Speckle success

[bobfly]

Finally, success in catching a brookie at Lake *******. You see, I can keep a secret. Besides which I think this may be Fishboy's secret lake and I too don't want it over run. Its now my secret lake which somehow has escaped the rape of ice fishermen and those criminals using live bait (which would be OK if they wouldn't release them. They think they are softies in releasing but in reality they are soft in the brain).

I landed about five and had many hits. Best flies were a brown wooley bugger and the Bloody Butcher (I just love that name). Lots of small ones jumping, so I switched to my dry rod. They hit (or rather leaped and missed mostly) humpy, mayfly, white cahill. I even got a few hits on a red and gold crominid (sp) and also bead head pheasant tail nymph. I tried a lot of flies as you always want to know what else works in case these don't in the future.

I got this one within 10 minutes of arriving and it was the largest. I'm always nervous taking pictures as I want that fishy back in the water
ASAP. I'll do a better job of pictures next time. New camera.

<img src="http://www.fish-hawk.net/modules/mx_sma ... ic_id=4822">

BTW, I got a 23" pike at Appleton on the same humpy last night. It was dripping over both sides of that puny 16" net. I find pike so cute. Maybe I am fishing too much.

bobfly

[troutbum]

Its now my secret lake which somehow has escaped the rape of ice fishermen and those criminals using live bait (which would be OK if they wouldn't release them. They think they are softies in releasing but in reality they are soft in the brain). Pretty strong words I guess we should all take up fly fishing

[bobfly]

No, not everyone should take up flyfishing but we should be separated. "Catch and release, no live bait, artificial lure only, barbless hooks no motors and even flyfishing only" are common regulations in those areas where the resource is threatened. The lakes in the Highlands are almost devoid of trout, inspite of the stocking which is now decreasing.

I don't know the stats, but almost half the fishers I meet catch and release and this clientele is being ignored by officialdom. We pay our fees and taxes just like the other "put and takers".

If MNR would designate some lakes as flyfishing only, there would be a multitude of volunteers to help them.

There is a legitimate argument out there for "not playing with your food" but if you are going to have a sustainable "put and take" fishery, you would have to drastically increase stocking. As it is now, most flyfishers head for NY and Quebec where they have more enlightened practices.

As far as the idiots who release their live bait, for me, that is the equivalent of destroying public property and should be fined or thrown in jail, preferably both.

bobfly

[mosquito]

Bobfly,
It looks like you're trying to make fly fishers the most hated people
on any lake.

[bobfly]

I'm the nicest guy you'll ever meet on a lake, even to bait fishermen. Its just that things are going to change which seems to be tough for people around here where there hasn't been much change for so many years in all sorts of areas. Flyfishing is the most rapidly growing outdoor sport in North America according an article I read in Outdoor Canada a couple of years ago. Flyfishers, generally speaking, are conservationists and when it hits critical mass around here, watch out. It happened out west and elsewhere 20 or more years ago and it will happen here.

My apologies to anyone I may have offended. I'm a senior now and entitled to a little rant now and then. My time for changing things is pretty much over and I'm trying to get as much quality fishing in as I can while I can.

bobfly

[Fishboy]

I can attest to Bobfly's character and to the fact that he is one, too!