Hi all, I'll be joining you very soon

[ben306]

Spotted the site from researching fishing in and around Toronto.

Have spotted one or two of you on OFN.

Anyhow, thought I'd join up here seeing that Im going to be down on Toronto's waterfront (Near Fort York). Any tips, suggestions, general info and the like much appreciated, but from what I gather, The islands, Harbour Front and Humber are all worth a go. Basically Im after anything that can put a bend in the rod.

So, I fly out to Toronto from the UK on the 6th May, I've currently got a 12 month visa. I've started to get my bits together and been packing a few minimal essentials so that I can get fishing pretty quickly.

I have plenty of gear so its abit hard to try and narrow everything down that can fit in my one case Im allowed and not to much as Im only allowed 20kgs on the plane, and all my other stuff, clothes etc has to be in that!!

Im use to having something for everything when it comes to fishing, To give you an idea, this is what I would take for a normal days fishing.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/Ben306/Fishinggear.jpg


Anyhow, managed to narrow everything down to this

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/Ben306/Fishingset.jpg


Rod = 10' Masterline Ideal XL spin rod, 4 piece travel rod (32inchs when down into sections). Casts 15-35g and should have enough backbone to catch carp and the like aswell.
Reel = Shakespeare XK3000, with 3 spools running 6lb, 8lb and 12lb. Had this reel a while and used it as my feeder rod reel, its got plenty of grunt but small and agile enough to be constantly reeling in.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/Ben306/Fishingrod.jpg

On top of this I'm bringing a couple of spools of line for hooklinks, selection of hooks, waggler floats, shot weight, lures - plugs, spinners, few softbaits and spoons, made up some wire traces, forceps and the trusty swiss army knife.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/Ben306/Fishingfloats.jpg

And the Lures, just need to dig out a few more spoons and spinners.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/Ben306/Fishinglures.jpg

So all in thats taking up 2kg's of my 20kg allowance for luggage, I'll just have to leave a few pairs of socks at home haha.

I'll be getting myself a licence and folding net when I get there but other than that I think Im sorted.

So what do you guys think, am I along the right lines with what Im bringing??

[Master Basser]

I would say you are good to go...all will work nicely here...although, watch out for thatswiss army knife...My bud went to The carribean alittle while ago and they confiscated his trusty swiss army knofe at the airport...he was able to get it back, but not untill he arrived back in Toronto, and he had to pay a small fee for them to keep it untill he returned...Knives are not aloud on planes, so p[robabaly best to leave it home, or ship it via courrier here.

Good luck and let us know when you arrive...would love to get out with some people from this forum!!

[jwm]

WELCOME! Glad to see you on the forums! Looks like you're fully prepared! Though you might want to leave those split shots behind and pick a few up here, at least if theyre the old lead ones, otherwise you're good.

You mentioned you got a 12 month visa, are you here working? If so, what kind of work do you do?

[Woody]

I was ok when i went to France with my Fishing gear, as long as the Knife is in the suitcase and not in the hand luggage, everything should be ok, i had no trouble with mine.

[ben306]

Only brought a few shot just to get me fishing really, theres not many in there, as Ill be getting bits and bats there.

I'm coming over on a 12 month BUNAC visa, but plan to get work, have been trying to find work for the last 2 months but no one wants to touch an englishman, or at least not while Im not in the country.

I work in construction as a Quantity Surveyor / Estimator, so basically anything to do with the management of costs for building projects. If you know any contacts let me know haha.

As for the knife, I plan to put it in my main luggage, not my carry on/hand luggage so hopefully shouldnt have an issue, or at least I havent in the past

[jwm]

Only brought a few shot just to get me fishing really, theres not many in there, as Ill be getting bits and bats there.

I'm coming over on a 12 month BUNAC visa, but plan to get work, have been trying to find work for the last 2 months but no one wants to touch an englishman, or at least not while Im not in the country.

I work in construction as a Quantity Surveyor / Estimator, so basically anything to do with the management of costs for building projects. If you know any contacts let me know haha.

As for the knife, I plan to put it in my main luggage, not my carry on/hand luggage so hopefully shouldnt have an issue, or at least I havent in the past


I dont know what a BUNAC visa is, but I'm assuming its something between the UK and Canada. I'm currently living in Canada on a work visa, but my industry isn't really related to yours (Information Technology). Ill let you know if I hear anything though!!

[ben306]

Cheers.

Its like a workinmg holiday visa, it just gives me a means to getting there really. My girlfriend is there and has been for the last year on a working visa.

All in all, I just want to have 12 months enjoying myself, meeting loads of new people and making it a time to remember, with hopefully some good and different fish I dont usually get the chance to catch!

[Ion66]

You'll need a trip to Canadian tire, to check out the fishing section..and maybe Bass Pro shop in Vaughn. Theres such varied fishing available regionally and seasonally. Transportation is often the drawback however.

[ben306]

Take it I should be able to get my licence from Canadian Tire? what do I need as a non resident?

Yeah, transport is the biggest issue, but hopefully Ill find enough good places within walking distance to keep me busy

[jwm]

As a non-resident you may be asked to purchase a full sportsmans license rather than a conservation license.. The price difference is nominal and all the money goes back to the MNR and keeping our sport alive. You can also purchase the license online and print out a copy, thats what I did.. I also never seem to get the real card mailed to me anymore, not that im complaining, but these paper receipts get trashed after a while..

[Clive]

Heres some info on licensing in case you need it...

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165326.html

Looks like you have a decent selection for pike. I'd pick up some big spinner baits and spoons.

I'm gonna try and put together a quick articles on TO pike lures as soon as I have a chance!

[Involuntarily South]

Hehe, teach me how you catch carp in the UK and you have transport...fair trade lol?

[jwm]

Hehe, teach me how you catch carp in the UK and you have transport...fair trade lol?


Are you familiar with hair rigs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oCV20WuvFQ

[Woody]

I learnt last year how to tie Hair Rigs properly and made about 30 up, trouble is now i'll forget how to do them again by the time i've used my supply up, they'll last a few years!

[Woody]

I've just watched that clip, that blokes a right melon!...Anyway because of youtube, i shall never forget my hair rig tying again, all hail mr melon head!

[Involuntarily South]

Hey thats an excellent link thanks. Yes, I am familiar with them. The first few time I tried fishing for carp I copied what I saw the russian guys fishing near me were doing which was just a piece of corn on a hook, no hair rig. Not so much as a bite. Then I did some searching and found out about hair rigs and boilies. So I made some boilies and I also bought some. Same with the hair rigs, bought and made. Then I started getting some hits but no hookups. I think I'm on the right track then. I found a place nearby that sells PVA bags, going there today to get some to try with the hair rigs. I hope I have some luck this weekend. Will let you know how I make out, hopefully I'll have some pics to post :smile:

[Woody]

Hey mate, PVA String works well if you can get that, just thread a few boilies on and chuck, the trouble with the PVA stuff though, if you make a bad cast and wont to try it again, you usually don't have enough time to reel it all the way back in and re-cast without the PVA disintegrating and all the bait falling everywhere in the water!

[jwm]

Sorry for the dumb question, but what is PVA?

[Involuntarily South]

It's polyvinyl alcohol. The bags are water soluble so the dissolve in the water. You fill em with boilies or corn and your baited hook. Then cast out and when it dissolves it will leave a little pile of chum around your bait. They are really hard to find here, I had to drive to Hamilton today (70 km) to get some. But I tried em for the first time today and I caught my first carp. Woo Hoo!!

[Woody]

If i'm Fishing not too far out i'll just use my slingshot to fire a few boilies around my bait but if i'm casting as far as i can see then the only way to go is pva bags, that way you know the bait is all around your hook to attract those Fish!