Len Rich – Author, Writer, Conservationist, Casts His Last Line

It wasn’t a sad affair; in fact the gathering was short on tears and long on stories of Len’s warmth, generosity and passion for the outdoors. Close to a hundred friends and family crammed into the small cabin at the Humber Springs Trout Club on April 18 for a final send off, and this was not even the formal memorial for Len. That will be held on April 25th in Clarenville Newfoundland.

You see Len, who was born and raised in Whitehall, a small town in upstate New York left for the rugged hills of Newfoundland after spending 8 years in the US military. There his love of the great outdoors took root and blossomed into a burning passion that culminated when he was presented the Canada Recreational Fisheries Award by the Governor General of Canada. He brought that love and passion to Ontario when he moved to Orangeville after the loss of his wife Ruby in 2004. Len happily shared the rest of his days with partner and writer Susan Buckle and had just moved to North Bay where they had planned to settle and explore Ontario’s northland.

Len had two driving passions in his life; writing and fly-fishing. How appropriate that the two usually became one. He was the author of several books and countless articles on the art of fly-fishing, and the winner of many writing awards to match. In the early 90’s he built and ran a premiere fly-in fishing lodge at Awesome Lake in Labrador. This too became a book “So you want to be an outfitter”.

I’ve only known Len for about 10 years but like many in the outdoors community quickly came to call him my friend. I was manning a booth for the Outdoor Writers of Canada when this large friendly man with a big belly, short white beard, and a smile like Santa came strolling over and picked up some literature. We exchanged a few pleasantries and he vanished into the crowd. A few weeks later Len sent in his application and within a year became our Eastern Director, a position he held for three years.

He not only loved to write but he loved to share his passion with other writers. He assumed the role of Chairman of OWC’s mentor program and guided many young writers as they took their first tentative steps into the world of outdoors writing. In recognition of his efforts he was presented with the Jack Davis Mentorship Award for his work with new writers.

Len was a quiet insightful man, but above all he was a doer. This never became more evident to me than in the late winter of 2008. OWC had gone through a few turbulent months where the very existence of the organization was in doubt. The worst was now over, but everyone was exhausted. This was not the time to organize a national convention. Len thought otherwise and insisted that we needed a convention to pull the organization together. As acting Executive Director at the time I was skeptical.

I have been around volunteer organizations long enough to realize that there are a lot of people that are long on rhetoric, but short on action and my guard is always up. I had no idea of the depth of his commitment to make this happen. I was elated as it soon became apparent that Len was one of the rare doers and he quickly pulled me and fellow outdoor writer Peter Wood on board. We were joined at the hip for the next three months as obstacles were overcome one by one. Len managed to pull of one of the most financially successful conventions in the history of OWC.

The bond we developed last spring endured and this summer we were to have spent some quieter time tickling the water with flies, but that was not to be as Len finally succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer.

As honoured as we were to be able to share in a celebration of Len’s life, Len would have been humbled and surprised by the outpouring of love and affection. You see, that’s just who Len was; a man who gave much and expected little in return. If there is a life lesson to be learned from Len it’s to give more than you get, and in return you’ll get much more than you expect.

Tight lines my friend; somehow I think you’ll be on the stream with me this summer after all.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

5 Rules of Southern Ontario Steelhead Fishing Etiquette

When it comes to fishing there are two kinds of regulations to keep in mind. Those that are produced and regulated by the government and those that are unwritten and regulated by your peers.

Now, assuming you’ve read the formal regulations for your area and have purchased your fishing license, you can legally fish, but, there are also some unwritten laws; the ones that will get you into trouble with your fellow fishermen. Everyone is out for a good time and there is an air of respect and camaraderie amongst the fishing fraternity. Newcomers are quickly welcomed, but just as quickly shunned if basic rules of etiquette are not followed.

1. There is one all encompassing rule from which everything else flows: Show respect for others! There are few things more irritating than drift fishing a short run and having someone walk right in beside you and cast over your line. Or, to have someone treat a public lake or river like it is his or her personal domain.

2. Respect private property! The rule is simple; if you don't have permission, don't be there. Now I know it's always possible to stray onto a private portion of a stream by mistake, but if you're asked to leave simply apologize and leave. Who knows, perhaps your honesty and courtesy will gain you permission to a new fishing hole.

3. Don't litter! Whether you're on public or private land pick up your garbage and put it in a container or take it home with you. That includes discarded hooks, sinkers, and line; all of these are hazardous to waterfowl.

4. Don’t land, or attempt to land, someone else’s fish without being invited to do so. It is quite proper to offer, but you must remember that many fishermen consider landing their own fish an important part of the experience.

5. Make way for someone playing a fish. This seems like common sense but I’m always amazed at fishermen that simply won’t reel in their line or move to let someone play their fish properly.

Follow these simple rules and you’ll be welcome on any stream; ignore them and you may be in for a very unpleasant fishing experience.

Trout season opens April 25 throughout most of Southern Ontario. Good luck!

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Toronto Sportsmen's Show Moving to New Digs

It hit me like a hammer; the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is moving! That’s right folks after 63 years at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) grounds Southern Ontario’s largest outdoors show, the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, is moving to the Toronto Convention Centre.

I’m going to give this a while to sink in before wading in with my personal opinions of the move but I’m sure there will not be many fence sitters when it comes to the new venue. For those in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) the Convention Centre is very accessible and convenient for those that use public transit. For those of us coming from out of town it’s nothing more than a logistical nightmare. Oh well, decisions are made and this was likely not a knee-jerk reaction.

For now let’s take a trip down memory lane.

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show has been a part of my life for just about as long as I can remember, so that means that I’m only a few years shy of having been there from the beginning. My grandparents lived in the east end of Toronto when I was growing up so events like the Sportsmen’s Show provided a great, low cost way for my parents to keep us kids amused for a few hours when we made the trip from Wingham to the big city.

Up until a few years ago the Toronto Sportsman’s Show occupied the Coliseum building at the CNE. Although the larger venue provided by the Direct Energy Building was greatly needed, it did in my opinion, loose all of its character and became just another show when the move took place.

Some of my fondest memories are of jostling crowds, the smell of hay in the arena, creaking floorboards, and a multitude of stairways and hidden corridors. And then there was the ever present smell of pipe smoke. Those were the days when Brigham pipes used to sell their factory seconds for a very cheap price and were set up right across the aisle from a tobacco vendor. No, I’m not a smoker and certainly don’t advocate smoking, but that was a different era and like everyone else I became a pipe smoker for a day. To this day the smell of pipe smoke conjures up images of camping supplies, fishing tackle, and creaking floors.

I remember buying my first upscale fishing rod there; it was a Berkley Bionix and when you bought one you got a Berkley Lightning Rod for free. I never did care for the Bionix, but the Lightning Rod has accompanied me on every fishing trip since the mid 70’s and has landed – and lost – tons of fish.

Over the years we have bought tents, backpacks, fishing tackle, and every new gadget on the market. You know, now that I think of it the move to the Convention Centre may not be that much of a stretch. The move from the Coliseum for me was like loosing an old, albeit smoky, friend.

The great outdoors is still very much alive in Southern Ontario and the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, regardless of the venue, will always be a memorable part of it.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Ice Fishing Weekend 2009

If it’s one thing you can count on throughout the Southern Ontario winter it’s the fact that you can never depend on the weather. Each year we plan an ice fishing trip to Smed’s (name altered to protect the guilty) cottage near Owen Sound. We usually head up sometime between mid and late February so we can enjoy a few more hours of fishing as the late winter sun rises a bit higher in the sky and stays out a bit longer.

Food was bought, travel arrangements made and then it happened; an early morning message from Smed saying that all the highways heading north were closed. So now what? Do we pick another weekend or play wait and see.

Finally by late morning the winds started to die down and the sun peeked through the clouds. Smed started out first and was to let us know if he thought he could make it. Well after another 45 min we got a message saying that he was making slow but steady progress. Sam started out from Ayr and was to pick me up in Kitchener on the way along. After waiting longer than it should have taken I get a phone call from Sam. “I’m on the side of the road; @#$%$ car died!” After another hour and a few bottles of gas line antifreeze, we were on our way.

Other than a few minor whiteouts, the trip was relatively uneventful. Handshakes all round, a toast to the fish gods, and off onto the ice where his ice hut, affectionately know as Red/Green was waiting. Sam soon had a roaring fire blazing in the stove as the temperature continued to plummet. After a couple of hours and no hits we decided that the sudden change in temperature had the fish all messed up so we fired up the ATVs and headed back to the cottage for supper, only to find that Smed had forgotten that he had agreed to provide supper. Oh well, a bit of fussing and some scrounging had us sitting down to a fine feed of barbequed pork chops, chased down by some rather good French wine.

With the exception of a short break for lunch, Saturday found us back on the ice for the whole day but still with only one reasonable pike to show for our efforts. Well, back to the barbeque and some nice thick T-bone steaks. So thick in fact that we only had steak; that’s right nothing else just steak, a true meateterian delight.

The weather called for blizzard-like conditions again on Sunday so we only spent a few hours on the ice, most of it in a screaming blizzard, and then quickly packed up and headed south. I should mention that I did manage to land one reasonable sized pike on Sunday morning. The drive home was even more unpleasant than the drive up, but some good conversation and CBC radio got us through.

So there it is, a whole weekend and only two fish. So why bother you ask? Well to me it’s always about the journey and not the destination. It’s the memories, the companionship of good friends and the warm glow after a couple of drams of good scotch that makes it all worthwhile. Why not drop us a line and let us know about your own ice fishing adventures.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Ontario Family Fishing Weekend

This is the weekend to grab the kids, get out in our Southern Ontario fresh air and become part of Ontario’s Family Fishing Weekend. February 14 – 16 is one of only two weekends each year set aside to introduce residents to fishing in Ontario.

If ice fishing is something you’ve always wanted to try this weekend is your chance; and its license free. That’s right, as an added incentive to get out and explore our frozen winter landscape the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has waived the need to purchase a fishing license for this weekend only.

You can read more about Ontario Family Fishing Weekend at http://www.familyfishingweekend.com/ where you will also find a list of special events being held across the province to add to the enjoyment of the weekend.

Note: Because of recent rains and warm spell in Southwestern Ontario it is wise to call ahead to the park or lake where you intend to fish. I know that events that were planned for several GRCA parks have now been cancelled due to poor trail conditions and unsafe lake ice.

Don’t let that discourage you from getting out this winter. The lakes will harden again and although it’s nice to save a bit of cash yourself you should note that kids under 16 don’t require a fishing license at anytime and you can buy a temporary license and most tackle shops.

Get up, get out, and enjoy our great Southern Ontario Outdoors this winter.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

How Thick is Safe Ice?

Winters in Southern and Southwestern Ontario can be fickle. I’ve seen years (although not recently) when we were ice fishing on Long Point Bay before New Years. I’ve also seen winters where much of the region had as little as three weeks of safe ice for the whole winter.

This year winter weather arrived on November 15 but a series of heavy snowfalls left lakes and rivers with slushy ice that was well insulated by a thick layer of snow. Then we had the Christmas rain and thaw, just when it was looking like ice was becoming safe, dramatically postponing ice fishing in many lakes and most reservoirs due to fluctuating water levels. The longer term affect of the rain and thaw may not be all that bad. It did reduce the snow cover and allowed the recent cold weather to form much harder and safer ice.

I know people who hop out of bed grab their ice fishing gear and they’re off on the ice with little or no thought to current ice conditions. I look at these people and think to myself, “I hope you’re lucky again today.” You can never anticipate every possible situation but with a little knowledge and forethought you can minimize your risk. And yes, you’re taking a risk every time you venture onto the ice.

So just what is considered “safe ice”? Well, as you have likely already gathered there is no definitive answer and many factors come into play when you consider whether or not to venture out onto a frozen body of water. Here are some of the generally accepted guidelines for ice thickness:

Thickness (cm)---------------Type of Load
5 – 8 cm --------------------One person on foot
10 cm ---------------------Small group (single file)
20 cm ---------------------Snowmobile or ATV
30 cm --------------------Light vehicle

Note: These estimates are based on solid “blue” ice. White, slushy, or honeycombed ice may not be safe at these thicknesses.

My personal preference is to have a good 8-12” of solid ice under my feet. I have fished on as little as 6” but I must admit that I wasn’t particularly comfortable the whole time I was out.

Here are a few more things to take into consideration before heading onto the ice:

• Ice freezes unevenly, especially early in the winter.
• Ice is often thicker closer to shore.
• Currents will affect ice thickness.
• Double the estimates and treat river ice with caution at all times.
• Consider honeycombed ice to be unsafe.
• Double the thicknesses in the above chart if ice is “white” or opaque.
• Snow is an insulator; heavy snow cover can mean unsafe ice and variable thickness.

Take responsibility for your own safety, talk to local bait shop owners, talk with local fishermen, and always proceed with caution. Above all get out and enjoy winters ice fishing bounty in Southern Ontario.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Big Kids on Small Lakes!

Well the sudden thaw over the holidays sure put an end to any thoughts of an early ice fishing season for most of Southern Ontario. Lake levels rose, ice all but disappeared, and rivers raged. However there is an upside to all this.

You see, the heavy snow falls during November and December combined with below normal temperatures meant that the lakes did freeze earlier than normal, but it was not good ice. The thaw gave mother nature a chance to start over! January turned out to be a very cold month and now, instead of poor ice that was formed from slush, we have a great base of clear blue ice throughout most of the region.

I needed to pull myself away from the computer for a few hours last week so I accepted an invitation from Outdoors Podcaster and fellow outdoors writer Peter Wood http://www.rippleoutdoors.com to spend a few hours at Pinehurst Lake.

Pinehurst is a small “kettle” lake near Cambridge managed by the GRCA. This was our first time to the lake but a chance meeting with one of the parks managers soon had us headed in the right direction.

Pinehurst is a great place to introduce youngsters to this wonderful Southern Ontario pastime. The lake is small so you don’t need to walk too far to begin fishing. It’s close to Cambridge, Brantford, and Kitchener/Waterloo. Warm-up rooms and washrooms are open, and the entry fee is reasonable.

As an added bonus there are several kilometers of snowshoe trails in the park and you can rent snowshoes on site. Get the kids out and enjoy ice fishing this winter.

Lloyd