I’ve been fishing for over 50 years and even more frequently in the last 10 years; during this time I have learned a lot of countless things about fishing in general. The most important is that you can never know it all. Even a novice can show an old timer a trick or two.

Over the years I’ve seen hundreds of anglers come to the areas I fish full of enthusiasm and determination and they end up leaving frustrated and confused. With just a little advice this could have made for a better experience and more than likely created another fishing addict like myself. It may take some time to turn you into that pro, but the enjoyment of the sport would be more easily realised.

When starting out the very first thing you want is just basic information on where and when to fish. Sounds easy and generally just ask other anglers, lodge owners, bait store owners, heck just ask.

Now for the fishing equipment, the rod and reel. Sounds simple enough, but maybe not. As in most other sports, cheap or poor equipment will result in poor results. As an example I met a fellow from southern Ontario (Toronto) while fishing here at home for Northern pike and asked him how the fishing was. His remark was that he was going to rent a boat and give it a try. So I asked him if he would like to go out with me that evening and he accepted. I met him at the dock and told him to load his gear in the boat and offered him a life jacket and away we went. I did not notice what he had loaded at first except he had a nice big new tackle box, as we moved away I asked where is your rod and reel. He went on to open his new tackle box and proceeded to pull out one of those pocket fisherman rigs. Of course I had a hard time from not laughing out loud, but went on to offer him one of my other rigs already in the boat.

Once we hit the area I intended to troll he went on to politely say he wanted to use his own rod but asked what one of his lures he should use for northern pike. He had one large red and white spoon and I told him to use that and made sure he let out enough line for what we were doing. I believe I was praying for him to get the first strike and sure enough he did after about 15 minutes or so and the fun began.

Now this pike he had on was I guessed about 15 pounds, not that big but the struggle with that little, short toy he had was hilarious to watch. I did not believe he would get the fish to the boat but he did although to fast, I had the net and told him to slow down, he did not hear me as I leaned over to net the fish he had it reeled up to about 2 feet from the tip of that little rod, all that pike did was lean on the line and he was gone.

I must add here that he also had no leader on that rig. After that he was so excited and of course wanted to keep fishing, but asked if he could use one of my other rods which was fine because I wanted to see him really hook and land a nice fish. To shorten this story he did land 2 more northerns and a small walleye. Oh yes I did catch a fish, one walleye and one pike, but we had a new fishing addict here. The next day he went into town to the Canadian Tire store and got properly equipped.

I imagine that young man from southern Ontario had some great tall tales to tell when he got home. I wonder how big that one that got away is Now!

A light action graphite spinning rod and reel will handle most fish you will want to catch, plus it is light enough for the beginner to feel even the light hit of those walleye.

So just get out there relax, take your time. Bring some coffee or lunch or even better catch your lunch and cook on one of the many small islands all over these northern lakes. Mostly just enjoy it all the fresh air, wildlife and scenery. Enjoy it all while your watching that loon, deer or even a moose feeding, a big walleye might just swim up and inhale your bait sending that twitch up your line through your rod to your fingers. Set the hook and there’s lunch!

Well that’s enough from me time for supper and a 5 minute stroll down to the river and make a few casts and see what happens.

Tags: Fishing, Baits, Fishing Baits, Fishing Lures, Fishing trips

Bass fishing with topwater baits is without a doubt the most fun you can have fishing for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these bass tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using plastic and spinner baits jigs and crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement you get with topwater baits. Topwater baits create great action and stories to pass on to family and fishing friends.

Bass fishing with topwater baits is without a doubt the most fun you can have fishing for large or smallmouth bass. People watch these bass tournaments on the tube and see all these pros using plastic and spinner baits jigs and crankbaits, forget about the fun and excitement you get with topwater baits. Topwater baits create great action and stories to pass on to family and fishing friends.

The best time I find for topwater bass fishing is in summer, the colder the water the slower the response, and the more you have to work that bait. Early morning and evening are best for topwater bass fishing.

Of course weather effects your choice of lures also, on a bright sunny day it is better to have a light wind to go with it, a bit of a chop makes the bass less spooky. On a calm sunny day use a heavier lure and lighter line for longer casts. Bass tend to become real spooky in calm and clear water, so the further the cast from you the better off you’ll be.

Wind can also change the type of topwater bait you can use I believe that when the wind comes up you should use a smaller bait that makes a lot of noise. The larger baits just plow through the chop, while the smaller baits ride the chop and still make that enticing noise to get the strike you want. Also try to fish through the troughs created by the wind.

Bass fishing topwater baits has some of it’s own quirks you want to be able to make pinpoint casts to cover areas and make a clear retrieve. Most of your topwater bass fishing will be done in shallow water over weed beds, flats and around objects and shoreline cover. The majority of bass population remains in shallow water all summer.

To fish bass with topwater baits cast about a foot or two past your target and bring it as close to the cover as possible. If you do not get a strike after the first few feet reel in and try again and make another cast. Fishing cover like this there is no need to reel the bait all the way to the boat. Work the bait slowly to get that strike from the bass that is hiding in the shadows and under cover. Have patience when fishing topwater baits, let the ripples disapear, and let the bait sit a few seconds before you make you retrieve.

When the bass strikes a topwater bait, wait till you feel the fish before you set the hook. If you try to set that hook when you first see the strike you’ll miss more than you will catch. I can’t count the times that lure has been nocked back towards me by the bass striking that topwater bait.

Now for some of the most popular baits, Poppers are among the oldest of topwater bass fishing lures. They have the dished out face with the line tie in the middle. When retrieved they make a slash noise or “bloop” when popped. Poppers work best in warm, calm, shallow, clear water. You get your action from the rod tip not reeling. The harder you snap the bait the more noise and commotion created.

Stickbaits are rounded, hot-dog shaped lures usually plastic or wood. weighted to float nose up. The only action they have is what the angler ads to make them work. These baits have appeal for big bass, just using the jerk, then real up slack and jerking again produces a good eratic side to side motion that gets lots of attention from bass.

Propbaits are cigar shaped and fitted with propellers on one or both ends. Propbaits can be worked fast or slow, quiet or loud, but stop and go retrieves are best. The bass will let you know what is best so vary your retrieve. Be sure to experiment, propbaits are dynamite around sunken logs, lily pads, and shallow cover. Be sure the blades on the lure run freely,

Wobblers and Crawlers, these baits are particularly best at night or early morning, Examples of these are the Jitterbug or the Crazy Crawler. They make a loud plopping sound when retrieved steadily. Use a steady slow retrieve for the best results with this bass bait.

Buzzbaits are a little like spinnerbaits desingned to be fished on the surface. There are two types, the opposite wire types, with the blade above the hook, and the inline type with everything on one shaft. Excellent for clear water, and pick up less weeds. Again experiment with your working of this bait, twitching and vary speeds to create different noises.

Weedless Spoons are also in this category, designed to be fished in dense cover, either through the thickest weeds, lily pads, or grass. They go through the toughest cover you can find. Fishing with weedless spoons for bass you will want to be using heavy fishing tackle, rods and reels. I like to point my rod tip at the lure on my retrieve, and again here be patient and allow the bass to take the lure.

Now just remember, get out there enjoy nature, fresh air and let’s go fishing. When using these tips you will improve your results and of course have more fun.

Tags: Fishing, Baits, Fishing Baits, Fishing Lures, Fishing trips

Finding and catching small northern pike is relatively easy. They spend most of their time in shallow, weedy areas from 2 to 15 feet deep. But catching those nasty monster northern pike is not as simple. They are found among the smaller pike during the spring, but as it warms up in the summer they move into deeper water, 15 to 30 feet or more. Fishing for these big fish becomes more difficult because they are more scattered. Summer angling for northern pike is also difficult if the water becomes too warm. If pike cannot find cooler water they do not eat as frequently or eat very little.

Northern pike are best fished during the daylight hours. They are rarely caught while fishing later at night but it does happen.

The mature northern pike generally stay in one area, hiding in weedy cover waiting for that bait fish or hopefully your enticing lure or bait. Typically northern pike lay motionless waiting in ambush in the weeds or near submerged cover like logs or rocks. Then they like to make short vicious lunges at passing baite fish and again your enticing offering. They can live in almost any freshwater environment.

Inlets and bays on the larger lakes or even the Great Lakes in Canada and the US harbor large numbers of large northern pike. These bays have slightly warmer water and more food than the open water.

Smaller northern lakes of the Canadian Shield can grow trophy northern pike, usually because they do not have the heavy fishing pressure of the southern lakes, they survive longer and grow to trophy size.

Weedy bays and marshes of most lakes all hold northerns, manmade reservoirs hold large northern pike with all that submerged cover created is perfect environment for these nasty boys.

Bobber fishing for northern pike is a great, fun way to fish. Northerns cannot resist a big minnow dangling from a bobber. They may sit and just stare, but eventually that nasty pike will strike out and attack. Just cast that bobber and bait close to a likely weed-line, drop off, sunken island or point, then just sit back, relax and enjoy.

A bobber rig is easily made, use a 12 inch steel leader and a #1 hook. Attach a 1 1/2 or 2 inch bobber to the line. Add sinkers or split shot to balance. Hook a large minnow in the upper lip or just behind the dorsal fin. Regardless of the type of minnows you use try to use something at least 6 inches long.

The strike of a northern pike is usually violent. The fish may yank the bobber under on one strike. Release the line after the strike. A pike often grabs the bait in the middle or crosswise and then run with it. Then it will stop to swallow the bait, reel in any slack line then make your snap and set the hook. The fight of a big northern pike will test your tackle and of course your skill. Often they will put up very little fight until they are close to the boat or shore. Then without warning that northern will make a few long runs or even clear the surface in a leap to throw that hook, so get out there and have fun and enjoy yourself.

After northerns have left the shallows in summer trolling fast is a great way to entice these nasty predators to strike. Troll just off the weed beds, in about 20 feet of water, with large lipped deep diving plugs that will track straight at higher speeds. Most anglers use a stiff rods and level wind reels with 20 to 30 pound test line.

With that snake-like body, huge head and razor-sharp teeth, the northern pike has a fearsome appearance and a nasty reputation to match. It is not uncommon for a pike to strike a large bass, perch or walleye struggling on the end of your line. In some cases they will just not let go even when up to the boat.

In most waters, the northern pike is top dog. They will also feed on muskrats, mice, turtles, salamanders, small ducks and other birds, although they eat mostly fish. Often they will take on other fish half their size.

When northern pike are prowling the shallows, casting allows you to fish weeds or snag infested areas you could not otherwise fish. Lures; with lively action work best. Metal spoons that wobble entice the strike. Try using bright colors red yellow and silver work fine. Just vary your speed and jerk the bait now and then to attract the fish, again just go fishing and enjoy!

Tags: Fishing, Baits, Fishing Baits, Fishing Lures, Fishing trips