The Return To Mystery Lake

It’s been over 5 years since we last visited Mystery Lake and just as long since we’ve fished with our good friend Mike Westlake. Mike would definitely be considered a founding member of Fishing Fury, in our first year he joined us on many of our trips and witnessed us catch trophy fish in every body of water we fished. After some catching up via email a few weeks ago we planned a last minute trip to Mystery Lake last weekend, we knew the trip could only end in a epic tale of man vs beast. And that’s exactly what it happened.

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Updated: I’ve uploaded photos from the trip to the Mystery Lake 2009 photo gallery. I realize the 2004 gallery isn’t even complete and I hope to fix this over the winter.

Ash’s First Fish…Almost

So I’ve been taking my son Ash fishing with me regularly since April. He’s got a solid grasp on reeling even though he isn’t even two years old yet. He has never caught a fish by himself so we went fishing for a few hours yesterday to try and get his first fish. Its was pretty hot out, so we stuck to deep drop offs and he finally hooked into a fish by himself! He hooked into a nice little bass and I could tell he wasn’t quite sure what to make of the whole event. I’m sure it didn’t help that I was running around madly to get the camera. The moment I started recording the event he decided he was done and simply put the rod down on the ground and stepped back. Luckily, the bass wasn’t big enough to take the rod into the drink. I picked up the rod and the fish shook lose – so close!

Ash with a bass at the end of the line.

Bass Season Is Here Ontario!

Its finally here folks, bass season! Makes me wish I still lived in Ontario so Jon and I could be fishing together again. Jon should be fishing at this very moment and hopefully he’ll be getting into some nice size bass. I’m sure he’ll have a report as soon as he gets back into the city. In the meantime, here are a few Ontario bass from previous seasons, submitted by Paul Williams.

7lb 3oz largemouth bass

With this fish, I wasn’t targeting bass at all. I was fishing for perch when I had a follow up from a big dark shadow after reeling in a small one. So I put on my big bobber and casted back out. To my amazement it took the giant balsa wood float straight under. Thinking it was probably a pike, I set the hook and loosened the drag to be ready for what usually takes place when you hook a nice northern. But much to my surprise, I watched my line start to rise quickly to the surface and then the biggest largemouth bass I have ever seen broke water with a giant leap.

Thanks Paul!

Dark Blotches On Bass

This is the first I’ve heard of this strange condition that can affect both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Little is known about the cause of these markings even though this condition was first observed in the 1980s. It is believed that this hyperpigmented melanosis may be a result of catch and release or is a natural defense mechanism against environmental contaminants. There isn’t a lot of conclusive evidence to support either theory 100 percent, but considering both pollutants and catch and release have increased over the years, you expect that these blotches would be extremely common by now.

“The marks seem to eventually disappear, suggesting they may be part of a skin or slime repairing process. I’ve also noted that they seem to disappear faster from smaller adult bass. The largest fish seem to hold them for at least two years.”

More about the Bass Blotch Mystery at WMI

via OFNC

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Hand Feeding Smallmouth Bass

You’ve seen hand feeding pike and hand feeding tarpon, but have you ever seen hand feeding bass?

via Field and Stream

Solid Nova Scotia Smallmouth

I’ve been fishing 3-4 times a week for most of the season here in Nova Scotia. I’ve got plenty of fish, at least 50 bass by my count (they make you track that here on your license). Yet, after all of those bass, I haven’t caught one over a pound. My buddy Dominic from work, just got himself a new fishing rod a few weeks back and took me out to a lake he’s been fishing recently. Right away he catches a nice bass, and then another later that afternoon. Meanwhile I kept catching baby bass after baby bass. I even put on a bigger lure, and still got little fish. I’m gonna chalk it up to beginners luck, but he out fished me bad.

I offered to land this smallmouth for him since it’s been so long since I’ve handled a good size fish