Belwood Lake Ice Fishing - Fergus and Elora

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to spend the day immersed in nature, casting for trout, or sitting on a frozen lake waiting for a nice pike to make your drag sing, but your significant other has, shall we say…other plans. As I write this post it’s -15c in Southwestern Ontario, the lakes are hard as a rock and the fish are waiting.

Well if your idea of relaxation on a cold winter’s day differs from that of your spouse I just may have the compromise you’re looking for. Head to Belwood Lake just outside the town of Fergus where you can ply the frozen depths while those less inclined spend a great day browsing the shops and sites of beautiful Fergus and Elora.

Nestled along the scenic banks of the upper Grand River the towns of Fergus and Elora boast unique shops, great scenery, and fantastic restaurants. The towns abound with artisans of all kinds and you’re sure to find something to please any taste.

Belwood Lake is a man-made flood control reservoir administered by the Grand River Conservation Authority and is just upstream of the town of Fergus. Live bait and ice hut rentals are available and the ice fishing is great. As with all good things there is often a downside; it is quite conceivable that you will run out of bait before your spouse runs out of cash and there is always the chance that you could be forgotten altogether.

Oh well, there are plenty of great B&Bs available in the area, so why not make a weekend of it. Whatever your preference, get out and enjoy our great Southern Ontario Outdoors.

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

3 Important Rules for Southern Ontario Fall River Fishing

Warm, Dry, Safe; these three words can mean the difference between an enjoyable late fall steelhead outing and a cold, wet, miserable day on the river.

November and December in Southern Ontario are unpredictable months. I can remember fishing in early December in +16º sunshine. I can also remember line freezing in my guides, driving sleet, and a blizzard. So what’s a fisherman to do without packing everything they own into the car?

Rule #1: Keep Warm allows you to spend extra time on the river thinking about landing that next lunker, instead of wishing you were back in the warmth of your car. Layers of clothing are the key and too much is better than not enough – you can always remove some layers as the day warms up.

Depending on how far you have to walk to the stretch of river you want to fish don’t wear everything. Insulated waders are a great asset when standing stationary in cold water but can work up a sweat in a hurry when you’re walking. If you work up a sweat on the way in I can almost guarantee you’ll be cold as soon as you stand still for a few minutes, so put your heavy jacket on when you get to the river instead of at the car.

Always wear a hat! It’s easy to take on and off to help regulate your body temperature. If you have cold feet wear a hat.

Rule #2: Keep Dry is just as important as keeping warm! There is just nothing more miserable that a cold December rain dripping down the back of your neck. In my younger years I was forced into the warmth of the car more than once because an unexpected rain descended on us. Now, if I expect rain I pull out the Gortex™ jacket, but even if there is no sign of rain I always have a plastic poncho in my bag.

Rule #3: Be Safe – A couple of simple precautions will not only enhance your fishing experience; they can save your life. Wear a PFD (personal flotation device) and be sure your waders have external felt soles. If you happen to slip or lose your balance a PFD will ensure that only your ego is damaged. If you have felt soles on your waders you will lessen the chance of making a splash because of slippery rocks in the first place.

Remember; cold water is a killer! Make your Southern Ontario fall fishing trip memorable; not a memorial.

Enjoy our great Southern Ontario Outdoors fall fishing and be sure to visit http://www.sooutdoors.ca/fishing.html for information and links to the best fishing destinations.

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

The Fisherman's Camera

Today I want to talk about a piece of fishing gear that is all too often found sitting on a shelf in the closet at home instead by your side where it belongs. Whether you wade the Grand for browns; the Credit for bows, or search the murky depths with a downrigger a good quality digital camera should be an essential part of your fishing gear, so you can relive those precious moments for years to come.

With today’s technology you don’t need to break the bank to produce fantastic pictures. Even at the lower end of the price scale you can buy a great digital camera that will produce 5 to 8 mega pixels of resolution with all the features you’ll ever need. Unless you intend to make a poster sized print, resolution over 5 mega pixels is not really noticeable, so don’t get too hung up on resolution.

Instead consider things like compactness, ease of use, shock resistance and weather resistance. And of course how much zoom capability you want. If you're camera's not waterproof be sure to carry it in a good quality waterproof case.

Often a matter of personal preference and feel, you’ll want something that is easy for you to use in the field. You don’t want to be scrolling through menus as you watch the race leader zoom off into the distance, or constantly push the zoom button because it’s located where they shutter button should be.

When selecting the amount of zoom capability you want stick with the optical zoom numbers. Many cameras offer a combination of optical and digital zoom, but be careful when using digital zoom because as the zoom increases the resolution decreases and your perfect shot could wind up being nothing more than a grainy blur. Look for a camera that won’t automatically switch to digital zoom when you reach the maximum range of your optical zoom. And if you tend to take a lot of action shots, high quality image stabilization is essential.

Whenever you get new camera use it, and use it a lot. Get familiar with all of the features so selecting the correct setting becomes as natural as depressing the shutter button. One of the real benefits that digital photography has brought to outdoors enthusiasts is that you can produce literally thousands of photos and it doesn’t cost you a cent. Unlike the days of film anyone can afford to take several shots of the same image, using a range of features and settings, and decide later which one is a keeper.

Capturing memories of your fishing adventures is something that should be just as important as the activity itself. Whether it’s a picture of dad landing a skyrocketing rainbow trout, your companion still dripping from an unexpected swim, or your granddaughter proudly holding her first rod and reel, having your camera at the ready will keep those memories alive for a lifetime.

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

My Favorite Top Water Fishing Lure

Many years ago I was fishing between two islands on Lake Joseph, one of the three big Muskoka Lakes near Parry Sound Ontario. Still fishing hadn’t produced much action so I decided to try trolling the shoreline. I have no idea why but I decided to tie on a Jitterbug, a lure more typically used for casting into weed pockets than trolling behind an 18’ cedar strip.

I had the old 9.9 Merc putting along as slow as I could manage and sat back to enjoy the dead calm July evening and watch the setting sun. Suddenly I felt weight on the end of my line and the jitterbug had disappeared from sight. Confident that I had snagged a branch, I set the hook anyway and a 4 pound smallie launched skyward.

I threw the motor into neutral and spent the next five minutes wrestling with the acrobatic fish that was determined to spend more time in the air than it did in the water, to the side of the boat.

From that day on the Jitterbug became one of my “fall back” lures that is always in my tackle box. I have caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, and musky on this lure. Sometimes casting and using a slow retrieve, other times letting it sit then retrieving a few feet, the Jitterbug not only catches fish but it can be hypnotic to watch.

You see the metal cup at the lip of the lure is the secret that creates its unique wobbling action and when retrieved at the correct speed you will hear a “burbling” sound coming from the lure. The combination of burbling and wobbling is often enough to spark large fish into action even on a slow day. And because your attention is always drawn to the action and sounds of the lure it’s almost heart stopping when wave appears behind your lure and the lure disappears. And it’s one reason that I keep coming back to my favorite top water lure.

Whether it’s trolling a calm shoreline at dusk or casting for smallies in my favorite pool on the Grand River in Southern Ontario there is just nothing that can compare to the thrill of taking any species of fish on this lively, entertaining top water lure. If you don’t have a Jitterbug in your tackle box; get one.

Be sure to keep checking back with Southern Ontario Outdoors for your Soutern Ontario fishing information and destinations.

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

Aliens Living in Southern Ontario

No you don’t need to worry about meeting ET or Klingons while paddling down the Grand River – at least I’m pretty sure – but as we approach Biodiversity Day on May 22, which is held exactly one month after Earth Day, we need to become more aware of what we are doing – and have done – to the natural order of things in Southern Ontario.

According to Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN) biodiversity is “life in all its variety: over 14 million species found from mountain top to deep-sea vent. But it is much more. Those species connect, and interact. Those interactions create communities and systems, and those systems provide goods and services such as oxygen production, pollination, water filtration and storage, pest control, food production, carbon storage and erosion control.”

Problems arise when those natural interactions are altered. This occurs when “alien species” (those species not normally found in a particular ecosystem, often referred to as invasive species) are introduced. In Southern Ontario this has occurred as a result of both intentional and non intentional introduction of foreign plants, animals, birds, and aquatic species into our well balanced, yet fragile, ecosystems.

Some of these more invasive “alien” squatters are:

Zebra Mussels – arrived in the ballast tanks of foreign freighters.

Round Goby – arrived in the ballast tanks of foreign freighters.

Purple Loosestrife – introduced by European settlers as ornamental flowers.

Rusty Crayfish – migrated or introduced from the Ohio River valley.

Garlic Mustard – introduced by European settlers.

Asian Long-Horned Beetle – arrived in foreign hardwood lumber; likely shipping crates.

So what can Ontario outdoors enthusiasts do to prevent the spread of invasive species?

Join an organization like BEAN that promotes biodiversity initiatives.
Educate yourself about the various invasive species in Southern Ontario.
Always use locally caught minnows for bait. Never bring them from another area.
Always use local firewood.
Always wash the bottom of your watercraft before launching it in a new waterbody.
Never pick or plant invasive species like purple loosestrife or garlic mustard.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll be doing your part to stop the spread of “aliens” in Southern Ontario.

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

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