| Fishing
Unfamiliar & Fly-in Lakes
Written by Bill Rivers
Thursday, 01 December
2005
Fishing Unfamiliar
& Fly-in Lakes
There is a feeling
of satisfaction and accomplishment - the pride of craft - that
comes with a successful day's fishing on a new, unfamiliar or
fly-in lake, whether it is a limit of bass, a few walleyes for
shore lunch, or a trophy pike. Not because putting fish in the
boat is the measure of a successful outing, but because that success
underlines the fact that the angler has effectively adapted to
the existing fishing situations and conditions, making necessary
changes in bait / lure selection, presentations and locations.
That, in itself, is no small feat, even at fly-in lakes which
supposedly teem with naive fish. Let me assure you that we always
breathe a sigh of relief (even on fly-ins) after having caught
a few fish for that first shore lunch.
Once that initial success
has been realized, the rest of a fishing trip takes care of itself.
Plan
to succeed
Pre-trip Research &
Planning
Upon Arrival
A Working Map
Productive Tactics
catches, even when fishing an unfamiliar lake - given the fact
that time is almost certainly a limiting factor. To maximize your
time and enjoyment of a day's fishing or a remote trip, you need
a system. Here's the Ontario Fisherman's oft-tested and proven
approach.
Pre-trip
Research & Planning
In spite of the fact
that most fly-in and many road-accessible lakes offer great fishing
opportunities, anglers should develop and execute a plan for fishing
any unfamiliar lake. Without such a strategy, too much time on
a short trip can be spent searching for fish or prime locations.
Notice that I did not say "wasted". No systematic survey
of a lake should be considered a waste of time - even when fish
are not caught.
One key to finding
fish consistently is to quickly eliminate "empty" water,
and one way to do that is through trial and error. Better, though,
to spend as much time as possible actually fishing a promising
or proven location. This can be best accomplished with a two-pronged,
strategic approach - one prior to the trip; the other on the water.
Before putting the
boat in the water, "explore" the destination lake on
paper through the examination of available maps and charts. Many
times, gaining a thorough knowledge of the lake and the identification
of potential hotspots can be accomplished without even getting
in the boat.
Check
available map & chart sources, including:
MNR-produced "fishing
maps"
lodge / camp fishing & navigation maps
MNR stocking lists & maps
resource management plans
topographic maps
hydrographic / lake-bottom contour maps
resources maps & plans (e.g. logging)
maps prepared by previous groups
canoe / hiking route maps
maps prepared by local clubs
sanctuary maps & notices
aerial photographs & satellite images
Speak to others with experience on the lake, including:
local anglers
MNR district fisheries personnel
guides / charter operators
suggested references (by phone)
Immediately after booking a trip work through the above lists
- a task easily managed if your group shares in the research.
Besides, it is actually fun trying to figure out the lake, sight
unseen and even better when you discover that some of your assessments
were correct. And, having done some of the "leg work"
prior to the trip, you will have considerably more time for a
thorough "on-the-water" survey once you reach your destination.
Upon
Arrival
Arriving at your departure
point or fly-in airbase, the work begins again. Now is the time
to ask others about the destination to which you are headed, including:
outfitter / air service
personnel
bait & tackle shop proprietors
cottagers, campers, canoeists
fishing / conservation club members
lodge operator / guides
camp clientele (especially repeaters)
A Fly Over
If your group is flying
into a remote outpost or lodge, ask the pilot to do a "fly
over" of the lake(s) you will be fishing. With a rough, photocopied
outline map in hand, look for and mark any:
congregations of boats
adjoining back lakes
inflowing / outflowing streams
shoals, sunken islands, points
large weedbeds / weedlines
log jams / shoreline cover
rapids, dams
lodge / cabin location
Previous Party Info
Upon arriving and unpacking,
with map in hand, talk to departing anglers about the lake, the
fishing, and the camp, including:
fishing hotspots
proven baits & tactics
reasonable expectations (numbers, size)
boating hazards
boats & motors
camp gear & appliances
portages / trails to back lakes
shore lunch site(s)
bait availability / minnow traps
sanctuary areas
A Working Map
By now, that rough
outline map could be pretty marked up, hopefully with useful bits
of information and locations that will make those first outings
on the lake safer and more productive. Take a few moments to re-draw
the map more precisely , and give each "boat" in your
party their own map to record useful findings. As the map develops,
it won't be a pretty sight, but its value will be inestimable
later and on subsequent trips. As you fish and explore the lake
or river over the course of your stay, mark on the map:
fishing hotspots
landmarks / hazards
current flows & direction
good shoreline stretches
prime cover areas
mid-lake weedbeds
structural elements
Never be without a portable depthfinder when fishing an unfamiliar
lake or river. Depending on its capabilities, the graph (apart
from displaying the bottom contours and water depths) can provide
other important data to help you in your survey, including:
breakline
deep-water basins
fish / baitfish
bottom "content"
structural specifics
water temperature
trolling
speed
Productive Tactics
Hey, we are fishermen,
not cartographers - so let's go fishing ! At the risk of oversimplifying
the strategies used to explore and fish an unfamiliar lake, break
down your approach as follows:
prepare the "working
map"
parcel the lake into manageable sections
cover water quickly
use a variety of lures / techniques
eliminate unproductive water
pinpoint fishing "hotspots"
update the map continuously>
Parcel Up the Lake / River
It's easy to be overwhelmed
on a new lake, especially larger ones. Instead, divide the lake
into more manageable sections, and treat each as if it were a
separate lake. As each boat explores, fishes, and maps a section,
information is shared and. Later, checked out by the others to
verify the findings. Even very large lakes can be quickly cut
down to size using this approach. However, if there is only one
boat and five lake sections, start with the most promising or
highly recommended section in order to get on fish quickly and
to avoid wasting valuable time checking out "empty water"
for half the trip.
On rivers, this system
is especially easy and effective. Devoting a half-day to each
stretch provides diversity, yet still allows for more time to
be devoted to the "best" spots later.
Cover
Water Quickly
In a relatively short
time you will want to explore, fish and map a designated portion
of the lake with hopes of locating the most productive spots in
that section. To do this, move quickly - trolling fast-breaking
shorelines, casting exposed shoals, working along weedlines with
spinnerbaits, spinners or spoons. If fish are caught, it may be
an area deserving of a slower, more precise attack later. First,
however, finish the surveying task you set out to accomplish.
Mark it on the map and come back later.
Similarly, if a promising
or recommended area comes up empty, switch tactics or return to
it late in the day (as you re-visit the hotspots identified over
the course of the day). Fishing live baits, drifting approaches,
backtrolling, float and still fishing are too slow for this part
of the hunt but will serve you well later as you probe key spots
more slowly and thoroughly.
Eliminate
Unproductive Water
It's said that "you
can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear", so don't waste
precious fishing time on "empty water". On the working
map, cross out shallow back bays choked with weeds, areas with
"ooze" bottoms or less than six feet of water. Abandon
shorelines which slope gradually to deeper, regular bottoms. Forget
most of the lake's deepest basins (more than 25 feet). Forget
casting to reeds growing atop sand bars under just two or three
feet of water. This approach will effectively eliminate more than
two-thirds of most lakes and will not only save you time and frustration,
but will also assure that most of your precious fishing time is
spent in more productive areas.
Of course, there are
exceptions to every example stated above - bass in the slop, early
season pike in the shallows, lake trout in the depths, but most
are seasonal movement patterns, which, in turn, help to eliminate
other areas which might be better during a different part of the
fishing season.
Pinpoint & Mark
Prime Spots / Cover / Structures
With much of the lake
already eliminated during the initial scouting process, keying
on the lake's prime spots and structural features should be much
easier now. Fish promising or recommended spots slowly and thoroughly.
When a good spot and good catches come together, accurately mark
the spot in your GPS unit, with a floating marker buoy or carefully
triangulate the exact location using nearby and obvious landmarks.
Immediately mark them on the working copy of the map (in colour).
Update
the Map
Either for your own
use on subsequent trips, as a favour to groups that follow, or
as a courtesy to the outfitter, keep the map up to date as it
has considerable value to all parties involved. Mine come in handy
when I summarize fishing trips for magazine articles and for the
countless inquiries I receive each year via e-mail. Show me yours,
and I'll show you mine !
Arranging and planning
the annual fishing trip for the "boys" or your family
is an important and demanding task at the best of times. When
daring to venture to unfamiliar destinations, the uncertainties
regarding the details and the fishing opportunities are accentuated
still further. This season, when the time comes to head out to
that unfamiliar lake or river, have your homework done, a "working
map: at the ready, and a strategic approach for surveying and
fishing the lake in mind. Anxieties will be lessened, the chances
of success heightened. And, as you have, no doubt, heard and read
many times, confidence plays a very large part in any successful
fishing outing. But now you are ready! Enjoy your trip.
Article
Source
About The
Author: Online since 1998 by long-time OFM field editor, Bill
Rivers, the Ontario Fisherman is now taking on a new look, but
remains committed to showcasing "the best of Ontario sportfishing".
Ontario
Fisherman Resources
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States
band together on marine park plan
Monday, 09/01/2006
Tasmania will lead a co-ordinated three-state
response to the Federal Government's proposed marine parks.
President of the Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council,
Neil Stump, says Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia have agreed
to work on a joint socio-economic impact assessment of the marine
protected areas proposed for their coastlines.
The Federal Government wants to establish 10 marine
parks by next December.
Mr Stump says the Federal Government's deadline
for comment of February 13 is unreasonable and the industry needs
hard and fast information to base negotiations on.
"We recognise the need to provide a co-ordinated
impact assessment," he said.
"We don't
want to be seen to be fragmented, and given there's such a short
time frame been given, what is essential is that we don't go off
at tangents."
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The
Red Sea in Egypt for Scuba Diving
Written by Clint Leung
Monday, 12
December 2005
For many Europeans,
traveling to the Red Sea for scuba diving is like many North Americans
going to the Caribbean. For a scuba diver based in North America
or anywhere else outside of Europe or Africa, a journey to the
Red Sea is considered one of the more exotic scuba diving trips.
Like other overseas travel, getting to the final destination is
the hardest thing. The Red Sea can be dived from ports in both
Egypt and Israel but most international scuba divers do so from
the Egyptian side. There are two major scuba diving areas in Egypt,
Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Sharm El Sheikh at the northern
part of the Red Sea is the more established center having been
a popular vacation resort area as both Egyptians and Europeans
have been vacationing here for many years. The local scuba dive
industry grew along with the overall steady growth of classy resorts,
shops and other tourist services in Sharm El Sheikh. Hurghada,
once just a sleepy fishing village along the west side of the
Red Sea, is starting to grow as scuba divers discover this alternative
to Sharm El Sheikh.
More than
likely, travelers going to either Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada
will have to fly to Cairo before connecting with Egypt Air or
taking a bus to their final destination. Many scuba divers turn
their Red Sea diving trip into a major extended holiday in order
to both dive and see the many wonderful ancient Egyptian sites
such as the pyramids. There are many things to see and do in Egypt
in addition to the ancient ruins including museums, markets and
Nile river cruises. So it is highly recommended to do some research
and plan accordingly for any trip to Egypt as one would not want
to run into the situation where not enough time was allocated
to see everything one wants to see there in addition to scuba
diving.
Many of the
scuba operators in Sharm El Sheikh are affiliated or close by
to a hotel resort. Most of the dive shops are actually owned and
staffed by Europeans working in Egypt. This is similar to the
situation in the Caribbean where many of the scuba operators there
are American owned. The Red Sea has a higher salt content than
Caribbean waters so it is recommended to add 4 to 5 more pounds
to the amount of weight divers usually use. Like most European
diving, the scuba community here in Egypt uses the metric system
so weights will be in kilos while air pressure will be in bars.
Most dive computers should be able to display both metric and
imperial systems.
Many scuba
operators in Sharm El Sheikh use a very interesting system for
scuba tanks. Rather than using their own tanks, their dive boats
go to a common central barge anchored in the harbor. This is where
all the scuba tanks are supplied from and the dive boats collect
the number of tanks they need for day's dive trips. At the end
of the trips, used tanks are dropped off at the same barge before
heading back to port.
The majority
of the dives in the Red Sea are semi drift dives where the dive
boats drop off divers at the dive sites and then pick them up
afterwards. One very different aspect of the Red Sea compared
to other dive destinations in the world is that the coral reefs
here can extend up to very shallow depths. As a result, the standard
safety stops at 15 feet are done drifting among many of these
sloping reefs along with the accompanying marine life. Therefore,
these are some of the most scenic safety stops scuba divers will
ever do. This is certainly different from the usual bland safety
stop in the Caribbean. One thing to note is that the maximum allowable
depth for recreational scuba divers in Egypt is 30 meters which
is about 90 feet.
As expected,
the marine life in the Red Sea is spectacular. There are many
species of fish, crustaceans and marine plant life here that are
not found in the Caribbean. In fact, many of them are indigenous
to the Red Sea only. While lionfish can be extremely rare sightings
elsewhere, they are quite abundant in the Red Sea which is a real
treat for scuba divers. It is also not unusual to jump in the
water to be among a large school of tuna or other fish. Many night
divers will see coral reefs here to be more spectacular than in
the Caribbean.
For many scuba
divers, the Red Sea is one of those ‘must dive at least
once in a lifetime' destinations. It is a very unique place to
dive especially with the desert background visible from the dive
boats. The excellent diving with the many awesome sights of Egypt
make the Red Sea a dream dive trip for any scuba diver.
Article Source
About The
Author:
Clint Leung
is a NAUI certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver. He is also
owner of Free Spirit
Activewear , an online retailer/designer specializing in premium
quality scuba diving activewear. Free
Spirit Activewear has numerous information resource articles
on scuba diving as well as free eCards.
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Hauraki
Gulf Update 16 November 2005
Provided by: Terry
King
The gulf is really starting to fire , with some wicked fishing
in around the area between Waiheke Island , Motatapu Island and
Rakino Island. heres a break down of were the best fishing has
been.
The Noises and Zeno rock
The area is starting to hold some serious numbers of fish now
as the summer fast approaches. Geoff Boyd and his scottish mate
Don fishing on "insaltagain" had a faboulous day in
this area over the weekend. Don landed a beauty of a fish - a
healthy 11.3kg and then procceded with a 7kg fish straight after.
Best baits were fresh slimeys which are now very thick in numbers
in the gulf. As they moved away to zeno rock they were smashed
of by some big kings that were schooling the slimeys in the area
up, along with some big trevs which were in feeding on the scraps.
The kings were of great size with most destroying Geoff and Don
on 15kg tackle.
Rakino channel
The channel has been fishing well on both tides with good snapper
been caught on both tides. Best rigs seem to be flasher rigs with
big cut baits. Craig Innes and Steven Potter on board Predator
landed a bin of nice snaps and trevs on the new mustad long red
flasher.
Their
best fish coming from the Billy Goat point end of the channel
and several well over the 10lb mark . The point has also been
a great place to fill the bait freezer for the summer months.
Big schools of slimeys mid water, a small jig will soon have the
bin fill of fresh bait and a good supply for the freezer..
Thompsons point ( Waiheke island)
Big snapper have been hounding anglers who fish here in the evening.
Best bite seems to be just as the sun gets low on the horizon.
Big 8/0 Mustad big red snapper hooks on 80lb trace with a fresh
live jack mack with tail cut of has been the most effective. Biggest
fish to date went to 10.3kg to angler Rob Scott on his boat "At
Work" . Heavy tackle will be required with some very ugly
country around the point and some very (large) angry fish down
below.
Otahuhu Point
Great place to get a good feed of snaps . The fish have not been
huge but plenty of them and all good sized pannies up around the
30cm mark and has been reliable spot all day for those just wanting
to get a feed or take the kids out for a play.
Plenty
of berley will have the fish on the bite almost instantly. Best
rigs seems to be a single hook strayline rig , try using a mustad
demon circle hook of around 6/0 , and long thin strip baits with
just enough weight on your trace to get you to the bottom. When
the fish takes the bait let him run then slowly ingage your reel
, letting the hook roll into the mouth,.
The
fishing really is firing in the Gulf now , so make the most of
longer evenings after work and get out there and do it.
Tight lines bent rods,
Terry
Williams King
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