spring2008 by roifield brown

NASCAR STAR RYAN NEWMAN TALKS FISHING

Canada Post Mail Product Agreement No. 40015689

VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 2 Just $3.95

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 15, 2008

Spring 2008

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46 SPRING PIKE STRATEGIES From choosing the right lake to picking the right bait, here’s everything you need to know to successfully tackle big spring pike. By Ryan Haines

34 CELEBRITY PRO-FILE: RYAN NEWMAN The 2008 Daytona 500 champion talks about his lifelong passion for fishing. By Jerry Hughes

57 COMMON GROUND

36 STATESIDE SPRING BASSIN’ Why wait until the end of June when you can legally catch bass in April? Point your rig south and take advantage of the early spring bass seasons in Vermont and New York. By Shawn Good and Derek Strub

52 KEEPING BUGS AT BAY Simple steps to help prevent biting insects from ruining your next fishing trip.. By Real Fishing Staff

Canada’s Outdoor Caucus consists of over 90 Members of Federal Parliament from all four political parties who are working together to preserve our outdoor heritage. By Phil Morlock

Spring 2008 Volume 14, Issue 2

Editor Jerry Hughes Art Director Patricia Heeney-Bacon Publisher Fred Delsey National Advertising Izumi Outdoors Tel: (905) 632-8679 President Wayne Izumi Contributors Terry Arnason, Shawn Good, Ryan Haines, Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Steve May, Phil Morlock, Ryan Newman, Derek Strub, Dave Taylor, Lawren Wetzel

6 OPENING LINES By Jerry Hughes

12 SPORTSMEN’S ALMANAC 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.

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

17 WHAT’S NEW The latest in fishing tackle, gear and accessories

20 FISHING By Bob Izumi

We welcome manuscripts, but will not be held responsible for loss of manuscripts, photos or other materials. Published four times each year: January (Winter) April (Spring) July (Summer) October (Fall) One year subscription is $9.95. For USA add $10 all others add $30. Subscriptions: Real Fishing 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington ON L7L 5K6 Subscription inquiries Please call: 1-877-474-4141 or visit www.realfishing.com Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40015689 Customer Account No. 2723816 GST Registration No. R102546504 Postmaster: Please return front cover/label only of undeliverables to: Real Fishing 940 Sheldon Court, Burlington ON L7L 5K6 Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in Canada

On the cover: Early Spring Bass Fishing in Vermont Photo by Izumi Outdoors

22 CHEVY FISH FACTS Smallmouth Bass

24 FLY FISHING By Steve May

26 UNDERSTANDING ELECTRONICS By Lawren Wetzel

28 THE WATER’S EDGE By Dave Taylor

30 THE HOT BITE 32 BEST FISHING TIMES Doug Hannon’s moon phase calendar

62 TALES FROM THE ROAD

The trials and tribulations of life as a professional angler

By Bob Izumi

65 WHAT’S COOKING 66 ART OF ANGLING

By Jerry Hughes

SPRING TIPS AND TRIPS I don’t know about you, but I have never been happier to see the end of a winter as I am to see the end of the one we just went through. It’s been quite a few years since we’ve endured so much cold and snow and I, for one, am not the least bit sad to see the white stuff finally melting. After so many months of living in a deep freeze I’m just itching to get a full-sized fishing rod in my hands and start casting and trolling again. Enough with the short rods and vertical dunking already! Speaking of casting and trolling, what could be better than hitching up your boat and heading out for some world class bass fishing - right now? Have I got your attention? I’m not talking about taking a marathon journey to Florida or Texas or California here; I’m talking about driving a few hours south to get in on some of the best largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing you’re likely to experience this season. Beginning on page 36 of this issue of Real Fishing we take a look at the incredible early spring bass fishing opportunities offered on lakes Erie and Champlain by our friends to the south in New York and

6 Winter 2008 Real Fishing

Vermont. If you’ve got the itch to “rip some lips” and you don’t want to wait another two months to do it, a quick trip across the border could be just what the doctor ordered. If toothy critters are more your style you’ll want to check out page 46 for our feature on spring pike fishing. In it, North-western Ontario guide, Ryan Haines, with insights from a couple of other notable pros, unlocks the secrets to choosing the best trophy lakes and the best techniques for catching these huge fish. Some of the ideas presented by Ryan and his cohorts may seem a little unusual at first, but there’s no denying their success. If your spring pike fishing too often results in boatloads of hammer-handle pike, you’ll definitely want to give these ideas a try. And what would spring fishing be without bugs? Pleasant? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes again. Unfortunately we anglers spend most of our fishing time in and around areas that support massive populations of pesky insects. While there’s no getting around the fact that bugs are going to bug you, you can prevent them from using you as the main course on their buffet table. Keeping Bugs at Bay, beginning on page 52, offers some sound advice on staying relatively bite-free this spring. Along with our feature articles on spring fishing, this issue of Real Fishing has a few surprises including an interview with NASCAR star, Ryan Newman. Not only is Ryan a top-ranked race driver, he’s also a pretty good bass fisherman who spends as much off-track time as possible on the water. We’ve also got a story on the Outdoor Caucus, a non-partisan group of Senators and Members of Parliament who voted late last year to create an independent, allparty Canadian Outdoor Heritage foundation. For the first time Canada’s fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational shooting communities, along with their related business sectors, will have a strong and

united voice in federal politics. There’s lots more great fishing information in this issue but I don’t want to give everything away here. I’ll just let you explore the magazine on your own. Besides, I’ve got to get rigged up for my date with those Vermont bass… ?

Available Online at www.realfishing.com

ÂŠ Tim Hortons, 2006

Whose is bigger? Like most brothers, Bob and Wayne Izumi love competing against each other. On a recent trip to South America, the brothers took their sibling rivalry to new heights when they posed to show off their peacocks. Bob’s looks thicker, but Wayne’s appears to be longer so we’re going to say it’s a draw. Besides, when the fishing’s this good, does size really matter?

8 Real Fishing Winter 2008

Real Fishing Winter 2008 9

BOB IZUMI’S REAL FISHING SHOW SCHEDULE April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26 May 3 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 June 7 June 14 June 21 June 28 July 5

Crankbaiting for Bass Trolling Ontario’s Great Lakes Kenora Walleye, Pike and Bass Halifax Shark Fishing Adventure Shoreline Largemouth Fall Bassin’ on Ontario’s Rice Lake Trolling Lake Erie for Walleye and Steelhead Walleye Jigging Sight Fishing for Pike Sinking Minnow Bass Trolling and Jigging for Walleye Largemouth Bass/Fishing with Kids Freshwater Flats Fishing Winter Lake Trout and Ling

STATION LISTING and AIRING TIMES* MARKET

PROV./STATE

STATION

DATE & AIR TIMES

Lloydminster Calgary Lethbridge Edmonton Atlantic Canada Victoria British Columbia Winnipeg Barrie London Ottawa/Pembroke Windsor Wingham Peterborough Thunder Bay Keewatin/Kenora Kingston Sudbury Toronto Quebec Regina Saskatoon USA Canada Canada/USA Marion

AB AB AB AB Atlantic Canada BC BC MB ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON ON QC SK SK USA (National) Canada (National) CANADA/USA IN, USA

CKSA/CITL CICT (Global) CISA (Global) CITV (Global) CIHF (Global) A Channel CHAN (Global) CKND (Global) A Channel A Channel A Channel A Channel A Channel CHEX CHFD/CKPR CJBN CKWS CTV (Northern Ontario) CIII (Global ) CKMI (Global ) CFRE (Global) CFSK (Global) VERSUS Mentv WFN WSOT

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Saturday Noon Saturday Noon Saturday 7:00 a.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. Saturday 1 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Sunday 10:30 p.m. Sunday Noon Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday Noon Sunday Noon Saturday 7:30 a.m. Saturday 12:30 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. Saturday 7:30 a.m. Sunday 5:30 a.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Saturday 7:00 a.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m./5:00 p.m./1:00 a.m. Check www.wfn.tv for dates and times Sunday 2:00 p.m.

*Station listings and air times are subject to change. Please refer to your local television listings for stations and times in your area.

www.berkley-fishing.com

“If it were any clearer, it would be mono!”

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FireLine Crystal

Competitive Braid

Al Lindner, legendary angler

The FIRST translucent superline “I’ve fished FireLine Crystal all around the country, a lot of different kinds of fish and a lot of different kinds of environment. It fishes well against any water from crystal clear to so muddy you can’t see two inches down. There’s never been a line like this, a superline that seems to disappear in the water. That’s the power of thermal fusion. I love it!”

KIDS, COPS AND CANADIAN TIRE FISHING DAYS The arrival of spring signals the beginning of a new season for the hugely popular Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Days programme. At press time Fishing Forever, in association with the Police Association of Ontario and Canadian Tire, had scheduled over 60 fishing days across Ontario where young anglers are given the opportunity to enjoy a day of fun and fishing. Local fishing club members and members of local police associ-

ations will be on hand at every event to help kids experience fishing in an environment of camaraderie and mutual respect. Most events are free to attend and offer complimentary lunches for the kids, free bait, prize giveaways and a whole lot of fun. A complete list of events and locations is available on the Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Days website at www.kidsandcops.ca.

CANADIAN SPORTFISHING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AWARDS In March of this year the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) handed out their annual Chairman’s Awards for “Outstanding Contributions and Dedication to the Growth and Participation of Recreational Fishing.” The award recognizes groups and/or individuals who have taken a leading role in promoting the growth of recreational sport fishing in Canada.This year’s winners include Walter Oster, Chairman of the Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows; Phil Morlock,Director of Environmental Affairs for Shimano Canada and tournament angler, guide and Publisher of Just Fishing magazine,“Big” Jim McLaughlin. 12 Real Fishing Spring 2008

FISH WITH A PRO!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be partnered with Bob or Wayne Izumi, Mike Desforges, Derek Strub, Simon Frost or one of a couple hundred other top professional bass anglers during an actual big money bass tournament? That dream can become a reality this summer as the World Fishing Network launches the WFN Tour Bass Championships, a new Pro/Am tournament series that gives everyday anglers the opportunity to compete with and against some of the biggest names in the world of professional bass fishing. The WFN Tour Bass Championships consist of four qualifying tournaments across southern and central Ontario that are open to any angler with the desire to improve their fishing skills and learn from a pro, first hand, under real tournament conditions. Each event guarantees anglers two full days of competition with a different pro each day, along with the chance to win some fantastic prizes. Complete tour information is available on the World Fishing Network’s website at www.wfn.tv/2008basstour.

READ ALL ABOUT IT ORVIS GUIDE TO PROSPECTING FOR TROUT, NEW AND REVISED How to Catch Fish When There's No Hatch to Match By Tom Rosenbauer

In this comprehensive and newly revised guide,Tom Rosenbauer shares his vast knowledge of fly fishing when there is no hatch to match.Written for both the novice and the seasoned angler, the Orvis Guide to Prospecting for Trout explores how trout live and feed, and how to make them strike.There is expert advice on how to fish with dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, and streamers, all supported by many detailed illustrations and photographs. This is the one trout fishing guide that no trout fisherman should be without. Softcover: $22.95 ISBN: 978-1-59921-147-3 The Lyons Press is an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437, 203-458-4646 www. lyonspress.com

THE MAD FISHERMAN Kick Some Bass with America's Wildest TV Host By Charlie Moore with Charles Salzberg

Charlie Moore was married with two kids (and one on the way) when his Massachusetts bait-and-tackle shop sank without a trace. A skilled fisherman and a savvy entrepreneur trained in his father’s cigar shop, Charlie decided to support his family by starring on his own TV fishing show.The Mad Fisherman is the incredible story of how Charlie cold-called his way into doing short spots for no money for a regional outdoors show while working odd jobs to pay for diapers.When the TV station refused to pay up once the show was a hit, he hooked the show’s sponsors himself, turning his Charlie Moore Outdoors show into a profitable enterprise. Charlie’s success opened doors at ESPN and gave birth to a second series, the Beat Charlie Moore show. Charlie Moore’s unflagging energy, wild sense of humour and sheer love of the outdoors is clearly evident in this insightful look at the struggles involved in becoming a television fishing show host. Hardcover: $22.95 ISBN: 0-312-37472-0 St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Ave, NewYork, NY, 10010-7848, 646-307-5151 www.stmartins.com

KIDS, COPS & CANADIAN TIRE FISHING DAYS April - September Various dates and locations Tel: 905-632-8679 www.kidsandcops.ca BASS TALK SEMINARS April 13 Fishing World, Hamilton, ON April 20 Quinte Outdoor Sports, Belleville, ON Tel: 416-993-3477 www.basstalk.ca:80 27TH ANNUAL ORILLIA PERCH FESTIVAL April 19 - May 10 Lakes Simcoe & Couchiching, Orillia, ON Tel:705-326-4424 www.orillia.com/perchfestival

ANGLER & YOUNG ANGLER TOURNAMENTS May - July Canadian events scheduled in AB, MB, NT, ON, QC, SK. U.S.A. events scheduled in IL, IN, MN, SD, ND. www.angleryoungangler.ca SOUTHERN ALBERTA WALLEYE TRAIL May - July Various dates and locations in Alberta Tel: 403-526-4574 www.gowalleye.com/sawt SASKATCHEWAN WALLEYE TRAIL May - September Various dates and locations in Saskatchewan www.saskwalleyetrail.ca

GEORGIAN TRIANGLE ANGLERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SPRING TROUT DERBY April 26 - 27 Southern Georgian Bay and Tributaries Tel: 705-445-5292 www.georgianfishing.com

BLUEWATER ANGLERS SALMON DERBY May 2 - 11 Lake Huron, Sarnia, ON Tel: 519-344-9821 www.bluewateranglers.com

SHIMANO TAKE A KID FISHING DAY May 10 Belwood Lake Conservation Area Tel: 519-843-2979 www.grandriver.ca/comingevents/2008fishday.pdf

TRENTON KIWANIS WALLEYE WORLD May 3 - 4 Bay of Quinte, Trenton, ON Tel: 1-800-930-3255 or 1-800-640-4717 www.quinte.com/walleye

PIKEMANIA TOURNAMENT SERIES May 17 - June 8 Various dates and locations in Ontario Tel: 905-640-2277 www.csfl.ca CANADA/US WALLEYE TOURNAMENT May 31 - June 1 Sturgeon Lake, Bobcaygeon, ON Tel: 905-640-2277 www.csfl.ca NORTHERN ALBERTA WALLEYE TRAIL June - September Various dates and locations Tel: 780-753-6996 www.fishingcharters.ab.ca GRIZZLY RIDGE HONDA ANGLERS CUP June 20 - 21 Lesser Slave Lake, Slave Lake, AB Tel: 780-849-3500 www.anglerscup.com NATIONAL FISHING WEEK July 5 - 13 Events scheduled across Canada http://nationalfishingweekcanada.net

Real Fishing Spring 2008 13

SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR BEST CATCH! 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 Dave Adie Scarborough ON Northern Pike

MiKayla McAteer Kinburn ON Largemouth Bass

Tony Scavo Niagara Falls ON Chinook Salmon

Kevin Bowman Wilberforce ON Lake Trout

Brianna McAteer Kinburn ON Largemouth Bass

NATIONAL FISHING WEEK July 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 13, 2008

Taylor Wright Westport ON Smallmouth Bass

14 Real Fishing Spring 2008

www.catchfishing.com

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Compare and see why Lund Classics outperform all other boats in their class. Classics are packed with legendary Lund performance that makes fishing easier, more productive, and a lot more fun. So when you shop boats, be sure to compare all the things that make Lund Classics special – and be sure to ask about the price of reliability. That’s a Lund feature other boats can’t match and something you won’t want to live without. See the Classics at your Lund dealer and online @ lundboats.com

The Ultimate Fishing Experience

2008

SPOT™ SATELLITE MESSENGER Globalstar has just introduced the SPOT™ satellite messenger, a small, rugged and simple to use lifesaving device for people who spend time in the outdoors. With the push of a button, SPOT™ can transmit a user’s GPS location co-ordinates and message to a 9-1-1 emergency call center or to friends, family or coworkers to request help, track their location, or just keep in touch. The handheld device uses the GPS satellite system to determine a user’s location and the SPOT™ network to transmit that location and the user’s status. Since SPOT™ sends a user’s GPS satellite location over a commercial satellite network it works in much of the world, regardless of cellular coverage. Other GPS devices tell the user where they are but SPOT™ tells other people where the user is, making it the ideal piece of safety gear for anyone who spends time in remote locations.

www.findmespot.com

BERKLEY MANIC SHAD Berkley’s new PowerBait® Realistix™ Manic Shad is the most revolutionary and effective swim bait ever invented. The secret to the Manic Shad’s lifelike motion is the collar that goes around the neck and sticks above the head, allowing anglers to fish the bait like a crankbait while still getting the wiggle of a swimbait. The Manic Shad features an impact resistant acrylic head with 3D eyes and is corrosion resistant making it suitable for both fresh and saltwater use. Available in four sizes and 14 colors, the Manic Shad comes with a pre-rigged PowerBait body complete with weight and hook.

www.berkley-fishing.com

BUG OFF! The popular OFF!® Deep Woods® line of insect repellents has always provided long-lasting protection for fishing, camping, and other activities performed in heavily wooded areas and for 2008 the line has gotten even better. With 25% - 30% Deet content, OFF!® Deep Woods® repellents, in the 230g aerosol can, now offer maximum protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes, black flies, stable flies, deer flies, biting midges, ticks and chiggers for up to 8-hours. Whether you choose regular OFF!® Deep Woods® or OFF!® Deep Woods® for Sportsmen you can now enjoy being outdoors even longer without the constant bother of insects!

www.bugsmart.ca

Real Fishing Spring 2008 17

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

2008

SAFETY STICK MULTI-TOOL Here’s a unique new product that combines safety and practicality to assist motorists in a variety of emergency situations. The 4-in-1 SafetyStick is a multi-faceted tool that can provide important aid after an auto breakdown or accident, and can even help a motorist escape a vehicle in an emergency. The waterproof SafetyStick includes a strong-beamed flashlight, flashing red LED strobes, a handy seatbelt cutter and a steel pointed, hammer-like tip designed to shatter any window with just a tap. The SafetyStick also sports a magnetic bottom that allows it to be attached to the side of a car or truck to alert oncoming traffic to an emergency situation.

www.safetybright.com NEW GIANT KILLER The new Giant Killer Sassy Shad from Mepps is like a bucktail and swimbait hybrid all wrapped up into one very effective musky and big pike bait. The Giant Killer Sassy Shad sports the famous Giant Killer willow leaf bade which runs deeper than other blades and its solid brass body ensures perfect balance and performance right out of the package. The Giant Killer Sassy Shad features a rugged, stainless steel shaft for maximum strength and durability; a tandem hook assembly with extrastrong, razor-sharp 3/0 treble hooks; and a genuine Mister Twister® 6" Sassy Shad® body. The Giant Killer Sassy Shad weighs 1-1/4 ounces and is available in 5 colors.

www.brecksinc.com

OLD GUIDE'S SPINNER RIGS These rugged 36" spinner rigs are basic work horses in the traditional “crawler harness” style. They’re hand-tied using only the best components. Blade and bead patterns are matched in proven fish-catching color combinations and feature light-reflecting hammered metallic finishes. Teamed with a Lindy walking sinker, NO-SNAGG® sinker or bottom bouncer and tipped with your favorite live bait, these rigs are sure to put more walleyes in your boat. The Walleye Drift Rig is a 2-hook design featuring #5 Indiana blades, faceted 6mm beads, #4 & #6 gold hooks and comes in 12 colour combinations. The 3-hook harness features #4 Colorado blades, #4 bronze hooks and is available in 8 colour combinations.

www.lindyfishingtackle.com

18 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Bob Izumi is the host of The Real Fishing Show.

By Bob Izumi

SPRING FISHING After a long, hard, cold winter I breathe a little sigh of relief when the first signs of spring roll around. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like winter; it’s just that, given my druthers, I prefer warmer weather. When spring rolls around there are so many opportunities to get out there and catch a lot of fish. Spring, to me, means numbers of fish. Whether you’re going for walleye, trout, crappie or any of a number of other species, you can basically count on catching a lot of fish. It’s almost like once the ice goes out and the water starts to warm up, many species of fish start to become catchable. Let’s talk about a couple of scenarios that definitely are on my “must do” list every spring, starting with crappie fishing. There’s nothing quite like getting into canals and bays and working visible structure like weedbeds, lily pads, reeds, laydowns and docks. In the spring of the year crappies

20 Real Fishing Spring 2008

come into these shallow water areas to spawn, making them very accessible to both shore and boat anglers. The key is to use a stealthy approach to avoid spooking the fish. Generally crappies are a schooling fish that enter the spawning areas in waves. Usually there will be several waves of fish coming in over the course of several days or weeks, depending on the local conditions. Over the years I’ve found that the largest crappies, those 12 to 14-inch fish that weigh between 1 and 2-pounds, are most common during the first run of fish. My favourite technique for catching these fish is to use a small Lindy float, either 4pound test Fireline or 4-pound test Trilene or Trilene Max fishing line and a small 1/16 or 1/32-ounce jig tipped with GULP! or Power Bait. I’ve caught so many crappies over the years on both soft plastics like Power Bait and soft baits like GULP! which is not plastic, it’s a biodegradable bait that fish just don’t let go of – that I rarely ever use live bait for crappies anymore. We usually tip our jigs with various shapes and sizes of these baits and swim them anywhere from 12” to 18” under our floats. We’ll have the rig perfectly weighted so that when the jig swings down in a pendulum-

type motion and hits the bottom of the drop, the float is cocked in the upright position and mostly submerged with just the tip exposed above the water. It’s critical to have the weight of the jig matched to the float so that the slightest bite from a crappie will pull the float under. It’s a visual way of fishing and it’s a great way to get newcomers involved in the sport. Another one of my favourite spring fishing situations involves sight fishing for early season pike. After ice-out those big pike move into big, shallow bays to spawn. Depending on where in Canada you’re fishing, some pike will spawn in shallow, rocky bays with a little bit of a soft bottom but usually the larger, soft bottomed bays will produce more pike. A bay with a feeder creek flowing into it is definitely your best bet. My absolute favourite lure for ‘gator fishing is a 7” saltwater GULP! Jerk Shad rigged on a 5/0, offset wide-bend hook with a wire leader. This bait has a very subtle side to side swimming action but most of the time you just need to twitch it a few times and then let it sink down to the bottom. Those big, lazy, post-spawn pike will just eat it up. The cool thing about GULP! is that the pike won’t spit it out and you’ve got all the time in the world to set the hook. It’s like fishing with live bait. Another way I like to catch spring pike is with a 1/2-ounce or 3/4-ounce Strike King tandem blade spinnerbait, with a willowleaf/colorado or a tandem willowleaf blade combination. I like to use chartreuse, chartreuse and white or fire tiger colours. This pattern is great for covering water and it’s especially effective when the pike move out of the real shallow water and start to move into the mid-depths where some of the newly emerging cabbage weeds are starting to grow. Those are just a few of the spring fishing opportunities that I like to take advantage of. Lake trout, steelhead, perch and walleyes also offer incredible fishing in the early part of the season. With so many different species available in the spring of the year there’s no excuse for not getting out there and enjoying some of the fastest and easiest fishing of the year. Have fun and stay safe out there this season! ?

Consider this an invitation to go outside and get a breath of fresh air. Leave the TV screens behind and enjoy the glow of a campfire instead. At Coleman, we make it easy to enjoy the world outside with innovative new products. From patio to mountain pass, you can take Coleman with you wherever you go. www.colemancanada.ca

Danni Boatwright Survivor: Guatemala winner and Coleman camping enthusiast.

Did you know?

SMALLMOUTH BASS Micropterus dolomieui

Way back in 1881, in his now famous, Book of the Black Bass, Dr. James Henshall referred to the smallmouth bass as being, “inch for inch and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims.” While the good doctor’s ranking may be somewhat inflated, especially when saltwater fish are taken into account, there’s no question that the smallmouth deserves to be listed among the top contenders in the “toughest freshwater fish” category. Smallmouth bass were originally found only in eastern central North America but since the 1800s they have been introduced across the USA and Canada as well many places in Europe, England, Africa, Russia and Asia. In Canada, smallmouth bass are now found in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, southern Quebec, across Ontario to latitudes as far north as Timmins, in Manitoba as far north as southern Lake Winnipeg, in southern and central Saskatchewan, and in parts of British Columbia, especially Saltspring Island and southern Vancouver Island. The smallmouth bass has a laterally compressed body shape that is deeper than it is wide, giving the fish a generally narrow, oval shape. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper and the gape of the mouth extends to the forward portion of the eye. Smallmouth have two dorsal fins that are joined, giving the

FAST Facts appearance of a single fin. The front dorsal features ten stout, bony spines while the rear one is made up of 12 to 15 softer rays. Coloration can vary depending on the fish’s size and its habitat. Smallmouth from clear or tannic-stained waters tend to be darker with pronounced markings while those from turbid lakes or rivers are generally lighter in overall appearance with faded or vague markings. Smallmouth bass can appear brown, golden-brown, olive or green along the back, fading to lighter shades on the flanks and then becoming creamy to milky white on the belly. Smallmouth have a series of 8 to 15 thin, vertical bars along their sides which range from being very dark and noticeable to quite light. The head also features darker bars that radiate backwards from the eyes. The smallmouth’s eyes are usually red or orange. Spawning takes place in late spring or early summer, most often in water temperatures from 61°F to 65°F. The male builds a roughly circular nest over sand, gravel or rocky bottoms in proximity to larger rocks, boulders or logs; in water between 2 and 20-feet deep. Some male smallmouth bass will use the exact same nesting site year after year and over 85% will return to within 150yards of their original nesting sites in subsequent spawning seasons. One female and one male will spawn together in a series of short egg depositing/fertilization bursts that are repeated over a period of a couple of hours. After spawning, the female leaves the nesting site and may spawn again with another male in a different nest. It is the male that is left in charge of guarding the nest and caring for the fry. Smallmouth eggs begin hatching 4 to 10days after spawning and the fry feed off of their yolk sacs for and additional 10 to 14days. They begin leaving the nest area about a week later but the male remains guarding them for several more days. Although smallmouth are adaptable to a variety of habitats they are generally found close to rocks or submerged logs, especially those on or near sloping bottom structure. Smallmouth will also use weeds for cover but they don’t usually use the type of dense weed cover that largemouth bass prefer.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

22 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Smallmouth bass were fished commercially in Canada until 1936. From 1898 until 1902 they sold for between 6¢ and 8¢ per pound.

Colour: Brown, golden-brown, olive or green along the back, fading to lighter shades on the flanks and then becoming creamy to milky white on the belly. Size: The average smallmouth bass is between 8 and 15-inches in length and weighs up to 2-1/2 -pounds. Smallmouth can grow much larger however, and fish over 20inches in length and weighing over 5-pounds are not uncommon. Life Span: Up to 15-years across their Canadian range. Habitat: Cool water areas in lakes and rivers with rock, gravel or submerged log cover, preferably near some type of sloping bottom structure. Smallmouth bass prefer water temperatures in the high 60°F to low 70°F range. Spawning: Spawning takes place in late spring or early summer, most often in water temperatures between 61°F to 65°F.

RECORD Smallmouth Bass The current IFGA All-Tackle World Record smallmouth bass is an 11-pound, 15-ounce monster caught in Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee, in July, 1955. Smallmouth bass prefer cooler water than largemouth and are most comfortable in water between 65°F and 85°F with their preferred temperature range being 70°F to 71°F. As noted by Dr. James Henshall, smallmouth bass are famous for their fighting abilities when hooked, a trait which makes them a favourite of anglers across their range. It has been said that the smallmouth is so popular among anglers that it is one of three or four species that are the mainstay of sport fishing and associated tourism businesses in central and eastern Canada. Anglers can catch smallmouth bass on a variety of live and artificial baits and flies fished throughout the water column. While smallmouth will hit baits fished on the bottom and in the mid-depths, perhaps the most exciting way to catch them is with surface baits. Smallmouth bass are known to attack surface lures from depths of up to 20-feet and most anglers would agree that there are few moments in angling as thrilling as having a smallmouth bass bust the surface of a lake or river to eat a floating bait. ?

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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

STREAM MANNERS Nothing can ruin a great day on the water quicker than a conflict with another angler so it is helpful to know what to do when you come across another person fishing in your “secret spot.” Following these simple “Rules of the River” will go a long way to making everyone’s day more enjoyable. The Golden Rule On-stream manners usually come down to simple common sense and communications. If you follow the golden rule and “Treat other anglers as you would like to be treated yourself,” your time on the stream should be enjoyable. There are local variations to what is considered acceptable stream etiquette, but following the Golden Rule will have you on the right track on most rivers and streams. Right of Way The first angler on a pool has the right of way. If you want to fish the same area, either wait your turn or ask if you can share their spot. If you are invited to fish the pool, be sure to do so without disturbing the angler who was there first. Casting Room Give other anglers as much room as you can so you don’t disturb them or the fish they are working. On many rivers you can have a whole pool to yourself but on the more popular waters you will need to learn how to share. Try to give other fly fishers at least the distance of a good cast and try to avoid positioning yourself directly across from someone, especially on smaller rivers where casts from opposite banks might overlap. Leave The Other Guys’ Fish Alone! If an angler is fishing a spot or working a fish, try to avoid spooking the area or the fish and never start fishing without first getting 24 Real Fishing Spring 2008

the okay from the angler who was there first. (See the Right of Way rule above). Communication and politeness can go a long way. I have often had anglers say things like, “I can’t catch that fish…why don’t you give it a try?” Should you find yourself in this type of situation, and if you are fortunate enough to hook the fish, be sure to thank the other angler and don’t forget to share the fly and technique you used to hook up. Boats Fishing from a drift boat gives you a huge advantage in terms of the places you can fish and the amount of water you can cover. In most cases boats should give wading anglers as much room as possible. Among Friends When I fish with close friends we often do things which we find acceptable and fun,

but other anglers may not. A couple of my angling friends are left handed, so I often move in and fish right next to them because we can work an area comfortably and safely while standing only a couple of feet apart. We regularly cast across each others’ lines to work fish the other person is working and we will drift nymph rigs past each others’ fish. We hoot and holler and add competitive taunting and occasional insults into our conversations. While fun amongst friends, these faux pas are not something to share with strangers! When In Doubt… Ask! Striking up a conversation with other anglers on the river can help avoid most misunderstandings. You could learn something new about the fishery or effective fly patterns and you just might make a new onstream friend. Don’t force the issue though. If you try to chat with a fellow angler and they are not talkative, if they seem upset, or they ask you to move on, just walk away and find another spot. Share Your Success There are times when one honey-hole will produce most of the fish. If you are the lucky angler who gets first rights to one of these spots, consider sharing your good fortune. I really enjoy seeing others have success because I know that creating a passionate fly fisher can only help protect the future of our rivers and fishing resources. ?

By Lawren Wetzel Lawren Wetzel is a Lowrance Canada service technician and accomplished tournament angler who competes on the Citgo Bassmaster Northern Tour.

THE SOUNDS OF SONAR It’s a calm, beautiful morning on the lake with only the call of a loon in the background to break the silence. Your line whips through the guides as you cast and you hear that classic “ker-plunk” as your lure hits the water. You sit back in your pedestal chair and let out a relaxing sigh as you enjoy the tranquility around you. Then one of nature’s most interesting sounds fills the air…beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Ah yes, the wonderful symphony of the fish alarm. I will be the first guy to admit that fish alarms are a somewhat gimmicky feature. When a sonar signal hits any suspended object in the water it will set off the fish alarm. Something as simple as an air bubble rising to the surface could set it off. Due to this, sonar alarms have gained a reputation of being nothing more than an annoyance. Even though fish alarms can be a nuisance at times, many other alarms have practical applications. The zone alarm is one sonar alarm that is under-utilized by most anglers. This alarm lets you set a specific zone to be monitored in the water column. Anything that passes through that zone will sound the alarm. This is great for ice fishing or vertical fishing, especially when you are using the bottom lock zoom feature. When zoomed in on the bottom, you lose visibility to the upper portion of the water column but you can use the zone alarm to monitor the area you are not seeing on your screen. Once the alarm sounds you can quickly hit the zoom out button to see what depth that fish is at and quickly adjust your presentation. Shallow and deep alarms are the ones most commonly asked for in our sonar 26 Real Fishing Spring 2008

units. These allow you to set a certain depth and whenever you go deeper or shallower than that depth an alarm will sound. The shallow water alarm is designed to keep you in water deep enough so you don’t run aground but the deep alarm is an often misunderstood feature. Who cares how deep it gets - right? Well, for those of you who don’t have a GPS on your boat, you can use the deep alarm as a reference point when fishing off-shore. Let me explain. Say we have found a hump that tops out at 28-feet and is surrounded by 50-feet of water. All of the fish we are catching are in 28 to 32-feet as we drift over the top of the hump. Without a GPS it is really hard to keep in the strike zone without constantly monitoring the sonar screen to make sure you are in the key depth. An easier way to stay in the right depth zone is to set the deep alarm to 33-feet so that once you hit that depth your alarm will sound and you know its time to pack up and start another drift over the spot. Along with these sonar alarms, there are many other useful alarms that can aid in navigation if your boat is equipped with a GPS and the off course alarm is the most important of these, in my opinion. This alarm will sound whenever you deviate from your heading by a preset amount. When you are on larger bodies of water, with few or no reference points, keeping your boat going in a straight line can be difficult. In tournament competition we want to spend as little time as possible driving the boat and as much time fishing as we can. We all know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so on long runs

it is a good idea to set the off course alarm. When the adrenalin is pumping on tournament morning you can easily forget to look at the GPS screen to make sure you are still on course. Having a loud, audible alarm sure gets your attention and you can quickly get back on track. With some optional NMEA 2000 sensors connected to your unit you can have warning alarms for low fuel, engine warnings, fluid levels, etc., right on your GPS/sonar screen. These types of alarms have been available in the past with the use of multiple display screens but now they can be all located on one display screen. This eliminates the need to install extra gauges and other components, which is great news for fishermen who have limited dash space. Many units are now available with an external speaker wire to allow the alarms to be heard from anywhere around the boat, which is great for larger vessels with enclosed cabins. This fishing season make sure you put your sonar and GPS alarms to use. They allow the unit to closely monitor vital information while allowing you to focus on the important task at hand - fishing! ?

RIGHT SIZE. RIGHTEOUS PERFORMANCE. NEW 8.4” LCX-37C Sonar/GPS Chartplotter • Sharp 600x800 pixel, 8.4” colour Super VGA detail • Innovative SolarMAX™ wideangle/sunlight-readable display • Super-sensitive receiver for enhanced shallow/deep water sonar performance • Easy connectivity with all NMEA 2000® networks and sensors • 5-pin Ethernet port compatible for radar, video and satellite radio

For serious coastal and inland anglers alike, the new LCX-37C with its dazzling 8.4” colour display gives you a whole new dimension in marine electronics for a just-right fit on your trailer boat. With powerful, sensitive fish-finding sonar; single- or dual-frequency. Superb GPS+WAAS navigation precision and chart recorder versatility. Full NMEA 2000® network compatibility. Whether for gimbal- or in-console mount, the new LCX-37C is an angler’s perfect choice when total performance, value and size matters.

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

By Dave Taylor

GRIZZLY BEARS A few years ago I wrote a story about brown bears for this magazine, but a recent trip out west impressed upon me the need to do a follow-up story on grizzly bears. Although brown bears and grizzly bears are the same species (Ursus arctos) there are some rather significant differences between the two. “Brown bear” is actually the name given to coastal grizzly bears. These bears are bigger bears and are often found along salmon streams. Indeed they are bigger because their main source of food is salmon. A smaller version of this species exists inland. Sometimes it too may be brown, but often it sports the classic grizzled coat. This is the bear known to the public as the grizzly. I’m a bear watcher. I’ve enjoyed the hours I’ve spent with North America’s bears (grizzly/brown, black and polar bears) and this has become easier to do in recent years.

The number of grizzly bears is growing. They are expanding their range thanks to good management practices and this fact increases the chances of coming across 28 Real Fishing Spring 2008

one if you fish western mountain streams and rivers. While salmon-eating brown bears are generally docile and well fed, the same cannot be assumed for grizzly bears. They are generally hungry. Unlike black bears, which are creatures of the forest, the grizzly is at home on the open plains. Where a black bear retreats to the forest cover, a grizzly is much more likely to stand its ground and even charge. I should stress that I’ve experienced little aggression from grizzly bears but I am always aware of the potential they have for mayhem. Even though they don’t view people as prey, it’s a wise idea to give any bear, particularly the grizzly, plenty of room. In fact, recent research shows that the grizzly bear’s food preferences are highly variable. A Yellowstone grizzly’s diet may be made up of over 60% meat thanks to the herds of elk and bison living in the ecosystem while a Glacier Park bear may feed almost exclusively on plants. The one trait that all grizzlies share is that they are almost always looking for their next meal. It goes without saying that keeping food away from bears (any species) is a must.

Whether you are fishing in the back-country or in your favorite drive-to fishing spot, take precautions to avoid the scent of food reaching bears. There are wide array of products available to store food in so that bears do not smell it. Everywhere you go in grizzly country there are lists of do’s and don’ts. Pay attention to them and you reduce the opportunity for trouble to occur. Know how to tell a grizzly from a black bear (the shoulder hump of the grizzly and black bear’s sloping hind end are good diagnostics) and take appropriate action if one appears. Hunters are more likely to get in trouble with grizzly bears as some of them have apparently learned to associate the hunting season with a new food source (gut piles). If you are fishing in grizzly country during the hunting season, avoid going near recent kill sites if possible. All that said, grizzly bear watching can be a safe and entertaining pastime if done carefully and from a safe distance with a good pair of binoculars, a spotting scope or a long camera lens. ?

Slide them, glide them or twitch them. Snake them through grass or wood. Dance them across the surface, make them dart below or leave them motionless on the bottom. Work them how you will, there is no wrong way. Just remember to always be prepared because soft jerkbaits donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just get bitten, they get eaten. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that right Mister Pike?

30 Real Fishing Spring 2008

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A p ri l

SUNDAY

NA 12:06 - 2:06

20 11:42 - 1:42 12:06 - 2:06

May

17 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDESDAY

7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

11:42 - 1:42 12:06 - 2:06

4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

18 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

SUNDAY

1 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

8 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

15 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

22 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

29 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDESDAY

THURSDAY

10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

4 11:42 - 1:42 12:06 - 2:06

10 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

16 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

23 3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

30 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

17 10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18

24 4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

19 10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

5 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

11 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

18 NA 12:06 - 2:06

25 5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

FRIDAY

4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

12 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

19 12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

26 6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

16 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

23 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

30 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

FRIDAY

6 1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

SATURDAY

8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

4:30 - 6:30 4:54 - 6:54

2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

NA 12:06 - 2:06

1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18

12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

THURSDAY

11:06 - 1:06 11:30 - 1:30

6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

SATURDAY

10:54 - 12:54 11:18 - 1:18

2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

10:06 - 12:06 10:30 - 12:30

J un e

9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

6:06 - 8:06 6:30 - 8:30

5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

2008

12:30 - 2:30 12:54 - 2:54

5:18 - 7:18 5:42 - 7:42

32 Real Fishing Spring 2008

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

WEDESDAY

8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

To order your copy of Doug Hannon’s 2007 Moon Clock Calculator send $9.95 plus $3.75 shipping & handling to: Moon Clock, Department RE, PO Box 724255, Atlanta, GA 31139 or visit www.moontimes.com

TUESDAY

MONDAY

3:42 - 5:42 4:06 - 6:06

17 9:18 - 11:18 9:42 - 11:42

24 2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

31 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

SATURDAY

7 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

13 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

20 1:18 - 3:18 1:42 - 3:42

27 6:54 - 8:54 7:18 - 9:18

2:54 - 4:54 3:18 - 5:18

14 8:30 - 10:30 8:54 - 10:54

21 2:06 - 4:06 2:30 - 4:30

28 7:42 - 9:42 8:06 - 10:06

CELEBRITY PRO-FILE

RYAN NEWMAN By Jerry Hughes

RYAN NEWMAN

Vital Statistics Profession:

Driver for Penske Racing

Ryan Newman is one of the hottest young stars on the NASCAR racing circuit. In a career spanning nearly 27-years, Ryan has scores of racing successes to his credit and is poised to become one of the sport’s premiere competitors. In February 2008, driving the #12 ALLTEL Dodge Charger for Penske Racing, Ryan cemented his place in racing history by winning the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

yan Newman’s success on the race track is a matter of public record and anyone with so much as a passing interest in motorsports certainly knows his name. What you might not know is that Ryan also has a deep love for fishing and, when he’s not roaring around a racetrack at over 200 miles-per-hour, he spends as much time on the water as he can. I recently had the chance to ask Ryan about his love of fishing and how it fits in to his busy, high-speed career. Can you tell me when and where you first got the fishing bug? Fishing with my grandfather (Jerry Newman) at Dewey Lake in Dowagiac, Michigan. I was probably about three when we started going fishing together. What is your favourite species of fish to catch and what is your favourite fishing technique? Worm fishing for largemouth bass. Tell me about the biggest fish you’ve ever caught. It’s probably a largemouth bass I caught in Atlanta. I was running the Nationwide race in 2006 when I blew a right rear tire and that ended my day. I went to the infield care center, got checked out and when they cleared me, I went to the bus, got my rods and went to the lake. I caught the biggest largemouth bass I had ever caught – 10-pounds, 6- ounces. I didn’t keep the fish - he went back into the lake. 34 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Born:

December 8, 1977 Hometown:

South Bend, Indiana Current Residence:

Statesville, North Carolina Wife:

Krissie Career Moment:

Winning the 2008 Daytona 500

What is your most memorable fishing experience? I would have to say fly fishing in Gustavus, Alaska. We were fishing for pink salmon. It was incredible. We went with a group of people from Alltel including president and CEO, Scott Ford. Has your competitive drive ever led you to compete in a fishing tournament? I have never really wanted to do a professional tournament because I think of fishing more as a hobby for me than anything else. I’m not really a professional angler. But I have participated in several charity tournaments. I do the Hot Rods and Reels tournament hosted by Darrell Gwynn each year in Daytona. And my foundation has a tournament in Mooresville. Tell me a bit about the Ryan Newman Foundation. Our foundation - the Ryan Newman Foundation - has hosted a charity fishing tournament for the past two years and we are planning on doing it again this December. We have NASCAR drivers, pro fisherman and other entertainers particpate. Last year, we raised over $100,000 for the Ryan Newman Foundation Endowment, which will be a source for grants to nonprofit organizations that fulfill the foundation’s mission—to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers.

Do you see any similarities between fishing and racing in terms of the skills needed to be successful? I see the similarities with the mental skills that you need for both fishing and racing moreso than the physical skills. One of the keys to being successful at both is to be patient and take your time. You can’t get frustrated because that can really affect the outcome. Physically, you do have to hit your marks on both the race track and in fishing to be successful. Do the two sports have any common areas where excelling in one would help make you better at the other? My wife, Krissie, would tell you that the more fish I catch, the better mood I’m in when I get to the race track, which could be true. I really enjoy sharing fishing stories with the guys on the team and the other drivers, and I always have a picture on my Alltel phone to show off. Do you see any similarities in the growth of NASCAR and the growth of competitive fishing (FLW, B.A.S.S.) in the United States? I think that B.A.S.S. is probably growing more than NASCAR right now. Can the two sports “play off” of each other or somehow work together for the benefit of both? They both have the same core fan base and values - they are both essentially non-violent, competitive sports that families can enjoy. And I think you see a lot of cross-over in the fan base of NASCAR and fishing. How long do you plan to keep racing and what do you see yourself doing afterwards? I want to race as long as I am competitive. I don’t know what I’ll do after I retire, but it’s not going to be much.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Ryan Newman has been racing since he was 4-1/2-years old. He started his career racing quarter midget cars and before he was 16 he had won two national championships and became a Quarter Midget Hall of Fame member by virtue of having won over 100 feature races. At age 22, Ryan Newman posted two wins, eight top-fives and twelve top-ten finishes to become the 1999 USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series national champion. He also had seven wins and ten top-five finishes in the USAC Midget Series along with one win and six top-fives in the USAC Sprint Car Series making him the first driver to win an event in all three major USAC divisions in 1999. Ryan joined Penske Racing in 2000 and claimed and three Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) victories in five races. He followed that up in 2001 when he competed in 8 NASCAR Winston Cup races and finished 49th in points. He also posted his first NASCAR Busch Series win and finished twenty-eighth in NASCAR Busch Series points. In 2002 Ryan won his first career NASCAR Cup race, collected fourteen top-five finishes and twenty-two topten finishes on his way to being named Raybestos Rookie of the Year. In 2003 Newman won eight NASCAR Cup races and was pronounced SPEED Channel American Driver of the Year, NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal Driver of the Year. In 2004 Newman won two NASCAR Cup Series races and in 2005 he won one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. Ryan didn’t record a win in 2006, his worst season in four-years, and finished a disappointing 18th in points. He turned things around in 2007 and, although he didn’t record a win, he did collect 8 top-five finishes 18 top tens and finished the season 13th in points.

The way things are progressing in Ryan’s racing career there’s no question that he’s going to be a fixture on the NASCAR scene for many years to come. His appearance on the starting grid of any major race is certainly enough to make his fellow competitors nervous and I’m sure the same can be said for any largemouth bass whenever Ryan backs his boat down the ramp. ? Real Fishing Spring 2008 35

SPRING BASSIN’

36 Real Fishing Spring 2008

STATESIDE

The onset of spring means just one thing to southern Ontario’s bass anglers – roughly 12 more weeks until bass season finally opens. If that seems like too long to wait, there’s a simple solution that can have you lipping lunkers in a matter of hours. Just hitch up the boat and take a short drive south to New York or Vermont where you can take advantage of the spring bass fishing opportunities offered by both of these states. For the price of a state fishing license and a tank of gas you can be on the water catching buckets and bronzebacks up to 2 1/2-months before the southern Ontario season opens.

Real Fishing Spring 2008 37

EARLY SPRING BASS FISHING ON VERMONT’S LAKE CHAMPLAIN

Shawn Good is a transplanted Ontarian now living in Vermont and working as a Fisheries Biologist for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

By Shawn Good

hen I was still living in Ontario it was like enduring a long, slow torture every spring, watching the clock and the calendar, waiting for that magical “last Saturday in June” for bass season to open. Imagine my surprise when I moved to Vermont in 1997 to take a job as a government fisheries biologist, and I found out bass season here opens the same day as trout season – the first Saturday in April! In Vermont, there’s no better place to take advantage of this early bass season than on Lake Champlain.

In recent years, Vermont’s Lake Champlain has received national attention in the U.S., consistently being named one of the top five bass destinations in the country, and for good reason. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are incredibly abundant in this 185-km long lake that forms the border between Vermont and New York, and extends into Quebec. Not only are the bass plentiful, but they also grow large with bass averaging three to four-pounds and fish over five and six-pounds not uncommon throughout the summer. For truly exceptional Champlain bass fishing, however,

you must experience the catch-and-release bass season in the spring. Vermont’s spring bass fishing begins the first Saturday in April and runs through the second Saturday in June. While you can legally target bass during this period, angling is catch-and-release only and all bass must be immediately released (after a quick photo, of course). Anglers are also prohibited from using live bait - only artificial lures are allowed. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass over-winter in deeper regions of a lake. In the early spring, however, as water temperatures approach the 50ºF mark, they begin to migrate towards shallow, protected spawning areas. Bass generally move straight up out of deep water to the closest shallow shoreline, and then make their way along it towards their spawning sites. They also make predictable rest stops along the way, and this is where you want to intercept them. Because hard lake bottoms such 38 Real Fishing Spring 2008

as gravel, chunk rock and ledges absorb the sun’s rays and heat up a few degrees more than the surrounding water, bass will congregate or “stage” on such structure while they wait for adjacent spawning bays to reach the low to mid-60’s. These pre-spawn staging bass are not like non-feeding bass on a nest. Pre-spawn bass are hungry and aggressive and will absolutely crush artificial lures. The best bets at this time of year are slow, wide-wobbling, diving crankbaits such as Strike King Series 2 and 3; slow-rolled spinnerbaits or jerkbaits. I like crayfish and bluegill patterns with a splash of chartreuse. At this time of the year the fishing is fun and easy. Simply find a rocky shoreline or a long tapering point near a potential spawning flat, position your boat a castlength away, and work your way along, casting tight to shore. Vary your retrieve until you find what mood the bass are in. I usually like to fish a diving crankbait that runs a little deeper than the water, so I can drive the bait into the bottom. Once it hits bottom, I slow my retrieve way down and reel back to the boat at a constant pace, stopping the retrieve altogether every now and then. Often on the next turn of the handle following a stop is when you’ll feel the strike. Letting a lipless crankbait sink to the bottom and reeling it back just so it ticks the bottom every few feet works wonders as well. A common assumption of anglers not accustomed to spring bass fishing is that you’re cherry-picking nesting bass. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Nesting bass are notoriously difficult to catch and generally aren’t worth the time and effort targeting them. Instead, the best fishing occurs prior to the spawn, when the bass can often be found in large groups, staging in the main lake, waiting to move up into their spawning bays. While fishing can be exceptional just about everywhere and anywhere at this time of year, sometimes you’ll luck into the perfect place and set of conditions and you’ll have fast and furious action. A couple years ago, a friend and I were fishing our way down a rocky shoreline, consistently picking up bass on spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. It was April 28, and the surface temperature was 52ºF. As we came out to the end of a point, I made a quartering cast out in front of the boat, away from the shore. I let the lipless crank flutter to the bottom and then started slowly

The Pros know where to go...

Bob Izumi Host - The Real Fishing Show

F O R E A R LY M O N S T E R B A S S F I S H I N G The eastern shores of Vermont’s Lake Champlain oěer some of the best bass fishing in the Northeast. And, our spring catch and release season that runs from early April to mid-June means you can fish for these monsters nearly three months earlier than in Ontario. Visit www.vtfishandwildlife.com to learn more.

FISH & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 1-802-241-3700

LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE

Real Fishing Spring 2008 39

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reeling back. As I felt the bait ticking across rock and gravel, I got slammed by a huge smallmouth that weighed around four and a half pounds. My next cast to the same spot resulted in a nice, chunky three-pound largemouth. My friend put on a lipless crank of his own, threw to the same spot and wham -a six-pound smallie! We had found a small rock pile off the tip of that mainlake point that separated the lake from a spawning bay – and the bass were stacked up on it. The rock pile was in 10-feet of water. It topped out only four-feet below the surface and was 20 -feet across by about 40-feet long. Between the two of us, we caught over 90 bass in the next four hours of fishing, and we never left the rock pile. We caught fish on diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and even on tube jigs and spider grubs rigged on jig heads. The best tactic however, turned out to be dragging Rat-L-Traps across the rock pile. There were both smallmouth and largemouth mixed together, and about one third of our catch were huge smallies, with several over five-pounds and one over six. Of the 90 total bass or so, not one was under two-pounds; 15 or so were five to six-pounds and the average fish was between three and four-pounds. Fishing pre-spawn staging bass can certainly spoil you for the rest of the season! Although the phenomenal spring bass fishing is good throughout the entire length of Lake Champlain, the shallower, narrow southern end of the lake is your best bet in the early season. This end of the lake is more like a meandering river, with the widest point less than a mile across. It’s highly productive with plenty of rocky shorelines, points, and marshy back bays, and it warms up early, reaching that magical 50ºF to 55ºF mark weeks before the 40 Real Fishing Spring 2008

north end does. The last week of April and the first two weeks of May are usually prime. The “south lake” officially starts at Chimney Point, where a bridge crosses from New York, and runs south for approximately 40-miles. Prime locations to access the lake are the free public ramps owned by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The best access areas for the south lake are the Crown Point Bridge, Lapham’s Bay, Larabee’s Point, Chipman’s Point, and Benson Landing. Keep in mind that Vermont’s early season bass fishing regulation applies to all of the state’s inland lakes and ponds, not just Lake Champlain. Bass fishing is exceptional in most waters throughout the state. If you’re like I was when I was still in Ontario, and you drool at the thought of that first bass of the season, take a few days in April, May, or early June, and make the short drive to Vermont. For bass enthusiasts in southern and eastern Ontario and western Quebec, you simply cannot afford to miss out on this opportunity.

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LICENSE INFORMATION Vermont fishing licenses can easily be purchased online. Visit the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department on the web at www.vtfishandwildlife.com or call 802-241-3700 for more information. You can also call me directly at 802-786-3863 or send me an e-mail at shawn.good@state.vt.us. I’m always willing to help a fellow Canadian get into some serious spring bass action on Lake Champlain!

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DESTINATION:

NEW YORK STATE

Derek Strub is a professional tournament angler with 22 top three finishes and 16 tour championship appearances in his 18-year competitive fishing career.

By Derek Strub

t’s May and spring is here, the water is starting to warm and the Ontario bass season is still seven-weeks away. What’s a bass angler to do? Our answer to this sad reality is to hop in the truck and drive across the border to New York!

42 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Back in the mid 1990s, New York State decided to initiate an early bass fishing season on Lake Erie beginning the first Saturday in May and I’ve been making the annual pilgrimage ever since. The current regulations were modified in 2007 and now

include a catch and release season beginning December 1 and running until the first Saturday in May. After May 1, a one fish possession limit kicks in until the regular New York State bass season starts on the third Saturday in June. The season then runs until November 30. Not only does the early season provide some incredible action and huge numbers, it’s also one of the best times of the year to get a trophy smallmouth bass. Because most of the fish are pre-spawn, they are extremely big and fish over seven-pounds are caught every year. I had the pleasure of photographing my good friend Cliff’s 7pound, 12-ounce monster last May on a trip out of Dunkirk. I have personally caught dozens and dozens of bass over sixpounds on these spring trips with my personal best being 6-pounds, 8-ounces. This is the time of year where stories of six-pound bass won’t get very much attention at the dock. The other advantage of taking in this opportunity is getting the bugs out of your gear and boats before our southern Ontario season opens. My spring bass hunting usually begins in May, after I’ve had my fill of spring steelhead fishing. As Lake Erie’s water temperature approaches 40°F, smallmouth begin to move from their winter haunts and stage on deeper rock edges, breaks and humps. At this point the smallmouth are still quite inactive, although they are beginning to feed after a long winter season. The key to catching these early season fish is location. At this time of the season the fish are not likely to be scattered here and there. Spending time using your electronics to locate prime staging areas and schools of fish will be the key to your success. You’ll often be fishing in depths of 40-feet or more at this stage of the game and vertical presentations are the rule. Heavy tube jigs, hair jigs and jigging spoons will be the big producers, but remember to slow your presentations down in this cold water. When schools of bass are located, 40 to 50 fish days are common. Without a doubt my favorite part of the spring is when the water temperature reaches 47°F to 50°F and the smallmouth enter their pre-spawn phase. I usually book a week-long holiday when I hear the water has reached the low 50s. The days are getting longer, the water is getting closer to spawning temperatures and the smallmouth

have begun to move out of deep water and are starting to set up on shallower breaks and flats in 15 to 30-feet of water. Steep edges are still the key areas and will hold more fish than slow tapering areas. Bass will school up on these edges in big numbers before moving to the next edge as the water warms even more. Bait choices and presentations begin to change as fish move shallower. In 15 to 30feet we’re still fishing tubes, drop-shots and hair jigs but in the warmer, shallower water we will fish these baits a lot more aggressively. Along with the standard retrieves,

I’ve found that an aggressive snapping of the baits quite often draws vicious strikes from hungry bass. This is my one of my favorite parts of the season. When the water finally gets above 50°F and we approach the full moon phase, bass will move up into the 10 to 15-foot range, where they will stage for spawning. This is the absolute best time of year to get your trophy bass and enjoy some of the greatest jerkbait action of the year. The fish are quite active by now and will hammer a shiner-patterned jerkbait that is fished slowly but erratically.

GEAR CHOICES Rods and Reels • 7’2” Medium Shimano Cumara Rod / Stratic FI 3000 reel. I use this setup for tubes and hair jigs. • 6’8” Medium Shimano Crucial Drop Shot Rod / Stratic FI 3000 reel for dropshotting. • 7’ Medium Shimano Cumara Rod / Curado 200 reel. This is a great package for fishing jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits Baits - 3-4” Berkley Power Tubes, Bass Pro XPS Tubes TUBES

SPINNERBAITS

- Strike King double

willow style - Strike King Wild Shiner, Rapala X-Raps JERKBAITS

- Gulp Alive baits and XPS Quiver minnows

DROPSHOTTING

Real Fishing Spring 2008 43

As temperatures reach the mid 50’s, and the full moon nears, bass will begin to spawn. Spawning takes place in water depths between 5 and 15-feet, depending on where the best bottom substrate is located. By no means am I a purist, but I tend to avoid fishing for the actual spawning fish, mainly because there are always pre-spawn or post-spawn fish available and these fish are more likely to be schooled up and easier to catch than spawning fish are. With the warmer water a wider range of baits and techniques comes into play. Baits such as topwaters, spinnerbaits and crankbaits can all catch fish in huge num-

bers at this point. Regular to fast retrieves are the rule. By now you will also start to see bass actively chasing and busting bait. The fish won’t be as big now but good numbers can make it exciting. As the water reaches 60°F and higher, smallmouth bass will begin to pull off the banks and head for their summering areas on deeper humps, points and breaks. For fishing the New York side of Lake Erie I usually cross the border at the Fort EriePeace Bridge crossing and I generally use one of three launch points. First is the Buffalo small boat harbor, located approximately 6 km from the bridge. This launch offers a pro-

LICENSE INFORMATION New York fishing licenses and regulations are available on the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html or you can purchase a license over the phone by calling 1-866-933-2257. tected, quality launch facility and good parking. This is a good early season access point with close access to deeper water. The water warms faster at this end of the lake so things tend to get going a bit earlier than down farther toward the mid-lake areas. The second access I use is the Sturgeon Point Marina. It is 35 km from Buffalo and is also a quality, protected launch with good

access to the Silver Creek and Sturgeon Point areas of Lake Erie. The city of Dunkirk, and specifically the Dunkirk Harbor, is the final launch point that I regularly use. It has all you would ever need – 24-hour stores for getting licenses, ample accommodation, fuel and restaurants. Dunkirk also has a huge harbor with a power generating plant that pumps warm water into the harbor year ‘round. This, in itself, is a destination fishing location. From Dunkirk I can access the lake mid-way between the town of Irving and the Lake Erie State Park. If you plan to give this early season fishery a try, enjoy yourself but use caution. Pick your days based on the weather and wind forecasts. Lake Erie can be very unforgiving to those not used to big water boating. Finally, make sure you have a survival suit or quality PFD on board for every angler in your boat. Even better, make sure you and your fishing partners wear them while you’re fishing. Have fun, be safe and maybe I’ll see you on the water this spring. ? 44 Real Fishing Spring 2008

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Host of the Real Fishing television show

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Spring Pike Strategies By Ryan Haines - Ryan Haines operates Lake of the Woods Experience Guide Service out of Kenora, Ontario (www.LakeoftheWoodsGuide.com, 807-465-5689) and has been guiding on Lake of the Woods since 1992. Ryan has a Fisheries Management degree from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Growing up in northwestern Ontario, I was taught from an early age that catching northern pike ranked right up there with getting a fork in the eye while listening to Michael Bolton songs. Any pike hooked, regardless of its size or the strength of the fight, was met with a flurry of words that I was not permitted to repeat when we got home to mom. So strong was this feeling ingrained in me that it took years for me to appreciate that northern pike are a truly superb sport fish.

46 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Real Fishing Spring 2008 47

began to notice that northern pike would often provide the strongest and most exciting fight of the day. In addition, I discovered that they are excellent table fare. For these reasons, I do not let a spring pass by without spending several outings chasing after the toothy critter Esox lucius. CHOOSING A PIKE LAKE The first step to consistently latch onto monstrous pike is the selection of the lake. Obviously, all large bodies of water that are well-known for their healthy pike populations are good places to start. However, some of the best trophy lakes likely aren’t on your current pike radar. Gord Pyzer, retired fisheries manager and one of North America’s premier freshwater fishing gurus, has discovered that some of the best opportunities for trophy northern pike can be found in large lakes that are not typically good summer fisheries. “Large lakes (2000+ acres) with lesser known or poor fisheries with a forage base of

TERIYAKI SALMON FINGERS Ingredients: • 1 kg (2 lb) salmon fillets cut in 2” strips • Limes quartered for garnish Marinade: • 125 ml (1/2 c) light soy sauce • 60 ml (1/4 c) unsweetened pineapple juice • 60 ml (1/4 c) sherry • 15 ml (1 tbsp) brown sugar • 3 ml (1/2 tsp) ground garlic • 1 clove garlic minced • 10 ml (2 tsp) lemon juice Cilantro Sauce: • 250 ml (1 c) finely chopped cilantro • 250 ml (8 oz) container of sour cream • 15 ml (1 tbsp) fresh lime juice • 15 ml (1 tsp) ground coriander seeds Preparation: In a medium-sized bowl mix together marinade ingredients. Place salmon fingers skin side down, in a shallow glass or non-metallic dish and pour marinade over top. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. To prepare the Cilantro Sauce, mix together the cilantro, sour cream, lime juice and coriander seeds in a small bowl and refrigerate until serving. Smoking Method: Using Oak flavor bisquettes, preheat the Bradley Smoker to 95°C to 105°C (200°F to 220°F). Place salmon fingers skin side down on oiled smoker racks and place in the smoker, opening the damper slightly. Smoke/cook for approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours. To Serve: Serve the salmon fingers with the cilantro sauce on the side, garnished with lime wedges.

48 Real Fishing Spring 2008

whitefish, ciscoes and an exceptional sucker population can provide early open-water pike opportunities that few would believe,” says Pyzer. “These lakes do not receive a great deal of fishing pressure, allowing the pike to reach tremendous size, and spring can concentrate these fish to make for action that cannot be found on more popular lakes.” Gord emphasizes that the key to finding these gems is identifying lakes that have limited spawning opportunities for the suckers in the system. “A waterbody with only one or two inlets or creeks will have a great concentration of suckers at these locations, and the majority of pike in the system will focus on this food source. This provides an excellent window of opportunity to target these fish as the bulk of the ravenous pike in the system will be in a couple of small areas, resulting in fantastic fishing in an otherwise mediocre fishery,” states Pyzer. Once the sucker spawn is complete, pike will move to deeper water and become so scattered that the mediocre to poor summer fishing the lake is renowned for will resume. As the trophies head for the depths to bulk up on whitefish and ciscoes, they will keep your spring secret safe with them. SPRING PIKE MOVEMENTS Northern pike begin spawning as soon as the marshy bays that they use for the dirty deed are ice-free, in water temperatures from 4°C to 11°C (39-52°F). With the high sun of spring, the dark, shallow bays that the pike frequent will warm at a phenomenally quick rate. Once the spawn is complete and the water temperatures continue to warm, the metabolism of pike increases, resulting in the voracious appetite that the species is so famous for. At the same time that northern pike have recuperated and are looking for an aquatic smorgasbord, both Author Ryan Haines with a chunky spring northern.

Gord Pyzer and Wayne Izumi with a sweet spring pike.

walleye and suckers move in to the shallows to begin spawning. Pike will feed on these species as they come in to spawn, while they are spawning, and as they leave the spawning grounds. Locate the spawning locations for suckers and walleye and you’ll find the largest pike in the system. Jeff Gustafson, an emerging star on the Canadian fishing scene, spends more time on the water before the May long weekend than most anglers do all season. The renowned bass tournament fisherman has learned a great deal about northern pike habits during his spring visits into back bays. Gustafson has found that there are key areas worth focusing your efforts on. “As far as location goes, obviously, you want to spend your time around shallow water, but there are several high-percentage spots that can sometimes hold a big fish. Any kind of incoming water is good; feeder creeks or drainages. Beaver houses are real

PROPER PIKE HANDLING Having the proper gear makes it easier and safer to successfully handle and release large pike. Here are a few items you won’t want to leave the dock without. Large net – A jumbo muskie net will not only ensure that you get the photo of your trophy, but will also help improve release success. Large, deep nets, allow the fish to be left in the water as the hook is removed. Once the hooks are removed, raise the fish carefully for a photo (making sure that you are supporting the midsection of the fish) and then it can be quickly released, having only been out of the water for mere seconds.

south-facing bays from the deep basin side and work your way into the bay to make more efficient use of your time on the water. PIQUING A PIKE’S INTEREST Now that you have found a waterbody that is likely to hold large pike, and you have identified potential sucker spawning areas that will concentrate these fish, it is time to get some of them on the end of your line. The most effective tactics for large pike will

change depending on whether you have located the fish or not. For determining where the fish are located, Jeff Gustafson stresses the importance of covering water. “As far as presentation goes, suspending jerkbaits are great for finding fish. I'm more of a bass guy, and I've found that out the hard way. If you get into some shallow water, try an oversized soft jerkbait, something in the six inch range, or a swimbait,” advises Gustafson.

Jaw spreaders – These are a must as pike are notorious for clamping down on your hooks making it difficult to quickly remove your lure. Pliers – Long needle nose pliers are needed to remove deeply hooked fish. Cutters – Specialty hook cutters or a high quality bolt cutter will enable you to cut hooks in cases where removal would cause fatal damage. sleepers, as they always have a deep hole in front of them and they can hold fish.” Like a bone fisherman on the Caribbean flats, Gustafson will often sight-fish for spring pike. “Remember that sunlight can play a huge factor in early season pike fishing. Big fish will make runs into extremely shallow water when the sun gets high, so on bluebird days, don't be afraid to get in there and look around, you will be able to see fish most of the time. Once you see or spook a fish, slow down and start fishing, there will be more fish around,” says Gustafson. How long this pattern lasts will vary from year to year. During a stable, warm spring, the sucker and walleye spawn will be shorter than during a cool spring with storm fronts, rains, and frosts. As soon as water temperatures in the bays start to approach 20°C (68°F), the suckers will have finished spawning and larger pike will begin the transition to deeper water. To target these moving fish, start your fishing efforts at the edge of shallow, marshy spawning sites and cast your way to the closest large point with access to the deep water basin. Along the way, focus on secondary points and shallow reefs as the warmer water on these structures can often hold large prey such as bass that are like Doritos at a Grateful Dead concert to the post-spawn pike. If you have worked the transition zone from the spawning area to the nearest basin area without any success, try to locate another potential spawning area and repeat your efforts. Keep in mind that south facing bays will warm more quickly and will result in the pike being further along in transition than the ones in the north facing bays. Therefore, if you have located trophy pike on a secondary point close to a spawning area in a north facing bay, you will want to approach Real Fishing Spring 2008 49

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50 Real Fishing Spring 2008

While casting hard or soft Big, soft jerkbaits are irresistible to big spring pike. jerkbaits, they should be twitched one to four times followed by extended pauses from one to thirty-seconds. Adjust the number of twitches and length of pauses to find what is working on that day. As a general rule, the cooler the water and more unstable the weather, the longer the pauses will need to be. When using large suspending jerk baits, remember that the cooler water of spring is denser than warm water and can affect how pike behaviour - and a satellite radio - these the bait suspends. Experiment with your days I can whoop, holler and enjoy the bait choices until you find one that sus- photo-ops that spring pike fishing propends perfectly. Pike tend not to be very vides, while Michael Bolton is nowhere to colour specific and silver/black patterns and be heard. Life is good. ? gold/black (sucker imitating) patterns will handle most of your spring pike needs. BIG PIKE GEAR Once you have located large pike, you will improve your hook-up rate by altering Rods/reels tactics. When asked about strategies for Jeff Gustafson likes a spring pike, Gord Pyzer doesn’t deliberate heavy rod for horsing in on his favourite method. large pike. He uses a 7’ “The best bait is a large, dead sucker or heavy action Shimano herring on a quick-strike rig with #4 or #6 Compre rod with a treble hooks. Trophy pike are notorious for Calcutta reel to handle big baits and heavy line. keying in on large baits and you need to Gord Pyzer prefers a 7’6” present a large offering to consistently catch medium heavy Shimano big fish.” Compre or Crucial flippin’ Pyzer is meticulous about how he presstick for the quick-strike ents his bait on the quick-strike rig and rigs, as the longer rod makes sure that the dead baitfish is horizonenables him to keep line tal beneath a large float or balloon. out of the water and get “The horizontal presentation is more better hook sets under natural and the float helps to keep the bait the float. as still as possible, explains Pyzer. “A large pike will approach its prey slowly and Line stealthily, like a lion stalking a gazelle in the No-stretch super lines Serengeti. Once a baitfish spots the pike, the such as Spiderwire or Fireline in the 30 to 50 baitfish will do one of two things - it will lb. test range are perfect. either bolt away at top speed or it will You will never go wrong freeze. This is why a slow to moderate with a Palomar knot for twitching of the bait often looks unnatural these applications. and a perfectly still presentation provokes more strikes.” Leaders A balloon acts as an excellent float in this Gord Pyzer likes to make his own leaders out of titasituation as the air inside it can be adjusted nium wire. Titanium wire does not have any memory in a matter of seconds. To attach the baland is great to work with. Fluorocarbon leaders are loon to the line, just tie the balloon around gaining in popularity and you can make your own the line using an overhand knot. This is an with 50 lb. to 80 lb. test fluorocarbon such as Berkley excellent method for targeting trophy fish Vanish with a #6 cross-lock snap at one end and a from shore as the bait can be cast out and #4 or #5 ball bearing swivel at the other, tied on using a San Diego jam knot. The fluorocarbon is as the reel left on free-spool while you wait for close to invisible as possible underwater and may help the fish to hit. With a quick-strike rig, set to lure in extra-cautious fish. The benefit to making the hook as soon as a fish hits the bait and your own leaders is that you can adjust the length to you will have both excellent hook-up and your preference. Regardless of which type of leader you release success. purchase or make, ensure that it has a cross-lock snap Over the past few years, I have learned as standard snaps cannot stand up to the fight that a to overcome my prejudices towards northlarge pike will dish out. ern pike and I have been well rewarded for it. Armed with an increased knowledge of

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Spring is one of the best times of the year to go fishing, regardless of what species you’re after or what style of fishing you prefer. The waters aren’t yet crowded and most species of gamefish are easily accessible as they move from their deep-water wintering areas to the shallows. Some fish move in order to spawn while others are there to take advantage of the explosion of life that happens as the shallows begin to warm. Regardless of why the fish move to the shallows, in the spring of the year they are

Keeping Bugs at Bay easily accessible to both boat and shore anglers and they are willing to bite almost anything that passes their way. That’s the good news!

52 Real Fishing Spring 2008

he bad news is that fish aren’t the only creatures willing to

bite almost anything that passes their way. Mosquitoes, blackflies, gnats, horseflies, deerflies, ticks and any number of other pests always seem to be most active just when the fishing is at its best. Anyone who has gone stream fishing for trout or explored weedy back-bays for early season pike knows how annoying these bugs can be. Along with the aggravation factor that swarms of biting insects can cause for anglers, some of them can transmit diseases like the West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Encephalitis, to name just a few. While these diseases are treatable in their early stages, if left untreated they can lead to serious health problems. One of the biggest dangers with any of these diseases is that their symptoms often mimic common ailments like colds and the flu and infected people may not realize they have contracted something more severe. By the time they are properly diagnosed, the disease may be much more difficult to treat. There are a number of ways to protect yourself from potentially contracting an insect-borne virus including wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, staying away from damp bush or swampy areas and limiting your time in weedy, still-water areas to mid-day or times when a good breeze is blowing. Whenever possible, try to avoid spending time outdoors during

54 Real Fishing Spring 2008

the prime insect feeding times around dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, as anglers we often find ourselves in prime bug country at prime feeding times because they just happen to coincide with some of the best places and times for fishing. That’s when the best defense is a federally registered insect repellent containing DEET, such as OFF!® Deep Woods® Aerosol or OFF!® Deep Woods® for Sportsmen Aerosol. These products contain 25% - 30% DEET and can help protect against mosquitoes for up to 8-hours. Whichever repellent you choose to use, effective application is the key to its effectiveness. You don’t need to soak yourself in repellent in order for it to work. A thin, uniform layer on all exposed skin is all that’s needed to ensure maximum protection. Avoid applying bug repellent directly to your face and neck, instead, spray your hands then rub them over these areas. A light spray over your clothing, especially around openings like cuffs and necklines, will help keep mosquitoes, flies and ticks from getting inside of your clothes. Nothing enhances the camaraderie of a fishing trip quite like sharing a meal of freshly caught fish with your angling buddies. A campfire, a beverage and some tall tales among friends rounds out the experience and is a great way to relax after a long day on the water. It’s a shame that the late afternoon and early evening hours are also when mosquitoes head out for their second main meal of the day. Of course you could always re-apply your insect repellent to ward them off, but a far easier way to keep mosquitoes away from your dining area is to use OFF!® POWERPAD™ Mosquito Lamp which has a specially designed pad that releases insecticide when it gets heated by a candle. The lamp not only kills mosquitoes in a 4.5m x 4.5m area for up to 4-hours, it provides soft, ambient lighting that helps enhance the charm of a relaxing, lakeside evening.

OFF!® DEEP WOODS® The OFF!® Deep Woods® family of products in 230g aerosol cans contain 25% to 30% DEET for up to 8-hours of protection against mosquitoes.

As anglers, we spend much more time outdoors in insectrich areas than most people do and because of that we must be especially cautious about protecting ourselves from the diseases they may carry. Using the right insect repellent for the conditions is one of the keys to ensuring ourselves and our families a safe, worry-free experience next time we head out to catch the big one. By giving a little thought to the types of protection that are available, and how to use them wisely, we can be confident that the fish are the only things doing the biting. ?

OFF!® POWERPAD™ MOSQUITO LAMP After a long day on the water, nothing beats relaxing on the patio and swapping tall tales about the day’s events. Too bad bugs like patio get-togethers too. To keep them from spoiling the fun, fire up the OFF!® POWERPAD™ Mosquito Lamp and let it take care of those pesky insects so you can enjoy your time outdoors. The OFF!® Powerpad™ Mosquito Lamp uses a specially designed pad that releases insecticide when it gets heated by the candle and it kills mosquitoes in a 4.5m x 4.5m area for up to 4-hours.

Real Fishing Spring 2008 55

COMMON

GROUND

By Phil Morlock

Library of Parliament / Bibliothèque du Parlement - Mone Cheng

What would it take to have over 90 Members of Federal Parliament from all four political parties working together? It takes one dedicated MP with a vision and colleagues with a shared common interest in fishing, hunting, trapping and recreational shooting. Garry Breitkreuz represents the rural Saskatchewan riding of Yorkton – Melville and his passion for the outdoors provided the incentive for him to establish the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus two years ago. Garry is assisted by his capable staff of Dennis Young, Sandy Campeau and more recently, Brant Scott. This non – partisan caucus is open to any member of the House of Commons or the Senate and Garry and MP Larry Bagnell (representing the Yukon), were elected by their colleagues to serve as Conservative and Liberal co-chairs respec-

tively. The first MP to join the caucus was the enthusiastic Peter Stoffer (NDP) from Nova Scotia. Commenting on the rationale behind the caucus, Garry Breitkreuz said, “The introduction of the Outdoors Caucus in March 2006 has helped to provide a conduit into the heart of Parliament for this important outdoors constituency. I was pleased to rally the support of other MPs and Senators to promote hunting, fishing, sport shooting and trapping. These activities are an important part of our Canadian heritage and these traditional activities should be represented in Ottawa.” The Mission Statement makes the Outdoor Caucus priorities clear; Our mission is to entrench in law fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting sports as acceptable, traditional, environmentally-sustainable outdoor heritage activities with a safety credo and a conservation ethic as our highest priorities, and: (a) To ensure that Canadians continue to have reasonable access to federally man-

aged public lands and waters to enjoy traditional outdoor heritage activities; (b) To increase awareness of the economic importance of outdoor heritage activities to Canada’s economy, and to support the growth of outdoor activities, heritage businesses and jobs; (c) To preserve and promote the traditional Canadian outdoor heritage activities and the environmental stewardship ethic upon which they are based; and (d) To support multiple sustainable uses and management of public lands, waters, fish, wildlife and habitat, based on sound science and professional natural resource tenets, for the benefit of all Canadians. In order to provide input and identify priority issues of importance to the Canadian outdoor community, the caucus has appointed an advisory committee comprised of members from a wide range of fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting organizations and related businesses from across the country. The caucus has also established a science advisory committee of professionals to review and make recommendations on policy and legislative issues which have a significant scientific component. Real Fishing Spring 2008 57

Eldon Hawton is a trapper, the President of Friends of Fur and a member of the Outdoor Caucus Advisory Committee. He believes North America’s ‘founding industry’ remains relevant in the 21st century as trapping still provides additional income for thousands of people in urban and rural areas. The PR campaigns against hunting, recreational shooting and now fishing have their roots in organized efforts against trapping. Eldon explains, “For too many years, animal rights groups have spread emotionally charged misinformation on trapping with the sole self-serving purpose of raising millions of dollars at the expense of destroying the livelihoods of our people who depend on this important industry”. He continues, “The Outdoor Caucus is welcomed as an unprecedented opportunity for trappers to provide Parliamentarians with important factual information, to counter misinformation, dispel the myths and promote the many valuable social, economic and wildlife management benefits due to trapping”. A successful example of elected representatives working together on behalf of outdoor heritage issues exists in the United States with the bi-partisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. After 15-years, this has become the largest and most active caucus in Washington, D.C. and now 33 states have joined the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses for a similar effort with state legislatures. Over 8-million Canadians of all ages and abilities enjoy fishing as a recreational activity. The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) represents the manufacturers, retailers and related businesses who serve these anglers. Tom Brooke is CSIA Chairman Emeritus and Vice President of Operations at Shimano Canada. CSIA and Shimano have been strong supporters of the 58 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Outdoor Caucus from the beginning and this is reflected in Tom’s viewpoint. “I see the establishment of the Outdoor Caucus as one of the most significant Parliamentary events to occur in my lifetime”, he said. “The simple act of having a group of parliamentarians, representing all parties, all regions, and both the House and Senate, in significant numbers, shows the strength and broad based acceptance of Canada’s Outdoor Heritage Activities of hunting, fishing and trapping. I have never felt that, as an active hunter and fisherman, my views were represented in Ottawa. Now I know they are.” Barry Turner, Director for Government Relations, Ottawa at Ducks Unlimited has a similar view. “Hunting, sport fishing, trapping and shooting sports contribute billions of dollars annually to our economy and to local, provincial and federal tax coffers. The Outdoors Caucus will be able to research and advise Canadian decision makers, politi-

Tom Brooke of Shimano Canada

cians and public servants, with factual information that will lead to better informed management decisions about our renewable natural resources.” One important area for the Outdoor Caucus is dealing with legislation which may have serious implications for fishing, hunting and trapping. Since 1998 there has been a sustained and coordinated effort by a coalition of animal rights groups to support federal criminal code ‘animal cruelty’ legislation with the potential to make it a federal crime to kill a fish or a duck. Portrayed by the Massachusetts based International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Humane Societies as posing no threat to hunting or fishing, this legislation has come close to passing in Parliament on several occasions. The hidden trap door for anglers and hunters is in the legal detail of the legislation. With support from Shimano Canada, CSIA obtained an extensive review of this legislation from the national law firm of Lang Michener. The legal opinion makes it clear that traditional fishing, hunting, trapping, medical research and even agricultural practices using animals for food are at risk of prosecution under the legislation endorsed by IFAW. Senator John Bryden has introduced an alternative Bill which significantly increases fines and penalties for intentional animal abuse while protecting traditional animal uses, like fishing and hunting. Mr. Bryden is from the Liberal side of the aisle, but the Conservative Harper government has endorsed his Bill. Although the fines and penalties are identical in the two different Bills, not surprisingly the animal rights groups aggressively oppose Senator Bryden’s legislation – thereby revealing their true intent to attempt to use changes to the criminal code to attack fishing and hunting. After reviewing the background to the two pieces of legislation, the Outdoor Caucus voted unanimously to support Senator Bryden’s legislation. The positive comments in Parliament about our outdoor heritage activities are also worth noting. Addressing the House of Commons in January, Larry Bagnell said, “Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure, as co-chair along with the member for Yorkton—Melville, to congratulate the more than 50 senators and members of the House of Commons from all parties who attended December’s Outdoor Caucus breakfast. This is one of the largest caucuses in Parliament and for good reason.”

Shimano Canada’s Angela Darraugh and Phil Morlock stand by while Bob Izumi tries out the Speaker’s chair.

“Over 8-million Canadians from coast to coast to coast, urban and rural, of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, and of both sexes, enjoy our parks, boating, canoeing, camping, hunting, fishing and trapping. Canadians over the age of 15 who fish outnumber those who play golf and hockey combined. Canadians spend as much on fishing each year as they do on beer. Their outdoor activity represents a $10-billion boost to the Canadian economy, yet so much that we do could negatively affect the activities of these millions of Canadians. That is why I commend the over 90 parliamentarians who make up our outdoor caucus for their hard work to ensure that all Yukon MP Larry Bagnell

60 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Canadians can continue to enjoy our national heritage, the great outdoors.” Bob Izumi was the guest speaker at the December Outdoor Caucus breakfast, held in the Parliamentary dining room on Parliament Hill. Speaking from his lifelong passion for hunting and fishing, Bob explained why he believes the caucus is so vital to the future of our outdoor heritage. “It is totally unprecedented to have members from all four political parties come together to support fishing and hunting through their membership in the Outdoor Caucus. I am absolutely thrilled to see such a monumental level of support for our industry and it certainly brightens the future for fishing and hunting in Canada.” Following this meeting, an additional 17 members of Parliament joined the Outdoor Caucus, making it now the largest caucus in the nation’s capital. Garry Brietkreuz remarked, “We are indebted to Bob Izumi for appearing as our guest speaker on Parliament Hill. He attracted the best attendance of any meeting we have ever had, and his support indicates we are on the right path.” Commenting from his own quiet passion for the outdoors, Mr. Breitkreuz said, “I believe there is a real need in Canada for the Outdoors Caucus because Canadians who enjoy these activities need a voice on Parliament Hill. Some groups in society would like to get rid of hunting, fishing, trapping and sport shooting. Getting this

caucus organized has been a challenge, but the more people learn about it, the more they share our goal and see its value. Generating the political will to sew the Outdoors Caucus into Canada’s fabric will be a legacy to us all.” ?

By Bob Izumi Just before Christmas I took a trip down to Ranger Boats in Flippin, Arkansas for their annual pro-staff meeting where I had a chance to say hello to Ranger founder, Forrest L. Woods, his wife, Nina, and the rest of the Ranger family before touring their facilities. I was amazed at how much time and effort goes into building every Ranger boat. They are essentially hand-made in state of the art manufacturing facilities and they incorporate the most up to date technology available today. I’ve crossed a lot of big water in some pretty wild conditions in Ranger boats over my 28-year association with the company and in all those years their boats have never let me down. Now I know why. After visiting Ranger I was off to Ottawa to give a talk to a group of MPs and Senators on behalf of a very large outdoors industry here in Canada. The people who attended voted unanimously to endorse the creation of an independent, all-party Canadian Outdoor Heritage Foundation. It’s great to see politicians from all parties supporting such an important cause. After my trip to Ottawa I took some time to catch up with family and friends over the Christmas season before heading up to Cook’s Bay on Lake Simcoe for what seemed to be a sure thing - catching perch. We went up there with the intention of shooting a segment for next year’s Real Fishing Show with my fishing buddy, Rick Arsenault, from Simcoe Fishing Adventures. We got up there on a 12-degree day with

62 Real Fishing Spring 2008

very little wind and everything looked like it had lined up perfectly… except the fish. To make a long story short, we only caught a handful of small perch in two hours of fishing that morning. After my ice fishing trip my friend, Rick McCrory, and I headed down to the FLW Eastern Series tournament on Lake Okeechobee in Florida. The water was down several feet and a lot of the areas I had fished in previous years were high and dry so we spent our practice days looking for new areas. With only four days to practice and a ton of water to cover, we checked a number of areas but most of them held only a few, smaller fish. I did manage to get one fish in the six-pound range from a backwater slough and decided that would be where I would start once the tournament got underway. Unfortunately that one big fish was not a sign of bigger and better things. In fact, I only managed to catch about 10 small fish during the three-day tournament and ended up finishing in 168th place. The day after the tournament some of my family flew down to meet me for a four-day vacation in one of our favourite vacation areas, Port Charlotte, Florida. There’s a company down there called Port Charlotte Florida Homebuilders that rents luxury

homes and for many years we have gone down there and stayed in these wonderful homes. After a quick holiday I set out on the long drive back to Ontario and 25-hours later I was home. The day after getting home I went up to Shimano’s headquarters in Peterborough with my son, Darren and a few of my tournament buddies - Derek Strub, Simon Frost and John Noel - for the annual Shimano field staff meeting. It was amazing to see the turnout they had. There were over 50 people there including many anglers who I’ve known for a long time. Big Jim McLaughlin and Brian Bremner each received an award from Shimano Vice-President, Tom Brooke, for 25years of outstanding service promoting Shimano. It’s amazing how quickly time flies. The cold, snowy weather finally got the best of me and I made a quick trip down to Costa Rica to experience a warmer climate for a few days. After a short break I got back home to face more snow and lots of meetings before heading off for some ice fishing in Ontario’s Sunset Country in northwestern Ontario. We stayed at the Best Western Lakeside Inn & Conference Centre in downtown Kenora, which is located right on Lake of the Woods. The manager and long-time friend of ours, Mark Duggan, really looked after us. Award winning outdoor journalist and Real Fishing Radio co-host, Gord Pyzer, was ready to take us out as soon as we arrived so we got our gear together and headed out for about 40-minutes of fishing that first night. In that short time we caught five smallmouth bass (which are legal to catch and release year-round in that area), four walleyes and my last fish of the evening, a 15-pound pike I got on a medium action HT

signature series ice fishing rod with a Lindy Max Gap jig and minnow. What a way to start and end our first day of fishing! On day two of our trip Gord decided to take us to one of his many honey-holes for northern pike. While setting up the HT Polar tip ups off of a spawning bay, a fish hit Gord’s dead bait rig and took off so fast that the Spiderwire braid cut his finger before he could let go of the line. After a four or fiveminute battle Gord iced a monstrous 25pound plus pike! We ended up landing a few smaller pike in the six to eight-pound range to round out the day. Even though it was bitterly cold we had a great day on the ice. That evening, Ted Takasaki from Lindy Little Joe drove up from Brainard, Minnesota to fish with us the next day. HT Tackle’s president, Paul Grahl, came up from Wisconsin with his wife, Joanna, his 9year old daughter, Estpher, and his newest invention – an absolutely incredible new ice auger. I don’t want to tell you too much about it because this is a prototype and it won’t be on the market until next winter,

on Lake of the Woods to fish for walleyes. By the time we got set up we had less than an hour to fish but we caught a number of walleyes that evening before the sun went down. The fishery is absolutely incredible on Lake of the Woods because of the management that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has done over the years. The next morning Ted had to leave to do a seminar in North Dakota but the rest of us headed out to try for some trophy lake trout. I had a hit, Gord lost a fish and my neighbour, Mark Alford, had on the biggest laker of his life. He said it didn’t budge when he set the hook. He had it on for about 10seconds and then it was gone. While we didn’t get a trophy trout, we did have a great three plus days of fishing in Sunset Country. After returning from my ice fishing adventure I attended the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association’s (CSIA) annual general meeting that was held at the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show. CSIA Chairman, Tom Brooke, presented awards to Walter Oster, chairman of the Canadian National Sportsmen’s Show; Phil Morlock of the

body’s got spring fever. I’m phoning in this Tales from the Road column as I head to Alabama for the next FLW Series tournament of the season on Wheeler Lake. After all the cold and snow we’ve had in Ontario this month I’m hoping the only white I see on the ground when I get to Alabama will be the cotton from the cotton fields. I’ll fill you in on how things went in the tournament in my next column. ? but I will say that it performed more efficiently than any auger I have used in my fishing career. I’m talking about a hand auger cutting through 30-inches of ice in less than 30-seconds! I’m sure you’ll hear more about it down the road. After shooting some video of Paul’s new auger in action it was time for Ted, Gord and the rest of the crew to hit the ice for some slab sized crappies at another one of Gord’s many hotspots. Wouldn’t you know it - after a few hours of fishing we had only caught 5 medium sized crappies and 2 whitefish. Gord said he’d never seen it that bad in all the years he’s been fishing this particular area. Gord had to head back into town to do an interview with the local Kenora television station and when he was done we headed 30km out on the ice roads

Shimano Sportfishing Initiative; and Big Jim McLaughlin, for their outstanding contributions to the Canadian fishing scene. I was asked to accept the award on behalf of Big Jim McLaughlin as he couldn’t make it. Big Jim’s contributions to fishing in Canada include working for countless children’s events and charities, winning numerous tournaments and publishing Just Fishing magazine, to name just a few. He definitely deserved the award. Then I did a seminar at Bass Pro Shops with Dave Mercer on Coping with Clear Water. It’s always a pleasure doing seminars with Dave because he talks a lot. I mean that in a good way because he’s always ready to add his insight…plus I don’t have to say much. Judging by the crowds at both Bass Pro Shops and the Sportsmen’s Show, everyReal Fishing Spring 2008 63

To celebrate our mutual passion for good food and great wine, Coyote’s Run has teamed up with Bob Izumi, the great Canadian Outdoorsman, to produce a set of signature Bob Izumi wines. With the sale of each bottle of Bob Izumi wine $1 will be donated to the Fishing Forever Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to providing fishermen with a vehicle to renew and preserve Ontario's fishing resource for the continued enjoyment of the sport today and for future generations. The wines are produced by Coyote’s Run Estate Winery, a small craft winery located in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This award-winning winery has been producing wine since 2003 and focuses on hand-crafted, small batch VQA wines. Coyote’s Run produces a variety of other wines include Pinot Noir, Meritage, Chardonnay and Riesling and are available at the winery retail store located on the vineyard property.

2004 Bob Izumi Red

Bob Izumi Wines

2005 Bob Izumi White

Introducing

To purchase your Bob Izumi wines please go to www.izumiwines.com and for more information about the Fishing Forever Foundation can be found at www.fishingforever.ca.

485 Concession 5 Rd, St. David’s, ON, L0S 1P0 • P: 905.682.8310 or 1.877.COYOTE.3 • www.coyotesrunwinery.com

Ingredients 1 pound fresh walleye fillets 1 cup breading 1 tbsp all purpose seasoning 1 cup roasted pepper sauce Oil for deep frying

Hot & Sour Sauce

HOT & SOUR

WALLEYE This recipe puts a spicy twist on traditional deep fried walleye fillets and it’s one of our favorite ways to prepare fresh fish. Any type of hot sauce will work and you can adjust the quantity to make the dish as mild or as hot as you like.

1 cup hot sauce 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 clove of garlic, crushed 1/4 cup vinegar 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup lemon dill sauce

Method • Cut walleye fillets into bite sized pieces and marinate for 1 hour in roasted pepper sauce. • Combine breading and all purpose seasoning.Toss marinated walleye fillets in breading mixture to coat. • Heat oil to 350 degrees and deep fry walleye pieces for 7 minutes; turning half way through cooking time. • Combine ingredients for hot & sour sauce. • Toss cooked walleye in hot & sour sauce before serving. Thanks to Chef Terry Arnason, head Chef at Knee Lake Lodge, for providing this recipe.

Real Fishing Spring 2008 65

THE ART FLY

Artist: Teresa Mailath

66 Real Fishing Spring 2008

Peterborough artist Teresa Mailath combines her background in gemology with a passion for fly tying to create exquisite, one of a kind art flies. Each fly is hand-tied from the best and most interesting natural feathers based on their colour variation, shape and exotic appeal which results in every fly being a unique work of art.

Contact: Gems of a Different Kind 170 Dunlop St. Apt. 3 Peterborough, ON K9H 1R6 Tel: 705-741-1777 Email: gemsfly@cogeco.ca Website: www.gemsofadifferentkind.com

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