Ottawa River Morning

Spent a great morning on the Ottawa River. Caught in the area of 20 to 25 Walleye, all small, from 12 to 16 inches. Except for one fat beast that was an easy 25 to 26 inches long and 5.9 lbs. on the scale. The tackle box in the picture is 20 inches long. All caught bottom bouncing with a home made (orange was the colour today) spinner and a worm. What a great fishery we have on our doorstep.

Billy Bones

Liannas First Muskie

Was out this morning with my grandaughter Lianna. Gave her a choice of what we were going to fish for, and she chose Muskie. Every fisherman knows that you have to work hard for Muskie, but not for this girl. After less than one hour Liannas rod fires and she has her first Muskie on. After a short but furious fight in which I got splashed a several times, Grandpa slides the net under the Muskie. Wasn't very big 32 inches, but we got what we came for and Lianna was really excited about her first one. Tried to take a few pictures but the damn camera was on the fritz. Not wanting to keep the fish out of the water for too long we decided that it was more important to release it rather than try to get a picture. Swam away a little stressed but not too bad. Continued for a couple more hours but no more luck. Lianna wanted to practice her casting so we went over to a place that I always can get a few Pike. After about 20 casts she ties into a nice fat pike that she handles like a pro. Decided to try the camera one last time and the damn thing worked and we got a couple of pictures of that one.

Going for Trout

The new canoe rack that I built for my ATV has worked better than I had ever expected. Have been out a few times since it was finished and has gotten me into some difficult places that I would never have dreamed of trying in the past. It is not as tippy as I thought that it my be and has gotten into some extremely rough areas.  With my confidence in the rack growing with every outing, I'm ready to try anything.

Since I have been using the rack, I have gotten into some fantastic lakes. Including a small lake that I found because I got lost by taking a wrong trail. It doesn't even have a name. Turned out to be a gem, ended up with four nice Specks to 18 inches and a pile of small ones. Next time I will be taking a fly rod in there, haven't done any fly fishing since I was a kid and really looking forward to trying it again.

Exploring the back woods in style....
Billy Bones

Bring on the Trout

I love it when a plan and a project come together and it all works.

I love to fish for trout but because I am a little older was having trouble doing what I enjoyed so much.
Came up with a plan so I could continue to explore the back country lakes and still enjoy the fishing
that they have to offer.

Picked up an ATV last year that I used a lot for ice fishing. Also exchanged my old heavy Grumman canoe for a 12 foot Scott Squareback canoe that is 18 lbs. lighter and easier for this old fart to handle alone, if need be. Final part of the plan was to design and construct a rack to carry the Scott to some of the back country lakes that I like to fish and explore more lakes that I haven't fished yet. Below is the finished product.

Billy Bones

New Ride

Scott Feather

Bought a Grumman Canoe last spring in order to access some back country trout lakes. After using it a few times, I decided it was a little too heavy for me to handle alone. I sold the Grumman and found a great little 12 foot Scott square back canoe that they call the Feather. It has a 44 inch beam with sponsons on the side and weigh 18 lbs. less than my Grumman did. Will build a rack for my ATV with a built in place for a trolling motor and a couple of deep cycle 12 volt batteries. Plan to use the hell out of it this summer.

In the Fog!!

Got out on the Ottawa River this morning. Launched at 7:30 AM from Dick Bell Park and was greeted by a thick fog. Had to navigate using the GPS. The Walleye didn't mind, they were on fire, ended up with about twenty including a few nice ones in the 3 lb. class. As soon as the fog lifted about 10 AM they shut down and not a single bite after that.
Was using bottom bouncers with slow death hooks on Seguar about 3 feet back in 20 to 30 feet of water. Sorry no pics, definately need a net man during the week.

Billy Bones

At it Again (Carp)

The kiddies enjoyed a recent trip for Carp so much that I had to promise them one more kick at the can before school started.


This is the results from that trip today that the kiddies made me promise to take them on last week. We did better, landing 6 of 8 bites. Brenden got the big one of the day 20.3 lbs and Lianna got the minnow award with 7.7 lbs. They even allowed the old man to bring one in. Brenden not used to getting up at 5 AM after a night of partying with his buddies, was caught having a nap in the grass.

Lianna and the minnow award fish, 7.7 lbs. Not bad for the smallest one of the day.

They even let the old let the old man bring one in.

Did I say that this is the laziest type fishing and the kiddies just love it, me to.

Great kids and great time was had by all.... Will be headed down again in a couple of weeks during the week. Now that the kiddies will be back at school next week, Grandpa can do a little trout fishing.


Billy Bones