Quinte Fishing

I am the proud new owner of a bass boat, my first real fishing boat. My sons (8 and 9 years old) are anxious to get the boat in the water and fishing for sunfish and crappie, as I understand are OK to fish anytime. I have friends that are great fisherman, but I am afraid I have a history of being a poor fisherman, never understanding the finer points. I have fished the past two years with a guide in the St. Lawrence near Montreal where we were able to catch 40 to 60 3.5 to 5.5 lb bass each day. This guide was great and really showed me that fishing is a true science to be respected and understood. I have spent much of the winter gaining as much education as I can, in part reading through this site and its links and reading these posts and responses. I have to buy the rght rods and right lures and right line for the right water conditions, for the right time of year, etc., etc. It is all really confusing and expensive.

Now that I have qualified myself and my level of experience, I would like to ask some quick advice on where I should take the boys (and where I am allowed to take the boys) for our 1st outing this year for crappie and sunfish. I have to admit that until I started investigating this winter, I had never heard of a crappie before. Once I am pointed in the right direction, I'd appreciate some advice on what lure(s) are best to use for this type of fish and should we use worms? My kids are convinced that you can't catch fish without worms. I have used Mepps and worms and Mepps and bacon all of my life, growing up fishing on West Lake. My Dad didn't and still doesn't fish. I have taught my son's to fish and we have been successful catching 2 or 3 walleye, a couple of dozen small bass, a few pike and several rock bass. I'll admit that all of the fish were caught by accident / fluke and for every 3 times we went out fishing, 2 of 3 times we would catch nothing. Until the last couple of years, I was under the impression that you cast and reel and if the fish were hungary, they would eat and you would catch them.

I appreciate today, like anything, if you are going to be good at it, you have to study it, practice, give it your best effort and use the right tools.

This group of people that I have read about all winter at this website has been great. I have been busy reading/listening and never really had anything to add, due to my experience. I look forward to continuing my learning through reading your posts and asking the odd question myself. When I say "odd" I mean few, but I expect I could ask a question that may also seem "odd" due to my level of experience.

After a few years, hopefully I will be able to contribute something back.

Thank you for your consideration.

Manson Slik - Ameliasburgh - Prince Edward County

Hi SlikFish,

I live on west lake and if you want to catch lots of perch, sunfish, and rock bass just go to the Wellington Town Dock and your kids will have the time of their life.

P.S. I have no clue how to catch Crappie.

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A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work