Oh man did I have a great nights sleep last night, thanks to plenty of sun and fresh air last evening.

My fishing buddy Casey, from Hopewell Cape gave me a call yesterday afternoon to see if I wanted to go fishing that evening. I always laugh before answering a question like that because, well, why wouldn’t I want to go fishing.

Casey said he would here to pick me up at 5:30 pm. I said great, hung up the phone and was packed and ready to go in about 15 minutes and that included making a couple of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, my favorite.

I don’t mind fishing bass in the wind. Most of the places I fish for bass are stoney or gravel bottom. The wind seems to turn them on.

Lake Petit on the other hand has a silt bottom and when we got there the waves were high and the water was like chocolate milk, but did we turn around and go home, not a chance.

Heck a day on the water, even if once in a while we get skunked is better than sitting at home wishing we were fishing.

We head up river toward Salibury where there is less silt built up and managed to find a few spots where the wind couldn’t get at us so much but the water was still pretty stirred up.

I watched our lures and noticed the visiblity was almost nil. I had to have my lure right on the surface before I could even see it.

Image by palestrina55 via Flickr

I am not sure if I would use the internet to find a date but a new fishing buddy, oh yeah.

Yesterday a new friend, Casey, who I first met online at the New Brunswick Sportfishing Association Forum took me fishing in Lake Petit.

I had lived on Lake Petit when my son was an infant but never fished there. I always took my boat about an hour to two away to fish. I find that kind of funny but at the time I didn’t realize there were fish in there.

Casey lives in Hopewell Cape about a half hour or so from where I live in here in Moncton.

I first met Casey on the Forum but after a day or two my username was changed from FlyFisherMann to J_Mann by the admin. I guess I didn’t read the rules for usernames. I lost the email telling me what the new username was so it was a while before I returned there.

I never got to know Casey but it’s a small world.

I have this blog and love to share my little fishing trips.

One day I was blogging about a little spot I took my son a few times. The bass weren’t big here but very plentiful, a great place to take kids in the summer.

Well this guy with twin daughters contacted me asking if I would mind telling him where the spot was so he could take his daughters. Well I didn’t mind, they had a great day and now I have a new fishing buddy, Jamie.

Jamie was telling be about a guy named Casey but I didn’t know enough about Casey to be sure it was the same guy, but it was. So, as I said, it’s a small world, isn’t it?

Jamie gave Casey my email address, we sent a couple of emails back and forth which ended in us going fishing in Lake Petti yesterday.

It was a perfect day for fishing too. It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t hot. It was cloudy and there was no wind going on. A perfect day or what?

Well as perfect as the conditions were I think the water may have still been a little cold as our nights seem to go down to almost zero every night this month.

We fished, talked and laughed all day. Well until about 3 anyways. That’s about the time the heavens opened up on us so we called it a day and headed back to the boat launch, a half hour away. I am so glad it wasn’t cold as the rain ran down my back and into my butt crack.

I had a great day and even though we didn’t catch anything I enjoyed my self a whole lot more than I would have doing yard work. And I made a new friend. That’s a great day in my books.

It will be cool the day that the three of us get out for a day of fishing. Three internet fishing buddies.

Image via Wikipedia

I am a polite guy and treat people the way I like to be treated. It allows me to sleep better at night and I very seldom piss people off. But not all people are like this, even on the water.

I like to bass fish on Lake George and I usually do from my trusty float tube. So I keep fairly close to shore, just incase something happens to my float tube. I had one spring a leak once and even though I made it to shore with lots of time to spare I was pretty nervous, so I don’t go too far out.

I have a places that are hot spots. They are not close together and I had a much easier time getting from place to place when I had my boat. So I like to be sure to pick my spots so that I don’t have to kick my way around the lake.

At one end of Lake George it’s really rocky, a great place for smallmouth bass. I don’t think I have ever been skunked there.

Jerks on the Water

All people don’t live life like I do and they will come right up and get in your face when your fishing, even if they have a bass boat could take them to any spot in minutes.

Well this moron decide I was having too much fun and came flying across the lake as fast as he could get that boat going and didn’t slow down until he was right on top of me.

Then he started casting exactly where I was fisihg. I can’t believe people like that.

Well he cast a couple of times, right on top of my lure so I pitched my lure right at his head and pulled it back just before it hit him. It dropped in the water right at his boat and BAM. FISH ON.

I caught a smallie that went about 3 pounds right under his big ass boat. I yelled fish on and laughed all the time I was reeling it in.

All though he was trying not to look at me I held that bass up high and yelled at the guy. ‘Would you like to catch one like that?’

He started up his boat and was gone. I wish I had a camera so I could have take a picture of the bass with that jerk in the background.

Image by Nickster 2000 via Flickr

Well Jamie called me to see if I wanted to hit Little River for a few smallies but because it’s spring and rains a lot I had already exhausted myself while the sun was shining. It was only lunch time and I was done for. I think I am going to have to keep from starting any work in the yard on the weekends, just incase I get the opportunity to go fishing. Okay, I think my wife would have something to say about that bright idea.

I don’t feel so bad that I did go with Jamie as he didn’t see a bass at all. He did meet a fella that was having some luck using live bait for some brookies. This is the time of year I like to catch and eat brookies, while the water is still really cold. Later I just practice and release.

Not sure how much the water level would down now as we have had rain pretty much all week, which bites a bit because I couldn’t even do any yard work so I wouldn’t have to on the weekend.

Image via Wikipedia

This, for me, is the hardest time of the year. I can’t go fishing because the season isn’t open for another few weeks but the weather is sunny and warming up, plus the snow is going down really fast, almost gone from our backyard now.

I guess it’s time to bring up my fishing gear from the basement to make sure I know where every thing is and to organize things that didn’t get organized last fall.

You never really know what to expect at this time of year. March can be very unpredictable and even though the snow is going down it could just a quickly start piling back up again. I have come back from Flordia more than once, at the end of March to find more snow that we had almost all winter. But I always keep my hopes up and dream of my favorite hot spots for brook trout and smallmouth bass.

I will have my fly rod with  me of course. The opening day of fishing season wouldn’t be the same without trying to catch something on my fly rod but it doesn’t always happen so I will be sure to take my spinning rod as well and some nice Mepps. The brookies love the Mepps and if they are their the Mepps will find them.

This is the only time of year I keep fish, other than Atlantic salmon. The water is clear and cold making for the best tasting fish. Later when the water warms up the fish seem to get softer and even have worms which kind of turn me off.

Finding quality time to spend together as a family may be one of the toughest parts of being a parent. It may not be easy to get time off work, but with a little planning it can be done. Try a camping trip to a local campground, and see what type of hiking or walking trails they have. Or find a family campground as there are usually extra activities available for the kids. It does not have to be a long trip; as a matter of fact it may be fun to take a few weekend trips throughout the summer months. The important thing is that you are spending time together.

Before going on a camping trip make sure that you have everything that you will need. Kids love to help with this type of stuff, so give them a check list with some of the camping equipment listed or other “to do” tasks. Since they tend to get very excited while waiting for something like this to begin, get them some nature books, so they will be able to identify different things they may see while away. If you go to a lake campground, then they will no doubt have the opportunity to identify numerous plant and local life forms.

Before taking off in an RV consider checking for an RV campground, as they can be difficult to locate. As well, this type of campground will have RV service capabilities, if the need arises. Even if your RV has all the comforts of home, it can be really a great experience for city kids to get out the sleeping bags and spend a night under the stars.

Camping in a family campground may also make it a little easier for your kids to find other kids. (They have been known to go through withdrawal if without friends for a day). You may get to meet some interesting people and share a few laughs or suggestions on what campground is the best for future family adventures. It most definitely does not have to be that way the whole trip but it can make a nice change.

Have you thought about sending your kid to summer camp? It can be a great experience for them and they may tend to be a little more forgiving when they learn that you are not going to be able to take any time off from work this summer. This type of outing is really great for kids, as it is full of energy and challenges. They may participate in any number of activities, such as everyone meeting at the campfire area of the campground where there is talking, singing, marshmallow roasting and fun. This is truly an experience that your child will always remember and will continue to reap the benefits of for quite some time.

Instead of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, it should be marshmallows roasting on an open fire. Camping is an activity quite like any other. The serene quality of being out in nature is one that thousands of people take part in when the weather gets warmer. The tents become unfurled and sleeping bags make their way out of storage. Warm weather signals a great time to make camp and get out of the house. The long winter is over and now it is time to get outside and get active. Are you a camping enthusiast or are you a novice to this great pastime? If you are a novice then you are in luck. This article will cover the basics of what you will need while camping and what to expect of the great outdoors.

What type of things should I take with me camping?

Let’s see…you will definitely need to take some extra clothing and depending on the weather will depend greatly on the type of clothing you will need. You will need to bring along the following items no matter where you go camping: sleeping bag, food, water, small hatchet for chopping firewood and matches. Other items that some people pack are: coolers for food, fishing poles, tents and a radio to listen to at night. What you take depends largely on how you want to camp and what you want to carry with you.

What can I do when I’m camping?

You can do whatever your heart desires. Some people look at camping as a way to relax and so they spend a majority of their time just relaxing by the campfire and reading a book. Some people want adventure such as rock climbing or white water rafting. You can also swim, hike, ride bicycles or even go horseback riding while you are camping. It is also a great way to explore the area.

How do I keep wild animals out of my food stuff?

The best way to keep animals out of your food stuffs is to keep it in your car if you are in a campground. If you are the enthusiast who likes to hike into the woods away from everyone you will want to tie your food stuff out of reach so small animals, and even big ones, can not reach the food. Keeping a campfire going will also discourage animals from getting into your food supplies. Always keep scraps and other food wastes buried or far away from camp to discourage them as well.

What are some typical foods that are eaten while camping?

Who could possibly not go camping and not have hot dogs and marshmallows roasted over an open fire? It is just tradition to have those two staples. Other food items will depend on what type of camping you are doing. Many people love to catch their own food and roast them on the fire. Fish is an excellent food source and if you are near a river or stream it is a great way to hunt for your food. No matter what food you take, you will swear it is much better outside than if you were to cook it at home.

How much do tents cost?

Small tents average around thirty dollars. The larger, more sophisticated tents can cost hundreds of dollars depending on the type and brand you buy. There are also tents that are designed to be shades from the sun and will be where you set up your table. If you purchase one of these awnings, make sure it comes with mosquito netting to keep those pesky blood suckers away from your delicate skin. Any outdoor sporting store will have a variety of tents for you to choose from.

To learn more go to Camping Shower also Camping in Texas and at Camping Water Purifiers

Image via WikipediaI would have to say that a statement like ‘the best fishing in New Brunswick’ is pretty much based on the fisher telling the stories. Personally I have a number of the best fishing spots in New Brunswick, it just depends on the day or the time of year. So let me break it down a bit to perhaps make this post a little more helpful.

Spring Fishing In New Brunswick

Brook Trout in the Spring

Since I moved to New Brunswick, some 30 years ago, I have loved fishing brook trout in the spring. The spring is the only time I keep any brook trout to eat. The rest of the year it’s all catch and release, but one or two good feeds of brookies a year is too hard to turn down.

Black Salmon in the spring

In the early spring I like to fish for black salmon, those Atlantic salmon that have spent the winter in the rivers. They are hungry and ready for some action about the time spring rolls around and I am ready to catch them.

Any time of year is a good time of year to have a feed of Atlantic salmon but in the spring they are about 100 times easier to catch than any other time of the year.

Aggressive Smallmouth Bass in the spring

I also love to catch those aggressive smallmouth bass when they are getting ready to spawn. I usually catch a lot at this time of year but unlike other times of the year I pay attention to where I caught them so as to release them close to their nests.

I know they will find their nest from pretty much anywhere you release them but after a good fight I don’t care to let them go too far from their nest.

I bring my fly rod with me any time I go fishing but I don’t always use it. In the spring I like to use it as early as possible but find that my spinning gear gets me more of the spawning fish. I don’t really like using sinking line on my fly rod, that’s why I turn to my spinning gear at those times.

Chain Pickerel in the spring

Getting to the Chain Pickerel in the early spring can net you some nice size pickerel and catching them on the fly line is always a treat. That will be a new treat for Jamie as he has only caught pickerel on spinning gear to this point. I will get him in a float tube next year and watch him get pulled around by a few good size mothers.