Casey and I were out fishing Lake Petit last week and he was asking me if I had ever fished New Horton Lake. I said I hadn’t and the only time I was ever in there was opening day of fishing season about 10 years ago.

The lake was still completely covered with ice and snow but I was there to fish the brook the flows from the lake. It’s full of tasty little trout.

On this opening day I was standing at brook about 10 feet from the beaver dam that holds the lake back and it started to snow. In just minutes it was snowing so hard I could barely see across the 8 foot brook.

It no soon started to snow when the brook trout turned on and seemed to go crazy. It was like a light switch was turned on and the woke up.

I have my best day of trout fishing for that season and never had to move my feet. The action just never stopped and I left with the freshes trout I had in a long time. Ice cold water, they almost froze instantly once I pulled them from the icy water.

Some day I will get to fish the lake but until that time I have a great memory of trout fishing opening day.

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If you have been following this blog you might remember that the first three times Casey and I went smallmouth bass fishing in Lake Petit you know we had problems with strong winds the first three times out.

Well yesterday we went out with Casey’s new boat. He is already fixing it up so that everything is exactly where it should be so he can concentrate on fishing and not fiddling with the boat.

Of course due to the fact that Casey came and picked me up at my house and after all it’s his boat, so I let him catch the first few bass and even the biggest bass of the day. That’s just the kind of guy I am.

The wind has been so strong over the past week or so that even though the wind was almost gone the water was still pretty stirred up so my polarized sunglasses didn’t help me see more than a foot into the water.

Mother Nature Getting Artistic

The colours in the leaves of so many trees are just starting to change from green to oranges, yellows and reds. They get so vivid and beautiful that it can be hard to concentrate of fishing so I was fumbling around trying to keep my fishing rod in the water, keep it reeling and take a few pictures all at the same time.

It’s really cool how the trees change colours here and there while the rest of the tree stays green a while longer.

We fished the base of the tree but I think the bass were admiring it while we were there and just ignored us, so we had to move on.

Like I said Casey caught the most and the biggest bass while I just tried to keep one on my line long enough to get one in the boat. A few small ones stayed on the line. I think they just felt sorry for me.

I used Casey’s camera to take a couple of pictures and only managed to snap one with my camera but it still looks good.

Casey measured it at 16 inches but it fought like it was 20 inches.

I grabbed Casey’s net and tried my best to knock it off the hook but the hooks got caught up in the net and I accidently landed it for him. Maybe next time.

Seriously though it hit like a freight train as it bolted from the water and then it was doing everything in it’s power to keep from boarding the boat.

Now I am sure that I had a bigger fish but I don’t like to hurt them so I don’t use hooks, which means I don’t always see how big they are but I know they were bigger than Casey’s little 16 incher.

As the afternoon was drawing to a close and the sun was going down we headed up a little creek which Casey had never gone up before because it was so shallow.

Once we started into this little spot it immediately went from just over 2 feet deep to more than 8 feet deep and it went back quite a ways, all the way to Salisbury road.

Casey had a dinner engagement with his wife for about 6pm and the wind was starting to pick up again so we decided to call it a day and headed back out to the main river and home. But just before we were out the sun came out from the clouds and gave us the shot above. A great ending to another great day on the water.

Thanks again Casey.

Oh for another opportunity for a fishing trip to Alaska. I messed up the last time and didn’t quite make it to Alaska before they sent me back home to New Brunswick Canada.

Do you adore fishing?  Have you heard of the Kenai River in Alaska?  Kenai River fishing is an angler’s fantasy, actually the mother lode of salmon fishing.  The Kenai runs a spectacular 82 miles, from Kenai Lake in southern Alaska to the Pacific sea, at Cook’s Inlet.

Starting in May, continuing thru mid-October, the Kenai Peninsula, just 3 hours south of port, offers a smorgasbord of fishing adventures you won’t shortly forget.

Among the salmon varieties found are King, Sockeye, Silver and Red, with two runs each year.  As well as record-sized salmon, Kenai River fishing offers Steelhead, Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.

If you like fishing, the Kenai River peninsula is heaven on earth.  The biggest salmon ever caught in the world was a 97-pound King Salmon, in 1985.  Keen fishermen head to the Kenai Peninsula, expecting to best this record.  A typical catch is 40 pounds!  It isn’t getting much better.

Here’s a rundown of the Kenai River fishing season, to help you plan your vacation!

round the middle of June, there’s one run of the Red Blueback salmon, followed by another in the middle of July.  If you like smoked salmon, you will want to be fishing now, as the Red variety is the king of smoked salmon.  Reds are also highly cherished for the grill, as well as canning.

Also running in mid-June and mid-July are the King salmon.  While other rivers in Alaska yield more fish, the Kings of the Kenai stream are famous for their monster size.  A normal catch in the second run is 40-50 pounds.  Do not be surprised to net a King of a larger size!

Kenai River fishing offers 2 runs of Silver salmon, one in early August and another in late Sep.  The bigger catches are usually found in the September run.

If all of this is not enough to give you the nibbles, the Kenai River yields trophy sized rainbow trout and dolly varden.

Your holiday plans should include a visit to Cook’s Inlet for a deep-sea excursion to Kachemak and Resurrection Bays, where the huge bottom-dwelling halibut live.  An Alaskan record-sized halibut which weighed in at 466 pounds was caught in Kachemak Bay!

Drive just 30 miles from Kenai to Clam Gulch, a popular destination for clamming.  Razor clams are abounding here.  As the name implies, their shells are sharp, so be careful!  Best digging times are when the tide is at minus 2 feet or lower.  Check with the dep. of Fish and Game for local boundaries.

You will not be surprised to hear that accommodations are abundant in the area along the Kenai River.  You will find fully furnished cabins all along the Kenai, with wonderful led fishing tours.  Visitors come from all over the world to sample a Kenai River fishing holiday.  Be sure to make a reservation!  It is an experience you will not forget.  Bon Appetit!

This article was written by Richard Codd, a lifelong fisherman who has visited some of the finest fishing spots in the world. He has a well known fishing blog (http://www.bass-fishing.com) on the subject of Smallmouth Bass Fishing.

More and more people around the world for all walks of life are fishing as a form of relaxing and pleasure. Perhaps fishing is a form of mantra but to most it is an art.

This form of art, which most people have invested in lots of time and money and even, pasted on from generation to generation is priceless.

To learn to think like a fish is a lesson that is crucial and will be a deciding factor whether ones fishing trip will be successful or not. There are many things to take into consideration when planning to take up fishing as a hobby or art.

Fly fishing gear is first and foremost item that should be considered. The search for perfect fly fishing gear should not be painstaking procedure as one would rather be fishing than shopping for fly fishing gear. Fly fishing gear is dependent on the type of fish sought.

How To Choose The Correct Gear For Fly Fishing

It is pretty easy to choose the correct gear when one knows how to

Select the correct fly rod with matching fly line
Choose a fly fishing fly (that is fly fishing lure)
Cast the fly line
Start to retrieve
Hook into you your fish.

In fly fishing gear the type of rod and waters to cast fly is very important. The heavier the rod the more suitable will it be for stronger currents. The reel (single action or multiplier) is somewhat less important in fly fishing than is for the rod.

Most modern day commercial fly fishing gear leaders usually achieve having multiple portions of the fishing gear in one product. This is not quite advisable for a beginner to use as it takes away the essence of the art of fly fishing; a skill learnt and passed on from generation to generation.

However one wish to invest in the sport there should is always an alternative by purchasing discounted fly fishing gear. This discount fly fishing gear is sold in most leading sales outlets. Fly fishing gear can be bought on the Internet and from other resources. However, should one wish to really take the art of fly fishing seriously, it will be good to invest if top of the range rod and reel.

On average a rod will cost on a range on $15 -$1 000 but if one would opt to go for cheaper fly fishing gear, it would catch you that fish but it would be more effective as a decoration.
So, go ahead and catch that fish!

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• A Guide to Selecting a Fly Fishing Rod (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Fly fishing rods today are manufactured from many different types of material. Fly rods also come in many different lengths, and have different degrees of flexibility, which make it confusing when selecting a fly fishing rod. One of the most important items of equipment that you will buy for fly fishing will be your fly fishing rod – selecting the correct fly rod is therefore imperative. The fly fishing rod that is the oldest is the classic bamboo fly rod. Whilst a bamboo fly rod is a work of art, these rods are heavier and more expensive than the fly rods made today.

1. Rod Materials

Fly fishing rod are manufactured using the following materials:

• Fiberglass – Commonly used in the less expensive fly rods. Fiberglass rods are usually more durable than graphite, and are generally used by beginners. These fly fishing rods can be used for many fishing situations.
• Graphite – More expensive than fiberglass rods. Fly fishing rods made of graphite are lighter, which make them easier to cast more accurately. Graphite rods also have greater fighting power. Expert and beginner anglers are able to use these rods.

2. Rod Action

Rod action is the amount of stiffness in the rod, and how much the rod will flex when you are casting or are fighting a fish. The action of a fly rod can categorized as:

• Slow-Action – These rods have the most bend or flexibility. These fly fishing rods are the most accurate when it comes to short-range casting, but are difficult for beginners to learn to control. Fishing for lightweight fish is the main use of these rods.
• Medium-Action -These rods bend in the middle of the rod and at the rod tip. Rods in this category are suitable for the novice angler. These fly fishing rods can be used for both short-range and long-range casting.
• Fast-Action – Beginners find these rods difficult to handle. The tip of these rods can flex, but the rest of the rod is quite stiff. These rods allow you to cast long distances, and to reel in larger fish. Slow-action fly rods have better casting accuracy than these rods.

3. Rod Weight

The weight of the fly fishing rod you choose should match the weight of the fly line you intend using. This is not the actual weight of the fly rod itself, but an indication of the fly line weight that the rod has been designed to use most effectively. Fly line weights are categorized 1 to 15, and you choose your fly line weight according to the fish you intend catching:

• 1 to 3 Weight – Small trout and other small fish using small flies.
• 4 weight – Small to medium sized trout and other similar sized fish with small to medium flies.
• 5 or 6 Weight – Medium sized trout, small bass and other similar sized fish using small to large flies.
• 7 or 8 Weight – Large trout and bass. Large flies and streamers can be used.
• 9 Weight and Above – Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish with saltwater flies.

4. Rod Length

The length of a fly rod determines the action of the rod. Shorter fly fishing rods have a slower action than longer fly rods, but they are better suited to fly fishing in tight confined spaces than longer fly fishing rods. Fly fishing rod length can be categorized as:

• Short (less than 8 feet) – Use in tight fishing situations where bush, trees or stream size restrict your movement.
• Medium (8 feet – 9 feet) – Recommended rod length for trout and bass fly fishing. These rods allow you to handle more weight and to cast further.
• Long (longer than 9 feet) – Ideal choice for longer casting and fishing for big-game fish.

Take a look at the beginner fly fishing rod guide for more information about fly rods, and how to choose a fly fishing rod.

For more information about the sport of fly fishing, take a look at the Feedraider.com news feed for Fly Fishing Elite.

Jamie and I left a little early this morning so we could arrive at French Lake right about day break so we could have a nice long day on the water for our first time on French Lake.

It was a gorgeous morning with lots of mist on the water.

The first thing we did when we arrived was to just stand there and admire the awesome view we had. The water was calm, like a mirror, with whisps of mist here and there. A memory I won’t soon forget.

The moon was still high in the sky as the sun came up. A little too high to get in the picture I took but it just made the moment even more precious.

We took the canoe off the roof of the car and piled all our gear into to.

Jamie even brought his trolling motor as this lake is huge compared to the waters we usually fish. It would be too much paddling and not enough fishing otherwise.

Jamie had been here a few weeks ago with his brother in law and had a pretty good day, so we headed to the same spot to see how it was.

Well the fishing was a little tougher than we expected. I was getting a few follows, a couple of strikes but none of these pickerel were coming back for a second try.

I have never seen pickerel act like this before. They usually keep coming back until they are either caught or they get a good poke with the hook and retreat into the safety of the weeds. Very strange day of fishing.

Why Were The Pickerel So Strange This Day?

A lot of reasons for how the pickerel were acting came to mind but really I was confused as to why they were acting so different this day.

I was thinking it was because we were on French Lake where they get a fair bit of pressure plus it was a long weekend, it’s also back to school and the end of summer for a lot of people so the pressure could have been more than usual.

The water temperature had dropped to below 60 degrees, that may have been part of it as well.

The wind picked up shortly after sunrise and before we knew it the waves had picked up enough that they were slapping the canoe. It was quickly becoming dangerous and even though we both swim and were wearing our lifejackets we didn’t want to have to swim.

So we headed to back to the launch site and moved to Chipman to try a few spots there that get more protection from the wind.

It was now much later and warmer by the time we were on the water at Chipman. The water temperature had risen but the pickerel didn’t change, they still only gave us one opportunity to catch them and then they were gone.

We had a hard time finding water in the weeds that wasn’t effected by the strong winds and kept moving all day, trying to keep in coves and inlets that were protected but the wind seemed to be coming from all directions.

We had a few follow to the boat but once they got a look or a little taste of the bait they gave up and turned away.

I managed to catch a couple of pickerel but they were pretty small.

They were still better than what we had been catching to this point which was just air.

Maybe they would have made a good sandwich but still fun.

A little later I hooed into one that was much bigger than the others. I even got it into the canoe so we could take a picture.This one was a bit more respectable.

You can see behind me that the water looks calm. It was rare but the wind would stop every once in a while, just long enough for the water to get calm enough for us to move away from the shore but they were few and far between.

After a day in the strong wind and weeds where the paddling becomes work it didn’t take long to wear me out so when I got home, a little after 8pm, I was ready for bed. I didn’t even bother to have anything to eat.

I was telling Jamie about a kid’s movie I had watched the day before. It was called ‘The Good Witch’. There was a little girl having bad dreams of monsters that asked her how to get rid of them.

The good witch told her to make sure she didn’t dream about fuzzy bunnies that night and told her to keep saying it. I will not dream about fuzzy bunnies, over and over.

The little girl woke up the next day and had only dreamed of fuzzy bunnies, and no monsters.

Well I was blessed and dream of monsters all night. Some were scary monsters but I managed to get them all in the boat and released safely.

I woke up happy, excited and ready to go again.

Fly Fishing For Chain Pickerel In the Weeds

Chain Pickerel are pretty close to the pike I used to fish for in Ontario, they just don’t grow as big down here in New Brunswick. But if you want a great fight just try for them using your fly fishing tackle.

Even a small pickerel of 18 to 20 inches can be a handful in the weeds using a fly rod but it sure is fun.

I like using a big artificial leech or even a big streamer I would use for spring run Atlantic salmon. They will go for just about anything you through at them.

What Fly Rod To Use For Pickerel Fishing

I never use a light action fly rod when fly fishing for pickerel as even the small ones can give your tackle a run for the money. I usually use an 8 weight fly rod and have never broken one yet.

Use A Tough Leader

The only precautions I take with fly fishing for pickerel is to add a bit of heavy duty leader to my existing leader. I don’t to use steel leaders on my fly rod. Instead I prefer to use a bit of really stiff mono or even some braided line at the front of my leader line. It only takes a brush with those razor sharp teeth to cut your line and lose your pickerel.

What Flies To Use

I don’t use small flies when fishing for pickerel on the fly. I like to use the same flies I use for smallmouth bass and Atlantic salmon.

Big Hairy Flies Work For Me

I tie on the biggest badest and ugliest flies I have in my fly box. Mostly I go for top water as I enjoy this type of fishing the most but I don’t mind using a big ole stream to get their attention and it’s usually still a big top water explosion even though the fly does sink. It just never gets much of a chance to sink far before they slap it good.

Fly Fishing Weedless Flies

The only other thing I would suggest is that you fish weedless or you will be in for a very frustrating day on the water.

When I tie the flies I like to put a skirt of stiff hair that goes from the eye of the hook past the hook point.

Don’t worry about making your flies look perfect as they will still wack it whether it’s pretty or not. I think you could tie on an old shoe and they would still attack it.