The last week on the Hardwater.

Jeff_C · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:00 am

First off, this was my best season yet. It was a pleasure fishing with some new friends this year. Especially since we always did well!

Sorry everyone, I didn't take many pics this year as I release most of them right away before their eyes freeze, etc.
I haven't caught a pig in a few days, so I haven't even taken my camera out of the case. Most of the fish that we caught were 1.75lbs to 4lbs with the occasional up to 10lbs. We figured that numbers was more fun than waiting around for a pig, so we decided to catch fish while we waited for the pigs.

On Saturday I caught 15 and lost 6.

Sunday, I didn't fish until 4:30pm and was targeting small ones for Skevy's derby for smallest fish. I caught probably a dozen or so around 12" and a few that were 3-8lbs. I lost quite a few pigs on Sunday, but had down sized my hooks for the little fish that I was targeting and lost most of them half way up to, or at the hole.

On Monday morning, we caught around 80 for 9 guys. From 1lbs to 9lbs.

Tuesday night, I caught 21 myself and my buddy caught 13. In total, we ended up with 43 for 4 guys that night.

Wednesday morning, my father came out, but I slept in and we didn't get out until 8:15 or so. Late nights and early mornings were catching up to me. He caught one on his first drop before it even hit the bottom. I didn't even put a line down, but just walked around and chatted with some buddies. There was enough fish down there with sore jaws from the past few days! LOL My father ended up with 5, and I only fished for a few minutes and caught 1. We left at 9am. My buddies had caught quite a few and they also stayed out a bit later and caught a bunch more.

Wednesday afternoon, we got together on the shore and had a fish fry before the afternoon fish. Boy was that good! Then we went out and set up. The ice all of a sudden got flooded with guys. It looked like the word got out. I had guys set up feet from me and the fish could definitely feel the pressure. I marked 5 on the vex without a strike and decided to leave and move outside of the crowd. I only ended up with 3 that night. The fish definitely slowed down with all of those augers roaring and lines dangling. Wednesday was more of a social fish than anything... We had a great fish fry and a lot of laughs joking around out there last night.

Most of the fish were released, except for the ones kept for a couple of snacks that my wife and daughter and I enjoyed, and some eaters for our on ice fish fry. Things just taste better out there on the ice!

An excellent season!

Luke · **Joined:** Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:21 pm **Posts:** 89

And where exactly were you fishing catching all of these???

Jeff_C · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:17 pm

In the large body of water we have here called the "Bay of Quinte". Unfortunately, I can not tell you exactly where. But I do have friends that were fishing all over the Bay and doing just as well. Because one guy is fishing a spot, doesn't mean that everyone else has to fish there. I find fish when I am away from the groups. Move away and you will have fish. Does anyone else concur with this statement?

Luke · **Joined:** Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:21 pm **Posts:** 89

Wow thanks for the great tip.. Obviously you were in the bay.... And the season is now over, so ya you better keep your "spot" secret..

I also fished all over for the past 5 days and I did not do very well.. As did anyone I talked to..

I fished the western part of "that big body of water".. The fish were stacked up Thursday and Friday, but were very scattered for the remaining 5 days..

I was in the groups, and out of the groups.

I also heard many reports from the Belleville area of people not doing well.. That is why I was curious as to where you were fishing..

Kind of hard to validate a fish story with no pictures...

Grizzly · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:37 pm

I agree often 100 yards on the outside fringes of the pac can be the most perductive spot . thinking fish are hungry but spooked fish arnt quick to take the bait but will move in to have a gander at all the pretty dancing ice jiggs ................. and im thinking the better question would be what were you useing, verses where you were using it at, give up the lure info bud. we all wanna know! . i had an outing this year where i cought 3 pike, 4 big walleye. and 10 nice perch in 2 hours . and can you believe it i had to go that day because the GF made plans for my day after noon . and she kept me so i even got a late start in the morning.............. women. GO FIGURE!!

-Dave- · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:43 pm

I was fishing in Deseronto on Sunday and was out for 5.5 hrs and only managed 4 jumbo perch

but no eyes

Jeff_C · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:10 pm

We used various baits. Pimples, Sidewinders, Cleos, Smoothies, etc. All tipped with a minnow. This was between Belleville and Big Bay and everywhere in between. The Wednesday prior we got 23 that morning if I remember correctly for 7 guys. We didn't always fish the same holes, but followed where we believed the fish were. We were always at least a few hundred yards from any other groups.

teppy · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:51 pm

I fished sunday morning as well and never did that well

we were off of rush bar and snake island. We fished 32, 34, 12.5, and 15 feet of water, we only iced 2 eyes. Sad part is if I would of went in the derby I would of one it as I caught an eye that was 4.5" long.

It felt like the hook was caught on the spoon when I brought it up :lol:

We fished from the early morn til 1:00pm, sadly I couldn`t even find the perch.
As I look back our mistake was that we should of moved closer to the river mouths and try to find where they are staging.
I truly agree with Jeff.C as I try to stay away from the crowds....even in the boat :!:

teppy

Stanley20footer · **Joined:** Mon May 23, 2005 8:00 am **Posts:** 112

[Unfortunately, I can not tell you exactly where]

What possible harm could it do to let a fellow angler know where a good fishing spot is? Even the people who make a living at fishing give you their GPS locations.

walleyecatcher25 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:07 am **Posts:** 71

The last week was pretty good I fished mon tues weds at the red bouy in big bay, wed night decided to try a spot I haven't tried yet ( Big Island Shoal) managed to get a couple of nice walleyes to finish off the season. I'm actually glad the season is over now I can catch up on my sleep I don't sleep that good the night before fishing.

steve-hamilton · **Joined:** Fri Apr 25, 2003 7:40 am **Posts:** 1776

Quote:

What possible harm could it do to let a fellow angler know where a good fishing spot is? Even the people who make a living at fishing give you their GPS locations.

Yeh, but i bet they aren't correct. No one who makes their living fishing/guiding is giving out any coordinates.

keep your good spots to yourself, and make the folks search for their own fish!

Locals work for their fish.....They also lots of fishless days before finding how it all works.....Lots more to figuring out Quinte than following the crowds....

Sounds like Jeff put his time in, and was rewarded for his efforts.

Good Job Man!

Jeff_C · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:23 pm

Well, putting in my time definitely would be true for this year. I will be the first to tell you though that I'm no expert on this, but probably out of more luck than anything seemed to be on fish every time I was out. I did was skunked twice, but on those days, sometimes my friends that were with me not 15 yards away would get fish. I seemed to have my best luck around some sort of structure. Not that there isn't fish out in the big basins, as I know there are plenty of them. Lots of you do very well in those areas, I just find it easier to locate fish near structure as it probably funnels them in and has something for them to hold to. I don't mind sharing info, I just don't like 300+ guys showing up where I have been fishing undisturbed with my buddies. But as they say, there is no lease on ice. So fish where ever you want, cause the ice isn't mine, nor anyone else's. If you fish beside me, no offence or anything, but I'll probably pick up and move. I like fish that don't get confused by all that bling bouncing in front of them!

I kept telling my buddies that we better get skunked soon or we were going to have ego problems!

Rocky Mountain Man · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:41 am

A good angler keeps his fishing locations secret. For those whiners who want to know where the fish are biting ... put in your time, try different lures, be mobile and, most importantly, have a positive attitude that you will catch fish. That's the secret.

To the whiners, I say, "got any cheese to go with your wine?"

walleyecatcher25 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:07 am **Posts:** 71

You have to have confidence in your location and lure selection, finding location is the most important and following the patterns of the walleyes thats what seperates the successful anglers from the lucky anglers. It's definitely a lot nicer fishing with know one around you even if you only get a couple at lease you know there is fish there and you don't have billybob fishing pretty much on your back!

Its nice to see so many advid fisherman on the this site maybe someday we can have a fishing tourney for just us.
keep your stick off the ice

legacy · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2005 7:55 am **Posts:** 992

I think the tourny for all that use this is an awesome idea.

You can count me in!

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The last week on the Hardwater.

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