PHOTO: GEOFF COLEMAN
Rick Knoester and a friend at HB Cycle, Cameron.
Rick Knoester also has seen changes to winter. He says that 17 years ago when he started in sales at HB Cycle, one could anticipate a reliable, winter-long base of snow to start as far south as Orono. In his estimation, that line is now drawn in Kinmount. This has changed things for the rider who wants to start a trip from his or her own driveway, but snowmobiling is alive and well in Kawartha Lakes. Knoester notes two-thirds of his sales happen between the time of the Lindsay Exhibition — before a single flake has fallen — and Christmas Eve. Snowmobilers are planners and “blue sky-ers,” optimistic that winter will arrive with good conditions. This rider typically trades in a sled every three or four years and puts on 7,000 to 10,000 kilometres in that time. Knoester goes on to say that if one is willing to trailer to a trail, eight to 10 weeks of riding can be expected most years. Riders today are able to take advantage of advancements in engine technology. According to Knoester, a sled from the year 2000 would run for about 500 km on a jug of oil. By 2010, that was more like 1,500 km. Direct injection two-stroke engines burn less fuel and have lower emissions than ever before and four-strokes are even cleaner. Some of them, like those equipped with
the SkiDoo Advanced Combustion Engine, are allowed in national parks in the United States. An initial outlay of about $10,000 will get you on the trails. Pete Garnier was a long-time Lindsay resident until his career forced a move to Trenton, but he still spends some of his winter recreation time in the Kawarthas. Garnier is an ardent ice fisherman who serves as a member of the steering committee that angled for a winter panfish season in our zone. As a guide for hire, he knows a good thing when he sees it. There are 17 lakes with excellent panfish populations that can be fished within an hour’s drive of Lindsay. He reasons if the bite on one is slow, it only takes a few minutes to pack up a heater, portable shelter, depth finder, and find one that isn’t. To cash in, Garnier prefers light action rods up to about 40 inches long (about 100 cm), three- or four-pound test line and small hooks. Since you are usually fishing through a hole smaller than 30 cm, you will generally use a still line with a minnow swimming around, or use some kind of jig. Garnier swears by Angler’s Choice Wiggler and Crappie Fry baits, adding that cycling through the available colours of these tiny soft plastic artificial lures will keep fish biting through the day. The colourful big three of panfish — yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill — provide unmatched table fare all winter. Garnier suggests anglers should look for crappie and bluegill in or near weedbeds in the eight- to 12-foot depth range, or in deeper water found farther from shore in isolated basin areas. Perch, on the other CONT’D ON PAGE 23
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