Inside Outdoors
I consider myself very fortunate to live within an hour drive of a number of world-class fisheries. For most of the spring, summer and fall, I can be found guiding or chasing large and smallmouth bass. Winter is now upon us and with over a foot and a half of snow blanketing the ground outside my door I am looking forward to loading my gear aboard my snowmobile and dropping a line through the ice on these incredible lakes.
I’ve been daydreaming, ever since the season closed in November, of walleye over fifteen pounds from the Bay of Quinte, lake trout and whitefish from Lake Simcoe and this year, crappie on Lake Scugog. I’ve caught crappie in the seventeen-inch range on Scugog while targeting bass. The new regulations tell me that I can fish for them through the ice.
That’s right! The Ontario 2008-2009 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary has been released and is now available through tackle shops and Canadian Tire as usual. Ontario residents have been waiting for these new regulations for some time. The seemingly endless wildlife management units (WMUs) have been replaced by twenty zones. At first glance, the format and information in these new regulations seems to be easy to read. There are a number of new regulations, especially if you are in southern Ontario. Be sure to grab yourself a copy
Ice fishing aside, this is also the time of year for our sport shows. The Toronto Boat Show (January 12-16) is the first, followed by the new Fishing and Boat Show (Feb 15-17), Bass Pro Shops Spring Fishing Classic (March 8-16) and then the Sportsmen’s Show (March 12-16). These events are jam packed with potential for stories. If you haven’t attended any or all of these recently, be sure to this season.
I’d like to organize a meeting for OWC members at any of these shows. I learned a few do’s and don’ts in the two meetings I arranged last year. I would like to hear from the members who would be interested in attending a meeting and what venue would be best for your schedule. Please feel free to make suggestions for speakers and topics. Help me make this year’s meetings successful.
A couple of quick bits:
1) I received a press release recently that read - ATLANTIC SALMON FOUND IN LAKE ONTARIO STREAM Encouraging Sign For The Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program. I encourage you to read more on this one at
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/csb/news/2007/nov29nr_07.html
2) While doing some holiday shopping, I stumbled across and new magazine that I’m excited about. Outdoor Photography Canada – has just published its third issue and each one has been filled with great shooting advice for the intermediate to professional photographer. I’ve already suggested writing about a few members of the OWC for their ‘Profile’ segment of the magazine.
-30-
Bass Wishes,
Chris Hockley
Copyright © 2008 Chris Hockley
It is illegal to reproduce or distribute this work in any manner or medium without written permission of the author, Chris Hockley c/o Blitzcreek Pro Fishing 47 Lorne St., Sunderland, Ontario, chris@blitzcreek.com