Ice Fishing Saftey

When planning on going out on the ice there are a number of things to take into consideration.

First this in first, check the thickness of the ice. Usually ice that is 4 inches thick is safe to walk on. Be wary though because the ice may be thinner in some spots. This why it is always smart to check the ice in many different areas. Be careful of moving/ running water. Running water freezes differently if at all. Be very careful when close to incoming streams and strong currents.

If you are planning on driving your truck or ATV on the ice it is best to wait a little later in the season when the ice is thicker. The ice needs to be at least 12 inches thick to support vehicles.  If you are questioning the ice safety it is best to be safe than sorry.

It is all ways good to have a pair of ice picks on you when out on the ice. If you were ever to break through the ice, having a pair of ice picks will definitely save your life. If you could imagine climbing out of the lake trying to get back on top of the ice, there is nothing for you to grab on to. Ice picks are mean for you to jam them in the ice and give you a firm handle to grab onto to pull yourself from the water.

Also never go out on the ice alone!!! If something we to ever happen, being with another person could very well save your life.

Being on the ice should never be taken lightly. You never know when you will be fighting for your life in freezing cold water.

***For anyone who has ever gone through the ice they know the sear terror that follows. Literally once you’re in the water the clock starts and if you do not get out in time you will die.  So it is better to be prepared for the worst then to be caught off guard. ***

Fishing Gar Pike

Fishing for Gar Pike is a little bit of a challenge. The Gar Pike is truly an amazing fish to catch. Catching a Gar pike is like pulling a prehistoric dinosaur from the water. They have a beautiful colour with incredible scales and very long shouts. You cannot mistake a Gar for anything other fish in Ontario because of it obvious differences.

Gar Pike are more difficult and challenge to catch because of their long bony snouts and rows of sharp teeth. They have very long cylindrical body shape with very large pronounced scales. The colour of the fish is very vibrant. On their spine the colour starts out a darker green and gradually blends into a light green/slivery colour throughout its body until turning white on its belly. They also have large black spots all over their bodies.

Gar Pike are warm water fish and can be seen basking in the sun close to the surface.  This species can be found in lakes spanning from the mouth of Lake Huron to the St. Lawrence river. They are also found along the eastern coast of the United States, and from Montanan eastward towards through the Mississippi river up to the great lakes. 

Gar Pike caught in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.

It is challenging to set the hook when fishing for Gar Pike because of the shape of their mouths. This Gar was caught on a large Perch Rapala. The 3 Treble hooks on the Rapala seemed to set fine. Gar Pike are truly amazing fish and you must see one you self to really admire their beauty.

The Best Way to Fillet a Bass

 From my experience filleting Bass I have found one method that is the simplest and easiest. It provides perfect fillets, takes very little time, and does not require opening up the guts. This method of filleting Bass requires starting from the top of the fish and working down the fillet.

1. Hold the fish on its side with its belly facing you. Start by making an incision behind the gill and behind the side fin. Cut down and inwards on a slight angle toward the fishes head until you hit bone.
2. Now spin the fish around so that its spine is facing you. Starting from the incision behind the gill, run you knife along the spine towards the tail. Keep cutting deeper along the spine until you feel the rib cage. With you knife, slowly cut along the rib cage until you feel it end, once past the ribcage push your knife fully through the fish. Cutting from there, all the way back, to the tail, separating the back of the fillet from the fish.
3. Keep running you knife along the rib cage  going around them while working your way down to the belly of the fish. Stay as close to the ribs as possible. Once you make it all the way around the rib cage you cut the fillet off.
4. Remove the skin by holding the fillet skin down. Start at the tail. Cut under the fillet on a slight angle into the skin. Holding the skin, not the meat, cut all the way down the fillet separating the skin from the fillet.

Remember: If you are planning on freezing the fish and transporting it to take home. You must leave a little bit of skin visible on the fillet, in order to for the ministry to identify the species. There are huge fines if you caught with fillets that are out of season and illegal.

This is the method i have used for years and have found to work the best and it is the easiest. 

Here is a video i found to help you better understand what I'm taking about.

http://youtu.be/QDeXjmsTFt4

Muskellunge (Musky) Fishing Overview

In Canada, there are a vast number of fresh water lakes, rivers and streams that flourish with a variety of different fish. The large volume of water and strong ecosystem provides a perfect habitat for Muskie to live and grow, creating a great potential chance to catch a “monster”.

The conservation of fish in Canada is taken very seriously. The only time a fish should be killed is when there are intentions of eating it. There are very strict rules and regulations that MUST be followed when fishing in Canada.  The Ministry of Canada is responsible for these laws. Fishing regulations are something that should never be over looked. Breaking the law has serious consequences. For example, if you are caught keeping fish in Canada without a fishing licence, the ministry has the right to seize all of your fishing equipment and in extreme cases they can even seize your boat!!!

To check rules in your area refer to the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary 2012.

The best time to catch these fish is between 1 pm to 4 pm as well as around midnight. Due to the fact that this is primarily the time that these fish are searching for food. Their main diet consists of fish that aren’t as big as them (ironically the food chain). They can be found in heavily vegetated lakes, bays, and rivers. This is because smaller fish tend to eat in the vegetated areas and quickly become prey. When searching for muskies use an extremely large lour such as a plug. This is a big wood lure that is more durable than the average lure; perfect for larger fish. Other recommended lures include big spinners, and oversized Rapala’s.  Any type of rod could be used, but it is well worth the investment in some heavy tackle. Good quality rods include Abu Garcia, Dawia, Shimano, Cabela, and St. Croix just to name a few.

 

One of the biggest Muskies every caught was pulled out of the same lake and general area as one of my favorite fishing locations. The fish was caught by a Toronto accountant in 1988, out of Georgian Bay’s, Blackstone Harbor, Moon River Basin (Ontario). The Muskie weighed 65 Pounds, was 58 inches in length, and had a girth of 38 inches!!! Goes to show you that you never know what your day of fishing will bring.

Follow this link for a picture and article on this Record Musky.

http://www.musky.ca/ontario-record-muskie-ontario-record-musky.htm

Fishing Gear

When fishing in Canada, or anywhere for that matter, you need the right equipment. There is nothing more frustrating than fishing for hours, waiting for the big one to bite with no luck. Until, unexpectedly you got one! Your adrenaline kicks in and the fight is on, or at least, until your equipment fails and the fish gets away. Having an equipment failure instantly removes the feeling of excitement. The worst part is that it could have been completely avoidable. There’s no telling if the opportunity you just gave up was the biggest for the year, you may not get a second chance. Many fishing enthusiasts may have only caught a couple of real “monster fish” in their life time. This is why it is so essential to have trust and confidence in your fishing equipment. Using the right equipment for the type of fishing you doing is the best thing you can do to help reduce your chance of losing a fish. There are many different styles and types of fishing that you should be aware of. For example there is fresh water fishing, saltwater fishing, fly fishing, ice fishing, casting, trolling, and jigging just to name a few. It is important to know that there are differences between them. Equipment used in salt water is not the same as equipment used in fresh water. In salt water objects are more buoyant and float differently than in fresh water. Some fishing reels are designed for casting, while others are designed for trolling. The key element on a fishing reel is the drag, this allows line out well before the line snaps, allowing you to be able to catch a 20lb fish on 10lb line. Deciding the gear you’re going to use is very important. One thing I recommend for fishing in fresh water is to use braided line, not monofilament. Braided line is extremely sensitive, doesn’t stretch, and is a lot stronger than regular (clear) Monofilament line. Usually it is a little more expensive but I find it to be worth the investment. Remember: Don't forget to bring a net when you go fishing because you never know when you may catch a giant fish.