Fishing Facts

	When jigging, the majority of strikes occur as the lure is being dropped, rather than when it is being lifted, so it pays to keep in contact with the jig at all times.
	Good looks in a lure attract anglers but not necessarily fish; the most important characteristic for a lure is a consistent action that imitates natural bait movement.
	Despite tales to the contrary, there is no evidence that the northern pike shed their teeth in the summer; it’s just that pike can be difficult to catch during the hot months.
	The body temperature of fishes changes with their environment; fish eat much more in warm months than in cold months because their metabolism slows down in winter.
	In off-colored water, visibility is limited; how a lure looks is less important here than whether it has good action and vibration that fish can detect.
	Deep clear lakes are generally tough to fish for walleyes during a bright day, but a murky lake will often fish best for walleyes during the daylight hours.
	If a fish has to be taken out of the water for unhooking and release, do the job fast; remember that a fish can’t breathe out of the water.
	Even under the best conditions, only a few fish will grow to adulthood out of the hatching of thousands of eggs from one parent. Sometimes, none survive.
	A warm front, a moderate wind that produces a choppy surface, and light rain are weather conditions that can provide good fishing. Replacing the treble hook on many spinners, spoons, and plugs with a larger single hook can make it much easier to release fish. In the summer in lakes, many species of fish move into the thermocline, the layer of water where the temperature drops fast.
	A cold front, calm and bright situations, an east wind, and a thunderstorm are weather conditions that usually mean poor fishing. Fishermen often cast to the wake of a cruising fish. But wake indicates where the fish has been. You need to determine where the fish is headed and then cast ahead of it.
	A Canadian study of pike feeding habits determined that pike ate 10 percent of the local duck hatch each year. The researchers found that it took a pike ten days to digest one duckling.
	There’s a simple rule for fighting large, strong fish, especially on light tackle: when the fish pulls, you don’t; when the fish doesn’t pull, you do. The flowering or budding of many trees and shrubs corresponds with the reproductive activities of many spring-spawning species of fish. In the spring, fishing for bass, trout, pike, and other species can be best in the afternoon after the sun has warmed the water.

Tips on keeping weights within limits

• Most parties have an over-limit because they drink too much beer, pop and water. If you must drink on your fishing trip cut down on some beer and bring a bottle or two of liquor instead! Don’t bring bottled water. Your bottled water has already been recycled at least seven times. When you get to camp you can boil water for five minutes and then put it in the fridge. Another way is to buy a water purifier. They are available at Cabala’s (page 230 in the 2005 catalog). These purifiers work for the United States Marine Corps, who operate all over the world. Also, Aquarain.com has a variety of the finest water purifiers available today.
• Instead of bringing a lot of pop or soda, bring Kool-Aid, ice tea or lemonade drink mix and mix it with your purified Canadian lake water.
• Share a tackle box with your fishing partner or bring a small tackle box with tackle used to fish in Ontario lakes.
• Plan your meals. This way you will not bring a lot of extra food that will not be consumed and need to be thrown out anyway.
• Do not bring your fishing poles in heavy PVC sewer pipe. Buy a lightweight rod tube from your favorite sporting goods store. A great Christmas gift idea for your wife or girlfriend!
• If you follow these simple steps you will not have an overload. However, if you like a lot of liquids at camp and continue to haul in everything but the kitchen sink - be prepared to pay extra!