All ready for a walk on the wild side
I am into my first week of my 4 week holiday over here in Canada.
I am situated way down south of the country on the banks of Lake St Clair near the mouth of the Belle River. Just down from me across the river is Detroit City USA, next stop further round is Lake Erie---- a big big expanse of water.
Ain't done any fishing yet- maybe next week- mean time I am doing a bit of bird spotting,the odd snake, chipmunk, ground hog and whatever--- plenty of wild life about in this part of Canada.
Into my second week of my holiday.
The weather has been hot and humid with downpours in the evening together with thunder and lightning. Not the type of conditions to be outside too long unless you have a big sunshade to protect you and a nice ice cold beer or two to cool you down. Mind you all the bars/ pubs are air conditioned so I've been spending some of my time cooling down in them - you have to sample the local brew --don't you.
No fishing yet, the Belle River is high and dirty and the spot that I usually go at the mouth of the river is unfishabe-- it maybe ok in a few days providing we don't have more rain.
So I will just have to put up with the hot weather for now. Keep my self refreshed sit back in the shade and think of Scotland.
Today I'm going to attempt a 4 k walk to the local marina to see if I can charter a boat to do a bit of bass fishing.
There is no rain forecast but its still hot and humid at 26c
Going to be sweaty but there is a pub at the end of my trek, so I will soon cool down.
Well, I started to walk but soon found out that it was madness.
It was hotter and more humid than I thought I was knackered, so a quick phone calI saw me picked up and driven straight to the bar for a much needed pint of the local brew.
A welcome site that greeted me as I walked in the door of the local watering hole.
It took me some while to cool down.
So I have been in Canada for 2 weeks now-- half way through my holiday and i have still not been fishing.
I've been having a great time with my daughter and grandchildren so what the heck that was the main point of my holiday anyway----too see them.
The fishing is secondary, maybe give it a go this coming week, my rod hand is getting itchy.
Booked a charter boat for next week, have to give it a go I suppose.
The weather is that hot, I hope it cools down a bit, I don't fancy a long session out on the lake in 90f, it would kill me.
Last time I was out on St Clair we trolled for musky, caught a few but I thought it was a bit boring, not my cup of tea, I prefer the hands on fishing.
The trolling is very technical and there is a lot of skill involved ( by the skipper) but me, the angler, just sits there,waiting for a fish to grab the lure, then reels it in. Not for me.
We are going to do some bass fishing this time, so I am looking forward to it.
Hopefully I will have some pics. to post on my next entry.
I am now coming into the third week of my hols, a whole week and a few days left, then I'm on my way back to Scotland.
After the thunder storms of last night the weather has finally cooled down a bit and I will need to confirm with the skipper the day I would like to book for my long awaited fishing trip.
It's still going to be hot but not as bad as it has been with temperatures over the 90c and very humid, the forecast is mid 70c for next week.
The cost to charter the boat for the day is $500 with a lesser option of $300 for a half day trip.
I would think that the half day one would do me, I don't think that we will be travelling far, so a couple of hours fishing would be OK.
Or should I not bother,
Leave the fishing till next time, maybe just go and drop a line off the wall at the marina if the river ain't belting through too much.
Had a call from the skipper saying that he was available in the morning.
As I was the only one booked to go, he said he would take me at a reduced price.
I accepted his offer and I would look forward to meeting him at the local marina.
Fishing at last
We steamed out from the marina for about 20 minutes heading for a feature that runs from Belle River out into Lake St Clair
I think he said it was called "The Hump"--- an underwater ridge that heads NE..
"A good spot to catch Bass" he said.
I sat in the boat in anticipation, waiting for the skipper to give the go ahead to drop my line.
The skipper was right-- it was a good spot to catch bass--dropping my rubber lure to the bottom it was only 5 minutes into the drift when our rods were bent over-- we were into our first fish of the morning.
The pictures tell the story of my trip from Belle River out into Lake St Clair.
Into my first hard fighting small mouth bass
A nice fish of about 3lb
The first of many netted that morning.
I don't normally take fish for the pot but I was told that these were very nice to eat, so I had to try the local produce. A couple of nice fillets, some French fries with a salad, all washed down with ice cold beer, Thats what was going through my mind as I posed with this nice brace of small mouth bass.
A big thanks to skipper Art Thibert and his brother Rob http://www.reelhappycharters.com
I finally managed to get out fishing and caught some nice fish.
Just a week and a bit left of my holidays, lets see if I can catch some more fish.
Well its the last Sunday of my stay over in Canada, 4 more days and I am off back home.
The temperature has dropped down to 18c, a pleasant change from the stifling heat.
Today will be the only day left that I will get my grandson and his dad together to go fishing.
I'm going to try and teach my son in law the basics, so he can take him when I am way.
We arrived at the marina to find it a bit windy and not too warm, in fact there is a chill in the air.
There was no one fishing at our favourite spot on the wall at the mouth of the river
( the Canadians are late risers and some anglers turned up soon after we started fishing)
We cast out our rod, sat back and waited for a bite.
We didn't have to wait long before the rod tip pulled over and we were into our first fish
A nice fresh water drum ( the local name for them is sheep head)
The fish put up a good fight bending the light rod left and right as it tried to escape the hook.
My wee lad held on tight and with a look of determination in his face pulled the fish up the marina wall safely into his grasp.
Not a big fish, just a bit of excitement never the less.
Not nice to eat, so back it went to fight another day.
One more fish was caught, a little perch, before we decided to pack it in, the lad was getting bored and wanted to get back home to play with his chums.
As for his dad, he took the photos and seemed to have enjoyed the short time we spent fishing, but will he take him out when I am away ? only time will tell.
Well that's it, my holiday is finished, packing my case now all ready for my return home tomorrow.
It's going to be a long winded trip back.
Coach- plane-bus-coach and finally bus ending up about 200 yards from my wee "Buck and Ben "in Edinburgh.
Going to be tired when I get back and of course the dreaded jet lag which usually takes a couple of weeks for me to recover, but I will eventually get back to my usual routine.
I am going to miss my daughter, grandson and granddaughter -- better not forget my son in law--I love you all.
I will return next year. Byeeeeee.
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