. While the winter presents us with a host of challenges and unknowns to keep us on our toes, the opposite seems to be the case during the soft-water season. We rush off without always exercising the same caution we use under more extreme conditions. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons there are more water-related incidents during the spring and summer than there are in the fall and winter. Not the only reason of course - there are a lot more people out there when the weather’s nice so the law of averages definitely comes into play - but one reason. I can vividly remember one spring, way back in the early ‘80s, when a buddy and I took a trip to a favourite and famous steelhead river. Although the regular season opener was still several weeks away, this river is known for the great pre-season fishing at its mouth and we were determined to get in on it. We packed our rods, jackets, vests and waders late on Thursday night so we could take off right after work on Friday, catch 40-winks in the car and hit the water at daybreak on Saturday. Everything went as planned and, as the sun started peeking over the horizon, we waded out from the rivermouth and took 6 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

our places in the waist-deep water among the dozen or so other anglers who were already fishing. Even in my insulated waders the cold water started to take its toll. After about an hour I started to get a little chilled, so I stepped up onto a large rock that I had used many times in the past. It was somewhat rounded and a bit slippery but I knew where to place my feet. You can probably guess what happened next. Someone hooked a fish and I turned to get a look, just as a small wave rolled onto my rock. With my attention on the angler fighting the fish, I never saw the wave coming. After a couple of ballet-quality moves I lost my balance, fell off the rock and ended up completely under water. As I tried to stand up, with my chest waders now full of icy water, another small wave hit and knocked me over again. This time I got half a lung full of water and started gagging and gasping for air. I managed to get back to my feet, half drowned, choking on lake water and shivering uncontrollably. With my buddy’s help I got back to the car only to realize that we had not packed any spare clothing. Never one to let a dunking spoil a fishing trip, I decided to drive to the local laundromat and have my buddy put my wet things through a dryer. I stripped down to what I was born with, wrapped myself in a sleeping bag and headed to town. All I could think about was what would happen if we got pulled over by the police. How do you explain two guys driving around with the driver buck-naked and wrapped up in a sleeping bag? I’m sure glad it didn’t come to that! Anyway, within a couple of hours my clothes were dried out and we were back on the river. Looking back, it’s a funny story but it could just as easily have been disas-

trous. What if I had hit my head on the rock and knocked myself out or split my skull open? What if another wave had hit and pushed me under for a third time? The point is, I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on around me and I ended up paying for it. A friendly, familiar place suddenly showed its other face and became cold and frightening. I was lucky that I got off with a warning and didn’t become a statistic. In our rush to get back to what we love doing, we often take things for granted and rush in on instinct. We set our expectations and we don’t really consider what could happen if things don’t work out as we hope. We don’t prepare properly and that can leave us off-guard and extremely vulnerable. It is, after all, the punch you don’t see coming that knocks you out – sometimes permanently. Enjoy your time on the water this year but keep your eyes wide open and don’t let fate blindside you. A fish just isn’t worth it. ?

The first catch of the day.

ÂŠ Tim Hortons, 2009

INTO THE LIGHT No it’s not the Bermuda Triangle, but this shot sure gives that impression. Late in the afternoon, last October on Lake Erie, the angle of the sun, the focus of the camera and the expression on Bob’s face all lined up perfectly to create this intriguing image.

8 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

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

WAYNE IZUMI INDUCTED TO THE CANADIAN ANGLER HALL OF FAME On February 17, The Canadian Angler Hall of Fame announced this year’s list of inductees as well as the recipients of the 2012 Rick Amsbury Award and the Conservation Award. Real Fishing co-founder Wayne Izumi was inducted in the Angler category which recognizes, “an avid angler, be it recreational, competitive or otherwise.” Wayne won his first fishing competition, the Rondeau Bay Rod and Gun Club Youth Fishing Derby, when he was just nine-years old and he has been fishing competitively ever since. He has hundreds of individual and team titles to his credit including back-to-back wins at the Canadian Open in 1992 and ’93 and winning the first Ontario Place Open in 2004. Along with his tournament prowess, Wayne is actively involved in getting youngsters involved in fishing

Wayne Izumi receives his Canadian Angler Hall of Fame induction trophy from his brother Bob.

10 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

through his tireless work with Fishing Forever and its Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Days program. Other inductees include Fish’n Canada’s Pete Bowman in the Media category which honours “a person who has used the media to reach or influence people widely in positive regard to sportfishing;” Phil Morlock, Director, Environmental Affairs for Shimano, in the Advocate category as “a person who speaks or writes in support or defence of the industry,” and former Director of Marketing Services for Mercury Marine, Bob Paterson, in the Industry Leader category recognizing “a person who has taken the initiative to help the industry in a positive way.” The Rick Amsbury Award, presented annually to “an individual(s) judged by the angling

2012 Canadian Angler Hall of Fame inductees (from right) Wayne Izumi, Phil Morlock, Pete Bowman; Rick Amsbury Award co-winner Bob Izumi and Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Paterson.

community based on their outstanding performance put forth through the course of the year,” went to Bob and Wayne Izumi for their work in establishing Fishing Forever, a not-forprofit conservation organization that acts as a funding agency for worthwhile fishing, conservation and outdoor education projects. Fishing Forever has raised nearly $500,000 for various fisheries projects throughout Ontario – from small-scale fish hatcheries and stocking programs to scientific studies and, most recently, the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration project. In 2003, Fishing Forever partnered with the Police Association of Ontario and Canadian Tire to develop the Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Days program. With over 60 events per year, to date over 100,000 young anglers have been able to experience the thrill of fishing. The Conservation Award, presented to the “outstanding conservation project of the year as voted on by Canadian Angler Hall of Fame Alumni,” went to the Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program. Spearheaded by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ontario Power Generation and the Ontario provincial government, the program is responsible for the reintroduction of Atlantic salmon to several rivers and streams in the Lake Ontario watershed.

LAKE SIMCOE MUSKELLUNGE READ ALL ABOUT IT LORDS OF THE LAKE RESTORATION Together with Muskies Canada Inc. and several other partners, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced that they stocked more healthy muskellunge into Lake Simcoe in 2011 than ever before in support of an ongoing restoration effort. The Lake Simcoe Muskellunge Restoration Program (LSMRP) is a partnership between the MNR, Muskies Canada Inc. (MCI), Fleming College at the Frost Campus in Lindsay and several other project partners. The goal of this project is, “To restore a self sustaining muskellunge population to Lake Simcoe through a long term restoration project including habitat enhancement and stocking efforts.” “Since the program began in 2005, over 5,000 muskies have been stocked into the lake. In 2011, 1,960 healthy fall fingerlings were released at various locations across Lake Simcoe. This was our best stocking year yet!” said Emily Funnell of the MNR’s Aurora District. Muskie were once quite common in Lake Simcoe. Due to several factors such as overexploitation (a commercial fishery for them existed until 1904), by the early 1900s there was already evidence of a crashing population.

During the current restoration period there is a year-round closed season for muskies on Lake Simcoe so if you catch one you must put it back. The MNR is asking anglers to report “incidental captures” to their local MNR office so they can track how the population is doing.

By Mark Forabosco

Lords of the Lake is a unique combination of advice, fishing lore, stories, interviews and how-to information. Written for every angler who is passionate about catching the big one, this book will guide you step-by-step into the world of muskie fishing. Lords of the Lake is about what fishing really means – the magic of time on the water, the company we keep and the enduring memories that only muskie fishing can provide. Softcover, 6” X 8 7/8”, 244 pages B&W with photos and illustrations ISBN: 978-0-9876917-0-5 Mark Forabosco, Grand River Publishing, markforabosco@hotmail.com

CARP FISHING IN CANADA By Tony Benham with Fritz Vatter

With the right tackle and tactics, carp can be caught right across Canada. Carp Fishing in Canada showcases these opportunities and provides information and tips on gear, baits and presentations for catching carp in any waters – inland lakes, rivers, creeks, ponds and even the Great Lakes. From simple bait rigs to advanced bottom-ledgering and float fishing tactics, this book covers all the angles for understanding and catching carp. Softcover, $24.95 6” x 9”, 336 pages Full colour with hundreds of images ISBN: 978-0-9876721-0-0 Wirdzbooks, C/O Tony Benham, thepublisher@carpfishingincanada.com, www.carpfishingincanada.com

E V E N T S Calendar KIDS, COPS AND CANADIAN TIRE FISHING DAYS Year ‘round youth oriented fishing events. Various dates and locations. 905-632-8679 www.kidsandcops.ca ORILLIA PERCH FESTIVAL April 21 - May 12 Lakes Simcoe & Couchiching Orillia, ON www.orillia.com BLUEWATER ANGLERS SALMON DERBY April 27 - May 6 Lake Huron Point Edward, ON www.bluewateranglers.com

TRENTON KIWANIS WALLEYE WORLD May 5 - 6 Bay of Quinte Trenton, ON www.kiwaniswalleyeworld.com RICE LAKE SPRING FISHING FESTIVAL May 12 – June 17 Rice Lake, ON www.ricelakefishingfestival.ca SOUTHERN ALBERTA WALLEYE TRAIL May – June Various dates and locations in Alberta www.gowalleye.com/sawt

SASKATCHEWAN WALLEYE TRAIL May – September Various dates and locations in Saskatchewan www.saskwalleyetrail.ca ANGLER & YOUNG ANGLER TOURNAMENTS June - July Various dates and locations in Canada and the United States. www.angleryoungangler.ca GRAND OPPORTUNITIES Free On-River Fly Fishing Seminars/Fishing Day June 2 Belwood Lake Conservation Area Fergus, ON www.friendsofthegrandriver.com

CANADA/US WALLEYE TOURNAMENT June 9 - 10 Sturgeon Lake Bobcaygeon, ON www.bobcaygeon.org/CanUsWall eyeTournament.html CASEY CUP BASS TOURNAMENT June 24 Lakes Simcoe & Couchiching Orillia, ON www.csfl.ca NATIONAL FISHING WEEK July 7 - 15 License-free fishing days across Canada www.catchfishing.com

Spring 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

Beth Stokes Burlington, ON Pike

Neil Hyde Ennismore, ON Walleye

Jeff Wahlman Burlington ON Carp

Jamie Antoine Cornwall ON Smallmouth Bass

12 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Denis Poulin Vanier ON Brook Trout

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

April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28 May 5 May 12 May 19 May 26 June 2 June 9 June 16 June 23 June 30

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

CHILL OUT Columbia’s new Airgill Chill™ Long Sleeve Shirt is the coolest shirt in your wardrobe, in a very literal way. Its OmniFreeze™ ICE advanced cooling technology uses the sweat you generate to cool you off and Omni-Shade® UPF 30 provides protection from the sun’s harsh UV rays. The quick-drying fabric and vented design added to its advanced design makes the Airgill Chill™ the ultimate shirt for outdoor activities.

The Ultimate Chill™ Short Sleeve Shirt will keep you comfortable under the blazing sun with Omni-Freeze™ ICE advanced cooling, a quick-drying fabric and Omni-Shade® UPF 50 sun protection. Ultra-cool details include a zip-closed security pocket and sunglass cleaning patch.

Featuring an easy synch closure system, the Powerdrain™ fully drainable hybrid water shoe performs excellently in and out of the water. The upper features mesh for breathability while the Techlite® midsole features drainage ports in the heel and forefoot. The Omni-Grip® outsole is siped with lugs to provide wet or dry traction. This style is also available for women.

www.columbia.com

TRILENE XL ARMOR COATED Berkley’s newest Trilene uses Bi-Component Technology to bond a tough outer sheath to an exceptionally flexible inner core creating a rugged, yet easy-handling monofilament line. XL Armor Coated is incredibly sensitive, super strong and versatile enough to use with a wide range of baits and techniques. It is smooth casting and it resists twisting and kinking while offering greater abrasion resistance than standard monofilament lines. Trilene XL Armor Coated is available in 220-yard spools and comes in clear (6 to 17-pound test) and green (6 to 20-pound test).

www.berkley-fishing.com

TORO® TIMEMASTER® The new Toro® TimeMaster® 30-inch wide walk-behind mowers let you cut your lawn up to 40% faster than with a typical 21-inch mower. Their 30-inch cutting decks feature a twin-blade cutting system and two-point height-of-cut adjustment to give you professional-looking results while a 12-gauge steel deck, cast aluminum frame and Briggs & Stratton® 190cc OHV engine provide durability you can count on. The innovative Personal Pace® automatic drive system adapts to your mowing speed and the TimeMaster’s Spin- Stop™ System lets you stop the cutting blades without shutting off the engine. TimeMaster mowers are covered by a three-year full warranty and Toro’s three-year Guaranteed-To-Start (GTS) promise.

www.toro.com

14 Real Fishing – Spring 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

BUG OFF! The folks at SC Johnson have two great new products to keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay while you enjoy your favourite outdoor activities this year. OFF!® Clip•On™ Mosquito Repellent is a new, field-tested mosquito repellent that you don’t have to spray on your skin. This innovative technology uses a quiet fan to circulate the repellent around you, providing head-to-toe protection for up to 11- hours. Just clip it on and enjoy bug-free outdoor living. OFF!® Deep Woods® Insect Repellent Dry is specifically formulated to feel dry on your skin so it protects with a non-greasy, comfortable feel. With 25% DEET, OFF!® Deep Woods® Insect Repellent Dry provides a protective shield from mosquitoes for up to 8-hours as well as long lasting protection from black flies, deer flies and ticks.

www.scjohnson.ca

ROD GLOVE The Rod Glove fishing pole covers were designed to provide anglers with a cost effective way to protect and organize their rods. They are made of a tough polyethylene filament that is virtually impervious to salt and are resistant to mold and mildew. Their unique braided construction allows barbed hooks to be easily removed and their wide expandability makes them a snap to put on and take off. The Rod Glove prevents rod tangles and is ideal to use in boat rod lockers, rod storage tubes, in the back of your truck or going to and from the boat. The Rod Glove is available in 12 different sizes for casting, spinning and even ice fishing rods and comes in 17 great colors.

www.vrxfishing.com

WREAK HAVOC ON BASS! Berkley has introduced a series of new shapes to their HAVOC® line of soft baits for 2012. The Hawk Hawg, designed by Elite Series pro Bobby Lane, is a creature bait designed for Texas or Carolina rigging at any depth or speed. Wings near the head give the bait a gliding motion on the fall while oversized side appendages move water and create vibration when fished aggressively. The long curly tails move at the slightest twitch, adding to the attraction when the bait is fished slowly. The Hawk Hawg is five-inches long and is available in 15 colours. The Mike Iaconelli designed Havoc Smash Tube has a flatter (smashed) body that falls and glides erratically on every cast while making hook penetration easier than with other tube-style baits. The fatter, dual coloured tentacles deliver increased water displacement and a unique look that bass haven’t seen before. The Smash Tube is four-inches long and is available in six colours. The Havoc Juice Worm is the brainchild of Elite Series pro Boyd Duckett. It has a unique design that prevents it from rolling over during the retrieve and features a high action tail that keeps working even at slow speeds. It’s a natural choice for Texas or Carolina rigging but the applications for this bait are virtually endless. The Havoc Juice Worm comes in six or eight-inch sizes and is available in 20 different colours.

www.berkley-fishing.com Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 15

fishing

Bob Izumi is the host of The Real Fishing Show.

By Bob Izumi

Spring Patterns There’s no question that once the ice goes out in the spring and the water starts to warm up, everything comes alive. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing for pike, walleyes, lake trout, steelhead or something else, there are a number of patterns that will work. Over the years I have spent a considerable amount of time fishing for northern pike all across Canada during the spring of the year. These big, toothy critters will start to move towards their spawning areas before the last of the ice has gone out and they can offer some of the most predictable action of the year. Last spring I had an opportunity to tape one of our Real Fishing episodes with Captain Mike Richardson, who guides up on Georgian Bay. It was a really cold, overcast and rainy day that made for tough fishing. We fished hard throughout the day and I tried a number of different presentations to coax a big pike, but all we caught were a bunch of hammer-handles - nothing to get excited about. The fish that we did catch all came on bass-sized suspending jerkbaits. You want to pick a smaller lure for pike fishing during the spring of the year.

16 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

What I learned from Mike that day was that big fish can still be caught, even when they’re not in an aggressive mood, by slowly twitching a jerkbait. I’m talking about really slowly twitching. We were just about ready to quit for the day when I hooked a pike that turned out to be around 40-inches long. That fish saved the day. We got some great video shot as well as a few still photos and salvaged our trip. There are so many ways to catch walleyes during the spring of the year but I would say that the number one technique is fishing a jig like a Lindy Watsit. Number two would be rigging and number three would be a hard bait, like a crankbait or a minnow bait. For sheer numbers of fish though, a jig can’t be beat. The key during the early season is to fish them slowly. As the water warms up, just like with pike, you can get a little more aggressive in your approach. I like to tip my jigs with Berkley Power Bait or Gulp. At times I might take some minnows during the cold water period but it seems like you can coax a lot of walleyes with artificial baits that have some sort of scent impregnated right into them. My recommendation is to fish jigs with slow, subtle hops or by dragging them. If you are getting short strikes, add a little stinger or a small treble trailer hook on the back of your jig. If you want to get bigger fish, I suggest going with a body bait; a crankbait. It seems like the bigger fish are caught by anglers who are casting or trolling these. I feel that these big, post spawn walleyes are pretty lethargic but they still need a big meal to replenish the energy they used spawning. Fishing at night or under low light conditions are great times for slowly working a crankbait around weed edges or on flats near spawning areas. Lake trout may be easier to catch in the spring than at any other time of the year and

there are a number of ways to catch them. One of the easiest is to long-line troll with spoons or body baits around islands or along rocky shorelines as soon as the ice is out. Lakers love to gorge on baitfish that move into the shallows to spawn or to feed and the trout will stay in these areas until the water warms up too much for them. Another way to catch spring lake trout is to get over some of the deep water close to these shallower areas and jig for them. Use jigging spoons and watch your depth finder. You might also get into some whitefish this way. Steelhead are at their most accessible when the move into rivers and streams to spawn in the spring. There are lots of baits that will work – roe, worms, flies, spinners, small spoons, crankbaits and the list goes on. The real key to spring steelhead fishing is timing. Some fish will move in and out of rivers and creeks all winter, but the big runs start in earnest after the first warm spring rains swell the rivers and start warming the water. I try to plan my fishing trips when the water is still high but dropping; slightly coloured but not muddy. These are prime conditions. As spring progresses and steelhead finish spawning, they quickly leave the rivers and make their way back to the Great Lakes so timing is critical. The term, “here one day and gone tomorrow” definitely applies to spring steelhead fishing. Panfish, carp, brook and brown trout, bass in areas where there is a spring season, and just about every other fish you’d want to catch are all relatively easy to pattern and catch in the early part of the season. There’s no better way to shake off the winter cobwebs than getting back out fishing and there’s no better time than the spring to take advantage of it. ?

fly fishing

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

By Stephen May

Hunting Fish In today’s day and age, equipment manufacturers seem to have a technological fix for just about everything. That new rod, perfect fly and invisible leader will have the fish jumping on to your line if you listen to the sales pitch. I am not saying that this equipment is not better than what was available a few years back; it certainly is better and nicer to use. But, it will not really help most anglers catch more and bigger fish. There is usually a bit of fine print that these anglers have not read and it is the true foundation to becoming a better angler. The biggest problem is for many anglers is their impatience! They want it all, they want it now and darn it, they paid their money to have it happen! But that is not the way it works. Slow down! Fish are wild creatures with exceptional survival skills. They are experienced at avoiding being eaten. A loud splashing angler, the flash of a bright line, a shadow whipping over them or presentations that smack down on the water are easy to avoid. Fish can detect when things are not

right and their fear or flight instincts kick in to help them survive. The sloppy, impatient angler is much less successful than the “trout hunter.” This point was made very clear to me a couple of years back. A good friend was struggling to get hooked up with some really nice fish he had found in a local, pressured river. He was new to fly fishing and was watching some of the other anglers and how they approached fishing on this busy river. Unfortunately, they were not good examples to follow. I helped him by sharing a very simple but key concept that he immediately understood. He is an awesome hunter. Deer, turkeys, waterfowl and more are in trouble with him in the woods. I told him to approach the situation as if he was stalking big game. The key was to scope out the situation carefully

and plan his “hunting” strategy. Think about the current, how sound can alarm fish, how to stay out of sight of the fish and how to deliver the perfect, natural looking presentation. I gave him a couple of dependable flies and off he went. When I saw him a week later he had stories of several “hunts” that had resulted in some beautiful trout photos. He took more pictures of big fish in that week than many much more “experienced” anglers would have to show off through several seasons.

He told me that the key was to sit quietly on the bank for a few minutes to plan his approach. He watched for bugs, which helped him choose the right fly. He planned his stalk to hunt down individual fish. He thought about the perfect presentation, and how it would float in the current. He usually lengthened and lightened his leader. He slipped carefully into positions where that perfect drift was possible. He waded like a predator: quietly, smoothly and focused. The additional time to get in the perfect spot paid off in much more “hunting” success. Take your fall hunting routine to the river this spring and I am sure you too will have more success stories to share. ? 18 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

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

water’s edge By Dave Taylor

Peregrine Falcon I was on a long pier in the GTA where anglers often gather to try for salmon before the fish head upstream to spawn. I was hoping to photograph some of the large schools of ducks that had gathered in the shelter of the river’s mouth when suddenly a blur of movement caught my eye. Seconds later I had my camera focused on a peregrine falcon that had just snatched a pigeon in mid-flight. Peregrine falcons were quite literally poster boys for the campaign to remove DDT from North America’s arsenal against insect pests. During the 1950s the numbers of these birds across North America went into steep decline and in many regions of the continent the birds were extirpated. Once DDT got into the food chain it built up in the peregrine’s body and caused the

20 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

females to lay extremely fragile eggs that often cracked upon laying. The banning of DDT eventually removed the threat but other steps were required to bring this species back from the brink of extinction. Wildlife and conservation groups embarked on an ambitious plan to reintroduce the peregrine falcon, focusing largely on the Eastern United States and Southern

Ontario where the birds were very hard hit by the chemical. Young birds from captive breeding programs were hacked (hand raised by people hidden behind glass). Peregrine puppets were used to feed the birds to keep human contact at a minimum. In Ontario these programs were tried in a variety of sites. Obvious ones were the cliffs of remote lakes in Algonquin Provincial Park, but surprisingly, birds hacked in major cities did particularly well. The reason the birds did so well in city cores had to do with two factors. The tall buildings mirrored the birds’ preferred nesting habitat (cliffs) and abundant rock doves (pigeons) provided a ready source of food. Hacking boxes were replaced with nesting boxes as the number of wild, free roaming falcons grew. Cities like Toronto are now home to several nesting pairs. The peregrine falcon is back. These birds are believed to be the fastest living creatures on earth. When a falcon stoops (dives) on its prey – be it a duck, pigeon or song bird - it can reach speeds in excess of 300-kilometers per hour. It strikes its prey with its talons balled up and then turns and swoops down on it and grabs it. It’s a spectacular sight and one that is now possible to see throughout the Peregrine's reclaimed range. ?

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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

Gananoque Tackle Makers Gananoque, Ontario, is a historical town in many aspects. Its name is aboriginal and means “town of two rivers,” a reference to the Gananoque River which flows through town, and to the St. Lawrence River that marks the town’s southern boundary. Gananoque has also been referred to as “The Gateway to the Thousand Islands.” With such an important location, the town became a Mecca for merchants and tourists in the late 1800s and many businesses set up shop in the area to take advantage of all the river had to offer. Probably the most noted Gananoque area tackle maker from the late 1800s was Gardiner M. Skinner. Born in Brockville, Ontario, in 1845, Gardiner spent his early childhood exploring the shores of that river town. In 1857 the Skinner family moved to Gananoque, where Gardiner attended school and honed his fishing skills. With a world class fishery on his doorstep Gardiner’s main interest was to become an ardent and expert angler of the trophy bass, walleye and muskellunge the mighty St. Lawrence River offered. Gardiner Skinner tested all the artificial baits that were offered to anglers by the present day tackle makers. Not content, he sought to design and make something that would be more appealing to fish as well as to the hoards of anglers who visited the area each year. After many experiments he designed a metal lure with fluted blades. Testing the waters with his first fluted blade lures assured him that his new lure design idea was worth the effort and, in 1874, he applied to patent his “G.M. Skinner Celebrated and Fluted Spoon Baits.” In the 1870s Gardiner opened a store on Gananoque’s Main Street that supplied anglers, trappers, hunters and sportsmen. The store was billed as a “Sportsmen’s Headquarters and Manufactory of the 22 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Celebrated Fluted Trolling Baits.” With the increase in tourism on both sides of the border, many merchants, including Gardiner Skinner, were rewarded financially. In 1879 G.M Skinner and family moved his business to Clayton, New York. In 1899 Gardiner Mills Skinner wrote, “It is now more than a quarter of a century since I commenced to experiment, looking towards something more attractive and more effective for catching the large game fish of the St. Lawrence River. I realized that something radically different from anything then in use was needed and the result was a fluted blade which, as the trade and all

anglers know, has become the most celebrated lure ever placed on the market.” Two other noted fishing tackle manufacturers were listed in Gananoque in the late 1800s: William W. Bulloch & Co and John Livingstone. William Bulloch & Co. was a manufacturer of fishing tackle, boat fittings and iron and copper rivets. Metal lures produced by Bulloch had a unique hook attachment and were made in various styles sizes and finishes. The lures were stamped, W.M Bulloch, Gananoque, Ont. John Livingstone was a machinist who also manufactured fishing tackle from 1871 until sometime after 1887. His metal lures were produced in many shapes and were clearly stamped, J. Livingstone, Gananoque, Ont. Metal lures made by any of these 1800s tackle makers, that are specifically stamped, “Gananoque,” are very sought after by collectors. Prices for baits from these makers can start at about $150 and can often go for over the $500 mark. ?

Left to Right: A Skinner fluted-blade lure; a J. Livingtstone bait and a W.M. Bulloch & Co. lure.

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

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

navionics.com

real fishing fish facts

Northern Pike Esox lucius

The northern pike is a long, narrow fish with a broad, flat, and somewhat duck-bill shaped head. The jaws, roof of the mouth and tongue are covered with sharp teeth that are constantly being replaced. The lower jaw often extends beyond the upper and the underside generally features five pores on each side. A single, soft rayed dorsal fin is located far to the back near the tail, just forward of the anal fin. The tail fin is moderately forked and the tips are slightly rounded. The basic coloration of the pike features a dark background with numerous light, beanshaped spots arranged in seven to nine horizontal rows. The back and sides can range from dark green through olive-green to almost brown while the lower flanks and belly are creamy to milky-white. Fins may be green, green-yellow, orange or pale red and feature irregular black markings or blotches. Pike are found around the world in the northern hemisphere almost to the Arctic coast lines. They are primarily a freshwater fish but are known to inhabit slightly brackish water, especially in the Baltic Sea and other areas of northern Europe. In Canada their range includes most of Labrador and Quebec lying south of Ungava Bay; all of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and

24 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Alberta; the northeastern section of British Columbia, and most of the Yukon and Northwest Territories except for the extreme northern and eastern coastal areas and the Arctic islands. Pike are absent from the Maritime Provinces. Pike spawn in the early spring, immediately following ice-out, when water temperatures are in the 40°F to 52°F range. Spawning takes place during the day on vegetated river floodplains, in marshes and in the shallow back-bays of large lakes. One female usually pairs up with one or two smaller males and they will spawn at irregular intervals over a few days. Pike do not build spawning nests; their eggs are scattered randomly over several spawning sites. It is estimated that female pike carry about 9000 eggs per pound of body weight and the average female will have some 32,000 eggs. Although pike deposit high numbers of eggs and the fertilization rate is usually over 50%, the mortality rate is exceedingly high and can reach over 95%. Young pike feed on zooplankton and some small insects for their first week or so before adding small fish to their diet. By time the juveniles reach about two-inches in length their diet shifts almost entirely to other fish. As adults, pike will consume almost anything including frogs, crayfish and occasionally mice, ducklings and other vertebrates, however, their main food source remains other fish which, make up some 90% of their diet. Pike are often though of as a fish of shallow, weedy water and this is true to some extent. A lot depends on their geographic location. Mature adults enter the shallows in the spring and fall, but tend to retreat to deeper, cooler water in the heat of summer. Younger pike are more likely to remain in the shallows through the summer. In the northern part of their range mature pike

DID YOU KNOW? Although pike are a freshwater fish they can also tolerate low levels of salt water. In the Baltic Sea pike are known to thrive in water with up to 10% salinity and can reproduce successfully in water with up to a 7% salt concentration.

FAST FACTS Colour: Dark green through olive-green to almost brown on the back and sides with numerous light, bean-shaped spots. The lower flanks and belly are creamy to milky-white. Size: The average angler caught pike is between 20 and 30-inches in length and weighs three to five- pounds although fish over 36-inches and weighing over 10-pounds are common. Life Span: 10 to 12-years in the southern part of their range and up to 25-years in the north. Habitat: Pike are most commonly found in warm, slow, heavily vegetated rivers and warm, weedy bays of lakes. In the heat of summer, larger specimens will often move to deeper, cooler water. Spawning: Mating occurs in early spring, immediately following ice-out and, occasionally, under the melting ice when water temperatures reach 40°F to 52°F.

RECORD The current IFGA All-Tackle World Record northern pike weighs 55-pounds, 1-ounce and was caught from Lake of Grefeern, West Germany in October, 1986. can be found shallow all season while in the south they are more likely to hold in deeper water during the hottest time of the year. Pike are a popular sportfish and can be caught by casting, trolling or fly-casting. They will hit spoons, spinners, plugs, flies and all types of live and dead baits. Pike can make long runs when hooked but generally seem to do more thrashing, twisting and short distance darting, especially when they get close to the boat. Pike are wonderful food fish having sweet, white, flaky flesh. They have a series of y-bones along the side that can make filleting them a challenge but the results are well worth the effort. It’s best to skin pike before cooking as the skin has heavy pigmentation and a thick mucus that can give the fish a muddy taste. ?

The Moon Clock is also available as an app for iPhone/iPad/iTouch and Android Phones.

26 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

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JUNE

Best Fishing Times 2012

DOUG HANNON’S

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

SUNDAY

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Cree N a t i on of

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La Nat io n Cr ie de

Home of the largest fresh water lake in Québec www.mistissini.ca

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Quick, what’s the main reason Canadian anglers head to Florida in the winter? If you guessed Disney World or fresh oranges you’d better take another look at the picture. In mid-January Bob Izumi hooked up with Miles Burghoff, the son of legendary MASH actor, Gary Burghoff, for a day of bass fishing on the Butler Chain of Lakes. Miles is an accomplished tournament angler and, as you can see, he’s no slouch when it comes to finding big bass and putting them in the boat. Miles was undoubtedly happy about his gigantic bass, but we bet he was happier that Bob tagged along to record the catch for posterity! 28 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

A Head for Tournaments By Bob Izumi

30 Real Fishing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Spring 2012

I feel that mentally, in that little space between your ears, you can

events, I realized that his confidence combined with his know-how is what made him the incredible angler that he was.

actually talk yourself into doing well or not doing well in tournament fishing. Now, there are a lot of factors that go with that. Obviously know-how, time on the water, knowing the species you’re going after, knowing about their seasonal movements, the habitat, the weather conditions, bait choices - all of those factors play a big role in successful fishing. But after competing in bass tournaments (and some walleye and pike tournaments) for nearly 40-years there’s one thing I know for sure: you’ll go through a lot of entry fee and expense money if you don’t have your head screwed on straight. I’ve found that the more confident you are in your approach to fishing, the more fish you will catch, but there’s a fine line between being confident and being cocky. All of the most successful athletes out there have an air about them, whether it’s perceived as being egotistical, arrogant or something else. The fact is, deep down they are incredibly confident in their abilities to perform in whatever sport they’re doing, and that’s part of what makes them the achievers that they are. Back in the ‘80s I was introduced to Kevin VanDam at a BassMaster Invitational. He had just started out in the tournament game and was doing pretty well, but he certainly had not made the name for himself that he has today. Having met as many people as I have over the years, I tend to think I’m fairly good at reading people and my first reaction was that he was a little bit cocky. As the years went on and I followed his tournament career, I realized that it wasn’t as much cockiness as it was confidence. When Kevin became one of the greatest tournament bass anglers in the history of big-money

In tournament fishing your attitude can sometimes play in your favour and sometimes it can work against you. One of the biggest mistakes some anglers make is being so confident that they become stubborn. Stubbornness does one of two things: it makes you do well or it makes you not do well and there’s a fine line between them. Maybe you stick with a favourite area or pattern even though you’re not catching the quality or quantity of fish you need. Or maybe you stick with it and at some point in the day the fish turn on and you end up with a big weight. Maybe you leave an area or change patterns or techniques and don’t catch as many fish as you should have. Or maybe you change your technique or location and strike gold. Successful tournament fishing is making the right decisions throughout the day. There’s no right or wrong answer until the weigh-in is done. Tournament fishing requires a lot of physical preparation, equipment preparation, research, time on the water and, last but not least, having the right mental outlook. I know that when I go into events these days, quite frankly, I’m not focused. We produce the magazine that you’re reading right now, we do the TV show, the radio show, I do personal appearances and charity work – I’m involved in a lot of different things which take some of my concentration away from tournament fishing. There is no way that you can be off in 20 directions and then just turn the switch off, go tournament fishing and dominate. That’s why a lot of the best tournament anglers in

North America do nothing but work for their sponsors and basically focus on their tournaments. When I was younger and I didn’t have as busy a schedule as I do now, mentally my head wasn’t as stuffed up as it is now. As I get older maybe I’m more responsible; maybe I’m going crazy or senile – who knows. All I know is that nowadays it seems that I’ve got a lot on my mind. In the earlier years, whether I was fishing in a ProAm event or a team tournament, I expected to win every tournament that I fished. At the start of the day I felt so good about my ability to catch fish that I pretty well felt that I had a chance to win every tournament. I was young and very confident in my abilities. I was going wide-open when I got on the water and I was fearless. I was completely focused on catching fish and I don’t remember thinking of anything else in tournaments except catching fish. Nowadays I’m thinking about the TV shows I need to shoot, the magazine articles I have to get done, keeping my Twitter account up to date, scheduling my personal

appearances, my charity work – there’s a zillion things running through my mind. I’m not making excuses, but I know that it definitely is a factor in not having the consistent success now that I had in those early years. But I still want to compete and do well. I’m in my fifth decade of tournament fishing now and I realize that my biggest challenge is the mental aspect; trying to lock out as much as I can when I’m on the water so that I can think clearly about making the right decisions. I’ve been very happy with my success in tournaments over the years. I’ve had a pretty decent career here in Canada and, in 2011, Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 31

I finally won a major U.S. tournament; the Everstart 1000 Islands event. I count my lucky stars every time I do well in a tournament because for me it’s a very small portion of a very large pie that I am involved with in the fishing industry. While tournament fishing is a very large personal commitment (some might say addiction), deep down I know it’s a very small sliver of what I do during the course of the year. There’s no easy way to have ongoing success in tournaments. I would almost guarantee that if you interview 100 tournament winners not many of them will say, “Oh it was really easy, I just went out and in the first hour caught all the fish I needed and won the event.” You might get one or two out of a hundred that will say that because they found the honey hole of the century, but for the most part you’re going to find out that it was a grind for these people. Tournament fishing can be gruelling on the mental side. It can be an incredible roller coaster ride of emotions as you go through the day. You may feel down-andout because you’re not getting bit, then you catch a few good fish and all of a sudden you feel like you’ve won the lottery. That’s what keeps a lot of tournament anglers coming back, the incredible range of emotions; the successes and failures we experience throughout the event. As anglers we always think that on our next cast we’re going to produce a fish and it’s that optimism that really keeps us going.

Part of the mental side of fishing is being confident in your ability with certain techniques. There are a lot of really good anglers that are specialists in specific techniques. Some guys are good with a crankbait, others might be good at flipping and pitching, others may excel in deep water while somebody else might be an incredible sight fisherman. Over the years I’ve noticed that a lot of anglers who excel in certain techniques will have their time and place when they are successful. For example, the angler who’s into finesse fishing with light line might excel on a deep, clear lake while a flipper and pitcher who likes shallow, murky water might struggle in that situation. What’s really important is to become proficient and confident in a few techniques. There are very few anglers who are really good with multiple techniques; some are capable with all of them but for the most part are only really good at maybe half of them. Recently I was reading some PGA statistics about the top golfers in each category of the game: greens in regulation, driving accuracy, driving distance, putting etc. As I read these I noticed that, for the most part, there were different names in the top-10 in each category. I expected to see Tiger Woods in the top-10 in all of the divisions but he was absent from many of them. While he was high up in some of the categories, he wasn’t among the best in every one. It’s similar in just about every sport. In

You’d better know how to flip if you’re going to catch fish from this kind of water.

32 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

basketball you’ve got guys who are good rebounders and other guys that are great three-point shooters; in hockey there are great defensemen and there are great goalscorers; in baseball you’ve got great pitchers and great hitters. It makes me think that tournament anglers are a lot like any other top athlete. You’ve got some that excel in one aspect of the sport but maybe not in another. Very few can claim to excel in every area. Most of the successful tournament anglers I know do an analysis of their day after the event. Even some that aren’t successful do this and it’s what I do after every event I fish, whether I do well or not. I like to analyze what worked, what didn’t, what could have, what should have, what worked for others, what didn’t work for others. Becoming a student of the successful techniques, patterns and choices that various anglers made at an event can definitely

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help make you a better angler. Keep an open mind so the next time you’re faced with those types of conditions you can go back into your memory bank and recall what worked and what didn’t. That way you’ve got a starting point to base your decisions on. At Wheeler Lake at the FLW Eastern Series Open a few years back I didn’t realize that I found the winning fish until after the tournament was over. It blows my mind to know that I had an area where I could have literally walked away with that tournament. I know for a fact that with the fish I lost during that tournament I should have won instead of getting 10th place. During practice my friend, Rick McCrory, (who was fishing as a co-angler) and I went into a big, meandering creek and got the boat stuck so badly that I had to get out and push us off of the mud and clay. The water was only a foot deep in most of the creek except for depressions in the old creek channel that were a foot and a half to two-feet. These deeper spots had the potential to hold fish but it was really tough getting in there. When we finally got in, I had two good hits that I shook off. At the time I didn’t realize how many fish were relating to isolated pieces of wood in that creek. On the first day of the tournament I decided to play it safe and go for a limit of fish so I stayed away from that creek and went to other areas of the lake where I had caught some fish in practice. I caught a meagre limit of keepers and finished the day way down the list. On day two I decided to roll the dice. I went to the creek that I had found in practice and ended up catching 18-plus pounds. I also lost a few other really big fish that day but still moved way up in the standings. On the third day I went back to the creek and caught 15-pounds and change. Once again I lost some big fish and I felt that I could have been leading the tournament if I had caught every fish I hooked. Despite losing some fish, I moved into eighth place going into the fourth and final day. My confidence was at an all-time high and mentally I was ready to rock and roll on the last day. Unfortunately I lost three decent fish, caught two little tiny keepers and slipped down to 10th place. Analyzing that tournament I realized two things: I had some equipment issues and I was on the right fish to win. 34 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

If you’re not catching the bigger fish, it’s time to change things up.

I was using a medium-heavy rod that was too light for the fishing I was doing. I was flipping a Berkley Power Bait Sabretail Tube (which is discontinued) with 20pound test Trilene fluorocarbon on a flipping hook with a screw-in weight and I wasn’t getting a good hook set. It wasn’t the rod’s fault, it was my fault for not switching to a beefier stick. The rod I was using was more suited to heavier spinnerbaits or a swimming jig or something like that but I was flipping into isolated wood. I should have gone to a medium-heavy Shimano Crucial flipping rod instead. Because of that I lost eight big fish that would have easily taken me over the top. Seeing the weight that ended up winning, and looking at all the fish that I lost, I’m convinced that I could have won. You

know the old saying; would have, should have, could have. Had I fished that creek area for all four days and not lost the fish I did, I could have walked away with that event. I’ve got a ton of these stories from over the years where making the wrong decision has cost me a tournament. On the other side of it, there’s a ton of times where making the right decisions have given me first place. It’s amazing how your decisions and the mental side of fishing can play hand in hand to bring you success. I’ve been fortunate enough to win a tournament every year for the last four years in a row. When you win a tournament there’s no question that you exude a confidence that can carry on to the next event and you just feel good about it. When you’re on a high from doing well in an event, whether you

win it or you’re in the top-10 or top-20 or top-50 - whatever makes you happy – you’ve can transfer that positive energy to the next one. The biggest thing as a competitive angler is learning to shrug off your bad finishes. It’s easy to get into a rut and get down on yourself, down on everything around you, and get into a negative mood where you’re in a funk that’s very hard to get out of. I cannot stress enough how, when you’re out on the water, being positive is so much better than being negative. When you’re negative you tend to fish too fast, you make hasty decisions and you’re not focused. Say you go to your best spot and things aren’t happening. You get a few small or medium fish on your key spot but they’re not the fish you were hoping for. Do you stay and wait for the fish or do you leave? This is where experience definitely comes into play. It’s all about time management. I don’t know how many times over the years we would be catching fish - and catching a lot of fish – but not the size to win. There comes a time where you just have to pull up your trolling motor and move on. If you’re not catching the bigger fish in a specific area with a specific technique it’s time to change it up. That means changing techniques, changing locations, or both, until you find what it takes to produce the kind of fish that will take you over the hump and let you of do well in the event. I’ve seen other anglers do it and I’ve done it myself – staying too long in an area using the same technique. All of a sudden you look at your watch and say, “Where did the day go?” When you have eight or nine-hours in a specific tournament day you want to make sure that you use every minute to your advantage. You have to decide whether to stick with your primary area, make a long run to an area where you’ll have a very short time to fish, fish multiple areas or whether to do a milk run of a few choice areas over the course of the day. Those are the decisions that you have to make. What separates the winners from the rest of the field is using your available time to produce the best results. It’s funny how your success – or lack of it – can affect how the day goes by. In a lot of tournaments where I’ve had really good fishing early in the day, I end up looking at my watch a lot, wondering when it’s time to weigh in. When you get a lot of good fish 36 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

quickly it seems like the day goes by very slowly, probably because you know that you’ve already done very well and you just want to get your fish on the scales. Of course the opposite is true too. When you’re struggling it seems that the day just flies by and before you know it you’ve got to head in with a small limit or worse. A case in point is when my son, Darren, and I won the Renegade Bass tournament in 2010 on Lake St. Francis in Cornwall. We had our limit of just a few ounces shy of 25pounds, including the big fish of the tournament – a six-plus pound smallmouth – by 10:30 in the morning. Every time I looked at my watch only a half-hour or so would have passed and it seemed like eternity for weigh in time to come that day. Getting a big limit early and being anxious for the day to end is the exception rather than the rule though. For the most part, successful tournament fishing is grinding it out, thinking you’re going to catch a fish on every cast, including your very last cast of the day. I can remember so many tournaments where I caught a very large fish on my last cast that turned out to be the difference between winning and not winning. I’ve pushed the envelope to the point of having a seven mile run with nine minutes left in the day, getting in with a minute to spare and ending up winning the tournament. If you’ve ever fished a tournament you can relate to the feelings that you have dur-

ing them. If you’ve never fished one, I can tell you that you will experience every emotion that you can think of. Tournament fishing can be some of the most incredibly gruelling, happy, depressing, exhilarating days you’ll ever have on the water. They are very unpredictable and challenging and that’s what keeps me coming back. An example is when I fished the 2010 FLW Series, Eastern Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee. My friend, Rick McCrory, and I were practicing for the tournament and we had had a terrible prefish. For the three days leading up to the tournament I believe I only caught a couple of keeper fish. I didn’t even have a starting area where I felt I could catch a limit. I was at my wit’s end and totally bummed the day before the tournament. I even said to Rick, “Maybe I’m out of my league fishing in these tournaments.” I was starting to second-guess myself and why I was even fishing in this event. On day one of the tournament my livewell was empty at quarter to eleven in the morning. At that point I actually thought that I might blank and have nothing to weigh in. Then I happened to see a fish, about a 2 ½-pounds, sitting on a bed in the eel grass. I caught it and the light switch went on. The weather was starting to warm up and I thought that maybe a few fish were starting to move up shallow and make beds. I put the trolling motor on high and covered

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Catching just one fish can be a big boost to your confidence.

miles of water looking for fish. At the end of the day I had a fairly decent limit of fish and was in 15th place. To make a long story short, I had two more decent days and ended up in eighth place out of the 160 boats in that tournament. Leading into this event I would have been happy just to know where I was going to catch a couple of fish. It was amazing how just seeing that one fish late in the morning on day one changed my whole attitude and the way I was fishing. That’s the thing about tournament fishing. You have to be careful to not get down and out on yourself before the event even starts. You don’t know what’s going to happen until you actually get immersed in the competition. The best thing you can do in tournaments is to stay cool, calm and collected. When things aren’t working, take a couple of deep breaths, look around you and think about what you’re doing, what else you could be doing and where else you could be doing it. If you’re not catching them in the thick cover, maybe you’ve got to go to open water or to some moderate cover. If you’re not catching them on a reaction bait maybe you have to hit them on the head with a slow moving bait. When you’re calm, you can go through this process of elimination until you find out what will work on that particular day. The worst thing you can do is start running around helter-skelter, in panic mode. When you’re in panic mode not only do you make the wrong decisions on where you may be fishing, but also on the way you’re fishing. You might set the hook too 38 Real Fishing – Winter 2012

hard or too fast; you may horse a fish too much; you may fish through an area too fast; you may not use the right technique for the area you’re fishing. Your mind is racing because time is running out and you’ve got to catch fish. When that panic mode sets in you start making irrational decisions and that rarely works in your favour. I’ve had so much success over the years fishing tournaments on Lake Ontario and at the 1000 Islands that I really felt good about going into the 2011 Everstart 1000 Islands tournament. Mentally I was in a pretty good space but with the number of good anglers that were in that tournament I would have been happy with a top-10 finish. On the first day of the tournament I was very confident in the spot I had found. It was the corner of a very small shoal out in the big waters of Lake Ontario that I had fished at the Canadian Open a week earlier.

In that tournament I weighed in just over 22-pounds on the first day of competition; 19-pounds and change on the second and I ended up in seventh place overall, less than three-pounds away from winning. I felt this area still had the potential to produce a good bag and I was pretty confident that I was going to do well. I fished a few other spots early in the morning and finally made it out to the shoal around mid-morning. When I got there I found that a friend of mine from Vermont was already there and Cory Johnston was just pulling up on the spot at the same time as I was. We all fished the same area and everybody seemed to be catching a few fish. I caught three but they were no better than two-pounds each and by 11 in the morning my three fish (that would have weighed about seven-pounds) were not looking very good. I was fishing beside these guys, joking around and having a good time, but deep down inside I was melting away. I was devastated. I was freaking out but on the outside I was trying to stay cool. I’ve had more success fishing tournaments in these waters than anywhere else and I’ve won three Canadian Opens and a Canadian Classic on eastern Lake Ontario. I fished different areas in every one of those tournaments – both for largemouth and for smallmouth – so I have a lot of confidence. Anyway, I decided that it was time to go into scramble mode. Now, scramble mode doesn’t mean panic. Scrambling means moving, changing and doing whatever it takes to put a decent limit together to stay in the hunt. As it turned out I did some running and gunning and put together 17-pounds, 9-ounces for day one and was in 17th place.

Luckily Lucki ly the blood, blood, sweat, and ttears sweat, e we put into it drained right drained rig ht out.

On day two I did not go back to that shoal where I had run into the other fellows. Instead, I fished a number of new areas, put together a limit that weighed 19pounds, 7-ounces and moved up to 7th place. On day three I was completely relaxed because I had made the top-10 cut. I was pretty sure that I couldn’t win because there was quite a spread between myself and Chris Johnston, who was sitting in first. Plus there were six other guys that were ahead of me so my feeling was that maybe I could squeak into the top-5, earn a few bucks and be happy. I went out feeling good and was looking to have some fun out there on day three. I fished a number of areas in the tournament and covered a ton of water fishing specific rock areas that would hold fish. I did an extensive milk run and ended up with a pretty decent limit weighing 21-pounds, 1ounce. My attitude was that I had a respectable limit and should be able to move into the top five. At the weigh-in I didn’t really know any of the American anglers who were in the top-10 so I didn’t have any idea what they had in their livewells. You’re not supposed to talk to the other guys about what they 40 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

have because it’s all supposed to be a big surprise, but I did ask Chris Johnston how his day went and he said not good at all. When Chris says not good at all that means it’s not good. The weigh-in started with the 10th place angler and moved up through the field. At these tournaments the current leader gets to sit on the stage in the “hot seat” until someone else takes the lead. When my fish hit the scales I ended up taking over first place and got to sit in the hot seat but there were six anglers ahead of me in the standings who still had to weigh-in. So I’m sitting in the hot seat as every angler came up – sixth place; fifth place, fourth, third, second – and nobody knocked me out. I looked over at the current leader, Chris Johnston, and he was grinning at me from across the stage. Chris had said that he had a bad day so I started thinking that there was a good chance I’d won. I couldn’t believe it. It felt almost surreal because it’s not what I expected. When Chris weighed in 14-pounds of fish he dropped down in the standings and I ended up winning the tournament. After fishing about 70 tournaments in the U.S. and having some good finishes but never closing the deal, I had finally won my

first major U.S. tournament. I was elated. The weird thing is that it didn’t really sink in until the next day. I was awestruck by the fact that nobody weighed in enough to beat me out of that hot seat. In that tournament I fished very loose, mentally, on day three because I wasn’t thinking of winning, I was only looking at climbing up the leaderboard a few places. I fished without a care in the world because I knew I already had a top-10 finish and I believe that that helped me to get that 21pound limit. I was riding the wave of success when the next Everstart tournament, out of Buffalo on Lake Erie, rolled around. I was going into that one feeling really good because I had just won at the 1000 Islands and because it was on water that I truly love. When you have success in an event you can ride that wave and I was certainly riding it going into this one. I weighed in 17-pounds on the first day and 19-pounds the second day – including the big fish of the tournament that weighed over six-pounds. I didn’t think I’d made the top-10 but I did think at least I’d get a cheque. After weighing my fish I went to the parking lot and started packing all my stuff away before heading back to the weigh-in to see how I fared. Then my wife, who was still watching the end of the weigh-in, called me on the cell phone and says, “Bob, you’ve got to get over here now, they’re calling your name.” I said, “For what?” She said, “You made the top-10, you’re sitting in 10th place, you made the cut to fish on day three!” I left everything and ran back over to the weigh in area. I was thrilled with the fact that I had made another top-10. I ended up in eighth place overall which put me in the lead for the Everstart Angler of the Year after the first three tournaments. There is no question that when you’re doing well in tournaments, and your confidence level is peaking, you can ride that wave and continue to have some success. The same can be true when you’re not doing well too. To sum it up, and I can’t stress this enough, keep a positive mental attitude in your tournament fishing, and in life as well, and you’ll find that success isn’t so hard to find. ?

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THE LOST ART OF

STEELHEADING

Underutilized Methods for Catching Great Lakes Steelhead. By Dan Robson

“That’s a fish,” he said, “lift the rod and set the hook.” My father had an uncanny ability to distinguish bottom from fish, even when he wasn’t holding the rod. He was right of course, but my slow hook-set meant a couple of head shakes and the fish was free. As I glance back at my 10-year old self I realize what I thought of as simply catching trout was actually shaping the foundation for the steelheader that I am today. 42 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

The methods that used to put so many fish on the bank for my father and I, however, seem to be losing valuable fishing space to the more popular float fishing. The new generation of Great Lakes steelheader seems focused on a single method while others begin to fall by the wayside. These methods still have their place on the bank and will produce just as many fish if given the chance.

BOTTOM BOUNCING Most old-school steelheaders will agree with me when I say that bottom bouncing is without a doubt one of the hardest methods to master, second only to swinging flies. Finding the perfect balance between

keeping the bait up off of the bottom and down in the strike zone requires practice and patience. The terminal tackle is as simple as it gets: a barrel swivel between the main line and 12 to 24-inches of fluorocarbon leader, depending on water clarity. On the business end of the fluorocarbon I use a typical steelhead hook ranging in size from #8 to #14, again depending on water clarity. Attached to the main line just above the swivel, or to the tag end of the upper knot on the swivel, is a group of small split shot. This group of shot will need constant adjustment. The size and number will depend on the water being fished. The faster the water the more, or heavier, the shot used. In slower

THE EQUIPMENT

Two methods of split shot placement on a bottom bouncing rig.

water less is needed. The idea is to get the bait into the strike zone quickly, while having it travel at the same speed as the current. Too much weight and the bait will slow down and stay in direct contact with the bottom, causing it to snag up rather than hook fish. Too little weight and the current will push the bait up and out of the strike zone. Always adjust the amount of shot. At times it may seem insignificant, but it could mean the difference in putting fish on the bank. Cast placement will vary depending on the water you’re fishing. The faster or deeper the water, the further upstream the cast should be placed. If slow water is what you’re fishing, a cast directly in front of you, or even slightly downstream, may be necessary. The rig should be in a fishable position (near bottom) as it passes directly in front of you. Hold the rod high as the rig passes in front of you and begins its drift. Keeping the line up and off the water as much as possible will help combat the current “pushing” the line out in front of the bait, which in turn causes it to pull the bait at an unnatural rate. Turn your body and follow the drift as your bottom bouncing rig passes your position.

44 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

The line will now begin to tighten. If allowed to do so, the current then pulls the bait up off the bottom and out of the strike zone. Counteract this by turning your body and following the drift. It may also be necessary to give some line. It is imperative that the line is let out at a proper rate. Too much line too quickly and the slack will cause the bait to drag the bottom, potentially snagging up. Too little line let out too slowly and the tight line will result in the bait rising up and out of the strike zone. If the drift is correct, you should be able to feel the rig brushing bottom every couple of seconds. Bottom bouncing is a technique that shines when conditions are less than favorable; when fish are less active and holding tight to bottom. For example, winter steelhead are very lethargic, and rarely move to take bait, they wait for that bait to come to them. Bottom bouncing is ideal for cold water steelhead. It also shines in deep flows that are difficult to fish with a float and it’s a great way to cover shallow riffle water in the spring.

BOTTOM BOUNCING I prefer to use a rod in the 9 to 11-foot range for bottom bouncing. The longer the rod the better and I tend to use an 11-foot rod for most applications, unless I’m fishing on a smaller stream. A light to mediumlight action is ideal, the more sensitive the better. A sensitive rod helps to feel the bottom, which is key to determining the difference between bottom and subtle strikes. Eight to ten-pound test monofilament as the main line is sufficient in most cases, paired with a six-pound test fluorocarbon leader. Of course the pound test can be changed, depending on water conditions, but this is a good starting point. Fluorocarbon is very abrasion resistant and it is important that the monofilament main line is as well. The main line should be able to stand up to abuse just as well or better than the leader.

SPOONS AND SPINNERS I like to use a 9-foot, medium action rod when swinging spoons and spinners. The longer rod helps to control the line during the swing. Choose a rod that is sensitive enough to be able to feel the lure working, yet has enough backbone to ensure a good hook-set. A heavier line is a good idea when fishing spoons and spinners; 12 to 15-pound test main line matched with a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader is sufficient. The heavier line can handle the action of the heavier lures as well as help with a solid hookset. The pound test of the line is relative to the size of the lure being used and can be downsized with lighter lures.

PITCHING CRANKBAITS

SWINGING SPINNERS AND SPOONS Spinners and spoons are two entirely different lures, but can be placed in the same category if for no other reason than the technique used to present them. Think bottom bouncing because swinging a spinner or spoon is very similar. Cast just upstream of your position and allow the lure to sink while reeling in the slack. Reel until you feel the lure working. It’s now time for the current to take over and impart the action on the lure. It doesn’t have to be working feverishly; it simply has to be working. The ideal swing will require no reeling at all but there are often times, especially in slower moving water, when reeling is necessary. Reel just enough to keep the lure working and off the bottom. As the lure swings, follow it with the rod tip, lowering it as you near the end of the swing, creating a push and allowing the

When pitching crankbaits I will run the same equipment as I do with spoons, for all the same reasons. I always like using a longer rod for several reasons – the length lets you get away with using lighter line; it helps to control the lure and it helps in fighting strong, aggressive fish. No matter what rod or line you chose to use, it is imperative that it is used together with a quality reel. A smooth, quality drag is very important. The last thing you need when a fresh steelhead takes off is for the drag on your reel to fail.

lure to travel that much further. Hold that final position for a moment as the lure stops and begins to rise in the current. This pause will often trigger a strike from any curious steelhead following the lure. Once you are satisfied that you have sufficiently covered the area, move on. When fishing a large run I try to set up in the general area where my previous swings were ending, helping to ensure that I’ve covered all the area. Choosing the right spinner or spoon can be overwhelming as there are countless sizes

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and color combinations to choose from. The finish of the lure or its blade is what you should focus on when deciding on color. Use brass or copper finishes when fishing low, clear water, and silver finishes in colored water. The added flash of a silver finish will also help to entice lethargic winter steelhead, no matter what the water conditions.

Depending on the speed of the water, I will run spinners from #1- #4 and spoons ranging from ¼- to ½-ounce. Use the heaviest lure you can get away with as spinners and spoons both have a tendency to float up in the current. The heavier the lure the better it will stay in the strike zone. Swinging spinners and spoons is an effective method any time of the year, however there are times when each will shine. For spinners it’s in the spring, when the fish are aggressive. For spoons it’s the opposite. I love fishing spoons in the winter. There’s just something about a spoon as it flutters its way downstream, banging up against a rock every now, that awakens slumbering steelhead.

PITCHING CRANKBAITS When the word crankbait is mentioned around steelheaders it is usually during a conversation about drop shotting from a drift boat. But what about all of the water that’s inaccessible with said drift boat? With a well placed cast, a crankbait can reach the 46 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

fish hiding in that inaccessible water. As a youth with a very short attention span, pitching crankbaits was my favorite method of steelheading as it covers a lot of water quickly in search of aggressive fish. While most steelhead methods require a natural drift presentation, pitching a crankbait is the complete opposite. These lures can be reeled across the current as well as upstream and downstream. They can be worked fast or slow, in shallow runs or in deep pools. The fish being targeted are aggressive and are more than willing to chase a fleeing baitfish. There are many crankbaits to choose from, some specifically designed for steelhead, some that are not. Simplify your choice by matching the lure with the water being fished. Is it typically running dirty? Use something bigger and brighter. Clear water? Go with something more natural looking with a smaller profile. Use a lure that is relatively shallow running; something that will run in the two to five-foot range. Most importantly, the lure should float. A floating crankbait allows you make a cast and let the lure drift to a desired point before beginning the retrieve. This is especially helpful when casting into heavy cover such as fallen or overhanging trees. Pitching a crankbait may not be the most effective method of steelheading, but it is by far the most exciting. The strikes are savage and it’s almost unbelievable when a three-

Banana-style crankbaits like these Lindy River Rockers are great options that provoke vicious strikes from stream-bound steelhead.

pound fish nearly pulls the rod right out of your hands. Once hooked, the fish will stop at nothing to shake themselves free, making for an incredible battle. From learning to read the water to figuring out fish habits, these methods have all played significant roles in my steelhead success. They are the methods that were handed down to me when I was young, and they remain relevant even in today’s steelhead world. ?

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By Wil Wegman Wil Wegman is the former editor of Canada’s BassMan magazine and an award winning outdoor writer from Bradford Ontario. He can be reached through his Focus on Fishing website at www.wilwegman.com

SPRING PANFISH It can be a tough haul if you are a die-hard bass angler living in southern Ontario, a part of Canada that does not offer a spring bass fishing season. That fourth Saturday in June opener is looked forward to more than a Birthday, Christmas and Easter combined. Why it’s not declared a Provincial Holiday - so all the poor souls working in tackle shops can also have the day off to fish bass - is simply beyond my comprehension. 48 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Slow moving rivers or channels connected to the main lake can be magnets for spring panfish - and panfish anglers.

The burden of waiting for the opener, however, can be and is much more tolerable if you realize the joy of multi-species fishing before God’s favourite species becomes fair game. Today we’ll look at catching a variety of panfish to fill the pathetic void left in our lives each spring without bass. Panfish species have many similar characteristics and this is especially true during the spring season. Bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch and black or white crappie are all warmwater fish that seek warmer, shallow waters in spring. Northern shorelines receive the most sun and those with dark bottoms capture and hold more of the sun’s heat giving rays. Begin looking for these warmer waters right after ice out, perhaps even while some main lake ice is still present. Keep your eyes open for baitfish, which are drawn to the warmer waters as well. Many attribute spring panfish movements directly to their spawning period, however, only the yellow perch (of those mentioned above) quickly changes focus after ice out from food and warmer water, to procreation.

eggs in the shallows at night or early morning over rooted vegetation, fallen trees, brush or even over sand and gravel. Sunfish, both bluegills and pumpkinseeds, spawn much later than perch and wait until late spring or early summer when water temperatures reach 68°F. Males move in first and make nests and then wait for the females to arrive. After the courtship ritual the female deposits her eggs, the male fertilizes them and the female soon takes off, leaving the male to guard the eggs and fry. The same deal goes for all members of the sunfish family. Crappie, both the popular and abundant blacks and the less common whites, are in the sunfish family and exhibit the same traits and prefer similar spawning habitat

conditions. They will, however, also spawn beneath undercut banks and along cattail lined shorelines. Finally, the highly prolific rock bass which isn’t a bass at all - is also a nest builder and moves into the shallows to spawn when water temperatures are between 60°F and 70°F. Like other sunfish species, this fish spawns over diverse habitats – including those already mentioned for sunfish and crappie, but also over gravel or even rocky shorelines.

Finding Spring Panfish Although northern shorelines with dark bottoms can be prime panfish locations, an even better early spring option could be slow moving rivers or channels connected

Panfish Spawning Behaviour Smaller male perch are the first to move shallow to spawn, followed shortly after by larger females; typically from mid April to mid May. In some regions spawning can last until July. Spawning occurs when water temperatures are between 44°F and 54°F. Unlike the other panfish mentioned, perch are not nest builders, nor do they guard their young. Instead, they lay more eggs than sunfish to make up for all those that will be eaten by various predators. Therefore, enough survive to allow perch to thrive in most waters. All members of the perch family (like walleye) disperse their Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 49

“HERDING” PANFISH “One of our favourite early-season bluegill techniques is something we call “herding,” says Paul Bassi of the Aurora Bassmasters.“We look for small cuts or inlets off of the main river and follow those up as far as the Ranger will take us. Sometimes these cuts aren’t much wider than the boat. The whole time we are keeping our eyes open for any likely holding spots – newly emerging weed growth, holes, brush piles, laydowns or whatever.” Often though, it isn’t until the end of the cut that bluegill are caught or seen, Upsized baits can result in upsized panfish.

especially if there is some cover there for them. “We believe we actually push or herd some of these fish ahead of us as we make our way up the skinny waterway”, explains Bassi. “Once we reach a distance of about a long cast from the end of the cut, we stop and either tie onto shore to avoid spooking fish or do our best to hold the boat still,” says Paul’s fishing partner and fellow Aurora Bassmaster, Brian Ogden. This is when they begin to lob small jigs, tipped with a small twister tail or grub, on slip floats to areas where the ‘gills are holding. The duo reports that they have had large schools of big ‘gills in these areas but that it isn’t always easy to catch them. ”You need to be extra mindful about not spooking these finicky fish,” says Brian. “We try and keep a low profile and make sure we don’t move around too much. Those extra-long casts are critical, but you need to make sure the bait lands softly, so feather the reel spool for a delicate landing. Sometimes you can catch several big ‘gills from these schools, but we’ve also had big fish scoot past us without catching even one,” he concluded.

50 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

to the main lake. Here, aquatic vegetation usually begins to grow first and the small, green weeds can be a magnet for panfish. Bluegills and pumpkinseeds love this early season growth regardless of how sparse it may be. Later in spring, as actual weedlines begin to develop, focus your fishing on inside weed edges for pre- or even postspawn sunfish. Rock bass can be in the same areas but will seek out rockier shorelines and somewhat deeper water. We all know that crappies are extremely structure oriented, but any sunken timber is also a bluegill haven, especially before weed

growth peaks. Don’t be afraid to move in real shallow looking for these wood-relating bluegills, in water as skinny two or three-feet. When fishing main lake areas for spring panfish there is no need to battle windy shores, instead, look for sheltered ones or back bays. A channel or river leading to those back bays can be an added drawing card but not all panfish species head up these in the spring. Perch will often spawn in the adjoining bays and then remain nearby, in water from 5 to 12-feet deep. Look for mixed sand interspersed with weedy patches, or bare sand and gravel transition areas. Often these patches or transition zones can be perch magnets so marking them on your GPS can be extremely effective. When water conditions aren’t super clear you could drive right over them without knowing! I rely heavily on Lowrance HD units to detect these patches and I plot them all so they show clearly on my Navionics map.

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Sonar for Shallow Water Panfish There are many anglers who believe sonar’s usefulness is very limited in the shallow water where so many spring panfish reside. This is simply not the case says one of Canada’s leading experts in sonar technology, Lawren Wetzel. Lawren got his start with Lowrance Electronics but is now familiar with most other units as the Marine Electronics Specialist at Radioworld, a popular electronics store in Toronto. If your unit has the ability to change fishing modes (like the Lowrance HDS or Elite series models) the first thing to do is make sure your unit is set to Shallow Water mode. “This will really help when you are fishing the shallow, weedy back bays,” says Wetzel. “The Shallow Water mode changes the way the unit processes information and helps it acquire and retain a bottom reading in less than ideal shallow water conditions, such as those in weedy or muddy bottoms.“ Wetzel advises anglers to adjust the sensitivity on their units to provide better bottom readings rather than to actually find fish. Lowering the sensitivity will reduce clutter on the screen, but will help show hard bottoms much better. “In the shallows, you’re not going to mark fish unless they are right below your transducer so there isn't much point to set the unit up to find the fish. Set it up to find the bottom transition areas. This means lower the sensitivity and use the unit on a range that will show at least double the depth,” he advises. We asked Wetzel to explain further the reason to double the depth range for the shallows where anglers are fishing panfish in spring. “Basically, hard bottoms will send back two or more sonar returns. So, for example, if you are fishing in eight-feet, set the range for 20-feet. You'll see the true bottom at eight-feet and then you will see the "double echo" at 16-feet. When the double echo disappears you've found the transition... and hopefully panfish are nearby,” he said. Side Imaging can be tricky in very shallow water, especially if there are weeds, but if you are fishing over hard bottoms this feature can really come into play. When you see screen shots of sandy bottoms littered with little basketball size depressions and small white lines in the middle of them they are sunfish beds with fish on them. “Also, if you cruise through the shallows before the weeds come up in early spring, look for stumps and other woody debris with your side imager and save a waypoint over each. Crappie spawn up against stumps quite a bit, so knowing where those hidden stumps are later in the spring when crappies spawn can be a valuable aid,” recommends Wetzel. 52 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

A modified dropshot rig, with a lure like a Bad Boyz on bottom instead of a weight, can be deadly on post-spawn yellow perch.

Once you have identified prime spring perch habitat, the task of catching them can be accomplished several ways. Being a rather impatient angler who would rather keep moving to find fish instead of waiting for fish to find me, my style is to stay on the electric until perch are located. Realizing that perch are schooling fish, with typically at least a couple of aggressive hungry members amongst the others, gives me the confidence to throw fairly fast moving minnow imitating baits. When even one or two nice jumbos attack a three-inch suspending jerkbait, it can help you locate a whole school. This is when it does pay to slow down and toss a small jig or dropshot directly to where the aggressive perch hit. Although high-end electronics will map these places for you on your sonar screen, I still prefer to toss a marker buoy for a visual reference.

Upsizing Your Baits Oftentimes the smallest panfish are the most aggressive and trying to keep them off the hook can be a real chore. This is when I usually upsize my baits, whether I’m casting with jerkbaits or cranks while searching for panfish or have already stopped to cast a plastic bait. If I’m tossing crankbaits for sunfish and crappie I like to crank them down and let them float back, as both of these species suspend and look up to feed. Rock bass and yellow perch, however, are typically closer to bottom so you want your baits to stay near there during the retrieve. For plastics, a variety will work, ranging from tubes to grubs to twister tails and minnow imitating baits. Chartreuse, white and hot pink colours are great in off coloured water while more neutral green pumpkins, browns or natural baitfish shades are tops in clear water. I rig these on 1/16-ounce jig heads and I utilize a slip

float for crappie and sunfish who want the bait above their eye level. For perch or rock bass I seldom use a float since I prefer to present my baits near the bottom where these fish prefer to feed. Vary your retrieve depending on the mood of the panfish, from an exaggerated lift and fall for aggressive fish, to a slower hop and drag when fishing is slow. When I am casting to a specific school of fish I like to use a modified dropshot rig, with a lure

54 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

like a Bad Boyz on bottom instead of a weight, and a 2 to 2 ½-inch plastic minnow bait up top. This rig can be deadly on postspawn yellow perch or big pre-spawn rock bass when they are in water from 8 to 15feet deep. To maximize the fun factor and catch more panfish, leave your beefy bass tackle at home and opt for a light to ultra-light spinning rod ranging from 6 to 7 ½-feet with a fast tip. Spinning reels spooled with

four-pound test monofilament let you cast these light baits further and with great accuracy.

Conservation: Ontario has several world renowned panfish fisheries. Eastern Ontario’s Rideau System has prolific bluegill; Rice Lake (near Peterborough) has magnificent black crappie and the incredible yellow perch fishery of Lake Simcoe is one of the finest on the planet. However, even these can, and possibly already have, become a little less enticing because so many big panfish have been removed. Fortunately, panfish limits are now in place across most of Ontario. Still, keeping legal limits of the biggest panfish can have a detrimental effect on the overall quality of the fisheries. If you’re fishing for the table, fill your limit with smaller males rather than the large, egg laden females. An exception may be in areas where rock bass pose significant threats to fisheries. They can quickly dominate a system - and already have in many Halliburton area lakes. In Ontario there are no rock bass limits so in some cases it can actually be wise to harvest as many as you can eat. Although panfish numbers across Ontario and most other provinces are healthy, in many cases they can be even healthier if more anglers voluntarily utilize conservation principles like selective harvest. We can begin by realizing that the biomass of panfish in most water bodies is dominated by smaller fish. Although everyone loves to catch big fish, regardless of the species, it’s the smaller ones that we should harvest. Choosing to voluntarily release those less abundant, larger specimens is an important personal contribution each of us can make to the future of each fishery we visit. Fishing for spring panfish allows anglers of all ages to get back to basics and enjoy the simple pleasures of catching plenty of fish with ample opportunity to enjoy a great meal of pan-fried fillets afterwards. Introducing children to spring panfish action can be a recipe for success, even if you keep it as simple as a bobber and worm presented from shore. So this year, give spring panfish action a try and get some kids hooked on fishing while you’re at it. Together, they’ll make that long wait for bass season a lot more enjoyable. ?

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HIGH & LOW ON THE GREAT LAKES By Mark Hicks

“My two favorite months for walleyes are July and August,” says Green Bay fishing guide Jason Muche. It is during these hot months that Muche keeps his clients busy reeling in limits of walleye, including trophy-size fish. The summertime action heats up wherever walleyes live in the Great Lakes. Crawler harnesses play a key role for Muche spring through fall, but they are his primary walleye baits in the summer. He’s especially keen on the new Lindy Spinners with willow leaf blades. “Willow leaf blades mimic the young-of-year baitfish that have grown to be about two- inches long,” Muche says. Lindy offers crawler harnesses with No. 4 and No. 5 willow leaf blades. Muche fares well with both sizes. He believes the lifelike holographic colors on the blades also generate more bites. The Alewife, Purple Smelt and Perch blade patterns score big for

Muche because they look like the baitfish that walleyes forage on in Green Bay. Lindy also offers other blade patterns that resemble the most prominent baitfish anywhere walleyes live.

Slow & Easy Another reason crawler harnesses are deadly in the summer is because the walleyes eat worm-like larvae on the bottom, Muche claims. The combination of a live crawler and a willow leaf blade looks to a walleye like a burger and fries looks to a hungry fisherman. Lindy crawler harnesses also let Muche troll at a slow pace, typically one-mile per hour. This keeps his baits working in the strike zone as they pass over a pod of walleyes. Since crankbaits require faster, two-miles per hour trolling speed, they give walleyes less time to react. However, Lindy Shadling

crankbaits do play a role for Muche in the summertime, as we shall see.

Search & Destroy Great Lakes walleyes go deep in the summertime. In Green Bay, they move to out to mud flats that are 24 to 30-feet deep, Muche explains. Although his clients are eager to start fishing first thing in the morning, Muche doesn’t set out lines until he sees a mess of walleyes on his LCG. After running to deep water on plane, he slows to idle speed and looks for walleyes on his graph. If he doesn’t mark many fish after idling for a few minutes, Muche jumps the boat on plane for 200 to 300-yards. Then he slows to idle speed and again studies his LCG. When Muche sees good numbers of big arches on the screen, he idles around the area to get a feel for the size of the walleye school. Once Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 57

If you troll a crawler harness past a walleye’s nose, it sees it too well in the clear water and is more likely to reject it. As the day progresses and the sun gets higher, the baitfish become more active and gradually rise in the water column. They pull the walleyes right up with them, sometimes within five-feet of the surface.

Depth Control

he has done that, he moves upwind of the fish and trolls over them.

Low to High Early in the morning, the walleyes are usually down near the bottom. Muche sets out three inline boards on each side of the boat, each one dragging a Lindy crawler harness. If Muche is trolling over 30-feet of water, which is typical, the boards on one side of his boat pull crawler harnesses set to run 25, 22, and 18-feet deep. The deepest board will be closest to the boat; the shallowest farthest from the boat. The three spinner rigs on the other side of the boat are set at depths of 25, 20 and 15feet. This is true even when Muche marks walleyes hugging the bottom. “You want to run the bait just above the walleye so they have to swim up and chase it,” Muche says.

As the walleyes rise in the water column, Muche reduces the length of line between the trolling boards and the Lindy crawler harnesses. This keeps his baits swimming above the fish. He monitors the depth of the walleyes with his LCG. However, when the walleyes feed much less than 10-feet deep the LCG marks few fish - even though they could be all around the boat.

“A lot of fishermen think the walleyes have vanished when that happens,” Muche says. “They stop catching fish because they’re trolling too deep.” Muche uses a simple system to control the depth of his crawler harnesses. All the trolling rods are matched with 10-pound monofilament, and each crawler harness is attached to a one-ounce inline keel sinker. For every two-feet of line let out, the crawler harness sinks one-foot when trolling at onemile per hour, Muche explains. “For example, if I want my spinner running 15-feet deep, I let out 30-feet of line before I attached it to the board, Muche says. “It’s a simple and effective system.” 58 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Reefs On a typical day, Muche trolls over deep mud flats for six- hours or so. If his clients haven’t filled their limits by that time, he trolls Lindy crawler harnesses along the deep edges of reefs. The mud flats yield bigger walleyes, up to 32-inches, but the reefs produce more 18to 24-inch fish. Trolling along a reef lets Muche’s clients quickly finish their limits. “It’s easier to catch walleyes that relate to a reef because you know where are,” Muche says. “It’s more hit-or-miss on the mud flats.”

Cranks The #5 Lindy Shadling comes through for Muche in the summertime when he can’t find a good pod of walleyes with his LCG. This is when he trolls the Shadling behind

boards at two-miles per hour. “Because I troll the Shadling twice as fast as the Lindy crawler harnesses, I cover twice as much water,” Muche says. By covering more water, Muche’s crankbaits run past more walleyes when the fish are widely scattered. This ploy also helps Muche locate schools of walleyes. “When I find a good pod of fish, I switch over to Lindy crawler harnesses and slow down,” Muche says. “That pays off for me time after time.” ?

Tales from the Road By Bob Izumi

After returning from Peacock bass fishing in the Amazon in December, it was nice to stick around home base and get some things done. I did two appearances for Columbia Sportswear at the new Sail stores in Vaughn and in Oshawa. They are beautiful stores with an incredible selection of fishing tackle, hunting and camping gear and outdoor clothing. It was great to get out and meet some of the viewers of the show and to meet some old friends as well. December 14th was one of those days. The weather wasn’t going to be ideal but the wind wasn’t too bad, so I decided to head down to Lake Erie to fish the New York side for some smallmouth bass. As it turned out, it was overcast and pretty cool, but certainly fishable. My friends, Mike and Sue Watson, came out with us in their own boat. When you’re fishing at that time of year you never know what’s going to happen so it’s always good to use the buddy system.

We got on the water by mid-afternoon for a few hours of fishing and I ended up catching 15 to 20 bass. I didn’t get any real giants but I had a great time catching them by dragging heavy tube jigs and dropshot rigs in deep water. Most of the fish were in 40 to 48-feet of water. The key was to find any broken rock or bumps on the bottom because that’s where the fish seemed to be. One of the best baits that day was a Berkley Powerbait tube. I really like soft baits that have some sort of scent in them and the Berkley Powerbait 60 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

tubes really do a great job on cold water smallmouth.

Then I made a quick trip up to Shimano Canada’s headquarters in Peterborough for a photo shoot before starting on a month of work on our new season of TV shows. I spent a lot of time doing voiceovers, reviewing and editing the new shows and having lots of meetings before finally spending some quality time with family and friends at Christmas. In January my brother, Wayne, and I started working with Bolton Motor Products, a GM dealer located in Bolton, Ontario. They have a passion for fishing and wanted to work with us, so Wayne and I are now driving brand new Chevrolet Suburbans. We’ll be flying the Bolton Motors colours as we travel around North America this year. I thought my wife, Sandy, and I would take one of the Rangers down to Florida and get some filming done before the FLW Open tournament on Lake Okeechobee. We would leave the boat there and fly home for the offlimits period on the lake and then fly back for the tournament in the first part of February. So we loaded up the truck and the boat and headed down to Florida.

When we got to Florida our first stop was with young bass tournament pro, Miles Burghoff. I’ve known Miles’ dad, Gary Burghoff, since the ’80s, before Miles was even born. Miles guided for a number of years in Alaska and is just finishing University now. His goal is to be a full time fishing pro and he’s certainly worked very hard towards it. Miles had invited me down to do some taping with him so our first stop was to fish some of the lakes in the Butler Chain of Lakes near Orlando. I had never fished these lakes and one of the things I really wanted to try was the Alabama rig. I’ve never seen so much controversy and excitement over a lure as I’ve seen over the Alabama rig. It’s an umbrella-style rig where you can attach a number of baits to a number of wire arms protruding from a lead head. Depending on the regulations in your area, you can run from three to five baits at once on these rigs. The jury is still out as to whether the Alabama rig should be allowed in certain tournaments. The BassMaster Elite Series has decided not to allow them in competition. The FLW’s stance on it is to leave it for a year and see how it goes before making a final decision. I will say this: when it’s used at the Miles Burghoff scores with the Alabama Rig.

The Alabama Rig is an umbrella-style rig with a number of wire arms protruding from a lead head.

right time, in the right place, it is an incredibly effective way of catching fish in deep water or on flats. It seems to get bass into a bit of a feeding frenzy. It’s definitely an innovative approach to catching fish. If you plan on trying one of these rigs, check your local regulations first. You want to make sure it’s legal to use in your area and how many hooks you are allowed to use on it. After a lot of fun fishing with Miles, it was time to head to Lake Okeechobee to fish with my long-time friend and professional tournament angler, Bernie Schultz. Bernie and I have known each other since the ‘80s. He’s been fishing tournaments for a long time and has done a great job promoting the sport over the years. We met up with Bernie at Roland Martin’s Marina where we stayed in one of the many luxury condos they offer guests. It was very

comfortable and convenient for our few days of fishing. A pretty severe cold front had gone through and there was an Everstart tournament going on in the north end of the lake so we thought we would fish the south end, to stay out of the way of most of the tournament competitors. Because of the cold front we decided it would be fun, and a good idea, to use wild shiners for bait so that’s what we did for two days. We fished in a number of different areas, mostly little reed points and funnels where the pre-spawn fish would move in from the main lake. It’s an interesting way of fishing because it’s a sit-and-wait deal. You cast your shiner and float out to the edges of the reeds and wait. We ended up catching around 15 fish each day, up to about five-pounds.

Bernie Schultz with one of many bass he and Bob caught on wild shiners.

After I finished filming with Bernie, my wife Sandy and I did some visiting with the in-laws in Cape Coral and then went out for a few hours with my buddy, and G.Loomis field staff member, Bill Chambers, from North Bay. For the last couple of winters Bill has spent a considerable amount of time in the southern U.S. fishing a number of tournaments. It was fun to get out with him for a few hours.

Shiners are one of the top baits for fussy Okeechobee bass.

We ran into pro angler Tom Mann Jr. on the water as he was guiding. Even though we didn’t land any giants, Tom has been having one of his best years ever on the “Big O," putting his clients on numerous 6 to 10-pound bass. Bernie was disappointed in how we did but I was extremely happy because we had lots of action and got lots of great footage for a show. Bernie really wanted to catch one of those 8, 9, 10-pound legendary Okeechobee fish but, as we all know, things don’t always happen the way we’d like them to. As far as I was concerned, we had lots of fish and had a great time out there.

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Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 61

After fishing with Bill we left the boat and truck in Florida and flew back home for the off limits period on Lake Okeechobee. We got a number of things done at home and in the office and then we flew back to Florida to get ready for the official, three-day practice period for the FLW Open. Lake Okeechobee is one of those lakes that changes from year to year and I have never done well in the same spot two years in a row. Of the five tournaments I’ve fished down there I’ve had two good finishes and three that were not so good. My goal going into this one was to not blow out. I really did not want to have a bad tournament. I strive for consistency in bass tournament fishing but it’s very hard to achieve because there are so many variables that can come into play. Going into this tournament I was pumped, but when me, my wife Sandy, and my buddy, Rick McCrory, got out on the water for some practice the fishing was mediocre at best. Even though it had been one of the most incredible years for shiner fishing, the artificial bait bite had been off. Okeechobee has been on fire for the past couple of years but, because of the cold fronts they have been experiencing down

there, the fishing was so-so. We fished around the lake and got into one area that had some sand and mixed vegetation where we caught some fish on Berkley Havoc Grass Pigs. We found another area where we were catching them by flipping, but the biggest fish any of us caught during the three-day practice period wouldn’t have been any bigger than four-pounds. On Lake Okeechobee, if you don’t have at least one kicker fish each day you’re usually not going to do very well in a tournament. So much for being pumped. After three days of practice, things were looking pretty dismal going into the tournament. On the first tournament day the wind was blowing about 20-miles per hour or more out of the northeast. I had planned to run up to the north end of the lake but I didn’t feel like pounding myself, my co-angler or my boat, so I decided to stay south and fish some areas close to the tournament headquarters. My first fish of the day was over seven-pounds so things were off to a really good start. Unfortunately that was the highlight of my day and I ended up with a small limit weighing just 12 ½-pounds.

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62 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

Rick McCrory with a practice bass from Lake Okeechobee.

I was sitting in 54th place after day one and definitely wanted to move up. Day two was windy again so I decided to play it safe and stay in the south end of the lake. Because the cold front was still affecting things, and the fish weren’t really active, I thought I’d try to hit them on the head with a flipping bait. I was using a punch-style skirt, a ¾-ounce Ultra Tungsten weight and 25-pound test Trilene fluorocarbon on a Shimano Cumara flipping rod. My trailer was a black/blue Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw. With this particular outfit I could flip into some of the heaviest cover on the lake.

The day started with my co-angler catching a fish about 3 ½-pounds. Then I lost one over three-pounds. As we continued along, I flipped into a little point in the reeds and caught one over seven-pounds. A few minutes later we came up on a little clump of reeds that was maybe six-feet in diameter. I flipped into it and caught another good bass of about six-pounds. I moved over to some hyacinths that were about 20-feet away and made a few flips without a bite. Then I pitched a cast back about 10-feet into the hyacinths, felt a hit, set the hook and got one between five and six-pounds. I had just caught three big fish in a matter of about 15minutes and was thinking that I might have a

make his first cut fishing his first FLW tournament. As I stood there talking to Jeff the other anglers continued to weigh their fish and I watched myself get knocked from 18th place to 19th then to 20th, the final cut spot. When it was all said and done, I Bob shares a laugh with fellow Canadian pro, Jeff Gustafson. somehow hung on to 20th place and would be fishing on day three. make sure I would save face and at least get a I was ecstatic! I was 10-feet off the ground limit of fish so I started in there and, in about and couldn’t believe I had made the cut after an hour, I had a limit of keeper bass. Then I having such a dismal day one. That’s tourna- picked up my flipping stick and for the ment fishing for you – you never know what’s remainder of the day I flipped. around the next corner. I might have upgraded another pound in On day three the winds were blowing out weight at best but I just could not get any big of the north at 30 to 35-miles per hour. It was fish with my flipping stick. I ended up weighcold and there were whitecaps in the small ing a small limit of largemouth and moved up area I was fishing. I started off fishing a two places, to 18th spot. Only the top-10 fish Havoc Grass Pig on 40-pound test Spiderwire the fourth day and I didn’t make that cut but with a 15-pound test Trilene fluorocarbon I was happy with a top-20 finish. All in all it leader, making long casts with a medium- was a lot of fun and a great way to start the heavy Shimano Cumara baitcasting outfit year. It’s funny how time flies when you have and a Core 50 reel. a good tournament. The 20-plus hour drive This area had a lot of beds around but no back to Ontario seemed like it was minutes. big female bass - just small bucks. I wanted to As soon as I got back I had to head up to

good tournament after all! I proceeded to fish the rest of the day and caught a number of fish but no more giants. I ended up with just shy of 21-pounds for my limit. I was on the dock talking to the legend himself, Roland Martin, who had just come out of retirement to fish tournaments again. He had a monster bag on day one and another great limit on day two. I told him that I had weighed over 20-pounds on day two and he asked if I had made the cut. I told him that I didn’t think so because I only had 12-pounds on day one. After Roland left I was sitting with fellow Canadian pro, Jeff Gustafson, waiting for the final results. Jeff was in the top-20, poised to Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 63

Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where I had been invited to sit in the gallery at the Long Gun Registry vote. MPs from across the country were there to vote on abolishing the Registry. From what I understand, the Registry was supposed to cost 10 or 20-million dollars but over the last number of years the government has spent close to 2-billion dollars on it. The irony is that there are so many guns that never got registered. Criminals don’t register their guns and I think that right from the start this was the biggest waste of money our government has ever made. That money could have been used for law enforcement, roads, schools, health care or any number of different things rather than for something that didn’t work from the start. The vote to abolish the Registry passed unanimously and once the Senate votes, hopefully this spring, the Long Gun Registry will be gone. After my trip to Ottawa, I attended the annual fundraiser that Andy and Vita Pallotta have at their Spring Fishing and Boat Show. It was a great evening for a great cause. The next morning I went to their fishing industry breakfast where this year’s Canadian Fishing

2012 Canadian Angler Hall of Fame inductees.

Hall of Fame inductees were announced. Entering the Hall of Fame this year are Shimano’s Phil Morlock; Pete Bowman from Fishin’ Canada; Bob Patterson who is retired from Mercury, and none other than my brother, Wayne. Knowing all four of these guys, and knowing what they’ve done in the fishing industry over the years, it was wonderful to see them being recognized for their contributions to the sport. I followed that up with a seminar at the show the next day. There was a great crowd and it was fun to get up there and talk fishing with them. 64 Real Fishing – Spring 2012

As I wrap this up I’m getting ready to go to the Niagara Outdoor Sports and Boat Show which is also run by Andy and Vita Pallotta. This is the first year for this show and I’m looking forward to getting down there and checking it out.

That’s all for now. I hope you all have a great spring fishing season. Stay safe and have fun out there! ?

What’s COOKING This was my Dad’s fish breading recipe and it took a long time to get it out of him. I chose this recipe because I wanted to honor the guy who taught me everything I know about fishing including how to cook my catch. – Jason Mohring

Pop’s Famous Pickerel In memory of a great fisherman, Bill Mohring. INGREDIENTS

METHOD

2 cups

flour

2 cups

Parmesan cheese

Combine the first six ingredients in a large Ziploc bag.

1 tsp

onion powder

1 tbsp

garlic powder

Cut the fish into nugget-sized pieces. Add the fish to the breading mix a little at a time. Close the bag tightly and shake until well coated.

1 tsp

black pepper

2 tsp

Lowry's Seasoning Salt

Whisk the eggs and milk together.

2 ½ pounds

fresh pickerel fillets (this breading can be used on just about any mild, white fish)

Coat the fish in the egg wash, one piece at a time, then back into the breading until all of it is coated a second time.

eggs

1/2 cup

milk

1/3 pound

butter

Once the butter starts to bubble, add the fish to the pan. Do not over crowd your pan or the fish will steam and not fry well. Fry fish pieces until they are firm to the touch, about fifteen minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Special thanks to Jason Mohring of Tecvana Corporation for providing this recipe.

Heat a large skillet on medium low heat. Add a generous amount of butter (about a third of a pound) to the pan as it is warming up.

Spring 2012 – Real Fishing 65

JITTERBUGGING THE RIDEAU (2008)

Subject: A largemouth bass surges up through the lily pads to strike an anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jitterbug. Size: 24" x 33" Medium: Graphite, Staedtler marker, watercolour

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

Description: This work is done on top of a topographical map of the Rideau Lakes System - a favourite bass fishing destination in eastern Ontario.

Contact: Stuart Arnett, Wildlife Conservation Artist Stuart Arnett Fine Art 47 Avenue Rd. Ottawa ON K1S 0N7 Tel: 613--715-1439 Email:stuart@stuartarnett.com www.stuartarnett.com