Thursday, December 27, 2012

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

Have you every had someone give you a hard time about fishing? Luckily I haven't, but if you do, the law is on your side.  A woman outside of Ridgetown was charged with obstructing hunting. The rule pertaining to this are as follows (on the date of this post):

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 

Section 13.1 
A person shall not interfere with lawful hunting, trapping or fishing by,
  1. tampering with traps, nets, bait, firearms or any other thing used for hunting, trapping or fishing;
  2. placing himself or herself in a position, for the purpose of interfering, that hinders or prevents hunting, trapping or fishing; or 
  3. engaging in an activity, for the purpose of interfering, that disturbs or is likely to disturb wildlife or fish. 

Section 13.2 Notice without authority
A person shall not purport to give notice that entry to premises is prohibited for the purpose of hunting or fishing or that hunting or fishing is prohibited on premises unless the person has authority to give the notice. 1997, c. 41, s. 13.

Fish hard!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Great Lakes stressed out

Great Lakes stressed out
By Debora Van Brenk, The London Free Press



If the Great Lakes were human, they'd be in serious need of stress counselling and intervention.

A comprehensive study analyzing and ranking 34 stressors the giant freshwater lakes are battling against, and where the biggest issues are, has just been released to policy makers and researchers.

Read more...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Why Do I Fish?


When they go fishing, it is not really fish they are after.

~Henry David Thoreau


Why do I fish? Some people fish for the competition, the thrill of the hunt.  Some people I know are not happy unless they are catching fish.  While I prefer to catch fish, if I don't I'm usually not disappointed. So why do I fish.

  • To be close to my children
    I fish often with my son and daughter.  We laugh, we have fun, I teach them skills, we spend time together outside. I get to see their little victories and the little failures. I see them grow as people, in their confidence and there abilities. My daughter who used to be afraid to touch a worm will now jump off a dock and unhook a good sized catfish with pliers now. My son can now do everything that I can do fishing, I have seen him pass those skills and knowledge on to random kids that are fishing by us. From year to year I watch my children grow.

  • To be close to my father
    When I was a kid I used to fish with my dad. We would get up early Saturday or Sunday mornings and go to a local pond, river or creek.  I never did catch anything too big, but I remember what I did catch. Like most kids I was back then all about the fish. I didn't appreciate at the time my dad getting up early on his days off, the company we had together or the lessons he taught me. I stopped fishing with him by the time I became a teenager and didn't pick it back up until my 30's, but I still remember the places, the sounds and the fish. My dad has moved on to different hobbies, but I have been back out with him a couple of times. I still fish with one of his old rods.
  • To be by myself
    Sometimes you just need some time alone. Fishing can be a wonderful solitary experience.  I like to sit riverside after dark with some catfish bait. I listen to the city, or the outdoors depending on where I am. Once in a while I'll drift off in my chair waiting for a fish that may or may not come. Other times I'll close my eyes and try and sense everything around me.  Just being alone with my thoughts, relaxing, doing something I love is very therapeutic. I joke with my wife and say women have emotions, men have hobbies.
  • For peace in my life
    I find fishing very relaxing, until you hook into a 15 pound carp. (Which is big for my area) It allows me to recharge. I disconnect temporarily from my responsibilities. Fishing allows me to be a better person.
  • To be outside
    I like the outdoors. I am involved in Scouting, we hike, we camp, we occasionally fish. I camp with my family as well. I like being outside. I like the smells, the sounds, the unexpected finds. The outdoors feel like untapped opportunity. Fishing is an outdoor sport it and gives me another excuse to be outside, weather in the city or the woods.
  • To acquire a skill
    Fishing is a series of skills. In my work life I look at data, analyze it, find patterns and develop systems to produce the best results for the lease amount of work. Fishing can be a lot like that. On a hot summer afternoon you feel the heat, see the sun and observe the river, you analyze the temperature and water levels, you know from previous experience that fish prefer cooler water during the day so you look for deeper water with shade.  After enough time, it becomes second nature to look over a body of water and start making guesses about the best spots to start fishing. I've learned a few different knots fishing. I've learned how to cast a lure and now I have enough practice to make that lure go where I want it to go. (most of the time) Skill acquisition can be fun and fishing has afforded me the opportunity to get new skills.
Why do I fish? There are a lot of reasons and most of them don't include the fish.

Monday, December 17, 2012

New 2013 Regulations

The new recreational fishing regulations are out.  Click here for the full document. There are no changes in zones 16 or 19. (The two closest to me)  There is some good news, Bass season opens on the 3rd Saturday of June for zones 17, 18 and 20.  Sounds like a road trip to me.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Fishing Fury Win

I won a photo caption contest on FishingFury.com and received a Water Gremlin t-shirt.  Thanks to the guys at fishingfury.com.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows

Water levels in Lakes Huron, Michigan to break record lows
By Tom Greenwood The Detroit News

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is anticipating all-time record low water levels for Lakes Huron and Michigan in early 2013 after a continued lack of rain and snowfall impacting the Great Lakes Basin.

In a report released Friday, the corps of engineers projected Huron and Michigan will break levels set in March 1964 — 576.05 feet above sea level — while all of the Great Lakes are predicted to see low water levels.

Toronto Sportsman Show

I haven't been to the Toronto Sportsman Show in a while for a couple of reasons. 1. I didn't like their new location at the convention center and 2. There were always on the March Break week and I've been doing Scout camps on the weekend of the show. So I normally go to the Spring Fishing and Boat Show.

This year things have changed with the Sportsman Show. The new dates are February 7 - 10, 2013 and they are back at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. It looks like I'll be attending this year. In addition the have a new web site.