Jackfish-Hammy Reports

What is Happening These Days?

2010-03-13T17:03:00.004-06:00

I've been reading a number of article on the Internet lately. Some are very well written, informative, controversial, funny even. Some are none of these things but they are opinions made in a free country. (Well here in Canada and the US). As long as an article is written with the proper motivation and respect any subject can be discussed. Hate, racism and the like are not taboo if it is discussed openly with decency and respect. Most of the items to which I been reading fit this criteria but I have found a few that didn't. I just stopped reading them when they crossed the line with me. Some don't deserve a response. What really bothers me though is the hate filled personal attacks that people post to the authors that they don't agree with. Some of these posts are very threatening. I'm not opposed to criticism if the argument is valid, based on facts or even opposing opinion. The posts I've come across lately are disturbing. For example, it isn't OK to threaten an author of an article or call them hateful names because he doesn't feel fishing tournaments are good for the sport or the fisheries they are held on. The author of the article had valid scientific evidence, expert opinion and a well written piece that should be respected. (Now there is a difference here in regards to respect and agreement). Certain individuals feel that by threatening writers or intimidating them, they win the argument. Nobody says that we always must agree on things but give people their freedom to legitimately state their point of view. Goethe said, "There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity."

As far back a Walton, anglers have prided themselves as being gentlemen and women. It was our love for our sport that gives us common ground. So if a 'rough, live bait angler' ever ran into a 'gentle flyfisher' in an English countryside pub, they would swap stories, maybe jibe one-another or even try to convince the other that their way is the best way to fish. No fights, no threats or name calling. Perhaps a few pints would be shared. Walton's time was no less violent than ours but I think that people were more responsible for their actions and behaviors. They didn't hide behind an anonymous posting on a blog or website. They were adult enough to face each-other and behave accordingly. The internet has weakened our abilities to be wise, confident and even witty. Eric Hoffer said, "Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength." We have become dumb brutes who bark obscenities and think we are incapable of being wrong.

On a positive note...We can change this. Perhaps if we could get out to a pub where other anglers may frequent. Maybe we could research more about a controversial subject, (not just from Wikopedia either), before spouting off. Perhap if we can stop and see the value of other people we can see the importance of their ideas. Finally, we could just shut our mouths sometimes, read about and ponder a subject, then, as the stoic philosophers did, record our thought in our own journals. By doing so we never offend and we can be confident in what we believe with dignity and courage.

(Read Marcus Aurelius) . Thanks for reading my latest rant. Please leave a nice response or don't leave anything at all. Jackfish

Almost Spring and Other Musings

2010-03-10T23:22:00.002-06:00

March has been terrific here on the shores of Rainy Lake. The temperatures have been warm, not much wind and mostly rain instead of snow. So Far. March can be a terror as the weather patterns change. Things get very unstable and unpredictable. I often have clients ask me when the ice will go out on Rainy? I don't dare to guess basing my predictions upon the March weather. It could dump two feet of snow, or drop to 30 below tomorrow. Yet with the mild temps. and nice weather one can't help start to prepare for spring. And spring fishing. Get your reels oiled up and the line changed out now. Check the eyes on your rods, look for line cutting nicks or missing parts. Sand the cork handles, it makes an older rod look new again and helps your grip. Organize your tackles and toss out some of the old rusty stuff that accumulates and takes up space in the tackle box. Replace a few of your favorite baits and perhaps pick up some new potential secret weapons for spring. Tackle shopping is just about as much fun as fishing itself. A new fishing lure has to catch us before it catches a fish.

What are some of my favorite baits and techniques for spring. I won't say much but here are a few tips. If you want to fish for big spring post spawn pike find baits that can be thrown into the deepest weeds in shallow water. Big Plastic minnow baits rigged weedlessly are great. Pick up some Spoons, weedless models or replace the treble hooks with a single hook. Throwing buoyant brightly colored minnow or stick baits can really turn on post spawn pike. They can be presented quickly, dead sticked, twitched or as a topwater bait. Smallies eat them up too.

Finally, give your favorite fishing guide a call. Just talk to them, it will make their day and perhaps convince you just how important that fishing trip you've been putting off really is. Screw the economy and your backstabbing, cheapskate boss, take back part of your life and get out on the water! If we let the media and corporations run everything, we would never leave the house.

Fishing Friends

2010-01-14T15:39:00.003-06:00

One of the greatest hazards of being a fishing guide is becoming friends with your clients. It's terrific to make good and new friends but it is tough when bad things happen to them. I often think of my fishing friends, the stories they share with me, some funny some very sad. I guess a fishing guide is like a good bartender, people want to talk to them but unlike a bartender you get to catch fish instead of a DUI.
When I get an E-mail or a phone call from a fishing friend and the news is bad, it really bothers me. I feel helpless and I can only send my best wishes. If someone is out fishing with me, no matter what is happening in a persons life, the fishing and the outdoors always puts life back into perspective. When a friend is sick and in hospital, a fishing guide is so incredibly useless. Well maybe not. As long as we have made memories of a terrific time on the lake, catching smallies or pike in a secluded bay, away from the daily grind, perhaps a fishing guide has provided a friend in trouble with an outlet in their memories. I can only hope so.
I had a client who was 98 years old the first time a took him fishing. He was a wonderful mischievous fellow. A fishing guide gets picked on a lot but I've never had the ,"what fer" , from anyone like this guy. We became instant friends. He being almost 100 didn't make a difference, when I got a phone call that he passed away, (he was 101, he celebrated his 100th on the top of the Golden Gate Bridge!) my heart sank at the news. I had only known him for a few hours really, the time we fished together, yet it hit me as hard as if we had been friends for his whole 100 years.
So folks, take care of yourselves and each other. Me and Rainy Lake will take care of you when you come up again next season.
Get well Gary, I will remember you in my prayers.

Now that the Holidays are Over

2010-01-13T12:41:00.002-06:00

Now that the holidays are over we can all get back to our lives. The holidays are great but they sure put a crimp in your life. All the obligations, gatherings, eating, and money spending is getting ridiculous really. But it does motivate us to make changes in our lives. When you see the Visa bill, the piles of waste that is produced and how much fat has accumulated around your already bloated midsection, any normal person sees that changes are needed. It's all so overindulgent. Now I'm not being a Scrooge, the act of sharing and giving is the stuff of the holidays. But are we giving to who really needs it? Are we giving to make the our world a better place. Are we supporting the arts or just Walmart.
Wouldn't it be great to give our loved ones things that they can use for their whole lives? Consider giving Gym memberships, art classes, cooking lesson, music lessons, money toward a higher education, maybe even a book that instruct people how to plant and maintain a garden, a fishing trip with someone who can teach how to become better angler, (sorry for the shameless plug), or books... good books that can be passed around and shared.
Last night my wife and I went so see a Soul and Blues band at our local theater. Presentations are put on by a local group calling themselves "Tour De Fort". They bring in acts from around Canada. The yearly membership to see these acts is incredibly cheap. $110.00 gets you into at least 10 shows. One concert in the city can cost much more that that. I am sure other communities around Canada do the same thing but how many people know about it or support it. What a terrific gift to give for next year. You would be supporting the arts, give a gift that gives for months, you support community and the artist themselves but most of all you give the music and the stories it tells. The band "Paramedic" was great. Instead of selling their records between sets or after the show, they gave them away for a donation that goes to Oxfam. In a world full of greed and lust for fame, I was impressed by this gesture. Way to go guys and you did Curtis Mayfield proud.

Football

2009-12-28T11:50:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about the NFL football games I watched this week. Here is an observation, perhaps you have made it also. What happened to the winning spirit of it all. The Indianapolis Colts had a perfect season going, yet they let it go, opting to rest their best players then losing to a team that isn't in their league. The Vikings wanted to bench their star quarterback in a 7-6 game, disrupting the whole chemistry of the team. What's with the Saints? The Giants? It seems like football has become a game of posturing instead of the game I admired since I first understood what a first down was. Football was a game of pride, guts and respect. I give Brett Favre credit for staying in the game and fighting for his place in it, even in a losing cause. (What the hell happened to the front line and did the receivers get cold fingers or something, Catch the damn ball!) Perhaps a good chewing out was in order for the whole team, not benching your best chance at winning. I am sure the best coaches of the past 50 years would have torn these guys a new one for the way they performed.
The bright spots are the teams who continue to dig through adversity and give it their all even in near impossible circumstances. The Steelers continue to fight, the Chargers haven't let up, the Packer are becoming a real threat, the Cowboys (who I thought were dead ducks have show a lot of pride), the Patriots have improved and even the Cardinals, the Bengals and the out of the playoffs Panthers deserve respect.
I go to NFL games. Tickets cost a lot. I drive 5 to 6 hours and spend a small fortune on hotels to attend a game. If a team mailed in a game, like the Vikings did last week, and I had taken vacation, travelled, shelled out for food and lodging, I would likely never go to another game...ever. Hockey is bred into me and it wouldn't take much more to convince me that that is where my extra bucks should go.
Many of my childhood heroes were football players. They had heart and pride. They carried themselves with dignity even though they weren't perfect. Lets get back to the days of Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Emitt Smith, Roger Craig, Mike Singletary, Brett Favre, Tony Dorsett, Franko Harris, Fran Tarkington, I am sure you guys could name a lot more. So get the rag out of your asses and play ball the way it is supposed to be played!
Thanks for reading my rant.

Now That Christmas Is Over

2009-12-27T10:33:00.002-06:00

Now that Christmas is over I can start to reorganize my fishing gear. I find it to be a relaxing activity and one that opens my eyes for new fishing opportunities. I often find lures that would work in different places or in new presentations. The rusty hooks or damaged baits can be cleared out. I remember the terrific days on the water catching smallmouth bass on a battered and bent top water lure that will need repairs.
I found a spinner, made by an old friend, the last one he gave me, (and it is one of my favorite pike baits). My friend is gone now. He's fishing the big Mississippi in the sky. I'll be putting that spinner in a special place for now on. Perhaps I'll try to recreate the design myself.
If you get time, spend a little time reorganizing your tackle, there is much more to it than you think.

It Been a While!

2009-12-19T17:23:00.002-06:00

It's been a long while since I last posted a blog. I had the feeling that nobody read them or gave a rats ass. People rarely get away from the TV or have enough of an attention span to read blogs. Yet a blogger should write because they want to, and why care if anyone reads it or not... or likes what you have to say.

My sister has been diligent about her blogging and I enjoy that. It give me a insight into what she has been doing and some of her thoughts without me being too intrusive. She is an artist living in Vancouver, Canada. Check out her blog and terrific artwork at lindsayjoyhamilton.com.

As for fishing. I had a great fishing season in 2009. My clients and I caught lots of fish all season long. The much colder than normal temperatures changed things substantially but we figured it out. I was truly impressed by the size and numbers of walleye we boated. We had days where we found 28 to 32 inch walleye in numbers feeding along a rocky shore or weedline. It was my best walleye fishing season to date.

I am concerned about the pike in the north arm of Rainy Lake. There are a number of issues that could be effecting the northerns there. Over fishing close to the border, (people who once feared venturing into the north arm are now using and depending upon GPS, a dangerous practice for the fish and fishermen), increased walleye population and competition for the crashing smelt schools, and netting. For the first time in years I found many long skinny pike in the north arm. Normally the fish are very robust, often very heavy for their length. I hope that the conditions change for the sake of the northern pike in the north arm. On the up side the size and number of giant pike caught in the south arm was way up for us this past season. There are some monsters lurking in the dark waters of the south arm, they just are more spread out and are often in deeper waters.

Smallmouth fishing was challenging. Due to the unseasonal weather the usual food sources were not there. As with the pike the reduced smelt stocks forced smallies to eat other less nutritious things. Mayflies didn't show up until late July. So the smallies relied heavily on leaches and crawfish. (It was incredible how many pike were eating crawfish and bullheads). These are not traditional feeding patterns on the north arm of Rainy so it took a little time to make the proper adjustments but when we did fishing was fantastic. I found four baits excelled 1. black or brown maribou or hair jigs. 2. dress these jigs with a Gulp Leach. 3. Lucky Strike Ragetails rigged on a wiggle jigs were deadly deep along sandy weedlines and rock piles. 4. Topwater poppers around emerged weeds or wherever we found some sort of insect life. Of course jerkbaits and flukes produced as always but they weren't as productive.

Finally, I hope all of you are having a great holiday season. I won't comment on the economy or the job situation...there is too much negative media coverage and nothing deserves that much attention if we have little control over it. Well, maybe... buy local, buy north american and don't frequent Walmart often. Most of all, be thankful for what we do have.

Seasons Greetings and look for more regular blogs from me. Remember to make your 2010 fishing plans early.

I almost forgot, a reading list!

Choke By Chuck Palahaniuk- Palahaniuk is on of my favorite writers.

Gomorrah By Robert Saviano- A look into the problem of organized crime in the Napoli and Campania regions of Italy.

Through Black Spruce By Joseph Boyden- Boyden in my favorite Canadian author. This is the companion to Borden's first book, Three Day Road. Read Three Day Road first if you can.

Ice Conditions and the New Season Ahead

2008-04-06T15:13:00.003-05:00

The ice is still covering Rainy Lake. In some places there is more than three feet of the white stuff. The area has had a slight improvement in the weather but not enough to make a real dent in the ice. The longer days and bright sunshine have melted much of the snow in the open areas yet the bush remains deep with snow. We are in need of some rain and some warm temps to break up the lake.

Water levels are normal and I don't think that they will change much if things keep as they are. The melt is slow and we have plenty of snow. Again, rain would be nice but not in buckets. My prediction for ice out will be May 10th for the south arm and a few days later in the north arm.

I'll be spending a few days on the lower Rainy River fishing for walleye and perhaps some sturgeon. I really enjoy that but I don't enjoy banging my rig up doing it. Rivers are much trickier to navigate and it almost seems like rocks bars and deadheads hunt me when I'm out there. On the lake is where I feel the most comfortable.

Pike fishing is always a rush in the spring. It's great to get out there right at ice out. The pike are just finished their spawning and sometimes are ready to feed. I have discovered that big northerns need a few days to rest after the spawn and fishing might be tough at first. It's a timing thing. You have to be there when the bite is on. We often see the big fish but can't get them to bite. I know they often will take dead bait but I don't think that's sporting. I also like to get out there earlier to see the wildlife and hit a few secret spots before the hungry hordes get out on the water. For the past few seasons I have tried my hand at a few new techniques and presentations. Fly fishing for large spring pike can be deadly and I'm getting better at it. I have a number of terrific fly fishing clients that are very generous with me by sharing their knowledge. Some new presentations are based on fly fishing. Non-fly fishers may not know that many of the flies the guys use can been casted deep into structures without being snagged up. The baits are also nearly neutral in buoyancy. They suspend. Some of the most productive flies look like nothing out of the water but in the water they act like real baitfish. It is amazing to see.

I've modified some large plastics and use my baitcasting gear to imitate flies. They work great and if you make a trip up to Rainy, I'll show you how it's done.

Smallmouth fishing is a blast in the early season. Nothing like getting the rust off the old casting arm. I always enjoy finding smallies near shallow bays close to where we find the pike. The smallies like the rock cover while the pike use the dead vegetation. But don't be surprised if you find them mixed up in some of the same areas.

Finally, many of you have told me how much you like the book lists I include on this blog. I sort of thought it was something I did for my own therapy but perhaps it isn't a waste of time after all. Here is a few of the latest books I've read this spring. Pick one up, I know you'll enjoy it.

Water For Elephants By Sara Gruen
A terrific novel about growing old but remaining young at heart. Old folks have had some fantastic experiences. They've been there and done it and we tend to forget that.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian By Marina Lewycka
If you know any Ukrainians this book will hit home. It's a laugh. And I'm allowed, I have Ukrainians in my family. (I once thought I was partly Ukrainian myself but my Grandmother recently told me that we were Polish on my mothers side) I still loved the book.

The Reader By Bernhard Schink
An Oprah recommended book. I usually avoid them like the plague but my wife had it sitting around and I read it. It was terrific. It is about a relationship a young man has with a much older woman in his neighbourhood. He reads to her. Turns out she had a very dark and evil past.

Getting Ready for 2008

2008-02-27T21:07:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone. Time to oil up the reels and change that frayed fishing line. I give it about 2 1/2 months before we are on the water this year. You'll be surprised how fast the season will creep up on you. I am guessing ice out to happen the second week of May.

We had a great season last year. Lots of terrific fishing on Rainy Lake. Big pike, smallmouth bass and walleye. My clients caught a lot more walleyes last summer than any in seasons past. Some of the most notable Eyes' were over 32 inches. What really pleased me was that every one of those trophies were released back into Rainy.

Pike fishing was a challenge. It's getting crowded out there. For years we had the lake and the pike fishing to ourselves but I guess good fishing secrets don't stay secrets for long. I had to look for new territory and try out techniques to keep on the big northerns. It was tough at times, particularly when there were guys trolling spoons all around us. We found big groups of untouched large pike in some very unlikely places. I think the increased pressure has force many of the wariest fish into these out of the way spots. What's great is that none of these places are easy to find, even with a GPS. That's all I'm willing to say for now. Our largest pike measured and released last season was 47 inches. That monster was caught in the late summer on a modified spoon.

Smallie fishing was terrific again last season. We tried a few new presentations and lots of new locations but found many of the old techniques to work best. I also put most of my clients on out of the way locations to catch their bass. We worked many weedlines and had success on almost all of them, throughout the season. Hopefully these spots hold out again this coming season.

Of course I have spent most of the winter Reading. As usual I like to publish some of my favorites so perhaps you might want to pick up a copy and read it yourself.

I hope to see many of you again this summer. Perhaps a few of you tire kickers will give Rainy Lake a chance this year. You won't be disappointed in the fishing or the guides.

Scott Hamilton

The World Without Us- By Alan Weisman

What would happen to the world without us in it? What will happen? Read this page turner and think about it.

The Road- By Cormac McCarthy

McCarthy seems to be in vogue right now. I liked his work before Oprah and the Cohen Brothers got hold of his books. The Road will probably made into a movie soon. Yet read it. It is real art worth reading.

The Shock Doctrine- By Naomi Klein

I loved this book. Klien continued to call out the corporations and governments on their anti-social behaviors. Her arguments are convincing and intelligent. Keep your head after a storm... some corporation or the government might just covet your land and Naomi Klein gives you examples.

Everyman- By Phillip Roth

Sometimes you read a book that makes you think, it can make you cringe or even break your heart. This book does all that. I wasn't going to recommend this book... it cut very close to the bone, for everyman.

Bang The Drum Slowly- By Mark Harris

A story about a baseball player who has terminal cancer. He dies slowly yet brings together a divided baseball team. A great baseball story as most baseball stories are.

Summer is Sort of Here

2007-06-07T00:35:00.000-05:00

Hello to all my Fishing Friends:
It's been a while since I sat down and wrote an updated blog. Sorry about that. I've been out fishing and doing some home renovations. Blogging was put on the backburner.
Spring took it's time coming this year. Lots of cold and very little snow. Rainy Lake and many of the surrounding waters are very low because of the lack of run-0ff. A number of my favourite pike fishing bays, on Rainy Lake, were high and dry this spring. All of the feeder creeks were dry. The lake levels are reported to be in the rule curve set by the Lake of the Woods Control Board but I think it is still too low. From the last half of May we have been below the ideal water level curve. I haven't had any trouble navigating but many of my hot spots are too shallow to attract fish. I spent a tremendous amout of time and effort searching for new, low water level, spots and have been somewhat successful. A couple of these new found locations produced a number of 40+ inch northerns.

These past few weeks has been cool and rainy which has helped to ease the fire danger and is raising the water levels. After one downpour I found a number of small rivlettes cascading from bluffs. Minnows were everywhere eating the food washed into the lake below rocky bluffs. Smallmouth were also there eating the minnows! What a pattern, a new one for me. Throwing topwater, my clients caught dozens of hungry smallmouth bass near these little water falls.

The mayfly hatch is starting but it's not heavy. Some anglers hate the hatch. I like it. Nature is telling me exactly what the fish are eating and where, it is up to me to find the baits that match the hatch. On sunny days the dragon fly larvae are emerging from the water and are crawling up on long flat rocky pints. Smallmouth have been gobbling up these ugly little creatures when ever these insects emerge. Dragging a dark green or brown tube often is the best presentation for smallies feeding on dragon fly nymphs. I have also found that a 1/16oz hair black hair jig or black 3 inch twister tail gets bit in these situations.
Topwater presentations work all year long. It just works best right now. So if your coming up to fish Rainy, don't forget the poppers and prop baits.
Business is a real challenge this year. My clientelle originates from the U.S. The war, gas prices, the strong Canadian dollar and the economy has slowed the normal traffic of anglers to Ontario. Some over zealous boarder legislation has also helped to peter out the tourist traffic. No matter what the reason, anglers need to realize that it is important to get outdoors. The few dollars it costs to drive up to go fishing is well worth it. Time spend in the outdoors, with family or friends is something to cherish. I have many old-timers tell me about fishing trips they took with their Dads 50 or 60 years ago. They don't remember how much it cost, they don't care. They have the memories and they are priceless.

My reading recommendation list is huge this spring. I spend tons of time reading inbetween the University courses I've been taking. I'll list a few for you now and I hope you read them. They helped me get through a long winter. Oh! I'd also like to send a big hello to the guys at the mill who read my blogs.

Some Great Reading, well I believe they are:

The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy
By Christopher Lasch: This is a very interesting book which discusses the problems of greed, lack of ethics, lost spirituality and our addiction to instant gratification. Just the book the oil executives should read.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: By Betty Smith
A classic everyone should read or reread. It is surprising how a little girl can be such a hero. Francy Nolan is one of american literatures great characters. This book was once specially published in smaller book sizes to fit into the packs of american soldiers serving during the second world war. It became one of the most widely read books in the world. If you don't read it, get a copy for you kids or grand-children.

Collapse: By Jared Diamond
This is the second book to Diamonds collection. It is a continuation to his Pulitzer winning book Guns Germs and Steel.

Absurdistan: By R. Lee Wright
Insightful and funny but also sad. Wright tells of his experiences as professor working in a Slovackian University and life there after the fall of communism

Coming of Age in Samoa: By Margret Mead
Anthropology at it's best. A classic scientific work. And it isn't boring.

War Cry on a Prayer Feather: Nancy Wood translates the words of the Ute People.
This is one of the most worthwhile books I have read. Beautifully written with meaning and soul. Here is a short quote from the book:
To live one must make a living.
In making a living we lose our faces,
and see instead the images of what we have become.
If only, if only,
Life did not become a business.

Their Eyes Were Watching God: Zora Neal Hurston
A terrific novel about life, growth, freedom and this book is a fine example of classic black literature. I didn't realize it was an 'Oprah' recommended book until after I read it. Hey she picks some good ones, she recommends Cormac McCarthy's new book (The Road) this month, you can't go wrong there.

Hello All

2007-02-06T14:50:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since my last post. Sorry about that. We are in a cold snap right now. I guess everyone is. I see you folks in Wisconsin and Michigan are getting some real cold weather. We shouldn't complain up here because this is the first real cold spell since November. Winter is moving along quickly.
It is shaping up to be a busy summer for me this year. I've got a fair number of booking already. I can't wait to get back out on Rainy Lake.
Ice out is hard to predict but it usually is out the first week in May. It's been out earlier but I usually don't rely on that. Pike fishing right at ice out can be fantastic, as many of you know, as long as we get some sunshine. I have a number of new locations for you to try out. I found a few obscure weedlines the last two springs and we'll be spending much more time on them. Many of my usual haunts are getting more and more traffic in them so we've got to move on to find fresh fish.
I will be posting more blogs in the next while, keeping you informed of the ice conditions and ice out. If you wish to book a trip, just drop me an e-mail and we can set it up.
Oh, almost forgot, I hate to be accused of being out to lunch or anything. Some book suggestions for you to enjoy during the cold snap:

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail of Succeed- By Jared Diamond
A fantastic facinating read. Are we choosing the right path? Diamond give some good arguments that we are choosing an unwise direction.

Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy: By Christopher Lasch
This book is a collection of essays written by Lasch. Some of them are over my head but I know some of you smart folks will get it. What I did comprehend, I found facinating. Basically Lasch blames the decline of true democracy on greed, moral decline, lack of faith (in all faiths) , the need of instant gratification and the our need to accumulate crap to appease useless or need to prove ourselves. Here is an important quote that I took away from this book: When word are used merely as instruments of publicity or popaganda, they lose their power to persuade. Soon they cease to mean anything at all.

Black Elk Speaks: By John G. Neihardt
A beautiful book which Neihardt relates the teaching of Black Elk, an Ogalalas Sioux holy man. Black Elk lived through the Indian wars. He was at Little Big horn and other battles. Here in Black Elks words are the four greatest virtues we should all strive for. "Bravery, fortitude, generousity and wisdom." Not a bad suggestion.

Fishing Tips

2006-06-15T14:05:00.000-05:00

By the number of e-mails coming in about my blog here, I guess someone is reading it. Thank-you. As a fishing guide I have many responsiblities. I've got to be a Jack of All Trades. It might not seem important to you right now in front of your computer but if you were 30 miles from nowhere, a storm was brewing and the outboard motor was acting up, you might think so. Or imagine if you've got your vactation dollars ear marked for your fishing trip and you want to have a carefree productive fishing excursion, a fishing guide has to carry a very heavy load. A guide has to prepare and maintain equipment, know weather conditions, know the water and species you want to fish for, he's a writer, knows first aid, CPR, woodsmanship, wilderness survival, engine mechanics, computer operation, is an expert in fishing techniques and equipment, boating safety and aids to navigation, business and finance not to mention how to debone and cook a northern pike, maybe a pyschologist. I wouldn't recommend taking this up if you don't want to learn these things. Probably the most important attributes of a good fishing guide is that they are terrible tournament fishermen. Clients aren't paying the guide to show them how well he can fish. The guide has to be free with information, patient, forgiving, physically fit, organized and above all professional.
I believe as a guide,it is important to share information. Not necessarily specific fishing spots but techniques and general location is open for discussion. I've been catching monsterous walleye near long mainlake windblown points using jerkbaits. Rogues, Huskie Jerks, and Lucky Craft Pointers have been the best. Well the Lucky Crafts have been to tops but they are so expensive that I wouldn't recommend the kids whipping them around. Larger suspending jerks are the most productive but you have to be very deliberate in your presentation. Be accurate in you casts, crank the bait down with three of four turns of the reel and let it sit. Move it a bit with a good solid jerk, take up the slack and wait a bit. Do this all around a likely point, you'll catch a ton of fish. If you aren't catching fish, you are probably working to fast. Again be deliberate. Smallmouth and very large pike are likely to grab your offering as well. Give the fish time to move off structure or the bottom to strike your bait.
Some of the secrets to fishing jerkbaits that I have kept, well they won't be secrets any more now, are: Always use a fiberglass rod that isn't too long or to short for you. I'm not a tall guy so I like to use a 6 foot Seeker or Lamiglass rod. Glass rods are less likely to break and they handle the shock of a big fish strike. They also have a little more give so you lose fewer fish on the fight. Taller folks may want to use a longer rod. An expensive graphite rod can be in pieces very quickly if you get into big fish. You really don't need the ultra sensitive rod anyway. Try to find a rod with a strong backbone, not a buggy whip. A good top quality glass rod can be tough to find. If you scrounge one up, your going to pay but it will last for years. I like to use bait casting gear in most applications but If you have to throw a smaller jerkbait or if it's really windy I'll use spinning gear.
Now the secret part. If you have fished Rainy with me, you know that jerkbait fishing can get very expensive when the big northerns are active. You also know that you catch a ton of fish using jerks so you just grin and bare it. Now I have a way to minimize bite offs that will help increase your catch of every species. A simple 4 foot long Fluorocarbon leader tied directly to your main line is the ticket. I've been using a surgeons knot to do this or if you want try a double uni or double blood knot. Use 20+ pound test fluorocarbon line. Trust me, fish can't see it and pike rarely bite through it. Walleye and smallmouth shy away from wire leaders, they can't see the fluorocarbon. I know that the fishing really isn't any better than last year but by using the fluoro leaders I'm fooling more fish. Don't you be duped by wanna be flourocarbon lines. Be sure it is 100% fluorocarbon not just coated mono. My favorite fluorocarbon is made by Seaguar. They make line and leader material. Either one works well.The pink colored one is great if your eye sight is a little weak. I like the clear. It's unbelievably expensive stuff. Keep the filler spool dry and out of the sun then it will last for years. 200 yards of line broken down into 4 foot leaders makes for lots of productive fishing.
Next blog I'll share some of my topwater tricks or maybe some plastics tips for Rainy Lake. You'll have to check back later.

A Great Day

2006-06-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

I caught the largest northern of my life yesterday. It was by far the largest I've seen in a couple of years. All to often we base how successful our day was on numbers. How many fish we've caught, how much all of them weighted. I don't think that's the way to go about it . The way we use the gifts given to us make it a great day. I was out on the water looking for some new hot spots. Moving from one place to another searching for weedlines, rocks, deeeper holes and current. Small features that would hold fish. Throughout the years I've kept detailed logs describing my experiences out on the water. In those logs are keys to future successful fishing trips. Baits, bait size and colour, depth to look for the fish, presentation and fish location. This season my log books are a little out of line. We are advanced into the summer season by two weeks. The smallmouth are spawning two weeks early, the ice went out two weeks early, the weeds are developing two weeks early...ect. So I referred to my logs two weeks ahead. It said, "We often find large pike off long rocky points extending into the main lake. These fish are usually huge. Throw a large Jerkbait, the best I have recorded for this is a large Smithwick Suspending Rogue in a Shad or Smelt pattern." What happens when I try this advice out on Rainy Lake? I boat a 46 inch pike, by far the largest I've caught. Clients of mine have caught larger but I rarely get to fish in the summer which limits my chances. I have benefitted from their catches by observing and recording them in my logs.
I didn't catch a ton of fish yesterday. The smallmouth are spawning so they were tough. Walleye are on the move to the main lake so they can be spotty. I did catch a few nice walleye for dinner but not a large number of them. Even the pike were a little warry, often following baits or short hitting. What made it a great day was the fact that I enjoyed the small gifts the lake and my clients have given to me. I caught fish of each species, the weather was spectacular, the eagles and other birds were watching everything from above. Even the mosquitos and blackflies had better things to do than bite me. The knowledge I have been given by my guests just made everything come together. At least I caught fish when others didn't.
Come on up and make your own great day. Come and see just how wonderful the little gifts really are.

Some Great Reading:
Beowulf: A new translation by Seamus Heaney. I loved it, a true action story and it's 1000 years old.
Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy: No it isn't boring. Tolstoy is by far one of the worlds great story tellers. If you read anything written by Tolstoy read The Death of Ivan Ilych. It has everything to do with what I've written in my blog.
The Complete Book of Fly Fishing: By Tom McNally: I'm trying to understand and become more capable at guiding my flyfishing clients. This book is a good starting point. It pretty much covers the basics. I would love to be able to help my fly guys by making suggestions or rigging advise. Right now I'm a dunce but this book did help me get into the game.

Fishing, A Dying Recreation?

2006-05-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

Is fishing a dying recreation? It seem that way. I see fewer and fewer young people coming to Canada to fish. Particularly young men and boys. Surprisingly, I have seen a surge of women who are trying fishing for the first time and that's terrific, but where are the younger guys? It seems as we become more urbanized young men are no longer as attracted to the sport. The cost of fishing may be prohibative to some but perhaps we aren't exposing our boys to the outdoors and fishing as we should.
My first fishing experiences were magical. I was taken on day and weekend trips all around Rainy Lake. We camped and had the most delicious lunches on the shoreline. We caught fish, picked blue berries, watched the wildlife, went swimming and just talked. Just talked...with my greatgrandfather,grandfather, dad and uncle. One on one with the men I looked up to most. They taught me how to fish but they also taught me how to be a man. Men spending time together is something that we are missing today. Yes many guys travel and fish, they've done it for years. If one gets sick or worse, the group just gets smaller. They no longer recrute new members to pass along their experience and wisdom. It isn't that the older men are excluding the younger, I just think that the younger guys are not as interested in the outdoors as they once were. Additionally, the younger fellows feel that their elders don't have anything to offer them in their new digital world. That concerns me. Robert Bly wrote in his book "Sibling Society", "We cannot imagine invisible gifts anymore". Young men who are raised in a female dominate home or urban setting no longer see the importance of male role models or influences(the ivisible gifts). Dad's are often absent or working 100 hours a weeks to support the family, most teachers are female, most kids of divorced parents live with their mom's. This is why Mr. Bly believes that urban families are female dominated. More than 60% of northamericans live in the cities now. Men are now thought of as stupid, childish, selfish, and uneccessary primative boffoons, (see Homer Simpson, Al Bundy, any guy in most TV commercials, just take a moment while your watching TV and you'll see). Bly also says in another of his books, "Iron John"
So many roles that men depended on for hundreds of years have vanished. Certain activities, such as hunting, (fishing) or pirating, no one wants him to do anymore. The industrial revolution has separtated man from nature and from his family. The only jobs he can get are liable to harm the earth and the atmosphere; in general he doesn't know whether to be ashamed of being a man or not.
Sounds a little melodramatic do you think? I don't think so. Men aren't obsolete and they must assert themselves in positive ways with their children. At one time children witnessed what a man could do while their fathers worked the soil on the farm, or they were artisans in the community. Today men head to work for countless hours, away from their families who never see them work. The kids never see the fruits of their labor. Money is not a guage of success. Time, health and family happiness should be our the goals. In the pulp and paper mill where I work, the only things my daughter sees of what I do is a bunch of smoke stacks blelching out pollution and a horrible smell. Our kids no longer know us at our best, working hard, being inventive, cooperating with others and exerting tremendous energy to provide for our families. That is why it's so important for us to take our kids, particularly our sons, into nature, where we are at our best. There we can teach them what is truely important. How to be men.
Take your sons fishing. Take them camping. Show them the magic of nature. Our young people are afraid or don't understand the outdoors. That is perhaps why they tolerate natures daily destruction and overdevelopment.

Some Great Reading on These Subjects:

Iron John: By Robert Bly
Sibling Society: By Robert Bly
Tree: By David Suzuki
Fishing With My Old Guy: Paul Quarrington

It Can't Happen Every Day

2006-05-08T10:58:00.000-05:00

Fishing is a recreation in which the angler's success depends upon many variables. Weather, environmental cycles, water tempertures, water clarity, species fished for and a ton of other things affect the fishing. We can't always tear'em up, day in and day out. This weekend was one of the tough ones.
Since the ice went out, pike fishing has been super. The large female northern pike were feeding in the shallow bays. For the past 10 days they have been biting. Yesterday something changed. Most of the large fish would just follow baits up to the boat. All day long this went on. We could see following fish on nearly every cast. Smaller fish might bite but they too where cautious. Why? Most fishing guides are often thought to have a bucket full of excuses why fish don't bite. We know better and I think folks that fish a lot also realize that the excuses are often valid. We were enjoying some of the finest weather I can remember until three nights ago. It snowed. Nights have been cold, the wind has been pretty strong. Before this the weather was stable and mild. These facts slowed the great bite. The fish are in predictable locations but are not feeding. For the last two days we worked very hard, caught some rather ordinary fish but at least we caught something and we must be thankful for what we found. Not every trip can be ultra productive so we should always be greatful for the good ones.
One hightlight of this weekends fishing is that we were able to find some nice smallmouth bass. They are beginning to move into some pre-spawn shallow gravel/rock areas. We caught some beautiful fish in a number of spots. The pattern didn't hold up when the wind and clouds roled in but when the sun was out the smallie were feeding.
I'm finding that the competition for fishing holes is increasing. I feel a type of urgency to fish quickly at times. Rainy is a huge lake but lately so many anglers are pounding away at the same spots. Often I think of a spot and head up to it to discover another boat is on it. If we go to an area, other boats will crowd in on you. I feel that we need to race around the get to productive spots. It sucks. So I have to find more obsure locations. The GPS has damaged the magic of the fishing guide. Angler who once wouldn't dare venture more than a few miles are now capable of crowding the guides who have taken years to educate themselve about a body of water. I'm hoping it doesn't make it an obsolete education. There is no reason to dwell upon it, just find more fish in areas off the beaten path and alway remember what Ghandi said, "Divine guidance often comes when the horizon is blackest".

Some Good Reading

War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning:
By Chris Hedges:
This book change the way I saw wars. It isn't glory or manly. It's terrible. If we don't stop sewing the seeds of the big lies glorifing wars we are perpetuating our own destruction.

The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho:
One of my favorite books. It tells the story of a young man who had the courage to follow his dreams. I will be giving this book to as many young people as I can and I hope it helps them discover there own personal legend.

You Can't Afford Not To Slow Down and Think

2006-05-04T21:43:00.000-05:00

I receive many letters and emails. I love getting them but I often misunderstand them. Have you ever read an old letter. For example, a letter your Grandfather wrote to someone at home during his service in the second world war. Many of the authors of these letters had very little education, yet they wrote so eloquently. They made their point clearly using the English language the way it was supposed to be used. No shortforms, or awkward symbols. Letter writing was high art and a gift given. The letter was a moment in time that the writer felt was important enough to pen with care. Just imagine someone taking the time and expending no little effort to put their thoughts on paper for posterity. It's a humbling thought. Folks knew that their time was valuable. It could be over in an instant. We've forgotten this wisdom or have sold it cheaply to our jobs and modern technology. We just can't afford to devalue our time with things that really don't matter all that much.
From time to time I find myself using todays slang or short forms (lol, TGIF and a whole list of other stupid things). Very regularly, I get these wrong or confuse the meanings. I'm sure that I've offended people with my unsavvy internet language. Well, no more. I refuse to shorten, or simplify my writing any longer. It's confusing and ugly. I won't do it!
Enough of that rant. It has been cold here. That really isn't a terrible thing because it slows the environment down. The early spring has the trees budding and the fish moving in unpredictable ways. Aquatic vegetation and insect life is developing very quickly which has encouraged the quickening of the seasonal cycle of Rainy Lake. The cold front should settle things down.
Water tempertures have started to rise very early. Particularly in the protected bays where northern pike just recently spawned. Large pike need to live in a cool water environment. If the water warms to quickly, they move out of the bays ruining my favorite pike fishing season. If the water tempertures stablize, the larger pike will remain and feed in the shallow bays. So the colder nights and overcast days aren't a terrible thing. Only the fishemen are uncomfortable in this weather. The pike are still biting through this cold front and that can chase the chill from your bones instantly.
I still have some great open dates on my schedule. Please don't put off making your fishing plans. Dates fill in a rush. Call or email me today.
Scott Hamilton
Jackfish-Hammy

The Biggest Fish

2006-04-30T11:59:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a day off today. I'm going to spend the afternoon watching the NHL playoffs. I like Calgary and the Senators but I'll aways have a soft spot for the Habs.
Went pike fishing yesterday on the north arm of Rainy Lake. I took some friends and we tore them up! We boated lots of large fish, some over 40 inches but mostly in the 10 to 12 lbs. range. Not bad at all. The best part was that the fish were in only 2 to 3 feet of water so the four of us enjoyed some bone shattering strikes and long drag tearing runs. It was a great time and you should give it a try. We kept two smaller fish for shorelunch. It was my first shorelunch of the year and I alway kick off the season by doing one for my friends and family.
Honestly, I needed this day off to heal up. A big pike gave me a hell of a tussel and it twisted my left index fiinger. The finger isn't broken but it looks and feels like a sprain. The knuckle is all swollen and purple. It's tough to reel in a fish with a messed up index finger. Who am I kidding, I'd find a way.
The smallmouth bass are starting to move into the shallows too. Not lots, but some are getting hungry enough to straggle into the warmer bays. I caught my first smallie of the season, (a nice 18 incher), in 8 feet of water, using a Lucky Craft suspending jerk bait. Love these baits, hate the price. $22.00 for a jerkbait is just too much for this fisherman. Or is it? Smithwick Rogues are 1/4 of the price and they work just as well. If you modify Rapala Huskie Jerks a little, they can be the best baits in you tackle. Huskie Jerks are about 1/3 of the price of a Lucky Craft. Alas the Lucky Craft has caught the biggest fish of all. Me, I gleefully shelled out my $22.00 and chanced it in a pike infested bay, without a leader I might add. And, what happens? I catch a football of a smallmouth bass. I guess the Lucky Craft stays tied on until that pike, destined to take my $22.00 lure, eats it.

What a good read these days:

Thunder and Lighting: A No B.S. Hockey Memoir
By Phil Esposito

Warlock
By Oakley Hall

Great Pike Bite At Ice-Out

2006-04-27T12:53:00.000-05:00

This is my first blog. I would like to add to it on a regular basis so that we can keep in touch. Hopefully, I'll have the opportunity to update it daily but my schedule can get very hectic in the summer months.
It's apparent that the conditions in the United States have put people off travelling. The war, the economy, high gas prices, the weaker greenback and border crossing issues are really cooling down the traditional rush to the great Canadian wilderness. It's a shame. I think these are all the more reasons to pack up and get away from it all. Folks need to cultivate a new prospective, re-adjust their priorities and simply rest. Fishing in the vast Canadian north can cure many ills. I guess it isn't just the fishing but the environment and the company. There is nothing better to heal the wounded soul than calm waters and the call of a loon. I've witnessed the healling nature can provide first hand. Nose to the grindstone, driving people begin to relax and let their tough hard exteriors fall away in the quiet and sunshine out on the water. How can people maintain their sanity in the constant din of noise and negativity everywhere these days? Pack up and go, what's really holding you back, nothing really as important as your piece of mind and personal freedom. We claim to be free but are we if other people, our jobs, or such absurd things as a stock market report confine us. Get away and live free for just a little while!
The pike are biting. Many of the largest fish are located in the extreme shallows. Some, I feel, haven't spawned yet. It may have to do with the water level control on Rainy Lake but that's a topic for later blogs. I caugth more than 40 nice fish on Saturday and about the same on Sunday. I had to work on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and tonight so lookout tomorrow morning! I haven't come across any smallmouth yet. As the water tempertures warm they should follow baitfish into shallow bays. I can't wait to catch my first smallie of the season. One interesting thing. We are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Spring came early and that is a real treat for us up here. The trees have began to bud and the insects are emerging. Well, so have the woodticks so if you come up bring repellent. Don't forget to check out my new website, www.jackfishhammy.com
Great Fishing and Stop and take a breath!

Some Great Books to Read This Spring

Three Day Road- By Joseph Boyden... The best I've read in a long while. You'll love it too.
The Lance and the Shield: The Life and Times of Sitting Bull- Sitting Bull was a true hero. Few better men.