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Tales From The Road

Since my last Tales article I’ve been averaging at least six days a week, sometimes seven, on the road. Road trips are, and have always been, a big part of my life. There’s just something about being on the go that I love. In fact, as I wrap up this column I’ll be hitting the road again and I can’t wait, even though I just got back a day ago. I think it’s ingrained in me so much that I don’t mind living out of a suitcase. I know it’s not for everybody, but I like it.

The MGM Fishing Trip

On the first Saturday of June 2020, a group of 20 extended family members will celebrate an amazing milestone. They will be participating in the 50th consecutive year of a family fishing trip begun by four founding members way back in 1971.

Hidden Gems

Every now and again we anglers are lucky enough to find lakes, ponds or creeks that feel so isolated from civilization that believing they are a reality is sometimes more difficult than finding them in the first place. Stumbling across, or being introduced to, a body of water with such enormous potential for catching fish is what any fishing enthusiast dreams of. Fortunately for myself, I have lucked out three times in one shot.

Black Crappie

The black crappie is a member of the sunfish family and features the same deep, laterally compressed body shape as other sunfishes.

Fly Tricks For Fall Trout

In the fall, fly fishing changes. Not only does the weather cool, the bug activity often quiets down as well. Different techniques are needed to adapt to the rivers where fish are often looking for different food. Searching techniques and paying attention to details can improve your success.

Autumn Rivers Of Bronze

Cast number one results in a powerfully built 18-incher! Cast number two and a 20-incher comes to hand. Cast number three and I find myself hooked into something really big and powerful! Moments later, I find that my hand is barely fitting around the shoulders of a very thick 23-incher!!

Summertime Fun

Through many parts of the country summer brings changes in fishing opportunities. Summer means smallmouth bass to me! These fish thrive in warmer rivers and lakes during the heat of summer. I especially like the variety of ways that I can target these bronze battlers.

St. Lawrence River Muskies

Tips and tactics from muskie guide Dave Curtis.

S.W. Ellis & Sons

Samuel Wilson Ellis was born on the 4th of March, 1879, in Trent Bridge, Ontario, to Luke and Sarah (Hardy) Ellis.

River Otter

(Lontra canadensis) My canoe was gliding slowly and quietly along the shoreline when I heard a “ccchhh” sound slightly behind me.

Panama's Wild Coast

Having had my kayak launched from the mother boat I began to pedal it toward one of the many rock outcroppings that lined the shore. Almost within casting range I stop pedaling and let the kayak slowly glide forward. Stealth is everything; experience has taught me well.Loading my rod tip, I begin to assault the rocky outcropping with the longest casts that I can muster. My six-inch popper lands on the ocean surface with a loud splash. Immediately I begin popping the bait as hard as I can. It is crucial that a popper creates as much splash and sound as possible to draw up the monsters from below.

Muskellunge

The mere mention of the name, Muskellunge, is enough toget most anglers’ blood racing.

5 Simple Rules For Summer Crappies

It is hard to say anything negative about the black crappie. Here’s a fish that has a good attitude about hitting live or artificial baits; that presents a bit of a challenge to land thanks to a papery mouth; that schools strongly so good numbers can be taken; that provides a lot of meat for its length and that rivals or beats yellow perch, walleye and anything else you care to suggest as the best-tasting freshwater fish. Probably the only thing any of us will complain about is that they become elusive after the spring spawn.

Why Do Fish Do What They Do?

Why do fish do certain things at certain times? Why? I’m asking because I’ve got a two-year-old granddaughter who’s always asking me, “Why?” When I take her out to my pond fishing, or for a walk to show her nature, she’s always asking, “Why”?All through my life I’ve wondered why you catch fish sometimes and sometimes you don’t. Why is that? As I get older I’m finding out more of the reasons but I know I’ll never find out all of them.

The Magic Never Dies

I opened the old metal tackle box and took a long look at its contents. After some thoughtful deliberations I removed a handful of ancient lures that had been relegated there for the last 60 or so years, give or take a decade.

The Wallflower River

Originally called “Askunesippi”, (Ojibwa for “the antlered river”), Ontario’s Thames River received its present name in1792. The Thames was officially designated as a Canadian heritage river in 2000. It flows westward from the town of Tavistock through Woodstock, past London, into Chatham and on to Lighthouse Cove where it joins Lake St. Clair, a distance of some 270-kilometers. There are 94 species of fish that call this nutrient-rich water home, everything from brook trout to longnose gar.

Fly Fishing - Travel Time

Fly fishing is a perfect opportunity to get out and see someincredible places in this world. It is amazing how manydifferent fish and fisheries are out there that can be targetedwith a fly rod. I have really enjoyed seeing the sightsunder the guise of a fishing trip or sneaking the gear intomy bag on a family tour. Either way, there are ways to getmore out of your travelling fishing experience.

Lucky Strike Chub Baits

Lucky Strike, one of Canada’s largest and oldest fishing tackle manufacturers, will be celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2019. It is still is a family run business and still successfully manufacturing fishing tackle from their Peterborough facility.

The Common Loon

What would a fishing trip be up north be without the hearing the echoing call the loon? It is at times a lonely, haunted call and at other times a maniacal laugh. It is the sound of the north. It is a familiar species that we all feel we know. However, as more and more research is done we are learning that the Common loon is a more complicated bird than we thought and some of the long-held beliefs about it are changing.

Sharpening 101

John Ward is the Vice President and General Manager of Acme United Canada

Lake Trout

A member of the char family, the lake trout is a uniquelyCanadian fish. They are easily recognized by their long,somewhat rounded shape, deeply forked tail and bodywhich is covered with light spots on a darker background.

Catching The Largest Pike In Any Waterbody

Northern pike are one of the most aggressive freshwater fish species throughout Canada and the northern US. They are very adaptable and can make themselves right at home in a wide variety of lakes, reservoirs, and river systems. They can grow well into the 40-inch range and some can even stretch the tape past the 50-inch mark.

Wall Eye Through The Winter

There’s no question that walleye are one of the most popular gamefish in Canada, regardless of the season. However, winter presents a number of unique challenges and in order to be successful you need to know where to look for fish at various times during the winter.

The Suick

It is interesting to note that one of the most renowned muskie lures of our time was created partly by observation and partly by accidental luck. Frank Suick owned a fish hatchery and he noticed that injured or sick trout would dive down to the bottom of the tank and then slowly rise up to the surface when he tried to dip net them. Being a muskie angler, this gave birth to an idea.

Tales From The Road

One of the rewarding aspects of my fishing career has been being able to meet so many people who love the sport of fishing.

The Heddon Punkinseed

Joseph McArthur, a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan, was granted U.S. Design Patent No. 113,611 for the “ornamental design”, i.e. body shape, of the Punkinseed lure for a term of 14-years.

Ice Fishing Made Easy

Each year around November or December, Canadian anglers are faced with the task of storing their boats and tackle as winter moves in and ice locks down the lakes and rivers. For some, the next five-months are spent tinkering with gear, shopping for new fishing supplies, watching fishing shows and generally doing anything remotely fishing related as a means to stay sane until the spring. For others, the arrival of winter signals the beginning of a whole new fishing season. Snowmobiles and ATVs take the place of boats; long rods give way to short jigging sticks and chopping or drilling holes through the ice replaces casting as the method of offering baits to fish.

Should India Cap Tiger Population

In April 2023, India announced that its wild tiger population has increased to a healthy 3,167 from just 1,400 in 2006. However, almost 30 per cent of the tigers roam outside the protected areas and regularly enter human habitations. There is also concern over shrinking tiger corridors-patches that connect two large areas of forest-due to the construction of linear infrastructure such as railway lines, highways and canals. Moreover, tigers are believed to be leaving forests in pursuit of herbivores that are increasingly foraying into human-dominated landscapes since the natural flora on which they survive is overtaken by invasive species such as lantana, a plant introduced to India by the British. Does this mean that India's forests are nearing their carrying capacity to support tigers, who are apex predators? Should the country consider capping its tiger population or look at other solutions?

Return Of The Cheetah

Hunted to extinction in India by 1952, the big cat is now being reintroduced in the country. Will the world’s first intercontinental trans­ location of a carnivore in the wild work?

Ascending caddis pupa

The ascending stage of a caddis makes easy prey for both trout and yellowfish – the reason why Arno Laubscher propagates tying a pattern that imitates it.