And people question why fishing is a SPORT

It's days like TODAY that I live for, that make my heart race and face light up with utter joy and excitement and remind me why I LOVE fishing.  Woke up with the full intention of putting in a long full day of work with my ebay business, but it took only one question from my husband as he was heading out the door for work... "Are you fishing today" to realize I had the OK to play hooky and do what I love (on a gorgeous hot sunny day).  Kids still have a month left of school...and I need to take advantage of these ALONE days to charge up my fulfillment meter.

Decided to hit up a new Lock along the Rideau that I recently found that is secluded, beautiful and quiet (love people and chatter..but most of the time I want to just enjoy the sounds of nature and be by myself).   Things started out slow, but in the true fashion of growth,  as I'm always working on patience (perhaps my least strong suit) I kept at it.  After 2 hours (and 1 accidentally out of season large mouth)...I finally landed a nice 22" Pike (using a weedless red devil spoon)...and momma was happy:)   


Decided to move up to the next lock that I'd only been to once before and had not fully explored...boy was that a great idea:)  Got to the lock and walked to the front end which I was very happily surprised to see had falls & rapids that I didn't know about on top of the calm canal...there was a PLETHRA of great fishing to be had...but something caught my eye (it was impossible not too)...a pool of  well over 100 CARP.  I've never attempted to fish for carp (although I'd thought about it after seeing the size of them last year and did buy heavy test line and large hooks to put in my box)...every time I've seen them it's been in places i can't get to for easy fishing and I've just watched and admired:)  WELL today that changed!!!  I decided to do an experiment...put the last of my worms on my hook with some weights and just plop them down amongst the carp and see what happens...WELL...took only a minute before TUG and then WHAM something was off with my line and it was BIG and ready for a fight.   After 40 minutes of fighting something bigger then I'd ever dealt with on my 10lb line with small size 4 muster hook I was starting to have even more respect for Mr. Jeremy Wade and his RIVER MONSTERS!

 For anyone who wonders why they call FISHING a SPORT (and even as a HUGE lover of fishing I've had  moments I've wondered as well)....the 45 minute workout I received on this first carp showed me why they call it a sport...it was harder then some of the gym classes I've done:)  After 45 minutes...this big guy got off the line just as he got close (can you say swear fest..yep..all by myself as a family of deer passed by crossing the river in front of me...they even turned to look at the crazy lady).  Decided I had enough time for another try (and fight) before I had to leave to get the kids from school.  Worms were all gone..so I changed to a HUGE hook..and put on a pink rubber worm (figured my chances would be slim with this tactic, but I was proven wrong) took a few minutes longer this time, but BOOM one was on and it was off.  Just as with the first...the fight was long and hard (even dropped my phone in the water during the fight...it survived.) but I eventually tired him out enough to get him close enough to net...only problem..I'd stretched my 10lb line out so much with the first guy and then this encounter that it was very weak and ready to go....as I put my net in to scoop him out..he thrashed and BANG went my line ...and off went Mr. Carp ( I did manage a quick video moments before).  I wanted to be disappointed...(and was a bit of course), but was so delighted with the fight and the excitement of something new that I could happen but be exhilarated.

I certainly won't make CARP fishing my main goal, but I do guarantee that I'll eventually  land one and have some pictures in the near future and then I'll be back to my regular friends:)

Fishing Girl starts off the season with a smile and PIKE!

It's been a LONG winter and as springs been approaching I've been itching to get my rod out and just cast it into some body of water and feel that calmness and joy I get from my lure hitting the lapping water and reeling it in.

I went out a couple weeks ago, when the snow started to melt, and renewed my fishing licence in anticipation of stuffing my gear in the back of the van and just finding a place and tossing my line in. The water levels have been high and the temperatures at the river banks still cool...so I waited until this past long week-end and hoped that Good Friday would be VERY GOOD to me..and it was!

My husband suggested a spot in SMITHS FALLS (about 25 minutes from where we're located) he'd eyed while out travelling for work. We set out to Slys Lock with gear in hand and ready to get even just a nibble, as I was prepared to have just that, for my first early outing this season.

I got my gear ready and cast my line and stood with my coffee in hand and waited. I started with my favorite vintage jointed lure (a classic from my husbands tackle box....which he so sweetly gave me last year as I had such luck with it on our adventures). Alas my favorite wasn't giving me much luck or action on this occasion..so I moved on to my Rapala jointed perch which like the last lure gave me not so much as a nibble (I must say I'm a HUGE fan of jointed lures..they've always severed me well). After about an hour..I was almost losing hope..and becoming a bit discouraged honestly! On this maiden excursion of the year I wanted something, heck..I'd take a small crappy! So on I put my Rapala Jointed Shad-Rap...a lure I didn't have much luck with last year.

Then it happend! I spent all last summer trying to land a PIKE. I caught some great sized Large Mouth Bass and even good sized Small Mouth Bass, Lake trout and even beautiful Sunfish, crappy and Rock Bass...but I wanted that PIKE. In our last outing of the year I got a Pike on my line, but it jumped off before I could get it out and take a picture...and this year I was determined I would finally land one. So when I felt a slight tug on my line I was overjoyed to feel SOMETHING. As I reeled this guy in I was shocked he wasn't putting up a bigger fight..espeicially when he got close enough I could see what he was. At last, at last....there it was the PIKE I'd wanted all last year, now on my line my first real trip out this year! He wasn't HUGE...a 2-3lb, but it made my day I'll tell ya.

So, 2011 has started off better then anticipated in the fishing department. Hoping to get some Walleye this year to fill out my portfolio :) Waiting for the water levels to go down so I can get out more often (espeically before the boys are done school). Yippie for fishing!!