Grand Opportunites at Belwood Lake

This Saturday, June 4th, 2011, is Grand Opportunities at Belwood Lake Conservation Area.

Grand Opportunities is the on river fly fishing forum hosted by Friends of the Grand River (FOGR). This is a day of fun for fly anglers of all ages and abilities. Curious about fly fishing but you have no experience? This is the day to come out and explore fly fishing. Already an experienced fly angler? Come out to see old friends and make some new ones.

There are free seminars held on the water so you can see the tips and techniques in action. It’s a great way to learn new skills and further your existing ones.

There is also a women’s introduction to fly fishing seminar. It’s an excellent opportunity and it’s free, but requires pre-registration. Spots fill up quickly so make sure to contact FOGR and get your name on the list.

What angler can resist looking for new gear? Come out to look for that special piece of equipment for your collection at the used equipment sale. There are already lots of great items entered in the sale.

You’re sure to work up an appetite after an excellent morning on the water and FOGR is offering a BBQ steak lunch for $15/plate.

The proceeds from this day go towards maintaining a spectacular fishery. Come out, have a great time and support the Grand River tailwater fishery.

The only fee to attend the event is park admission. The event starts around 10am (I’ve been advised that it is smart to get there earlier than that) and goes until 4:30pm or so.

Website Wednesday – OwlJones.com

This week’s featured website is OwlJones.com.

I think most of my readers are very familiar with Owl Jones, but for those of you who are not, you really need to click on the link above and visit the site that is looking for total domination of the fly fishing world!

I first discovered Owl Jones thanks the Outdoor Blogger Network. I clicked on a link and ended up reading a blog post that made me laugh enough for Darrell to think something was wrong with me.

If you’re looking for unique, informative, and downright entertaining posts, OwlJones.com is the place to go.  The latest post, The Tenakara Scam was a great account of the Tenkara system. No idea what Tenkara is? I didn’t have a clue until I read this post.

Do you want to win something? I know I’m always on the lookout for free stuff. OwlJones.com is giving away some neat stuff right now and all you have to do is ‘like’ their Facebook page.  It doesn’t get much easier than that.

My favorite feature right now is Owl Jones Live, the weekly radio show. I don’t seem to be awake when the show comes on Thursdays at 11pm but I’ve caught the podcasts of the first two shows and really enjoyed them. The third installment is tomorrow night and Owl would love suggestions for topics. Don’t miss it!

Even if you’re not into fly fishing you find something interesting at OwlJones.com. Check it out!

Another Full Day At The River

Darrel managed some more nice brookies today.

After the excitement of yesterday’s trout opener I was more than ready to hit the water again today and see what we might come up with.

The day started with a short burst of rain as we headed to a river with a pool holding some large brown trout. With Jack leading the way we crept up to the bank with big, juicy worms dangling on our hooks. The water level had risen and it was harder than yesterday to find a steady spot on the bank. We each cast our worms in and let them drift down with the current. And waited. And waited. And waited some more. Do you sense a pattern? I am an impatient person and fishing with a worm tends to bore me. I would much rather be casting, covering water and changing my lure. It wasn’t long before I took off the worm hook.

Goals For This Fishing Season

The last few days have had me anticipating some fishing. I have spent a lot of time visiting the river and prospecting for good holes for the upcoming trout season. I also spent time visiting tackle shops to pick up new line, and inevitably pick up some new lures. Then today we spent some time cleaning up the boat and started to get it ready to hit the water.

All of these activities have had me thinking even more about the upcoming season and I realized that I have quite a few goals for this year:

1. Learn to fly fish – I received a fly rod for Christmas and although I’ve practiced casting I really haven’t had the chance to use it. I know very little about fly fishing but it’s something I’m eager to learn. Discovering the Outdoor Blogger Network has opened the door to a wealth of blogs with information about fly fishing and I’ve spent the winter reading as much as I could. I can’t wait to take my fly rod down to the river and cast for brook trout in two weeks. I think I’ll invest in a lesson at some point too, it’s always good to lay down a solid foundation.

Fancy Fishing Ears

Photo from www.flyfishergirl.com

Today I received these beautiful earrings in the mail courtesy of a giveaway from Flyfishergirl.com.

I am not a big fan of jewellery…except when it comes to earrings. I love earrings and when I saw these I knew that I had to have a pair. What better way to show off my passion when I’m away from the water? And since receiving these tonight and wearing them for a bit I’ve decided I’ll have to order at least another pair.

Upcoming Fishing Events In Southern Ontario For April 2011

April is a great month for fishing in Southern Ontario. The ice is finally going out and that means fishing is just around the corner. Many anglers are already heading out on Lake Ontario and it won’t be long before other water bodies are open. Until that time there are many fishing events to attend.

Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Symposium
When: April 9, 2011
Where: Waterside Inn, 15 Stavebank Rd., Mississauga (Port Credit Harbour)
A day-long forum concerning Lake Ontario. A look at the agenda reveals a great line-up of presentations on topics such as the status of the trout and salmon fishery, managing the fishery and the Asian carp threat. Advanced registration is required (and free) so visit the website to register.