Rapala MaxRap

Rapala has recently introduced a brand new freshwater lure they’ve dubbed the MaxRap. They designed it to maximize your casting distance with their patented internal MaxCast mechanism. It really is a beautiful looking lure and at 5.25 inches in length its a good size lure for multiple species. The lure retrieves at a depth of 1 to 2 feet and comes in 8 fancy colour patterns

I’ll be picking up one of these badboys for bass as soon as I find a local store that carries them!

Tip to tail everything about the MaxRap is premium. Designed for maximum casting distance, the MaxRap features an aerodynamic shape that combines with its patented internal MaxCast mechanism to deliver unbelievable distance in each cast. Complemented with every imaginable maximum feature like laser-engraved scales, VMC Spark Point hooks and superior quality components. Rip it for darting, wild searching action or straight retrieve for hard-flashing “wounded minnow” Rapala wobble. Discriminating anglers demand the best. Demand the MaxRap.

From The Fishing Fury Archives

I caught this beauty in May 2006 at Toronto Islands. Somehow I forgot to post it here and just came across it while looking through some old photos. The fish was caught on opening day while I was back in Ontario briefly to fish with Jon at Little Vermilion (which probably explains why I never posted it). I only visited the islands three times that year and the fishing was tough.

I had caught a small pike at the same location just minutes before this one smashed my Mepps Aglia #5. I had just made a long distance cast in one of my favorite spots. A small boat was passing by about 50 feet from where my lure hit the water. After a few cranks of the reel everything just stopped. Instinct told me to set the hook, but when I did nothing happened. It was stuck. I knew it wasn’t a snag, because I had fished that area and was familiar with the depths. Suddenly I felt a heavy head shake and I knew it was a big one. She bulldogged down into the weeds and what had felt like a big one now felt like a huge one! I managed to pull her out of the weeds after what felt like an eternity and finally got a good view as she thrashed around on the surface. I got the big pike close to shore and struggled to setup my camera on a picnic table and set the timer. She looked a little beat up, but swam away strong!

My biggest Toronto pike, just shy of 42 inches.

Fly Fishing Tips

I’ve watched several videos on how to fly fish, but this short video is one fo the few that has helped me cast dramatically better!

via Field & Stream

Pike Season Is Here!

Saturday May 2nd marks the first day of pike season in select areas of Ontario. Luckily for me, one of those areas happens to be nearby the place I’m visiting, so if all goes well, I’ll be reporting about some slimy green monsters by this time tomorrow. Every fisherman has their favorite go to lure for pike, and some will tell you it doesn’t matter what you use, you get them. Sometimes pike fishing really is that easy, but the high pressure pike of Toronto Islands cant be tricked by just any lure. Several years ago, when Jon and I first started fishing in Toronto we had enormous luck on Mepps spinner baits, and as far as I’m concerned, you cant get a better early season pike lure off the shelf. People will tell you you need something to fish slower for those inactive pike, but if you use a spinner as much as I do, you know they can be fished at any speed.

I know a lot of our readers will be out tomorrow, so good luck! I’ll be carrying plenty of Fishing Fury stickers with me, so feel free to come and talk to me if you see me, and I can hook you up. I don’t have a proper pike rod with me, but I’ll be attempting to cast out my very own Rockstar Lures that were specifically designed for Toronto Islands pike. Not only are they larger then your average spinner bait, but they are an ideal weight for shore casting the canals throughout the islands.

Heres a shot of an average Toronto pike I caught back in 2006, the last time I had fished the islands heavily.

Keep Fly Fishing Weird

I don’t even know what to say about this one…

via Moldy Chum