Check out this map for tide information

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02.21.10 5:21 pm

The part of my life that pays the bills (not the fishing part) includes working with and advising people in the area of mapping and related technologies.  Today I came across a cool mapping application that shows tidal information for various locations around the world.  While there are lots of places to get tidal information, this site has an interesting interface.

From a technical standpoint (for those of you who care) some of the interesting things Lindsay Wright has built into the site include:

  • the incorporation of dynamic data (both tide and solar information) into a mashup environment
  • information rich pop up windows with user control of which data to view
  • simple user tools to modify how the data is presented
  • tools that allow users to customize the how information is presented and search tools for finding specific locations
  • nifty little location markers which at the local level show whether the tide is rising or falling and change color in accordance with the tide level

Given my inland location, I don’t get too many opportunities to fish the salt but for those of you who do, have a look at Tidespy. I’d like to hear what you think of the site.

And Now for the Weather ……

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01.30.10 7:35 am

That most significant annual tradition – Groundhog Day is almost upon us.   From Wiarton Willie (and Wee Willie his successor) up here in Canada to the famous Punxsutawney Phil all eyes will be upon a wide assortment of  furry creatures who will make their wintery predictions next Tuesday. With all due respect to those furry prognosticators and anyone putting their stock in today’s Groundfrog prediction by Snohomish Slew, my support falls behind Octorara Orphie of Quuarryville, Pennsylvania.  After all any groundhog with its own Lodge and respected lodge members must be credible.

The Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville, Pennsylvania was founded on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1908 by George W. Hensel, Jr.   Honorary members of the lodge include Sir Winston Churchill, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and J. Edgar Hoover.  The purpose of the club is for members to throw away worries, cares, and woes and have a good laugh at themselves.

Here’s to less winter and early fishing!

Looking Back and Dreaming Forward

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01.02.10 3:55 pm

I live in a part of the world where there are four distinct seasons and we are now in the middle of the one that is least conducive to fishing – unless you enjoy fishing through a hole in the ice, which I have never found appealing.  So at this time of year fishing for me is defined by: 1) vicarious enjoyment of those still able to cast a line, 2) reminiscing about the past year, and 3) planning for the coming season.

I thought I do a bit of all three as a wrap on the past season and as a precursor to the one ahead.

Fishing Highlights of 2009

Depending on whether you use my definition or my wife’s, my approach to fishing is defined as either intentionally opportunistic or fanatical (my wife’s opinion). I keep a record of every outing for posterity and for future reference.  This past year my records indicate that I got out fishing 31 times this past year.  By many people’s standard, that probably isn’t too frequent but I am pretty pleased.  Actually, I thought I had done very well by my standard until I looked back at 2008 and found I had managed 38 times out that year.

Fishing for me is a mix of a couple hours after work, a few full day trips, hopefully a few hours on non-fishing vacation trips, and a couple multi-day trips.

Looking back on the past year there were several highlights:

  • Extended the fishing season into February with a trip to the Salmon River in New York
  • Fished several new trout lakes within a couple hours of home
  • Along with a couple fishing friends discovered of new section of a familiar river that proved to be hot for smallmouth bass through the summer
  • Fished with my son Matt in July
  • Managed three trips to Kenauk – one in spring, one in fall, and one borderline winter

Favourite Fly

While I like to vary things up in the fly department, I probably stick with a particular fly longer than many of my fishing buddies – probably because I am lazy.

It seems that each year one fly stands out as my go to fly.  This year it had to be the Crystal Chenille Bugger which I was introduced to early in the season.  It is tied sparsely with a product from Wapsi called polar chenille.  The chenille comes in several colours including black, olive, white and rootbeer  The tail is supposed to be rabbit but the picture shows a rootbeer version with a marabou tail because I didn’t have matching rabbit on hand at the time.  Overall, black had to be my colour of choice this year.

Blogs I Have Enjoyed This Year

I enjoy the second hand experience of other people’s fishing adventures.  It always amazes me the skill some people have in telling a story.  Some of the blogs/websites that I particularly enjoyed this past year include:

Creek Addict – great tales of fishing adventure and fly tying tutorials

TroutLegend -  with a Northeast US focus, this is a full fledged website (formerly known as Chrome on Chrome) with blog, forum, guide service and Trout Legend Magazine.

Chi Wulff – reports from out west (Montana, Yellowstone and the likes), don’t miss the Friday Feast posts

Proven Patterns – great fly patterns and excellent photography

The Caddis Fly – all about Oregon fly fishing.  I am unlikely to get there any time soon but I always enjoy the posts

The Urban Fly Fisher – great reading from across the pond

Because I also enjoy photography, I became a regular viewer/reader of Catch Magazine after its debut in late 2008 and JayMorr Flyfishing and Brett Colvin’s Fly to Water leave me envious of their tremendous photography skills.

There are others but if I post more someone might come up with an explanation for why I am not on the water more frequently.

Plans for 2010

Nothing is cast in stone when it comes to my fishing plans but I would like to surpass last years number of fishing outings.  I would like to take advantage of the nearby fishing opportunities and get out more often after work.  The twice annual trips to Kenauk seem to be taking shape with the spring trip scheduled for the end of April.  Hopefully a fall trip will also work out.  A few other things in the works:

  • do more winter fishing
  • explore some new local lakes
  • fish some of the upstate New York rivers and streams
  • a trip to western Canada that includes some real fishing time

Beyond that, the plan is to enjoy whatever opportunities arise to the fullest, recognizing they are a gift that should not be taken for granted.

All the best to you in the new year!

Cold Feet

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12.26.09 7:27 am



Cold Feet, originally uploaded by wimzilver.

After a mild autumn winter has arrived in our part of the world. Today we have freezing rain which is less desirable that cold in my books.

I came across this image on flickr this morning and I could relate.

Otter Lake – End of Season Fishing

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12.08.09 12:04 pm

The open water season on local lakes is getting short – over some would say. But the chance to fish Kenauk before winter sets in could not be passed up. We fished Otter Lake, a first for me. Otter Lake

The air temperature was on the cool side but it looked like the sun was going to shine and if the wind stayed down, it would be a good day. The water temp was about 5C (41F) which was better than expected. As it turned out several of the other lakes had already iced over so it was a good choice.
On the Water on a Cold Day

And the fish were cooperative too. The bite started minutes after launch and continued fairly steadily through the day.

Late Season Rainbow
There was a steady diet of rainbows in the 14-15 inch range although Bob landed one that taped out at 20 inches. While some of the hits were pretty agressive, a lot of the time the fish would bump the fly a few times before biting.

It was great to get out one more time before ice up.

Water and Ice

Isaac Hayes – You Need a Ukelele

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11.10.09 8:53 am

This doesn’t have anything to do with fishing but I thought it was pretty entertaining.

Kenauk – I Vaguely Remember….

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11.05.09 8:30 pm

The spring and fall Ottawa Fly Fishers trips to Kenauk are usually among the highlights of my fishing season but here it is six weeks later and I am just now putting down my thoughts.  Fortunately I did make notes for myself at the time so the details are still accessible. This fall’s trip was a bit different – mainly because of some sort of bug that left me feeling less than wonderful for the three days I was up there.  It didn’t help that most of the time on the water the weather was either misty or rainy so I came away with almost no photos.  A business trip immediately after, a busy month of October and just one fishing day at the end of the month seemed to have the effect of damping my memories of what really was a great trip – according to my notes.

Early Morning Fog

So enough whining.

Kenauk is a fish and game preserve owned by the Chateau Montebello which is managed by the Fairmont Hotel Chain.  The preserve is expertly managed and the facilities are excellent.  Within the preserve there are several lakes with only a single cabin on the lake.  Rent the cabin and you gain sole access to the lake.  Our OFS bunch rents two cabins on Lac Vert and Lac Sugarbush both relatively small lakes but well stocked with rainbow trout.  The story is that Lac Vert contains more fish while Sugarbush offers the chance at bigger fish.  This trip I was at Lac Vert although everyone was free to check out either lake.  And as a bonus, as compensation for some roof construction at Sugarbush, we were given the opportunity to try a couple of Kenauk’s trophy lakes.  The lakes are all equipped with row boats and canoes but because of their small size a lot of us prefer our float tubes or pontoon boats.

Although we have been told that there are times when the fish can play hard to get, that was certainly not the case at Lac Vert this time around.  Despite feeling lousy most of the time, the fishing was great.  Each day the fishing was steady, sometimes slowing for up to an hour but it wasn’t long before the hits came again.

I used an intermediate sinking line exclusively, pairing it almost exclusively with a variety of streamers.  Other setups ranged from floating to full sink lines and all worked at different times. On Sunday the killer fly was a black polar chenille bugger.  This was a fly recommended to me by Paul Ricker earlier in the season for trout.  Not to be too narrow minded, I spent most of the summer successfully enticing smallmouth bass with it but this was my first serious opportunity to try it on trout and it didn’t disappoint.

Most of my fish were caught within a few feet of the surface.  And there were many fish – the numbers recorded but not so important.  They were cooperative in taking the hook, usually lively in their fight and always quite willing to sink back into the water when released.   As I think about it was a great trip.  Enough to wet one’s appetite for next spring.

Just Out – Catch Magazine

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11.02.09 8:14 pm

The November issue of Catch Magazine came out yesterday.

Catch Magazine

The e-magazine bills itself as the “Official Journal of Fly Fishing Photography and Film” and if you haven’t seen past issues I recommend you check this one out. This issue covers a pretty wide swath of fishing but I would have to say my favorite has to be on John Juracek’s photo essay on the Yellowstone.  Since I have never been there, a little vicarious fishing is not a bad thing.

Take a look for yourself.  The magazine is free so nothing to lose.

Autumn Fishing

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09.20.09 4:37 pm

Bob and I met up at the usual spot amid a hoard of pickup trucks either loaded with or towing ATVs.  Bob was late so it was a good excuse for a coffee and homemade raspberry turnover.

Even though the calendar says it ain’t so just yet, fall has definitely arrived around here.  Yesterday was a spectacular fall day – great for fishing among other things I’ sure judging from the regular roar of ATVs and cracking of guns.

It wasn’t always the peaceful wilderness that one imagines but it was still a great day to be on the water.  The plan was to try our luck at one or two lakes but in the end we stopped at three relatively small lakes.  One is home to brook trout and the other two rainbow trout.

Since the season for brook trout closes at the end of the month, the first lake was our priority.  This was my first visit this year although Bob had been several times through the summer.   In the past there has been little activity when we have been there but now there are two boats permanently stashed at the lake so there is clearly more activity.  Because it is a small lake, we weren’t sure what we would find.

We arrived mid morning and almost immediately I had a hit on a Seal Possie Bugger (check out Grand River Troutfitters step by step fly-tying instructions).  I don’t think the fly was designed for lake fishing but it has worked well for me in Ontario and Quebec lakes this year.  That first fish was small (read very small) but it was followed up in short order by another larger brook trout decked out in its fall spawning colours.

The fishing slowed so we decided to move on to the next lake and after fishing there for a bit with limited success (one rainbow) moved on to the third lake of the day – Minnow Lake.  Like the first, it is small enough that two people can be heard at opposite ends of the lake so it was nice that we were the only ones there.  It was after 3pm before we hit the water.

You start to notice how the daylight hours are diminishing.  By 4 the sun was already dipping below the trees at the west end of the lake creating shadows on the water.

Sun Getting Low

However as the sun dropped, the fishing seemed to pick up.  It may have helped that both Bob and I switched to Mrs. Simpson flies (a classic minnow imitation) as the interest definitely improved.

Mrs. Simpson

I had several strikes before deciding that the tail was too long.  Almost immediately after trimming it back I hooking and landing a nice 16 inch rainbow.  Soon after Bob hooked into an energetic rainbow that measured a full 18 inches before being release.  Its great to land fish this size but even better to know that they are surviving despite their small confines.

Nice Rainbow
Neither of us could stay late so we quit around 5 and as we were packing up our gear, I looked back at the launch spot and was struck by the spectacular colour of the water and the sun shining in the trees.  The days may be getting shorter but they are always a thing to appreciate.

Colours

Fishing One of the Four S’s

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09.12.09 7:45 pm

Saturday was a spectacular fall day, warm, clear sky and little wind. A good day for yard work but an even better one for fishing. After power washing the decks and house siding in the morning, I jumped in the truck with the lunch Donna had prepared and headed out to meet up with Bob at one of the 4 S’s. There are four trout lakes that start with S in the area around Calabogie where we like to fish. Bob had started out earlier in the morning and my goal was to find him at one of the lakes. Just as I was leaving he called and told me he had checked out the first S and was now on to the second which was Shiner Lake. So I headed for Shiner – past the road to the first S, past the road to the second S and then as usual, I overshot the turnout for Shiner which is pretty obvious pretty as you round the corner and can see the lake to the right. The next spot to turn around happens to be the road to the fourth S – I wonder if it is fishing any better than it was earlier in the year?

But back to Shiner. After getting set up, I was on the water by 2pm. Bob was the only other person fishing which is pretty amazing.  Often there are people fishing from shore but not today.

Shiner Lake

The lake is small so I could hear Bob clearly inform me he had just landed a fish on an orange Hamill’s Killer.

Hamill's Killer

Since I only had yellow (like the one above) and chartreuse HK`s with me a seed of doubt started to take root. And that seed surely started to germinate as half an hour past with no bites while Bob landed two more fish. Feeling the pressure I removed my go to fly and put on a chartreuse HK – maybe it would be seen as adequate. And wouldn’t you know it a fish liked it except that I overplayed the fish and lost it. Oh well, that seed of doubt was starting to whither. The second hit pretty much destroyed the seed of doubt but then I lost that fish too and the seed started to take on a new form – perhaps I was an incompetent fisherman? Now that may be true, but today the fish seemed to be in a cooperative mood and the started hitting the HK on a regular basis. I landed three rainbow trout in fairly quick order – all in the 12 to 13 inch range, then played and lost a few and then landed a couple more.

Bob at Shiner Lake

Whether the fished grew tired of the chartreuse HK or I lost confidence, things slowed so I switched to a black leech and promptly caught a couple more fish (and lost a nice one) before the fishing slowed to nothing. Since neither of us could stay late, this seemed to be an indication that it was time to head for shore.

All in all I caught seven nice rainbows and lost about the same number. Bob says he lost count but I suspect he caught a few more than I did. We were heading home by 5 after what was my best day on Shiner Lake.