In this issue:
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Red Pine Wilderness
Lodge - Our 8
guest cottages set amidst towering,
red
pine trees on a 7 acre
island is the place for your special remote fishing trip or
wilderness family holiday. We are the Gateway to two huge parks:
The Obabika Waterway Park and The Lady Evelyn/Smoothwater
Wilderness Park. We offer the serious angler Northeastern
Ontario's finest Walleye (Pickerel), Great Northern Pike,
Smallmouth Bass, Whitefish and Perch fishing.
White Birches Camp
in Port Loring, Ontario Explore and fish the Pickerel River
system. Lakeside housekeeping cottages, RV and tent camping and
secluded outposts. Well maintained docks, and boat and motor
rentals. Beaches, recreation room, children's playground,
laundomat, sauna. Off season discounts.
Auld Reekie Lodge
- Whether you pamper yourself with our
full meal plan and the ultimate in comfort in one of our 6
luxury suites, or stay in a fully equipped 4 star cottage where
you can cook your own meals, at Auld
Reekie Lodge we feel
we've got everything you're looking for and more. Auld
Reekie Lodge, as
featured on the Canadian Sportsfishing Show, is a true escape in
the beauty of Northern Ontario's wilderness
Sydney Lake Lodge - Canadian
fly-in fishing trips and vacations in Northwestern Ontario
Canada. Trophy fishing for Lake Trout, walleye and northern
pike. The only resort located in both Ontario's Trophy Waters
and Woodland Caribou Wilderness Park. We are located on
exclusive waters on Sydney and Kilburn Lakes. Unrivalled fishing
and wilderness adventure.
Uchi Lake Lodge - Fly-in for the
remote fishing experience of a lifetime!!! Fish Ontario for
Walleye and Northern. Fish for Trophy Walleye and Northern. Why
Fly? Because that's where the fishing pressure is at it's
minimum. Ontario's beauty is an added BONUS!
Marten River Assoc. of Tourist Camps
- A little North of Lake Nipissing and a
little South of Lake Temagami makes for some FANTASTIC fishing
vacations!! Planning to escape from the everyday hectic pace of
the business or family world ..you're heading in the right
direction. Beautiful Marten River with its multitude of lakes
and rivers is a year-round family vacation paradise. Whether
your intention is to escape for a few days or a few weeks, is
more than accommodating.
Fox’s Den Lodge - Fox’s Den Lodge
is located next to the Chapleau game preserve on Dog Lake, 1 ˝
hrs northwest of Wawa Ontario. After a 30 minute boat ride from
our launch in Missanabie, you can expect to enjoy excellent
fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Jumbo Perch.
We offer American plan and housekeeping packages.
Robs Ice Bungalows - Robs offers
ice fishing bungalows on Lake Nipissing near North Bay.
Ice Bungalows - Stay in your own
bungalow on the ice on Lake Nipissings south shore
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"Figuring Out the World of Ice Augers" By
Justin Hoffman
 With
the hard water finally arriving across Ontario, anglers everywhere
are converging on its frozen surface to drill their way through to
the fish below. Without the use of an auger, however, this simple
task would be virtually impossible to perform. In today's high-tech
world of ice fishing, augers come in every shape and size
imaginable, leaving many fisherpersons utterly confused and
bewildered. This doesn't have to be the case, as figuring out your
needs and wants beforehand, will lead you to an informed and correct
auger selection. (And hours upon hours of effortless drilling!)
Manual or Gas-Powered?
There are two basic types of augers available to the ice
fisherman - manual or gas. Each has it's own pro's and con's,
although deciding on your style of fishing, fitness level, expense
account and ice thickness will make the task of narrowing it down as
easy as 1-2-3.
Manual : Manual augers are basic in design and use.
In order to drill holes, you have to use your own body strength
(mainly shoulders and arms), which can often be a chore for those
with a limited fitness level. Once the ice gets thick (over 12 or
16-inches) the harder the work will become, which can pose a problem
if you like to move around a lot and drill numerous holes.
If the lakes or ponds you fish have relatively thin ice, or if
you only make it out a few times a year, a manual auger is certainly
the way to go. It is also a great choice for the budget-minded
angler, as they can be purchased for less than $60 - be prepared to
pay eight to 10 times that price for a good quality gas auger!
The simple design also equates to less parts to break down when
out on the ice, a problem that can rear its ugly head when dealing
with the gas variety and its motor, pistons and choke.
Manual augers are also lightweight, allowing ease of carrying
when walking out to your hotspots. This is especially useful when
you can't drive out to your holes, or don't own a four-wheeler or
snowmobile to cart your equipment around with.
Gas-Powered Augers : For quick and effortless
drilling, nothing compares to a gas-powered auger. No matter how
thick the ice, an auger of this type will work it's way down like a
knife through butter, leaving you sweat and ache-free. For those
that spend a lot of time on the hard stuff, or deal with two-foot
thick ice, a gas auger is certainly the right choice.
Gas augers can be prone to not co-operating occasionally (think
gas lawnmowers!), but for the most part are very reliable and
efficient. (For those anglers concerned about mechanical failure
when out on the ice, bringing along a manual as a backup can be a
smart move.)
Gas augers can also be heavy in weight, so it is imperative to
have a quad or snow machine to tow it out to your starting point.
Another advantage to having a gas auger is hole dimension. As hole
size increases with manual augers, the harder it will become to
drill. This isn't the case when using gas; so bigger holes can be
utilized to make your fishing easier.
Remember, gas and oil adds to the expense of running one of these
augers, in comparison to the one-time fee of a manual.
What Size Hole?
Deciding on what size hole your auger is capable of drilling is
dependent on a number of different scenarios. For gas augers,
choosing the largest you can afford is usually the best bet to make.
(10-inch diameter is a common size, although 12-inches is certainly
available.)
For manual augers, it can become a bit more complicated. As I've
already stated, the larger the hole you are drilling with a manual,
the more effort you will need to exert to drill. When dealing with
thin ice, there really isn't a difference between drilling a
six-inch hole in comparison to an eight-inch hole. Take those same
augers' and try to drill through two-feet of ice, and the
differences will be astounding. (You may get through the ice with
the eight-inch auger, but your body will certainly pay the price!)
Auger hole size is also dependent on the specie you chase. For
those that spend the majority of time tempting panfish, a 4 ˝ or
6-inch auger is tops in my books. If your goal is to chase both
panfish and walleye, then a 6-inch will certainly shine the majority
of the time. If larger gamefish are your prey (lake trout or pike),
an 8-inch auger hole will become a necessity.
I still rely on a 6-inch manual for the majority of my ice
fishing. I've caught a ton of panfish and walleye easily and
effortlessly through that small diameter of open water, although if
I were to hit some of the lakes that hold larger walleye (think Bay
of Quinte), a step-up to an 8-inch hole would certainly be more
practical. Choose wisely, but choose the size that will suit your
style of fishing, and of the species you chase.
Tips for Improved Performance
1. Always dry your auger blades after returning home from the
ice.
2. Apply a thin coat of oil to the metal blades to help prevent
rust.
3. Keeping the blade guard on will increase the life of your blades,
while also limiting the chances of accidental cuts.
4. Carry a spare set of auger blades with you at all times. (Don't
forget the necessary tools needed to change the blades.)
5. Use the manufacturer's recommended oil and gas for gas-powered
augers.
6. Do not attempt to sharpen blades if you unsure of the proper way
to do them. Allow a professional to do the work, or replace the
blades entirely.
7. Do not bang your auger on the ice. Allow the blades to do the
work, while applying minimal pressure when drilling holes.
Ice fishing is a wonderful winter sport that everyone can enjoy.
Deciding on the right kind of auger will make the your outing more
enjoyable and rewarding, and will have you drilling your way through
the ice like a man or woman on a mission for fishing success.
Have fun out there and be safe!!.
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