24/7 and RJ.....the first of many trips...

[RJ]

When "Fishing 24/7" showed up on FH I could tell right away this fella just had that passion for fishing....some like to fish....some LOVE to fish.....and I knew at some point I had to fish with him......we've been trying to hook up since fall but our scheds just never lined up until Saturday.....

He invited me to join him on his private access only Pike/Smallie Lake.....yes smallies are in season for those who don't know.....

With the ability to set 5 lines I decided to set 4 tipdowns and jig for smallies.....As 24/7 is dropping his first line down he announces " I got one!"....what the hell?......Thunk....4 pound smallie....on a 6 inch dead minnow as its being dropped down to be set up for pike...



The smallies were like perch to be honest....24/7 peppered the lake with holes and if you hole hoped you'd get one or two out of each hole....

The Vexy in action....



I didn't take a pile of pics of smallies....in fact that's it...

Now onto the pike.......you know you are fishing in the right area when you are pulling this up at times....



The first one is interesting....24/7 had a line way far away from us.....and I saw it tip down.....he checked it....nothing....he yelled there was a secong hole nearby if I wanted to move a line there.....so I did.....as I dropped it....my 8 inch sucker got attacked.....







As the photos were taking place....another one of my tipdowns went down....I told 24/7 to grab it....and game on...





AT one point 24/7 was jigging up smallie after smallie he felt something a little bit better.....



After getting bored of picking on the smallies I went for a walk to check on all the pike baits.....I do this fairly often as I think pike sit and stare at hanging baits alot and if ya give em a bump they will jump on it......so I pulled up the one line which was set in 18 FOW....on its way back down to the depths I felt a solid thud....I let the line go and as it tightened up the rod tipped down.....NICE!

Here's the fun part....I've never had this happen before....the fish got the second hook of the quick strike rig hung in its back in the last thrash at the hole.....so it would come to the hole sideways.....we had to shut the video off to get it out.....24/7 slid his arm down and was able to angle the fish enough to get his head up the hole and I gilled it....great teamwork on this one......had I been alone I likely would have had to just try to pull one of the hooks free which would have been tough.....



Another goodun!



Here's how he was hooked...



And of course....



I had a great day with 24/7.....and will fish with him whenever scheds allow.....his passion for fishing rivals mine....and he's a good fella.

Thanks Kev.

RJ

[QuintePrince]

Now THATS one hell of a good report ..great pics guys!

Aadil

[muskymatt]

Couple good ol boys getting together for some fishin fun......

Great pics and report....


looks like a lot of fun..

[cprince]

Great report RJ! Nice work 24/7 at getting new people to discover our awesome lakes!!

One question; Did you keep any of the pike? Nothing better than the delicate taste of winter pike!!!!

Congratulations RJ on the great day out!! When the soft water season hits... and if you are so inclined, there are a couple of nice bass lakes close to the farm that I fish. I am happy to have company... that goes for anyone who doesn't mind Lynyrd Skynyrd and a blind fold!

Craig

[Bass Addict]

Man I could have sworn I seen 24/7 and RJ drive out of the Tim Horton's.....


Whats next ,, RJ and Bass Addict pound Lake X for some Monster Speckled Trout .



Nice read and report...

[Mike P]

Some nice pike & bass caught in La Belle Province

[Eli]

awesome!

[Fishing 24/7]

when you go fishing with a guy like rj.

all you talk about is fishing NOTHING else!

now thats what I want.

iv got so much to learn and not enough time.

so going out with guys like rj, trophymusky ,muskymatt, all these great guys form the site.

to me is preciouse time on the water to learn and to have fun with awesome fisherman.

even the supers joco makes. i meet guys there that gives me tips man its priceless.



another 4 lbs plus smallie this one was on a jig head tipped with a 3-4 inch minnow.



Robg was nice enough to bring me a vexlar. iv never used one but got the hang of it in no time.

he gave me a 1-2 minute lesson and thats all it took.

Now i need one......

with these we caught over 2 dozen on smallies. usualy ill get 12 in a day.

this unit doubled my catch. watch a great machine!



There was so much slush on the lake. it was something like 3 inched of snow and 3 inches of slush.

trying to release the bass.... well they went in between the two lairs...

not that way little guy.....IN the hole!



here is RJ setting the hook on a smallie.

Hey Rob once again thanks for all the great tips.

1. i need to make new tipdowns as you call them.

2. i need a vex.

3. down size my minnow to get the extra smallies

4. up size my minnows to get the big pike.

5. have fun no matter what the conditions are like!



ps: thanks for the secret behind the gar pike.

[mikemicropterus]

Im am the only one that does not see ice fishing for smallies a good thing to do.

Question for 24/7. How many years have you been doing this and have you seen a decrease in the amount of smallies you catch not only during the summer but during the winter????

I know of 2 MNR biologists who specialise in smallies and they would not recommend targeting winter smallies.

Just a question not trying to stir anything....I love fishing for smallmouths but after spending a day listening to these biologists I am leery of fishing for them through the ice. Just TOO easy once you find where they spend their winters. And it's not the same as getting an occassional largemouth while crappie fishing.

[Fishing 24/7]

well mike id like to hear what they said about the subject?

like why do they think its bad.

and how can it bring down the numbers of small mouth?

no this is the first winter iv been fishing them on this lake.

[RJ]

While I can't speak on the long term effects on smallies thru the ice...I'd find it hard to believe catching a bass from 8 FOW of water and releasing them is doing them any harm at all.....no matter where we went yesterday....they were there....

From what I've seen and been told bass are a nuisance to most who fish in PQ as they all want "dore"....

I do think more damage is being done by smallies being yanked from the depths in the fall than anything that is done on the ice....

Man yesterday was fun.....thanks again Kevin.

RJ

[Cyber]

I am happy to have company... that goes for anyone who doesn't mind Lynyrd Skynyrd and a blind fold!

Craig

Skynyrd & a blindfold?? I guess that'd be OK.

Now if he'd said 'Duelling Banjos' & a blindfold!! YIKES!!


Looks like you 2 had a great day!! Congrats!!

[joco]

2 words here.

GREAT REPORT.

this is what a good ice report is made off.

thanks to share that report RJ.

nice pike and bass by the way..

and i am sher its not worst to catch basss in winter in cold water then in heat summer days..pretty sher its better in winter and safer in winter. and there so many in those lakes...peope actualy dont fish for them in those lakes so...plenty for the one that do.

loves those videos.

hey 24/7..i can see a flasher a purchase you will do soon.


joco

[Out4trout]

Team ACE-RJ
Great report!! Superb vids and pics...

[Wallyboss]

Great report!!!

But just imagine how many fish would've been caught if Steph was there!

24/7 I know what you mean about needing a Vex. First time I used one was on a Sunday, by Monday night i had bought one.