ICE FISHING AT THE KEY-HOLE ON GRAND LAKE

    We have had a mixed bag of weather this month here at home on Salmon River. Our snow pac had dropped to a manageable level and then we got a couple of snow events back to back that pushed the snow level up to three feet+. It's turning into one of those winters that starts early and holds on to the last bell. That's OK though, we are on the downer side of this tough Atlantic winter and in another month a lot of this bad weather will be behind us.
    In the meantime, there is lots of hard water fishing in the Grand Lake area and we have multiple species to pursue. Personally, I like fishing for pickerel, burbot and smelt. The last two species can usually be fished at the same time but for pickerel the ice fisherman must find some shallow water and weed beds. These toothy critters hang out at the edge of the weed beds waiting for some unsuspecting forage fish to swim by. Smelt and whitefish,as well as land-locks, are taken by jigging fresh bait in a little deeper water. The burbot will move into the shallows to feed in the evening and a gob of bait or a live minnow right on the bottom will take this freshwater version of the cod fish. Burbot make excellent table fare and I love having a feed deep-fried in batter with French fries. Many ice fishermen think you must use live minnows to catch pickerel but that is not the case. We proved that during the annual ice fishing tournament at the Key-hole on Grand Lake this past week-end.

    I have been fishing local tournaments for over forty years in the Grand Lake area and the one held recently by the village of Minto was one of the better ones I have attended. I haven't figured out if that's because we did so well at the tournament or if it's because of all the folks having such a good time out there on a perfect day that had temperatures running up to +7 degrees Celsius. I was particularly impressed with how many kids were there and how many doting parents and grand-parents were on hand for the fishing fun,  hot dogs and hot chocolate. The following photo shows the registration booth and the hot dog stand.

 I like to get out early and when I arrived the master of ceremonies was the only one on hand so I chatted up Mr. Glenn for a while as he got things prepared for the arriving fishermen. I've known Brian Glenn and his family all my life, having grown up in Minto and he had a brother who was my age so I know him quite well. I was impressed that Brian used his own equipment to ready the fishing area and was using his own muscle power to sand the hill. We had quite a discussion about why Grand Lake is so underutilized,  yet is the largest lake in the province and a very beautiful one to boot! Overall, I would say Brian and his volunteer helpers did a good job organizing this tournament.

 

    

 This photo shows some of the fishermen and one of the snowmen built by the kids when they got bored by the fishing. Or was that the parents? No matter, everyone was having a lot of fun and the fishing was pretty good. The next photo shows my grandson Jackson with the little perch he caught right at the start of the tournament. That was his first fish taken through the ice so he was pretty excited!

 Our team included myself, my son Curtis, my grandson Jackson, his father Gary and two young bucks, Matt Banks and Chris Pollick. Matt and Chris did a good job drilling holes and helping with the heavier work. The next photo shows Matt and Chris drilling a hole at the start of the tournament.

 It's good to have some younger guys on hand when participating in these outdoor activities because it doesn't take long for a guy my age to tucker out lugging equipment and drilling holes. We had a great team that day and it sure made the day more enjoyable having some help getting set up. This is a short video clip I made as the tournament was getting started.

 

    Some of you may ask how good was the fishing? It was that good that I hooked a fish on the first line as I lowered it down the hole! I was just checking the depth of the water when I felt that familiar tug and before I could get him up the hole he was gone. No matter. I knew he would be right there handy and I would probably get another shot at him. I was right! I had action in that hole all day long during the tournament and we were catching most of our fish in the holes around this first one. I had been told leading up to this tournament that the pickerel weren't taking well and the only chance you had was fishing with live minnows. Well, I didn't swallow this and I just stayed with my game plan and it paid off, in spades! We had action right off the hop and this continued until the last bell. The next photo shows Matt Banks with a nice fish he landed.

 This fish was 22.75 inches long and is considered a nice sized pickerel. We all caught fish and they were all over 20 in. except for the perch we caught. The fish were coming so quickly at one point that we didn't get photos of all the fish we caught but we did get a few of the biggest ones like the one my son-in-law Gary is holding in the next photo.

 We figured we would be in the winners circle somewhere with the fish we had landed but when my son Curt hooked a big one and just got it up the hole, it came off the hook. I knew as soon as I seen the fish it was a big one so I yell at Curt "Get that fish!". Curt immediately dove face first into that six inch puddle of water where the hole was and scooped the fish out of harms way. Talk about a fellow moving fast! The whoops and war cries soon followed and we were all excited including little Jack. Now, Curt and I have caught and released hundreds and hundreds of pickerel during our lives on the water and we are very good at estimating the size of these fish and I immediately said "That fish is 24+ inches long" and Curt chimed in with "I'm saying 26 inches Dad". We would find out later that someone else disagreed but I will get back to that later on. Here is a photo of that fish and please note that Curt is holding the fish close to his body as you can see by his bent arm.

 THAT is a trophy sized pickerel in any one's book! This fish was certainly the biggest fish we caught that day but we kept on fishing until the siren went to end the tournament. Our team fished hard but we took a short break for some hot dogs and beverage. We were all having a ball, including little Jackie, so when we got a moment between the action I got Mattie Banks to get a photo of my son Curtis, my grandson Jackson and myself. The following photo is the one Matt took and I'll be keeping this one in a frame.

 Note the heavy slush and abundance of water where we drilled the holes. It was pretty messy but if you had good footwear like rubber boots, you could keep dry. The registration area was like a small lake and you definitely wanted rubber footwear if you were registering a fish or getting a hot dog for a snack. The following short clip shows the registration area as the tournament was wrapping up.  I had been fishing one hole pretty steady but I had another hole nearby that I was also tending. As I stepped away from jigging my other hole, I noticed my Rod was gone and I said "That's great, a good rod taken down the hole". I quickly rigged up another rod and never thought much about it again when about an hour and a half later a pickerel took and I hauled it out of the hole. After I landed that fish I looked down and there was my missing rod with all the terminal tackle still attached! We were not only catching lots of big fish, we were also catching missing rods! What's the chance of that happening? The next photo shows Curt and I with the pickerel AND the rod I caught along with it!

 

 This was a good tournament and it was a beautiful day to be out on the pond fishing with friends and family. As the tournament was winding down we had registered all of our fish and when Gary and little Jackson registered Curt's big pickerel there were some ooh's and ahh's from the onlookers, with some exclaiming "There's your winner". It was put in the measuring box and the measurer said " That's 25 inches...no, wait we have to get this precise, it's 25 .25 " and a little cheer went up. The lady scorer then told Gary he could put it back down one of the holes drilled near the registration area. Gary obediently pushed the big fish down the hole and made his way back to where the rest of us were waiting. As he approached our group, I noticed he wasn't holding the fish and I immediately got a sinking feeling and I asked Gary where the fish was and what did it measure. He told me that they told him to put it back down the hole and that it measured in at 25.25 inches, which was confirmed by Chris Pollick who was with him during the registration. I was disappointed that he put the fish back because I wanted to get some more photos and confirm the size of this nice trophy sized pickerel. Oh well, all is good,
 so Gary and I took a short beverage break and when we returned later Matt Banks told me that a bigger fish came in while we were gone. I was quite surprised because I knew this pond only held a handful of fish that compared to the one we caught and since only about one- third of the pond was being fished, I felt that the odds of someone getting one bigger were very small. I asked Matt how big the fish was that surpassed ours and Matt replied that it was 24 inches. I made a face and said "That's not right, ours was 25.25. to which Matt replied that our fish was down at 23.75 inches. I was shocked at first and then I could feel my face getting red. This wasn't good. This all unfolded near the end of the tournament so I told Gary to go check it out and he returned and said that it was down at 23.75 inches . By this time I was getting upset and I said maybe I should go talk the situation over with the officials. My son Curtis, who had caught the fish for our team, spoke up and said "You know Dad, we had a great day out here today and Jack is sure to be in the winners circle,  so lets just let it go because we don't have the fish and we will look like sore sports" I thought for a moment and then I agreed with him. When I thought about it later I was very proud of my son for taking the high road on this issue and the more I thought about it, the prouder I got! I guess my boy was paying attention to his father when I was trying to instill the virtues of good sportsmanship over the years. Jackson ended up with second place overall and he was very happy with that placing. All he knew was that he was a winner and I got to thinking we were ALL winners on that beautiful day. The following photo shows Gary and Jackson with his plaque for second place.

 

 

As I said, it was a good tournament and it was a great day to be on the ice but I did notice a couple of things that the tournament organizers should address. There was no porta-pottie on site so women, children and old folks were left to their own devices when they had to use the bathroom. It made for a difficult situation. Also, there were no rules, written or spoken , that participants could use as a guideline during the tournament. I know this caused considerable confusion among our team members as well as others who were participating. A hand out sheet when signing up would have been very helpful or even if the rules were listed during the advertising of this event, it would have cleared up some of the confusion. I know personally, I thought it was a fun tournament for kids and seniors but I found out later that this event is taken quite seriously by some fishermen and that there were cash prizes awarded for the top place finishers in three categories. We knew none of this and if we had,  we would have done things a bit differently. I would much rather fish a tournament without any money prizes because I have seen how other contests have turned out over the years. One tournament in particular has been notorious for the cheaters who want in on the money and will do so at any cost. All this does is make for bad feelings and actually defeats the purpose of having these contests. Nothing is perfect in this world and hopefully someone reading this blog who is connected to this tournament will pay attention to these discrepancies I have pointed out and take steps to correct them.

 

Before closing, I want to show my readers a very nice piece of art work I acquired recently of an etching of a trophy moose done by Maritime artist M. Ladds. This beautiful piece of work is signed and dated by the artist and is sure to appreciate in value over time.

 I am in the process of selling this piece so it will no longer be for sale.

 

Ken and I look forward to any and all correspondence about our guide service so please don't hesitate to contact me regarding a trip to our hunting grounds or a fishing trip on any of our beautiful waterways. Until then, this is Dale Bauer saying "Happy Trails to You.....Until we Meet Again!"

 

SPIRIT OF THE HUNT AND WILD TURKEYS

    Winter has come early to the Grand Lake area and it looks like it's going to leave a heavy snow pack in our area. The weather has been changing quickly this winter and this photo from late December shows how much snow we received last month. It was at the four foot mark by the end of the month.

 Just a short time after I took this photo we rolled into the New Year with a prolonged thaw that took that snow away right to the bare ground. The temperature stayed above freezing for ten days or so and what a difference in the landscape! This is a photo I took after the thaw from the same spot in front of my place on Salmon River.

 This was a welcome break from a very rough start to our winter season. A little snow helps to get everyone in the mood but when you get that much snow at the very start of our long winter season here in New Brunswick it really depresses outdoor activities because of the difficulty in getting around. Other than snowmobiling, most activities were put on hold until better conditions prevailed. Even the big thaw created problems for the ice fishermen. First it was too much snow to reach the fishing spots and then it was too much water on the ice and dangerous conditions around the shore and in areas with a current. At least the deer and other critters got a break from the brutal cold and heavy snow pac and the last week or so has brought moderating temperatures and flurries. All in all, a welcome break from the monotony of our long winter.

    Our deer herd in New Brunswick has been growing during the last two years and if the weather holds we should see another good season during the fall of 2014. Our herd is struggling on Crown land and there are very evident reasons why this is happening. I cannot understand what the big forestry companies are thinking. They have a mandate to manage our Crown forests for the good of all New Brunswickers and they are missing the mark by a wide margin. Their focus is entirely on the production of wood fibre and this has left many of our animal species, including deer, in a position where they are struggling to survive. Buffer strips that are too small, monoculture softwood plantations and spraying of herbicide are all contributing to this hardship in our forests. These forestry companies had better get pro-active in their management practices because there is a movement afoot to correct the imbalance that exists in the our Crown forests. Citizens are sick of the greed and callous actions displayed by these corporations in their never ending quest for more fibre from our forests. What really bothers me is the fact that our tax dollars pay these big companies for their management practices on our Crown lands and what do we get in return? Not much. Fewer and fewer jobs and falling species numbers. Is that what New Brunswickers want? Not on your life! All these greedy buggers have to do is make a few adjustments in the way they do business and we would see some big changes in our forests.
    If the big forestry companies want to stay ahead of the curve they should stop the spraying of hardwood saplings that deer and other species need for food. They should also be planting cedar along the buffers to provide both food and shelter during our long winter.  Another suggestion being bantered around is to plant clover along unused logging trails. These small steps will not affect the corporations bottom line very much but would have a substantial effect on the growth of our deer herd and the growth of other species. Change is inevitable and these big corporations preach this mantra whenever it suites their business plan but if it is contrary to their vision  they will fight change tooth and claw if they think it will impact their business plan. This has been a successful tactic in the past but because of the increase of information due to the Internet,  information is dissipated to the masses much more quickly and effectively. The people will no longer be fooled and the current status quo in New Brunswick's forest is no longer acceptable. There is even a movement afoot to revamp the forestry act to correct the imbalance that exists in this sector of our economy. That is why these companies should take the initiative and make changes to the way they do business in our forests. At least then they could try to put their own spin on it and get credit for being a forward thinking corporation. The other alternative is to be forced into change through the political system. Only time will tell what approach these big companies will take as we move forward into the future. If readers would like to hear what our deer biologist has to say about the deer population in this province, just click on the following link to view a short video he made recently.
http://isourforestreallyours.com/Isourforestreallyours/Ep_17.html

     Wild turkeys have been at the forefront in wildlife circles here in New Brunswick lately and for good reason. We have had a growing population of turkeys in the Grand Lake area for a decade or so due mainly to the efforts of one far sighted individual. The turkeys we have in our area are from wild Pennsylvania stock and have been raised in a free range environment. Although many sportsmen do not agree with this situation, the results cannot be denied. From these original birds there has been a steady growth and expansion of birds to the point that most areas around lower Salmon River and Grand Lake have flocks. New Brunswick has turkeys. That is a fact. Why doesn't the government sanction a trap and release program to speed up the growth of these great game birds? The NAWTF has several chapters now in New Brunswick so the infrastructure is already in place to facilitate a trap and release program. Again, change is coming and inevitable so why not speed up and assist the spread of this game bird so that we can have a hunting season sooner. This game bird is a proven money maker for governments in other jurisdictions and Lord knows our government needs more revenue! Here is a recent photo of a flock of twenty or so in a field near Coal Creek.

 There are many flocks of this size and larger in our area and they seem to be doing very well. Winter weather is a big factor in these birds survival and there is no doubt that a harsh winter affects their numbers. Having good habitat is crucial for these birds survival and the best ground is on private land in the southern half of the province. Ultimately, this is where the greatest numbers will be found. This is another reason forestry companies must make changes in their practices because if turkeys are to expand their range in New Brunswick suitable habitat must be found in our Crown forests.

 

    I have noticed a subtle change in my perspective of the hunt in the last couple of years and I have found it a bit disturbing. I first noticed this phenomenon occurring in my good friend Allen Davidson a couple of years ago. Now,  Allen has been a life long hunter and has taken several trophy deer with his best buck dressing out at three hundred and two lbs. His second best buck dressed out at two hundred and seventy-five lbs. These deer are his biggest but he has taken a truck load of animals over the years. Allen is now retirement age and has, like most of us older folks, slowed down a bit. I found I had a hard time getting Allen to accompany me on my frequent trips. He would make up excuses and I just chalked it up to indifference or maybe he was too busy. Then, low and behold, I started to experience some of the feelings Allen was having. It seems that as we age we lose that aggressive drive that motivates hunters to pursue game. I chalk this up to less testosterone flowing though our bodies. When a hunter is young he has an almost insatiable desire to take game and he rarely focuses on the journey that takes him on the pursuit of the game he is after. As a hunter matures he has usually experienced the thrill of taking game many times over his lifetime and that thrill seems to diminish somewhat. It doesn't disappear, it just subsides. The difference between young and old hunters was driven home to me during the last couple of years because many times I hunt with younger men. The younger guys get really hot to take their game or fill a bag limit on their hunts. I felt myself experiencing the hunt in a different way and sometimes this can even lead to conflicts in the field. That is the last place you want to have issues. As I reflected on this I realized that this was a natural occurrence just because any group of hunters are usually at different places in their outdoor experience. The drive to succeed is less for older hunters. It's kind of like "been there, done that". That doesn't mean the older hunter doesn't still get a thrill when he succeeds in taking game, it just means that many times he enjoys the journey as much as the actual killing or taking of game. This seems to be where Allen and I are at this juncture. I see signs of this happening with Kenny too but to a lesser extent because he is younger than us. We all seem to enjoy scouting for game and finding big bucks and trophy bears but personally I am just as happy to see a sport connect on a trophy. I think that's a good thing and it seems to be working well for us as we go about our business in the big woods in our little slice of paradise.

 

    Ken and I are offering some super deals for spring bear and summer fishing trips this year. If you are planning a trip to New Brunswick this year please contact me because if you can help us expand our customer base a bit we can offer you some good deals. We are NOT trying to be a large outfit. Just trying to get a few more customers in certain areas. One area that is currently an under exploited  fishery is the great pan fishing and pickerel fishing we have in our backyard. The first of June is a good time for a bear hunt and this is the peak of the white perch run. This time frame is perfect for visiting hunters and fishermen to experience the bounty the Grand Lake area has to offer.

 

    Until next time, this is Dale Bauer saying "Happy Trails to You.....Until we Meet Again".

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I had a post nearly finished and ready to publish but unfortunately it all disappeared into the netherworld. Until I can re-write or retrieve this ghost of a post this is Ken and Dale wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!