JAN 22nd

[Blair]

Well .... after seeing FLOAT's beautiful chrome from the previous day, that was it!

Had to get out somehow, and catch some of my own (INSPIRED).



Just finished yelling at the TV (Stupid Baltimore Ravens - Cant believe they lost to New England) *SMILES* and the phone rings.
My brother in Law was heading over to a friends in Mississauga and wanted to know if I'd join him.

Well ... yes, I said ... but had a totally differrent Idea.

Why not let me off down at the Park while you visit and pick me up ... in a couple of hours.

"Its friggin 8Pm at night! ... by the time I drop you off it will be around 9pm, are you crazy?"

Crazy as a FOX!



So Billy Drops me off.

Got my lightweight, some Roe Bags (Stincky- Nickle Size) and was on a mission.

Find the open water and hit it!



Good thing the temps were hoving around 1C... wind died mostly down .... was a great evening.

Okay .... I got about 2 1/2 hours. Lets make this happen.



First 1/2 hour nothing .... (Well maybe (1) missed hit......)

About ten minutes later heard a faint sound coming from down the shoreline (a russling) .... WOW .... Friggin COYOTE ... foraging along the banks.

Cool.



Amazing what you'll see all by yourself ... out late at night.

Lit a cirgarette .... just as I was putting the lighter back in my pocket .... Line goes TAP TAP TAP...

Oh Yeah (God I love the feeling) ... SET THE HOOK!



FIsh on! Played em for about 2-3 mins. Very strong ..... Brought "her" to the icy bank. Nice 7-8 lbs Female piece of Chrome.

Got the camera out .... DAM, Flash is not going off (Just enough power to turn on and off, not enough for flash) SOB!

Oh well, let her go .... off like a bullet.



ReBait...... Changed the batteries in the Camera..... Took a "Control Shot" ...... Everything set for round 2.


Slow ..... yet beautiful evening.

Awesome to be out alone..... peaceful...... relaxing.



STUPID BALTIMORE RAVENS! DUMB IDIOTS! ..... WHY THE HELL DIDNT THEY JUST TAKE THEIR TIME AND GET THE FIRST DOWN?

STUPID RAVENS, LOST THE DAM GAME! IT WAS THEIRS.


Another 1/2 hour goes by..... thought I had another bite.... not sure though ...... line jerk .... and since I dont believe in Ghosts..... had to have been something.

Getting a bit chilly.



Okay .... Lets put on a FRESH ROE BAG, LIGHT my LAST CIGARETTE ..... and see what happens.

Gonna call it a night.

Billy just called and said to meet me in the Parking Lot in about 10-15 minutes.

Now or Never.... (Gotta get a pic for you guys) *SMILES*



TAP TAP TAP..... or should I say ; PULL.... RUN.....PULL.....HEAD JERK.... Out of the Water.... PULL RUN ... another SPLASH!

Man . must be a big bow!



Played it for about 2 minutes.

Glad I took the time to retie my hook properly (Said to myself "DONT GET LAZY)



Brought it up on the ice to shore.

HEY MAN.... thats not Chrome..... thats a nice FAT BROWN!

Beautiful fish.

Cut my fingers getting the hook out.

Wasnt set deep or actually too hard..... just had the fish do the Funky monkey ... slicing my fingers up.

Sweet.

Gave em Kiss .... let em go.

Put some bandaids on me Bleeding Fingers.





Billy was on time. He ask if I caught anything

Crazy as a FOX i said

 

[salmotrutta]

Not much in trout fishing can compare to hooking into a resident brown that at first feels like a steelhead. I love when that happens, usually in May. Not sure if that's a resident brown or not, but regardless, what a rush eh! Gorgeous fish.

It's funny how many times you get a fish right before you have to leave. My first ever brown was caught when I didn't have my own vehicle and I was already 10-15 minutes late for bringing back the car I was using. Sometimes you have to push the limits!

Awesome report Blair.

 

[Blair]

Thanks Sal!


This year ... I've been fortunate enough to be getting into some Beautiful (Ones with just gorgeous colours) Browns.

Strong & Healthy!



* In UNEXPECTED PLACES



I hope its a SIGN of their Numbers increasing.

Unfortunately, I think its a fluke.

I see so many people just RAPING THE HENS .... makes me sick.



Since the ones I got this year .... are "Most Likely" .... wild ones.... wouldnt even THINK of TOUCHING THEM!

Besides ... their so pretty, couldnt do anything but smile and wish em well.



CHINNY ROE .... seems to do just fine!


*This spring I'm seriously going to keep a couple of the SUCKERS and start using some of their ROE (Real Small)
I know for a fact all the TOP FISH love sucker Roe. Just a matter of learning to tie it.

I can then keep the sucker meat for bait (Cat Fish & Pike).

 

[float^drifter]

Nice report Blair, awesome brown

 

[hightechdecks]

nice brown blair ....good to see you guys are still out there catching .....looks like a well recovered drop back male. did you get that one bouncing?

 

[staffman]

I admire your dedication Blair. I don't fish in the dark, I have enough trouble when I can see what is happening.

 

[ChaseChrome]

You're not a FOX Blair--but you ARE bloody crazy!!
:blink: :blink:

I have bad/fond memories of night fishing for bass with my dad--can't tell you the number of treble hooks I had to dislodge from my face LOL!!!

 

[Blair]

. did you get that one bouncing?

Yes!


Just throwing out into the deeper pools, let it settle on the bottom.

Same set up as always:


7ft MedLight Spinning Rod / 6lb Mono *NO LEADER

Nickle Sized Roe bag ( exposed hook) - Dont worry "What the Bag" looks like, its the SMELL!

#6 Octapus Hook

Split Shot Sinker about 18" up

Tight Lines ... wait for the TAP

 

[salmotrutta]

Yes!


Just throwing out into the deeper pools, let it settle on the bottom.

Same set up as always:


7ft MedLight Spinning Rod / 6lb Mono *NO LEADER

Nickle Sized Roe bag ( exposed hook) - Dont worry "What the Bag" looks like, its the SMELL!

#6 Octapus Hook

Split Shot Sinker about 18" up

Tight Lines ... wait for the TAP

Nice and simple!

Very similar to what I usually do. 7 ft MedHeavy, somewhere between 4 and 10 lb mono, hook size for trout generally around 10, no leader, no split shots. Just need the guts to let that roe bag drift into coverage and hope you get a fish, not a snag! If you get a snag, big deal, retie and try again.

 

[Blair]

Nice and simple!

Very similar to what I usually do. 7 ft MedHeavy, somewhere between 4 and 10 lb mono, hook size for trout generally around 10, no leader, no split shots. Just need the guts to let that roe bag drift into coverage and hope you get a fish, not a snag! If you get a snag, big deal, retie and try again.

Obviously there are exceptions:


- Perfect drift and presentation

- Exacting set up and location

- Thorough preparations ....



But in GENERAL:



The more you have your LINE IN THE WATER .... the more FISH!

*That's why 90% I keep it real simple and easy.

 

[NADO]

*That's why 90% I keep it real simple and easy.

wont be able to say that when you get your pin come spring

 

[salmotrutta]

wont be able to say that when you get your pin come spring

I took a couple of guys out for trout in November, both were using pins. One was using the standard float fishing set up, the other guy literally just tied a plain (and quite large I might add) hook directly to his line and that's it - and he caught the most that day.

So whether you use floats and leaders and sinkers or not really depends on personal preference more than anything. There will be certain pools and certain conditions where one style will be more productive than the other - but it really boils down to what style you prefer and are most comfortable with.

 

[chris f]

nice brown blair thanks for posting the pics,glad to see you were rewarded for the effort especially at night.

 

[NOTTA STEELER]

Blair ... Nice report , nice brown . When was the last time you fished in the daylight . Have you been bitten ... lately .?

 

[Blair]

Blair ... Nice report , nice brown . When was the last time you fished in the daylight . Have you been bitten ... lately .?

*SMILES* yes .... I AM A VAMPIRE!


Seriously, my wife was mentioning the same thing the other day.

There are a couple of factors ... now that I think about it:



1. Since "Work" has been BRUTAL for the past 3 months (One employer bounced my cheques and didnt pay me for 2 months of work before Christmas!) ... I've been doing some "on call" contracting

work for a friend. So everytime the weather (Day) was even remotely cooperating ... I couldnt make it.



2. Since I dont own a car, most of my outing involve the TTC or GO (occasional rides from BrotherInLaw) ..... and during the day, they are BRUTALLY CROWDED!! I have absolutely NO PROBLEM

taking my gear (Always pack light anyway - keep it simple) ..... but if I have a choice (Which i do) might as well go in the evening. Less traffic ... (faster if going by Go Bus) .... and the Catch rate

Seems to be great!



3. I had thought I had lots of NICE ROE, but have been getting very low on supply lately. What I have is REAL GOOEY and makes for great smell (NIGHT) but horrible for day presentation. Not that

there arent other good options (this time of year in the day - Pinkies, Streamers, Lures, Minnows) ..... Figure at night less to "Worry about" .... just put that STINCKY ROE BAG on and wait for the

wonderful: TAP TAP TAP! If it wasnt for the "Financial Situation" ... I would have got some of that great roe from FISHHEAD. (Then maybe, would got out more in the day)



4. Although at this time of year, most of the TRIBS and even the NIAGARA AREA are light (Less fishermen), with the FREAK WARM WEATHER we have been having (Blessing for Soft Water fishing)

I must admit, I really DONT ENJOY ... "Fighting the Crowds". Sure if I heading out with someone new, or even "OLD FRIEND FISHING BUDDIES" I can be the most socialable guy in the world,

But lately ..... I really do enjoy being out there in ABSOLUTE SILENCE, away from everone. At night it is SO PEACEFUL! You see & hear things from a tottally different perspective.



5. Many of the holes I've been going too ..... are the same ones being fished by 20 guys in the day (I can see from some of the PICS posted). At night, no one there..... Fish dont care a hoot about

presentation...... their hungry! I even believe they FIGHT HARDER at night! Could just be me being biased, but the same size fish ... caught in the day at the same time of year.... doesnt seem

to be as AGGRESSIVE as I'm finding them at night. Just my observation.



Looks like the weather is going to CONTINUE to allow those of us who choose (or can get out) to keep giving it a go....... SOFT WATER DOWN HERE ROCKS!

I might try some ICE FISHING on the weekend up north near the Parry Sound Area.



Until then ...... KEEP it SIMPLE, SCENT ALWAYS RULES ...... TIGHT LINES!

Best to all.



ps: Saw some pics from NIAGARA (Whirlpool) the other day .... and HOLY COW! Last year there were GIANT ICE BERGS and SLUSH floating all around the pool. It's still CLEAR as a BELL this

year. Anyone thinking of heading down on Thursday let me know.

 

[Knuguy]

3. I had thought I had lots of NICE ROE, but have been getting very low on supply lately. What I have is REAL GOOEY and makes for great smell (NIGHT) but horrible for day presentation.

Blair ,

Why such a dramatic diff day to nite?

 

[Blair]

Blair ,

Why such a dramatic diff day to nite?

In the day there are 3 main factors for presentation and why the Fish (Steelies/Browns) are hitting:

1. Sight

2. Motion - Action

3. Smell


At night

1. Smell

2. Motion-Action

3. Sight


Since my Roe is real soft and gooey, its lost all it's "firmness and bouncyness" - makes for a rather "poor" appearance in those Fresh, Gin Clear days.

At night .... doesnt matter that I have it all mashed up in a ball (Roe Bag). The SMELL is the only thing of consequence.


I've even made a "PASTE" (Smashed up skein and eggs mixed with Sea Salt) that I tie up. Seems to be working like a Charm at night!
I also use a larger hook at night, because there is no worries about mr. fishes seeing it. Makes for a better hook up. I rarely miss them once I feel the tap, less chance of them coming off in the fight as well.

 

[Blair]

Darn OFF SERVER (So slow lately, and causing tons of double posts on everything ..... never mind the 4 mins "log ins"... *SMILES*)



PS: I also made a jar of "SLURRY" (Pure Roe "Extract")

I bath my tied bags in the stuff!


The wife says that if I ever "Spill or Drop" that jar in the house she would KILL ME!

I dont blame her. We would have to move if that happened.



.... course I dont even notice the "Smell" anymore.

"Smells like Victory" to me (Anyone care to name the movie that quote came from?)

 

[ChaseChrome]

"Smells like Victory" to me (Anyone care to name the movie that quote came from?)

Yeah Blair--"AND CHARLIE DON'T SURF!!!!"

 

[Blair]

"CHARLIE DON'T SURF!!!!"

What are they gonna say about him? What are they gonna say? That he was a kind man? That he was a wise man? That he had plans, man? That he had wisdom?

Bullshit, man!