Page 21 - MARCH2022

March 2022
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
Off the Hook
Page 21
Sports
fishing with other more experi- enced and knowledgeable anglers has been very beneficial for me on many levels. Learn as many tactics and techniques as you can from these anglers and add them to your own bag of tricks, it will pay dividends in the future. Also, if you are the one with the tal- ent and experience, share it and pass it on. Don’t be that “guy”! For example, I had just finished a bass fishing tournament and was standing in line waiting to weigh my bag of fish when a young kid asked the guy in front of me, who hadabagofhugebagofbassto weigh in, where he caught them, the guy replied, “in the water” and then the kid asked him what he had used and the guy replied, “a hook”. I never forgot look of disappointment on that kids face. That guy missed a tremendous opportunity to be a mentor, an op- portunity to connect with that kid and further his interest and enthu- siasm for fishing. Take the oppor- tunity to be a mentor, a teacher, and a decent person. I’m guessing that we as anglers have all been blessed at some point with these people in our own growth as an- glers and in life in general. I have always sought out opportunities to fish with successful fishermen and to share what I have learned with others. I have always appreciated those times and hope to continue in both roles. I wish you all the best of luck, do your homework and have a plan of attack.
e hs
“Pining Away”
been on the rise, the fish will most likely have moved to deeper water. It is well worth your time to seek out where these fish are located and try your luck.
If you are making a plan to tar- get Landlocked Salmon as soon as the season opens, look for streams and rivers associated with deep- water lakes. I have had my best results in these locations. One of the keys to success with these fish is that they are most active when
there is moving water. I have
fished for
slack water, and the fishing tends to be slow, but add some current and these fish come to life. If you go to your honey hole and they are not pulling water, do some research and find out when they are going to pull water, in my own experience, that’s your best bet. The same holes from one day to another can be boom or bust depending on current. They will still be there, you can see them, but they are very finicky without current. But if you go back the next hour or next day, add current and it’s a completely different ball game.
You may have noticed that I
haven’t disclosed any of my holes,
that is not by accident. There are
so few places nearby that con-
tain the necessary elements for
success, that I prefer not to clue
in the competition. I had to con-
like most fisherman I know, that information is kept pretty close to the vest and we are tight lipped when it comes to our honey holes. A secret, once shared, becomes a story. Talk to the locals, ask ques- tions where you buy your fishing supplies, watch what other an- glers are doing, ask them where and when they go, what they use and how they employ their skills to achieve their best results. Most anglers will talk to you and divulge good information when
By mJC
So, I haven’t had much luck through the ice. I have decided that it’s not my favorite type of fishing. I much prefer warmer weather and easier access to the water and the fish. I have seen plenty hardy, brave souls out on the ice in frigid temperatures, in conjunction with less than desir- able weather conditions, toughing it out. I have come to the conclu- sion that this type of fishing is not my forte. I am an avid angler, but I much prefer seventy degree days to twenty degree days. Some of this has to do with the fact that I’m not skilled at the whole ice fishing deal, but mostly because I’m not thrilled with the harsher winter weather conditions, it’s just not my style.
I am longing for spring, sum- mer and fall conditions. I watch the fishing shows on TV, which for the most part, are filmed in southern states and much warmer weather. These shows remind me that better conditions are on the horizon. I was spoiled for about 25 years having lived in the south- ern part of this country and hav- ing the ability to fish pretty much all year round with very few days dipping into freezing temps, the kind that we deal with up here in the northeast. I love spring fishing because it presents us with the op- portunity to catch the fish of a life time, Largemouth Bass (Microp- terus Salmoides). I am primarily a Largemouth Bass fisherman, but I am not a bass snob. If the trout are biting, I’m all over it. I
am really looking forward to “ice out” and the opportunity to catch Landlocked Salmon (Salmo Salar) when they are in the shallow wa- ters. Until recently, I was unaware that landlocked salmon are the freshwater version of the Atlan- tic Salmon, much like how fresh water Rainbow Trout (Oncorhy- chus Mykiss) become Steelhead Trout when they venture into the sea, same fish, different venues. I digress, back to land-
locked salmon
fishing. I prefer
to use live smelt
to target landlocked
salmon during this short-lived period before they move out to deeper waters. Streamer flies and smaller hard baits that imitate smelt have also produced for me, but these fish will absolutely tackle live smelt. It’s a very exciting time of the year for me. I like to “sight fish” and this is a rare opportunity to use this tactic for them. Sight fishing is a tactic I use when fish are shallow and you can actually see them in shallow water. If con- ditions are right, and ice out is later in the spring, these fish can be found in large numbers in cer- tain lakes and rivers. I have caught my personal best fish during these trips at ice out. I have caught them trolling in deeper waters through- out the summer, but for me, they have been few and far between. You can catch them in large num- bers during the ice out period, but we as anglers are limited by the open season for them. So if ice out is not inline with opening day and the water temperature have
they are
in their element, but you have got to put in the work, show
duct my own due diligence, and I would love to share my spots, but
them in
an interest and be inquisitive. Look for the “bragging boards”, most bait and tackle shops have them and they are a great source of informa- tion. Bragging boards are usually located near the check out regis- ters and have pictures of anglers catches and sometimes they will reveal where they caught them and what they were using, and they usually have a date of catch associated with them. Search out information online, tons of good information there. Find successful
anglers and pick their brains, if your lucky and persistent enough, maybe they will be generous and offer to take you with them and show you the ins and outs of their craft. My best advice is to fish with as many talented anglers as you can, this is a great way to get first hand practical knowledge and ex- perience. In my own experience,
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