| In this issue:
Our
Fishing
Video Site is up and running. If you have hi-speed
internet access
click
here to see some great short fishing video clips. We've
added a few new UNDERWATER Videos
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Teal Paddles and Canoe
Yokes Teal paddles and yokes originated in the
midst of northern Ontario's lakes and rivers almost 30 years
ago. Since then, they have been distributed to canoe enthusiasts
through out the world. We make one piece paddles of birch and
ash woods. They are durable, reliable and affordable. The
Teal portage yoke is of the highest quality and comfort
available in a yoke.
Wildlife
Stained Glass We manufacture quality stained glass
ornaments using both snowshoes and fishing nets as frames for
our work. Our designs are unique and wilderness and outdoor
related. If you are interested in any of our designs or need
some custom work done, please give us a call at the phone number
below and we will be glad to speak to you.
Fork Lake Resort
- Our Resort operates on a year round
basis. We operate a Restaurant at our Resort with the finest
Home Cooked Meals for your dining pleasure. We offer
accommodations on our beautifully landscaped site in the form of
Cabins and also tent and trailer sites. Cabins and Trailer sites
are fully serviced for your convenience. We also offer Summer
Fishing packages as well as Ice Fishing packages, Hunting
packages for Bear, Moose and Small game.
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.
Shoal Lake Lodge
- All new quality accommodations will
include six individual cottages, the Lodge/Dining Hall,
Recreation Room and out buildings. Our specialty is Northern
Pike and Small and Largemouth Bass fishing. Northern Pike
fishing is simply fabulous both in number and size.
Shoal Lake is rated by
Ontario out of Doors as the #1 drive to pike
lake in Ontario
Cedar Shores Resort
- Located North of Thunder Bay, close
to East Lake Nipigon. Excellent walleye/pickerel, northern pike,
trout fishing, ice fishing, partridge , small game hunting,
moose, moose tags (bow and rifle), bear, cabins, motel, camping,
reasonable rates, weekend packages bait/ice available,
boat/motor rentals, licenses , sauna, swimming.
Samoset Lodge
- Fishing at Samoset
Lodge is a treat. The angler can take advantage of miles of reed
beds, countless back bays dotted with lily pads, and rich, rocky
shoals where you can find the species you are looking for -
Muskie, Bass, Great Northern Pike, Walleye (Pickerel), as well
as several lesser demand species. Lake Nipissing is one of the
most beautiful lakes in Ontario. Ninety miles in length and
forty-five miles wide, this healthy, vital lake is a maze of
rocks and islands to discover.
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"Sight Fishing 101" By Justin Hoffman
Nothing can get the heart pumping or the nerves
shaking as much as seeing a chunky bass slowly swim up to your
chosen bait, engulfing it in one fell swoop. Sight fishing is a
productive and versatile technique that requires a set of trained
eyes, as well as a concentrated mental focus. Come and join me as I
explain how to go about spotting fish well before you cast to them -
it may sound backwards, but the astonishing results certainly won't
lie.
The Eyes Have It
When it comes to sight fishing for bass, the ability to spot
cruising or stationary fish is your greatest ally. Without the use
of polarized fishing glasses, however, this goal will most certainly
turn into a lost cause.
Polarized glasses work by cutting out the glare that
is present on the waters surface, while also increasing the area and
depth that can be viewed with the human eye. Wearing these glasses
will allow you as an angler to probe through and into the water,
giving you a distinct advantage for differentiating fish from cover
or structure.
Choosing a high-quality pair of fishing glasses in a
wrap-around style (this allows a greater viewing area and less light
penetration to the eyes) would be your best bet. Yellow or brown
tinted lenses seem to offer the highest definition when searching
for bass, although any tint will most certainly be better than no
tint or glasses at all.
Another handy addition to the glasses is a
wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap. This will help cut down additional
glare while also deflecting the sun's light rays.
Water Clarity
An important factor of sight fishing is the actual water clarity
of the lake or pond you are fishing. Extremely clear water may seem
like the number one choice (and it will cough up exceptional bass!)
but it also has repercussions that go along with it.
The clearer the water is, the easier it will become
for bass to spot you. Spotting an angler or his boat is a dead
giveaway for danger, causing a spooked reaction in the fish time and
time again. As the water clarity increases, so does the amount of
time a bass will spend inspecting your bait, and possibly turning
their noses up at something that just doesn't seem right.
My favorite type of water to fish when sight fishing
would be slightly stained. This will still allow increased
visualization, yet will conceal the angler and boat much better than
clear water. Fish will generally be more active during this water
color stage, and activity levels will certainly be on the upswing.
Utilize small, natural looking baits to fool
bass when sight fishing shallow water. Twister tails, tubes, lizards
and jerk worms will all do the trick nicely.
Scouring the Shallows
It goes without saying that the most productive type of water to
search for fish will be shallow in nature. Shallow can mean many
things to different people, but in my books, shallow represents
water that is less than six-feet deep. (Any deeper and you may
encounter visibility problems that could render this system
unusable.)
Early morning periods will find me slowly cruising
productive looking shoreline areas - these spots will include open
area sand and weed flats, as well as dock and weed/rock locations.
What you are searching for during this "prime time" is active
largemouth, hence the concentration on shoreline feeding troughs.
Try to keep the sun to your back if at all possible (this will make
it harder for fish to see you), and be extremely quiet and stealthy
in your approach. An electric motor run on low, or a push pole, are
your best methods of movement when perfecting this technique.
Scanning the water for fish is the basic technique for sight
fishing, but it isn't the only course of action you have for finding
bass. Paying attention to surface disturbances and bait fish action
will also lead you to the bass below. Largemouth bass will often
"bust" or chase baitfish on the surface - spotting this commotion
can give you an area to concentrate on, and if your eyesight is
good, hopefully a bass to see.
Tackle and Baits
Light equipment is the key to sight fishing, mainly due to the fact
that water clarity will be good, and these shallow water fish can be
spooked easily. I prefer to use a medium-light-action spinning rod
in the six to six-and-a-half foot length. A high-quality spinning
reel loaded with clear 6-pound test monofilament is my choice for
partnering up with the rod.
When it comes to choosing baits, small and natural is certainly the
route to take. Tubes, craws, lizards and jerk worms (in the three to
five-inch sizes) are my top choices when casting to fish that have
been spotted. (A couple of my favorites are the Zoom Super Fluke
Plastic Worm and the Kalin's Super Floozy.) These baits will entice
largemouth in clear water, while remaining natural and unobtrusive
enough not to spook them. Use the lightest worm weight or jig head
you can get away with, as this will allow the bait to fall at a slow
rate of speed, allowing more time for a fish to spot and react to
it. Colors can be a hot topic, but my experience has shown that
sticking to natural hues will usually work best. Smoke, gray, white
and black will all produce well, as will these shades with a fleck
or sparkle in them for contrast on cloudy days.
When casting to fish you have spotted, accuracy and soft landings
are two important controls you need to practice. Never cast directly
at the fish. Doing so will undoubtedly spook it in this clear and
shallow water. Instead, cast six or eight-feet beyond the bass, and
slowly work your bait towards the fish. Be prepared to make long
casts. The further away you can position yourself and your boat from
the fish, the greater your chances for success.
Allowing your bait to land with the least amount of surface
disturbance is also key to attracting a bite. Any unnecessary
splashes within "earshot" of your targeted fish will surely alert
him to danger, most times allowing him to scoot away. (Feathering
your line with your fingers before splashdown is a sure-fire method
for splash-less entries.)
Sight fishing for largemouth bass throws a whole new twist on the
angling game. Targeting and actively searching for fish can lead to
excitement-packed days, and when conditions are just right, a steady
bend on the rod and a grinning smile on the face.
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