 |
 |
 |
 |
Dale
Hainer's
Outdoor Spot |
Outdoor Spot Feature Articles
|
Species at Risk (read the article here) |
The Sydenham River is deemed
by many in the scientific community to be a biological treasure, and many
of its inhabitants are in severe danger. That was the message brought out
by the Sydenham River Recovery Team at a recent meeting in Dresden aimed
at developing a recovery strategy for the Sydenham River.
"The recovery plan is aimed at preventing the extinction of eight endangered fish species, five mussel species and one turtle that inhabit the Sydenham River", explained Recovery Team member Al Dextrase of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. These species at risk have been Nationally listed as endangered or threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) . "Studies have found 80 species of fish and 34 species of freshwater mussels inhabiting the Sydenham and some of these species are very rare and some are found in only a few places in the world". |
|
(read the article here) |
The last Sat of June marks
the season opener for bass season on Lake St Clair and much of the surrounding
inland waterways. Lake St Clair has drawn anglers from across North America
for years. In decades past the draw was due to St Clair's fabled largemouth
fishery. In more recent decades it has drawn more attention to the plentiful
and beefy Smallmouth. Bordered on the north by Walpole Indian Reserve,
the area offers largemouth fans thousands of acres of marsh cuts, deep
ditches, ponds, and channels. Brawly bigmouths are taken early in the season
on white spinner baits, and quickly retrieved surface lures. Live Crawfish,
leeches and gangly minnows also account for their share. Into August, purple
worms, brown flipping jigs, live minnows, and crawfish account for more
fish. Largemouth average 1 ½ pounds with early season fish commonly
exceeding 3 pounds. Fall fish are bigger than average.
|
|
OPENING DAY PRIMER (read the article here) |
Lake St Clair has drawn
anglers from across North America for years. In decades past the draw was
due to its St Clairs fabled largemouth fishery. In more recent decades
it has drawn ore attention for the plentifull and beefy Smallmouth. Bordered
on the north by Walpole Indian Reserve, the area offers largemouth fans
thousands of acres of marsh cuts, deep ditches, ponds, and channels. Brawly
bigmouths are taken early in the season on white spinner baits. Into August,
purple worms, brown flipping jigs, live minnows, and crayfish account for
more fish. Largemouth average 1 1/2 pounds with early season fish commonly
exceeding 3 pounds. Fall fish are bigger than average.
|
|
(read the article here) |
Perch fishing is one of
the mainstays of angling opportunities in the St Clair Region. We are fortunate
to have almost every gamefish species here on our doorstep but fish for
fish, the Perch recieves most of the attention year round. Perch tactics
and presentations are wide ranging..... there are probably as many perch
fishing styles as there are anglers out here!
|
|
(read the article here) |
Muskellunge season opens
across SW Ontario on Sat June 2nd with the exception of Lake Erie waters
which opens 2 weeks later. Anglers have reported Muskie nearly 60 inches
in length on Lake St Clair and many feel that a fish greater than 60 inches
will soon be caught. Considered the "Water Wolves" of Lake St Clair, Muskie
have sporadic, voracious appetites.
What can you expect a large Muskie to eat? Just about anything it can jam down its gullet!!! An angler recently reported that while he was Walleye fishing on the south shore, he found a dead Muskie floating. A measurement yielded a 58 inch fish and the cause of death apparently was a 4 pound walleye which was lodged in his throat!!! |
|
(read the article here) |
As the Musky is the wolf
of the local waters, the sturgeon is the monster! According to the OFAH
record fish registry, in 1982 a Toronto man landed a 168 pound lake sturgeon
from the mouth of the Nottawasaga river at Wasaga beach. Are there larger
ones in the St. Clair river??? the answer is definitely yes!!! Commercial
fisherman have reported Lake Sturgeon in excess of 300 pounds getting entangled
in their nets, often destroying hundreds of yards of commercial gill nets
and even busting up the large trap nets.
|
|
(read the article here) |
Walleye are generally easier
to catch during the low light periods of the day. The first two hours and
last few hours of daylight have always been my best times. Many anglers
fold up their tackle boxes at dark and must figure the fish do the same.
Many species do go neutral at night, but not this guy. As a matter of fact
during the summer months, Mr Walleye much prefers to take his feeding frenzies
long after dark.
|
|
(read the article here) |
After natures drive to reproduce
sets him free, our fish will seek calmer, deeper parts of a river. If its
a lake setting look for the first and closest deeper water adjacent to
the spawning site. Spawning sites are those gravely rock shoals or protected
hard bottom bays usually in 3 - 10 feet of water.
|
|
(read the article here) |
Anglers who cast from shore
have a number of hotspots that they can go to. I like to begin at the Sombra
causeway or the Lambton generating plant. At the Lambton outflow, I usually
cast just beyond the big weedline directly adjacent to the outflow. Slightly
downstream, near the "do not anchor" sign is another one of my favourite
haunts. These two spots will require waders in order to get a little distance
in casting out to the main current and channel. If I can't get into a fish
there, I travel upstream to the intersection of old hwy 40 and 80. Shore
angling here doesn't require waders but walking along the rocks in the
dark is sometimes dangerous...definitely no place for kids.
|
|
(read the article here) |
Just after the spawn, the
fish go through a recuperation period, a slow process sometimes taking
weeks before fully regaining their highly excitable states. It is at this
time that only a slow, subtle presentation will fill your creel. A jig
coupled with a 3 inch soft curly body that is just large enough to get
you to the bottom usually pulls the tricks for me here. Tipping the jig
with a live minnow is a must as I try to cover all the bases of the fishes
senses.
|
|
(read the article here) |
Summertime is structure-time
for me. I'll pick out the largest, most obvious shoal or weedbed and begin
my efforts there. A large weed-flat (areas where the bottom depth is constant
and huge masses of weeds grow) is a magnate to all game fish species including
the Walleye, big Walleye! This is when I get out my thin bodied crank-baits
(Rattlin Raps, Cordell Spots, Lewis Rattle Traps). As my boat drifts across
the large weedflat (at least 10 feet of water) I fan cast in all directions.
As I retrieve the crankbait, it must catch the top of the weeds. When this
happens, I raise my rod tip high and lower it back down all the while I'm
reeling. Similar to a "stop and go" retrieve except I never stop reeling.
|
Copyright © 2008, Outdoor Connections. All rights reserved. |