Open Season Upon Us

With the trout opener a few weeks away, and the rivers high, muddy,and un-fishable, Im really starting to feel the anxiety build. I decided to go through some of my older fishing photos, and realized something. HOW FAT I WAS!! None the less, here are some of the photos from the last few years. We will call this a catch up post.

One thing I should mention, I am an avid believer of selective harvest, and I probably keep 1 or 2 fish a year, if that, and they are never prime spawners. I believe strongly that catch and release works, and that by respecting the environment, and the fish, it can be preserved for many years to come for all of us to enjoy. I also love to eat fish......just thought I should put that out there.

Temagami

We have spent some time up in Temagami, on Net Lake. That lake must have the healthiest population of Smallmouth Bass that I have regularly fished. Over a 3 day stretch, we did not catch a smallie under 18 inches, and we were trying for Pike and Walley.

Oddly enough, as the day warmed up, the Walley came in to feed! One thing most people say when they see photos with me and fish is "The fish isn't that big". Not to say that I'm catching world record fish, but keep in mind, I'm 6'3, I tend to dwarf anything I hold.

Rice Lake

A couple bass we hooked into, in bad conditions on Rice Lake.  All the dams and locks were open all the way to Petobourough giving us high, fast moving water!

Fly Fishing Smallies

 Busted out the fly rod when the wind calmed down, moved into a little back bay, and hooked into my first bass on a fly.

Espanola

26inch-Pike

Last year, we spent a week-end in Espanola. It was a great trip, and we are going back for the Pike/Walley opener this year. This time for 5 whole days!

Next bunch of photos are some pike that we hooked into on our second day. We started off in a calm back bay, and than the chop picked up on the main lake with the wind. We targeted wind swept points, and were hooking into the biggest fish of the trip. Every cast was at least a follow!

The pike really keyed in on Perch coloured X-Raps

I look ridiculous in hats!

 Some Smallies above, we started hooking the Walley first, than all of a sudden, things changed and the bass started to bite. Caught the 2 and moved on,  they were out of season. Either way, I got the photo, its all I really need.

 This was the big fish of the trip. This Pike measured in at 46 inch's and has a big story to boot. One f my fishing partners, had not caught anything yet on the trip. I decided I wanted to help him catch a fish, so I played guide. I steered the boat up to a point, and instructed him to cast. On the retrieve, we saw a large shadow follow the bait, and take it. He froze! Didn't know what to do now that he got a hit. We continued to fish the shoreline, and by the time we got back to the point, I was fishing again. I made the first cast, and he asked me "Do you think that big fish is still here?" to which I replied "Yes!" with a hook set.
 She demolished my last Perch coloured X-Rap, and gave me the typical "Release Bath" of a large Pike. I hope to see her again this year!

Another "wind/point" Pike

Random Bass

Took a trip with my girlfriend, and decided to stop off in Muskoka for a few casts. Wasn't a  huge fish, but it fought like it was!

Another little scrapper that I picked up in the Orillia area. This is one of my favourite places to fish, and there is a Muskie in this water that has my number! I hooked it 5 times, and have yet to land it! I've got the last Saturday in June circled!

So, now I'm kind of caught up. I lost all my trout photos, and I don't seem to have any photos that are more than 3 years old on my computer. If I find any notable one's, I'll post them, otherwise, its onward!

See you on the water!