Tag: Toronto

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FISHING Uncategorized

Fishing Grenadier Pond in High Park – The Right Angle RA-21

So Inviting

I will begin this by saying that there are many places to fish in and around the city.  Few are as inviting as Grenadier Pond in High Park though.  Easily accessible by car or TTC.  There is plenty of free parking available.  Restaurants on site in case you are hungry, or in desperate need of a bathroom.  Most of all Grenadier Pond has an abundance of fish.  With all that to offer you would probably assume that I fish here often, but I don’t.  Grenadier Pond does have one thing I’m not very fond of, an abundance of fishermen.

Sharing Space

Something I’ve never quite understood, and I’ve come across it many times in many places, is the attraction to fishing off of a dock or pier.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand why you would select that spot.  It usually has deeper water, a comfortable place to sit, creates a shaded safe haven of sorts for fish, and is easy to get to.  The issue I have isn’t with the actual location. It’s with the number of people that try and share it.  What makes anyone think that their bait will be the one selected when a fish happens to swim by.  I’ve seen relatively small docks with 20 people fishing from it.  The are practically sandwiched together shoulder to shoulder hoping to book the big one of the day.  It just seems ludicrous to me!  Keep in mind that I don’t use live bait either, and a lot of the people fishing from docks do.  I could have the newest lure on the market from Rapala, and it’s still less likely to be as enticing as a live bait.  No offence to Rapala, but they are called artificials for a reason.  Now as ponds go, Grenadier Pond isn’t a little one.  There is a lot of area available to be fished.  Due to it’s location in High Park there are some areas that are off limits to fish.  Those areas are clearly marked though so they are easy to avoid.  Still whenever I go there’s always a large collection of people casting their lines from the one pier of sorts available.

So where to fish?

Like I said Grenadier Pond is quite large.  IvI’ found a number of spots that aren’t to difficult to reach by foot that have yielded me some excellent catches.  The two best in my opinion are at the southernmost end alongside the Queensway Blvd, and the north end casting from the west bank.  Time of day plays a role as well.  If you plan on giving the northern tip a try, I would suggest early morning just before sun up.  Later in the day the predator fish tend to move south, although you can catch a variety of sunfish all day long.  In the evening the southern section of Grenadier Pond yields the best catches.  I’ve  pulled very nice sized Bass and Crappie in the evening from a spot just off of Ellis Ave.  There are a number of easily accessible places to cast all around Grenadier Pond, but it’s always best to pick a location less frequented by tourists.  Unless you enjoy constant questions about what you have caught that day, what you are using for bait, and don’t mind being photographed.  Now I’m quite photogenic (at least my Mom tells me so) but part of the reason I enjoy fishing so much is the solitude.  Fishing is a brief respite from the chaos of the city.  It takes a little bit of effort but you can even get a sense of being away from it all if you pick the right spot on Grenadier Pond.

 

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FISHING Uncategorized

Finally the weather cooperates! – The Right Angle RA-20

It’s about time!

It only took until late April for the weather to hold long enough for my wife and I to consider going fishing.  It honestly feels like a year has passed since the last time we went.  Winter feels like that in Canada at times.  Like the cold weather is neverending.  Well it finally did, and on a quiet Monday morning we decided to give the credit river mouth a try.  Fortunately for us access to the river is conveniently reached by transit.  Less than 20 minutes on the TTC, and then another 30 minutes or so by GO train, and you are only a few minutes walk from the river.  There are restaurant and coffee shops nearby, and an arena with public washrooms only a short walk away.  On a weekday it’s relatively quiet in the morning.  Only the occasional local taking their dogs for a walk come across us fishing.  In other words it’s a perfect spot to cast, and hopefully catch something on a weekday morning as the sun rises.

Pleasant company

This portion of the credit river is better known for rowing than fishing.  Periodically we would take a break from casting spinners and spoons to watch the rowers zip by us.  A couple of swans made their way to us out of interest but quickly moved on.  For about an hour we saw another gentleman fishing from the opposite bank with worms.  He had a folding lawn chair with him, and just cast out his line then settled in.  There was a cool breeze coming in off the lake, but the rising sun provided just enough warmth to keep us comfortable.  Early on it seemed as though our efforts weren’t going to be rewarded. For the first hour we hadn’t even got as much as a nibble on either of our lines.  Normally that would be enough to sour my mood, but with this being our first time out on what was sure to be a beautiful day I didn’t mind.

Would our luck change?

There’s always that moment when you have been fishing one area long enough that you struggle with moving on.  Especially when fishing from shore.  You wonder if there might be a shallow rocky pool, or tree that’s fallen into the river a little further upstream where the fish could be hiding.  Have you been endlessly casting into a section of the river that’s totally devoid of fish?  Well in this case that seemed impossible being so close to the river mouth.  There had to be fish there.  Stubbornly I stood my ground, and continued to cast until my shoulders and arms hurt.  Finally after about 3 hours my determination was rewarded.  Unfortunately for me the reward wasn’t mine.  It was my wife’s.

“I got one” she exclaimed!  I was in the middle of my retrieve so I looked over my left shoulder to see her rod severely bent, a look of pure determination on her face, and the fat body of a fish splash back into the river.  She had hooked a serious lunker!  Now we caught some pretty nice Bass last year, but just a glimpse of what she had on the line was enough for me to realize that this beauty was going to eclipse all of those.  The catch of the year might well be the first one we make!  I quickly reeled my line in as she fought to bring the lunker in.  To get to where my wife was I had to carefully traverse some rocks that made up the shoreline.  When I was merely 6 feet from her I saw the beast jump clear out of the river once more.  Almost definitely a lake trout, it’s scales reflecting the sunlight.  That last jump was so close to shore that my wife could have probably reached out and caught that fish.  She didn’t catch it though.  That last jump proved to be just what the beast needed to shake the lure loose. One last splash and the lunker was gone.  The only evidence that it was ever there was the look of astonishment on my wife’s face.  In the end we didn’t land anything that day.  Even so the urge to return to Port Credit and try our luck again couldn’t be greater.   On a day that we actually caught nothing, I doubt that I could have been more satisfied if we did.

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GOLF Uncategorized

Giga Golf TRX Power Slot Irons – An Ongoing Cobe Life Review

Is there a discernable difference?

Those of you that follow me across my many social media platforms.  You’ll know that I spend a fair amount of time researching any product I’m interested in purchasing.  This year one of the items I was most interested in acquiring was a new set of Irons.  My primary concerns were that they be fit to me.  By fit I mean bent to the correct lie angle, and cut to the correct length. I wanted something that was Game improving, but without the chunky topline. Lastly I didn’t want to have to break the bank to buy them.  I found a number of potential sets, but in the end the TRX Power Slot Irons from Giga Golf were the winners. But were they the right choice?

Why did they win?

What really made the difference was their custom design process.  I had been casually fit before at a Golf Town.  I hadn’t gone through their entire fitting process but a representative made suggestions based on my swing, and face contact.  Unless you live in Florida, Giga Golf is strictly a custom online order manufacturer.  Not being able to try the Irons before you purchase them is usually a non starter for me.  Giga Golf understands this and offers a 30 day test period.  That still wasn’t what swayed me.  What their custom design process allows you to do is not only have them bent to the correct lie angle, and cut to length.  You can also select which shaft, and grip combination you prefer.  The only thing that potentially increases the price is the shaft and grip selection.  They don’t charge you anything extra for the lie angle adjustment, and shaft length.  Every other set I had researched would have required an additional cost to get them fit.  The Giga Golf Irons were an absolute steal when you realize that they were anywhere from 40% to 60% cheaper than the OEM companies Irons.

Is quality determined by price?

The greatest fear when buying something that’s cheap is that it’s just that, CHEAP!  I received my set of Irons in the middle of Canadian winter.  So it wasn’t like I was going to get out on a course with them any time soon.  Instead I took them to the simulator for initial testing.  What I learned the first few times out to the simulator is this.  I’m 5’10” 200lbs athletic build so it didn’t require a lot of adjustment to fit the Irons to me.  They are half an inch shorter, and one degree more upright than my original off the rack set.  My swing didn’t feel all that different, but the strain on my body was significantly reduced.  I didn’t suddenly stripe every shot like some people hope will happen when you get fit.  My face contact was significantly improved though.  Was I pleased with my purchase at that time.  I definitely was!  After hitting 100 balls my shoulders weren’t sore.  I didn’t hit so many shots out of the heel.  My confidence with my Irons was greatly improved.  But would I feel the same way once the snow melted, and I finally got to play them out on a course?

Finally got to play a Round of Golf

The weather finally held for a few days, and on April 23, 2018 I finally got to play with my new Irons on a course.  I was pumped!  For those of you that live in warmer climates.  You have no idea what kind of personal torture Canadian winter can be to a dedicated Golfer. So you understand I’m going to preface this story with the knowledge that I didn’t play particularly well that day.  To say that I played like shit, wouldn’t be fair to shit.  For the first time out in a Season though it’s nothing new.  I go through it every year.  My Tee shots were so bad, that by the ninth hole I started to experiment with not using a Tee.  I’m sure some of you have been there.  Usually my second shot gets me out of trouble.  Not that day.  That whole Round of Golf would have been forgettable if it wasn’t for my approach shots from 150 yards and in.  In other words, my Giga Golf TRX Power Slot Irons made what was becoming a terrible day, at least bearable.  Two best clubs in the bag that day were my 6 Iron, and 9 Iron.  I did chunk a 6 Iron really bad once.  You know when you chunk it so bad that you feel the reverberation all the way down to your toes?  Well it didn’t actually hurt too bad.  I went with the True Temper Featherlight steel shafts, and that chunk shot could have been an advertisement for the quality.  It had snowed the week before so I was expecting a mushy course.  Full marks to Hidden Lake Golf In Burlington Ontario for having the course well ready for play.  There was some snow left in a few spots but it wasn’t a factor.  Still every club got dirty, and the TRX Power Slot Irons were as easy to clean as any of the rest.  I was playing Srixon Q-star balls that day and judging by the Pitch marks, and scuff marks.  The Giga Golf Irons were generating a lot of spin.  I had seen some good spin numbers in the simulator.  Until you experience the real on course results you never know.  I wasn’t disappointed at all.  Unlike the Super Game Improvement Irons I had before, I could really attack flag positions.   Hopefully my next time out I’ll be on my game, and take full advantage of the stopping power.

Durability concerns

The only negative thing i have to report is that after about 6 times in the Simulator, 1 trip out to the Range, and 1 Round of Golf.  The shiny toe on the face of my Pitching Wedge has a noticeable scuff mark.  Now for some people that’s an insignificant thing.  Irons get scuffed up.  It’s just a matter of time.  Still this was quick.  At this point I can’t tell if it’s the result of the steel Giga Golf uses, or if it was just a bad Range ball that caused it.  As the Season continues I’ll have more information for you.  I’ve read a number of reviews about the black steel Giga Golf Irons that raised concerns about the finish.  Maybe that’s all it is.  A thin finish will scuff quickly.  As long as the performance isn’t affected it won’t bother me.

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GOLF

Golf & Travel show Giveaway!!!

Got to Play to Win!

This contest is open to all North American Subscribers. All you have to do is complete the three steps to enter.  This contest is totally free!

Step 1 – If you haven’t already Subscribe to this blog.  Use the Subscription field provided below.

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It’s as easy as that! If any of the links aren’t working from your device?  Copy and Paste the links into your browser.

Gain additional entrys by introducing yourself to me at the Toronto Golf and Travel show this weekend and saying “I’m a fan of Cobe Life Golf”. I’ll be easy to spot. Just look for the guy in Orange pants!  Contest will close February 28th, and the draws will be held on March 1rst.

Thank you for becoming a member of the Cobe Life crew.  Good luck!

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GOLF Uncategorized

All about Forgiveness – Beginner’s guide to Golf

What is Forgiveness?

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Forgiveness is a term used over and over again in Golf equipment reviews.  What it is, and why you need to be aware of how it will effect your game is the focus of this post.  There’s a common misconception that Forgiveness is just a simpler way of saying easier to hit.  Just because a club is Forgiving doesn’t guarantee that it will be easy to hit.  For instance I have used both Cavity back Wedges (Forgiving) and Bladed Wedges (Unforgiving).  The feedback I feel through the hands with a Bladed Wedge has helped me be far more accurate when chipping or pitching.  Even though the Cavity back Wedges are actually more Forgiving.  They aren’t easier to hit in those situations.  What actually makes a club Forgiving is having a larger sweet spot, and in most cases a lower center of gravity.  Forgiveness is all about getting the most from your club when you miss hit it.

We all want center face contact

You’ve heard it described many ways.  “Man you caught it flush”!  “I hit that one on the screws”!  “I can’t hit it any better than that”!  However you choose to describe it, one thing is for certain.  Very little feels better than making center face contact with a full swing.  First of all hitting it out of the sweet spot is gentler on the hands.  The end result is usually very satisfying as well.  In most cases it even sounds better.  So who wouldn’t want the sweet spot on their clubs to be as large as possible?  Believe it or not but quite a few people would prefer small to medium sized sweet spots instead of large ones.  Sounds crazy right?  Well that’s what I thought also.  Now I’m one of those people.  My next set of Irons are going to have a medium sized sweet spot. I’ll go into detail as to why I have chosen to go this route.  There are many different methods that can be utilized to increase the size of the sweet spot on a club.  Perimeter weighting, moving the center of gravity further back from the face of the club, and increasing the amount of flex the face of the club has on impact are just a few methods.  Whichever method a club manufacturer chooses to use essentially achieves the same result.  Miss hits should fly a little further, and a little straighter.  To help you better understand how this translates into real world results I’ll share some actual simulator numbers with you.  At the time I hit my super forgiving 7 Iron about 140 yards when I absolutely flushed it.  Even if I hit my 7 Iron off the toe of the club with a good swing I’d send it about 133 yards, and maybe 10 yards off line.  I tested a far less forgiving forged blade with a small cavity back and averaged 138 yards when I caught it perfect.  I attributed the 2 yards lost to a weaker loft with the forged blade.  The real difference was when I miss hit it.  Catching one off the toe only yielded me 126 yards, and 11 yards off line.  That’s more than a full club shorter for me.  Being 11 yards off line at only 126 yards out is close to being a slice.  Now you are probably wondering after seeing those numbers why I would even consider switching to less Forgiving clubs.  Hell why would anyone?

Sweet swingers

Some of us, and I’m not included in this particular group make center face contact most of the time.  If you have your swing fully dialed in?   Then Forgiveness isn’t really necessary for you to produce a great round of golf.  You’re already at that point that so many Beginners like myself aspire to reach.  You can seemingly hit the ball relatively straight at will.  For the majority of us, that’s all we are after.  Foolishly we believe that will be enough.  Chances are good that when that day comes you will want to do more.  You will want to start shaping the ball.  This brings us to our next common misconception about Forgiving clubs.  Supposedly you can’t shape shots with Forgiving clubs.  Anyone that tells you that is flat out lying.  There are many ways to shape a shot.  Club swing path, face angle at impact, and face contact position all play a role.  My clubs are about as Forgiving as clubs can be, and I can hit a butter cut, or power fade if I want.  I couldn’t hit a draw with my clubs but that’s more about my limitations than the clubs.  What you need to understand is that the more Forgiving the club, the more difficult it becomes to shape the ball.  As the sweet spot increases in size, the amount of space left on the face of the club to influence shape is reduced.  As the center of gravity is moved further back to help Beginners hit the ball straighter, the more difficult it becomes to create a curved shot.  So when you’ve reached that point where you are ready to start shaping the ball.  A super forgiving set of clubs might actually work against your improvement.  So that’s got to be it then.  I must be looking for a less Forgiving set of Irons because I’m ready to start shaping shots.  Truth is I’m not ready.  Not even close to ready actually.  So why then Cobe? WHY!

Feedback

You are finally going to find out why I’ve decided to switch to a less Forgiving set of Irons.  I made my decision on a Sunny afternoon on a Par 3 at Scarlett Woods Golf course in Toronto.  The hole was playing at 155 yards to the center of the green.  The Pin was set left center so it set up well for my natural shot shape which is a little right to left.  I hit my 6 Iron about 155 yards with a full swing so time to let her rip.  My swing felt perfect.  I made great contact, and even heard that satisfying pop off the face of the club.  I watched the ball launch towards the target until I lost sight of it in the sun.  I switched my focus to the Green eagerly awaiting the Ball’s return to earth.  Hopefully within a safe distance for a chance at birdie.  I never saw it land.  Oh shit I thought.  I caught it so perfect that I flew the Green.   With  bushes, and a muddy marsh behind the Green I was getting prepared for another bogey.  While searching behind the Green for my ball my playing partner noticed another ball about 10 yards short of the green.  At first I figured that it must have been somebody else’s lost ball.  Turns out that it was mine.  Somehow I came up 15 yards short.  Seriously!  But I made perfect contact!  Well on closer inspection what I thought was perfect contact was actually high on the face, and a bit chunky.  The issue was the Feedback.  There really was none.  I’ve learned that I shouldn’t assume  I’ve hit a great golf shot until I’ve verified the result.  Forgiving clubs tend to provide very little Feedback.  Even though improved miss hits can definitely help a Beginner get through a round of golf with an acceptable score.  If you are serious about furthering the development of your game?  Playing golf with clubs that provide a decent amount of Feedback are important to have as well.  If you are unsure of when you make poor contact.  You won’t be able to effectively adjust your swing to where you can fully trust it.  It’s going to take a bit of practice, but knowing when I make perfect contact is going to seriously improve my game.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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FANTASY FISHING GAMING GOLF Uncategorized

Cobe Life Christmas Gifts Top 8

It’s getting close to crunch time!

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By now you have probably walked the equivalent of a half marathon at the mall.  I know I’m beginning to feel like one of the Knights Templar on a Grail quest.  Each year it seems to get a little more difficult to find the right gift.  While the malls seem to get a lot more chaotic.  The reason for this is actually quite simple if take a moment to think about it.  With each thoughtful gift you purchase for someone special.  The next time you purchase a gift for that person, one of the possible items is already off the list.  What was once obvious, has now become obscure.  Should the holiday season be this stressful?  I should hope not.  So in the spirit of giving I’ve decided to put together a list of potential gifts you might have overlooked.  Gifts that will potentially surprise, show consideration, or just make things a little easier for the recipient.  So without any further ado, here’s my list.

The Top 8

1 – Memory card

Digital devices have become an integral part of almost everyone’s lives.  Cellphones, tablets, digital readers, digital cameras, and media players find their way into our pockets, and purses.  There was a time not too long ago that 16gb was more than enough space for anything.  16gb is barely enough for the operating system, some music, your favourite apps, and a few photos on your cellphone these days.  It might seem like a small thing, but a Memory card will definitely be appreciated.

2 – Orthotic insoles

I’ve lived a fair amount of my life with sore feet.  When I was younger I played soccer, ran track, was a street style skateboarder, and snowboarder.  Needless to say I did a significant amount of damage to my feet.  A few years ago I was told that I needed Orthotics.  From the very first step I took with the new insoles I wondered how I could have ever taken a step without them.  The change was so dramatic, and my demeanor so improved that my wife decided to try them.  Although she doesn’t require Orthotics, the improved comfort, and additional support make every day easier.  This is one of the surprise gifts I was talking about.  The recipient might not think much of the gift at first.  Convince them to wear them while fighting through crowds during boxing week, and I guarantee they’ll thank you.

3 – Coffee warmer

Who doesn’t know somebody that really loves their coffee?  For a lot of people, their day doesn’t begin until they’ve had their cup.  These are busy times, and many of us lead busy lives.  In between each satisfying sip of our favourite brew we might be getting ready for work, or already at work getting prepared for our day.  It doesn’t take long for the morning brew to get cold.  So what do we do?  We risk scalding our throats by drinking our first coffee of the day ridiculously fast.  But what if you didn’t have to?  With a coffee warmer on your desk at work or the kitchen table at home.  You could go about your morning routine without worrying the coffee is getting cold.

4 – Cellphone Camera Lens

Unless you are actually on holiday, the chances are slim you have a camera with you.  Well you do have a camera of sorts.  The cameras built into our cellphones have significantly improved over the years.  The picture quality is so good that carrying a traditional camera is almost unnecessary.  Unless you are really after high quality zoom, or macro photography shots.  Well with the addition of a simple clip on lens, small enough to carry in your pocket.  Your cellphone will gain some of the capabilities of a full size camera.  Instagram fans will thank you, and flood your wall with photos.

5 – Sports Cap or Toque

This probably seems obvious to a lot of you.  If you know a true sports fan.  Chances are good that you’ve seen them wearing a Cap or Toque with their team’s logo.  That’s exactly why I wouldn’t consider this an obvious gift.  Why get someone a gift that they already have?  Because they will smile wide and thank you for it. That’s why!  As most of you already know, I’m a true sports fanatic.  As a fan of the Denver Broncos I currently have two Caps, and a Toque.  My father is from the Netherlands so I support their soccer team.  I currently have four Netherlands soccer Caps.  Each one is slightly different, and I wear them all.  This is the one gift on this list that you definitely can’t go wrong with.  When in doubt, get them what they already love.

6 – Touch Screen Gloves

I actually got a pair of these as a gift a couple years ago.  They have quickly become my favourite gloves.  I couldn’t even tell you where my other gloves are.  I know that I have at least five pairs gloves, but my cellphone is so important to me I wouldn’t even consider wearing the others.  The original Touch Screen Gloves were about as simple as can be.  Now there are all sorts of styles to go with any outfit.  Everyone knows someone that could benefit from having a pair of these.

7 – Heated Scarf

Do I own one?  No, it’s definitely not the most masculine of gifts.  Hardcore hipsters aside, a Heated Scarf would be a welcome gift for any woman that has to brave the bitter cold of winter.  Have I tried one?  Yes, for the purposes of this article I figured it was important to get a first hand feel for what it’s like.  Even though I’m in great shape, and a little cold weather doesn’t really bother a man like me.  I found the Heated Scarf to be quite comfortable, and even soothing.  At least for the extremely short period of time that I actually wore it.  Still I can definitely recommend it.

8 – Saxx underwear

A few years ago I saw Saxx underwear for the first time while watching an episode of Dragons’ Den.  Men’s underwear specifically designed with a built in pouch to keep your family jewels from chaffing while playing sports, or just a long day at work.  The idea seemed simple enough, and being an active individual I was intrigued.  A couple years later while shopping I saw them for sale at a retail store for the first time.  I just had to try them so I bought a pair.  Saxx aren’t the most inexpensive of underwear.  One pair of Saxx cost what three pairs of boxer briefs used to cost me.  After wearing that first pair for one day.  I immediately returned to the store and bought the remaining three in my size.  Today the only underwear I wear is Saxx.  That’s how much of a game changer this underwear is to me.  They’ve expanded their lines to include compression sports briefs, and long johns as well.  Before you ask I do have some of both.  I’ve sung their praises to so many people that they should have made me a brand ambassador by now.  If you know an athletic guy, don’t hesitate.  Get him a pair of Saxx.

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FISHING

The End is Nigh – The Right Angle RA-17

It keeps getting colder

Every morning I get out of bed, and the hardwood floors feel a little bit colder.  I can deny it as much as I want but the floors don’t lie.  Winter is coming!  The Starks would be happy.  I’m sure as hell not.  Winter and I don’t mix.  I tried to enjoy snowboarding enough to make winter just a little bit fun.  It didn’t work.  The bitter cold, snowstorms, and brutal winds make anything outdoors it’s own form of torture.  So begins the countdown till spring.  For those of you that visit my website hoping for a new post on fishing.  Winter is like the break before your favourite television show’s final Season.  You wait patiently in anticipation of what will happen next.  Will it be what everyone expects, or some crazy twist?  Of course they could ruin everything you’ve watched by totally screwing up the ending like they did in Lost.  During the off season you don’t just sit alone in your basement and wait.  You fill the void that’s left with whatever substitute you can find.

. Did I mention that I fell through the ice of the pond behind my house as a child?  Well I did.  Twice actually.  All I can remember is how brutally cold it was.  Especially when the legs of my jeans froze solid and stuck to my thighs.  I wasn’t afraid I’d drown.  The Pond wasn’t that deep where I went through.  The walk back to the house in the freezing cold could have probably killed me though.  Now I imagine falling through the ice while fishing out on the middle of some lake.  If I didn’t drown I’d probably die from setting myself on fire.

The sad reality

Now here’s the Kicker.  I don’t want to leave everyone hanging until spring.  Sure I’ll probably take at least one fishing trip, and definitely go to the Toronto Sportsman show.  That will provide me with a few things to write about, but it’s far from enough.  So maybe, just maybe mind you.  Purely for those of you that are dedicated to my Fishing posts, and because it could be the most brutally entertaining video I end up posting on YouTube.  I might actually go Ice Fishing this winter for the very first time.  If I go please wish me luck.  If I don’t return?  When people ask about me.  Tell them that I was the kind of guy that would risk it all to make everyone else’s life just a little bit better.

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FISHING Uncategorized

Popular spots – The Right Angle RA-15

Don’t dismiss the classic spots

Everyone knows about the popular fishing holes in their area.  There’s nothing secret about them.  Usually they have signs posted that are supposed to alert tourists to where they are allowed to fish.  If you have lived in the area for a long time.  You undoubtedly have stories about trophy catches you made there as a kid.  You remember the days when you used to go fishing there on the weekend, and you might come across three or four other people Fishing each day.  You can’t even remember when the last time you fished there was.  All you remember was that there were so many people Fishing that day that you couldn’t find a spot open enough to have room to cast.  Friends you grew up fishing with have told you that too much Fishing pressure there has made landing anything worthwhile practically hopeless.  Well if that’s the case, then why are people still fishing there?  The answer is simple.  Barring an ecological disaster, where there’s been fish, there always will be fish.  Trust me when I tell you that the person that goes fishing only a few times a year won’t spend a day casting unless they see other people catching fish.  The reason those classic spots are so busy is because there’s always somebody catching something.  Sure it may not be anything worth telling stories by the fire about.  Still the thrill of the catch is always there when somebody else lands a fish.  Now maybe you are more like me, and Fishing is also about getting away from it all, and finding a little solitude.  It won’t matter much to me if I land a decent sized fish if there’s a family of tourists snapping pictures of it over my shoulder.  I’ve had that happen more than once actually.  So then why am I telling you don’t dismiss the classic spots?

The tourist fishing season is over

Now keep in mind that I’m talking about Southern Ontario.  When the temperature begins to drop, Thanksgiving turkey is all gone, and parents are focused on getting there kids Halloween costumes.  Suddenly those popular spots you no longer consider fishing because everyone, and their dog will be there become totally devoid of fishermen.  That’s right, I shit you not.  The only people Fishing now are Fanatics like you and me.  We are more likely to travel an extra hour or two to one of our secret spots than just take a quick trip down the street to that fishing hole everyone knows about.  I figured this out a few years ago by total fluke.  I was watching football at a friend’s place who lives really close to High Park.  After the second game we decided to take his dog for a walk through the Park.  When we walked passed Grenadier Pond where I would normally see at least half a dozen people Fishing at this time, there was no one.  Not a soul.  The Pond looked eerily still.  I found myself wishing I had a fishing rod with me.  Was it just a coincidence I thought.  I had to know so I came back the next weekend with a collapsible Rod and Reel.  My suspicions were correct.  There was nobody there.  I was rewarded for bringing the Rod with me because it took less than an hour for me to land a nice sized Bluegill.  I mentioned in my last Fishing post how I hate Salmon Season.  Well as the Salmon running hype slows down, the classic spots begin to open up.  Do yourself a favour and save yourself the trip up north.  Just pack up a portable tackle box, and give the local fishing hole a try.

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FISHING Uncategorized

Salmon Season – The Right Angle RA-14

I hate this time of year

Every fall quite a few of our Southern Ontario Rivers are overrun with Salmon.  For many fishermen this is an exciting time of year.  Well it isn’t for me.  Part of what got me interested in fishing was the difficulty of it.  Making your way up and down a River hoping to get a sudden strike.  You won’t find me on a boat with fish finders, or depth gauges.  I don’t have thousands of dollars of high tech equipment to locate exactly where each fish is hiding.  I don’t fish in stocked ponds in order to guarantee a catch.  I’m a purist.  Not a total purist because I don’t Fly Fish.  I have huge respect for those of you that do.  It’s something I’d like to try one day out on the River with an experienced Fly Fisherman.  I just haven’t had the time or opportunity to do so yet.  I use a Spincast Rod and Reel.  It’s what I’ve used for years, and I’ve become very adept at the subtleties of casting with it.

Dumb questions

Quite a few of my friends know how serious I am about fishing.  When word gets out that the salmon are running they inevitably give me a call.  These are people I rarely hear from.  Usually our correspondence is through Facebook or Instagram.  As soon as I answer the phone I know what question is coming.  “Which lures would you suggest for Salmon”?  It doesn’t sound like a dumb question does it?  Actually if they asked me the exact same question at a different time of the year I would provide them with a serious answer.  During the few weeks that the Salmon are running though.  It’s got to be one of the dumbest questions ever.  I’ll tell you what I tell them.  Whichever lure you own with the greatest number of large hooks.  It doesn’t matter the colour, style, brand, or size.  As long as it has a bunch of hooks on it, and adding a trailing hook wouldn’t hurt either.  This is my advice, and I’m sure you know why.  You are far more likely to snag a salmon while they are running then get a legitimate strike.  In some cases you can land far more fish with a long handled net.  Just leave your Rod and Reel at home.

Zero challenge endeavor

If something is far too easy, then why do it.  As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons I love fishing is the difficulty of it.  Although I have done it on occasion, I don’t enjoy sight fishing all that much.  I’d much rather get a good hook set off a sudden strike than watching for when a fish is about to take my lure.  The more information you have before a fish strikes, the less enjoyable landing it becomes.  Fishing for Salmon during the run is like sight fishing on steroids.  It’s so easy to land a fish that the satisfaction of doing so is gone.  What makes it even worse is that the same friends that ask me what to use.  Subsequently post pictures of their “catch” after.  That’s like playing a game of one on one basketball against a six year old, and then bragging that you beat them handily.

It had to be Salmon

Here’s the kicker.  If you were to ask me what my favourite fish to eat was.  I wouldn’t even hesitate.  I’d tell you it was Salmon.  I absolutely love Salmon.  So much so that I was on a cruise to Alaska, and one the highlights was having fresh Alaskan Salmon fried for me with only Salt and Pepper as seasoning.  If we weren’t on a schedule I could have just stayed there, and continued to eat salmon until I passed out.  The temptation to just take a quick trip down to the river to snatch a few salmon is huge.  So why don’t I?  First of all the majority of salmon that are making their run aren’t the best to eat.  Secondly you will know that I don’t keep what I catch.  I am a catch and release fisherman.  Thirdly, and this is essentially what this post is all about, it’s just too damn easy.  Now I enjoy watching the Salmon Running as much as the next person.  I just hope that I don’t go down to the river, and spot an “angler” taking a selfie with their trophy fish.

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FISHING Uncategorized

Why Fishing? The Right Angle RA-13

What do you love about Fishing?

Every now and then I’ll have a friend ask me, “hey what are you up to this weekend”?  “I’m going fishing”, is my answer.

“Fishing”

The way they say it as both a question why, and a confused combination of how and where?  Now I’m sure that a lot of you get that same why response.  I get the confused combination of how and where because I live in the heart of Toronto.  Even though Toronto is situated on Lake Ontario, quite a few people still assume that it isn’t a place to go fishing.  Come on people, it isn’t just any old lake.  It’s a Great Lake!  That being the case I only spend roughly half of my time fishing in Toronto on Lake Ontario.  I fish many of the rivers and ponds in the city as well.  Now keep in mind that I prefer to fish from shore.  If I owned a boat I’d spend far more time fishing Lake Ontario.

“Are they even safe to eat”?

I get this question quite often as well.  Yes the fish you catch in and around Toronto are safe to eat.  We’re talking about Toronto here, not Chernobyl!  Now do I eat the fish that I catch?  Actually I don’t.  I’m strictly a catch and release fisherman.  “Then what’s the point” they ask?  I get this question quite often as well.  It’s usually followed by “what if you don’t catch anything”?  Of course I would like to land that trophy fish every time I go out.  Of course we all know that it just doesn’t happen.  Honestly though it doesn’t really matter.  Whether I catch or not, just being out on a beautiful day with only the sound of the river is satisfying enough.  In fact I enjoy some of the exact same things fishing provides that another one of my favourite sports Golf provides.  You get to escape from the daily grind, enjoy beautiful scenery, feel a sense of solitude not easily found within a city, and challenge yourself to improve a skill not easily mastered.  There is also the possibility of something absolutely amazing happening.  Catching that particular species of fish that’s incredibly rare, or hitting that hole in one.  If that doesn’t keep you coming back then you must be a total pessimist.  Look I’m not a world class professional fisherman by anyone’s standard.  I’m not sponsored by Minn-Kota, or Mepps.

Do I expect to land a trophy Musky some day?  Damn right I do!  It isn’t like I travel up north and fish Musky filled rivers.  People have caught Musky in the Greater Toronto Area before, so why can’t I.  To really be passionate about fishing.  You have to believe that a day will come that inspires a story that you will tell for years to come.  The kind of story that captivates an audience whether they are also Anglers or not.  A story that you are so proud of, that you grin every time you tell it.

If you haven’t read my The Right Angle RA-12 My greatest catch post, then I suggest that you do.  It contains one such story.  This particular story happened when I was still a kid.  Obviously I still tell it.  Like any great fishing story it only gets better the more you tell it.  People can’t stop asking me why I fish?

The sunrise that warms you while you are fishing on the river.

That monster strike when you least expect it.

That amazing story that you never get tired of telling.

The possibility of something truly magical happening at any moment.

Now you know why.