Jason Essary

Doug, been watching the videos again. Love the lakemasters but cant seem to find it on the web for MO. Any ideas as to where to get it and how much?

Doug, wonderful videos, thanks.

doug, what are your settings for the last ones if you know them???

Wait....Im out of popcorn...

100 degrees, hard sun, hot water....Id think fishing at dark to be the best option.

Found a picture of the pocket we got into the smallies, such a beatiful little creek. You have to open it to truely see it, use it as a wallpaper when Im thinking of canada.

Not to steal the topic, but have anouther question about the hummingbirds. Got one last year and love it. Only thing I would like to improve is that when on TR and idling down a bank, the side imagining on the bank side seems to always be void of cover, just a hard return. Away from the bank shows cover nicely. I have tested this, waypointing brush on the off bank side as it shows and then passing it on the deep side to get the banks side image, and it hardly ever shows. Also if I drive straight towards the bank I get good views on both sides. Is this because of the angle of the bank being steep or is there a setting that I can change to make it better.

The lakes we fish on are low on the smallie population. If you are targeting them specifically, you can catch probably 25 in 4 hours. Now of course there are times.... 6 years ago on the first fishing day of our trip, all the boats split up and the guide a friend and I was with asked if we wanted to fish for smallies. We of course said sure because he seemed excited about it. We ran for 15 minutes to a big bay that was choked with weeds. He ran up a lane probably 8 feet wide made by the creek current that had few weeds for almost a mile, weeds choked on both sides for 100 yards both ways. Finally we came to where the creek entered the lake water. It opened up to 30 yards wide with a gravel bottom and good clear current. Man was it worth it, we caught probably 125 fish between the three (he fished bout half the time) of us. All were real chunky as they normally are up there, largest was 21" and wish I had a scale. Triples with multiple jumping fish was common. What a time to not have a video camera. Have asked to go back since and the water level has never been the same to make the conditions right to make it work.

We fish on the a river chain that they call three lakes. Tetu, Whitedog, and Swan. Walleye we normally target with minnows on jigheads, 1/4 all the way to half in current. Get different colors as they can be color specific with the cloud color or sun. 1/2 oz. rattletraps are a great tool for casting for walleye and smallies, always have some chrome, and red and firetiger are good also at times. 3/4 oz. rattletraps are great for pike if weeds are under control. same colors. dont forget the steel leaders, 6" black 30lb. other pike lures, mepps from 1/2 oz to 1 1/2 oz., would not go without two muskie killer white mepps (my favorite). And always have some of the standard casting spoons in 1 oz, five of diamonds (yellow with 5 red triangles), silver and green. Spinnerbaits are great if the weeds are thick, white or char. (dont forget to wrap some wire around the rubberband that holds the skirt, one tooth and you lose the skirt). Anouther weed lure is johnson silver minnow, 1/2 to 1oz. use a green or white trailer on it and the spinnerbaits. This list is the standard for the camp we go to, I would advise calling the camp your going to and ask.

great job!

Just returned from Northwest Ontario. 5 days of fishing in 72 degree weather and 20 percent humidity was wonderful. I personally have been going to this camp since I was 15 and the owners are like long distance relatives now. Pictures attached but they do not do the place justice. Eagles and bears were everywhere. Walleyes were eating better than I have ever seen them. We caught over 30 fish over 20". Best walleye was 26 1/4". Norther pike fishing was slow which is unusual. The largest we got to the boat was 36", think we lost 2 over that. Muskies are sure getting thicker on their body of water. We saw 4 while there, one of which I wish I had my chance back. Throwing a rattle trap and catching smallies, one came out of now where. My hookset was designed for smallies, not near hard enough for the big girl. After the half hearted hookset she dropped the bait and as I was mouthing the words that was a big fish I just lost, she jumped along side the boat. Probably 35 lbs cleared the water and sprayed water for 15'. Wonderful place, better people. If anyone would like any info on the place, please let me know.

Guys, I dont keep many bass anymore but a friend asked a question and I dont know for sure the answer. If you catch a limit of a species, say 6 bass, can you continue fishing catch and release? I think its legal, but got to wondering. Done it many times catching whites so thought id ask before doing it again. Thanks

Martin has you the right info. Remember bigger is better but I think 5" and above bluegill or other perch are prohibited. Dont count out shallow water after dark. Have caught some of my biggest flats in shallow (5 to 10') hooks. Always try to bait at dark. Turtles and crawfish like to eat the bait, so if you give them all daylight time, some to most of your bait will be gone after dark, when you really need it. One more tip, take a pair of scissors and snip about half of their tail fins. Makes the bait swim more and attracts more bites. I normally find a pole standing in the water around 30', tie to it and run 45 degree to the bank to one on the shore. Make sure your weights to pull it down have drop lines 3' and bait drops are 2'. Dont want your baits laying on the bottom, they need to be hanging over the bottom. Circle hooks are wonderful but expensive. Use quality ones. I love to use the quick clips for trotlines with a swivle (sp) attached. If you happen onto a good channel or blue, they have a habit of rolling like an alligator. If they roll up the drop to the main line, they can get the leverage to unhook theirselves.

http://www.kcrcamp.com/ heres a link to where we go.

Im with Techo. Brotherhood on this forum is way above and beyond. Anyone that disagrees either hasnt spent much time on here or needs to take a twist out of their shorts. I have seen exact baits, places, and patterns. Have even seen people come back and get extra help as to speed and exact trees or rocks to fish if they didnt do so hot. Why someone would say someone would say not to expect locals to help you out is beyond me. We dont all get on the forum everyday, and if I dont have good information that I trust I will not post as not to send someone in the wrong direction. But you can be assured that you will not find better info on TR anywhere than on here, I have tried. As for fishing, as everyone should know, TR is a moody girl. One day its nothing, next its on. Most problems people have is that there are many subtle differences that can make all the differences. Fishing on a busy weekend like the 4th can make anyone humble. If the presentation is not perfect, it probably wont work. I dont believe the fish are real active with all the added pressure and run abouts. Babler has an older post about the jig bite. Still on for everyone I have talked to. PB@J as always and some green colors have been the ticket. Would be my first suggestion for someone starting on the rock.

Wonderful fish. Im leaving this friday for NW Ontario. Dont catch big smallies like that but great walleyes and Northerns. Will have pics. Great job guys.

Midnight, calm summer evening, 12" black neon worm, 30' deep. Drag slowly thou a tree and wait for that single hard thump!

Roger. I night fish that area a lot. Your on the right track with the baits your use to. Main thing is to find structure. Channel swings, ditches, standing timber and brush piles if you can find them. Right now the green fish are still somewhat in the trees shallow, but with dropping water and surface temp rising they wont be there long. smallies and kentucs are in the same areas as the day, just think more aggresive. Dark profiles and larger normally work, but as above, sometimes a shakey head seems to get the bite.

Great job Den, great report.

Ok boys, went out few nights ago. Fished dark thirty till midnight. Caught fish all night, small craws in pumpkin and black/blue were the best. Pitching bushes on the flat points seemed best, also caught some out of the back of a couple deep cuts on main lake. No size anywhere was my only problem. Fished Indian Point area. If I ever hit a pattern for better fish, will chime back in.

Bill, have you been down to the clear water. Heading out with some freinds this week around Indian. Wonder if the jig bite is doing as good?

Tim, was going to chime in but these boys have you right on target. Rattle traps (3/4 oz) in various colors are great if its not to weedy. In-line spinners work wonderful over medium weeds and standard spinnerbaits if your in the thick stuff. If your just looking for fun, get in the thick stuff with a johnsons silver minnow with a white or yellow grub on the back. Always produces great numbers but for bigger fish hit the deeper edges and channels. Steel leaders are a must and make sure they are quality.

Fbluedog, what area did you catch them and what time of year?

I would go for the may catch and release, but ya, would never happen.

Glad to see Cape Fair Marina come to the forum. Fishing reports would be great! Or just let us know what Jeff catches. lol.