Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    The following is a reproduction of the 'American Pulp Wood Association's
Table for Measuring Relative Safety of Ice'

    It referes to 'the hard blue ice that forms on lakes and ponds'.

    'The strength of ice is reduced by at lease 15% for clead blue ice over
running water such as a river.'

    'Slushy ice has less than half the strength of blue ice.'



                         APA Ice Thickness Table

                   Ice Thickness   |   Permissable Load
                   ----------------+---------------------
                      2.0 Inches   | One Person on Foot
                      3.0 Inches   | Group in Single File
                      7.5 Inches   | Passenger Car (2-Ton)
                      8.0 Inches   | Light Truck (2.5 Ton)
                     10.0 Inches   | Truck (3.5 Ton)
                     12.0 Inches   | Heavy Truck (7 Ton)
                     15.0 Inches   | 10 Tons
                     20.0 Inches   | 25 Tons
                     25.0 Inches   | 45 Tons

                 Table reproduced here without permission.

    
    
    Well, since this is a general discussion on ice fishing then I would
    like to ask how other ice fishermen/women set up there tip ups for
    lake trout? 
    
      Last year was the first time I bought my own tip ups, there were
    cheap Kmart wooden ones and on a whim I through on 12lb test mono
    filament line while some friends and I were staying at another friends
    cabin for a weekend of ice fishing.. I mangaed to catch my first laker
    this way and it was a bit of a pain with that type of line. Last week I
    bought a couple of better reels for the tip ups and bought some new
    30lb test threaded line. Now I have seen people tie the hooks directly 
    on to the thread and wonder if that was appropiate. I have Ice fished
    for a few years now with a friend and have used his tip ups that have a
    12" leader tied to the thread. 
      
        What lb test do you use on the leader???? How long of a leader do
    you use????   How deep do you normally fish???    What lb test do you use 
    if its the threaded type line????   What bait works best for you??? 
    What size hooks do you use???  How long do you let them run??? 
    
    We have been fishing at about twenty feet with good success and have
    used shinners.. Usually we will let them run and when they stop is when
    we set the hook.  Thanks for your input..
    
    
    Gus
               
                      

Lake Winnie has freshwater cusk.  I know that they are taken off the bottom 
and that cusk lines left overnight must be fixed (ie. no spool).  The 
questions I have are:

	1. what is the preferred bait and setup for taking cusk?

	2. is there a specific depth that they frequent?

	3. does chumming improve the catch?

Thx,

-HSJ-

    When fishing for Cusk, there are a few rules that must be followed:
    
    	1. A minimum 1oz sinker must be place 6 inches from a single hook.
    
        2. The weight/bait must be on the bottom (i.e. slack line) F&G will
    	   check for slackness in the lines.
    
    	3. Some lakes (like SUNAPEE) require dead and/or cut up bait only.
    
    	4. All lines must be checked at least once every 24 hours.
    
    There are probably more rules, there alway is, that I'm not aware of. I
    hope this gets you started and help you land a biggie.

    I'm gonna stick my neck out here and ask, what may appear to some,...
    as obvious...but has for some time bothered me.
    
    There are ice shacks on the marsh by the river Parker that are located
    in an area around Governor Dummer in Newbury Ma.  I've never gone ice
    fishing in this area (or anywhere on the river for that matter) but have
    always wondered how the smelting was...
    
    ?: Since the river is tidal when does one venture out on the ice?
    
    Tide is low,..ice freezes,...high tide causes the ice to break up in
    areas,...ice moves & freezes again,...tide goes out,...weight of ice 
    over an area (big air space between ice formed at high tide and mean
    low water!) ,...ice colapses ..and cycle continues.  A CONSTANT
    freezing freezing temperature may make me feel alittle more comfortable
    but not yet enough to venture out there till I hear from experience.
    The water is blackish and depths up river can range up to 25 feet in
    spots.  Whats wrong with this picture?
    
    /MArk

    It is spooky at first, but it's not any different than when we fish the
    Lamprey or Exeter rivers in the great bay area.  Parker river has been
    known to produce smelt, although I've only heard of people fishing it
    from john/row boats.  Sometimes, you have to throw a board across the
    shore to the safe ice to combat the tide.  You get used to the noise
    and the rising and falling ice.  It does take a while and each year for
    the first trip, it really bugs me.  As long as I'm catching smelt, it
    goes unnoticed.
    
    Tim
    

    Sometimes the tide comes in OVER the ice... it's an experience to open
    the door of your shack and see all WATER!  the only time it happened to
    me it was only an inch or so...
    
    As tim said, the edges are the trick part, since they break as the tide 
    comes and goes.  Often planks or ramps are provided to get onto the
    ice.
    
    -donmac

I have to agree that it is a little scary trying to get across the edges.  A 
plank works well, but just be careful it isn't covered with ice...or SPLASH!

Sitting on 3-5" of brackish-water ice is also a little unnerving, knowing 
that it is no where near as strong as fresh water ice.  My heart always 
jumps when I feel or hear the ice groaning.

One of my greatest fears is falling throught the ice and drowning!  I can see 
the headlines now....

	"Dodier outdoes his famous dead tomy-cod catch and hooks
	 a dead Papa Smurf!"

Groan.

-HSJ-

    	Re:-1
    
    	I was ahhhh, cusk fishing !!! Yah, that's the ticket. I was cusk
    fishing when I caught that dead tomy-cod ;-) 
    
    	RAYJ
    
    PS: Good one Joe. Made my day :-)

 Back in December, a noter asked a number of questions relating to icefishing
(in .2 to be exact) which have not yet drawn a response. Given the vast 
expertise of our readers, I am sure this is simply a case of the questions
having been overlooked in the holiday rush. :-)

 I have a number of similar questions. I have decided to give ice drinking,
I mean fishing a chance after better than 10 years "off." When I was a kid,
I'd ice fish on the local pond (stocked with trout and bass). I'd use the
super secret extra special bait and I did surprisingly well with trout. I had
one tip-up (which has long since been lost).

 Having received a gift certificate for a local outfitter, I decided that
I'd pick up a couple of tip-ups and make use of my cousin's bobhouse which
will be put in on Newfound Lake in the near future. I bought a couple of the 
cheap kind of tip-ups, some braided line, and some gold hooks. I intend to
catch rainbow trout and lake trout.

 What sort of weight do people normally use with live smelt? Do you guys use
fish finder rigs (slip sinker), splitshot, rubber core? About how much weight 
do you use, and about how far from the hook?

 I have put 12 lb mono leaders on my tip-ups (4-8 feet). Does this sound right?

 Any hints that might make my few trips to the ice more successful?

 The Doctah

    re.2
    
    		As far as setting up your tilts, I use 25# braided line 
    and at the end, I attach a monofilament leader according on what I
    am fishing for. For bass-trout, I use 12lb. test and pike I use 30#.
    	As far as bait goes, Use whatever the fish use for feed in the lake
    itself. For lakers, I set up about 2-3 feet off the bottom using smelt
    and when they first hit it, they'll run. When they stop, that is when
    they'll swallow the bait. When they start running again, that's when 
    I hit em'. Works for me. Good luck.
    
    						Butch

Ice Fishing Basics:

	Thread a button on your dacron line, this is to mark the level you are 
		fishing at after you sound the hole.

	Also when you set the tilt leave the button on top of the spool, when 
		you get a flag check for the button to see if it's just a wind 
		flag or if the button is 2-3 feet down wait to see if the bait 
		gets picked up off the bottom. 

	Bring a couple of sounders a scooper and a wire net for getting the 
		bait out of the bucket, (sticking your hand in the bucket 
		is not fun) 

	I use 6-8 pound Trilene xl on light rigs and 17-25 pound xlt on heavy 
		/pike rigs. I don't use wire leader and the dacron is 45#

	I also use quick strike rigs for pike, bass and pickrel. 

	Always position your tilt so that the flag is being pushed on to the 
		catch to prevent wind flags.

	I bring bait in a large 10 gal bucket with cover, makes a nice seat.

	I throw the tilts and stuff in a basket and put basket and auger on a 
		sled.
	
	...have fun and don't forget the human anti freeze........

johnny roach

    Bait:
    	I've had good luck with suckers as bait instead of smelt at Newfound.

    Button:
    	These are a must.  Also if you aren't getting any flags, you can
    	raise the bait a little and use the button as a gauge how far
    	of the bottom you now are.

    I tend to get a lot of trout fishing along a drop off.  Usually I try
    to target changes where the depth starts around 40 and drops off fairly
    quickly to 100.  

    I only go a few times a year but I seem to do pretty well, I'll have
    to try the set the hook on the second run method.  I usually lose
    a couple on the way up.

    George

    re: .13
    
    George---
    
    I assume you're talking about White Suckers. How big are they, and
    where do you buy them?
    
    Just curious.
    
    John H-C

    
    
    re: .13
    
    As far as the button goes, I have never seen this done. Is it a shirt
    type button that your talking about??? Whats a sounder, I'm not sure of
    that one either...Thanks for the replies...
    
    Gus

    RE: .15
    
    	It is a regular shirt button.  You run the line through 2 of the
    holes so the button will slide (but not slip) on the line.
    	A sounder is nothing more than a sinker ~1-1.5 oz. with a clip on
    the top to attach it to your hook.  You clip on the sounder, drop it 
    to the bottom, determine how far off the bottom you want your bait to
    be, slide the button along your line to mark the depth, and bait up.
    This way you KNOW where the bait is in relation to the bottom and as
    was mentioned in a previous reply, it makes it easy to tell if it was
    a wind flag that made you almost kill yourself running across the ice!
    
    				B.C.

    I don't think they are white.  The ones I've gotten are always
    kinda of a patchy brown.

    I've seen them at Waldrons bait in Meredith and there is a bait store
    on the way to Newfound, just outside of Bristol, that always has them
    too.  I think it's a trading post, anyway it's on the left hand
    side, that's where I usually get my bait.  I split my bait 50-50
    suckers and smelt. 

    George

    One more thing, the reason I tried suckers was because I read in
    Clark's Fishing guide that suckers were the number 2 foodfish
    for lake trout.  And after hearing all the hoopla about depleting
    smelt counts in the lakes, I figured the lake trout must be
    altering their feeding somewhat to suckers.  

    They also seem more hardy on the hook.  I rarely, if ever, have
    had a sucker die on me.  I can't say the same for smelt.

    George

 Suckers are good lake trout bait. Up in the Connecticut lakes fishing in
late may and june, suckers is what you buy for lake trout and smelt is what you 
buy for salmon.

 Suckers are a great bait. They are a mouthful, they are hardy on the hook,
they tend to hug the bottom where the lakers are.

 The Doctah

    I just rerigged some tipups this weekend.  For the leaders I used
    7 feet of 15 lb test.  Now a guy in my group thinks I may have reduced
    flags due to the thickness of the line.  I'll be going after lakers.

    I do have some 8lb at home, think I should go with the 8 or the 15?

    I was just concerned with losing one at the hole, having the ice cut
    the line.

    Which weight would you use?  I've seen a couple people go with 12 and 
    one mention 6-8 lb.

    George

    Something to make the icefishing even more enjoyable.  If you happen to
    be a place that allows fires on the ice or on shore, here's a good way
    to have some good food without a lot of mess or stoves, etc.  We did
    this yesterday with 35 boy scouts and adults and it went over great.
    
    Let the fire die down to good hot coals.  Cook food "bombs" on the
    coals.  Here's how to make the bombs.  (easiest if prepared at home
    ahead of time for cooking on the ice)  Lay out a double layer of
    aluminum foil (or single layer of the HD foil).  In the center, place
    1/4" or so sliced potatoes in a single layer about a big as a saucer.
    Next put a similar layer of carrots on top of the potatoes.  Next a
    later of sliced onions and/or green pepper.  Next a 1/4 pound or so
    hamburg patty.  Then reverse the order on the opposite side of the
    hamburg until you wind up with the top layer being potatoes again.  Add
    whatever spices you want (salt, pepper, hot pepper, etc.)  Seal in the
    aluminum foil so that it won't fall apart.  Pt this on the hot coals
    for about 10 minutes.  Turn over and cook another 8-10 min.  Carefully
    open this up and you've got a great hot meal all in the aluminum foil. 
    All you need is a fork. (Be sure to carry out the used foil.)
    
    Like I said, yesterday we had 35 happy scouts.  They even cught a few
    fish through the ice.  Pete
    

    To answer my own question, I rigged half with 6lb, half with 15lb.

    I'll keep track of the results on each.

    George

George,

     Line weight has no impact on the sensitivity of the tip-up triger. That's
determined by 1-how freely the spool spins on its axil and 2-how "hard" the
flag is held onto the trigger.

     I just replaced the leaders on my tip-ups and, as always, used 12' of
8# test. I don't use steel leaders but if you're going after big boys with
big teeth using big bait then you should consider light braided steel
leaders.

     On these super-cold days it doesn't take long for line to freeze on
the spool when removed from the hole to land a fish. This can spoil the
day by making it too hard for the fis to run line the next time that tip-up
is hit. To avoide this freeze-up take your bait pail with you and when you
remove the tip-up from the ice set it into your bait pail so that the spool
remains submerged (and un-frozen!).

Joe Whittemore - From where the Westfield
                      Meets the Westfield
                         By the Westfield
                             In Huntington (MA)

    I guess I wasn't clear, I meant less flags due to the lakers 
    being spooked by the thicker line.  Sorry about the confusion.
    The bait pail technique is a good one though.  

    Thanks,

    George

    Re: Heavier test line and putting the fish off - I've ice fished with
4# to 10# test line and NEVER had the line cut by the ice. I have had
it cut by pickerell(sp) teeth.

    Years ago it was 10# now I always use 6# or 8# quality (reads Trilene
or Stren or Berkley) line thats relativly thin for its test.

    It does seem to me that the heavier line produces less but who
can tell when the tip-ups are spread out and the actions under several
inches of ice etc. etc. .......

    I guess if you were realy concerned with a fish working your line over
the ice you could plunge your hand into the hole to protect the line.

jw etc. etc. etc.

 Fishing is s-l-o-w on Newfound. My cousin's kid picked up one salmon about
18" yesterday (have to throw them back in NH). No flags all day. The salmon
grabbed the smelt as they were pulling up for the day.

 They saw one decent rainbow caught, and lots of people fishin'.

 Another 10 lb laker came out of the lake earlier in the week. Hopefully 
things will pick up for the tournament next weekend. Who else is entering the
tournament?

    
    It's looking better and better for me.. I should be there saturday and
    possibly sunday...Anyone else???

	While ice fishing a couple of times over the last week, the
	topic of fish finders for ice fishing came up.

	Are fish finders made especially for the ice ?   Or would you use
	a boat fish finder with an ice hole adaptor ?   I don't think I've
	ever seen anything specifically for ice fishing.  Where would I go
	if that's what's needed ?

	Thanks,
	Ken

    You can buy portable sonar equipped with specialized cases and
    transducer brackets for ice fishing, but the sonar unit itself is 
    no different that what you would use on a boat.
    
    Pick up an In-fisherman magazine.  This time of year you'll see lots of
    pictures of sonar used on the ice.  
    
    I made a box from a design in In-fisherman.  Holds LCR or flasher,
    small battery and has a bracket with an arm that holds the transducer 
    in the water (in hole).  You can sometimes shoot thru the ice by
    splashing a little water on the surface and pressing the transducer
    against the ice.

re: Note 101.29  RANGER::MACINTYRE 

	Thanks for the info.   I'll have to check Walmart or someplace
	like that to see if the have the ice brackets + other options.
	I'd also prefer to make my own bracket.  Do you still have the
	layout for the one you made ?

	Do you find the unit helpful ?   I'm looking at one mostly for
	finding structure, and for depths.

	/Ken

    Beyond smelt fishing on great bay, I don't ice fish that much, so I 
    haven't used it all that much.  It's most helpful on the big lakes,
    do you can tell if your in 10' or 100'.  I never reall used to look 
    for fish.  Used to us a Lowrance X-4, which I traded with my previous
    boat.  I didn't pull the elctronics off the boat when I stored it this
    year, but I have a Lowrance flasher in the basement I'll probably try.
    
    If I come across that article on making a box, I'll copy it and mail it 
    to you. 
    
    -donmac

    	Ken, I find them very useful for lake trout fishing. As for
    	finding structure, ya if you drill enough holes and drag the
    	thing all over the place. Once you put it in a hole, everything
    	looks flat because your not moving. 

    	I use it to find fish. I typically already know the depth from 
    	past experience. The deeper the water the better. You have to
    	remember your looking at a cone. The deeper the water the more bottom 
    	your looking at. I can see my jig on tv and adjust it to the depth 
    	of the fish. 
    	
    	I made the same box Don described, no I don't have the pattern. I
    	have seen the same box for sale in the Infisherman for about $30.
    	I'm sure you could take a look at the picture and figure out what 
    	you need to do. Or just buy it and save the hassle.


    	Rich 

Good point about the structure detection and what you see when looking
at a cone thru an 18" hole.  I don't know, having a ff for the ice 
sounded like a helluva idea on the ice the other day, but now I don't know.
I fish for largemouth in the winter (4 [released] keepers so far for '94, 
with a 2-lber topping the scales and winning the pool ;-).

I saw a portable Eagle Supra fish finder, with optional transducer holder 
for ice fishing.  The unit is self contained and is powered with 2 lantern 
batteries.   Tiny screen.   I'd pass on that unit.   What I'll probably
end up doing is trying the homemade adaptor for the ice route since I need
a finder for my boat too anyway.

The In-Fisherman sounds like a good magazine. Never seen it.  Is it available 
at most stands or book stores ?   Is it regional ?  

Thanks,
Ken

re: supra

I have an Eagle Supra ID on my bow, I like it alot. Yes, the screen is on
the small side, but I think it's fine.  

On the console I have an Lowrance X-15 paper chart and a Lowrance digital 
depth guage.  Most of the time I just use the digital indicator, when I want 
the big picture I turn on the X-15.

In-fisherman is out of Minnesota but it's the best all around freshwater
fishing magazine I've seen.  Probably more walleye articles than most
of us New Englanders can use, but it's a great rag overall.  I thumbed 
thru a bunch of old December issues last night but didn't come across 
a picture of the sonar box, I'll keep my eyes open and if I find it I'll 
let you know.

re:           <<< Note 101.34 by RANGER::MACINTYRE "Terminal Angler" >>>

> I have an Eagle Supra ID on my bow, I like it alot. Yes, the screen is on
> the small side, but I think it's fine.  

I haven't seen the actual screen size of the non-portable Eagle supra ID;
never got beyond looking at the picture on the box.   But I did open up the
*portable* Eagle supra ID, which comes with a mounting and lantern battery
case, and the screen size was about 3"x4" max, or slightly smaller than 
a regulation 3x5 index card.   3" wide, 4" high, tops.  Is the non-portable 
screen larger ?

/Ken

    It's the aame unit, same screen, different packaging, that's all...
    

    	If you're sitting beside a hole with the unit at your feet I
    wouldn't think that screen size would be all that important.  I'd be
    much more concerned with pixel count so you have good resolution.
    	I feel the same way about boat mounted units, I'd rather have a
    smaller screen with more detail than a big screen full of big square
    pixels.  In -most- cases the bottom does not really look like it's made
    from kids building blocks, and that's what a lot of units do to it.
    
    					B.C.

	Gee, the screen looks huge on the box... ;-)	

	I agree that resolution should take priority over screen size.	
	Any guidelines for what is a good resolution spec ? # of pixels ?
	I'll be using this thing on the boat primarily.  Ice usage is
	secondary.	

	I saw a Hummingbird Platinum reduced from something like $240	
	to $145 the other day at a Kmart.   Any opinions on this unit ?

	/Ken

    The Platinum is part of the TCR series.  I had a en earlier verison TCR
    and it was REAL tough to read with polarized sunglasses. The screen was
    physically bigger than the Supra, but the resolution on the Supra is
    much better.
    
    -donmac 

    
    Bet it'd be neat having a 3-D unit going in the center of a circle
    of 5 tilts where they are just inside the cone.  Of course it'd have
    to be deep. 
    
    :^)   Hey Don!  That tilt is gunna go up in a few seconds, it's 
    your turn!!!!
    
    Fred

    
    
       Should I buy a 6 inch or 8 inch hand auger? I've always been
    spoiled using my in-laws power auger. Since I plan on going out
    with just my kids I need my own auger. I plan on buying a manual
    auger. Spags has 4,6 and 8 inch. Which would be best in Mass. I
    tried a friends six inch auger and was surprised how easy I cut
    through 8 inches of ice. Will an 8 inch auger be "almost" as easy?
    
    
     Thanks Brian

    
    Get the big one, you'll wish you did later on if you don't.
    
    Fred

    
     To be honest the biggest fish I've ever pulled through a hole
    would fit through a 4 inch hole. I want the 8 inch. I'm just
    not sure how easy they cut?
    

I've been using an 8" hand auger for several years (blue swedish Mora I think
it's called).  It's all I've ever used, and with sharp blades, it cuts through 
ice around here with no problem at all.  Real easy and fast.  I can get by for
a whole season with one set of blades (if you take care of em), but keep a 
spare set in my box just in case.  It gets tougher when you head north with 
more ice to drill, but it's very lightweight and it does the job.   IMO power 
augers around here (central Mass) are overkill.

One thing about an 8" as opposed to a 6" is when the holes start freezing
in cold weather, the holes sort of shrink a bit as the day goes on, so the
8" give you some breathing room.

/Ken

    Well guys, went out to Maine to do some fishing this weekend. We had
    great luck! My buddy cought a 15lb Brownie. This was the biggest Brown
    that I have ever seen. My wife and I cought a mess of White perch and
    made a great chowder out of them. We will be neading back up there this
    weekend for some more action. We also bought a portable Ice House from
    L.L.Bean. It worked out great. I would definately recommend one to
    anyone who is looking for one.
    
                                 Jon 

    Wow!!! Where does one go in Maine to catch a 15 lb Brown. I've noticed
    in the Maine Sportman that they have been showing some large Browns.
    Maybe I won't have to go all the way to Ontario to catch the Bigguns!
    
    Bob M�

    Has anyone been by Massabesic in the last day or so? Was anyone out
    on the ice? I'd like to go fishing this weekend, minus the swim :-)
    What about Winni? Sunapee?

I stopped by Wildlife Taxidermy last night and they said the lake is frozen 
over with at least 4" of ice.  Folks are out there fishing, but as always, 
use extreme caution, especially anywhere where there is any current.

    Bob, The fish was caught in Long Lake in Bridgton Maine. We have also
    caught several Salmon but they were only around 15". We will be heading
    up this weekend for some action. I will keep you posted.
    
                            Jon

Speaking of "stiff water" fishing, I noticed that this year the annual Winnie
Derby is awarding the top 1st & 2nd prizes for SALMON.  I thought salmon were
illegal to take thru the ice.  What gives?  Did F&G change the rules again
this year?

    I have the entry form here, and it says:
    
    1. The heaviest Meredith Rotary-tagged rainbow trout wins a 1995 OMC
    Sunbird Neptune 180 Center Console Fishing Boat.
    
    2. The second heaviest Meredith Rotary-tagged rainbow trout wins a 14'
    Princecraft Fisherman with a 15hp Evinrude outboard motor.
    
    SALMON CANNOT BE TAKEN THROUGH THE ICE.
    
    By the way, is anyone heading up for the tournament?  Hopefully we'll
    get a cold spell to freeze over the lake. 

    I think I'm heading up for the Derby, ice permitting. I will not
    however be entering "ANY" Salmon. I saw somebody do that once at the
    Derby. His friends thought it would be funny to tell him that he just
    caught a Golden Trout and was a sure winner. He won alright. $1,000 
    fine as ingnorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law or the game
    wardens!!! Some friends.......
    
    In the 50's the next three days with rain. YUK.... I guess I'll wait a
    little while longer before I risk life and limb for those 12" rainbows 
    they stick in around here.
    
    Bob M�

    
    
       Bob,
    
        surely you were kidding in your thoughts of passing up lake O to go
    to maine for big browns? heck at least if your on lake O you may catch 
    any variety of fish in the spring, and the chances of catching large as
    in excess of 15lbs is pretty good.
    
                                                                Lee
    
    
      P.s. if ya come out again this year have planer boards.
    

I didn't think salmon were allowed thru the ice, but I could have sworn 
that's what I read in the Hawkeye paper the other night.  I'll double-check it
tonight.  (I DON'T want to get another flurry of notes going in here about
Hawkeye as there is in the BASS_FISHING conference!)

    Lee,
    
         I wouldn't dream of not coming out. As a matter of fact we were so 
    inspired last year that we went out and got a new boat. A 20' American
    International with dual planers and dual downriggers. You wouldn't
    believe it if you saw it. She sure is beautiful!!! Compared to last
    year when we had our 1970 version glued together while using in line
    planer boards off of a spare closet pole used as a mast which I had
    around. With home made downriggers using parachute cord and 10lb lead
    balls. She wasn't a pretty site but we were out fishing a lot of the
    people we spoke with.
    
         As a matter of fact I have been meaning to drop you a line. I have
    already reserved the same place we had last year on the Little Salmon
    River. A nice four bedroom joint with our own slip. If you happen to
    be in the area and want to show us how the locals do it we'ld be glad
    to have ya! Also, I was wondering if you could tell me when the ESLO
    Derby is? Due to social engagements we had to push the week out to
    April 29th to May 6th. If I'm not mistaken I believe the Derby is that
    week and we may as well have a shot at some cash while were there.
    
    
    Thanks,
    Bob M�

OK...I goofed.  Hawkeye had two articles on the Winnie Derby... the stiff 
water one and the wet water one in May.  I was scanning the paper, glanced at
the first article about the ice derby in Feb, continued on and then went back
to read more, but stopped at the article about the May tourney where salmon
are the prize fish.

Oh well.... that's what these winter doldrums do to me.  Gotta get out on 
some wet water real soon!

-Joe-

    Speaking of Bridgeton...can you tell me if Moose Pond is fishable
    (without a boat) yet? Supposed to be Salmon fishing next weekend there.
    
    Thanks, S

    	Ther will be an Ice Fishing seminar presented on Feb 11,1995
    from 9 am till noon at the Woburn Sportsmen's Association. The
    principal speaker will be Jack Fallon. Jack has written two books
    on fishing and numerous articles in all outdoor magazines. The 
    admission is $2.00 and coffee and doughnuts will be provided.
    Spouses and children will be admitted free when accompanied by a 
    paying customer.
    
    Directions:		From Rte 128 take the Middlesex Tpk exit.
    				(Burlington Mall exit)
    			Go North on Middlesex tpk past the mall
    			about 3 miles. The club is on the right
    			across from Oak Park Business Ctr.
    
    				155 Middlesex Tpk
    				Bedford, Mass
    

    	Ok. I'm in eastern Ontario... What can I fish for right now? 

    
      anything that swims!!
    
    

    Just don't get caught,  :)
    
    
    Pike and Pickeral open May 10
    
    
    Chris