Steelhead Diaries - An online journal chronicling the pursuit of Great Lakes Rainbow Trout

New Site...(finally)

2007-03-04T20:55:00.000-05:00

A new river report accompanies a new design, and location:

Steelhead Diaries, v 2.0

I will be permanently nuking this blog in the next 7 days. Thanks for everyone's readership and contributions.

Fin

2007-02-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

Since my new and improved CSS / PHP site is almost complete, this submission will be my final entry on 'Blogger'. I will keep this space accessible for a while, to serve chiefly as a redirect to the new goodness. In early March, this space will be permanently unavailable, though I briefly contemplated repackaging it as "Spiked Heel Diaries ~ an online prospectus dedicated to 1980s X-Rated Cinema", but in truth I much preferred material from the 1990s. All kidding aside, the following is a blurb I originally wrote back in December 2004, I chose to strategically recycle it now, as most of my free time has been dedicated to web design, and acquiring some interesting new pieces of kit (i.e. rods and reels). Oddly enough, I'm at a loss to understand what the intentions of the following piece was ~ though it might come off as self-indulgent naval gazing, I think that we all have a desire to succeed at doing something well, to the extent that we probably also strive to look good doing it. Perhaps that was what the late Michael Hutchence was intimating when he wrote the song "Elegantly Wasted". See you on the other side.....

“Those who know and practice the art best are the epicures among anglers; they have carried both the skill and the pleasure of angling to a height of exquisite refinement ...”

Unfortunately, I cannot profess to have mastered any angling technique to a level of refinement where I can consider myself a virtuoso – though I steadfastly maintain that the pursuit of excellence is a worthwhile endeavor and one to which I make varying attempts at each time I wade a stream or drift a run. To be sure, one of the most compelling aspects of angling is the pleasure of the pursuit, the rapture of the endeavor and the delight of an impossible chase (Lang, “Angling Sketches”). According to Kingswell (2003) there exists a significant need in many human beings to “do things well”; in the context of fishing, many of us attempt to exhibit proficiency and ingenuity, in order to succeed and withstand potentially harsh conditions. Our desire to succeed and achieve, with a sense of style is based to some extent on the Ancient Greek notion of Arête– a concept predicated on virtue, excellence and goodness - indeed the cornerstones of self-actualization. On the one hand, anglers are in pursuit of something vast and esoteric, on the other, the objective is obvious: after all, fishing is, by and large, focused on fish. In short, if a man can succeed in catching a number of fish under adverse circumstances by embracing a strong desire for competence coupled with a focused single-mindedness, it might be safe to conclude that the Olympians smile upon him. And to those unsuccessful anglers, who are characterized by limited returns, futile outings, yet surround themselves in romanticized mysticism, please accept the following quotation: “Next to being an expert, it is well to be a contented duffer: a man who would fish if he could, and who will please himself by flicking off his flies, dreaming of impossible trout….Next time we shall be more skilled, more fortunate. Next time!” (Lang, “Angling Sketches”).

End of the Blogg(er)

2007-02-08T15:02:00.000-05:00

I've been working on a new PHP / mySQL driven site over the last few days, it will supersede this space toward the end of February. From a technical perspective, I find that the ability to customize templates and design layout to be extremely limited when publishing content using 'Blogger', so I have decided to build a journal from scratch which allows for advanced features such as a "Search" function, and the ability to categorize content (i.e. Photos). The captioned photo shows the new build thus far, I have Apache webserver and a small SQL database running locally, and it is very stable and flexible.

The updated URL will be http://steelhead-diaries.com/ which currently resolves to a front page to this portal.

For better or worse, previous entries found here will not be carried over to the new domain.

Stark individuality v. 'rank and file'

2007-02-04T16:27:00.000-05:00

Blog - (n.) (abbreviation for web log) 1. summary of webmaster activities in the form of a journal, hosted on a website. 2. A meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are concerned with their personal experiences and hobbies.

Over seventeen months ago, I decided to recreate a digital broadside that would allow me to document my travels across the Great Lakes in the pursuit of Pacific Salmon and Rainbow Trout; the primary benefit of a web log, or 'blog', is it's ability to disseminate information to a select audience ~ indeed, web logs are commonly predicated on the focus of a particular interest, however quirky or determinate the subject matter may be. Oddly enough, there are probably close to one dozen online diaries where people keep a running account of their personal lives as they relate to fishing, particularly to Steelhead. At first glance, such a fact is quite extraordinary ~ and it could be successfully argued that a spirit of community or social network has been created amongst those who share a common passion; on the contrary, the proliferation of such material runs counter to my original motivation, which was based on creating a unique, individual perspective focused on a pursuit that is largely anonymous, personal and silent. By the same token, I am certain that many pundits could logically point out that if fishing is comprised of all of the aforementioned qualities, digitally publishing chronological accounts relating to it are antithetical in nature. In short, I would say this blog's distinguishing characteristics and greatest strengths are perhaps reduced in light of the relative popularity of online gazettes which contain overlapping subject matter. Then again, if one screams loud enough, they are bound to be heard. Blah......

Reflections..

2007-01-29T19:18:00.000-05:00

Though I've taken close to 1,200 photos with my ailing Canon Power Shot, I typically only post a fraction of those, due to a number of reasons. Some are blurred or poorly composed, or others are personal shots that I would rather not make public. That said, there is still a small archive that are of a decent quality such that I am saving them for my book, which will likely be self-published. Looks like I'm going to have to hit the slopes and go Alpine Skiing during my upcoming week off, though I might fish the Niagara if temperatures creep up closer to 32 F. In any case, enclosed are a few more photos from the past few months (the captioned photo is compliments of Paul Kelley, jig-maker extraordinaire).

Featured Photos:
Huron
Manistee
Zoar

National Film Board of Canada ~ Hinterland

2007-01-16T19:11:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a digitally archived series of brief exerpts that were a cornerstone of any Canadian schoolchild’s education during the 1970s and early 1980s. Though it's been over 25 years since I have seen these public service type announcements, the theme music and narrator's voice transported me to a long since forgotten time. In some ways, it's a shame that these segments are not periodically aired on the CBC or even TVO. Perhaps I am somewhat of a zealot, but I would be very pleased if these clips superseded or at least supplemented upcoming movie trailers at my local Cineplex, it might encourage some of the fans of 'Reality TV' to experience the essence of authenticity: our natural world. We must be in the frozen grip of January if I am jotting about the National Film Board of Canada. If anyone is interested in viewing these clips, simply click on the enclosed link, I am particularly fond of the segments dedicated to the Loon and Beaver:

Hinterland ~ Who's Who

Off the Water....

2007-01-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

Of late, I've taken advantage of the fact that my Audi has a fried ECU module, as I'm presently being chauffeured to work, and have a brilliant excuse for minimzing the amount of time I spend outside the house this weekend. I would imagine that the unprecedented mild weather has sparked runs of fish throughout the Great Lakes, but there is still plenty of time and opportunity for Steelhead fishing. On a related note, I've historically disliked angling in January anyway. The shutter on my Canon is dying, as evidenced by this photo taken around New Years ~ time to put the new one to use. In any event, this space will probably not be updated until my next trip out to a river, perhaps next week.

This time of year, I would rather kick around antique shops and independent furniture studios anyway, there is far more to life than fishing.

Wilderness and Civilization

2006-12-30T01:26:00.000-05:00

Just as each of the five Great Lakes are distinct entities, so are the many tributaries that sustain these vast inland seas. Some streams flow through magnificent valleys and feature ideal riffle, pocket, pool and tailout environments, while other rivers loom in the shadow of urban skylines. The stark diversity of climate, geography and unique strains of fish allow for endless angling opportunities, and today two friends and I fished a distant rocky, shale slate stream that flows within minutes of a major urban centre; a marked contrast from my last outing where I was surrounded by the austere wilderness of Huron County. Pods of fresh lake-run fish migrated upstream throughout the day, which made for both challenging yet exciting angling opportunities.

Featured Photos:
Fresh Winter Run Steelhead
Detail of Scales
Mid Morning
End of Day
December Rainbow

Epic Chrome

2006-12-22T17:46:00.000-05:00

As the tiny balsa float nears the end of its logical drift, it gently tilts due to the shallow rise of the gravelly tailout. I take a break from the cast, step, and mend regimen that I used to cover the mid-sized pool from its head down through its boulder strewn tailout. Some time has passed since my last strike, and I easily lose my thoughts in the surrounding early winter day. The clear, dark flows retain an element of mystery, even though much of the stream bed is visible in light of the exceptional clarity, and the pictureseque scenery is accentuated by the lack of any visible sign of humanity.

Early this afternoon, I fought, landed and released a fish that was exceptional enough that its magnificence compelled me to stop fishing. After having witnessed its sheer strength, grace and agility, nothing else could have possibly provided a greater experience, so I gathered my gear, and slowly made the long hike back to my car.

I suspect that the fish was a bona fide 10 lbs, and probably 30 inches.

Featured Photos:
Small, wild Rainbow in winter hue
Epic Chrome

River Report - Nine Mile River & Bluewater Tributary 12/17

2006-12-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

Lake Huron Steelhead tend to average around 6lbs, but that estimate seems modest in light of this year's fall / winter run, and the fish I landed and released today provide evidence to the aforementioned observation. My first fish of the day was hooked in a chalky, emerald green chute; a blast of rain coupled with a rapid snowmelt caused area tributaries to swell to dangerous levels early last week, and they are only beginning to drop and clear. At some point during the frenetic struggle with a platinum hued fish, I lost one of the handles on my J.W. Young Bob James Y2080, which provided an interesting handicap for the remainder of the day, and served as testimony to the greatness of these wild fish. Throughout the morning, I walked great distances, and fished a good variety of runs and pools in my travels; given the surprisingly few hookups I had either experienced or witnessed, I concluded that fish were probably taking advantage of warm, high water conditions ~ as I have previously stated, huge, turbulent flows allow fish to travel great distances with unimpeded ease and safety. I ended the day fishing a modest sized river located due North of Goderich, and as the sun squinted narrow on the horizon, I hooked a thick shouldered male winter Rainbow that wagered an epic fight; it was quite amazing to see him flash scarlet silver in the rust tinted tannic water. A gentle twist of my haemostats was all that was required to free the tiny hook from that fish, and it flipped off into the cool, darkness of the Lucknow. I searched Westward, over the majestic unforgiveness that is Lake Huron, and looked forward to my next adventure.

Featured Photos:
Darkness Falls
Toward dusk

River Report - Bluewater Tributary 12/09

2006-12-09T20:42:00.000-05:00

Following closely along the knife-edge of a severe winter storm that blanketed my locale with as much as 66cm of snowfall, two friends and I made the undaunted decision to fish a few Huron county tributaries today. As the dim hue of pre-dawn embered into the day's first light, we discovered that the majority of rivers were covered in jagged, clear shards of slush and ice. Fortunately, the day's forecast held true, and even the slight insolation from the winter sun was enough to free up deeper pools and runs from the clutches of Mr. Freeze; it's quite incredible how conditions can evolve favourably over a few hours. Today's fish were definitive examples of "quality over quantity", they all exhibited robust, deep stature, and pastel hues which were distinct to each fish. At times, some ask me if I ever tire of photographing Steelhead, to which I simply answer 'no'. Each fish features an unparalleled array of spot patterns and colouration and the visual experience is something I will never take for granted. My friend Kris landed a beautiful healthy fish late in the day that featured scarlet flanks, with relatively few spots ~ unfortunately, she kicked off into the dark cold water before I could capture her essence. Thankfully, I managed to photograph a few, featured below. I did have notions of fishing a stream near Oakville tomorrow, but today's extended hike to locate fish has left me feeling unambitious. Besides, these Tuborg Gold Labels are going down quite well.....

The second fish referenced in the photos is probably one of the most beautiful fish I have landed and released in some time.

Featured Photos:
A beautiful winter-run male ready for release
Chrome Lake Huron Steelhead taken in December

Frozen adoration...

2006-12-06T20:14:00.000-05:00

For reasons that are beyond my comprehension, there are a small, semi-eccentric group of anglers who consider winter steelheading to be the ultimate expression of masculinity, to the extent that one's virility or even citizenship could be called into question based on their inclination (or disinclination) to spend hours waist deep in cold, clear water; braving bone-chilling sub-zero wind chills, white out lake-effect snow squalls, and rivers choked with ice and slush. If timed improperly, a winter jaunt can devolve into a frigid day of isolation, a futile exercise of casting to fish that are not there. By the same token, a warm rain, or a few hours of sun can provide a catalyst for a flurry of fish activity, as a slight rise in water temperature may turn on the bite. From a sheerly statistical perspective, winter steelheading should be a productive undertaking, as 60% of spring spawning steelhead reside in the pools and runs of Great Lakes tributaries when the ground is covered in snow. If I can ignore the fact that my feet feel like palettes of frozen hamburger, turn a blind eye to the stinging burn of cold on my fingertips, I look forward to my next trip to the river, this Saturday.

** The captioned photo was taken today by my friend Erick on 'XXX' Creek, one of many fish landed and released.

Go your own way....

2006-12-02T19:56:00.000-05:00

Lamentably, we currently live in a time where people often make decisions based on convenience, conformity and repetition - as a case in point, there are instances when I receive a barrage of questions from friends and acquaintances requesting information about waterways that are hundreds of miles from where I live. Unfortunately, I do not possess any supernatural abilities that allow me to provide up to date reports on fishing conditions in Huron and Bruce counties, and if I had such insight, I'm not certain that I would freely share it with just anyone. Furthermore, it seems as though people have lost the ability to take chances and explore unfamiliar waterways, or even areas of a given river that extend beyond their usual well-trodden spots; with the aid of topographic maps and a copy of the latest 'Recreational Fishing Regulations' for Ontario - I have found some fantastic places to fish on rivers that receive less pressure than ones discussed ad infinitem on public messageboards. That being said, I strongly maintain that the trademark of a resourceful individual is to be selective about offering information - to clarify, be helpful, and offer advice - but do so remembering the significance of the proverbial "secret spots"; to borrow (and twist) from the words of West, angling can be a solitary undertaking, where family, friends and society can be the natural enemies of the fisherman. He must be alone, uninterrupted and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking. I think that it goes without saying that it is important to find isolated areas, free from heavily trampled paths, noise, litter and angling pressure.

"I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite." - G.K. Chesterton

River Report - Lake Erie Tributary - 11/25

2006-11-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

Two days worth of fishing has left my mind mushy, primarily due to excitement, fatigue, and contemplation of the wisdom of others, to the extent that I do not currently have a succinct recount of the weekend events, which by itself is a debatable subject at any time. Perhaps I will be able to recount some of the more interesting experiences from the weekend in the coming days. Nonetheless, I did make certain that some strong batteries were powering my camera.

Featured Photos:
Release
Release Redux
Dawn

'Change the Batteries'..

2006-11-19T18:16:00.000-05:00

Today, I visited a few Western New York Creeks that drain into Lake Ontario, water levels were above average, and in many cases featured only about 3-5" of clarity. My decision to travel there was motivated by two reasons ~ firstly, yesterday marked the opening of Deer "gun season" in NY State, and recent rains have caused many rivers to rise in that same region. Both of the aforementioned factors have considerably thinned crowds on State streams, and today was no exception. The highlight of my day was landing and releasing what looked to have been an 11lb 'Lake Run' Brown Trout hen. I moved it into a shallow section, and readied my camera while the fish rested in a rocky crag of river that acted as a cradle. When I powered on the camera, the lens extended, and I viewed the impressive fish through the LCD screen. I instinctively squeezed the shutter-release button, only to be prompted by a message that simply stated 'Change the Batteries'; before I could make any additional adjustments, the camera lens rectracted and the LCD screen went dark. I gently moved the fish out into the main current and released it, I guessed that it was close to 28", and it was very deep, with buttery-bronze coloured flanks and a surprisingly white underside. Unfortunately, I cannot provide much more detail relating to the day, as the batteries in my laptop are also fading......

For the record, I do not recommend A&P 'Master Choice' Alkaline batteries, they only lasted a single outing.

River Report - Maitland River 11/12

2006-11-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

Recent weather has been characterized by a dense cap of dull gray cloud cover, drizzle and blasts of offshore wind; beyond a doubt, the frosty tips of November have descended upon Southern Ontario. Today, I spent about 9 hours fishing on the Maitland with a friend, and we worked a variety of deep runs and fast stretches of river. The highlight of my day was perhaps having the opportunity to fish with a new Diamondback 13'6' Float Rod ~ though it is rated for 6# - 8# line, I found that it had more than adequate rigidity and power to control 6-7lb Steelhead in fast water, yet it features a tip section that is delicate enough to fish with light line. Other aspects of the rod that are appealing are it's deep, gloss Chestnut finish and ample low frame guides. That said, the rod is somewhat pricey, but Diamondback Rods are touted as being handmade in Vermont, so perhaps the cost is proportionate to the quality of materials and impressive fit and finish. I was fortunate to have landed enough fish on that rod today for me to conclude that it is unofficially on my 'Christmas Wish List', daft handle configuration notwithstanding.

Featured Photos:
Bright
Winter Colours

One Year Later...

2006-11-02T19:30:00.000-05:00

Seventy seven nonsensical posts brings me to a few weeks shy of 365 days for this irreverent little spot of ink blot. I think that my initial motivations for creating this weblog were to record my thoughts and snapshots related to my days spent chasing gray ghosts, and perhaps a less obvious (and fleeting) attempt at determining how passion or intense interest can provide some aspect of allegory. In retrospect, I would say that devoting an online journal to a fish only sought seasonally is quite a challenge, especially during the unrelenting heat of July ~ thankfully, Maria Sharapova's posterior and a few flashes of bombastic gothic rock can provide periodic moments of levity. I thought that the logical conclusion to this tabloid might be sometime next spring, though I would certainly miss having the opportunity to post photographs online. In the end, the logical conclusion is not right now.......I still want to explore aspects relating to "fishing as allegory".

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

To all, I bid 'Good Night'.

Huron County Tributaries -10/27

2006-10-27T18:09:00.000-05:00

Even in light of unseasonable weather patterns and subsequent heavy rainfall, I decided to fish on a few Lake Huron tributaries with a friend today. River levels had peaked about 20 hours ago, thus we made a (seemingly) calculated decision to fish based on dropping & clearing water flow. Over the last few weeks, many local streams have experienced healthy runs of winter-strain Rainbows, and angling reports have been consistent if not periodically exceptional. Nevertheless, today was noteworthy perhaps due to the apparent scarcity of fish ~ at least in the runs and pools where we endeavoured. In retrospect, a more accurate statement would be that as a result of consistently high water levels, migrating fish seem to be using the "express lane" ~ huge, turbulent flows allow fish to travel great distances with unimpeded ease and safety. Though high precipitation has allowed autumn runs to be early and prolific, I suspect that a normalized precipitation trend will allow rivers to return to seasonal levels, and for anglers to enjoy fishing in classic pool, run and riffle fashion without having to resort to congregating in areas where fish gather during periods of high water.

With 25-35mm of additional rain forecast for this evening, I think that I'll sleep in tomorrow. Until next time, keep warm....the sting of Winter was in the air today.

Featured photo:
Stanley Township Steelhead, courtesy of Erick Hodgins

Next Gen Islander?

2006-10-24T18:36:00.000-05:00

Last month, a friend of mine who is a collector of centrepin reels confirmed that Islander Reels are indeed developing a 'next generation' reel, and he was gracious enough to send me a photo of a prototype. Though perhaps not readily obvious to the unobservant, the porting on the faceplate of the spool has become more intricate and plentiful, somewhat reminiscent of their FR and MR series of fly reels. No word on whether this revision will be offered with an optional drag mechanism, though rumour has it that a separate model will contain that feature. In any case, I hope that I can order one in 2007, by and large, this marque offers the finest commercially marketed reels available today.

When October feels like November...

2006-10-15T19:49:00.000-05:00

Today I fished a broad, sweeping Lake Huron tributary, which is characterized by rusty, tannic flows which wash over a mix of solid limestone bed interspersed by large boulders. Southern Ontario received a veritable torrent of precipiation last week ~ hence, the river conditions were fast, high and thoroughly unforgiving. All the same, a significant increase in water levels provided the catalyst for fresh runs of Steelhead, though I did note a surprising number of silver Chinook as well. I waded out to some previously unimaginable sections of river in an effort to hook fish, and though I split my attention between staying upright in the swift current and concentrating on my drift, today was an excellent day. The majority of Rainbows seemed to be in the 4-6lb class, a winter-strain fish that spawn in the late winter and spring. Though fall and winter migrations are still in an early phase, I would expect that once river temperatures align more with near shore lake temperatures, runs will begin in earnest.

Feature Photo:
Fall-run chrome Steelhead taken on an oversize cherise glo bug.

Autumn Bloom...

2006-10-09T14:35:00.001-05:00

I just spent an incredible weekend away in Huron county, where we soaked up miles of fall scenery on peaceful trailways, and for a brief moment, we were able to forget about all other worries (which probably are not worth worrying about anyway....)
Featured Photos:
Purple
Blaze
Eye
Surf
Yellow

Why Steelhead?

2006-10-04T17:52:00.000-05:00

To some, the foundations of angling are centred on the concept of possibility ~ irrespective of weather forecasts, stream flow data and the (potentially exaggerated) reports of other anglers, the outcome of each day on any given river or stream cannot be easily predicted. The unpredictability of the outdoor experience, in conjunction with the single-minded pursuit of a specific fish under typically adverse environmental conditions has resulted in the formation of a small, fanatically loyal group of fishers known as "Steelheaders"; many anglers have an emotional, almost spiritual attachment to the pursuit of a silvery fish that could be considered to be one of nature's most magnificent specimens. In the words of Hemmingway: "It is a wild and nerve-frazzling sport and the odds are in favor of the big trout who tear off thirty or forty yards of line at a rush and then will sulk at the base of a rock and refuse to be stirred into action by the pumping of a stout fly rod aided by a fluent monologue of Ojibwayian profanity."

Why Steelhead? - In a nutshell, the pursuit of those fish involves the intense study of weather, impeccable timing, and imperviousness to harsh climatic surroundings (A little luck never hurts). The solitude of a gray winter day can also be the source of inspired thoughts, yet it also allows one to detach from the mad, mad world.

* Ernest Hemmingway fished a variety of Great Lakes Tributaries for Rainbows, and in August 1920 declared that "'At present the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is in the rapids of the Canadian Soo,'

* The above photo was taken at Cattaraugus Creek by me, on 'Good Friday' 2006

Weekend of Rest...

2006-10-01T18:18:00.000-05:00

Given the option of either waking up very early Saturday morning and driving in inclement weather to a far away river or sleeping in until past 8AM, I easily chose the latter scenario. For the last few weeks, tributary fishing has been consistently good ~ many Great Lakes tributaries have received a slightly above average amount of rainfall, and runs of Pacific Salmon have been notable especially on Lake Ontario rivers and streams. Having said that, the Chinook run in most systems is winding down, yet subsequent runs of Brown, Rainbow and Lake Trout have not begun to any noteworthy extent. All the same, an increase in rainfall, the reduced photoperiod and decreasing temperatures point to the return of Winter Run Steelhead, and I have made plans to fish with a close friend for around 7-10 days across the Great Lakes in the coming weeks. In the shorter term, I booked a three night stay next weekend at the Benmiller Inn, to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. While my laptop will remain at home, there still is room in the car for my 13ft IMX, waders and assorted items. I just might get out for a spot of drifting.

River Report - Niagara County 09/23 - 09/24

2006-09-24T18:33:00.000-05:00

Over the last few days, a friend and I had the chance to fish a variety of locations across the south shore of Lake Ontario, specifically an area of New York State affectionately known as 'Wine Country'. Contrary to what I stated in a previous journal entry, we actually were focused on targeting some later running Chinook, as we had learned that a substantial run had entered the Niagara River. As it turns out, we fished a few creeks and rivers, including the Niagara and Oak Orchard River. Angling pressure was unreasonably high on all popular rivers, but we found a great deal of success fishing some overlooked locations, which will be interesting to revisit once the Steelhead runs begin in earnest. Based on the advice of the owners of rustic local tackle shops, we drifted chunks of freshly-cut skein with great results, and based on anecdotal observation, it seems certain that spawning Chinook willingly and aggressively strike specific presentations. While the use of Salmon roe as bait is slightly paradoxical in light of the fact it runs counter to the foundations of conservation, it's effectiveness cannot be understated. For the record, we released all of the fish that we landed, which is also somewhat illogical as many anglers frequently keep fish for the purpose of harvesting their ova.

Featured Photos:
Sky
Sea
Rusty King

** all photos taken by me, using my venerable Canon 3.2MPx, my 7.1 is apparently still on backorder **

Hot Rod..

2006-09-19T20:10:00.000-05:00

A few hours ago, I received some absolutely incredible photos from my friend Dan Colville ~ between finishing his final year of University, he has been creating some custom float rods, which feature some of the most intricate and innovative thread wraps and feather inlays I have seen. As a result, I have decided to showcase a detailed photograph of one of his latest creations. If you are interested in receiving more information about his rods, please feel free to contact him via Email at steelheader@buffalo.com

Featured Photo:
Dan Colville Custom G.Loomis 13ft GL2 (Merlot Blank)

Shades of Autumn..

2006-09-16T14:09:00.000-05:00

With the intent of hooking some more Chinook, I decided to fish the Niagara River today. While many fish could be seen jumping and rolling, there were few takers. Thankfully, I did manage some nice early Rainbows, the most noteworthy of which is linked below. The river had about 3-5 feet of visibility, and weeds washing downstream from Lake Erie were less prevalent than in the past. Since I logged quite a few miles walking over the last two days, I think that I might grill some Ribs tonight, and enjoy a few glasses of Upper Canada. The last few outings likely mark the end of targeting Chinook, shame that the runs never amounted to much on the Maitland and Saugeen ~ chiefly due to declining numbers of Salmon in Lake Huron, and the lack of measurable rainfall.

Featured Photo:
Niagara Steelhead

River Report - Credit River, 09/15

2006-09-15T14:39:00.000-05:00

The Credit River has been described as a beautiful and intimate stream surrounded by dramatic scenery. While I suspect that the aforementioned statement was originally made in reference to some upper reaches of the watershed, I would contend that the areas that I fished today were equally cosy and scenic. The river was finally dropping after a healthy band of precipitation moved across our region earlier in the week, the result of which caused many southern Ontario creeks to swell. Increased precipitation, coupled with a seasonal decline in nightly temperatures, has sparked runs of migratory fish across the Great Lakes region. When I arrived at the river earlier this morning, I fished a nice deep section, and as the morning sky broke with a dark blue crack of daylight, pods of fish began moving through the run. After about 10 casts, my tiny balsa float shot below the surface – I saw the gray-green back of a large Chinook Salmon move perpendicular to the flow and run downstream, my hook firmly in place. I gradually braced my fingers against the rim of my centre pin reel, and stopped its rotation, and in turn stopped the fish. I could feel the weight of the fish turn in the current – though it did so with reluctance, and continued to wage a determined, aggressive battle. After some time, I walked back to shore and carefully landed it in a stony shallow, where I could gently tail it. After a few quick photos, I carefully released the fish into the quiet water of a deep pool. A short time later , I stood near the river and admired a brace of Silver Maple trees, their tips showing the characteristic vermillion hue of an impending autumn.

Featured Photo:
Chinook Salmon (female) and 13ft G.Loomis & Islander centrepin

While I was sleeping...

2006-09-07T21:02:00.000-05:00

Earlier this morning, probably close to an hour before I rose and got ready for work, two of my more resourceful friends enjoyed a spot of fishing on a Lake Ontario tributary. Apparently, the water levels were sufficiently high such that pods of Chinook continue to move upstream. They each landed and released some brassy coloured salmon, hooked on a dead-drifted, black woolly bugger pattern. After enduring a chaotic week in every respect, I've earmarked Sunday to spend time on the water, hopefully the river hasn't dropped and cleared too much by then.

The captioned photo depicts a large male Chinook Salmon, about to be released, taken from today.

Return of the Kings, 2006

2006-09-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

For many generations, coastal aboriginals of North America have long respected the salmon; as a consequence, many tribes of the Pacific Northwest have established ceremonies to honour their annual return. Though culturally and spiritually divergent, I suppose that I have my own angling traditions that mark the return of these oft maligned coldwater fish. The introduction of Pacific Salmon into the Great Lakes is quite fascinating from an historical perspective, though the sport fishing lore of those fish is grim ~ and one immediately is reminded of the continued presence of foul hooking, poor stream etiquette and overcrowding which mark the fall salmon season. Today, I fished a river East of Newcastle (ON), and while the aforementioned behaviours were noted to a lesser extent, there are many enjoyable aspects to the pursuit of Pacific Salmon using traditional angling methods, and I firmly contend that the late August, early September runs of those fish allow river fisherman to experience fish that are both a challenge to hook and land. That said, these fish cannot possibly be compared to the fitness and agility of a Rainbow Trout, but the latter has been labeled by some as a 'poor man's Atlantic Salmon' ~ relativism, to say the least.

The photo captioned above shows a female Chinook Salmon (approx 20lbs) on it's way to being released, taken from today.

A few Kings.....with a King..

2006-08-26T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I received a nice selection of photos from a friend of mine, looks as though 3 and 4 year class fish are still offshore, undoubtedly awaiting some onshore winds, cooler temperatures and (badly needed) rainfall. All the same, it's nice to see that the Lake Ontario ecosystem appears to be healthy even in light of documented examples of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, which destroys the tissue of vital organs of fish, causing lethal internal bleeding. To date, results of the deadly virus have been noted on the Bay of Quinte and the south shoreline of NY state. In any case, I suspect that the salmonid population has not yet been measurably been affected, as the captioned photo shows a 24lb Chinook caught and released off Port Credit. Nice going Joe and Dave, will catch up with you guys in September....

Blah..

2006-08-16T19:05:00.000-05:00

Looks like my online webhosting provider went for a proverbial 'dump' ~ fortunately, there was not much complexity to my site, so restoring it will not be an issue. Since I work in the Technology sector, there are marked times where I am disinclined to use PCs in a recreational context, hence I have not updated this small slice of cyberspace in some time. In any event, mid-August tends to highlight the early stages of Fall / Winter migration, as scattered reports of early Chinook have been noted in a few areas. As a consequence, I'm having master builder John Witzke convert a 13 ft Scott SAS Spey rod into a heavy duty float outfit, looking forward to receiving it sometime soon, and I secured a 'new in box' Stanton centrepin this afternoon. The aforementioned is a staple of UK Centrepinning, and it's lineage was reportedly crafted by Cliff Adcock in the Rolls Royce factory in the 1960's, though commercial production did not start until the 1980's.

The above image is a heavily stylized photo of a Maitland Doe, caught and released in November 2003.

Another good read...

2006-07-25T17:37:00.000-05:00

Much of my evenings during the week are devoted to reading, and as a result I have been taking advantage of excellent savings offered by Chapters Indigo online. Most recently, I ordered a micro tome written by Matt Supinski entitled "The Orvis Pocket Guide to Great Lakes Salmon and Steelhead: Tips, Tactics, and Techniques * Plus, Where To Fish and When". Though the title may appear vast, this hardcover could readily fit into a slightly oversized pocket, even though it contains 160 pages. Supinski is a passionate writer and an excellent photographer, and I enjoy his slightly unorthodox approach to a subject where many people readily view themselves (albeit inaccurately) as 'experts'. Since I would contend that no meaningful activity is 'easy' ~ I would conclude that the sensible tips and the more insightful statements that permeate Supinski's text consolidate the idea that the concept of 'mastery' is simply a desirable but utopic notion, especially in the context of pursuing Great Lakes Steelhead on the fly. In the end, I would highly recommend "The Orvis Pocket Guide.." to anyone interested in the theory, method and madness behind the pursuit of Rainbow Trout and Pacific Salmon.

Redirect..

2006-07-20T19:43:00.000-05:00

With little meaningful dialogue to share here, which as previously mentioned is a debatable point at any time, I've noticed that many recent readers are simply redirected to simply the 'blog' itself. When I originally crafted this little site, I did make a perhaps fleeting attempt at creating a 'site' proper, with an index and accompanying photo section (which has not been updated in some time..). If you have surfed here by chance, why not check out the rest of the site by clicking here.

Also, I have some photos from this past spring which can be viewed here.

Fishing related dialogue and photos will soon again become the focus of this site, just a few more weeks....Kings and early Steelhead..

Mute

2006-07-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

Earlier this evening, I read in Time Magazine that Russian Tennis champ Maria Sharapova clocks in at about 101.2 decibels when she makes her familiar on court 'grunts', or more accurately 'shrieks'. For the sake of comparison, the typical threshold for human pain is around 120, 110 for a snow blower, and around 100 for a woodworking class. That said, I think that she is an excellent player, but I imagine that the effort used to make such high volume noises could be more strategically invested in a volley or an ace.

Photo blatantly ripped from Getty Images.......On an unrelated note, I did get a sketchy report that a modest run of Chinook have entered the Little Manistee in MI, shouldn't be long now....

Maelstrom...one week late

2006-07-02T17:43:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, I witnessed a live concert that would appear on the face of it somewhat anachronistic, but after some reflection it was more revolutionary than out-of-place. After six long years, I made the effort to see Nine Inch Nails ~ the cacaphonous, sado-goth, buzzsaw riff driven effort of one Trent Reznor. Oddly enough, the trip to the Molson Ampihtheatre was something of a homecoming, as my sister and I have been regularly attending the band's shows since 1994. Though not readily obvious, life has not been easy for Trent Reznor; he has survived well-doccumented personal challenges with celebritydom, and has more significantly weathered an ugly, and costly dispute with a former manager. As a result, I suspect the night was something of a homecoming for the band as well ~ as they ripped though an energetic set that approached almost two hours in length, all songs were played with the deliberate enthusiasm of a band still connected to the material. Though it is at times difficult to sense a strong sense of evolution in his lyric, Reznor is at least consistent in broadcasting themes of isloation and alienation. I found performances of "Something I Can Never Have" and "Dead Souls" to be particularly moving, and I would conclude that the overall performance could be summarized as "profound". Though the image of the band has evolved nicely over the years, featuring a 'superhero' style Reznor with crew-cut and bulging biceps, the current iteration of the group benefitted supremely by the swashbuckling stage presence of Aaron North on guitar. In a word, fanfuckingtastic.

Next tour stop, September 2006 ~ perhaps a long overdue journey home to the UK, to the creaking hulk that is the Manchester Apollo, where The Cult have played since November 1985. Perhaps my shout out requests for "Go West" will be at last answered.

Photo courtesy of Rob Sheridan

Fireworks

2006-07-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, I found a few interesting online articles pertaining to photographing fireworks, and I applied a few strategies this evening with mixed results. Unfortunately, high winds caused lit embers to blow, which resulted in slight blurring and distortion; I suspect that was only heightened by the fact that I didn't use a tripod as well. Perhaps if I see any local displays scheduled for tomorrow evening, I might try my luck again.

New Link...

2006-06-16T18:21:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered that two guys from the Western New York area cited me as an influence in deciding to craft their own blog ~ I took a read through their site and was pleased to see that they are thoughtful and conservation minded. A variety of interesting ideas are discussed over on 'Chrome on Chrome' including the prospect of spawning channels for migrating fish, and when to draw the line on late season Steelhead fishing. From my perspective, far too many people fish in temperatures that are above the tolerable range of a stressed, fighting fish, which makes the prospect of revival compromising or unlikely. Myself, I stopped fishing in early May this year ~ there were simply enough enjoyable outings in November, February and March.

Only in India...

2006-06-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

I spent some time yesterday reading a variety of news headlines on the web, and I came across an article that left me scratching my head ~ "Indian Woman Marries Cobra".

Since half of my ancestry is from that part of the world, I have some concerns about this bit of news. Firstly, was this union an arranged marriage ~ if so, under what circumstances did the snake propose? In any case, it seems like the groom was quite an apprehensive fellow based on the following exerpt from the story ~ "Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives". I suspect that like any reasonable 'male', the cobra simply wanted to avoid undue media attention, as I am certain that having 2000 guests attending the actual wedding ceremony was undoubtedly an exhausting affair. In any event, I hope that the resulting offspring are many.

High Octane Cult...

2006-05-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

Even though my hearing has not been fully restored, I would not hesitate to witness a repeat performance of last night's concert at the RBC Theatre / John Labatt Centre. Though the impromptu amphitheatre was showing about 2/3 full, The Cult showcased over 20 years of modern rock in a strong, 18 song set. This band is best known for their hysterionic live performances, complete with windmill driven, earth shattering guitar riffs and spellbinding lyrics. While all of their popular hits, including "She Sells Sanctuary", "Fire Woman" and "Lil Devil" were played with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, there were some pleasant obscurities such as "Wonderland" and the shimmering "Spirit Walker"; lead vocalist Ian Astbury mentioned that new material is on the horizon, which will receive heavy rotation on my MP3 player in due time. For the time being, I'll enjoy the sounds of the many "instant live" shows (officially) recorded during a series of dates in the US in March.

The photo shown above was taken by my friend RAM, I should have brought my Canon digicam with me....

A daft find...

2006-05-25T18:39:00.000-05:00

A few moments ago, I placed an online order for a recently released title named "Best Streams for Great Lakes Steelhead". In the process of searching for the aforementioned title, I came across a book which has an entirely daft premise: 'Spoon Fishing for Steelhead" ~ most troubling is the fact that it is 64 pages!? My overly simplified assessment of "Spoon Fishing for Steelhead" would be as follows ~ locate a moderate to fast, deep section of a river, cast 3/4 upstream, close bail soon after the spoon enters the water. Keep line taught by reeling in slack, snag on large boulder.....repeat until you no longer have any "Lil Cleo" or "Krockodile" lures left in your Flambeau 'Adventurer' tackle box....walk dejectedly away from the riverbank, to your parked car. While I'm certain that method of fishing requires a more tactical approach than my weak summary, I cannot readily fathom how a book containing 64 pages could be predicated on something so superficially straightforward, and arguably impractical. Then again. this blog has 53 entires........which similarly defies reason.

Some just keep going...

2006-05-17T16:19:00.000-05:00

As I alluded to in a posting made yesterday, I'm taking a break until August ~ but the fellow I enjoy fishing with a great deal is spending his time chasing other, arguably more challenging species. I received an Email this morning from Dan Colville, who is wisely spending his summer away from University; instead, he is fishing for Stripers, though for a brief moment, I thought he said "Strippers" ~ my mistake. Had it been the latter, I suppose that I could have referenced some half-witted innuendo...

The pilot light is on...

2006-05-16T12:49:00.000-05:00

Over the next few months, I have decided that I probably will not expend much energy updating this site, as I don't plan on fishing until perhaps August. As I mentioned previously, I might drop a small, non-fishing related anecdote here and there (music / media related), but in keeping with the overall theme of 'Steelhead' such topics will be intentionally sparse. In the meantime, I will focus on the signifcant, other interests that I have outside of angling, many of which I would not wish to be readily cited or chronicled in an online scribblepad such as this. Hopefully, my Spey Rod to Float conversion will be completed by the time the first early Kings arrive in August, I decided that John Witzke will be doing the wraps and lathework (see captioned photo). Contrary to the opinions of a fellow I recently spoke with, no two rod builders are the same, and if I were contemplating having a custom IMX tied, I could think of only two artisans who could do the rod justice. On an unrelated note, I have recently received a few Emails inquiring about my frequent fishing trips to NY and Ohio ~ my decisions to fish on stateside rivers are based more on the virtually unlimited access to waterways, in contrast to the comparitively restrictive closed seasons that are justifiably in effect across Ontario. That said, I have decided to provide a helpful link that highlights some enjoyable places to try in New York.

Empire State Steelhead

This space will come to life again when the evening air cools, and the first hint of colour flashes though that small grove of Maple trees near my alma mater, UWO.....

Different perspective....

2006-05-10T16:26:00.001-05:00

While I was working on bringing 4752 new accounts from Bank of Nova Scotia online yesterday, one of my friends was out enjoying some fair weather and uncrowded conditions on a larger, rather famous Lake Huron tributary. He sent a few photos to me, and one particularly caught my eye ~ the rusty tint of limestone substrate looks truly magnificent when buried beneath a torrent of clear water (the following photo courtesy of G. Norland).

May Rainbow

More photos...

2006-05-07T15:07:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, I created a small gallery using Macromedia Flash ~ it contains some digital photos that were taken between February 2006 to as recent as last Wednesday. At some point during the summer, I plan on adding some more, though I feel that the following images capture the essence of late Winter / early Spring Steelheading. The most challenging aspect of creating an online photo gallery is the resizing of photos ~ much of the intricate detail is lost by doing so, but it is necessary as many people are still using display settings of 1024 x 768. Sadly enough, there is one individual who visits this site who is, for some inexplicable reason, running Windows 2000 at 800 x 600 @ 16bpp colour.....I think an upgrade is long overdue!

Winter / Spring Photos

All photographs were taken be me, the notable exception is the photo of myself, which was taken by Mike Verhoef. All fish were carefully photographed and promptly released.

Winding Down...

2006-05-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

Five days, three rivers, two creeks and 1100km later, I returned from an extended fishing trip during which I encountered warm, bright weather and low water levels in most streams. The aforementioned conditions are less than ideal for Steelhead fishing, and as a result, I spent a great deal of time hiking long distances to find fish. As I have previously stated, many post-spawn fish have returned to the cool depths of the Great Lakes, but there are some late runners which were a blessing to come across. Unseasonably warm temperatures notwithstanding, the highlight of my jaunt was spending three days fishing with a friend that I have not seen in some time. I suspect that I will be putting my long rods away soon, at least for a few weeks. Though I don't fish Bass, Walleye, Pike or Muskie, I will probably make a few trips out during the summer for Atlantic Salmon or Skamania Rainbows. That being said, perhaps the focus of the blog will temporarily shift from fishing to summertime grilling, microbreweries, books and lousy movies.

Photos:

Duffins Creek

Nine Mile River

Huron County..

2006-04-29T19:48:00.000-05:00

I fished the Maitland River today for the first time since November, and though the weather was fair, the fishing conditions were unseasonably poor. An early end to Winter coupled with a notable thaw in January likely created ideal conditions for spawning lake-run Rainbows, hence many have returned to the depths of Lake Huron. Nevertheless, the highlight of my day was a fully guided trip with Mike Verhoef, the proprietor of Fly Fitters. We glided for hours over glassy, smooth sections of crystal clear water, where we witnessed a prolific steady hatch of Tan Caddis in the late afternoon. Looks as though spring fishing for Steelhead is quickly drawing to a conclusion.....

Update..

2006-04-22T11:09:00.000-05:00

Earlier in the week, I decided to update the appearance of the main page of this site ~ it is my intention to experiment with different designs and "cover" photos in an effort to keep things fresh. I've decided against fishing this weekend, chiefly due to the fact that I will be do so for about five consecutive days next week, so I need time to organize my gear and spin up a few new flies. Unfortunately, my SIMMS Freestones have developed a small leak in the left foot, which made for uncomfortable wading last week in 34 F water; I have a "backup pair" on express order from Bass Pro, though. At least they didn't leak back in February....

Springers, Scouts and Kelts...

2006-04-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

Cattaraugus Creek is a very special place to fish ~ it has the feel and appearance of what an archetypal Steelhead river should be; swift flowing riffles intersect with deep, meandering pools lined with timber and large boulders. Though the majority of anglers are drawn to its banks in the autumn, I spent the last two days fishing there, as I suspected that the recent warm rains would invariably draw some fish into the river. Yesterday was an incredible experience - a heavy cap of Prussian blue coloured clouds and mild temperatures made for excellent fishing; two friends and I caught and released a nice mix of spawned out fish, 1 to 2lb "egg eaters" or "scouts", and deep bodied estuary fish in the 4-6lb class (known locally as "springers"). I would guess that the latter are chiefly following clouds of baitfish, which might possibly explain why we did not encounter any today. As I left the river around 12 o'clock this afternoon, visibility had reduced to about 6-8 inches, and the characteristic glacier green shade of the Cattaraugus turned to a less appealing hue of cement from last night's rain.

It was great to be able to fish with my friend (and rodbuilder extraordinaire) Dan Colville, and his friend Jason. Those gentlemen are fortunate enough to live within a stone's throw of many Western New York tributaries, and they certainly have a pulse on the Cattaraugus. I have included some photos, and I will eventually add many more....

Ghost of the Cattaraugus

Release

Solitude

Day of rest....

2006-04-09T10:08:00.000-05:00

For the second weekend in a row, I've decided to stay home in an effort to dedicate some time to a freelance assignment I have been working on ~ in a nutshell, I'm creating an interactive / multimedia copy of a written proposal and 'Risk Management' manual using Macromedia Flash and Adobe Distiller. In some ways, it's a shame that much of my current involvement with visual art is inextricably tied to technology; though the power of visual images has been observed since the dawn of literary civilization, I contend that computer technology has unfortunately allowed the realm of visual arts to be more accessible, and that has perhaps spawned a modern generation of work where the concepts of process and symbolism are not readily apparent. While on the subject of 'art', please note that I have added two links to my page ~ they are also 'blogs' related to angling, though the ideas presented in each example are highly developed, interesting, and quite unconventional. In my view, it is difficult to find thought-provoking subject matter relating to angling in the digital world, hence I would encourage all readers to spend some time looking at the aforementioned links.

All things being equal, I look forward to sharing some more photographs soon, as I plan on logging some more hours on a cold, gray stream during the Easter Holidays.....

I did check my 'Sitemeter' statistics today ~ 8,193 views (since Nov. 05), which would seem to indicate that this little slice of cyberspace is similar to 'Beverly Hills 90210' ~ many view it, but few would readily admit to doing so. For the record, I never watched the show.....

No time to fish...

2006-04-04T21:03:00.000-05:00

Much of my daylight hours were spent last weekend rebuilding a primary authoritative Windows server at my place of work ~ thanks to the exemplary efforts of my colleagues, we managed to have the server ready in time for 'production' hours on Monday morning. As a result, I was unable to spend any time fishing over the last while, though I did find an interesting video on centrepin angling for Rainbow Trout by Aaron Shirley. Though I'm typically not fond of fishing in a televised context, the aforementioned video clip was entertaining enough, and I certainly look forward to early May when I can travel around the province and fish a few creeks during the weekdays for Spring Steelhead.

As the dirt turns.....

2006-03-29T17:04:00.000-05:00

I've decided to stay home this weekend, in an effort to make final decisions on brickwork, trim and shingles for a new home that is currently being built. In some ways, I actually enjoy being off the water from time to time, due to the fact that I can sleep in; besides, standing waist-high in 32 F water tends to take a toll on my aging joints. In any case, I do find it strange that so many people point out caveats about building a new home, which I think in many ways is simply perhaps a subconcious justification for living in a less than ideal setting ~ though I am not fearful of microbes or bacteria, it gives me some sense of comfort knowing that the sinks & tubs that I bathe in will not have previously been used by some wrinkly old geezer. Subsequently, I have decided to document the construction of the new home via photographs, though the accompanying photos and text will be the first and last mention of that project; after all, this little space is chiefly reserved for all things related to fishing........

On a side note, the title of this submission could also refer to an inaccurate and grossly inappropriate thread I read on an outdoors messageboard, though I would have to replace the term "dirt" with "dung" or perhaps even worse.....

Western New York Tributary...

2006-03-26T20:31:00.000-05:00

I begrudgingly dragged myself out of bed at around 2am this morning, and made the long three hour drive to one of my favourite rivers ~ the morning was cold, gray and damp ~ prototypical conditions for Steelhead fishing. I spent the better part of the morning fishing a few runs in the lower end of the river, and I only saw a handful of small 3 to 4lb fish hooked. That said, the highlight of the day was spending time fishing with a friend who is both a skilled angler and excellent rod builder ~ he gave me some pointed advice on shot patterning and reading water; interestingly enough, I find myself refining aspects of my drift this many years on, thankfully. The most notable fish of the day was a spectacularly coloured Brown Trout ~ unfortunately, the accompanying image fails to capture the vivid mid-tones of the fish, perhaps as a result of the cement coloured water, or more likely due to a badly photographed subject.

Expect a fully developed website for Dan Colville Custom Rods in the Summer of 2006. An example of his work can be seen in the captioned image shown above.

Let there be Spey...

2006-03-22T21:11:00.000-05:00

In the late summer of last year, I sold my 10ft, 8 weight Scott SAS series fly rod. Though the quality of the blank and fit & finish of the rod were tier one, I found it to be too heavy for a single handed rod. As a consequence, I decided to sell it after having been given an offer that I could not refuse. Fast forward to yesterday, and I located a 13ft, 8wt Scott SAS 1308 Spey Rod ~ it will provide the ideal basis for an excellent float rod conversion. I will probably have traditional high frame black SIC guides fitted with (dark) amulet red wraps and thin silver accent thread; and I will most likely keep the dimensions of a traditional spey rod for the cork fore and aft grips, with a stainless steel reel seat in place of traditional hardwood, similar to the Göran Andersson series by LOOP. In any case, it will be an ideal rod for early Chinook on Lake Ontario, and also for selected West Coast applications. Once the work has been completed on the conversion, I will post 'before' and 'after' shots....

Late Winter Steelhead..

2006-03-19T14:05:00.000-05:00

A warming trend coupled with high, dirty water made for a good day's outing yesterday with two friends, though winter's last grasp made for cold conditions during the 10 hours we spent fishing on a Great Lakes Tributary. I probably spent as much time socializing and taking photographs on the river as I did fishing, but Erick and Kris fished hard and caught and released an unspeakably high number of fish, much to the chagrin of neighbouring anglers. I brought along my compact Canon PowerShot 'A' series, and managed a few decent photos. The high sun and sun bleached timber made the surrounding environment difficult to photograph, I really should get a lens hood and polarizer for the digital camera. Next time, I will probably bring my 35mm SLR ~ time to take some serious pictures.

For the record, the water really was as muddy as the two following photos suggest. Our outing was capped by a few slabs of gourmet pizza from Sbarro ~ one of the nicest 'mass market' (pizza) pies out there!

Photos:

Big Fish

Late Winter

MNR Fish Stocking Summary for 2005

2006-03-15T20:39:00.000-05:00

Earlier this evening, I was examining the OMNR 'Proposal for Managing Rainbow Trout Recreational Fisheries in Ontario', after which I spent a bit of time punting around on some other areas of the Ministry's site. Interestingly enough, I came across some data related to current management practices on fish stocking; based on the statistics that were presented in the summary, I would conclude that the ministry mandate is quite non-intrusive ~ though an individual breakdown of Great Lakes was not provided, the numbers of salmonids stocked in 2005 was quite small. Reduced stocking efforts might be indicative of a strong presence of wild fish ~ thus salmonid populations within the Great Lakes might exhibit some self-regulation contributing to the stability in the food-chain; in that case, increasing the number of predators (i.e. salmonids) via stocking might be detrimental to established populations of fish and forage. One statistic was quite alarming to note ~ almost 4 million Lake Trout were stocked into the Great Lakes in 2005, which seems indicative of the MNR mandate to restore populations of native species into our "freshwater seas". My only two concerns are as follows ~ (a) I wish that the Ministry would exhibit more consistency in their mandate toward fisheries management. Throughout the years, various non-native species have been introduced for a variety of reasons, many of which have become naturalized. In some ways, I am not certain that an attempt to restore the Great Lakes to their historic origins is biologically possible. At the same time, (b) perhaps our own OMNR needs to coordinate their vision and philosophy more carefully with US bodies such as the NYDEC and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. At the end of the day, our MNR has a wealth of scholastic talent, and I hope that their ultimate vision is someday actualized.

Blah..

2006-03-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Nothing interesting or informative to say today ~ well, it's debatable whether any content on this page could be considered "interesting" or "informative", after all, it is a blog. In any case, I had informal plans to fish today, but I had an uncharacteristic change of mind. As it stands, apparently the overall conditions weren't that great on the river today, though I did get a solid report that some Lake Erie streams in Ohio are fishing really well. I essentially spent the day in bed, with the TV on, the newspaper at hand, and my new laptop resting on my abdomen. I decided to buy a new Dell Inspiron 6000, and I'm running Windows Vista on it. The operating system has some really innovative features, such as transparent windows and an improved file management system. I really like the GUI, it seems as though the engineers at Redmond took a closer look at Mac OS X. Incidentally, cups of coffee are far easier to photograph than fish.....

Digression...

2006-03-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

While I was in the process of scanning Pollstar for updated information related to The Cult, I was surprised to see that Madonna was actively promoting a new album via a tour. Though I'm personally not a fan of Top 40 Pop, I certainly cannot overlook or diminsh the Material Girl's contribution to modern music. For that reason, I would say that Madonna has had an uncanny ability to remain relevant in the contemporary music scene, perhaps as a result of her tireless propensity for exchanging identities; though I would contend that aspects of faith, ambition and an obession with sexuality and exhibitionism have provided the foundation of her flamboyant persona. Fast forward to 2006, though, and I am horrified to see that she continues to maintain a quasi-erotic wardrobe whilst performing. From my perspective, seeing a 48 year old woman wearing a satin catsuit and fishnet stockings does little to consolidate any reasonable man's heterosexuality, but to each their own, I suppose. Getting back to my original thought ~ The Cult are playing a low-key club tour across the US, and they look and sound brilliant. I look forward to seeing them later this month, looks to be metalbloodymungous.

Next Generation Islander..

2006-03-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

Some time ago, I heard a few (unverified) pieces of information about the specifications on what might be the next generation of centrepin reels from Islander Canada. One source mentioned that the reel will bear a similar resemblance to the Okuma Helios fly reel, to the extent that it might have a single handle for retrieve, and porting on the circumference of the backplate. I also had the chance to speak to a more credible source who mentioned that a drag system was being considered for a future reel. I would imagine that the current generation of IS would remain in the market, with a new product being marketed as a higher tier item. Perhaps we will see a prototype in late 2006 / early 2007?

Windproof..

2006-02-25T01:44:00.000-05:00

My gal was kind enough to give me a William Joseph 'Backwater' wading jacket for my birthday, so I suppose the days of my ubiquitous black fleece hoodies are over, at least until warmer weather arrives. Interestingly enough, the coat was packaged in an exceptionally small parcel, the size reminded me of the type box that a WWII scale model aircraft would be contained in, to my surprise. In any case, the coat does seem a shade light, but I suspect that it will keep the fierce Nor'Wester that blows off Lake Huron, at bay. March is almost here.......

Streamside notes...

2006-02-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

I had a chance to fish with a J.W. Young Y2080L 'Bob James Lightweight' last week, and I enjoyed using the reel enough that I decided to buy it from a friend who fished it only a handful of times. Based loosely on the 2040 'Purist', the 2080 is differentiated from the former by it's wider arbour, elaborate spool and backplate porting, and frosted gray hardcoat finish. Overall, the reel is excellent ~ the design is distinctly original, and the fit, finish and tolerances are consistently good. Nevertheless, there are some aspects of the reel that take some time to get accustomed to, such as the far-set handles, and relatively sharp-edged holes on the drum itself, which could potentially cause damage to traditional monofilament line. By and large, the most disappointing aspect of the reel is the placement of the 'on / off' ratchet on the top quarter of the backplate, which invariably engages the clicker when feathering the spool or fighting a fish (if you happen to be right handed). I do plan on modifying the reel to either reduce the profile of the clicker or remove it entirely, I will post the results once I have completed that project. Interestingly enough, the reel was spooled with 12lb of clear coloured Siglon-F, which I found to be a pleasure to use. The line features an exceptionally thin diameter, and excellent line control due to the fact that it floats. On longer casts and drifts, I was easily able to mend my line without measurably disrupting the course of the float, a real bonus in low and clear water where fish are typically spooky. My only reservation about the line was likely a result of the very cold temperatures ~ I fished with it on days where the mercury was hovering around 27 F. In short, I would be interested to see how it performs in more reasonable climatic conditions.

More Photos...

2006-02-16T19:16:00.000-05:00

Since I re-imaged my PC, I haven't had the opportunity to install and configure some of my development tools; as a result, I will not be able to update the 'Photo Gallery' until I load Macromedia Flash MX onto my workstation. Nevertheless, I thought that I would share two photos taken on Monday of this week.

Silver Hen

Double-Header

Please note that all fish were released promptly after being photographed. Typically I prefer to leave all fish in the water while filming, but a fellow I met wished to have his Rainbow photographed with one I landed a few moments earlier. On a related note, I had the chance to fish with a J.W. Young Y2080L "Lightweight" and some newer Siglon-F line in clear, and I will share my thoughts on those items in the coming days.

Winter Steelhead

2006-02-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

Over the last few days, I logged quite a few hours on a Great Lakes tributary fishing for Winter Steelhead with a friend of mine, and I made note of a few interesting observations. Conventional wisdom would seem to indicate that fish are less inclined to be active in cold conditions ~ once water temperatures reach around 39 degrees Farhenheit, the metabolism of many fish reach a near dormant phase, and migration upriver is considerably slow. For reasons which are not entirely clear to me, I witnessed some events that deconstructed some traditional ideas about fishing for Rainbow Trout in sub-zero temperatures. Based on what I witnessed over the last two days, there seems to be a period of prolific fish activity around sunrise (i.e. 'first light'), though many experienced Great Lakes anglers would suggest waiting a few hours for the sun to warm the water. At the same time, I also discovered that fish will relate to traditional structure and lies such as logjams, current breaks and boulders ~ just as they would in warmer conditions, and in the same way that resident trout do as well. I cannot remember the last time that I was able to wade into a river in mid-February, but I was thankful to be able to do so this week, even though my fingers are still somewhat scortched from the biting cold. I would like to extend a special note of thanks to Craig at Erie Outfitters, a fully equipped independent tackle shop that seems focused on centrepin float fishing and fly fishing, and a fine cup of complimentary hot coffee.

Cold Snap...

2006-02-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

Recent nighttime temperatures have been dipping into the low (minus) teens, and that reality coupled with localized snowsqualls have disrupted my plans to fish local tributaries over the next few days, though I will keep a close watch on prevailing winds over Lake Erie in anticipation of fishing the Lower Niagara River. In general, if I am "offline" for a period of time, I'm usually out on some extended jaunt across the Great Lakes, but as of late I have been preoccupied with completing an exhausting chapter in my professional life, and looking forward with promise to a new beginning. I steadfastly maintain that spending time alone on a river fishing for winter steelhead allows me the opportunity to focus ~ though perhaps I have a tendency to be subject of caricaturization, I maintain that the river, it's substance, in fathomless quiessence, exists eternally. All the same, that viewpoint is somewhat nullified in the face of pelting sleet, fierce winds or worse, a 'fish free' day.

Speed of Life......

2006-02-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

For the last five years, I have been employed as a Systems Analyst in the field of Education, and the technical and personal challenges that I have experienced in that career have been phenomenal. Lately, however, I have been looking for new realms, specifically in the field of leadership in the Technology sector; last night, I accepted an offer for the position of Manager of Information Technology at a company in the financial industry, certainly a welcome, exciting and slightly frightening prospect. For this reason, I've not really had the opportunity to update this 'blog' over the last while, but I suspect that will change as I plan on taking advantage of this break in the weather and do some fishing.

The accompanying photo was taken late in the Summer of 2005, using a long exposure, on the way from Port Stanley, ON. The car is my girlfriend's SAAB 9.5, which I prefer to my A4 quattro.

On the taxonomy of Salmonidae...

2006-01-29T09:37:00.000-05:00

One of the most interesting books that I have recently purchased is entitled "Trout and Salmon of North America", written by Robert Behnke and featuring illustrations from Joseph Tomelleri. Without question, this encyclopedic volume provides a definitive conspectus on the evolution, etiology, distribution and behaviour of fish belonging to the genus Onchorhynchus and Salmo. Fortunately, detailed scientific analyses and explanations are cleverly balanced with comprehensive maps outlining the current and historical range of fish populations, along with some liberal smatterings of angling mythos. Being a visual / graphic artist, I was particularly impressed with the layout, style of text, and effective use of colours which are subtle ~ the tips of the pages are adorned with Tomelleri's colourful reproduction of fish scales, truly a fantastic and thoughtful detail. Dr. Behnke is able to describe a multitude of distinctive populations of salmonids such as the fine-spotted Snake River Cutthroat and Tomelleri, in my view, is perhaps able to reach the limit of classical illustration with his photorealistic representations of fish. Since I was an adolescent, I have always been fascinated with the degree of variation and change within the colours of spawning Pacific Salmon, most notably Chinook and Coho Salmon, and upon viewing the illustrations in "Trout and Salmon of North America" I suspect my childhood enchantment with those fish will accompany me into the realm beyond the living. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in our natural world or the heritage of the diverse fish that comprise the family of Salmonidae.

News...

2006-01-25T11:58:00.000-05:00

I haven't been out fishing for some time, so I don't have any updated photos or related ramblings to share, as a result, I thought that I would cite some relevant news headlines that I read earlier this morning. Looks like the concept of "conservation" is becoming an increasingly adopted practice in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The first story relates to the potential effects of drift net fishing on the Atlantic Salmon fishery:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4645890.stm

And the following link outlines a story that indicates the Bush Administration is serious about preserving Pacific Salmon stocks:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0125salmonpolicy25-ON.html

Another reel...

2006-01-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, I traded my JW Young 2080 centrepin for a 4.5" Angling Specialties reel ~ it's an older model (machined by Deneau) which can be differentiated from current reels based on it's semi-polished clear anodized finish, and a notably smaller, 4 screw centre covering on the faceplate. For reasons not entirely clear to me, the current generation 'Ang. Spec.' (machined by Drini) reels have been deemed to be slightly less desirable from a collector's perspective, but that statement is probably debatable. After having examined the reel for a few days, I have to say that it possesses some similar qualities to the BMW 760Li, at least from a design perspective. Both items are aesthetically unique, heavy, pricey and perhaps over-engineered. Aside of the radically unorthodox styling, the most distinctive aspect of the reel is the inclusion of a fully adjustable, silent drag mechanism which can be engaged via a small lever located on the backplate of the reel. In some ways, the presence of such a feature would seem to run contrary to the traditional benefit of using a centrepin reel, where an angler typically uses their palm or index finger to control tension on the spool whilst fighting a fish. That said, I'm told that the Ang. Specs' drag becomes useful when fighting a fish in heavy, swift current or when fishing from a pier (though I would rather hit myself in the head with a ball peen hammer than pier fish, to the delight of some I imagine). In short, the Angling Specialties reel is a quality piece of kit that would make a decent addition to a small collection, though it is suitable as a daily runner, which mine will become. At the end of the day, the reel is pretty intruiging, even if it is little more than a glorified lump of aluminum...

Change..

2006-01-17T15:27:00.000-05:00

Lake Huron is in a state of transition; the noted decline in Pacific Salmon has been linked to a corresponding decline in baitfish, chiefly: Alewives. Michigan DNR (West Shore of Lake Huron) sources have stated that consecutive, harsh winter seasons coupled with a decline in phosphate levels & microbiological life as a result of zebra & quagga mussels have severely impacted the population of Alewife, which has been traditionally considered to be the chief source of food for Chinook Salmon. As a result, all streams and rivers that have wild populations of salmonids should be subject to some measure of protection; perhaps we will see some changes for 2007? At the end of the day, there are so many factors affecting the population of Pacific Salmon and Rainbow Trout in the Great Lakes - angler harvest is only one piece of the equation, so is the change in lake biomass, stream siltation, low water periods (reducing the survival rate of fry and smolts) and predation from other fish and birds. Though I am by no means a Biologist, the history of transition within our own ecosystem is a fascinating subject, and for additional information related to Lake Huron, please refer to the following Michigan DNR document:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/LH-Management-Times-ChangFINAL_133120_7.pdf

Though the document is scientific, I would hope that anyone interested in potadromous salmonids (remember that the Great Lakes are fresh water) would give the aforementioned a read. For the sake of clarification, the focus of this blog is centred on aspects of a passion (i.e. 'fishing') that are interesting, enlightening or entertaining (to me), if you are offended or in disagreement, you are welcome to publish a dissenting opinion in the "Comments" section or drop me a line.

Updated Photos

2006-01-14T12:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received some beautiful photos from Mike Verhoef, an established guide who is currently featured on the cover of "The Canadian Fly Fisher" magazine. He was kind enough to share some photos that were taken on his "Christmas Eve" outing a few weeks ago. Though all of the photos that I viewed were excellent, I felt that two of them captured the essence of what looked to be a day of peaceful solitude. Interestingly enough, it was my intention to fish on that same day, as doing so has become an informal tradition, but I had just returned from a two day fishing trip to Niagara County, NY and more notably, I had overly indulged in some pre-Christmas celebrations the previous night. After having had the chance to speak to Mike yesterday afternoon, I decided to book a full day, guided fishing trip with him on Saturday, April 29 no less (that day marks the opening of 'Trout Season' in many tributaries across Ontario). Getting back to the subject of photographs, I also received a nice image from Gil Tam and Brent Backman, which showcases their day on the Maitland River on January 1st. On a final note, I re-designed the entire gallery (again) ~ I decided to use Macromedia Flash in an effort to provide a cleaner, more modern look, and to prevent images from being saved and unlawfully distributed.

The accompanying photo features a silver Chinook Salmon alongside my J.W. Young 2080 centrepin. I recently traded that reel for a 4.5" Angling Specialties 'Deneau' reel. I took that picture in October 2004 using an Olympus C-4000.

T0 view the updated Gallery, click here

While you and I were at work...

2006-01-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

....my friend Erick Hodgins was taking advantage of the mild weather, and spent a day fishing with his father on an Ohio tributary, earlier this week. The Ohio steelhead streams receive the bulk of migratory fish during the winter and spring ~ this is due to the late running Little Manistee strain steelhead that is almost exclusively stocked in these waters by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (a small number of London strain rainbows are stocked also by the ODW). Based on some of the photos I have seen, the 'Buckeye' state looks to have some nice rivers and stream, some of which are proximate to major urban centres. For more information, feel free to click on the following link, I will certainly be making a few visits to that region in the coming weeks.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Fishing/fairport/steelhead.htm

For the record, Erick stands at 6'4", so it goes without saying that he is showcasing a very impressive fish.

Gear

2006-01-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

A few people have PM'ed me asking a few questions about the type of gear I use. For the sake of clarification, I'll summarize some of that information in the following list:

Apparel: Simms and Bare Waders, Chota STL wading boots, and a 'Gear Bag, Chest' pack by William Joseph. At the present time, I am in need of something that offers more storage, so I am deciding between a Simms G3 Vest, or an 'Open Range' tech pack by FishPond. Some years ago, I moved away from wearing a vest, but recently some very modern, useful designs have been brought to market, and very few people are wearing them. A strong individual sense of style has always been important to me, as I would rather not fish than become part of the hoardes of mindless drones who tout Mykiss Reels, BC Supreme balsa floats and run Ironsilk....

Float Rods: 15ft IM6 Raven, 13ft Rainshadow (IST1562F), 13ft Frontier MX (3-piece). I'm having a G.Loomis GL3 custom made for me, should hopefully be ready by March.

Centrepin Reels: JW Young 2080 'Bob James', JW Young 2040 'Purist', Islander 'Pacific Steelheader', and my current daily runner is a Bryson Streammaster reel, finished in Gold. In the past, I have used a G.Loomis Drifter, a Raven SST and a current generation Islander Steelheader. Though I tend to favour reels that boarder on the eccentric / impractical, I firmly contend that the current Islanders are probably the best modern reels on the market. The overall fit and finish is outstanding, and the bevelled palming rim is unmatched. In the next while, I'm looking at adding a Deneau, Match Aerial and a (new) Lythe.

Line: Ande Premium in Clear 8lb breaking strength, Maxima Perfexion in 8lb, though recently I have been using P-Line 'CX Premium' in 10 and 12lb with good results. For leader, I use Raven flurocarbon, Drennan Fluro and Maxima Ultragreen. 'Hi Vis' line is for goobers, who should be concentrating on their float rather than their line.

Hooks: Gamakatsu Octopus, Raven Shrimp, Octopus and Specialist. After bending a Daichii 1150 on a Rainbow at the Saugeen this Autumn, I will not be using those again.

Surely I have made some unconcious omissions in the abovementioned list, but I suspect that the summary has bored you to tears or allowed you to draw the conclusion that I am a pretentious twit (hee hee), or at the very least, opinionated.

Slow Start....

2006-01-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

Last night, I returned from a two day trip to the Niagara River ~ the water had about 2 to 3 feet of visibility and the level only varied slightly during the time we fished. Overall, fishing was slow, though boat anglers were doing quite well; the majority of fish landed were probably in the 5lb range, though I did see a couple of fish caught from boats that looked to be in the low teens. Fortunately, I brought my digital camera, but unfortunately I left the SD (memory) card in my laptop at home. As a result, I do not have any photos to share, but I will be fishing steadily (weather permitting) until late May, so there will be plenty of photos throughout the winter and spring. Pink egg sacs fished at a depth of around 13 to 15 feet seemed to produce the best results, though I am somewhat surprised that I didn't elicit any strikes by running a white marabou jig, as we noted considerable clouds of what looked like emerald shiners. In unrelated news, I rented 'Must Love Dogs' on DVD last night, and while I'm certain that critics lambasted the film for being formulaic, I enjoyed the storyline, and the vulnerability of some of the principal characters. While it certainly will not be regarded as a cornerstone of modern cinema, I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a light, entertaining film.

New Year's Rainbow

2006-01-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, while I was finishing the remnant's of the previous night's Champagne (I mixed it with some Tropicana Orange), two friends of mine were enjoying a fine day out on a Lake Huron tributary. Smaller, natural coloured 'sucker spawn' patterns seemed to produce the best results ~ based on the elevated river levels and higher water temperature, pods of fish were noted throughout the day. Fishing pressure was reported as being light, hopefully that trend continues for the rest of the week. I'm away for the next few days, headed to the river....

Photo by Brent Backman (using a Kodak CX7330), fish landed and released by Gilbert Tam. For the sake of clarification - all of the fish shown in photographs on this site were quickly photographed, and released immediately after.

Photo Gallery Online

2005-12-30T14:35:00.000-05:00

Not the kind of photos that accompany this text, though I am sure that many would find those imminently more satisfying. In any case, I have uploaded about twenty images from the last few months ~ unfortunately, I had to reduce the size of the originals, but I personally feel that much of the clarity and colour saturation remain intact. Please note that I do have a large number of digital images, but they are not located on the laptop that I am currently using, thus I will be adding more in the new year. I do plan on putting down my Canon PowerShot 'A' series digital camera for awhile, in favour of a more traditional 35mm SLR, an Olympus OM2. Those interested in seeing the photos can go to the main page at www.steelhead-diaries.com or simply click here. Anyone interested in submitting their own photos can contact me via Email at nomoncio@yahoo.co.uk.

Skunk

2005-12-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

The recent thaw created enough runoff to raise the levels of some smaller area creeks, and I spent a few hours this afternoon fishing a medium sized tributary in Norfolk County. The sky was low and overcast, and the outside temperature was around 2 C. With the exception of some curious Grey Squirrels, the stream was deserted and that allowed me to fish a variety of runs and pools at my own pace. The water level was markedly higher than normal, with about 6 inches of visibility ~ perhaps clearing to 8 inches toward the end of the day. In any case, though I tried a variety of presentations including marabou streamers and glo-bugs, I did not receive any strikes, to the extent that I did not see any fish activity. I suspect that even though the stream levels have increased, the water is not likely warm enough to act as a catalyst for a fresh run of fish, and I expect that many fall runners have moved great distances into the safety of tributaries and headwaters. In some ways, I think that my decision to fish today was based more on the opportunity to drift some areas of water that are designated 'Extended Seasons', which will close after December 31, and re-open on the last Saturday in April. Over the next few months, I will likely concentrate my angling efforts on the Niagara River, and the tributaries in New York State, which are open for migratory Trout all year.

Belated Merry Christmas...

2005-12-26T18:52:00.000-05:00

During the last few days, I've been spending time with family, and have consequently been away from my laptop & the www. Nevertheless, I would like to extend my best wishes to all who visit this little site ~ there are readers from London, ON as well as the Toronto area, NY, Wisconsin, Quebec and some smaller places like Acton and Poplar Hill. Cheers to everyone ~ hope you can all enjoy some quiet times with family and friends over the next few weeks. The recent break in temperatures will likely have a positve effect on smaller tributaries in my area, and I plan on fishing the Nine Mile, Bayfield, Otter and Big Creek before the 'Extended Season' closes on January 1st. Enclosed is a photo of a small Rainbow I caught and released last Wednesday, it was taken on a single Wax Worm fished on a #16 hook.

Brown Christmas

2005-12-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a wonderful two day trip to the 'South Shore' of Lake Ontario - heavy, overcast skies and cool temperatures provided ideal conditions on some medium sized tributaries. Oddly enough, I found myself virtually alone in most locations that I fished, certainly a welcome change from earlier in the Autumn. As a point of interest, I was interested in targeting Steelhead, as the recent arrival of warmer temperatures likely coaxed some fresh runners to enter area rivers; nonetheless, the majority of fish that I landed and released were post-spawn lake-run Brown Trout. Most of the fish were well recuperated, and waged dogged battles even in 5 C water. In my view, Salmo Trutta can be a beautiful fish ~ often displaying a similar degree of physiological diversity of the Rainbow, to the extent that no two fish look alike. I will remember the last few days fondly for some time, as I tend to view life by the moment, not basing it on days, weeks or years.

Joyeux Noël

Days off..............at last

2005-12-21T20:31:00.000-05:00

Over the last 4 months, three of my colleagues and I logged hundreds of hours building and designing Application and Database servers using HP p-Class Server Blade enclosures which connect to a StorageWorks 8000 Enterprise Virtual Array; suffice it to say, I have had little time to relax, other than the odd weekend and a rare day when I could get out fishing mid-week. That being said, I am off work until January 9 - and I plan on catching up on sleep, going to the gym, and taking pleasure in doing nothing. In the spirit of doing nothing, I've had the chance to see a few movies recently, most notably 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose'. Though it could be considered to be a mainstream film, 'Emily Rose' makes an attempt at complexity despite the fact that it's supernatural / horror elements will undoubtedly be unappealing to many. The subject of spiritual possession invariably leads to the timeless question of faith versus science, though the film brings to life the aforementioned concepts without embarrassingly bad dialogue or CGI rendered effects. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Jennifer Carpenter, the actress who was daring enough to portray the character of Emily Rose. A photo of her accompanies this text, as she may not be immediately recognizable for the majority of the film. I also viewed 'Saw 2' and 'Doom', though I have to say that both of those could be simply summarized as mindless entertainment (advantage: Doom)...

Custom Rods by Dan Colville....

2005-12-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

Around mid-November 2004, I briefly chatted with a fellow while fishing the Cattaraugus Creek near Gowanda. I noticed that he was fishing with an elaborate looking custom float rod, and it turns out that he tied it himself. I've always been interested in custom rods, but truth be known, I've never been keen on the fickle attitude of area rod builders. That being said, I'm pleased to say that Dan has created some spectacularly finished rods ~ I picked up my custom 13ft Rainshadow (IST1562F) two weeks ago, and I am notably impressed with the resulting product. The combination of quality materials such as a Jarrah burl reel seat and butt cap and warm, rich thread
colours result in a beautiful rod that would be at home either in a glass display case or used to fight a fish on a river. I have included two photographs of the rod that
was tied for me, for those looking for an artfully tied rod, please feel free
to Email Dan Colville at: steelheader@buffalo.com

The Saugeen.....and Strippers...

2005-12-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I heard the tail-end of a vague report on FM 106.9 about what was described as a "Saugeen Stripper" ~ my immediate reaction was something along the lines of "it's a little cold outside to be shedding clothes" followed by "I really should fish the 'big river' more often..". Truth be told, the story was actually referencing an event that took place amongst UWO students at one of the most famous student dormatories named 'Saugeen-Maitland Hall'. Quite a bit of buzz was generated as a result of this escapade, though I suspect that it was simply a spontaneous action of questionable taste. In the spirit of poor taste (and also due to the fact that I have not been out fishing recently), please see the accompanying photo to this story. I did spend time in a student residence when I was enrolled in graduate studies in 1993-1994, but the most daring stunt we pulled was bringing glass beer bottles into our rooms. Glass was forbidden due to the potential hazard it could pose to other students if broken, but my favourite ales and lagers were not available in cans, so I ignored the rules......

Something Wicked This Way Comes....

2005-12-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

If you can forgive my clichéd reference to Ray Bradbury's novel, it seems as though Southwestern Ontario is about to receive an estimated 15 to 25 cm of snow. Consequently, I think it's time to sort out my Alpine ski gear, as I have a shiny new pair of Salomon skis that need some bindings and boots. Furthermore, I've concluded that "All Season Tires" make reference to all of the seasons, except winter. My Goodyear Eagles effectively become slicks as they quite readily pack up with snow. I'm looking at a set of Blizzaks, but I think I'd rather save money on tyres and spend it on gifts. Snow's up, Cowabunga dude........

Breaking the Ice

2005-12-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy the drive to Western New York along Highway 3, though early Saturday morning was a notable exception in light of strong winds and blowing snow. Traffic was correspondingly light , as most reasonable people were probably enjoying a slow morning within the comfortable confines of their kitchen or living room. Defying logic and sensibility, I decided to spend the weekend fishing a variety of small creeks in New York state ~ a heavy thaw occurred about 10 days ago, and many streams in Erie and West Seneca were flowing well with good clarity. Generally speaking, winter fishing can be very productive when temperatures creep up past 32 F, though the window of opportunity to take advantage of such conditions can be small. The forecast daytime highs for the weekend were predicted to be above freezing, but overnight temperatures dipped into the low 20s and I expected that slush and ice would be an issue on all waterways. The skin on my hands resembled an elephant's hide, wrinkled from the cold, dry weather and I struggled to attach a tiny #14 hook to a hair-thin strand of flurocarbon line. Many pools were adorned with shelf ice along the shore and banks; I drifted a tiny egg sac along the rough edge of a large ice sheet on the far bank - the water temperature was probably around 34 F, and I suspected that fish would be holding near the bottom, away from the swift main current. Winter Steelhead fishing is an example of extreme fortitude. Trips must be carefully planned between squalls and ideal river conditions, and spending hours in fierce winds and cold can affect even the most sensibly dressed anglers. An outing can be characterized by hours of casting, wading and walking with at times, few, or no fish. Some days may produce multiple fish, others may produce nothing. After having spent two full days fishing a variety of runs and pools on a handful of low-key creeks, we landed and released some beautiful examples of Winter Steelhead. The long range forecast points to a break in the frigid weather later this week, all things being equal there should be some more great days to look forward to before Christmas.

Winter Steelheading

2005-12-11T17:41:00.000-05:00

I just returned from two days of fishing, and though the wind was fierce at times, I enjoyed a few great days. I'll submit a more formal report early this week.

While I was at work....

2005-12-07T17:07:00.000-05:00

My friend Gene Norland fished a smaller Lake Huron river yesterday, and despite bitter temperatures, had an excellent day. Water levels on most area rivers are currently ideal, but consecutively cold nights will undoubtedly tighten them up. I received an additional report from WNY yesterday that indicated some fish were caught in faster moving sections of water, shame that I do not have any idea of what the water temperature was, as Rainbows tend to hold in slower, deep sections when the mercury drops to near 32 F. In any case, I will be heading out for certain in the next while, looks like we might have a break in the weather.

Iced-Up

2005-12-06T10:33:00.000-05:00

As I drove into work this morning, I noticed that a few smaller creeks were icing up around their banks, and the mighty Thames was dotted with small slushy patches in some slower sections of water. All things being equal, the sustained cold weather has caused rivers and streams to drop and clear nicely after last weeks wholesale thaw, but if the current trend continues, many systems might freeze over before anglers have a chance to fish. As river levels continue to drop, many productive pools will ice over, and the lower sections will become choked with slush and ice. I do have tentative plans to fish on the weekend, but those are unfortunately contingent upon a break in the temperatures. Bah...........................................................humbug :)

Why Steelhead?

2005-12-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

To some, the foundations of angling are centred on the concept of possibility ~ irrespective of weather forecasts, stream flow data and the (potentially exaggerated) reports of other anglers, the outcome of each day on any given river or stream cannot be easily predicted. The unpredictability of the outdoor experience, in conjunction with the single-minded pursuit of a specific fish under typically adverse environmental conditions has resulted in the formation of a small, fanatically loyal group of fishers known as "Steelheaders"; many anglers have an emotional, almost spiritual attachment to the pursuit of a silvery fish that could be considered to be one of nature's most magnificent specimens. In the words of Hemmingway: "It is a wild and nerve-frazzling sport and the odds are in favor of the big trout who tear off thirty or forty yards of line at a rush and then will sulk at the base of a rock and refuse to be stirred into action by the pumping of a stout fly rod aided by a fluent monologue of Ojibwayian profanity."

* Ernest Hemmingway fished a variety of Great Lakes Tributaries for Rainbows, and in August 1920 declared that "'At present the best rainbow trout fishing in the world is in the rapids of the Canadian Soo,' - I plan on fishing there in the spring, perhaps I will be graced with his serendipity

Photos....

2005-11-30T19:59:00.000-05:00

Presently, I'm trying to sort through some recent digital images for a new Gallery; admittedly, there are some stunning photos from seasons past, but I am making a conscious attempt to highlight more current material. I have received some beautiful images from Wally W., hence if anyone is interested in submitting some digital photos, feel free to Email 'full-sized' files. All sources will be cited once the images are online. For now, feel free to have a look at a Pennsylvania hen that bears a striking resemblance to a Macaw parrot.

blog (pronounced "blah'g")

2005-11-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

Over the last while, I have had the chance to chat via Email with Paul Hurtubise, he fishes with an excellent angler (and all around good guy) named Mike Borger. In any case, Paul is a talented photographer and writer; as a result, I have decided to publish some of his material here. It really is a shame that the art of angling is, at times, cheapened by popular associations such as red & white plastic bobbers, excessive alcohol consumption and crass behaviour (the latter two activities are strictly reserved for various 'Road Trips' undertaken throughout the year, however). Perhaps Paul's work can help deconstruct common misconceptions.

R i v e r
water moving over the
rocks turns
them into
precious stones
trapped in living
fluid crystal
and the trees let
drop their leaves
on them
in the Fall
recalling the
petals of flowers in
high Summer
and then the fish come
bright salmon
to frolic like
lustful youths laughing
at the feast dancing
in among the riffles
dappling the stones with
their quick shadows
to cover them at
last with their bodies spent
lovers leaving the iridescent
bereaved trout to the
Winter and a long ice
bound wait
for Spring

Rewind...

2005-11-28T16:43:00.000-05:00

Since I'm still in the process of editing new content (both written and pictographic), I thought it would be appropriate to share some scattered ramblings from my previous website, 'Xstream Angling'. It seems that the concept of 'harmony' is foreign to most anglers; invariably, a slough of endless debate emerges from a variety of topics that would likely seem uninteresting or perplexing to those who do not fish.

"Undeniably, angling does appeal to a diverse array of human beings, whose interests and motivations are unique to a common pursuit, though I must call into question the notion of a "brotherhood" or fraternity. Historically, it seems that fisherman have excelled at embracing their own theories, creeds and hypotheses, which seem to counter any related ideas put forward by fellow anglers. Indeed, such splenetic debates over minutiae seem to have been documented since the days of Halford (1899), who was instrumental in starting an immense debate over the perceived superiority of dry fly fishing. On the face of it, it would seem that dry-fly advocates promoted their technique as a result of it's steep learning curve, and limited returns, which may have assisted in elevating it to the apex of the sport, at least for a short time. In modern times, it seems that the tirade of pointless debates continue - coarse fish versus game fish, artificial versus live bait, and certainly I am guilty of strongly endorsing techniques which may be in direct opposition to common sense and proven success. Perhaps such beliefs are a reflection of the obstinate nature of humankind, and those same beliefs certainly highlight our shortcomings - again, I am no exception. At the end of the day, I am still struggling to see exactly how anglers can collectively called a 'Brotherhood', though perhaps such a relationship is strictly defined and perpetuated by pedantic, endless debate over small potatoes. For the record, I'll take trout over carp........"

Please note that the photo that accompanies this text belongs to Mr. Mark Janeck, a commercial artist and builder of custom (fishing) rods. Mark belongs to an increasingly rare fraternity of craftsmen such as John Witzke and Dan Colville ~ who transform slender sticks of composite graphite into veritable works of art. I will be showcasing rods from all of the aforementioned in the coming months.

Back online......in a dramatically altered context...

2005-11-27T15:25:00.000-05:00

After having spent a few hours changing the colours, formatting and text of the default template, I'm quite pleased with the flexibility of the "Blogger" interface, and in light of the cost (i.e. "free"), I've decided to use it to maintain my blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives me the illusion that people are concerned with my personal experiences and hobbies. On an unrelated note, I picked up a mint condition, 3rd generation "Smith & Smith" Streammaster some time ago; In my view, that centrepin is a classic example of a locally created, artisan reel. Though it has faded into relative obscurity since being introduced in the late 1980's, the Streammaster remains desirable amongst collectors.

Admittedly, I did spent some time contemplating whether or not I wanted to use a commercially available, popular authoring service such as "Blogger", but given the endless customizations, ease of authoring, and ability to have comments and topics indexed ~ I suspect that I will continue to maintain my online journal here for some time.

For the most part, the focus of this page will remain 'angling related', but naturally the centre of attention will periodically shift...........

Steelhead Diaries - An online journal chronicling the pursuit of Great Lakes Rainbow Trout

New Site...(finally)

Fin

End of the Blogg(er)

Stark individuality v. 'rank and file'

Reflections..

National Film Board of Canada ~ Hinterland

Off the Water....

Wilderness and Civilization

Epic Chrome

River Report - Nine Mile River & Bluewater Tributary 12/17

River Report - Bluewater Tributary 12/09

Frozen adoration...

Go your own way....

River Report - Lake Erie Tributary - 11/25

'Change the Batteries'..

River Report - Maitland River 11/12

One Year Later...

Huron County Tributaries -10/27

Next Gen Islander?

When October feels like November...

Autumn Bloom...

Why Steelhead?

Weekend of Rest...

River Report - Niagara County 09/23 - 09/24

Hot Rod..

Shades of Autumn..

River Report - Credit River, 09/15

While I was sleeping...

Return of the Kings, 2006

A few Kings.....with a King..

Blah..

Another good read...

Redirect..

Mute

Maelstrom...one week late

Fireworks

New Link...

Only in India...

High Octane Cult...

A daft find...

Some just keep going...

The pilot light is on...

Different perspective....

More photos...

Winding Down...

Huron County..

Update..

Springers, Scouts and Kelts...

Day of rest....

No time to fish...

As the dirt turns.....

Western New York Tributary...

Let there be Spey...

Late Winter Steelhead..

MNR Fish Stocking Summary for 2005

Blah..

Digression...

Next Generation Islander..

Windproof..

Streamside notes...

More Photos...

Winter Steelhead

Cold Snap...

Speed of Life......

On the taxonomy of Salmonidae...

News...

Another reel...

Change..

Updated Photos

While you and I were at work...

Recommended Reading

Gear

Slow Start....

New Year's Rainbow

Photo Gallery Online

Skunk

Belated Merry Christmas...

Brown Christmas

Days off..............at last