It is time for something new...

The Muskoka Outdoors Blog has landed at its new home! With a shiny new Content Management System (CMS) at the helm, it is my hope that I will be better able to promote the pursuits of fishing, hunting and conservation to a local and worldwide audience. Consider taking a look around by following this link.

If you are looking for some unique tastes for your next wild game meal-consider supporting the OCOA’s fundraising initiative. The non-profit organization will use portions of the proceeds to benefit youth outdoor programs and college bursaries.

For more details read the post from Outdoor Canada’s Editor, Patrick Walsh.

This mean any large fish that you catch and release could become an IGFA length record!

You do NOT need special certification or a specific type of fish scale. Essentially, all that is required is that you catch and release according to the IGFA rules for this category and take specific photos of the fish on an IGFA fish measuring mat.

This opportunity not only encourages a quick release of a trophy class fish (for someone else to enjoy), but also increases the chances that an angler’s name, and released fish, could make the IGFA record books because the entry requirements can practically be met in any boat – anywhere.

Here are the current IGFA records for some common freshwater fish that may be lurking in a lake near you. When you catch one – let me know.

Current IGFA All-Tackle Length Records

The IGFA fish measuring mat

Bass, largemouth  Micropterus salmoides 48 cm
Bass, smallmouth  Micropterus dolomieu  34 cm
Carp, common  Cyprinus carpio  55 cm
Catfish, blue  Ictalurus furcatus  73 cm
Catfish, channel  Ictalurus punctatus  60 cm
Grayling   Thymallus thymallus  25 cm
Grayling, Arctic  Thymallus arcticus  37 cm
Muskellunge  Esox masquinongy  76 cm
Perch, white  Morone Americana  21 cm
Perch, yellow  Perca flavescens  18 cm
Pickerel, chain  Esox niger   39 cm
Pike, northern  Esox lucius  68 cm
Salmon, Atlantic  Salmo salar  64 cm
Salmon, Atlantic (landlocked)  Salmo salar  46 cm
Salmon, chinook  Oncorhynchus tshawytscha 53 cm
Salmon, chum  Oncorhynchus keta  48 cm
Salmon, coho  Oncorhynchus kisutch  53 cm
Salmon, pink  Oncorhynchus gorbuscha 39 cm
Salmon, sockeye  Oncorhynchus nerka  35 cm
Trout, brook  Salvelinus fontinalis  34 cm
Trout, brown  Salmo trutta  51 cm
Trout, bull   Salvelinus confluentus  51 cm
Trout, cutthroat  Oncorhynchus clarki  44 cm
Trout, lake   Salvelinus namaycush  74 cm
Trout, rainbow  Oncorhynchus mykiss  54 cm
Walleye   Stizostedion vitreum  52 cm

Specifically, consider purchasing the MyNature Animal Tracks App and/or the MyNature Tree Guide App. Both applications make it easier for the user to identify tree or animal tracks by prompting for general characteristics and getting more specific after each response. Think of them as ‘techy’ field guides for teachers, outdoor ed instructors, anglers and hunters and outdoor fanatics.

What you might not know is that Kari Murray and I conspired together to pitch the next potential app for the MyNature programmers. Developed with permission from MyNature apps, we hope you get a laugh from the video and consider purchasing their ‘real’ applications. (The Quicktime file is 4 mb)

Your name/address/fish info like length/girth……and yes where caught. Weight if known…….lure or bait used and the story of the catch.

Consider visiting the blog Northwood Wanderings to catch all the details and submit your entry.

Muskoka Outdoors will be hosting our own ice fishing photo contest soon.

Hard Water Fishing Coming Soon!

What particularly stands out about this event is that it is also on the site of the world’s largest indoor lake. This sets the aquatic stage (of 1,000,000 gallons of Lake Ontario water) for events like:

• Wakeboard & Wakeskating WOWfest – Boarders and skaters crank up the volume for a spectacular show of grinds, tricks and flips
• wakeboard lessons
• FREE ride in an inflatable boat, canoe, kayak, or paddleboat
• Duma the waterskiing and boat-driving dog

The angler will also find this show to be a worthwhile endeavor. Not only will there be bass boats to look over, but an angler will be able to view the Great Canadian Fish Tank. It is a 40ft x 8ft aquarium filled with 5,000 gallons of water and stocked with native Ontario fish. Daily fishing demonstrations and seminars by Canada’s top anglers deliver a rare underwater view of how fish react to and strike at various types of bait, lures and fishing techniques.

More Show details

SAVE $3 when you buy tickets online!
Available here November 1st through midnight, January 7th!

Click here to order tickets!

When:
January 8 to 16, 2011
Saturdays 10 am to 7 pm
Sundays 10 am to 6 pm
Weekdays 11 am to 8 pm

Where:
Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place
100 Princes Blvd.
Toronto, ON M6K 3C3

www.TorontoBoatShow.com

1. Koppers Live Target Frog – $10 to $15

Koppers Frog

This newly released soft-bodied, top-water lure should be shattering a glassy, calm lake near you this summer. This frog bait made some headlines at this year’s 2010 iCast Event and won their soft-bodied award. Koppers try very had to create ‘the world’s most anatomically accurate line of fishing lures‘ and this frog SHOULD catch some bass for you. Feel free to put one under my tree Santa! Visit your local tackle store to purchase or buy online from Bass Pro Shops.

2. A new tackle bag - $30 to $80

Plano Soft Sider Guide Bag

This year I ‘purged’ the junk from my old tackle box and exported them to smaller, fabric-shelled guide bag. It has 4 plastic trays that pull-out with multiple slot size configurations.  I was able to find a place for everything my older tackle box contained.  My gear stays better organized in a more streamlined container.  The molded-hard bottom lining is a must have feature. You can place it in the bottom of a wet boat or dock without water being ‘sponged’ into your tackle.

You don’t need to get the exact one I as I did. I bought a Plano Soft-Sider Guide Bag.  The point is, any new tackle box will cause any angler to re-organize their old one and feel better about themselves…

3. A new handcrafted fishing rod – $150 to $300

This my take a creative note in a stocking (or gift wrap), but consider getting your special fishing jedi a custom rod from from Fetha Styx. They fish the rods they build and the production versions of their rods all come from the DNA of a custom, hand-crafted version. I have been able to interact with some of the crew behind the ‘Styx’ and they are the real deal.

Afraid to get the wrong fishing rod? It may be obvious, but visit the Fetha Styx website with your favorite angler and get some guidance from them. You could also note the printed details, of an old rod, located close to where the reel is attached to the rod handle. Still not sure? Send me an email and I would be happy to help you determine a good fit.

Fetha Styx Fishing Rods

4. A new fishing float tube – $100 to $300+

Fishing Float Tube

Experience your favourite fishing lake from the view of float fishing tube. They are stealthy and easy on fuel. You will be able to access areas that boats can not spook less fish. So far, I have not hooked into a fish my flippers could handle. Prove me wrong.

Higher priced tubes are more stable, easier to enter and support the angler higher out of the water. Cabela’s has some nice examples here.

5. An Ultimate Fishing Trip to Queen Charlotte Lodge – $3800 to $5900

Every time I watched an episode from WFN’s reality fishing show called, The Lodge, I am reminded why this fishing resort is at the top of my own ‘bucket’ list. Catch big fish and relax in style. Meet the stars of the show. Book early through the QCL website – they fill up fast!

Catch The Fish of a Lifetime at QCL!

* for those interested – I make NO money from the links I have direct you to in this post.