Holy crap it was chilly outside this morning and it wasn’t even windy out.

Jenny and I still like to go for our weekly Saturday morning walk for breakfast at Hynes restaurant here in Moncton, about a 5 minute walk.

I bundled up with about 6 layers of clothes, wrapped my scarf around my entire head. Kinda looked like a mummy walking up the street.

By the time we arrived my glassed were so fogged up and frozen I had to remove them to see where I was going. Sure wish my heart doctor didn’t make me take blood thinners but I like being alive so I take them.

Cabin Fever 2011

All filled up with steak and eggs we returned home again. It wasn’t quite so bad on the way home but I think that might have been from the huge breakfast heating us up.

Getting out for breakfast Saturday mornings is usually the time I get out during the coldest days of winter so I tend to get cabin fever sooner than most. It kind of made me laugh this morning when I saw the Bass Pro Shops Cabin Fever Sale ad block on my blog sidebar.

So for the next little while I am going to sit here in my nice warm home office and build my wish list. Maybe I can get Jenny and Steve to buy me some fishing related things. Got lots of guitar related gifts for Christmas but the only things I got for fishing were from myself.

I have a fishing buddy I like to refer to as Eagle Eye Paul. He could see things from such a distance away that at first we didn’t believe the things he said he saw, that we of course couldn’t see.

It didn’t take long before he had proved this over and over. He could even see fish in the water in place I couldn’t and I can usually spot fish. I wonder how many I have missed over the years.

Well for those of us who don’t have Paul’s eagle eye vision, like myself, other skills are required or perhaps skill along with technology.

There are a lot of clues in and around the water’s edge a fisher can use to determine how they will fish this particular spot. I have been fishing for 50 years and for many of those years it was pretty simple fishing gear so I had to use skill to do well.

When I am in water that is deeper than I can see or if I have Eagle Eye with me, I usually rely on a fish finder. It’s so much better than sticking your head in the water to see what’s down there. Casey has two Humminbird Fishfinder in his boat which is great because I get to see the structure as well even though we are on opposite ends of his boat.

The fact we don’t see any fish on the fish finder doesn’t mean they aren’t there. It usually means they just aren’t right there under the same path the boat is taking. That’s why I like to look for structure and fish the structure.

If the fishing is good and the fish finder doesn’t have a way to mark your spot then I like to line three spots on the shore so I can find my way back. I spent a lot of time on lakes with my canoe and portable Humminbird Fish Finder and loved locating new structure.

I’ve even looked at smaller fish finders for my float tube but I don’t go far from shore in the tube so I can’t really justify getting one. When the wind picks up I like being close to shore when float tubing.

But back to spotting fish in the water. Even though I can’t see into the water I can see what’s happening at the surface so I look for any activity that would indicate possible fish.

1. Jumping fish, hey that’s a great indicator, although when Atlantic salmon fishing it doesn’t mean they are going to take anything you throw at them. I love chasing jumping fish.
2. Jumping baitfish, are usually trying to escape being dinner. Give them something other than that bait fish to look at.
3. Birds that eat fish are worth watching and not just because they are awesome to watch. They can lead you directly to a great day of fishing.
4. Shoreline structure that extends into the water such as trees and points.
5. Shorelines can indicate sudden drop-offs or points that extend into deeper water.

There are plenty of indicators that will help you find fish whether you’re fishing shorelines or off-shore. It just takes observing your surroundings but I have to admit I would rather take pictures of the scenery and use a Humminbird Fishfinder to locate the fish.

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• Best Day of Fishing All Year. I Don’t Want To Go Home (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Look we got all dressed up to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and that 2011 has been a great year.

Christmas at the Mann residence was about the most fun we had at Christmas since before Steve was a teenager. It was a load of fun and I actually got some of the things I asked for.

Didn’t see any tickets to Florida under the tree though. Honey probably ate them.

Fishing in 2011

I had a fun year of fishing and of course what made it so much fun was being able to get out fishing with Casey and Jamie.

The water was higher for so much longer in 2011 and that really messed up the fishing although come fall the water dropped and things picked. I can’t remember the last time there was a wetter summer but then again what did I have for breakfast today.

Jenny and I had great summer and my garden did pretty good for how wet it was. I also have to add that summer 2011 was the greenest summer I can remember. Everything stayed fresh looking and didn’t get a chance to collect dust and dirt all summer.

I just thought I would write this little post kissing 2001 goodbye and looking forward to the day after my hangover, which I need to get started on now, so I have to go.

!! Happy New Year Friends !!

From Jenny, Jim, Steve And Honey…

I do most of my fishing in spring, summer and fall but winter fishing is an option, although I haven’t done any ice fishing or winter fishing since I lived in Ontario many years ago.

Back then I didn’t think about winter fishing clothes and did a lot of freezing. No so today.

So the first thing I do is to dress with layers to keep as warm as I want to be.

For me it’s not about looking good,  it’s more about comfort. If I am freezing my ass off I want to either catching a heck of a lot of fish or I wan to go home. I don’t care for frost bite and it doesn’t take much for me to start shaking, then I can’t even tie a proper knot.

I remember the first time I dressed in layers to go fishing. Once I got fishing and was all bundled up I could barely more around. It was hilarious according to my fishing buddies. After that I dressed a little loosely.

What Do I Wear Ice Fishing

You could spend money buying just the right clothing like my son does, but he still lives with us and doesn’t pay the bills. So for me, I would rather spend my money on new fishing gear.

For that reason I start with my long johns, both top and bottoms. I wear them all winter long anyways. I like two piece so that I can remove one or the other depending on the day.

Some times I put on another tee shirt and then a nice warm winter shirt. The T-Shirt is usually only for the extra cold ones. Then it’s aunt Hazel’s gift of a wool sweater.

That setup is great for those days in winter when it’s nice enough to have your big coat off for a bit. The wool sweater keeps any moisture off me.

After the sweater I will put on my winter jacket with the wool liner. Now the top half of my body is ready to go late November fishing or ice fishing.

Let’s move down and put on some pants. I like lined winter pants but I will also bring my snowsuit bottoms. I don’t use the coat as it’s too bulky for my liking. Oh, maybe I should try it on without all my other stuff on. Just kidding.

If My Feet Are Cold I’m Cold

I remember back when I was a kid it wasn’t my clothing that allowed me to freeze. It was winter boots that didn’t fit properly. I grew up wearing hand-me-downs and of course they never fit right. It’s important to have boots that fit correctly.

I like to be able to wear two pair of socks in my boots, a thin comfortable sock and a thicker wool sock. I also make sure my boots fit well without pinching my feet. Keep the feet in comfort and they will thank you.

Note: I always carry and extra set of socks in case my feet get wet. I never leave my feet wet in the winter while fishing.

Okay Now For The Hands

Now I’m nice and comfy, ready for a day of fishing in the winter. All that’s left are my gloves and for that I like neoprene gloves that have finger tips that flip back.

The first pair my wife bought me as a fishing gift never saw a day of fishing as my dog Shadow ate them. That was the only thing of mine she ever ate. Maybe I don’t take her fishing enough.

Cover Your Head And Protect Your Face

Some guys and gals can take the cold but I guess I’m a wimp that loves to fish but I don’t like my ears going numb or my big nose.

I like to wear a hat that covers my head well and my ears, especially if it’s windy.

For those days that are really windy and bitter cold I wouldn’t think of going fishing without a scarf or a neoprene face mask. They may look funny but I’m still able to smile because my face isn’t frozen.

So the key to a great day of fishing, even when it cold enough to freeze the, well I won’t go there, but with the right winter fishing clothes you’ll have a great time and remember it for all the right reasons.

Image via Wikipedia

In the world of fly fishing there are many words that are good to know. Some of the fly fishing terms are a bit unusual or may mean something else to most who don’t fly fish. Here is a list of some of the more unusual and double meaning words utilised by fly fishers.

Action: an over-all term often accustomed to try to describe the design of the rod – such as sft, hard, slow, or fast

Attractor: usually a bright colored fly that’s not usually tied so it imitates a specific type of food

Belly: the sagging percentage of a fly fishing line

Blank: a rod with out a handle, reel seat, or guides

Blood Knot: the most popular name for a barrel knot

Chalk Stream: a stream, usually found in valleys, that is spring fed and slow moving with plenty of vegetation

Complex Hatch: the simultaneous hatching of countless types of type of insects

Compound Hatch: the masking, or hiding, of an hatch of smaller insects with a hatch of larger insects occurring on the same day

Cutthroat Trout: a genuine trout that is certainly found mostly inside the western the main United States

Dapping: a fly fishing technique in which the fly is repeatedly bounced off and on of the top of the water

Down Eye Hook: a hook which has the eye bent below the shaft

Dropper: the secondary fly which is attached to the leader inside a cast of flies

Emerger: a condition that is used to describe any insect that moves up towards water’s surface preparing to hatch in the adult stage

Feeding Lie: the place where a trout goes into order to actively feed

Flat-butt Leader: a fly utilized in fly fishing in which the butt section is actually created into a ribbon shape

Freestone Streams: quick, tumbling streams with rock covered bottoms

French Snap: a smaller clamp, often utilised by a fly fisherman to install his net to his vest

Holding Lie: when a trout generally remains you should definitely actively feeding

Leisenring Lift: an approach used in nymph fly fishing where the line is lifted, inducing the imitation fly to go upwards, in front from the trout’s suspected lie

Midge Rod: a short, light weight rod

Natural: – a full time income insect, in contrast to an artificial, or man-made, insect or fly

Nymphing: any oaf the different fishing methods of which the fly fisherman presents an imitation with the underwater stage of your insect

Presentation: the process of locating a fly the location where the fish is probably to see it; includes the way in which in which the cast in completed and the method in which the fly is fished

Rise: the action of the fish taking an insect from the water’s surface

Run: a condition used to describe a particular stretch of moving water

Shooting: a casting technique

Spate: high water

Stripping: quickly retrieving line or pulling line through the reel

Terrestrial: of or in relation to an insect whose life-cycle is completely spent on land or even in plants

Waders staff: a sturdy rod about of up to the armpit of the individual fly fishing used by support in heavy water

There are several words and terms which can be unfamiliar to many people but not to those who enjoy fishing.

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When it comes to fishing around the world trout fishing seems to be the most popular for most anglers. I would have to agree with that most of the time although bass fishing puts up a good fight for first place among sports fishers like myself here in North America.

I have been fishing for these rather abundant yet crafty fish using my spinning gear and fly fishing gear for about half a century. Trout fishing just never gets old whether I’m fishing a lake, pond, river or brook.

I live in North America, Canada actually and we have trout all the way from the east coast, where I currently live to the west coast where I’d love to take a fishing trip some day. The trout in it’s many forms such as brookies or speckled, rainbow, brown and even lake trout are all over most parts of North America but they are not limited to N.A.

The Trout Habitat I Love To Fish

I really don’t find fishing lakes for trout as exciting as I do fly fishing a stream for brookies probably because a brook is so much more visual. But I won’t turn down a trip to a lake for some trout fishing.

One of my best fishing trips was a fly in trip into Quebec for lake trout and pike. A fishing trip I will not soon forget as I got to sight fish for spawning lake trout, my first chance to fly fish for lake trout.

We have rivers here in New Brunswick with Brown trout in them. I didn’t even realize we had brown trout here so you can imagine how excited I was when I landed my first brown trout ever in a brook I was fishing for brook trout in.

Luck can be a big part of fishing and I enjoy making a cast that hooks into a fish I didn’t expect.

My fishing buddies tend to think I’m lucky or have horse shoes up my behind when I catch a big one.  Of course when it’s them that makes the big catch it’s all skill.

The truth is there are always a few things you can learn to do while fishing that will make you a better trout angler.

1. When trout fishing a stream don’t get in the water until you have evaluated the lay of the water and structure. What’s happening in and around the water that will tell you want might be happening under the water.
2. Knowing what the trout are feeding on will give you a big advantage so follow step one first and then step two is to turn over a few rocks that are under the water to see what kind of life is living there, then use a bait that matches what you find.
3. Having taken the time to read the water and surrounding for indicators of what the trout are feeding on and you have turned a few rock you now need to get your bait or fly where the fish live, but not on top of their head as you will spook them and never catch much other than dumb fish which are usually quite young and small.
4. Situate yourself so that you are not in a feeding lane and then cast ahead of the fish so that the bait or fly will drift into the fishes feeding zone. You are much more likely to get that big one when you’re stealthy.
5. Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to trout fishing as they are extremely easy to spook. Practice patience and you will do much better. When you accidently slap your bait or fly on the water and spook a fish, stop, take a break to give the fish a few minutes to calm down. That’s when you get the big one and the other guy gets skunked.

Bonus Trout Fishing Tip

A real key to successful trout fishing is to go with a fishing setup that will give you the most excitement and sometimes that means going with a light setup for those smaller trout. I have so much more fun when I am fishing light tackle or fly fishing setup that matches the size of the trout I am fishing.

These 5 useful trout fishing tips will help you catch more trout and even bigger trout in the same water you couldn’t catch them before. Happy fishing and remember to take a kid fishing, it could change their life like it did mine.

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Trolling motors give you the opportunity to find those best fresh water fishing hot spots. Let others fish those not so productive areas.

I love trolling motors. I even had one for my canoe and caught lots of big bass on Lake George, Harvey Lake. Even pickerel and trout from Cassidy Lake near Norton New Brunswick.

So today I’d like to share a bit about a specific fresh water trolling motors, the Minn Kota Endura C2 30 12V 30lb 30 Inch. Let’s look at some benefits along with a few features but it wouldn’t be complete without a look at any reported shortcomings of the Minn Kota Endura C2 30.

I don’t mind spending money on fishing related products but I also love getting a real good deal because it means I can usually buy more fishing related stuff. Those of us who are really serious about our fishing and who have a boat loving buying new things for it.

Christmas is getting so close and it’s the time I try to get my friends and family to think fishing when they think about what to buy me.

If you’ve had your mind set on a trolling motor you need to start giving the hints to your family. Wouldn’t it be nice to get the Minn Kota Endura C2 30?

Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Characteristics

Start sharing all the characteristics with your family so they know you’re excited about the Minn Kota Endura C2.

• 30 lbs of Thrust
• 30 Inch Shaft
• 5 Forward Speeds
• 3 Reverse Speeds
• Six Inch Telescoping Handle
• Lever Lock Bracket. A Mounting bracket that’s the strongest
• Runs Quietly so as not to disturb fish.
• Special composite materials resist flexing warping and UV damage.
• Indestructible composite shaft stronger than steel.
• Uses 12 volt Battery – not included.

Yeah the Minn Kota Endura C2 is a legendary performer built to explore, built to last and backed up with our two year warranty. It’s also designed specifically for boats that are small to medium in size.

This trolling motor has been designed for freshwater and is easily mounted using the lever lock bracket. To reduce friction as well as noise the Minn Kota Endura C2 has a ball bearing system that’s extremely smooth so it doesn’t scare off the fish.

Before I finally boat a trolling motor I used to curse the wind, a lot. Especially on Cassidy lake near Norton New Brunswick. The best fishing spot of course is the furthest spot from my vehicle. And of course once you get down in there the wind picks up and makes it tough for one person to paddle out of there. I usually ended up beaching the canoe and walking it along the shore line until I would get out of there. But it’s such a good fishing spot.

Image via Wikipedia

The first time I used my new trolling motor on Cassidy Lake I cruised right out there. Actually caught a couple more pickerel on the way out. When the wind is blowing in there you can’t stop paddling or you lose ground. With the my trolling motor I wasn’t cursing the wind or the the slightest bit exhausted from paddling.

The places we fish for bass, pickerel and trout require a trolling motor as most boat motors would never get to where we like to fish. Take a few minutes to check out the Minn Kota Endura C2 30 and I am sure you will have more productive days on the water.

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