What is going on ?

[Tussman]

Hey guys,

What is going on ?
I mean, here is my last 2 weeks.
I basically tried lots of technics, I tried the Rideau River (for mud lover), Ottawa River, Money's bay, Champlain bridge and Petrie Island..
and for what ? for almost nothing..
(i mostly fished for Pikes or Walleye)

Just few catches and small on the top of that.
What about you? I know that the weather is kind of crazy with those -6 and +10 almost one day after.

I tried top water, diving lures, jigs ..nothing.
I know I am not that good (I usually fly fish), but could you give me a quick feedback for your last 2 week (I will maybe feel better).

Thanks.
(BTW if one of you use to fish alone and look for a fishing "buddy" I am in)

[Bass Addict]

It all has to do with the month of the White Squirrel = Bad luck

[Yannick Loranger]

The walleye and sauger were suicidal for me the last couple weeks. It's a shame I had to put the boat away. But hang in there, the fall bite is late this year. Word is that the big girls are just starting to turn on now.
Tight lines,
Yannick

[Tussman]

Thanks for the information,

Maybe I should have start with that :
I am from another country so I just arrived here in Canada and discovered Ontario Fishing rules.
Dum question : is it more common to buy minnow or you can fish them in whatever river?

Today it is like crazy windy # 55 km/h I gonna make a try in the Rideau river, we never know ..
[/i]

[Tussman]

Oh! by the way , does anyone use that technique here in Ontario ?
It's called Drachko



Usually a pike/eye magnet !

[SeaMonster]

Kinda looks like some S&M stuff with the fish muzzle!

I've not seen it used.

Sometimes I use a minnow needle and just sew the mouth shut.,with a line that is tied to a trebble hook set at the back and drawn through the minnow.
There are also rigs you can buy. I call them "minnow harnesses" but I'm sure there is another name.

[Yannick Loranger]

no I've never seen that rig, but a jig and stinger hook is pretty close. Keep things simple on the ottawa, a jig and minnow or pickerel rig with anything will get you plenty of fish.

tight lines,
Yannick

[JimW]

Your "Drachko" rig is similar to a "quick strike" rig commonly used for pike, but a quick strike has 1 single hook and 1 treble hook, for a total of 4 hook points.

In Ontario the maximum number of hooks you can have is 4. The Ontario fishing regulations use to state that for a bait rig each point of a treble hook counted as 1 hook, so 2 treble hooks counted as 6 hooks which is illegal.

The current regulations have new wording, which does not state clearly that a treble counts as 3 hooks. So it is not clear if a bait rig with 2 treble hooks would be counted as 6 hooks making it illegal?

Here is the text from the fishing regulations:

Hook – A hook includes a single-pointed or multiple-pointed hook on a common shaft but does not include a snagger or spring gaff. The number of hooks includes any single-pointed or multiple-pointed hooks that are part of a lure.

Hooks and Lines – An angler may use only one line, unless otherwise stated in the regulations. Two lines may be used when angling from a boat in parts of the Great Lakes (see Exceptions to the General Regulations) and for ice fishing in many areas (see Ice Fishing, page 11). A fishing line must not have more than four hooks attached.


I personally would avoid using a bait rig with 2 trebles, better safe the sorry.

Best of luck catching something.

JimW

[Tussman]

Thanks a lot,

That is good to know. I knew that I cannot have more than 4 hooks but was not aware that such a rig can count as 6 hooks.
(and of course I don't want to take a chance using it)
Maybe I should modify all rigs I have or even better use a regular rig with one single hook..

[muskymatt]

I believe it is....no more than 4 hooks and no more that 9 points , separate or in any combination of both.