Getting Started!

Catching Up.

I'm new to blogging, but certainly not to fishing. I have a about 20 years fishing experience in my own little area here in Chatham-Kent Ontario, as well as various adventures else where. I'm not a professional by any means, just a highly addicted fisherman. I've landed fish from the east coast to the west cost, and I've decided to start documenting my experiences. For my own records, as well as general public interest. Through out this blog I plan to share some of my favorite spots, tips, tricks, how-to's, and most of all, the kind of fun and excitement fishing can bring!

In the past I haven't done so well with the photography side of things as I'm usually fishing alone. Although I just spent some time building camera mounts for my ice shanty, kayak, river boat, and a tripod for shore fishing.

Since I can't write the story of every fishing trip I've taken here's a brief overview of 2011.

Through out the winter months, I spend everyday possible on the ice. I'm laid off from work every winter, and although its tough on the bank account, I love every minute of it. I generally do most of my ice fishing on the Thames River and Sydenham River targeting pickeral.  With frequent trips to various cuts off the St.Claire River for pike, or towards Lighthouse Cove for crappie and I make sure I hit Mitchell's Bay a few times for a good feed of perch.  2011 was the first winter I made the trek to Lake Simcoe. I took 3 trips through out the winter all for 3 or 4 days at a time. Being solo and completely new to the lake, I didn't fare out well, but that being said, there is no such thing as a bad day of fishing in my eyes, and I did manage to ice a couple nice Lakers, and a handful of Whitefish. Also found a nice little pond right inside the city of Barrie that produced a couple small late night pike and a decent feed of crappie!

After ice out I was chomping at the bit to hit the spring pickeral run through the Sydenham River, which although it has slowed down a lot compared to previous years, I still managed to limit out a few times. Also chased the pickeral through the Sny and St. Claire River, as well as continued my hunt for the pike!

Opening day of Bass season 2011 was spent in Old Mill Pond.  My friend Manny and I were the only 2 guys in the pond, and the bite was on fire! unbelievable day of bassin' without the chaos of Mitchell's Bay!
A couple more weeks of local bass fishin' and I got the call to go work in the oil patch in Northern Alberta..  Although my work schedule didn't permit much time for fishing, I managed to hit some amazing spots through out northern Alberta, followed up by a the fall on holidays in Banff.  I can't even begin to explain the beauty and serenity I experienced in my time there. Climbing mountains, and nailing trout!  I had the pleasure of drifting the Bow River, and wading through mountain streams that I can't help but wonder if another man has ever stepped foot in.

This brings us to late fall/early winter when I was transferred to work in South Eastern Saskatchewan. Not much to report there..  no scenery, hardly any water aside from flooded fields. Just cold, miserable weather and too much work!

I moved home Dec. 26 2011, due to a shortage of work, all jacked up to hit the ice, and I had no such luck! 12* Celsius the day I pulled into my driveway. The rivers and lakes were up a few feet, and looked a lot like chocolate milk. And here we are January 25th 2012 and the closest I've been to fishing is building lures and modifying my shanty..  Hoping and praying for ice or decent water conditions to get the boat out!

Stay tuned for frequent updates, as the weather has to break eventually!  (I HOPE!!!!!)