So,
Where to go Saturday was the question burning in my head all Friday. The Weather Network had predicted sun all day Saturday all week in Orillia. However, when I checked Friday morning, it showed a 60% chance of Thunderstorms! What to do? Boat or not, thunderstorms do not bode well for fishing. With the limited options available for gamefish, my sights turned to Dunnville and another go at some channel cats.
With a forecast of 25 and sunny, we decided to head out to Dunnville. Sir and Spam were both whipped this weekend so I enlisted the company of Knot'Yo, who would have been whipped as well had I'll Cut You not been busy. Together with my Dad and a family friend, we headed out at 7 in the morning.
We got to Dunnville at 845. The Grand was windy and choppy, but nothing Smoke on the Water could not handle. Fishmasters was open, so in we went to pay for the launch and buy some famous cutbait.
So, worms, cutbait and some emergency stinky chicken livers, we made off. Our plan was to hit a spot and if we didn't catch anything in 15 minutes, move on. At our second spot, we get our first cat. It was 7 lbs and my first channel cat later (Pictures to be added later). 15 minutes later, we moved on. Little did we know that we were leaving the day's hotspot.
For the rest of the day, we had no luck as the winds picked up and the cats stopped biting. At 4pm we trailered the boat and took off. On a side note, trailering up the steep ramp at Fishmasters proved to be too difficult for Serena (more horses means nothing if you have front wheel drive up a steep ramp), but was not an issue for David as the 4 wheel drive proved to be what was needed for a ramp such as this. Anyhow, going inside to use the bathroom, the guy at the counter told me that the hotspot was precisely where I had caught my fish. I guess we should have stayed.
Seeing as how we have had little true luck at Dunnville, and how the fishing style has proven to be a tad slow for myself, I do not foresee myself returning too frequently. That is unless the bite picks up the next time we are there. I hope it does.
Anyhow, til next time...
PITB
26 April 2009
21 April 2009
Aperched on Smoke on the Water
April 18, 2009 marked the beginning of the Orillia Perch Festival. This was a day of firsts for me. It was the first time David (the Suzuki) would pull our chariot, Smoke on the Water. It would be the beginning of the age of the Perch Festival for the BASStards. It would be my first time on Couchiching, and the list goes on.
Firstly, although David could pull Smoke on the Water, I cannot say that he did so without hesitation. Hills proved to be a challenge for my steed as it struggled to pull the boat up hills while maintaining speed. It was so much a challenge that his thirst doubled while towing. However, pulling the boat out of the water at days end proved not a problem.
Launching the boat in the water of Lake Couchiching, I was accompanied by Sir Fusses, Musky Hunter, Spam and Knot'Yo. We launched and were on the water by 9am. Not that it mattered. For the first 3 hours we remained fishless. On top of that, the temperature was dropping and a breeze picking up off of the lake. With no fish in the livewells, we headed into the Narrows to fish in the relatively sheltered docks. This proved to be the right decision.
Eventually Sir hooked intoa small perch. Success! We had broken ground, so to speak, and would be able to entere aperch for Sir. Slowly but surely, the rest of us caught our first perches, shortly followed by our second and third fish. Well, all of this was with the exception of Spam. Apparently he blew his load over in Dunnville lol.
Anyhow, this continued for the next 4-5 hours. With all said and done, I had caught some 50 perch. Sir had 50 of his own. Knot'yo landed 40 while Musky boated 30. In the end, Spam caught his entry fish and finished with 15. We kept 30 for my Grandmother, and let the rest go. All in all, it was a great day.
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures as we forgot to use the cameras in the hustle and bustle of the hectic perching action. An interesting note: We did not catch any other species of fish for teh entire day! No pumpkinseed, sunfish or rockbass - only perch. I have to admit that this is a first for me.
It was neat to see all of the other derby fisherman out there. At one point there had to be close to 200 boats in one relatively concentrated area. I had never experienced anything like this before, and I can tell you this won't be my last time. I should be headed there again before the end of the. I hope you come along for the trip.
Firstly, although David could pull Smoke on the Water, I cannot say that he did so without hesitation. Hills proved to be a challenge for my steed as it struggled to pull the boat up hills while maintaining speed. It was so much a challenge that his thirst doubled while towing. However, pulling the boat out of the water at days end proved not a problem.
Launching the boat in the water of Lake Couchiching, I was accompanied by Sir Fusses, Musky Hunter, Spam and Knot'Yo. We launched and were on the water by 9am. Not that it mattered. For the first 3 hours we remained fishless. On top of that, the temperature was dropping and a breeze picking up off of the lake. With no fish in the livewells, we headed into the Narrows to fish in the relatively sheltered docks. This proved to be the right decision.
Eventually Sir hooked intoa small perch. Success! We had broken ground, so to speak, and would be able to entere aperch for Sir. Slowly but surely, the rest of us caught our first perches, shortly followed by our second and third fish. Well, all of this was with the exception of Spam. Apparently he blew his load over in Dunnville lol.
Anyhow, this continued for the next 4-5 hours. With all said and done, I had caught some 50 perch. Sir had 50 of his own. Knot'yo landed 40 while Musky boated 30. In the end, Spam caught his entry fish and finished with 15. We kept 30 for my Grandmother, and let the rest go. All in all, it was a great day.
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures as we forgot to use the cameras in the hustle and bustle of the hectic perching action. An interesting note: We did not catch any other species of fish for teh entire day! No pumpkinseed, sunfish or rockbass - only perch. I have to admit that this is a first for me.
It was neat to see all of the other derby fisherman out there. At one point there had to be close to 200 boats in one relatively concentrated area. I had never experienced anything like this before, and I can tell you this won't be my last time. I should be headed there again before the end of the. I hope you come along for the trip.
12 April 2009
Cat's in the Cradle and Smoke is on the Water
This beauty is a 2008 Smokercraft 192 Millentia with a Mercury Optimax 115hp motor. Our chariot has room for six when cruising or when we're on the hunt we have four chairs, spacious casting decks at both front and rear, a 75lb trolling motor and two fish finders.
For her maiden voyage, we took "Smoke on the Water" out onto the Grand River looking for some Catfish. It would be a shame to not to return victorious on our first hunt in our chariot so I had to deliver. I was armed with my baitcaster (ahem, Duk) and we were fishing a modified Carolina rig that PITB read about and it required a great deal of patience since it was a very slow method with the bait just being left still in the water. I felt a tug and a bunch of line go out with my drag pretty much completely open. I added drag and set the hook and then nothing. I thought I lost it or I was caught on some structure but not a couple seconds later did I see my rod tip bend towards the water. The fight was on!
It seemed like an eternity of reeling, letting out drag, reeling, taking drag away but then it surfaced ensighting cheers, laughter and finger snapping from Sir Fusses. A barrel roll followed and it plunged to the depths once again. I continued the fight and brought it closer to the boat. We didn't have our net so PITB was tasked to use the grippers to grasp the fish as I brought to the boat's side and after a few tense seconds and more rolls from the fish...success! A 12.5lb cat!
So, now the bar has been set and the gauntlet has been thrown. The hunt is officially on and the first prize catch is in. I now put it to you other BASStards pony up and bring in the next big one!
05 April 2009
0 for 3
So, I have been out fishing 3 times this year, and have come back skunked 3 times!
Here is the trip by trip chrpnicle.
The first time out, Knot'Yo and I'll Cut You came with me to Bronte Pier. We targetted pike before the season closed for the Spring Spawn. We got down to Bronte at about 6 pm and got the lines wet at 6:15. This was teh first time I had the new baitcasters out this year, and they made me look exactly that - new. Several backlashes and lost lures later, all I had caught was a chill. The temperature throughout the day hovered around 10, but had dropped to 5 degrees by that time. Despite coming away empty handed, it was wonderful to get out and make some casts.
My next outing was the very next day. The day was sunny and held hidden promises of aquatic life. Knot'Yo joined me along with Sir Fusses as well as my cousins Mek Mek and Lil Debbie. We fished with worma nd float at Mill Pond for 2 hours targetting panfish. Only Mek Mek was successful, landing a perch and a pumpkinseed. However, this trip wasn't fruitless as we still dined on fish at Heritage Fish and Chips. It was delicious and is highly recommended if you are ever in the Milton area.
Wednesday was beaustiful. So beautiful that we decided to ry our luck at Mill Pond again. This time, I had Sir, Knot'Yo and Spam with me. While the others went for the traditional worm and float panfish, I decided to play around with a modified Carolina rig for small catfish. Well, we all 4 were skunked. However, the 1 other dude who was there, and wasn't exactly ina chatty mood, was catching fish next to the 4 of us... le sigh.
Well, 1 more week until our chariot arrives. I am so stoked.
Here is the trip by trip chrpnicle.
The first time out, Knot'Yo and I'll Cut You came with me to Bronte Pier. We targetted pike before the season closed for the Spring Spawn. We got down to Bronte at about 6 pm and got the lines wet at 6:15. This was teh first time I had the new baitcasters out this year, and they made me look exactly that - new. Several backlashes and lost lures later, all I had caught was a chill. The temperature throughout the day hovered around 10, but had dropped to 5 degrees by that time. Despite coming away empty handed, it was wonderful to get out and make some casts.
My next outing was the very next day. The day was sunny and held hidden promises of aquatic life. Knot'Yo joined me along with Sir Fusses as well as my cousins Mek Mek and Lil Debbie. We fished with worma nd float at Mill Pond for 2 hours targetting panfish. Only Mek Mek was successful, landing a perch and a pumpkinseed. However, this trip wasn't fruitless as we still dined on fish at Heritage Fish and Chips. It was delicious and is highly recommended if you are ever in the Milton area.
Wednesday was beaustiful. So beautiful that we decided to ry our luck at Mill Pond again. This time, I had Sir, Knot'Yo and Spam with me. While the others went for the traditional worm and float panfish, I decided to play around with a modified Carolina rig for small catfish. Well, we all 4 were skunked. However, the 1 other dude who was there, and wasn't exactly ina chatty mood, was catching fish next to the 4 of us... le sigh.
Well, 1 more week until our chariot arrives. I am so stoked.
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