NiagaraRiverFisher

This pic of a rattle snake was sent to me recently  , it was in the 12 mile creek  . The picture was takin by Fred Bowering , you might remember seeing a video of Fred in 2018 jumping in Rennie park water and saving a swan with a hook and line in its mouth !  Rattle snakes have been observed by family and friends in the Allanburg area for many years. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4718736

Spent Saturday morning until Sunday at noon on the bank. It's been really tough the last few years to afford time to get out fishing. This was only the third time in 2024 I have been able to get out. Although the weather made it impossible to fish through the night on Saturday, both mornings were very productive. This pristine pre-spawn fish was the biggest of the session. 28.8 lbs. Fantastic battle. No baiting was necessary for these fish. Lots of fish came to a single pop up or with some pack - bait around the lead. Next adventure I hope to be able to take my kids out. 

Yes Smerchly that is the pattern. Pine Squirrel Zonker strips aren't the most common material to find. So I substituted in a Olive Rabbit zonker strip trimmed thinner.I use a huge amount of Rabbit strips for Trout,Bass,Steelhead,Snook,and Bonefish...Its the material that catches everything..
 
If you are keen on hatch fishing I would make sure you have some Tan Caddis patterns..There's always Caddis on the water... There is also a good chance a fish will take a Caddis pattern even in a May Fly hatch..Just sayin

The Lance Egan Poacher has been working really well for me lately....Tied on size #8 Jig Hook with a 4 mm. tungsten bead...I fish it on my 4wt.  with about 6ft of straight 4X tippet.....Pop it into tight pockets or float it on an Indicator in slow pools....

The rowing club would prefer there not to be anybody on the water but rowers and coach boats.
I'd guess it is the city.

I was wondering who was responsible for maintenance of the launch.  It's currently a bit of an ankle breaker and has large exposed rocks close to the water making pulling a loaded kayak cart up and down a bit of a nightmare, especially for us older folks.  With all the cash being splashed on the upcoming regatta it would be nice if they could throw some in the direction of the small public launch to make it less of a hazard.

Finally got a turkey this morning after 3 days.
18.77 pounds, 10.1/2” beard, and short spurs - 15/16” & 7/8”.
However, it was the easiest turkey I’ve got in a long time.
I set up along a wheat field edge along a woods where I thought they might be roosting.
After it started getting light a bird started gobbling over my right shoulder less than 50 yds away.
After gobbling for over 20 minutes or so he flew down just 30 yards in front if me….game over!!

Enemy #1 is fishing line .Some anglers don't realize that birds and animals get caught up in it and die a slow death , like the hawk I saw hanging from a tree at Rooker's Road at P. Dalhousie. And people who walk their dogs don't appreciate having to take Fido to the vets to remove a roe bag and hook for $500+. 

All the Niagara parks Boat Ramps are closed for the eclipse ! and Chippawa ramp.

All the Niagara parks Boat Ramps are closed for the eclipse ! and Chippawa ramp.

Starting downtown st catharines along the path heading south towards Brock U.  Crap everywhere.

Kev you’ve done an amazing job with this “leave no trace” program. It’s been noticed all across Canada. Looking forward to more cleanups this season. 
 

You should see all the garbage along 12 mile from the homeless camps.

Seen lots of worms out last night walking my dog. I’ve been drowning some over the last week but only a couple suckers and the rain can piss off anytime now. 

I not going anywhere near a lake on Monday. Going to be a shit show everywhere. Think I’ll watch it from the farmers field by my place. 

Thank you , I believe 90% of us anglers would do the right thing and return the tackle bag to the rightful owner .
I returned to the place where I pinned the note and it was still on the fence. (removed)
Then I did some fishing for perch and ??? using a float and not a sniff on my worms and 'old' salted minnows .
So I spent another 30 minutes tossing a swim bait for pike but they also had lockjaw. But it was great to spend the day outdoors
and listening to  the chorus of red winged black birds enticing the ladies for a fling in the trees. 

Hi everyone,
I'm thrilled to be back here on NFN. Some of you may remember me from years ago when I was an active member, and I'm excited to reconnect with the community.
From my earliest memories, I've always been drawn to water and the mysteries it holds beneath its surface. Fishing has been a constant passion of mine, starting from my childhood days exploring aquariums and catching frogs. Those early experiences led to unforgettable moments on the water with my family, sparking a lifelong love affair with fishing.
Through the highs and lows of life, fishing has remained my anchor. Even during challenging times in the '90s and early 2000s, including struggles with addiction and personal turmoil, fishing provided solace and a sense of purpose.
My introduction to carp fishing was a game-changer. A friend took me to the Niagara Whirlpool, where I landed my first common carp—a thrilling experience that ignited my passion. From there, I delved into the world of carp angling, learning new tactics and techniques that enhanced my fishing skills.
Beyond the thrill of the catch, my passion extends to mental health awareness and environmental stewardship. These aren't just aspects of my fishing life; they're integral to who I am. In my work and personal life, I'm dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and promoting practices like Leave No Trace.
Through my involvement with the Canadian Carp Society, I've found a community that shares my values and passion for angling. Together, we're making a difference not just on the water, but in our broader communities as well.
I'm excited to reconnect with old friends and make new connections here on NFN. Keep an eye out for my upcoming posts about mental health and environmental conservation—I hope they spark meaningful conversations and inspire positive change.
Tight lines or slack lines, good luck, and happy fishing!
 
- Kevin

Picked up my son's Mallard from Gunner today. He did a great job as usual. Very unique pose and base, the picture doesn't do it justice. My son was very pleased!
 
If you ever want professional taxidermy done, Gunner does an awesome job. 

Another beauty mount by Gunner . It sure is a unique pose ! I like the way the tail drops and the head turned slightly which makes it so life like, and adding the fungus to the old log is a nice touch .
Congrats to your son's first mallard , he will cherish that mount for many years.  👍

These work to........
 

Ya looked way nicer when the trees were there. Might have to give the lake a try this spring for some big mommas (carp)

I put the time in on my pc but can't get a final ok from Service Ontario . I don't mind the 20 min. drive as I like the idea of dealing with real people better . I'll pick a cold nasty day when others will go on line in a nice warm house .   🤗 

Went and checked out the land today. An absolute beautiful place.  
Deer tracks,droppings, scrapes and trails all over the land. 
nice little frozen “pond” owned by the beavers. 
 
the amount of ponds/lakes, rivers/streams is unreal. I’m use to Icefishing lakes and seeing 100’s of huts out. I think the most I seen on one lake was 5-6. 

lots of snow their right now. Snow mobile trails everywhere and in town  they even had a huge snow mobile racing event going on. 
 
Didn’t really get any good pics but here’s a few. 
IMG_3990.mov

Nice meal for new years eve 

Way to go!
what were you getting them on, minnows?