Porridge Pike.

http://elliotlakeflyfishing.com/

...........looking south at Porridge Lake

So, I was out tonight for a while on a new lake I had recently scoped out. I do a lot of looking at water. One determination I made recently was the necessity for some form of watercraft. After some internal debate, I went with my trusty old pontoon boat.

One new addition to the `toon was a fish finder. Got to tell you, I thought trying to get it attached to the tooner would be a headache. Fortunately, some research sent me the way of a website called floattubefanatics. http://www.floattubefanatics.com/

Their mounts do an incredible job. Definitely a product I am happy to have purchased. I have a Garmin Echo 150 attached to it.

I`m going to have to get used to the fish finder. First one I have ever owned. Did a great job of giving me data on depth and structure. I had figured the fish were deeper, and this was the case.

.......south shore pines.

Porridge Lake is pretty shallow. Averages about 6` in most places. The deeper sections extend to 13`. This is where I found the pike. Not a lot of fish, but 2 nice specimens did come to hand, pinned by the old streamer, the Black Ghost. I lost a few as well. So all in all, a pretty decent couple of hours you will never hear me complain about. Not even the blackflies.

I think I may have gotten Pike out of my system. Thinking a new species should get the spotlight next.

Wind

......first time I've seen whitecaps on this lake.

The wind was just brutal today. Really didn't feel like fighting it. I went to check out the levels of the rivers. Both the Boland and White have receded, but still have some ways to go.

I did cast for an hour at Horne Lake in the evening. All I could manage was an OOS. Meh. Hopefully we have some good weather tomorrow.

......because if you don't.

Between the back, and other commitments, it wasn't till this evening I could manage to get out. Not far either. Just to Horne Lake. Before heading out, I lined up a new reel. As I was doing so, I noticed my leader was showing some signs of abrasions. After inspections, I decided to remove the last 2". Thinking, the other blemishes were not significant to warrant removal. Besides, it meant I would have to replace the leader.

So, in  other words, I got lazy. And paid.

The action certainly wasn't fast, but in two hours I hooked into 2 good pike.  Both times I broke them off. Couldn't believe it. Not how I lose most of my fish. I know why of course. Don't pay attention to a basic, pay the price. As soon as I noticed the damage, I should have replaced the entire leader. At the time I first noticed it I thought to myself " you know, if I don't change it, I wouldn't be surprised if it cost me a fish. This is flyfishing 101'.". And I was right. Well, mostly. It cost me two fish, not one.

New Site.

http://elliotlakeflyfishing.com/

Heating up.

While the weather has taken a dip toward chilly, the fishing is definitely heating up. Reports of Brookies and Pike have been rolling in. The past 3 days have seen catch reports go from famine to feast.

I went looking at more water before heading to Horne for a couple of hours. Wanted perch, but ended up with the biggest pike of my career. I was ecstatic. A perch hole that had previously been productive was notably devoid of fish. I figured that predators were likely  present, and was very happy to find it was a big pike. It sucked in a size 8 White Clouser I had been fish deep and slow. I was very fortunate in the hook set. I have been fishing a level leader of 8lb Berkely Flourocarbon. I expected the nasty little teeth of the  pike to make short work of it. The hook however, was tucked nicely in the corner of its mouth. Especially handy since I had none of my handy toothy-critter-hook-removal-tools with me.

I was very satisfied with this fish for a number of reasons. I had been looking for pike. Expecting them to come into the shallow bays. One of the reasons I was out perching...........knowing the pike should be in behind them in short order. Catching a nice fish is one thing, understanding why it was caught is another. I`m always tickled pink when its my knowledge base which leads to a good fish. As well, a big assed pike was high up on my list of `to does`as far as my move to the north is concerned. I can now scratch that of the list.

I got hungry.

........and went fishing. After yesterdays Perch dinner, I was in the mood for more. My god, how could I not be? I would have gone out early to take get the dinner getting out of the way, but I was once again immobile whence the time came.

I headed out in the evening, I fished just long enough to take a few nice sized perch from the lake. The creel held enough for a decent dinner for two people before my aching back would allow no more. I was fishing #8 Rabbit Hair Streamers in Yellow or Black.



I was too late getting out. Overcast conditions had the predators coming in early. I almost had to quit for the night even earlier due to OOS hookups.

Dinner

No more excuses. Some fish had to die.

Until tonight, I had not intentionally culled or killed a fish in decades. The main reason for this was conservation. I have always said that my determination not to cull was based on view that the watersheds I fished simply would not be benefited by my removing fish. Who wants to empty the cookie jar? Now that I am in environs that can easily support my harvest, I do. It does not seem proper, or ethical, to eat the flesh of a fish or an animal, without taking part in the harvest. Too many people have become desensitized to where their food comes from. Almost as if they have stepped out of, or are 'beyond' the food chain. Sorry, but meat is murder. If you eat the flesh of a fish or an animal, someone killed it. For you. To eat. Personally, I feel that a hands on approach instills in us a greater appreciation of the process. If something needs to die so we can be sustained, I wonder if it is not our imperative to be as involved with the process as possible.

Perch are one of my favourite fish for consumption. They are delectable. I have been looking forward to a meal of fried perch for a while. After some days of tracking them down, ascertaining their behaviours, figuring out where to find ones that were finished the spawn, I figured to have a good shot at some decent eaters. I had planned on being out in the morning, but I literally couldn't get out of bed due to back spasms.



So, it was down to the lake the evening, this time equipped with some #8 weighted streamers. The night before I was getting some better perch on a Yellow Bunny that was a little to big and was resulting in a lot of tail grabs. The smaller version proved just the ticket. Numerous decent perch ended up in the creel thanks to that fly, and Mickey Finns in the same size.

The evening action was solid. If it dropped off, it usually meant a larger predator had come in. This was ascertained on a couple of occasions through hookups.

After a couple of hours, I had enough for dinner and called it a night. Such a delicious meal was made from the catch.

.........as you can see, I was being literal about the creel.

Perch.............

a new Elliot Lake resident.

So, I managed to drag my sorry ass down to Horne Lake this evening. With great difficulty. I was so beat up from the morning, I tried an afternoon rest, only to wake in far worse shape...............sigh. Horne Lake is pretty much downtown Elliot Lake. It is home to Pike, Smallmouth, Rainbow, Perch, Sunfish, Rock Bass. The only denizen I have yet to meet is Mr. Pike. I like Horne Lake, not so much for its fishing, but more so for it`s paved footpaths. Far easier to hobble down those than navigate boulder strewn shorelines.

Some of the Perch are finished their spawning. I located a bunch of larger perch that were `tapped out`. I managed to find more excuse not to harvest them. Unlike the fish in mating mode, who will ignore all flies, these Perch are acting like the Panfish we know and love. Attacking flies with reckless abandon, providing fish after fish action.
It`s a crap shoot if I will be out tomorrow. I am aching all over. It gets rather frustrating that such simple activity is so aggravating.

.........small jig flies like the one in this perch`s mouth have been deadly.

Perch Hunting.

Well, the perch have one thing on the mind, and it isn`t food. The fish are in full spawning mode. Not to say that there wasn`t a few fish in the mood for food, there were. Most however were more content with their mating ritual. Due to this, more than a few fish were spared the pot. Just doesn`t seem right to harvest  spawning fish. Whatever.



Besides the perch hunt, I managed too hook into a beast of a bow. It went for a run taking most of my line with it in a matter seconds, as I frantically tried to get my drag set. Hook came out without much ado.

4 hours later, and I can`t believe how much pain I`m in. This is sadistic. Whatever time I put in tryin to fish, it seems I pay for it in pain.

Work.

So, I spent the last three days prior to today in a classroom. First time in decades I have seen the inside of one. It ruined my back. Simply can`t sit for prolonged periods like that. Nixed fishing for that time as well. Wasn`t until today I could get to work.

I do put in the work. I spend alot of time looking at water, driving from place to place, talking to other anglers, etc. I`ve certainly put in a lot of recon this spring since the melt. Today, I had a look at our property on Dunlop Lake. Only the tiniest remnant of the icey white stuff remains.

Later into the day I ventured back toward the Boland and White to check their status. Both still flowing very high and clear. The Little White however has receded to the point that I expect it to be fishable in short order. On the way back into town, I stopped at Gander Laker, to see if any Splake were hanging close to shore. There were not.

In the last hour of light I headed down to Horne Lake in the center of town. I wandered around the shore making occasional casts. On one of those attempts, I had a follow. OMG! So there are fish in this area!
I was growing concerned.

Shortly after I hooked into a couple of decent little perch. Can`t tell you how nice it was to finally hook into something. I will be heading back in the morning when I will have a little more time to concentrate on the task at hand. Anyone want to bet on what tomorrow nights dinner is.....................

to continue the theme.

......can you see the 'cliff face' @ Dunlop Lake

I was out exploring my new environs yesterday. This time was to determine access to the Boland, and more or the White. Again, it was determined that access to the white is ridiculously easy. The Boland not so much. I'm thinking the extra 10 minute drive to the White is worth it.


I went to look at a bridge access north of were I searched yesterday.  Found another beauty stretch, with lots of parking, and the obligatory camp sites. These sites dot the rivers. Another 5 minutes up the road found access to another River, name I'll have to look up. It feeds into the White Shortly before the bridge. Its smaller than the other two rivers, and more 'wild' looking............if that is even applicable up here.

Pretty much determined, that given a week, I'll return to the White and should expect the levels to be fishable. Thats not the case for the moment.

The Boland River.

In the evening, I went over to see what was happening on a lake that had been ice free longest, Depot. I stood on an outcropping of the shield by the shore, and peered into the dissipating light. Could it be? Was I seeing what I thought I was? There's another. A moment later, another.

....rise ring.

....its only a 1000 yards. I can make it.

As I watched I continued to see fish surface feed. Given that there are Rainbows in the lake, and these were substantial looking rings, well, my mind started doing the math and I hope I came up with the right answer. Too bad further investigation is curtailed until after this weekends Firearm Safety course. FML.

.......Golden Sunset on Depot Lake

Exploring.

........my first good look at the Little White.

 So, once I again I was out exploring. It may be a concept foreign to some. Its what we used to do before the advent of the internet. Instead of relying on a search engine, its more reliant on car engines. Though mind you, I do make use of modern interwebz type technology. In this case scouting out rivers in my area that might be promising trout domiciles. To that end, I had a look-see at a couple of rivers that should hold trout. Actually, I'm pretty positive there are trout in both. Until I get one to hand though, they are a myth to me.

What I've been told, is both the Boland River, and Little White River, hold both Speck's and Bows. I am wondering if there might be a steelhead run as well. The Little White is a feeder into the much larger Mississagi. Having trouble determining if steelhead can reach the LWR though. The Boland feeds into the Little White.

What I could determine for certain today, is both rivers are showing the effects of our recent big melt. Both were swollen over their banks. I took a much more detailed look at the Little White. I was very impressed with what I saw. Access to the river is unbelievable coming from Southern Ontario. I swear the road was laid about by a fisherman. A blind man in a thunderstorm could easily find access. As I mentioned, the river was incredibly swollen, so I had to use my minds eye to envision its personality at lower levels. What I saw were many, many, incredibly nice looking runs. Bugs were coming off, and I saw a couple of flippers come up, but I would have been risking life and limb to get at them.

As for the Boland, that will wait till another day. That river I have more intel on than the white. A local fisherman, who appears on the Dimestore Fisherman website as 'Pro Staff', told me enough about the river to understand why he suggested making an hour long drive to fish certain stretches. I can access closer to where I live, maybe 15 minutes up the road, but there are these tails of a honey hole........... ;)

.........now theres some easy access.

It was very encouraging to see what one day did to the ice. A couple of lakes went from mostly ice covered, to mostly open. Even a 10min drive to the south shows a dramatic difference. Getting so pumped up I can hardly contain it. Probably worth noting, I am scoping out trout while the lakes thaw. What I really want is some big ole Pike. I`m pretty ambivalent what I`ll be fishing for up here. I`ve generally like to follow what ever is hot. If its Bass one week, trout the next so be it. I`ve always maintained I like catching more than fishing. Table fare is also now a relevant consideration. Guaranteed more than a few perch will be heading home with me at the end of the day.

......bad picture of impressive peak.