OUTDOOR CANADA MAGAZINE WINTER JANUARY FEBRUARY 2023

YOUR 2024 EXPERT HARDWATER ACTION GUIDE

4

PANFISH PLUS!

AWESOME ICE-FISHING

ICE MORE PERCH & CRAPPIES

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PANFISH APLENTY

VOL. 51, ISSUE 6

Want to catch more wintertime perch and crappies? Hit the ice running with these expert tips and tactics

BY GORD PYZER

36

COLD PLAY

All-new tackle, apparel and accessories for the successful winter angler

BY THE EDITORS

38

28

RESERVOIR HAWGS

Across the prairies, man-made lakes offer unique hardwater action for giant pike and walleye

BY KEVIN WILSON

D E PA R T M E N T S & C O L U M N S

44

7 DISPATCHES Our readers write 8 OUTLOOK Women and the outdoors BY PATRICK WALSH 10 JOURNAL Outdoor inspiration and information BY STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS 22 FAIR GAME Wintertime mental health and the outdoors BY ROBERT PYE 24 ON THE WATER What you need in an ice rod for lakers BY GORD PYZER 25 FLY FISHING Off-beat materials for tying flies BY SCOTT GARDNER 26 BOWHUNTING Tips for crossbow-hunting success BY ZAC KURYLYK 27 IN THE FIELD The need for a hunting moral code BY KEN BAILEY 66 HOMAGE The calf sled BY MIKE HUNGLE

COOL EATS

Nothing beats an awesome sandwich for hungry ice anglers on the go RECIPES & PHOTOS

BY CAMERON TAIT

48

BEYOND LEAD

22

24

25

COVER LINES 22 Outdoor Benefits 25 Fly-Tying Options

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ICE MORE PERCH & CRAPPIES

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38 Prairie Lunker Tactics

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28 Panfish Plus!

36 Great Gear for Winter Anglers

GEAR

WATERFOWL SHOTSHELLS

28 Your 2024 Expert Hardwater Action Guide

AWESOME

ICE-FISHING MUNCHIES

THE

BY KEN BAILEY

54

ANTLER ACADEMY

YOUR 2024 EXPERT HARDWATER ACTION GUIDE

PANFISH PLUS!

26

With so many non-toxic shotshell options now available, choosing just the right waterfowl load can be confusing. Our primer is here to help

PRAIRIE

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TACTICS DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 31, 2024

OUTDOOR BENEFITS • BONEFISH ESCAPE • FLY-TYING OPTIONS

44 4 Awesome Ice-Fishing Munchies 48 The Top Waterfowl Shotshells 60 Bonefish Escape

COVER SHOT IN THIS SELF-PORTRAIT, AVID ANGLER KAYLA JORGENSON GRIPS ONE OF THE MANY SLAB CRAPPIES SHE ICED LAST WINTER IN HER HOME PROVINCE OF MANITOBA’S WHITESHELL PROVINCIAL PARK.

OUTDOOR CANADA [ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 ]

How well do you know your favourite game’s headgear? Here’s what you need to know to bring home a true trophy

BY BRIAN HARRIS

60

BONEFISH ON A BUDGET

Think only the well-heeled can afford a Bahamas bonefish adventure? Think again. Here’s how to get in on the action without breaking the bank

BY SCOTT GARDNER

W W W. O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 3

ONLINE NOW

FISHING

www.outdoorcanada.ca

WINTER WHITEFISH

Finding and catching lake whitefish through the ice can be both challenging and rewarding. These expert tips on locations, tactics and baits are sure to keep you hauling up hefty fish all season long. outdoorcanada.ca/winterwhitefish LAKER LURES

Catching winter lake trout requires just three types of must-have lures: spoons, swimbaits and lipless crankbaits. Find out exactly which ones you need, along with tips on when, where and how to fish them. outdoorcanada.ca/lakerlures ON THE WATER ONLINE

Winter pike ploys

Outdoor Canada fishing editor Gord Pyzer says northern pike are one of the most misunderstood sportfish we pursue during the wintertime. After decades of targeting big toothy critters through the ice, he’s narrowed down his lifetime of hardwater experience to these five surefire fish-catching techniques. Covering locations, presentations and more, these tips are surprising yet simple—and essential. outdoorcanada.ca/winterpikeploys

CONNECT WITH US Join us on Facebook

Facebook.com/OutdoorCanada Follow us on Twitter

@OutdoorCanada @OutdoorCanadaW Follow us on Instagram

@outdoorcanadamagazine Follow editor-in-chief Patrick Walsh on Twitter & Instagram @OutdoorWalsh Follow associate editor Scott Gardner on Twitter @OutdoorGardner 4 | OUTDOOR CANADA [ J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

Outdoor Canada fishing editor Gord Pyzer regularly posts fishing tips, gear reviews and much more on his blog, “On the water online.” Check in often to stay on top of exciting developments in sportfishing. outdoorcanada.ca/blogs

HUNTING AFRICAN WINGSHOOTING

With its sheer abundance and variety of birds, southern Africa is the place to go for a bucket-list wingshooting adventure. Our primer lays out everything you need to know to make it happen. outdoorcanada.ca/africanwingshooting HUNTING ROUNDS

While the latest cartridge offerings may be all the rage, the old standbys can still get the job done. Hunting editor Ken Bailey explains why you shouldn’t give up on those time-honoured rounds. outdoorcanada.ca/huntingrounds BOW CASES

Whether you shoot a compound, recurve or crossbow, it’s essential to protect your expensive gear. Choosing just the right case depends on where and how you’ll be travelling, so consider these factors. outdoorcanada.ca/bowcases W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA

DEEPER SONAR CHIRP+ 2: A GAME CHANGER FOR ICE FISHING

The Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2 is a game changer for anglers who enjoy ice fishing. Ice anglers no longer need to carry heavy sonar units or worry about their power source. The tennis ball-sized Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2 fits in the palm of your hand and easily slips into a hole in the ice. By generating its own Wi-Fi connection and connecting to your smartphone, it enables the display of live sonar and mapping. Installation is a breeze – no need for cables; just drill a hole in the ice and place your Deeper sonar in it.

Deeper PRO Staffer Ryan Pizzacalla from Canada knew from his experience with the Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2 in open water that it would revolutionize his ice fishing trips. “I always use my Deeper sonar while ice fishing because it allows me to see my lure presentation and how the fish reacts to the lure without the need for the traditional bulky, heavy fish finder,” said Ryan.

With a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer, the Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2 is the most powerful model and utilizes three beams of coverage: narrow 7°, medium 20°, and wide 47°. This allows for ultra-clear target separation with a super-fast sonar scan rate of up to 15 per second.

The ability to choose between a traditional flasher display or traditional sonar display allows ice anglers to pick the most comfortable view for them on their smartphone.

WEIGHT 3.2 oz / 92 g CASTING RANGE 394 ft / 120 m MIN-MAX SCANNING DEPTH 6”–330ft / 15 cm–100 m SONAR BEAMS Three angles (47°, 20°, 7°) BATTERY LIFE Up to 15 h BUILT-IN GPS Yes WARRANTY 5 years That is important, as many anglers prefer the traditional view.

“Deeper Sonar was the first fish finder I purchased. I use it all year round, and it plays a significant role in how I fish, increasing my ability to catch more fish through the ice. It is all about vertical jigging, and you can see everything,” said Ryan.

It is not unusual for ice anglers to fish in low visibility conditions or at night, as many of the larger game fish are more active during that time, making them easier to catch. The Deeper Sonar Night Fishing Cover allows an angler to see a flashing LED light through its translucent orange cover.

“Another consideration when ice fishing is learning how to properly play with a fish, and that’s important if you want to be successful and land more fish,” said Ryan.

He noted that it is easier to land a fish without wires or cables in the way.

Anglers will never forget a productive ice fishing spot with Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2. Every ice hole you dig out or fish out of is automatically saved in the Fish Deeper app.

Traditional sonar units require a heavy, bulky power source. Deeper Sonar CHIRP+2 can last for up to 15 hours. Low temperatures while ice fishing quickly drain a smartphone, which is why it is recommended to get the splash-proof Deeper Sonar Smartphone Case, which protects and insulates your smartphone.

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STATESIDE PRAISE

Re “Water therapy,” November/ December 2023. Catchy title. I’m very curious about an article’s content when I read the title. This was a good column and an informative read. The test for me is, do I take the time to read the article after a few initial lines?

I always read the fly-fishing column!

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I think your magazine very much is a model for how magazines can, and should, prosper in this unforgiving marketplace. So much flavour and so many delights are in each issue.

I go through it thoroughly and find each page delectable. Truly. Your art director gets a gold star, too. The art is amazingly and consistently good, and well-displayed.

LYNN HENNING ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA

WESTERN UPDATE

In “Tag trouble” (Hunting Special

2023, West edition), writer T.J. Schwanky called on Alberta to settle on a fair, transparent and ongoing system for allocating Minister’s Special Licences (MSL) through auctions and resident raffles, as well as for allocating the monies raised.

The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS), which began handling the auctioning of the special hunting tags in 2022, held three

8

stakeholder meetings in March, July and September of 2023 to establish terms of reference for the funds raised, and to create a grant process for dispersing the funds. Accordingly, the funds will now be allocated via a stakeholder committee, which falls in line with the way grants were allocated in the past. The process for grant applications opened October 16, 2023; the deadline to apply is January 31, 2024. Of note, the auction tags administered by APOS brought in a record amount of money in 2023. As for the ongoing administration of the resident raffle portion of the MSL program, that had yet to be finalized as of press time. —THE EDITORS OC

PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO EDITORIAL@OUTDOORCANADA.CA. ALSO CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM (@OUTDOORCANADAMAGAZINE), TWITTER (@OUTDOORCANADA AND @OUTDOORCANADAW) AND FACEBOOK (FACEBOOK.COM/OUTDOORCANADA).

OUTLOOK

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

BY PATRICK WALSH

Inspiring women B

E S TA B L I S H E D 1 9 7 2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & BRAND MANAGER Patrick Walsh

ACK IN 2011, I hosted a live, in-person panel discus-

sion featuring four accomplished Canadian outdoors­ women, Amanda Lynn Mayhew, Vanessa Harrop, Mariko Izumi and Kathryn Maroun. “Find out what it’s like to work in a male-dominated world,” promised a poster promoting the “Women of the Outdoors” event. As flyfishing expert Kathryn Maroun quipped at the time, “I’m more than just a pretty girl in waders.” The well-attended event was a success, with the female members of the audience appearing empowered to further embrace the fishing and hunting lifestyle.

Since then, women have continued to make giant strides in the outdoors, to the point now where it’s unusual not to see moms, wives, sisters and daughters participating in the same activities that were once primarily male bastions. For evidence of this, you need look no further than social media, where women are PANFISH PLUS! AWESOME truly making an impact in the world of fishing and hunting.

In fact, it was on Instagram where we first discovered the GEAR TOP hardcore anglers gracing this issue’s East and West edition covers. Not only do Manitoba’s Kayla Jorgenson and Breanne Jada enjoy fishing year-round, they’re also avid hunters. And they’re far from alone. Whether it’s on Instagram or any of the other many social media channels, you’ll find plenty more PERCH ON! 6 TROPHY women eagerly heading afield and hitting the water. And their numbers are growing.

NONALL-NEW TOXIC As for our four panelists back in 2011? Maroun has since retired to Bermuda (lucky her), while Mayhew, Harrop and Izumi remain highly active in the outdoors, each with ongoANGLERS KAYLA ing television projects—and each continuing to inspire even JORGENSON (TOP) & BREANNE JADA more Canadian women in the process. OC YOUR 2024 EXPERT HARDWATER ACTION GUIDE

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ICE MORE PERCH & CRAPPIES

ICE-FISHING MUNCHIES

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FOR WINTER ANGLERS

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OUTDOOR BENEFITS • BONEFISH ESCAPE • FLY-TYING OPTIONS

CATCH GIANT RESERVOIR WALLEYE & PIKE

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ANTLER SECRETS THE BEST

HARDWATER GEAR GUIDE WINTER 2024 $8.99

DUCK LOADS

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OFF-BEAT FLY-TYING

WESTERN CANADA’S

FISHING & HUNTING

MATERIALS

MAGAZINE

DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 31, 2024

BLACKFOOT TROUT PLAN • HUNTER ETHICS • LAKER ICE RODS

CONTRIBUTORS

MANAGING EDITOR Bob Sexton ASSOCIATE EDITOR & WEB EDITOR Scott Gardner ART DIRECTOR Sandra Cheung FISHING EDITOR Gord Pyzer HUNTING EDITOR Ken Bailey

PUBLISHER Mark Yelic NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGERS Rosemary Bubanovich, Dave Harkley, Jeff Coyle RETAIL AND CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT MANAGER Chris Holmes MARKETING MANAGER Desiree Miller DIRECTOR OF RETAIL MARKETING Craig Sweetman AD TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Michaela Ludwig DIGITAL COORDINATOR Lauren Novak CIRCULATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE Marissa Miller, Lauren Novak CONTROLLER Anthea Williams OUTDOOR CANADA IS PUBLISHED

BY OUTDOOR GROUP MEDIA LTD. Outdoor Canada magazine (ISSN 0315-0542) is published six times a year by Outdoor Group Media Ltd.: Fishing Special; May/June; July/August; Hunting Special; November/December; and January/February.

Printed in Canada by TC Transcontinental.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada, one year (six issues), $24.95 plus tax. U.S., one year, $39.95. Foreign, one year, $69.95. Send name, address and cheque or money order to: Outdoor Canada, 802-1166 Alberni St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3 MAIL PREFERENCE: Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services may be of interest to our readers.

If you want your name removed, contact us via the subscripton contact below.

Publication Mail Agreement No. 42925023. Send address corrections and return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Outdoor Canada, 802-1166 Alberni St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3 USPS #014-581. U.S. Office of publication, 4600 Witmer Industrial Estates, Unit #4, Niagara Falls, N.Y .14305. U.S. Periodicals Postage paid at Niagara Falls, N.Y. Postmaster: Send address changes to Outdoor Canada, P.O. Box 1054, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304-5709. Indexed in Canadian Magazine by Micromedia Ltd. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: We welcome query letters and e-mails, but assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.

When he’s not editing and writing for motorcycle magazines, New Brunswick native Zac Kurylyk says he enjoys providing for his family through his hunting, fishing and foraging adventures. In this issue’s Bowhunting column (page 26), he offers pointers for both beginner and veteran crossbow hunters looking to up their game.

A 37-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Winnipeg’s Cameron Tait has served as an executive chef, culinary arts instructor, consultant and more.

He’s also an avid outdoorsman, so it’s no surprise he takes excellent eats along on his outdoor adventures.

On page 44, he shares his incredible sandwiches for ice anglers.

Now retired as a wildlife biologist with the B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch, Brian Harris continues to share his considerable knowledge about Canada’s big-game species. This issue, he answers all the questions you’ve probably ever had about those amazing things called antlers. See “Antler academy,” starting on page 54.

A wildlife conflict management consultant, hunting guide and outdoor writer, Edmonton’s Kevin Wilson still finds the time to also hit the water, and that includes during the winter. In “Reservoir hawgs” (page 38), he provides the lowdown on the opportunities for icing giant pike and walleye on the man-made lakes of the West.

8 | O U T D O O R C A N A D A [ J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

Distributed by Comag Marketing Group. ©2024 Outdoor Canada. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photo or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.

Subscriptions and customer service: 1-800-898-8811 Subscriptions e-mail: service@outdoorcanada.ca Customer service website: www.outdoorcanada.ca/subscribe MAILING ADDRESS: Outdoor Canada, 802-1166 Alberni St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3 General inquiries: (604) 428-0259 Editorial e-mail: editorial@outdoorcanada.ca Members of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and Alberta Fish & Game Association must contact their respective organizations regarding subscription questions or changes.

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA

YOUR PORTAL TO ALL THINGS

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As well you can watch, hear, find and follow us on:

New Contests Added Monthly Your Favourite Episodes Online Fishing HOTSPOTS HOW-TO’s From Ang & Pete New Bloggers

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JOURNAL

O U T D O O R I N F O R M AT I O N & I N S P I R AT I O N

170,000 $3 billon

Fundraising Total Canadian goal waterfowlers, of the down from a high Conservation new of 505,681 in 1978, For according to a specialContinent A Delta Waterfowl campaign, report on declining hunter numbers.launched recently In the U.S., bythere Ducksare now fewer than half of the Canada Unlimited 2.03 million and active its U.S.waterfowlers recorded and Mexican in 1970. counterparts. The initiative aims to expand on the 16 million acres DU has already conserved across North America.

136 12

100th 53,000

The new minimum age for purchasHarvested ing wild a bearungulates or deer-hunting from 2016 that Toronto’s cormorant populahave tested licence positive in NewforBrunswick, chronic wasting tion, down from a peak of diseasedown underfrom Alberta’s age 16.

CWD Designed surveillance roughly 65,000 birds in 2018. program. to As encourage of mid-February, more youths roughly 4,200Recent efforts Anniversary to reinofinBrowning’s the BAR Rifle, first developed animalstohad enjoy been thetested, outdoors, withthe 1,000 more Leslie Spit forcolony, the U.S.however, military and later transformed into a to go. The recent number change of positives was welcomed already have resulted sporting in birds version. moving Browning is commemorating the surpasses by the 2015’s Newtotal Brunswick of 116 Wildout of 4,929 close to anniversary residential areas with the on BAR Safari 100th Anniversary animals.life Federation. the Toronto model Islands. (pictured).

10 | O U T D O O R C A N A D A [ J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

SCENE Flags up! Two white-tailed deer display their namesake tails as they bound across a frozen field in eastern Ontario last January.

PHOTO BY MARK RAYCROFT

25 3 th

Medals earned by Canadians at the World Masters and Ladies Fly Fishing ChampionAnniversary ships, held of lasttheSeptember introduction in ofKamloops, the first laser B.C.rangefinder Mike Learmonth binoculars, won an individual Leica’s Geovid silver in7x42 the BD masters, (pictured). whileMarking Kathy Ruddick the milestone, earned bronze Leicainhas thereleased ladies comthe petition. specialHer edition teamGeovid also took HD-B the rangefinding women’s overall binos. silver medal.

40th

ON THE O RN E CTOHRED R E C O R D

“It would be like pushing a boulder “I am teaching him up a hill ifait very was just the Canadians important doing this.” life lesson.”

Anniversary Wild boar ears thissubmitted March last year of Halifax’s to Alberta’s bounty Atlantic programOutdoor to eradi­cate the —Leamington, Ontario, Responding mayortoJohn anti-hunters, PatersonToronto tells theBlue Canadian Jays Press that Sports invasive and species.

RV That’s Canada would not relief be pitcher able to mitigate Erik Swanson the Trump defends adminis­ an October tra­tion’spost planned on Show, down which from ashowhigh of 199 in 97 per cent cut Instagram to the US$300 showing millionhim Great andLakes his young Restoration son in front Initiative. of some cases 2009, the leading “bestthe of province everything outdoors,” Says Paterson: harvested “The Americans Canada aregeese. alwaysSays clearSwanson to state that of his theson: majority “Nowof including to end thefishingbountyand thishunting-related past the pollution andwhen the problems he hunts and that he areharvests in the Great his own Lakesfood, are coming he knows from exhibitors March. and features. specific areas inexactly the U.S.” where his food is coming from and what is in it.”

W W W . O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 11

JOURNAL

Chrissy Clement says she was “pleasantly surprised” to pull this nice rainbow trout through the ice on a small, stocked lake near Bancroft, Ontario, last March. “I was fishing along the edge of a gravel point when this beauty bit,” she says. “It took a few good runs before I was able to get it on the ice.”

TROPHY WALL

HOT SHOTS PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES OF FUN DAYS AFIELD AND ON THE WATER

W

E ENJOY SEEING pictures of your fishing

and hunting accomplishments—and learning the stories behind them.

Please e-mail us your images, along with any relevant details (who, what, where and when), and we’ll post them on Instagram and publish our favourites here.

Last March, Austin Martens was ice fishing with his dad, Kelly, in northern Alberta near the N.W.T. border when he tackled this hefty 50-inch northern.

His bait of choice? A tube jig tipped with a minnow. “I also caught a big pike that same day,” says Kelly, “but mine wasn’t that big!”

Thirteen-year-old Caleb Friesen was ice fishing on Ontario’s Lake of the Woods last February with his dad, James, and grandfather Dave when the bell on his ice rod sounded. “He grabbed the rod, set the hook and reeled in his first laker,” says James. “It was It was an amazing experience.”

8

PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND RELEVANT DETAILS TO EDITORIAL@OUTDOORCANADA.CA. ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: @OUTDOORCANADAMAGAZINE.

While competing in an ice-fishing derby on southern Ontario’s Island Lake last February, an “ecstatic” Kaden McMillan hauled in this 28½inch northern pike following a hard fight, says his proud dad, Adam. The avid eight-year-old angler went on to become the winner of the derby’s youth division.

12 | OUTDOORCANADA [ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 ]

Last March, Melvin Hillier thought he’d lost his wallet on his way to go ice fishing on Alberta’s Cold Lake. Two days later, he went ice fishing again, and this time his buddy Brian Donovan (pictured) snagged something in 115 feet of water. Amazingly, it was the lost wallet. “It was a complete fluke,” says Melvin. “We had no idea the wallet was even in the lake!” Now that’s a lucky catch.

This monster northern pike still stands as a personal best for Edmonton’s Franco Commisso, caught in January 2018 on a secret lake in southern Alberta. Nabbed on a double-treble set-up with herring as bait, the big fish weighed in at a whopping 33 pounds, says Franco.

Avid hunter Julia McIntyre, 17, was snowmobiling on the Little Saskatchewan River near Elphinstone, Manitoba, last February when she came across this lucky find. “She noticed an antler sticking out of the snow and was astonished to find not only one moose shed, but two,” says mother Susan McIntyre.

Sarah Henuset was ice fishing with her husband, Stuart, on northern Manitoba’s Lake Athapapuskow last March when she iced this chunky 38-incher. “What made this lake trout unique was that it was tagged, which is extra rare on such a big lake,” says Sarah. “It was definitely the fishing trip of a lifetime!” OC W W W. O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 1 3

JOURNAL IN SEASON

BURBOT

FROZEN FACTS HOW TO KEEP WILD FISH AND GAME TASTY, FRESH FROM THE FREEZER

BY SCOTT GARDNER

O

NE OF THE unsung heroes of modern sporting life is the freezer, which allows us to preserve the bounty we’ve harvested to enjoy later on. But there’s more to preserving fish and game than simply dumping it into the freezer. First, you need to properly clean what you plan to freeze, then take measures to prevent freezer burn, which ruins the taste and texture. To help ensure your frozen fish and game remain as tasty as possible—not to mention safe to eat—follow these basic procedures.

PREPARATION Carefully clean meat and fish of any blood or viscera, as well as dirt or anything else it may have come into contact with. If rinsing with water, be mindful of spreading bacteria to kitchen surfaces. Next, thoroughly dry the meat or fish with paper towel to remove any exterior moisture, which can promote freezer burn (see next section). And unless you’re planning a massive feast, divide your harvest into meal-sized portions. With fish fillets, consider leaving the skin on for an extra layer of protection.

FREEZING The bane of frozen food is freezer burn, which happens when exposure to cold, dry air causes moisture to evaporate, leaving behind telltale ice crystals and leathery, bleached-looking spots. The best way to prevent this is to use a vacuum sealer, which mechanically sucks out air, and thus moisture. Sealers are very good, but not perfect—especially after years of hard use—so always double check the seal. The next best technique for protecting your fish or game is to tightly wrap it in a double layer of freezer-specific cling wrap (ordinary plastic wrap is actually slightly water- and air-permeable).

Then place the wrapped package in a freezer-specific resealable bag, and carefully squeeze out as much air as possible when closing it. Remember to label and date the contents. Ideally, lay packages flat to freeze, which is the most effect use of space; it will also help them defrost quicker.

THAWING Food experts generally agree that properly wrapped and frozen fish and game should hold their freshness for three to six months, and up to a year if vacuum sealed. When defrosting, slower is better. Ideally, thaw wild protein in the fridge for a day or two, depending on the size and cut of the pieces. For a quicker thaw, you can immerse the package in cold water. Finally, it’s important to know that freezing causes bacteria to hibernate, but it IF YOUR WILD GAME MEAT OR FISH GETS doesn’t kill it. So once fish and FREEZER BURN, HERE’S HOW TO SALVAGE IT: game are thawed, they should WWW.OUTDOORCANADA.CA/FREEZERBURN. be cooked immediately. OC

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14 | O U T D O O R C A N A D A [ J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

—GORD PYZER

WHITEFISH

Since whitefish are very mobile and their diet is so diverse, locating them during the winter can be tough. Early in the ice-fishing season, search structures and shorelines where the fish spawned in November and December. Whitefish lay their eggs on shallow cobble substrates and often stick around and revisit such areas well after the lake freezes. They’ll then feast on any wayward eggs—nothing in nature is wasted—that haven’t nestled safely between the cracks and crevices.

With this in mind, one of my favourite early-winter whitefish presentations is to tip a Marmooska-style jig with one or two trout eggs and jig it close to bottom. It’s important to use limp six-pound line so the buoyant eggs float naturally above bottom when you delicately move them.

—GORD PYZER

W W W. O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A

KASSANDRA MOORE (BURBOT); GORD PYZER (WHITEFISH); ELENA GRISHINA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (VACUUM SEALER)

VACUUM SEALERS HELP PREVENT FREEZER BURN

OUTDOOR SMARTS

To communicate with one another, especially when they’re spawning at night, burbot rapidly contract the striated muscles on their swim bladders to create a deep drumming sound. In bygone days, First Nation anglers would mimic this sound to call in the fish by banging their spears on the rocky lake bottom. Ice anglers can use a variation of this technique to likewise attract burbot by dropping a one- to 1½-ounce glow-in-the-dark jig or lead spoon baited with a strip of cisco or sucker. Just lift your rod up high and let the heavy lure plunge to the bottom, where it will bang on the rocks and stir up a cloud of silt. Then slowly lift the offering a foot or so off bottom, hold it steady and watch your sonar screen for a burbot to come calling. Talk about marching to the beat of a different drummer.

Canada’s backyard is waiting. keepcanadafishing.com @keepcanadafishing Keep Canada Fishing

FIREARMS REVIEW

ON POINT

TOPPED WITH A ZEISS V8 SCOPE, THE ROGUE IMPRESSED

FIERCE’S CARBON ROGUE OFFERS TOP QUALITY AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE

BY MARK HOFFMAN

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ITH ITS REPUTATION for producing well-built, accurate rifles, Fierce Firearms has definitely gained a secure foothold in the Canadian marketplace. In 2021, I tested the Fury, a Fierce bolt-action chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It certainly did not disappoint, besting the promised 0.5-inch accuracy guarantee. That same year, Fierce moved its manufacturing operations from Quebec to Utah, where it soon began producing the Rogue, offering hunters a lightweight bolt-action with a carbon-fibre barrel. That left me wondering whether the U.S.-made Rogue, with its 6.5 PRC chambering, would overshadow the Canadian-made Fury.

The Rogue line actually features four models: the Carbon and Carbon Mini, and the CT and CT Mini (the Mini models are designed for women and younger hunters). The Carbon features a steel action with a carbon-fibre barrel, while the CT boasts a titanium action and a carbon-fibre barrel. The CT weighs a few ounces less, but it also costs more, so I opted for the Carbon as my test model to keep the price point within the financial wheelhouse of more hunters.

Carbon-fibre barrels are all the rage these days, so let’s take a look at the nitty gritty of the Rogue’s C3 carbon-fibre barrel, which includes a 0.75 MOA accuracy guarantee. It is Cryo-stress treated, match grade and hand-lapped, and has a 416 stainless steel liner. It’s also 5/8-24 threaded for a brake, and includes a titanium muzzle brake.

Sticking with mechanics, the rifle also features a 700 Remington pattern action, a Fierce Rival Receiver made of precision machined stainless steel, a two-lug fluted bolt, a 70-degree bolt-throw, a Tac bolt handle and a Bix’n Andy Dakota trigger that’s adjustable from one to three pounds.

As for the lightweight carbon-fibre stock, it offers rigidity, as well as a carbon V-Block chassis bedding system, and an integrated Pic bi-pod rail (with access from the front). It also features QD flush cup mounts, sleek ergonomics, an LR negative comb design, and a Limbsaver recoil pad. It comes in two colour schemes, black action-forest or glacier action-phantom.

TEST RESULTS

Out of the box, the Carbon Rogue did not disappoint. Not only was the styling 1 6 | O U T D O O R C A N A D A [ J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

appealing, but the fit and finish were first rate, revealing Fierce’s commitment to building a rifle any hunter would be proud to own. The lightweight carbon-fibre stock was as solid as dense walnut, while the action, despite the fluted bolt, was smoother than I expected. On my postal scale, the rifle weighed in at six pounds five ounces, while the trigger pull broke crisply with absolutely no creep at a tad over three pounds. As this was my first exposure to a Bix’n Andy Dakota trigger, I must admit I was impressed.

On the range, the rifle cycled flawlessly, while surprising me with its lack of recoil and muzzle jump.

The titanium muzzle brake was no doubt a contributor to both. The only minor negative was the lack of a three-position safety, so the bolt won’t open accidently while being carried in the safe position.

As for the Zeiss V8 test scope, the optics were simply outstanding. Along with the large eye box and sight picture, I was also impressed by the scope’s BDC-LR system, the multifunction button illumination adjustability, and the outstanding 8x zoom range (one of the most versatile magnification ranges I have ever encountered).

It is not my intention to compare the Rogue to the Fury, as they are two very different rifles. It’s worth noting , however, that the overall accuracy of the two rifles was quite similar. Comparatively, the Fury’s 0.762 handload average nudged the Rogue’s 0.764 average, while the Rogue’s 0.702 bested the Fury’s 0.809 average for factory ammo. Those comparisons aside, the Fury’s best accuracy was delivered by match ammo. With the Rogue, however, Federal Premium 130-grain Terminal Ascent shattered the rifle’s 0.75-inch accuracy guarantee with a one-hole 0.21 group. That’s simply outstanding performance from any ammo, let alone hunting rounds.

As for my recommended hunting loads for the Rogue, Federal Terminal Ascent 130-grain would top my list for medium-sized game because of its outstanding accuracy and downrange performance.

It’s followed closely by a Nosler AccuBond 140-grain bullet hand-

MARK HOFFMAN (SHOOTER, TARGET); FIERCE FIREARMS (RIFLE); ZEISS (SCOPE); COBB BAY LODGE (LAKE TROUT); FXR RACING (ICE ANGLERS); GWEN TOMLIN (COYOTE)

JOURNAL

loaded with Reloder 22 powder. As for hunting larger game, both Nosler Trophy Grade 142-grain AccuBond Long Range and Hornady Precision Hunter 143 grain ELD-X provided excellent sub-0.75 accuracy, with plenty of long-range potential.

Fierce set out to manufacture a lightweight rifle that would rival a custom build, but at half the price.

Starting at US$2,199, the Carbon Rogue accomplished that in spades, making it well worth the wait.

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FOR THE COMPLETE RANGE TEST RESULTS, GO TO WWW.OUTDOOR CANADA.CA/ROGUETEST.

THE RIFLE SPECS

• Calibre: 6.5 PRC • Total length: 45.5″ • Barrel length: 24″ • Weight: 6.5 lb • Twist rate: 1 in 8″ • Magazine capacity: 3+1 • Length of pull: 13¾″ • Drop at comb/heel:

LR negative comb design

G E TA W AY S

STURGEON LAKE

For the winter lake trout adventure of a lifetime, look no further than Sturgeon Lake’s Cobb Bay Lodge, 90 kilometres north of Ignace, Ontario. It’s one of the few destinations in this remote neck of the woods offering snowmobilers affordable winter accommodations along with incredible hardwater fishing. And there’s more frozen water than land here, so your only dilemma is deciding which lake to fish. www.cobbbaylodge.com —GORD PYZER

ZEISS V8 1.8-14X50

I decided to pair my test model Carbon Rogue with the Zeiss V8 riflescope for two simple reasons. First, Zeiss and premium optics are viewed synonymously worldwide—you can’t hear about one without thinking of the other. Then there was the realization I’d yet to try the premium V8 hunting scope, even though I’ve owned and tested numerous other Zeiss scopes over the years. It was time for a correction.

Zeiss refers to the V8 1.8-14x50 as an “all-rounder,” and for good reason. Whether you’re on a closequarters whitetail hunt or an open plains pronghorn hunt, this shockproof scope covers all the bases. Along with ultra-premium optics and a rugged design, it offers a wide field of view, an extra-large eye box for quick target acquisition, and a most impressive 8x zoom ratio.

Among the many features, the highlights include Schott FL and HT glass, 92 per cent light transmission, Zeiss T* multi-layer lens coatings, side parallax adjustments, a 30 mm tube, and a fast-focus diopter. It also has LotuTec coating for a clear view no matter the weather, and its nitrogen filled for water- and fogproof integrity. Finally, it offers the most advanced illumination system on the

FORTWHYTE ALIVE

market. Easy to access and operate, even while wearing gloves, it deactivates when the rifle is put down, but instantly reactivates when you’re taking aim.

My test scope also came equipped with the BDC-LR system (bulletdrop compensator, long range). In short, it utilizes a series of rings that can be installed in the elevation dial to provide elevation adjustments based on the ballistics of your rifle and ammo (you can use the free Zeiss Hunting App to determine which ring best suits your set-up).

Once the proper ring is installed, it’s just a matter of establishing the distance to your target and adjusting the elevation dial for dead-on hold, with no guesswork. OC

THE SCOPE SPECS • Magnification: 1.8-13.5x • Total length: 13.5″ • Weight: 25.4 oz • Ojective lens diameter: 50mm • Eye relief: 3.6″ • Field of view at 100 yards: 69′ to 9′ • Centre tube diameter: 30mm • Parallax setting: 54 yards to infinity • Light transmission: 92% • Reticle: #60 illuminated

A unique, 660-acre environmental education and recreation area within Winnipeg’s city limits, FortWhyte Alive offers amazingly good catch-and-release ice fishing for northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. There’s a small daily admission fee for non-members, which also gives you access to the facility’s interpretative displays, trail system and seasonal events. www.fortwhyte.org —GORD PYZER

PEACE COUNTRY

Coyotes are thriving in this northwestern region of Alberta, much to the concern of local ranchers.

With an accurate, flat-shooting rifle, quality camouflage and an electronic call, you can help. Mature coyotes are incredibly wary and suspicious, so calling them into shooting range is a game of patience and persistence. The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society can help arrange a hunt. www.apos.ab.ca —KEN BAILEY W W W. O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 17

JOURNAL DOG SENSE TOP FORM

CRYSTAL BLIER TARGETS LAKERS WITH TUBE JIGS

FRESH TAKE

WINNING TIPS FROM A NEWLY MINTED HARDCORE HARDWATER ANGLER

BY BOB SEXTON

A

LTHOUGH SHE ONLY began ice fishing in 2020, Atikokan, Ontario’s Crystal Blier is making up for lost time—and proving she is a quick study in the process. During the peak of winter, the 42-year-old now hits the hardwater three or four days a week, and her efforts have been paying off. Last winter, she tied for first place in the Most Species Caught category of the Angler’s Atlas Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge (a popular catch-and-release tournament conducted online via a smartphone app). We recently asked Blier what it took to get to the top of the leaderboard.

PREPARATION Blier credits her angling friends and co-workers for sparking and supporting her newfound passion for ice fishing. “I had a couple of really good friends take me under their wing, sharing their time, knowledge and gear, and it kind of snowballed from there,” she says. “I had my first ice rod gifted to me, then I started buying my own gear.” Her arsenal now includes an array of rods in different powers and lengths, a lithium-ion auger, a portable ice hut, a propane heater, a flasher and a snowmobile. “I sort of fell down the rabbit hole,” Blier says, noting she particularly likes her flasher. “You can learn so much about each fish’s behaviour and what drives them to bite by being able to see the fish and your lure.” And because she often fishes solo in remote places, Blier also travels with extra propane, batteries, mitts, food and water, as well as a satellite communicator and headlamp.

RESEARCH To compete in the Most Species Caught category, Blier says she conducted a lot of research well before hitting the hardwater. In particular, she made use of Ontario’s Fish ON-Line website to pinpoint lakes that held the various fish species she was specifically looking for. And Blier’s sleuthing certainly worked—during the month-long online tournament, she caught, photographed and released 14 different species of fish.

SPECIALIZATION When you’re targeting a specific species, Blier says, it’s important to use the proper tackle and techniques. She’s particularly fond of catching lake trout, using tube jigs high in the water column. “The last few winters, I’ve caught my best fish two feet under the ice, even if I’m in 60 feet of water,” she says. For splake, on the other hand, she likes to pound the bottom with a small jig and soft plastic in three to seven feet of water, sending up little clouds of silt. “Once you have their interest, I find that if I keep the lure active and moving, the splake will pounce on it.” As for brook trout, Blier recommends small gold spoons. “You want something flashy that’s going to reflect a lot TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGLER’S ATLAS ONLINE EVENTS, VISIT of light,” she says. “They’ll come flying WWW.ANGLERSATLAS.COM/EVENTS. over for that.” OC

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MAKE IT FUN When it’s too cold to go outside, indoor games can exercise a dog’s brain and help him burn energy. And since dogs are always eager to work for rewards, turn play into mini-training sessions. Hide treats for your dog to find, for example, but make him wait before letting him eat what he finds, which teaches steadiness. Teaching your pooch parlour tricks, such as how to shake a paw, is also a good idea. While it doesn’t directly enhance hunting skills, it at least stimulates new learning and it may prove handy if administering foot first-aid.

PICK A SIDE Heeling is an essential obedience skill every dog must learn, both on and off the leash. As for which side the dog heels on, does it matter? Definitely.

Heeling on the non-dominant side—left for right-handed shooters and vice versa for southpaws—makes sense for both practical and safety reasons. In a blind, for example, the dog will be subject to ejected shells and more muzzle blast if it heels on the ejecting side. Teaching it to heel on the opposite side, your non-dominant, fixes that. Enforce heeling on winter walks, using treats to make it both fun and rewarding for the dog.

GO HANDS-FREE On-leash training during the winter is great for instilling obedience. In the interests of comfort and practicality, use a hands-free Jaeger lead (pictured), which tethers you to your dog via a shoulder strap. Useful for many training and handling applications, the Jaeger lead can also be used as a temporary tie-out to secure your dog, thanks to the fasteners on both ends and the floating O-ring.

—LOWELL STRAUSS

8

FOR THE BEST TIMES TO FISH AND HUNT, CONSULT OUR SOLUNAR CHARTS AT WWW. OUTDOORCANADA.CA/TIMES.

CRYSTAL BLIER (BLIER); DOGS UNLIMITED (DOG WALKER)

FIELD GUIDE

Hunting season is often too busy to address bad habits your dog might have picked up during the rest of the year.

That makes the off-season the perfect time to fix problems and instill new skills. Follow these training tips and your dog will be ready to hunt when next season rolls along.

T A B L E FA R E

VENISON STRO ROGGANOFF THIS TWIST ON A RUSSIAN CLASSIC WILL HAVE YOUR GUESTS SAYING “DA” TO MORE RECIPE & PHOTO BY CAMERON TAIT

V

ENISON IS TRULY a pleasant alternative to tougher stewing beef—especially when sliced against the grain—making it the perfect main ingredient for this variation of the classic Russian dish. And for this type of recipe, most cuts from the loin and leg can be used. Like most stews, much of the rich flavour is derived from the browning of the meat. Just remember to avoid overcrowding the pan during the initial searing, as that tends to simmer the meat rather than brown it to lock in the flavour. Serves 4

1] Season the venison with salt and pepper, then sear in a hot pan using the olive oil. Once lightly browned, place the venison in a heavy-bottomed pot.

2] Sauté the onion, mushrooms and garlic in butter, then add to the pot with the browned venison.

3] Next add the red wine, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and mustard to the pot and bring to a light boil.

Cover and simmer on low for two hours, then add the slurry to thicken the stew.

4] In the meantime, cook the pasta until al dente, then drain and keep warm.

5] Remove the stew from heat, stir in the sour cream and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with the rosemary and serve with the noodles. OC

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TO WATCH CAMERON TAIT PREPARE HIS VARIOUS DISHES, GO TO WWW.OUTDOORCANADA.CA/FOOD.

FOR THE GLASS With its flavours of blackberry, blue plum, vanilla and a touch of roasted coffee bean, this extra-dry, full-bodied Syrah from B.C.’s Sandhill winery pairs wonderfully with this rich stew—especially when served slightly chilled.

• 2½ lb venison slices (½- x 2-inch) • 3 tbsp olive oil • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste • ¼ cup butter • 1 yellow onion, sliced • 2 cups button mushrooms, sliced • 4 cloves chopped garlic • Slurry (3 tbsp flour mixed with 3

tbsp cold water) • 2 cups red wine • 2 cups beef stock • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard • 2 cups egg noodles, uncooked • ½ cup sour cream • 1 tbsp chopped rosemary

W W W . O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 19

JOURNAL THE GOODS

WINTER READS ALL-CANADIAN BOOKS FOR HELPING MAKE THE MOST OF THE FROSTY MONTHS AHEAD

GRIZZLY BEAR SCIENCE AND THE ART OF A WILDERNESS LIFE ($32)

BY THE EDITORS

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Rocky Mountain Books, www.rmbooks.com Details: By Bruce McLellan; the B.C.-based ecologist draws on his 43 years of field work to offer rare insight into the world of grizzly bears and the people who study them.

The promise: “A fascinating and authoritative book.”

HEN IT COMES time to take a break from

the winter weather and head inside, you can still enjoy the outdoors—thanks to this latest crop of Canadian page-turners.

Whether you’re looking to escape into the world of fiction, learn a new outdoor skill or delve into the hot-button issues of the day, these literary offerings have you covered.

STILLWATER FLIES WITH PHIL ROWLEY & FRIENDS ($29.95)

Stillwater Fly Fishing Store, www.stillwaterfly fishingstore.com Details: By Phil Rowley; a spiral-bound compilation of more than 35 trout patterns, complete with the stories behind them. The promise: “Step-by-step tying instructions and over 250 full-colour images.”

OOLICHAN MOON ($24.95) Harbour Publishing, www.harbourpublishing.com Details: By Samantha Beynon; illustrated by Lucy Trimble; a playful celebration of the importance of the smelt-like oolichan (a.k.a. eulachon) to B.C.’s Nisga’a culture. The promise: “A beautifully illustrated children’s book.”

ATLANTIC SALMON TREASURY ($45)

Goose Lane Editions, www.gooselane.com Details: Compiled by Charles Gaines and Monte Burke; a collection of top articles from the Atlantic Salmon Journal commemorating 75 years of conservation. The promise: “A journey through time with acclaimed writers.”

CABIN ($37.95) Abrams, www.abramsbooks.com Details: By Will Jones; an illustrated guide to building a wilderness retreat, including an overview of cabin culture, architecture and history. The promise: “The ultimate read for anyone dreaming of building a cabin of their own.”

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N E W & N OT E W O RT HY

ECHO LOBA, LOBA ECHO ($32) Rocky Mountain Books, www.rmbooks.com Details: By Sonja Swift; a collection of essays, poems and stories examining the various negative and positive attitudes towards wolves throughout human history. The promise: “A call for co-existence and respect.”

MONSTER POWER GRID

HUNTER GREEN ($29.99)

Friesen Press, www.friesenpress.com Details: By Thomas Hudson; a practical and philosophical guide to hunting for eco-conscious urbanites wanting to harvest their own food, covering everything from ethics to firearms safety.

The promise: “An essential primer.”

THE SUMMER CANADA BURNED ($34.95) Greystone Books,

www.greystonebooks.com Details: By Monica Zurowski; the Calgary Herald managing editor recounts the dramatic details of 2023’s wildfire season, the most destructive in Canadian history. The promise: “A case study of the changing climate and its impacts.”

MANUFACTURERS

CALL ME HUNTER ($22) Emily Bestler Books, www.emilybestlerbooks.com Details: By Jim Shockey; the famed Canadian hunter draws on his personal experiences and expertise in ethnocentric art for his debut thriller about a global cabal of murderous art thieves. The promise: “Astoundingly original, relentlessly paced, and purely authentic.” OC

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WHY DO WE SOMETIMES SHOW U.S. PRICES? FIND OUT WHY AT WWW.OUTDOORCANADA.CA/COST.

Promising 296 watt-hours of juice, the Monster Power Grid (US$399.99) is designed to keep your key devices powered up during off-grid adventures. With its variety of AC, USB and wireless ports, the portable unit can keep nine devices and small appliances running at once.

There’s even a 12-volt port for tricklecharging your car battery. Monster, www.monsterstore.com VANTAGE 3-9X42 WA L4A

Hawke has bolstered its popular Vantage WA line of riflescopes with the new Vantage 3-9X42 WA L4A (US$319). Built on a 30mm main tube to let in more light during dim days afield, this value-priced scope also sports Hawke’s L4A dot reticle with an outer-post design to keep more of the target visible while aiming.

Hawke Optics, www.hawkeoptics,com FEDERAL PREMIUM ELD-X

Responding to customer requests, Federal is now offering its Premium factory big-game hunting loads paired with Hornady’s popular, hard-hitting polymertipped ELD-X bullets. Ten centrefire cartridge choices will be available, from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag. (US$57.99 to US$81.99 per box of 20). Federal, www.federalpremium.com XPERT .22 LR

Modelled after Winchester’s autoloading Wildcat, the lightweight Xpert bolt-action rifle (US$319.99) comes chambered in .22 LR and loaded with features. Chief among them are the precision rimfire M.O.A. trigger, button-rifled barrel with a Bentz-style chamber, lightweight polymer stock and steel receiver. Winchester, www.winchesterguns.com W W W.O U T D O O R C A N A DA .C A | 21

FA I R G A M E BY GRUENEFELD

BY GRUENEFELD ROBERT PYE

BY GEORGE GEORGE

HEADING OUTDOORS CAN GET YOU THROUGH WINTER’S DARKEST DAYS

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HILE WINTER MARKS the beginning of yet another hardwater season, it can also send those who silently suffer from mental illness onto emotional thin ice. The heavy weight of depression and the pressures of anxiety can crack a brave surface and eventually pull otherwise strong people under. Winter is indeed a dark place, but thankfully light shines through the ice hut door in the form of initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 24.

This annual campaign is a conversation ice breaker around matters of mental health, a topic that impacts many people in our lives. And there’s no better place for a healthy talk than our common fishing and hunting grounds. We are united by the outdoors. There’s a sense of community, and we trust each other when conversations need to go deeper than the fishing lines below. This is a mental wellness support system we need to recognize and promote.

NATURAL THERAPY

Nothing cures wintertime cabin fever better than a trek across the hardwater or a walk in the woods with a friend, especially for someone who may be slipping into the despair of depression. For people who spend all day alone, whether it’s at their desk, on the farm or behind the wheel, isolation can stir negative thoughts, dragging them down.

I understand what some people are going through because I struggle, too. It’s not easy to share this, but quite often the reason I need to get outdoors is to get out of my head. When my wheels of worry hit full spin, severe mental exhaustion cripples all functions. And one of the ways I seek treatment is from the view of a casting deck, treestand or ice hut, my go-to places for mindfulness.

Fishing and hunting provide my favourite highs when I reach my lowest lows.

Deep breaths of fresh air pump the brakes on racing thoughts. Soon my anxiety folds to focus, and as I reel in the morning sunlight, my headspace improves dramatically. The outdoors untangles my mind—and heals it.

HEALTH BENEFIT

You might say time in the woods or on the water is just what the doctor ordered. “Nature prescriptions” are, in fact, a real thing, and in some provinces, they’re provided to patients who need a dose of what has always advanced the health of hunters and anglers. As it turns out, feeling better after a morning 2 2 | OUTDOOR CANADA [ J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

HEALING PROCESS

Breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health is as important as breaking a certain stereotype that clouds the world of anglers and hunters. Namely, it often seems as though we need to remain as reclusive and rugged as the places where we fish and hunt, seemingly invincible to sickness, including that of the mind.

This leads many of us to just suck it up when we know a mental breakdown may be coming around the bend, hoping we can simply power through the dark days without any help. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Nor should it.

Mental illness is a matter of being sick, not weak, and it can affect anyone. If you feel yourself succumbing to the gloom, the road to recovery begins with being brave enough to admit you’re not okay. At the same, if you know people who need professional help, it’s important to tell them they’re not alone. In either case, the best way to start the conversation this winter is to extend an invitation to head outdoors: “Let’s go ice fishing. Let’s talk.” OC CONTRIBUTOR ROBERT PYE HAS LONG SOUGHT SOLACE IN THE OUTDOORS.

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA

TED CAMPANARO

Mind medicine

HITTING THE ICE WITH A FRIEND CAN BE THERAPEUTIC

hunt isn’t just all in my head—nature therapy is evidence-based. Health studies clearly show how contact with nature, even for a few hours a week, reduces stress, improves clarity and instantly brings on a positive state of mind.

Of course, a doctor’s note is never required to claim the outdoors lifestyle as a personal wellness system.

But did you know that some health benefit providers indicate that expenses related to hunting and fishing are as eligible for reimbursement as claims for fitness club and gym membership fees? Manulife, Desjardins and Sun Life offer good examples of this.

If your employer supports that kind of wellness benefit plan, you should be able to recoup the cost of at least some of your hunting and fishing licences and gear. I would suggest those savings could then be donated to organizations that advocate for fishing and hunting as mental health solutions.

EXPERIENCE

THE OUTDOORS

INDOORS

TACKLE • BOATS • ELECTRONICS • KAYAKS • ATVS • GEAR • RESORTS SEMINARS • FISH CLEANING • COOKING DEMOS • GIVEAWAYS + MORE

CANADA'S LARGEST

FISHING SHOW! O V E R

100,000

SQ. FT.

CELEBRITY SPEAKERS

WWW.SPRINGFISHINGANDBOATSHOW.COM @TORONTOFISHINGSHOW FREE PARKING ALL THE TIME!

O N T H E W AT E R

BY GORD PYZER

Balancing act

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO MAKE SOLID HOOKSETS

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT ROD FOR CATCHING LAKERS THROUGH THE ICE

T

WICE LAST WINTER, I was out on the ice with friends jigging for lake trout when they felt double-digit demons slam their lures—only to then lose the fish. The first time, a laker walloped my friend’s Williams Whitefish spoon so hard it precariously bent her rod over. She thought she was setting the hook in the process, but the gangly walleye rod was simply absorbing the power. And since she didn’t drive the point of the hook into the fish’s mouth, the line went limp and the trout swam away.

On a different outing, another friend hooked a bruiser along the edge of a sunken rock reef in approximately 70 feet of water. After fighting the fish to a standstill, he finally gained the upper hand. When he started applying pressure to force the fish up from the bottom, however, it erupted like a volcano. At that, his heavy-action trout rod sprang back, throwing slack into the line. Goodbye lake trout.

In both of those cases, my friends were using ice rods ill-equipped to hook and land wintertime lake trout. Here’s how to properly arm yourself to avoid similar disappointment.

FINDING THE BALANCE Unlike most of the warm- and cool-water fish species that spawn in the spring and slow down dramatically (metabolically speaking) in the frigid waters of winter, lake trout are at, or near, their peak condition. These are powerful, rugged, robust fish that love cold water and feed heartily under the ice. They also have a bony mouth that resists the penetration of any hook that isn’t driven home with force. And when you lean hard into a big lake trout that’s bulldogging down deep, it will instinctively try to relieve the pressure by rapidly closing the distance between you. So, you better not be using a rod that recovers like a diving board.

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DETERMINING THE ACTION Selecting just the right action for your laker rod is slightly more challenging because there are no industry standards. For example, one rod maker’s heavy-action might be another’s medium-heavy. That’s why I always recommend you test the action yourself at the tackle shop before making a purchase. To do that, bring along a friend and roughly 10 feet of monofilament fishing line.

Hold one end of the line against the handle and run the other end up through the guides, then have your friend pull down steadily on the line. Ideally, you want to see that the lower three-fifths of the rod—from the handle up towards the tip—does not bend or flex. That means the rod will have the backbone to set the hook with authority when you feel a lake trout swipe your lure.

The upper two-fifths of the rod are equally important. As your partner pulls down steadily on the line, you want that part of the blank to bend consistently. Next, have your friend mimic a lake trout that’s just below the ice hole by pulling the line in one direction, then quickly shifting to another while you lift the rod and keep tension on the line. The rod tip should remain curved at all times, and never spring back.

Now when you watch a laker appear on your sonar screen and take the bait, you’ll be able to feel your hook slide like a needle into the fish’s mouth. You’ll also be able to keep your rod bent, absorbing every wild run the laker makes beneath your hole. And when you finally pull the magnificent trout up through the hole, you’ll be happy you took the time to pick the ideal ice rod. OC SEE PAGE 28 FOR FISHING EDITOR GORD PYZER’S WINTER PANFISH TIPS.

GORD PYZER (ANGLER); MANUFACTURERS (FLIES)

The first way to balance the hooksetting rigidity and fish-fighting suppleness you need in a hardwater laker rod is through its length.

Basically, the shorter the rod, the less chance you have of getting the balance right. For this reason, I’ve settled on 38 to 42 inches as the ideal length, opting for the shorter version when I jig inside a shelter and the longer one when I fish outside.

F LY F I S H I N G BY

BY SCOTT SCOTT GARDNER GARDNER

Vise options

THE PAOLO'S WIGGLE TAIL INCORPORATES CRAFT FUR AND A CURLY TAIL

ALTERNATIVE TYING MATERIALS FOR THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE FLY BOX

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LIES ARE OFTEN described as creations of “fur and feathers,” an evocative term beloved by anglers for its classiness and alliteration. Since at least the 1800s, however, many flies have included artificial materials, in particular metallic tinsel, which added lethal flash to Victorian-era patterns. It’s a reminder that while fly fishing can seem hidebound, there have always been innovators who look at something and wonder if they can lash it to a hook.

The following are three newish fly-tying materials that have quickly found a home on my bench. They’ve been around for a few years, yet I don’t see them in too many other Canadian fly boxes, suggesting they haven’t really caught on here. That’s probably because these products emerged from saltwater and predator fly fishing, which are still fairly niche in this country. But they offer a lot of interesting, creative and fish-catching possibilities, and they’re perfect if you want to try some new patterns or just noodle around at the vise this winter.

BRUSHES Made of blended synthetic fibres twisted around a wire, brushes resemble a wildly overgrown pipe cleaner.

When you wrap the brush around the hook shank, the material flares out. This lets you quickly make collars or entire bodies by tying in a single material, instead of multiple feathers or dubbing on loose fur. And the result is nearly indestructible, since even the toothiest gamefish won’t damage the wire or fibres.

Brushes haven’t been around long, but they already come in a wide variety of colours, lengths, textures and densities. There are so many choices, in fact, it’s wise to buy brushes in person if you’re looking for specific characteristics, as it’s hard to see what you’re getting from just a photo.

I use brushes to make a durable (and sparkly) body on Seaducer- and Woolly Bugger-style streamers, and to create large, thick heads that push a lot of water on big baitfish flies, such as the EP Pike/Offshore. There are many more applications for flies both large and small, including plenty that no one’s even thought of yet.

CURLY TAILS It’s no secret fish love curly tails, but until recently there’s been no practical way to fasten one to a fly hook. For smaller flies, there are now several brands of curly tails made of silicone.

Their action and feel is similar to that of soft-plastic baits, but the material is much tougher, so the thread won’t slice it when

you’re tying it to the hook. They add a seductive, soft-plastic magic to subsurface flies, either in original silicone-tail patterns, or as a lively twist on minnow, crayfish or even large insect imitations.

For larger flies for toothy critters, I’m obsessed with Pacchiarini Wiggle Tails (pictured), which are made of a thin, yet incredibly durable coated textile. They range from three to six inches in length when stretched out, and come in a bunch of colours, including holographic ones. Wiggle Tails add an amazing amount of flash, vibration and overall wobble to big flies that just screams “wounded prey.” These flies do make a pretty unnerving flapping sound when you’re casting them, but it’s a small price when you see pike literally knock each other out of the way going after them.

CRAFT FUR Craft fur is a staple of saltwater crustacean flies, with enormous unrealized potential for freshwater patterns.

Mimicking real fur in form, craft fur comes in patches with long synthetic fibres over fuzzy underfur. The longer fibres are roughly the length of bucktail, but much thinner and extremely supple, making them easy to tie with.

Craft fur really floofs out in the water without adding a lot of bulk or getting waterlogged, so flies remain light and easy to cast. For example, it makes a seductive, more mobile variation of the Clouser Deep Minnow that’s great for fishing slow in lakes and ponds.

In general, craft fur builds terrific baitfish flies, either tied in like a classic bucktail wing, or reverse-tied and pulled back over the shank to make a bigger profile. Roughly dubbed, it also makes flowy, translucent bodies and collars on wet flies. And given the stuff comes in roughly 30 colours, including mottled ones, there’s loads of room to experiment. Please let me know if you come up with something cool, and I’ll do the same. OC ASSOCIATE EDITOR SCOTT GARDNER’S WINTERS INCLUDE LOTS OF VISE TIME.

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BOWHUNTING

BY ZAC KURYLYK

Level up

DON’T CHEAP OUT ON YOUR SCOPE

IMPROVE YOUR CROSSBOW GAME WITH THESE THREE EASY POINTERS

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HETHER YOU’RE NEW to hunting big game with a crossbow or you’ve used one for years, there’s always room to improve your chances of success.

It all begins with relying on both your bow and your shooting skills, and that’s where the following advice comes into play.

PRACTISE REGULARLY I’m surprised by how many crossbow hunters don’t practice. Perhaps they’re also long-time rifle hunters, who view any close-up shot as a cinch. But what if you don’t get the easy shot you want? Continual practice will give you both the confidence and the ability to hit targets at tougher angles, as well as at varying ranges.

To get better at difficult shots, practise your aim from a treestand during the off-season. You can also keep your skills up by entering 3D shoots and other archery contests that are open to crossbows. Ideally, you want the whole process of loading, cocking, aiming and shooting to become muscle memory, so you’re ready for whatever happens in the field.

Once the hunting season begins, keep practising when you aren’t afield to ensure your skills stay sharp and your gear continues to perform properly. In 2017, I missed a giant buck because my crossbow scope was considerably offcentre, even though it had been carefully zeroed at the start of the season. Had I been practising before that hunt, the problem most likely would have been revealed and easily fixed.

Finally, if it’s legal where you hunt, consider also hunting small game with your crossbow. The additional time afield will help you gain confidence in your crossbow, as well as in your own capabilities.

GEAR UP FOR SUCCESS To start with, make sure your crossbow accessories aren’t working against you. For example, I always remove the detachable quiver from my bow when I’m in the stand so it doesn’t get hung up. And remember that bowstrings, cables and other parts can wear out, so carefully inspect your crossbow weeks before opening day. That way, you’ll have ample time for repairs if necessary.

Also check all fasteners to ensure they’re tight—it could mean the difference between a heart shot and a missed shot, or worse, a gut shot.

If something isn’t working properly, meanwhile, replace it. I once had to pass 26 | O U T D O O R C A N A D A [ J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 ]

ALWAYS REMAIN QUIET If you’re hunting on foot, plan your steps carefully to avoid making a racket by getting your crossbow caught on branches and brush. Spend more time looking, and less time moving; don’t expect to silently slip through the same areas you may have skulked through with a rifle or compound bow. That said, today’s narrow, fast crossbows are easier to carry through the trees than the models of just a decade ago.

If you’re hunting from a blind, arrange your seating and gear so you don’t make noise getting into shooting position once your quarry steps out. And if there’s legal light, cock your crossbow before getting to your blind. Otherwise, the unnatural noise will alarm any game within earshot, especially in the quiet of early morning. Also make sure you can quietly flick off the safety; if your bow is new, you may have to work in the switch until it isn’t stiff and noisy.

Although you can push faster crossbows to 40-metre shots or further at a non-moving target, they’re still much more limited than a rifle.

That’s because game such as deer can jump the string, especially at longer distances, resulting in a miss, or poor shot placement. String silencers can help, but don’t expect them to eliminate the problem entirely. In general, you want to be as close as you can for a shot so your quarry doesn’t have time to react—and your bolt hits exactly where you want it to. OC ZAC KURYLYK HUNTS WITH A CROSSBOW NEAR HIS NEW BRUNSWICK HOME.

LAURA DESCHENES (BOWHUNTER); PEYTON TOTTLE (DUCK)

on another nice buck, for example, because my cheap red dot sight obscured the seven-pointer across the clearing. It was legal shooting time, but I had to sit and watch him walk away. I got a much better scope the next day.

If you’ll be hunting when it’s raining or snowing, avoid fogged-up failure by equipping your scope with flip-up caps, like the ones you see on a riflescope. And if you need to cock your bow once you’re in your treestand, get a crank-style cocking aid.

It may be expensive, but it can make the job simple and safe, especially in the dark.

IN THE FIELD

BY KEN BAILEY

Moral duty

WOULD YOU SHOOT A SWIMMING DUCK?

IT’S UP TO HUNTERS TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN ETHICAL BOUNDARIES

“A peculiar virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his acts, they are dictated by his own conscience, rather than that of onlookers.”

—Aldo Leopold, from 1949’s A Sand County Almanac

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S HUNTERS, WE’RE constantly confronted with ethical and moral issues.

Some are thrust upon us, such as the 2017 closure of B.C.’s grizzly hunt.

That was fueled by the ethics of the broader community, which simply wanted the hunt stopped. It had nothing to do with science-based evidence about the actual health of the bear population. Other ethical issues we agree with—we generally don’t drive through town anymore with a buck strapped to the hood of our car, for example. In both cases, though, our ethical behaviour is governed by overarching community values, whether we agree with them or not.

Personal ethics or morals, on the other hand, are individual principles about what’s right and what’s wrong, and they vary from person to person. For hunters, that includes how we conduct ourselves afield. Somewhere along the line, each of us has made a moral decision about where to draw the line. That’s what Aldo Leopold was referring to. At the same time, we need to appreciate that not all hunters necessarily share the same ethical code.

cal questions. Drones were popular among some hunters for a few years, for example, until both the hunting community and the public determined they should be outlawed.

Most jurisdictions now ban their use for hunting, reflecting the prevailing ethics.

Then there are the improved optics, cartridges and rifles that allow for shooting game at greater distances. The moral issue here arises when hunters must decide whether they have the skills to accurately make a long shot, irrespective of what their equipment is capable of.

History tells us technology will continue to improve, arguably tipping the balance even further as to what constitutes fair chase. Many of today’s trail cameras, for example, can send near-instantaneous images to your smartphone when animals cross their path. Is it morally right to then rush over to shoot that animal?

By the same token, are spinning-wing decoys, e-callers and the like just inevitable advancements that should be used without thought, if legal?

And the moral questions don’t stop there. How do you feel about hunting over bait? Do you report other hunters you see acting illegally? Do you always treat private land respectfully? Do do you support the organizations that do so much for conserving wildlife habitat and maintaining hunting rights? On it goes.

SHOOT OR DON’T SHOOT Take grouse hunting. Many hunters think nothing of potting a grouse on the ground. Then why do some of us turn up our noses at anyone who would also shoot a pheasant or Hungarian partridge on the ground? Similarly, most hunters agree shooting ducks on the water is unethical. Why is that? It’s all about the different ways we each choose to experience the outdoors.

On a goose hunt a couple of years ago, for example, two members of our party shot geese that had landed in the decoys. I looked over at a friend and we both raised our eyebrows; shooting geese on the ground was against our moral code.

When I really thought about it later, though, I was able to put things into perspective. Those two guys seldom hunted, and they just wanted a goose or two for the dinner table. Plus, shooting the birds on the ground wasn’t illegal. It was simply an issue of morals, and because mine were different than theirs, it didn’t make them wrong.

A MATTER OF CHOICE Here’s the rub, and what Leopold was trying to tell us back in 1949—we must continually make our own decisions about what’s right and wrong when it comes to hunting practices, providing they’re legal in the first place. There will be times when the hunting community must submit to the ethics of the broader public, of course, but most often we’ll have to make our own choices, both individually and as a community.

There are no absolutes when faced with these conundrums, as we’re all entitled to our own moral principles.

Our obligation, however, is to give each of them their due thought, and respect others who may disagree. OC

THE TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE Technological advances in hunting equipment have also led to many ethi-

HUNTING EDITOR KEN BAILEY LOOKS AT SHOTSHELL ADVANCES ON PAGE 48.

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HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

Panfish aplenty

BY GORD PYZER

Want to catch more wintertime perch and crappies? Hit the ice running with these expert tips and tactics

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GORD PYZER

Yellow perch and black crappies are called panfish for good reason—not only do they fit perfectly in a frying pan, they also make for downright delicious and nutritious table fare. That’s true whether you fry them to crispy golden perfection over a crackling wood fire, or dress them up as the fancy main dish at a posh dinner party. And lucky for us, you can catch these tasty fish all winter long in countless frozen waterbodies across much of the country.

Pugnacious and prolific, perch and crappies are social fish that travel in groups, biting aggressively throughout the winter. But what’s the best way to find and catch numbers through the ice? Here’s what you need to know before you fire up your auger.

LOOK FOR CRAPPIES NEAR THE TOP EDGE OF HARD, SLOPING STRUCTURE

PERCH WILL RELATE TO THE FLAT TOPS OF STRUCTURES

#1

TARGET TRANSITIONS

Perch and crappies seek out changes in bottom structure, so start your search near main-lake structures such as long, sloping underwater points, humps, rock piles, reefs, ledges and saddles. The highest-percentage spot, though, is typically where the structure flattens out and blends in with the soft bottom of the main-lake basin, especially in 18 to 30 feet of water.

To visualize where to look, imagine you’re holding a hockey stick with the blade resting on the ice. The shaft represents the sloping side of the structure, while the blade is the lake bottom. The spot you’re looking for is the curve where the shaft meets the blade. Panfish are attracted to such areas because they offer two phenomenal feeding options—a hard buffet table featuring crayfish and minnows along the structural slope, and a soft sushi bar serving up chironomid larvae (bloodworms), freshwater shrimp, mayfly nymphs and other delectables on the muddy basin bottom.

When I’m searching along the harder structural slant, I’ve found that gentle to moderate inclines are far more fish-friendly than steeper downhill slopes. Fish will still be attracted to steeper slopes, but they tend to focus on the lip, where the top of the hump, reef or saddle breaks and starts sliding down toward the basin. Crappies, in particular, love to relate to the rim, suspending a few feet away from it. If you scope the area with your sonar unit, they’ll stick out like sore thumbs.

I’ve found that perch, on the other hand, associate more with the flat tops of structures, as well any pieces of cover—isolated boulders, sunken logs or weed clumps—that lie on the gentle to moderate slopes. They remind me of cows on a hot sunny day, crowded around the few shady oak trees on a modestly sloping farm field.

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#2

HIT THE BOTTOM

As for the flat ho-hum basin bottom, it’s often glossed over by too many winter anglers. What’s so special about a muddy bottom, right? In fact, the soft silt and clay basin offers the fish a cornucopia of mouthwatering morsels, including hundreds of plump, juicy mayfly nymphs per square metre, as well as thousands of bloodworms and other aquatic invertebrates.

When I find a school of plate-shaped crappies or fat jumbo perch energetically plucking these offerings out of the mud, I think of chickens joyfully gobbling up grasshoppers, insects and seeds in a barnyard.

Often, there’s so much food buried in the ooze that the fish will spread out randomly in ones and twos or roam the flats in concentrated clusters. The different possibilities might make you wonder whether you should sit and wait for a wave of fish to pass beneath your hole, or drill enough holes in the ice that it resembles Swiss cheese, then hop between them. I rely on my sonar unit to tell me what to do.

DON’T IGNORE FLAT BASIN BOTTOMS WHEN LOOKING FOR FEEDING PANFISH

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DEADLY ACTION

FORWARDFACING SONAR CAN QUICKLY SHOW YOU WHERE TO DRILL HOLES

GORD PYZER

#3

USE YOUR ELECTRONICS

The expression “game changer” gets used too frequently in the world of outdoor gear, but forward-facing sonar really deserves the label. This technology has revolutionized the panfish flats game, altering it forever. Here’s an example of how it helps. I typically drill a hole over a high-percentage transition—where the structure merges into the basin— and lower my Humminbird MEGA Live transducer set on either the 40- or 60-degree forward-facing mode. Then I slowly turn it around in a circle and scan 70 to 90 feet around me. If I see the fish schooled up and feeding in clusters, it usually means they’re not roaming too far, so I’ll drill a hole right beside them and pick them off as they pass under. If fish are spread out and on the move, however, I’ll play the hole-hopping, leapfrogging game, cutting holes to follow them as they graze.

Last winter, for example, my grandson Liam and I experienced a marvelous slab-crappie slugfest after we drilled a hole over top of a sloped transition, dropped down the

GIVE ME A minnow and I’ll clip off its head, skewer it onto a treblehook and attach it to a Fastach clip (above).

If live bait gives you confidence, by all means, go for it, but I have more success with a dead head. On many days, wax worms and maggots will also work better than minnows.

And if you’re specifically targeting yellow perch, the eye from a dead perch attached through the tough membrane at the back—don’t puncture the actual eye—is unmatched as bait.

Live imaging transducer and spotted scores of fish scattered like peanuts on the bottom. We then strategically drilled a dozen or so more holes, hemming in the scattered crappies and enjoying one of our best days ever on the ice. Even if you don’t have MEGA Live imaging, though, you can still use traditional sonar to locate the fish. Just be certain to turn off the supposedly user-friendly automatic mode—it’s anything but—and go manual.

Typically, you’ll see the fish relating to a narrow range of depths, rather than showing up over a disparately wide band. Let’s say, for example, that you spot a few perch or crappies in 28 feet of water. Switch your unit over to the split-screen chart/sonar mode and judiciously auger several holes—about 50 feet apart—between the 25- and 30-foot contour lines. The new LakeMaster VX maps make this incredibly efficient, effective and effortless because they show one-foot contour intervals and have colourshading capabilities. Continue hole-hopping this way until you locate, confine and encircle the fish.

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#4

GO FULL SCREEN

I always manually set the bottom depth on my sonar unit (whether forwardfacing or traditional) to be no more than about five feet deeper than the depth the fish are using. Doing this allows me to increase the size of the fish on the screen so that nothing falls through the cracks.

Understand what I am saying? If you have your sonar unit set on automatic mode, the screen will typically highlight everything from the surface down to 40 or more feet. But if the fish are cruising along the bottom in 28 feet of water, you’re not only compressing all of the data, you’re also wasting half of the screen—between 30 feet and 60 feet— showing you absolutely nothing. So, if you manually select the bottom depth, you maximize the zone of activity and see everything at the least level of compression. A 14-inch crappie or perch will be huge, resembling a 10-pound walleye, so you’ll never miss it, even when it’s a faint return out at the edge of the cone.

Even more importantly, when you manually adjust your screen this way, you’ll maximize your ability to monitor the mood of the fish. Are the perch finning tightly to the bottom or suspending five feet above it? Do the crappies spot your lure as soon as it clears the bottom of the hole and rise up to meet, greet and eat it, or do they stay put, reluctant to bite until you bang them on the head with your bait? You can answer all of these questions and more when you fine-tune your sonar manually.

Picking the perfect presentation then becomes easy.

ALWAYS MANUALLY ADJUST YOUR SONAR SCREEN

GOOD GRASS WHILE FIRST AND last ice are peak periods for panfish, anglers enjoy targeting crappies and perch because they bite all winter long. That’s especially true if you can find flats blanketed with crispy green chara, also known as sand grass. It’s easy to identify chara by rubbing a few leaves between your fingers—if you get a skunky smell, you’ve got chara. You can check the bottom for verdant crispy green patches if you have an underwater camera. If you don’t have a camera, however, simply drop down a spoon to snag some vegetation. Chara is not essential for catching fish, but when you find it, it makes every spot infinitely better.

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GORD PYZER (ANGLERS); MANUFACTURER (LURE)

START OUT BY JIGGING ACTION SPOONS SUCH AS THE VMC TINGLER

#5

SPOON FEED ’EM

When I’m after winter panfish, I start every day on the ice with a relatively aggressive presentation, using an action-type spoon such as a 1⁄8-ounce VMC Tingler or W30 Williams Wabler. When you pop one of those spoons up and let it fall, it lays flat on its side, then flutters down in a tantalizing way. The action is completely different from that of a heavier, same-sized slab spoon, such as a Kastmaster, or a bent spoon, such as a Syclops. Those will shoot up, then flare out to the sides in J-like patterns.

After starting with the action spoons, I’ll then test the slab and bent models and let the fish decide which

injured minnow motion they prefer. This is also when I experiment and show the fish different colours or holographic patterns. Chartreuse, green and yellow perch are my go-to patterns for cannibalistic jumbos, while red is my staple for crappies. I’ll also experiment with spoons that are either silent or noisy.

Note that I almost always remove the treblehook from my spoon and run a severed minnow head through the shank. I then put a Fastach clip on the spoon’s O-ring, and reattach the treble to it. The goal is to separate the minnow head from the spoon, so that when a jumbo perch or slab crappie opens its mouth and creates a vacuum to suck in the lure, the hook will swing effortlessly into its mouth. If you don’t have any Fastach clips, two or three small, interconnected O-rings will accomplish the same task. If the bite is outrageously tough, I’ll switch out the treble with a high-percentage, needle-sharp single hook.

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#6

2 0 2 4

USE A LONGER ROD WHEN YOU’RE FISHING OUT IN THE OPEN

YOUR ICE ROD SHOULD HAVE A STRONG SPINE AND A SOFT TIP

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FISH TWO RODS

Since you’re allowed to ice fish with two rods during winter in most places, I always have a second outfit tipped with a tungsten jig and soft-plastic minnow or creature. Truth be told, I typically have three or four jigging rods at the ready with jigs of various weights, shapes and colours. When you set up your rods like this before you head out on the ice, you’re much more likely to use them. When you have to rig them up outside, with the wind howling and the snow blowing in your face, you’re less likely to do so.

As for the right rod length, 28- to 36-inch ice rods with soft tips are essential for panfishing success. The soft tip functions like a spring bobber, allowing you to see a fish strike long before you feel it. I recommend using the fluorescent red-tipped extensions to not only help you detect strikes, but to also make for flawless presentations. I shake the spring bobber as lightly as possible—especially when I’m using a shorter rod with a tip that recovers too quickly—so my jig barely bounces down below. It is so deadly.

Just don’t make the mistake of allowing the soft tip to extend down into the backbone, where it will compromise hooksets. I look for rods with strong spines through the first twothirds of the blank, terminating in the soft tip. Panfish anglers like to debate the merits of short, stubby rods versus longer ones, but my preference is to use slightly longer rods (32 to 36 inches) when I’m fishing out in the open, and slightly shorter rods (28 inches) when I’m jigging inside a shelter.

There’s also some debate over which line to use for perch and crappies.

No question about it, super-lines ice up more than monofilament and fluorocarbon, but their high-visibility, no-stretch strike detection and hooksetting power outweigh any negatives.

Some folks will tell you, too, that fluorocarbon is better because it sinks faster, but in the light two-, three- and four-pound-test lines that are best for panfish, it’s totally academic. So, I opt for a bright red, yellow or green high-viz braid with a light two-foot monofilament leader attached by a Crazy Alberto knot.

GORD PYZER

HARD WATER SPECIAL

JIGGING SMALL SOFTPLASTICS WITH TAILS IS DEADLY ON PANFISH

JIG TO ATTRACT FISH, THEN PAUSE AND TWITCH THE BAIT TO GET A BITE

#7

KEVIN WILSON (ANGLER, WHITEFISH); MANUFACTURER (LURES)

FIRST STRIKE THE BEST SPOTS to begin fishing for perch and crappies at first ice are the ones where you left them biting in the fall. Turnover is a protracted period of fish consolidation that doesn’t happen in just a day or two, or even in a couple of weeks. In fact, it peaks under the ice as the fish pile onto the key structures and basin flats. So, wherever you left the fish biting in the fall, that’s where you’re going to catch them at first ice.

PERFECT YOUR PRESENTATION

When I’m targeting panfish through the ice, one of the first things I try to figure out is whether they want a minnow or rat-tailed plastic dressing. More often than not, the latter is the winner. Regardless, never forget that you jig to attract the fish, then pause, twitch and tremble the bait to trigger them into biting.

I prefer small soft-plastics with long, bloodworm-like tails. I especially like crimson red plastics, but wouldn’t hesitate to fish pink, chartreuse or green baits, too. You also never want to overpower the slim tail with a jig hook that exits the body too far back and diminishes the action. You want it to dive and swoop erratically, but at the same time, be easy to eat. So, be sure to frequently pause your presentation.

And for heaven’s sake, keep your lure above the fish.

The biggest mistake I see first-time perch and crappie anglers make when they spot fish on the sonar screen is to drop the lure right in front of them—or even worse, below them. Instead, keep your lure just above the fish and remember, the further you can entice them to rise up, the more likely it is they will eat your bait. Crappies, in particular, will come up slowly, while perch will race up and down more excitedly.

One final presentation detail: examine how the fish are eating your bait. If it is so far down their throats they’re gagging on it when you unhook them, you’re dialed in. But if you’ve only lightly pinned them on the edge of their lips, or you’re feeling strikes and missing them, something is not quite right. So, continue experimenting, and it won’t be long before you’ll have plenty of fish through the hole—and ready for the pan. OC FISHING EDITOR GORD PYZER REGULARLY TARGETS WINTER PANFISH ON THE LOCAL LAKES NEAR HIS HOME IN KENORA, ONTARIO.

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Cold play

HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

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All-new tackle, apparel and accessories for the successful winter angler

BY THE EDITORS

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Are you completely geared up for action this hardwater season? If you still need an ice-fishing edge, our annual roundup of the top new tackle is here to help heat things up—all winter long.

#1 THINFISHER The Johnson ThinFisher ($5.99 plus) has been updated with a high-quality snap, custom blacknickel trebles and 12 jazzy new finishes. And with its classic shad shape and built-in rattle, the bladebait still delivers its trademark wobble, flash and noise. It comes in three weights and lengths.

Berkley, www.berkley-fishing.com #2 WICKED PRO-EVOLVE REEL SEAT XL These 38-inch rods ($89.99) are designed to tackle Canada’s favourite fish, including walleye, pike, lakers and perch. They come in medium and medium-light actions, with a responsive tip, extended fighting butt and a seat sized for a 2500- or 3000-series spinning reel. 13 Fishing, www.rapala.ca/13-fishing #3 RISE FLOAT

In case you break through the ice, Clam’s latest parka (US$199.99) and bibs (US$199.99) are internally buoyant to keep you afloat. They’re waterproof, breathable and designed for mobility and fishability, and come in sizes small to quintuple-extra-large. Clam Outdoors, www.clamoutdoors.com

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#4 OUTDOOR TRACKS FULL ZIP FLEECE JACKET Designed for layering during high-activity winter adventures such as running-and-gunning, this fleece ($119.99) is insulated with Columbia’s Omni-Heat Helix material. It also has a zippered chest pocket, and it cinches at the waist. Columbia Sportswear, www.columbiasportswear.ca

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#5 LIVE BAIT PRO Featuring a rechargeable aerator, Engel’s 30-quart bait-storage system (US$159.99) is ruggedly built, with stainless steel hardware and sturdy carrying handles. It comes with a removable pull net and four rod holders, and it can even double as a cooler.

Engel, www.engelcoolers.com #6 XPS WIDE-BOTTOM THERMAL HUB ICE SHELTER Offering 54 square feet of fishing space for four anglers, this shelter features built-in anchors, a large snow skirt to prevent updrafts, windows and skylights with blackout covers, and air vents. It comes in insulated ($549.99) or uninsulated ($439.99) versions.

Bass Pro Shops, www.cabelas.ca

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#7 HOT POC This Quebec-created reusable handwarmer (seen on TV’s Dragon’s Den) provides instant heat for 30 to 60 minutes by clicking the metal disc inside the pack. You then recharge the pack by boiling it for five minutes. It comes in a variety of kits and sizes ($29.99 to $89.99).

Hot Pocs, www.hotpoc.ca

7

8

#8 E40 COMPOSITE Thanks to a composite housing, this 40-volt, lithium-battery auger weighs just 13½ pounds. Features include Eskimo’s Turbo blades for fast, smooth cuts, a variable speed trigger and toggle 9 reverse. It comes in eight- and 10inch sizes (US$819.99/US$849.99).

Eskimo, www.geteskimo.com #9 RRS RATTLING ROACH SPOON

10

Designed by ice-fishing legend Tony Roach, this spoon ($9.99) promises to attract fish with its fluttering action, exposed rattle chamber, holographic eye and marabou teaser tail. It comes in 1¼-, 1⅝- and two-inch lengths and 12 colours, including UV patterns.

VMC, www.rapala.ca/vmc #10 WOMEN’S LAUREN PAC BOOT

Canadian-made, with deep-lug outsoles for traction, these boots ($199.99) sport seam-sealed waterproof suede and leather uppers, and a moisture-wicking fleece lining. Insulated for temperatures as low as -40°C, they come in fossil (pictured), mid-blue and black colour schemes. Kamik, www.kamik.com 11

#11 TUNGSTEN FLAT FRY JIG

This panfish jig (US$6.99 for two) is shaped to reflect sonar signals more effectively than standard jigs, making for improved electronic sight-fishing. Equipped with a long shank for soft-plastics, it comes in 1⁄16- and 1⁄28-ounce sizes and 11 colours. Northland Fishing Tackle, www.northlandtackle.com #12 FOLDING ICE SCOOP

12

Measuring 40 inches in length when extended, this premium scoop (US$39.99) not only folds in half for storage, it also has a precision chisel (with a protective cap) and moulded ruler marks for measuring the thickness of the ice. Otter Outdoors, www.otteroutdoors.com #13 M1X FLASHER With just two buttons and two knobs, this flasher (US$269.99) is easy to operate, yet with advanced features such as split-screen zoom and a detailed colour display. Made in the U.S., it comes with a 20-degree ice transducer, portable shuttle and rechargeable battery. MarCum, www.marcumtech.com OC

13

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 3 7

HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

Reservoir hawgs

BY KEVIN WILSON

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Across the prairies, manmade lakes offer unique hardwater action for giant pike and walleye

For years, I’d heard stories about anglers catching and releasing 25-pound-plus northern pike and hefty walleye in prairie reservoirs. I live in central Alberta, a five-hour drive from the nearest of these seemingly mystical man-made waters. But with plenty of natural lakes within a similar distance, I just didn’t see the appeal. And to be honest, the tales seemed too good to be true.

That all changed a few years ago when I finally hopped in my truck and headed south to see what all the fuss was about. What I found was unexpected. Fishing folklore may run rampant about some places, but the reservoir hawgs in these prairie waterbodies are the real deal. Indeed, a trip to these unique western fisheries should be on every ice angler’s bucket list.

PATRICK WALSH

SASKATCHEWAN’S TOBIN LAKE IS FAMED FOR SERVING UP HEFTY PIKE AND WALLEYE

RESERVOIR RUNDOWN In southern Alberta, man-made reservoirs are primarily a product of irrigation infrastructure and the damming that goes with it. For ice anglers, one of the region’s largest and most popular reservoir destinations is Lake Newell near the city of Brooks, about 190 kilometres southeast of Calgary. It was created in 1914 after the Canadian Pacific Railroad built the Bassano Dam, which was intended to irrigate the surrounding semi-arid farmland and entice homesteaders to settle in the area.

Newell is a fairly large lake by local standards, with a surface area of a little more than 66 square kilometres. Like most man-made reservoirs—and in a dramatic contrast to the innumerable natural lakes found across much of Canada—Newell is shallow, with an average depth of just 16 feet. At its deepest, it drops to only 65 feet.

By supplying water to irrigation canals, Newell and other nearby prairie reservoirs, such as McGregor Lake and Travers Reservoir, form a critical part of the infrastructure of Alberta’s Eastern Irrigation District.

The waters of these reservoirs, as with similar waterbodies in Saskatchewan and other parts of Alberta, are extraordinarily fertile, growing big, healthy fish.

And that provides ice anglers with world-class sportfishing opportunities.

In general, prairie reservoirs share several similar features, including connectivity to rivers, engineered water containment and a controlled flow. Lake Newell, for example, empties into Alberta’s famed Bow River after flowing through Rolling Hills Lake, which is basically an extension of Newell created in 1939.

A variety of fish species frequently escape from the reservoirs and reside within the canal systems connecting the reservoirs with the Bow and the

»»

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 39

HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

agricultural areas to the north and east. Each year, Trout Unlimited coordinates a detailed fish rescue as part of its conservation efforts to manage these waters and the adjoining infrastructure. In a very real sense, such prairie irrigation systems have become a resource-management, and recreational fishing, success story.

Many Alberta reservoirs hold fish, but not all of them produce giants.

In the Eastern Irrigation District, Lake Newell and Travers Reservoir stand out from the rest.

They’re home to a variety of species, including lake whitefish and yellow perch, but it’s the large pike and walleye that put these lakes at the top of the list.

Another prime ice-fishing reservoir is Saskatchewan’s Lake Diefenbaker, a multispecies destination formed in 1967 by the damming of the South Saskatchewan and Qu’Appelle Rivers. Also in Saskatchewan is pikeand walleye-filled Tobin Lake on the Saskatchewan River, which famously gave up an 18-pound five-ounce walleye in 2005.

ALBERTA’S LAKE NEWELL IS KNOWN FOR PRODUCING LARGE PIKE AND WALLEYE

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WALLEYE AND PIKE WILL RELATE TO EVEN THE MOST SUBTLE MAIN-BASIN HUMPS

KEVIN WILSON (ICE ANGLERS); GIBSON TILLEY (OPEN-WATER FISH)

RESERVOIR LOCATIONS The reservoirs of southern Alberta, along with other similar man-made prairie lakes, are relatively featureless bodies of water. Because of this, fishing them requires some adjustments from the way you’d normally approach a natural lake.

As with natural lakes, reservoirs do have underwater structure, such as weedlines, shallow bays, reeds and rocky shoals.

However, those structures are sometimes quite subtle, and difficult to spot. They do hold fish, though, making them good places to start your hunt for reservoir hawgs.

My friend Gibson Tilley is a next-level angler who spends a lot of time fishing southern Alberta’s reservoirs. He notes that all flowing reservoirs have at least some current, especially near the inflows and outflows. Although fish may hold on any available structure in the lake, Tilley says they especially seek out structure in the currents. Fish holding near the bottom of such structures are usually in a negative or passive mood, he says, while fish holding higher up will usually be in a more positive feeding mood—and much more receptive to your presentations.

Main-basin humps are less common on these bowl-like reservoirs, but if you can find them, fish will often be lingering nearby. For example, one of the best ice-fishing spots I’ve found on Lake Newell is a hump in less than six feet of water, close to an island. I use the term “hump” loosely, because rather than a dramatic structure, it’s only a minor variation from the flat bottom. Nonetheless, it often holds big pike and walleye. One of the best ways to identify such locations is by studying bathymetry maps prior to hitting the ice.

»

OPEN-WATER ACTION ALBERTA RESERVOIR-FISHING expert Gibson Tilley says the action on Lake Newell and other similar waterbodies can also be great throughout the open-water season. During early spring after ice-out, some of the most productive places to catch pike and walleye are the spots where flowing water enters the lake, he says. Inside corners, points that extend into the main basin and gravel shoals are also good places to search for active fish. Just remember, the variations in structure are often more subtle in these man-made lakes.

Another great place to probe for lunker pike and walleye in open water can be mudlines, or points of wave erosion along soft shorelines. Prevailing winds erode gravel shorelines where breaks occur, and the frequently changing water levels create steplike structures. Fish will hold near the mudline on these shoreline structures, using the structure and change in water clarity to ambush prey. Fish in these areas are usually active feeders, so try casting crankbaits, spoons, jigs or spinnerbaits into the darker water and retrieving them into the clear water.

Once again, weeds can be much less prominent on man-made lakes, but you’ll still find them in the shallows.

Small bays next to the main basin are good holding locations for baitfish and, subsequently, predatory pike and walleye. When the spring season kicks off, the shallow water in these locations warms up first. Then as the season progresses, the bays will usually develop weed growth, providing great year-round cover for baitfish, which in turn pull in the larger predators.

Try trolling weedless lures around these locations, or fish a baited jig head under a slip bobber. These spots are so appealing they’ll hold fish all year long, except during the hottest weeks of summer when the big predators migrate to cooler water.

W W W.O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 41

HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

Fl

WITH PHIL ROW

By Phil

$2

RESERVOIR PRESENTATIONS The hardwater tackle you need for prairie reservoirs is inexpensive and straightforward. If you ice fish for pike or walleye anywhere else in the country, in fact, you probably already have everything you need.

Hands down, a tip-up armed with a twohook, quick-strike rig is the top producer.

Given the frigid winter temperatures you’ll often encounter, I prefer insulated tip-ups such as Frabill’s Pro Thermal (pictured, right), which covers the hole and prevents it from freezing over. I recommend customizing your tip-up with bells as well as the flag to ensure you don’t miss a bite. Note: Since the water in prairie reservoirs is ginclear and shallow, limit your movements on the ice and make as little noise as possible to avoid spooking the fish.

These big reservoir fish fight hard, and can run long distances, so I spool my tipup with Mason’s braided nylon Tip-Up Ice Fishing Line, in 30-pound-test or stronger.

For the quick-strike rig, I recommend using two size 4 Gamakatsu barbless treblehooks, though size 6 or 8 hooks are also an option. And since you’re dealing with toothy critters, tie on a stout 12-inch (or longer) leader, such as a 30-pound-test Berkley Steel-Lok Wire-Wound Leader, preferably black in colour. The bait choices are plentiful, but I’ve had great success using dead baits from the fish market or grocery store, such as herring and sardines. They’re big, but that’s just what it takes to tempt bites from these reservoir hawgs. OC ALBERTA’S KEVIN WILSON CAN OFTEN BE FOUND OUT ON THE ICE DURING WINTER.

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KEY GEAR INCLUDES A TIP-UP, SOME STRONG LINE AND A STOUT LEADER

KEVIN WILSON (ANGLER); MANUFACTURERS (GEAR)

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HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

RECIPES & PHOTOS

BY CAMERON TAIT

Cool Eats

Nothing beats an awesome sandwich for hungry ice anglers on the go

Planning on a busy day out on the ice with your pals?

Be the star of the group by bringing along your pick of these awesome wild fish and game sandwiches. Each recipe makes four tasty creations.

Just wrap them individually and keep them cool, and they’ll be ready to eat when your crew is.

Warning: You just might want to bring extras!

DUCK BAO BUNS • 2 medium sized duck breasts, skin removed • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste • 2 tsp olive oil • ¼ cup each julienned carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper and cucumber • 10 basil leaves, chopped

• 4 empty bao buns (found in most specialty stores and some supermarkets, including Loblaws) DRESSING

• 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar • Juice of ½ lime • Pinch Kosher salt and pepper

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1] Season breasts with salt and pepper, then sauté in olive oil over medium heat for approximately 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked medium.

2] Place julienned vegetables and basil leaves in a mixing bowl and toss with dressing ingredients.

Slice duck into thin slices and mix with vegetables; adjust seasoning if necessary.

3] Stuff duck-and-vegetable mixture evenly into the four bao buns.

TROUT NIÇOISE ON CIABATTA • 1 trout fillet (2 lbs) • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp chopped garlic • 2 tsp paprika • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste SANDWICH MIX

• ¼ cup tomato, chopped • ¼ cup red onion, chopped • Juice of half lemon • 2⁄3 cup mayonnaise • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped • Soft butter • Ciabatta loaf, cut in half horizontally • Arugula 1] Pre-heat oven to 350°F. 2] Place fillet on a baking sheet and season with olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until fully cooked, then place in fridge to chill.

3] Crumble fillet into a mixing bowl, then add tomato, onion, lemon juice, mayonnaise and parsley. Gently mix to combine.

4] Spread butter on both sides of ciabatta, top with trout mixture and arugula, and cut into four equal pieces.

»

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 4 5

HARD WATER SPECIAL 2 0 2 4

WALLEYE GYROS • 2 walleye fillets • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste • 2 tbsp olive oil • 10 grape tomatoes, cut into quarters • ½ cup crumbled goat cheese • 1/3 cup diced cucumbers

• ¼ cup finely chopped red onion • 2 green onions, chopped • ¼ cup pitted and chopped green olives • ½ cup mayonnaise • 2 tsp chopped garlic • 2 pitas, cut in half • Arugula

1] Season fillets with salt and pepper.

Add oil to a frypan on medium heat, cook fillets for 2 minutes on each side, then remove and chill.

2] Crumble chilled fillets into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl.

Add remaining ingredients (except pitas and arugula) to the bowl and gently mix. Adjust seasoning as needed.

3] Stuff walleye mixture evenly into pita halves and garnish with arugula.

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GOOSE SUBS • 2 goose breasts, trimmed, skin removed • 3¾ litre chilled water • 6½ oz brown sugar brine (I recommend Hi Mountain Seasoning) • 1 large baguette, cut in half horizontally • Soft butter • 2 tbsp grainy mustard • ½ cup mayonnaise • 16 cucumber slices • 8 dill pickle slices • 1 red onion, sliced • ¼ cup pickled banana peppers, sliced • 8 provolone cheese slices • Spring mixed greens 1] Add water and brine to a large container and stir well, then add breasts and chill for 48 hours. Remove breasts from brine, rinse under cold water and place back in fridge, unwrapped, for 12 hours.

2] Let breasts sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then place in a smoker set at 225°F. Cook until an internal temperature of 160°F is reached, then let cool, wrap and return to fridge.

3] Using a sharp knife, slice breasts as thinly as possible against the grain.

»

4] Spread butter on both baguette halves, then mix mustard and mayonnaise and spread over butter.

ALSO SEE PAGE 18 FOR CAMERON TAIT’S SWEET AND SPICY BAKED TROUT RECIPE.

5] Evenly place breast slices, cucumber, pickle, onion, peppers, cheese and lettuce on one baguette half, and top with the other. Cut into four equal segments. OC

WW WW WW .O . OUUTTDDOOOORRCCAANNAADDAA..CCA A || 47 47

BEYOND LEAD With so many non-toxic shotshell options now available, choosing just the right waterfowl load can be confusing.

Our primer is here to help

ever tumbled out of the sky back in the mid-1970s will be forever etched in my memory. How my shot string and that poor bluebill actually happened to find themselves in the same place at the same time remains a mystery on par with how the pyramids were built—theories abound, but nobody can fully explain it.

I shot that duck, and many others over the subsequent years, with a 2¾-inch load of #5 lead manufactured by CIL Imperial. I’d like to say that was my duck load of choice in those days, but I don’t recall there being much choice.

If there were other shells on the shelves, I don’t remember them, at least not in the stores where I

shopped. It was pretty simple—you just bought #5s for ducks and #2s for geese.

The world of shotshells in Canada changed in the late-1990s with the introduction of mandatory non-toxic shot legislation for hunting waterfowl; similar legislation had already been in effect in the U.S. since 1991. Steel shot was the immediate and obvious alternative to lead, but it soon became clear steel’s properties didn’t mirror those of lead, making it less effective. In response, manufacturers began experimenting with metal alternatives. As a result, today’s waterfowl hunters have a dizzying array of shotshell options. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed choice.

«

T

THE IMAGE OF the first duck I

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KEN BAILEY

BY KEN BAILEY

« «««« «««

You need the right balance of pattern density and pellet energy for the hunting scenario at hand

» W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 49

PELLET SIZE & WEIGHT

more small pellets into a shotshell than larger ones, and more pellets equals denser downrange patterns.

That means there’s more likelihood you’ll hit a bird with a greater number of pellets.

And here we reach that daunting spot where the rubber really hits the road. If you select a nontoxic pellet material other than steel because you want greater pellet weight, you’d better be prepared to open your wallet a little more widely.

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« «««

keep in mind is that round pellets have pretty poor ballistic properties—due to air resistance they slow down rapidly and therefore lose energy quickly. Another truism is that the smaller the pellet, the less the air resistance, allowing it to carry its energy further—think of throwing a baseball compared to a softball.

Smaller pellets also translate to denser downrange patterns, and that means greater effective range, given that it usually takes more than one pellet to kill a bird. Be aware, however, that everything else being equal, heavier pellets carry more energy than lighter ones, and they’ll carry that energy further downrange.

What it all boils down to is that hunters need to find a balance between pattern density and pellet energy when selecting the most appropriate shotshell for any particular hunting scenario. Pattern density is largely influenced by pellet diameter (you can fit more small pellets into a shell than you can larger ones), while pellet energy is largely influenced by pellet weight.

As for the pellet’s weight, that depends on the metal used in its production, specifically as it relates to density. Density is directly correlated to a pellet’s ability to penetrate, and it’s penetration that typically contributes most to killing a duck or goose.

Heavier metals carry their velocity and energy further, thus they have the ability to penetrate at greater distances. Think about the difference between being hit by a baseball or a tennis ball thrown at the same speed. Steel is the lightest non-toxic option, at 7.8 grams per cubic centimetre, while pure tungsten is the heaviest (19.3) followed by bismuth (9.6). In comparison, lead is 11.3.

Density also influences shot size.

Denser pellets mean you can move down to a smaller shot size while retaining the same or better lethality. And remember, you can pack

J.J. Reich of Vista Outdoors say it’s up to individual hunters to decide which non-toxic shot best meets their needs KEN BAILEY

T

HE FIRST PRINCIPLE to

COMPARING THE OPTIONS Once lead shot was banned, steel was the first non-toxic option available

« « « « « « « «« « « « « « « «

understanding the nontoxic shot alternatives, it helps to be sitting in a blind next to J.J. Reich, as I found myself last fall. We were hunting together in Alberta’s Cold Lake region with outfitter Clay Charlton’s Take ’Em team. In between flights of Canadas, white-fronted geese and mallards, I learned a whole lot about modern shotshell alternatives.

Reich is currently the senior manager of press relations for Vista Outdoor’s outdoor brands (now under the Revelyst banner), which includes ammunition makers Federal, HEVI-Shot and Remington. That made him wellpositioned to walk me through the basic history and attributes of the various non-toxic alternatives.

Made of iron, carbon and a handful of other elements, steel shot was the first non-toxic alternative on the market. Hunters immediately saw its deficiencies, however. Being significantly lighter than the lead shot they were accustomed to, steel didn’t carry its energy nearly as far. As a result, what had been everyday

« ««« Bismuth was the second non-toxic shot option to become available, followed by tungsten

»

kills using lead now resulted in many missed or wounded birds.

To partially compensate for this, manufacturers began producing loads with significantly higher velocities, understanding that pellet velocity resulted in increased downrange energy. That worked, but it also resulted in increased felt recoil, something hunters should consider when making their shotshell selection. Steel is also very hard, so you can’t shoot steel pellets through many older shotguns without risking damage to their barrels.

Bismuth was the first non-toxic alternative to steel to hit the market. It’s denser than lead and softer than steel, and it’s safe to shoot in all shotguns. I recall attending an outdoor writer’s workshop in California in the early 1990s when it was first introduced. We shot our first bismuth loads at clay targets and came away thinking it would be the new norm in shotshell production. That changed in short order, however. Bismuth is a naturally brittle metal, and the alloys being produced at that time didn’t prove to be as hard or as reliable as expected. While the fervor of bismuth as the second coming soon faded, manufacturers continued to experiment, and today we have bismuth alloys in shot that are ultrareliable, and excellent performers in the field.

Finally, there is tungsten, a heavy, rare, ultra-hard metal that

«

W

HEN IT COMES to better

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 51

is mined predominantly in China. Federal Ammunition introduced the first tungsten shotshells in the mid-1990s.

They came on with a flourish, and over the succeeding years, several other manufacturers have also used tungsten to varying degrees. Its outstanding performance in waterfowl shotshells was never questioned, but availability was a significant problem, due largely to global supply-anddemand issues. Tungsten continues to be available as a non-toxic shot alternative for those willing to pay somewhat exorbitant prices.

So, what should you choose as your go-to non-toxic alternative? As with many questions, the answer is embedded in compromise. For starters, a shotshell that uses a denser metal than another shell will have more downrange energy, deeper penetration and/or higher pellet counts. That leads to fuller patterns with more hits on targets at longer distances. Given that premise, says Reich, the order from poorest performance to best is steel, bismuth then tungsten.

“It’s really all about the science,” he says.

At the same time, though, Reich says your decision should also be based on your hunting scenario—are you pass-shooting Canada geese at extended distances, or shooting teal over decoys at short range? And what also can’t be ignored, he says, is how much you’re willing and able to spend. The good news is, while there are now more non-toxic alternatives than ever before, they’ve also never performed better. Concludes Reich: “It’s ultimately up to each hunter to decide what’s best for them.” OC ALSO READ HUNTING EDITOR KEN BAILEY’S COLUMN ON HUNTER ETHICS (PAGE 27).

LOADS OF LOADS WHETHER YOU OPT for steel, bismuth or tungsten loads for waterfowl, there are plenty of options available in the Canadian marketplace from the major manufacturers. While there are other brands out there, the availability of their products is less widespread.

BROWNING Browning’s shotshell line-up includes Wicked Blend, incorporating both steel and bismuth pellets, Wicked Wing XD, featuring plated steel pellets, and Wicked Wing, its standard steel load. www.browningammo.com CHALLENGER Quebec-based Challenger offers steel waterfowl loads in sizes from BBB to #4. www.munitionschallenger.com

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FEDERAL Federal’s premium steel shotshell is the Black Cloud line, which features 40 per cent FliteStopper pellets, with their distinctive central cutting edge, and 60 per cent round pellets. The standard steel load, meanwhile, is Speed-Shok, interestingly available in 100-round packs. Federal also recently partnered with HEVI-Shot to produce HEVI-Bismuth loads. www.federalpremium.com

HEVI-SHOT Touted as HEVI-Shot’s best waterfowl load, HEVI-XII features tungsten alloy shot with a density of 12 grams per cubic centimetre. HEVI-Bismuth is the brand’s all-bismuth shotshell, while HEVI-Metal Longer Range incorporates 30 per cent bismuth and 70 per cent steel shot in two sizes. Then there’s HEVI-Hammer, with 15 per cent bismuth and 85 per cent steel shot, and the allsteel offering HEVI-Steel. www.hevishot.com

PRAIRIE SHOT AMMO This Canadian company’s Score brand includes a range of all-steel waterfowl loads, assembled in Carberry, Manitoba. www. prairieshotammo.com

KEN BAILEY

REMINGTON Premier Bismuth is the latest shotshell from Remington, featuring HEVIBismuth shot. It complements the Nitro-Steel, Hypersonic Steel and Sportsman Hi-Speed Steel brands. www.remington.com WINCHESTER New for Winchester is its buffered Bismuth shotshell, which promises to deliver 50 per cent more pellets in a 30-inch circle at 60 yards than nonbuffered bismuth loads. Other waterfowl offerings include Drylok and SuperX steel loads and the unique Blind Side 2 shells featuring hexagonally shaped pellets. www.winchester.com

« «««

KENT CARTRIDGE New for Kent is Fasteel+, which combines layered payloads of steel BB and #2 pellets, #2 and #4, or #4 and #6. The result is tighter patterns and better downrange energy. Also available are Fasteel 2.0 plated steel loads, Bismuth Waterfowl and Tungsten Matrix. www.kentcartridge.com

The Affinity 3 autoloader from Franchi is well-suited for the rigours of waterfowl hunting

A FINE SHOOTER THOSE UNWILLING OR unable to buy a high-end autoloading shotgun should definitely consider Franchi’s Affinity 3. I shot one exclusively last fall on my waterfowl hunts and came away thoroughly impressed. The 12-gauge 28-inch model I used was well-balanced and handled nicely, with surprisingly little felt recoil for an inertia-operated shotgun. While I didn’t shoot it in the uplands, you could easily carry this responsive shotgun all day long in the pheasant fields.

I fed my Affinity 3 a varied diet of loads, from 2¾-inch target shells to three-inch magnums, and didn’t experience a single failure. It fit me well right out of the box, and I liked the slim fore-end and grip, a noticeable change from the relative bulk of the gas-operated guns I typically shoot. (The Affinity comes with shims to customize the stock fit, if needed.)

I frequently chase diving ducks on large lakes, which is not shotgun-friendly hunting. There are often freezing temperatures, and your shotgun invariably gets wet, dirty and banged around in the boat. I’ve had more than one autoloader quit on me in these conditions over the years, but the Affinity 3 didn’t skip a beat. Conveniently, it features an enlarged bolt handle and bolt release button for ease of operation while wearing gloves in cold conditions, and the beveled loading port makes feeding the magazine a breeze.

The exterior finish may not be on par with that of some premium autoloaders, but the Affinity 3 is reliable, durable and able to do everything duck and goose hunters expect of their shotgun. At a price roughly $1,000 less than toptier autoloaders, this Franchi offering is the perfect choice for hunters seeking a mid-priced autoloader they can rely on for years of dependable service.

—KEN BAILEY W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 5 3

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ANTLER

ACADEMY C

BY BRIAN HARRIS

CONGRATULATIONS ON A successful hunting trip! It took planning, a commitment of time and money, a bit of discomfort and a whole lot of work, but all of that stuff is nearly forgotten. The adventure aspect, however, will be relived through memories and campfire stories for years to come. And of course, there’s that tangible reminder of the hunt—a beautiful set of antlers.

All hunters are happy to bring home a deer, moose, elk or caribou with a nice rack, and those looking for a trophy are always checking out antlers.

Even meat hunters need to pay attention to antlers before they shoot these days, to comply with male-only seasons and antler point restrictions. With that in mind, let’s go back to school and answer some of the most common questions about antlers.

How well do you know your favourite game’s headgear?

Here’s what you need to know to bring home a true trophy—and stay on the right side of the regs

?

ANTLERS ARE ESSENTIALLY bone,

MARK RAYCROFT (DEER); SMITH SARKAR (MOOSE)

Whitetails sport cervicorn antlers, with points growing off the main beams, while bull moose develop broad and flat palmicorn antlers

#1

WHAT EXACTLY ARE ANTLERS

and male members of the deer family (Cervidae) grow these bony decorations on their heads every spring, then shed them every winter. In fact, a set of deciduous antlers is one of the defining characteristics of cervids, and it differentiates them from other wild animals with headgear, such as bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bison in the Bovidae family. Rather than antlers, bovids have permanent horns made of a hard protein called keratin laid over a bony core.

In Canada, the cervids include moose, elk, caribou and several species of deer, most notably whitetails and mule deer. All males of these animals—and the odd female—have antlers. Caribou are unusual in that both sexes regularly grow antlers.

(The true oddball in all of this is the

pronghorn antelope. While neither a cervid nor a bovid, the pronghorn stands out because its horns are shed and regrown each year.)

Most yearling cervid males have a pair of spike or small forked antlers, and each spring, as a new antler set is regrown, both the size and number of points increases. Since there are several factors that can influence antler growth, however, the number of points is seldom an accurate indication of the animal’s age.

All cervids—including yearling moose—grow cervicorn antlers, which consist of main beams with numbers of forks or points sticking out. The arrangement of these points along the main beam is one way to differentiate the species. As moose and fallow deer males grow, they develop their characteristic palmicorn antlers, which are broad and flat with points on the outer edges.

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W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 5 5

#2

?

WHEN AND HOW DO ANTLERS GROW

ANTLERS DO NOT grow directly

Antlers are among the fastest growing tissues in the animal kingdom

plied with blood and protected with special skin cells, which we know as the velvet. The blood delivers minerals, including a compound of phosphorus and calcium called hydroxyapatite, that harden the soft young antlers into bone. Then, in the shorter days of autumn, the testes are stimulated to release the hormone testosterone into the blood. This surge of testosterone inhibits the growth factor hormones so that the antlers stop growing and, in fact, die.

However, the testosterone also ensures that the dead bone cells of the antlers stay connected to

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the live bone cells of the skull. As for the velvet, it also dies, then dries up and gets shed or rubbed off. After the rut, during the short days of winter, the antlers eventually drop off (see #5).

Come spring, the lengthening days will trigger the hormone and antler cycle to begin once again. The male’s glands— and therefore his body—are so attuned to changes in day length that, in totally controlled environments where day and night are artificially adjusted, males have been made to replace their antlers two or even three times a year, or only once in two years.

KAI SORENSEN (#2); TONY LEPRIEUR (#3)

from the male’s skull, developing instead on special permanent attachment sites called pedicles.

All newborn cervids have these tiny bony knobs on the top of their skulls, but what happens next involves sex-specific biology and a bit of astronomy.

The earth is tilted 23.5 degrees off perpendicular as it revolves around the sun, which causes dawn to arrive much earlier in May than it does in December.

It’s this change in the number of daylight hours that triggers the glands—particularly the pineal gland—in a male cervid, causing him to shed and regrow antlers each year.

The annual cycle of antlers starts in the spring. All the living cells in a cervid’s body are supplied with blood, as well as hormones carrying messages and instructions from the animal’s glands. At least 10 glands and a host of associated hormones make up the cervid’s endocrine system. The pineal gland is a pea-sized organ in the male’s brain, connected to his eyes; it releases the hormone melatonin into the bloodstream. The amount of melatonin varies with day length—less is released during the longer days of spring.

At a specific reduced concentration of melatonin in the blood, the pituitary gland is triggered to release growth factor hormones. Those are carried in the blood to the pedicle cells, which then begin growing antlers. Incidentally, antlers are among the fastest growing tissues in the animal kingdom.

During the five-month growing period, antlers are well sup-

#3

??????????

WHAT CAUSES ATYPICAL ANTLERS

EACH MALE HAS right and left ant-

lers, which are normally similar in appearance, but seldom identical. The differences may not be dramatic—often an extra small point or two on one side— but occasionally there are some really bizarre configurations. The main factors determining normal and abnormal antler growth are age, genetics, nutrition, disease and injury.

A young male cervid begins with simple antlers that become increasingly larger and heavier each year. A three-year-old carries antlers that are about two thirds of their growth potential; a five-year-old is fully mature with probably his biggest rack.

By age seven or eight, a male is past his prime and his antlers begin to regress, each year getting shorter, thicker and more malformed.

A male’s genetic background plays a role in the overall size and configuration of his antlers, and therefore the trophy value. Antler growth may also be affected by the forage quality during the growth period, as the process demands a lot of energy and specific nutrients. However, the most common cause of abnormal antlers is injury.

Most of the antler growth is at the tips, so any damage to a growing tip, especially early in the growth period, will affect the

shape of that antler. Injury to the pedicle, meanwhile, can cause a small or malformed third antler to grow elsewhere on the skull.

In fact, scientists have grafted pedicle cells to other areas of a cervid’s body, where rudimentary antlers then grew.

One interesting potential cause of an abnormal antler is injury to a back leg. For reasons not fully understood, a leg injury can seriously affect the growth of the antler on the opposite side of the animal (that is, an injury to left leg affects the right antler).

Antler abnormalities caused by injury usually appear that season only, and are seldom carried over to the next set of antlers.

»

Factors such as age, genetics, nutrition, disease and injury can lead to atypical antlers

» W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 57

?????

WHY DO MALES GROW ANTLERS

ONE SUGGESTED ROLE for antlers

is defence against predators. This is not a strong argument, however, because males only have their antlers for half of the year, and females almost never sport headgear (see #6). The most likely primary purpose of antlers is to both intimidate rival males and attract receptive females during the fall breeding season, or rut. Depending on the species and location, the rut can occur anytime between September and November, and sometimes into December. Generally, it begins earlier for larger cervids, such as elk and moose, than it does for deer.

Two males interested in the same female will grunt and snort as they show off their antlers.

Actual fights between males are

Antlers typically drop off one at a time during winter after the rut

rare, as most often one of the potential combatants concedes defeat after seeing his opponent’s superior weaponry. If that doesn’t happen, however, they may crash antlers together and try to gain the advantage by pushing and twisting. Eventually, a winner will claim the right to breed the local females. Occasionally, the antlers can become totally locked together during battle, and the two males will eventually starve to death.

Antlers are so important in cervid society that a male’s skeleton can be stripped of minerals to meet the demand of antler growth, leading to temporary osteoporosis. When the rut is over, he must make up for the mineral deficiency through his diet, just as winter sets in.

#5

ONCE THE BREEDING sea-

son has ended, antlers have served their purpose and become extra weight during winter, so they’re shed.

There are many suggestions as to what actually triggers antlers to shed, such as very cold or extra warm weather, good or poor habitat, and the age of the animal. However, those factors contribute to antler drop only so far as they affect the amount of testosterone in the male’s blood system.

Once the rut is over, a decline in testosterone triggers a reabsorption of minerals from the bone cells at the base of the antler. The connection then weakens and becomes grainy, and the antlers fall off with little effort. Reabsorption takes a bit of time, though, and antler drop can happen anytime between late December and early April.

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??

WHAT CAUSES ANTLERS TO DROP OFF

The antler attachment site then remains bloody and raw until it scabs over.

Interestingly, it’s uncommon for both antlers to fall off at the same time, so males can carry a single antler for hours, days or even weeks. It is not surprising, therefore, that finding a matched set is considered a prize when shed hunting.

Collecting sheds is a popular activity during spring, providing hunters with insight about the quality of the males in the area as they plan for future hunts.

Any sheds that aren’t collected soon get consumed by rodents and other mammals, including foxes and even bears, as a tasty source of calcium and other minerals. What remains of antlers after the mammals have had their fill becomes food for bacteria, then eventually part of the forest soil.

DONNA FELEDICHUK (#4); MARK RAYCROFT (#5, #6)

#4

Cervids sometimes use their antlers to fight over females

#6

??

CAN FEMALES HAVE ANTLERS

OCCASIONALLY, A HUNTER

?

will shoot an antlered animal that has female rather than male reproductive organs. In a healthy female, hormones such as estrogen normally inhibit the growth of antlers. However, antlers may appear if the female experiences a surge of testosterone due to a hormonal imbalance brought about by injury, disease or a degenerative condition of the female organs or glands. When this occurs, the female usually grows small spike or forked antlers that remain in velvet until winter.

Caribou aside, the highest frequency of antlered females occurs in whitetailed deer, at approximately one in every 3,000 females. Most often, such

females are still capable of breeding and producing fawns. Occasionally, a cervid with fully branched and polished antlers also has female sexual parts, or sometimes both male and female organs (this is what’s known as a hermaphrodite).

The rarest of such genetic mutations is the pseudo-

It's rare to see antlers on female cervids other than caribou

hermaphrodite, which is a cervid with external female parts, but functional internal male reproductive organs and normal antler development. During the rut, that is likely one very confused animal. OC WRITER BRIAN HARRIS IS A RETIRED WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST.

W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 59

Bonefish on on a budget B Y

S C O T T

G A R D N E R

IT WASN'T A huge bonefish, at

least by Bahamian standards, but it was a perfect specimen: solid and streamlined, with huge eyes, a deeply forked tail and glistening, mirror-like scales. Even better, this particular fish was the product of one of those rare and precious angling moments when everything goes just right.

It was my final afternoon of fishing the saltwater flats around North Andros, one of the Out Islands of the Bahamas, and the scene around me resembled a tropical tourism poster. Not that a poster could capture the feeling of clean salt air in your lungs, and the warm wind whipping your clothing as you stand on a small skiff, intently searching the water for signs of life.

When I first arrived in the Bahamas, there were the usual ups and downs you’d expect on a fishing trip, including some clunky moments as I worked out the kinks after a long layoff from saltwater fly fishing. But on this day, like the one before, I was in the groove. I even spotted the fish before our guide,

Andros legend “Crazy” Joe Braynen, saw it. Of course, he’d been washing off his polarized sunglasses when it came into view, along with several other bonefish. But still.

After they emerged from behind a point with the incoming tide, the fish headed across the bow of our boat within easy casting range. I judged their speed and distance, and dropped my shrimp fly into the knee-deep water a few feet ahead of them. It had almost settled to the bottom when I made one short strip to imitate a fleeing crustacean, and the lead fish turned toward it. I let the fly sit for a few agonizing seconds, then the bonefish sucked it up. I set the hook, and the grey ghost of the flats sped across the bay, taking my entire fly line and 50 yards of backing in less than 10 seconds.

After a textbook-perfect fight involving several more vigorous runs, and much cranking of my single-action reel, I brought the fish to hand. Then my fishing partner, Chris Clackner, scooped up the camera and snapped

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»

SCOTT GARDNER

Think only the well-heeled can afford a Bahamas bonefish adventure? Think again. Here’s how to get in on the action without breaking the bank

Scott Gardner with a textbook-perfect catch on his last afternoon of fishing

W W W . O U T D O O R C A N A D A . C A | 61

a quick photo that captured everything magical about bonefishing: my delighted grin, raccoon eyes and peeling nose, the fly rod dropped on the deck, the mangrove shoreline and vibrant Caribbean sky and, of course, the shimmering fish itself.

One of the reasons I relish that photo is because it represents a moment—and a trip—I never thought possible. I always believed bonefishing in the Bahamas was financially out of reach for anglers such as me. And it is, if you go to

the prominent lodges owned by, and catering to, wealthy Americans and Europeans. There are also locally owned lodges, however, including two on North Andros. They offer the same quality of fishing, but they’re much more affordable, provided you’re willing to carry your own luggage and fetch your own refreshments from the fridge.

If that sounds like your kind of action, here’s what you need to know about bonefishing in the Bahamas on a budget.

Bahamas bonefish are in a class of their own ALONG WITH GRAND Bahama,

Sight-fishing is the game when chasing bonefish

the Out Islands are generally considered home to the world’s best bonefishing.

In particular, North and South Andros, the Abacos, Long Island and Crooked Island boast extraordinary numbers of bonefish with an average size of about four pounds. There are also many fine lodges and generations of highly skilled guides, boasting a strong conservation mindset. As the icing on the cake, the peak bonefish season runs from October to April, neatly corresponding with the northern Hemisphere’s colder months.

Still, why would you take a big plane, a small plane and a crowded passenger van to catch a fourpound fish? Let me put it this way: My best 8-weight fly reel has a numbered dial to control the drag system, where one is the lowest power and 10 is the maximum.

When I’m fly fishing for 20-pound pike in northern Canada, I set the drag at four. When I’m casting for Bahamas bonefish, I set the drag at six. Yes, six.

»»»»»» Bonefish possess this disproportionate power because they’re found on shallow tropical flats, where they’re exposed to constant danger from sharks, barracudas and birds. With no deep spots or cover to hide in, their only escape is speed. To support this highanxiety, high-energy lifestyle, bonefish are constantly on the move, searching for food. And since they’re so active, the only realistic way to catch them is by sightfishing, which is always thrilling.

Fly anglers especially love bonefish because silently landing flies are often the most effective presentation for these easily spooked creatures (although skilled spin anglers can also do well). This whole package makes for tense, exciting and rewarding angling.

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It doesn't have to be punishingly expensive WITH ITS LUXURY estates, the

Bahamas is sometimes thought of as a playground for the onepercenters. Compared to favourite Canadian winter destinations, the hotels and casinos of the capital, Nassau, are quite expensive.

And the upscale fishing lodges in the Out Islands are priced to match. That’s why the budget lodges—as they proudly call themselves—occupy such a special niche.

Two Boys Inn, where I stayed, and Big Charlie’s Lodge, which is across the road, are owned and operated by Bahamian brothers (and storied fishing guides) Frankie and Charlie Neymour, and their families. Fishing, food and lodging costs US$500 to US$600 per day, depending on your length of stay. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not outlandish for world-class fishing. By comparison, foreign-owned lodges start at double that cost, and some triple it. I’m not sure what you get for that price, but I loved the homespun family feel at Two Boys, not to mention the Bahamian-style food.

Most bonefish guides aren’t lodge employees. They’re essentially independent contractors who own their own boats and go where the work is. And plenty of them like working for the Neymours, who themselves guide every day. So, the budget lodges draw from the same pool of guides, and have access to the same flats and fish as the white-tablecloth ones. Upscale lodges also tend to bill themselves as “fly fishing” lodges, while spin anglers are totally welcome at the local spots, although subject to some friendly ribbing in the dining room.

Local guides can quickly get guest anglers up to speed

You don't have to be a master angler

ALL YEAR LONG

THERE’S AN OLD

joke that bonefish will eat any fly that lands near them, as long as you don’t get close enough to cast it. That contains a grain of truth, but flats fishing isn’t as difficult as the lore implies. It’s just different, requiring mental and physical adjustments, so there’s a learning curve for novices. Luckily, there are so many fish in the Out Islands that, on an average day, you get a lot of chances to develop your skills. During my first day on North Andros, for example, I saw more fish than in a dozen full days of bonefishing elsewhere.

Even total newbies almost always catch fish. Most guides are usually excellent teachers and coaches. They’ll quickly assess your skill level, with no judgment, and do everything possible to put you on fish. Some days it’s hard, but that’s true of fishing anwhere.

And on other days, you can do

GET OUTDOORS

everything wrong and still hook fish.

Since bonefish are so mobile, casting to them is much more about doing it quickly than going for distance. A modest degree of accuracy is also helpful, as is adjusting for the ever-present wind, which rarely drops below 20 kilometres an hour. For fly anglers, if you can hit a dinner table-sized target at 30 feet, you’re right in the game. If you can do it with one false cast, you’ll do really well. It’s similar for spin anglers, though accurately landing light spinning lures in the wind is often harder than delivering a fly. If you doubt your skills are up to the challenge, a little practice at home goes a long way.

Always follow the guide's directions when fly casting to bones

SCOTT GARDNER

MAILED RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR

The fishing is uniquely exhilarating »»»»»»

WHEN STALKING BONEFISH, you

stand on the casting deck of a skiff, ready to cast, as the guide slowly poles the boat along from an elevated platform, watching for fish. There’s a reason bonefish

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are called “grey ghosts.” They’re perfectly camouflaged, and very hard to spot. With their higher vantage point and lifetime of experience, the guides almost always spot the fish first. They’ll tell you where to look, saying, for example, “Two o’clock, 60 feet away, moving left to right, school of 20.” Then it’s a matter of the guide anticipating the movement of the fish, and positioning the boat so you can make a cast. If you are unable to see the fish—and for at least your first day or two, you probably won’t spot them—trust the guide to tell you when and where to cast. I caught several fish without ever seeing them until they ran. It wasn’t the most elegant way to hook up, but still a cool experience.

Generally, you want to lead the fish by some distance, so the fly or lure is on or near bottom as the bonefish approaches. Then you need to move the fly enough to get the fish’s attention, but not spook it. The guide will continue to help with a series of instructions such as, “Long strip, long strip. Stop. Short strip. Wait.”

If the fish don’t get fooled, the guide will issue more instructions—“Pick it up and go again.

More left”—until finally it’s

[a]

Choice flies: [a] Vereka Mantis Shrimp; [b] Crazy Charlie; [c] Clouser Minnow; and [d] Beck's Sili Legs. Choice lure: [e] skimmer jig

[c]

[b]

[d]

[e]

time to set the hook: “Hit it!”

Such coaching is essential for rookies learning how bonefish move and feed, not to mention for anglers like me who are prone to first-day fish fever.

Once hooked, bonefish don’t leap or headshake or tail-walk like some of our favourite Canadian gamefish. Instead, they’ve only got one trick—tearing off at an utterly stunning speed.

If you manage to keep the fish hooked during that first blistering run, there’s a good chance that, after a few more runs, you’ll land it.

Adding a little extra flavour, it’s not unusual for struggling bonefish to attract four-footlong sharks or barracudas, which seem to appear out of nowhere. If they can get a bead on your fish, they won’t hesitate to hit it. Big predators will blow out the flat, however, meaning it’s time to find a new spot. But if you have a rod rigged and ready with a 40-pound wire leader and a big popper or baitfish imitation, you can take a parting shot at them first. Cudas, in particular, are spectacular gamefish—imagine extratoothy pike with nitrous-oxide boosters—and much easier to release than sharks.

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The right gear is important »»»»»» THE STANDARD BONEFISH set-up

is an 8-weight rod, with a weightforward floating line. I typically have two outfits in the boat, one rigged with a lightweight fly, and a second with a heavy fly or an intermediate sinking line for slightly deeper water. You also need a decent reel. It doesn’t have to be high end, as long as the drag is smooth, and it can take a workout.

Top flies include all the bonefish classics, such as the Crazy Charlie, Gotcha, Veverka Mantis Shrimp, Beck’s Sili Legs and Clouser Minnow in white, pink and tan, and sizes 4 to 1/0. When you look at them in your box, they will seem improbably large, but so are Bahamas bonefish, and they like to eat.

Spin anglers need a seven-foot, fast-action rod, with a quality spinning reel that will hold at least 150 yards of 20-pound braid or 15-pound mono. The most popular bonefish lures are 1⁄16- to ¼-ounce jigs with a stout, saltwater-quality hook, dressed in crustaceanimitating bucktail, craft fur or soft plastics. Standard shapes will do, but even better is a skimmer jig, which has a flat triangular head that scuttles along the sand, keeping the hook point up.

CANADA CANADA

You can take your family or spouse—sort of »»»»»» IT’S A DANGEROUS thing to wake

for everyone, and they’re willing to sit in the skiff with you or spend every day at a simple guest house surrounded by jungle, with no beach, shopping or cafés. In other words, it’s a no-go for most folks.

However, you might consider the his-and-hers scenario I pulled off last November. I spent three lovely days in Nassau, laying on the beach with my long-time, long-suffering companion. Then she flew home, and I flew on to North Andros to An 8-weight fly go fishing. While rod is standard Nassau is pricey, for catching and releasing bonefish it’s cheaper outside of the December to February peak, and there are plenty of flights from Canada.

up one frigid winter morning and say, “Bye honey, I’m off to the Caribbean. I’ll see you in a week, and don’t forget to shovel the driveway.” Not surprisingly, every angler who is curious about bonefishing asks me if they can bring their spouse or kids. You can, if you’re willing to pay the full fishing price

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Try the conch »»»»»»

SCOTT GARDNER (BONEFISH); MANUFACTURERS (TACKLE)

EVEN THOUGH IT’S just a 15-

minute flight from the bright lights of Nassau, North Andros is sparsely populated, and it feels surprisingly remote. It’s important to understand that budget bonefish lodges aren’t Sandals resorts—they don’t have poolside drink service, or pools for that matter. But they do have comfortable doubleoccupancy rooms, air conditioning, hot water, internet access and cell service. And as Andros veteran Chris Clacker says, most of the time, most of it works.

Locally owned lodges also let you appreciate the warm and welcoming island culture, including the cuisine. For example, one Bahamian specialty is conch, a large mollusk that can be served many ways. One of the high points of my trip was eating homecooked conch soup for the first time in the crowded little dining room at Two Boys, then immedi-

ately begging for seconds.

The fishing lodge business is tough for small operators, especially in remote spots such as the Out Islands, so there aren’t a lot of lodges similar to Two Boys and Big Charlie’s. But they offer world-class sportfishing at an accessible rate, and that feels like a great service to the angling world.

In turn, as a travelling fisherman, I like putting my dollars into the local economy rather than some offshore account.

By the time I unpacked my tackle after returning from the Bahamas, I was already dreaming about another visit. I hope more anglers also get to embrace the experience. And seriously, if you go, try the conch. OC ASSOCIATE EDITOR SCOTT GARDNER REGULAR VISITS THE TROPICS WITH HIS TRUSTY FLY RODS. W W W.O U T D O O RCA N A DA .CA | 6 5

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