Muskoka Outdoors

I saw this speckled trout on Facebook and I had to ask if I could post it on my blog. Diana, has allowed me to post this picture of her 5.5 pound speck she caught…somewhere within an hour or so drive from Huntsville. Her husband has trained her well. Thanks Diana!

Diana's Big 5.5lb Speckled Trout

Hall of Famer, George Douglas announced the launching of a new fly fishing book, online fishing show, and a contest with the opportunity to win a fishing trip, guided by Douglas.

It is easy to spot a rookie, and sometimes the saying, “If you want to be – ACT as if…” can speak volumes.  Fly fishing Author, George Douglas, announced the release of his new fly fishing book, Fish Like a Guide.

According to Douglas this book is,

“The first of a series that teaches anglers how to think, plan and adjust at the level of a professional fishing guide. The introduction of the book states that you can spot a professional fisherman a mile away. You can tell by the way they move, the decisions they make, their preparation and strategy–and it is all geared for one thing, catching fish consistently… if you do things in a certain way on and off the river, you will become a better angler.”

In addition to the book launching, Kype magazine (Douglas is a publisher) has announced a drawing scheduled to take place on September 1, 2010 for members of the social community at www.SteelheadSalmonTroutFishing.com. Membership is free for anyone to join. The Grand Prize is a guided trip with George Douglas in Steelhead Alley, Ohio, including two complimentary nights at The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake.

For more information on pre-orders of his new book, the drawing, guide service, and to join the Kype Nation Social Community, visit www.SteelheadSalmonTroutFishing.com

Douglas’ Blog: http://steelheadsalmontroutfishing.blogspot.com/

Fish Warrior is one of National Geographic’s newest extreme fishing shows airing Monday nights. The extreme fishing host took some time to answer this blogger’s questions about his new fishing show. It seems being shocked by electric eels and encountering hostile tribes is all part of the catch.

1. It is quite obvious that you have a love and excitement for the fish you catch. What has helped develop your enjoyment of extreme sport fishing?
I have been fishing since I was five years old.  I was always trying to catch more, and bigger, fish.  My biggest passion as a young fisherman was fishing for Wels catfish, the biggest and strongest freshwater fish in Europe.  I was fishing for Wels catfish more than 300 days a year as a fishing guide.  I fished many different and exotic places, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the delta of the River Danube in Romania and every other places you could find Wels catfish.  This fueled my quest to pursue the largest freshwater fish on the planet.  I made a list of 24 freshwater giants and set out to find them, catch them, and study them in their natural habitat.

2. How has fishing traditional freshwater species prepared you for the monsters you face on the show?
If you want to catch a big fish, you first have to learn how to catch a small fish.  Choosing the diameter of the line and the size of the hook, choosing the right bait, casting the lines, feeling the fish on the other end; making all of these decisions and gaining experience with smaller fish all have prepared me to take my fishing to the next level and to go after the really large fish.  It was really difficult to target these big fish when I started my project to catch the 24 freshwater giants, because I didn’t yet know where to go to find them, what their behavior would be, and how to successfully catch them.  Since I couldn’t find information on how to catch them in books or online, I wound up spending much more time in the field doing my own research and teaching myself what I needed to know to catch these fish.  For example, I spent more than 17 months in the Amazon in order to find and catch large specimens of arapaima and piraiba catfish.  But every time I catch a fish, I learn about the behavior and it is easier to go on and catch the next.

3. Besides catching some of the world’s largest and most exotic fish species, what excites you most about hosting Fish Warrior?

Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador: Jakub Vagner shows off the massive head and mouth of his 8'8" Piraiba Catfish. (Photo credit: © Jakub Vagner)

I have always loved fishing and am so happy that my passion has turned into my life’s work. It was always my biggest dream to have a show on National Geographic Channel, and now through Fish Warrior I can show the world these fish. People will know they exist and will care more about them.  Hopefully a new, young generation of fisherman will see my work and be inspired to study and save these amazing creatures.

4. Is it the thrill of the catch or something else that sustains you while you travel to remote areas and survive between catches?
l love travel, I love meeting the native people and experiencing their traditions.  They know about survival better than any of us so I am learning survival techniques from them as well. They live in the most remote places on our planet, and that’s why they are the best teachers in these extreme environments.   I love the thrill of the catch, holding the fish and experiencing these living dinosaurs up close.  I am a firm believer in the catch-and-release method of fishing.  I love when the fish is swimming away after I release it, because I know I may have a chance to see it again and other people may have that chance as well.  The fish spawn new generations and the cycle of life will go on.

5. How do you feel that Fish Warrior contributes to the conservation of the fish species you target?
As I said, there are more than 24 freshwater giants that can grow over six feet long and way more than 220 lbs.  We know a lot about ocean giants like whales and sharks, we know a lot about land giants like elephants, rhinos, and hippos.  But these freshwater giants are for the most part unknown to the world, including experienced fisherman, and still at least half of these 24 species will disappear before the end of the century.  Overfishing, climate change, deforestation and other issues jeopardize these fish populations and we have limited time to search for and study them, and try to save at least some of them before they are lost forever.  Just because these fish are in far away places doesn’t mean their survival isn’t important to all of us.   Fish Warrior shows these magnificent fish to the world and lets the audience know that we need to act now in order to save those fish that we can.

6. Can you share a fish encounter or have you faced a particular set of circumstances (while filming) that could have resulted in a serious injury?
We are in these situations all the time.  When we started the show, my producer asked me if it would be possible to make a show with incredibly huge fish that were never filmed before.  I said yes, but we have to push our limits and travel into the middle of nowhere to get the chance to find the “Last of the Mohicans” of these species.  We camp all the time, we eat and drink with locals.  We don’t sleep in hotels, or lodges.  For the most part we are days and days from hospitals and towns.  If you have a toothache or stomach pains out in the wild, it can be a much bigger deal than if you were close to civilization.  The crew and I battled malaria in Kenya; I was bitten by poisonous snakes in the Amazon and in Congo; I have been shocked by electric eels and I have dealt with numerous parasites and infections along the way.  I have also encountered hostile tribes in some of the locations we have traveled to, who were not always happy to see us in their country.  For all the dangers though, this is what must be done to catch and film these very special fish.

7. Have you ever found the “Holy Grails” of artificial lures? Do you know of a lure that will catch any fish species?
The short answer is…no.  If we were able to find such a lure, fishing would be too easy and would be boring.  A few times, I thought I found a secret technique or lure that could catch any fish, but there is always that next fish that shows you you are wrong. If you want to catch a fish, your bait has to be in the water.  If you are always trying to find a reason to stay home…the moon is too full or the water is too high…you will never catch a fish.  That’s why I fish all the time.  The time I spend fishing doesn’t count as time off of my life, so that is why I am going to live and fish forever.

You can catch Jakub on Monday nights on the National Geographic Channel at 9 PM Eastern. Here is a scene from last week’s episode:

Thanks for your time Jakub! Looking forward to next week’s show.

Fish like this ARE a reality at Queen Charlotte Lodge!

The fishing has been hot at QCL this past week. Read these fishing updates direct from, The Lodge:

July 14
Great fishing today had the dining room all abuzz as most boats encountered Chinook salmon of the larger variety.  Not everyone landed them but most have a good story to tell!  While Parker Point continues to be the hot spot, consistently producing good numbers of Chinook & Coho pretty well every day, Bird Rock was the place this morning.  The first boats out got into nice Springs in the 25 – 35 pound class right away…

Veteran QCL angler Andy Hintz was thrilled to bring a beautiful 40-pounder to the boat last night at Eagle Rock while fishing with his wife Carol.  The newest member of the QCL 50-Pounder Club is Gerald McMorrow who landed a beautiful, deep-sided 55 pounder at Parker Pt. late this afternoon, fishing with QCL guide Matt Burr.  Congratulations guys!  Well done!

July 10
Chinook salmon still range widely in size with lots of 20 pounders coming to the dock, perfect fillets for the table.  The Tyee Club continues to grow daily with several anglers finding those 30-pound-plus fish, often hiding along the edges of the kelp beds.  Ronald Halberg boated a nice 43 pounder Friday while Chris Holman landed his second over-forty for the trip, again off the east end of Parker Point.  Parker has certainly been the most productive spot over the past week, though Bird 2 hasnt been far behind.  Totem House angler Rick Rowbotham has done well this weekend with 33 pounders on both Friday and Saturday; electing to release todays Tyee.  Great job Rick!  Over-forties came today as well with Chris Ashwell finding a 42 and 15-year-old angler Cole Guolo opting to release a beautiful big Spring which taped out to 43.7 pounds.  Great job Cole and thanks for letting that big one go!  Loads of Coho are out there right now, averaging 8-10 pounds so everybody is having some fun with those.  Now is the time to break out those 8-weights and chase these fantastic game fish on the open salt water!  Its a feeling thats just hard to beat!

July 7
Summer has arrived in Haida Gwaii!  Big blue skies and warm breezes have motivated the staff to call it Hawaii Gwaii! We re certainly enjoying it.  A major bonus that QCL guests are enjoying right now is the light westerly winds are giving us very comfortable fishing conditions and anglers are fishing from Bird Rock all the way around to Green Point.  It seems the low slack tides are more significant to the fish activity this week.  While we get the odd snap happening here and there throughout the day, the bite hasn t really been happening until the low tide arriving in mid afternoon.  The mix of salmon remains strong with lots of feeder Springs still keeping anglers busy alongside the plentiful supply of Coho.  The Chinooks are hitting herring, anchovies and spoons at depths from 45 feet right down to 80 feet in 90 feet of water.  We ve seen some nice trophy-sized Chinooks caught again this trip with Matthew Bolsoy boating a mixed bag; an awesome 45 pound Chinook and a 41 pound Halibut on the same day!  Now that s good fishing!  Today we saw a 42 pound Tyee taken at Parker Point by Chris Holman, fishing with guide Mike Tustin.  Great job guys!  - End of report -

Now, I trust you understand why QCL is at the top of my ‘Bucket List’. Contact the Lodge and book your next trip. Please tell them Muskoka Outdoors sent you…

*photos and report used with permission from the QCL Blog

Many thanks to Tom who sent me this photo of a muskie his father caught in the west arm of Lake Nippissing, Ontario. The 50-inch monster was caught on a 4-inch plastic swim bait. Wow!

Local birthday angler, Justin, is all smiles for the camera from the large splake he caught last week. His smile speaks volumes about his excitement. Happy birthday, Justin!

Justin's Splake

For those of you wondering a splake is a lake trout and speckled trout hybrid cross. This unique hybridization creates a species that has an increase growth rate over either of the ‘donor parents’. This increases survivability in re-stocking efforts in cold northern climate lakes. This new species is not able to reproduce with great success – although it is said to be possible.

Read more about this species in Wikipedia