by Exist To Fish | Aug 22, 2016 | Attractants, Bass, crankbaits, Featured, News, Tips, tricks and How To's
Hot Summer Tactics To say this has been a hot summer is an understatement. With countless scorching days along with little rain, this bass season has truly been a grind for many anglers. Low water levels, high water temperatures and nothing but sunny days means tough, hard to predict fishing right? Well, not really. Are bass easy to predict? Yes. Are they less than agreeable? Kinda. Don’t cuss me out just yet. At this point of the season there are a few key variables that make for a seemingly difficult equation to solve for the best of anglers. Really, the variables or unknowns are where and when do these ghost-like fish show up? Feeding windows become dramatically shortened and strike zones shrink which can make for a pretty frustrating day on the water. Smallmouth will suspend at various depths in relation to the thermolcline (a steep temperature gradient marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures) and where the forage they are targeting are located. Their green cousins, largemouth bass, can be found on deep weedlines, under trees, docks or buried beneath undercut banks. Now, we are talking about mid-day, but what about dusk periods? What about cloudy days with a falling barometer? Put that stuff on the backburner for a moment. These are the dog days of summer so just focus on the things you can control. As smallmouth “suspend” does that mean they aren’t oriented to the bottom? No – not at all. One great tactic right now is dragging on bottom. This is a great option because you can cover...
by Exist To Fish | Jul 19, 2016 | Featured, Muskie, Product Reviews
Date: 7/20/2016 Product type: Flexible inline spinner Manufacturer: Muskie Metal Lures Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: Muskie metal lures are a very unique product tin a saturated buck tail market. This is a bucktail that flexes! Built around stainless steel wire instead of a solid heavy gauge wire. (Flexible Double 10) Specifications Type Flexible inline spinner Length 10.5 “ Weight 3.1 oz Material Stainless steel flexible wire Hooks 7/0 brass treble Colors Many combinations available Origin USA MSRP 24.99 USD Quality/Construction: This is a product that will stand up year after year. double #10 Colorado blades, Double Magnum Flashabou skirts that have been cemented onto the body and triple cable tied with military grade ties, brass weights and solid metal beads, Wolverine triple split rings and a single Mustad 7/0 treble hook. All lures are built using a stainless steel flexible wire to make this one of the most durable bucktails on the market today. Quality Ratings for (Flexible Double 10) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 5 4 17 20 8.5 Performance: The blades pop instantly! No stall in the figure 8 and the bait never requires retuning. It simply returns to its original shape fish after fish. Performance Ratings (Flexible Double 10) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 5 5 5 25 25 10 Features/Design: Flexible allows for fewer tangles during casts. No concerns about the bait bending after a fish is caught. The flexible wire allows the...
by Exist To Fish | Jul 18, 2016 | crankbaits, Featured, Product Reviews
Date: 7/19/2016 Product type: Hardbait/crankbait Manufacturer: Matzuo America Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: The Nano minnow is an extremely versatile little bait. Catching fish of all sizes!. We have had a tone of success with this little fellow. (Nano Minnow) Specifications Type Minnow style crankbait Length 2 ¼” Weight 1/8 oz Material Plastic Hooks nickel Colors 9 options Origin USA MSRP 7.99 USD Quality/Construction: The bait has an exceptional lifelike appearance and finish. It can take a beating and come out just fine. We have caught just about everything on this little bait. From panfish to Pike. Quality Ratings for (Nano Minnow) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 4 4 16 20 8 Performance: Features of Matzuo Nano Minnow Lures include: Bright, prismatic finishes Durable contoured bodies Matzuo black chrome treble hooks with stainless steel split rings Realistic 3-D eyes Floating l Performance Ratings (Nano Minnow) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 5 5 5 25 25 10 Features/Design: The Nano Minnow features lifelike 3-D eyes, highly reflective prism finish, and quality black chrome Matzuo® hooks. Delicately weighted and balanced to provide optimal action whether casting, twitching, or trolling. All of these methods will display the tight wiggle of this bait. Feature /Design Ratings (Nano Minnow) Consistency(1-5) Weight(1-5) Realism (1-5) Range of sizes (1-3) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 4 3 15 18 8.3 Application: Little lures with big fish-catching...
by Exist To Fish | Jul 18, 2016 | Featured, Product Reviews
Date: 7/18/2016 Product type: Action Camera Accessory Manufacturer: TeamFishco Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: The Newly patented FishEye™ Camera Jig™ is designed for direct attachment to fishing line to put your camera into your fishing action. Standard 1/4″x20 tripod style adapter receives all underwater HD style cameras. Hardware includes line release for down rigger style attachment of line and three [3] SS bow shackles for multiple attachment points. Record fishing action, bottom structures, in water hull inspections, fouled anchors, and more! (Camera Jig) Specifications Type Action Camera Accessory Length 6 x 1 x 5 Weight 2.6 oz Material ABS plastic Hooks NA Colors Black Origin USA MSRP 89.99 USD Quality/Construction: Very durable one piece design constructed of ABS plastic. All components are stainless steel and of high quality! Quality Ratings for (Camera Jig) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 4 4 16 20 8 Performance: Puts your underwater HD Camera into the Fishing Action. Use your rod, reel and bait while trolling, drifting or anchored to film what you’ve been missing. Catch All The Action! Performance Ratings (Camera Jig) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 4 4 4 20 25 8 Features/Design: Several options to list here. The jig includes a line release option to use like a downrigger and light tackle. You can add weights, floats and or leaders as required to gain the optimal filming perspective. The multi position bow shackles can be moved as required to...
by Exist To Fish | Jul 5, 2016 | Featured, News, Product Reviews
Date: 7/5/2016 Product type: Two Piece Rod Transportation System Manufacturer: Tuck N Tackle Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: Rod transport has never been so safe, snug and efficient. Protect the tips of your rod, while preventing your line from knotting. Tuck N Tackle utilizes tension to give anglers a smart solution that takes seconds to secure. (Two Piece Rod Transportation System) Specifications Type Fish Rod transportation Length 1×2” Weight Very Lightweight Material Plastic Hooks NA Colors Black Origin USA MSRP 14.99 USD Quality/Construction: Tuck N Tackle is designed to cover the tips of the rod during transport to protect against them from damage. Once the tips get damaged, the rod will rarely function the same. Tuck N Tackle is the only product designed to use line tension to maintain proper system alignment, keeping the line free from detrimental contact. Other products put unwanted stress on the line which can lead to damage. Due to the amount of tension that the Tuck N Tackle is built to allow, the line avoids the risk of loosening. A loose line results in knotting or bunching at the reel point. Quality Ratings for (Two Piece Rod Transportation System) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 4 4 4 4 16 20 8 Performance: Tuck N Tackle allows you to transport your two-piece fishing rod at half length without removing your tackle. The best part is the simplicity. The cap and clip use the tension of the fishing line to hold the system securely in place. Tuck N Tackle is...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 29, 2016 | Boats, News
2016 Alumacraft Competitor 205 Sport LE, paired with a 2016 Evinrude 250 HO G2 outboard, Shorelander tandem axle surge brake trailer, two hummingbird 800 series graphs and a Minnkota Terrova 24V with US2 and Ipilot link installed. BOAT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP UNTIL SEPT 30, 2016. TALONS ARE NOT INLCUDED Features included with this package are listed in detail below. Serious inquires regarding price, please call 705-761-2510, or email chrishuskilson@gmail.com. Sale will be finalized through Leatherdale Marine and price does not include HST. Full Hull and Motor warranty included. Package will have less than 100 hours of use. Mint condition. Incredible rig. Boat can be viewed in Peterborough ON. will work with potential buyers to meet for test drive etc.. Product Review: 2016 Alumacraft Competitor 205 Sport LE LIMITED EDITION Sport (LE) Mica Black Sonic Red Sport Windshield (SPT) VINYL COCKPIT ONLY (CV) BRP Engines Evinrude E250HPX G2 PRE-RIG, BRP G2 200HP (15′ NEMA) GROW BOATING INIT-BMCA No Kicker COVER, TRAVEL (COMPETITOR 205 SPT) MINNKOTA,TERROVA US2 112-60 IPLTLNK BRKT,MOUNT,MKA-32 ELC STR QRB WCVR HUMMINBIRD 859CI HD COMBO COMPLETE HUMMINBIRD 859CI HD DI COMPLETE ACCY, RADIO INFINITY 350 (CS/SPT) SHORELAND’R Trailers SHORELAND’R TRLR ALB40TABXLW-03 BLK Length 20’ 8” 6.3 m Beam 96” 2.4 m Transom Width / Height 95”/25” 2.4 m/0.6 m Max. Horsepower 250 hp 186 kW Max. Depth 45” 1.1 m Max. Hull Thickness 0.200” 5.1 mm Freeboard Thickness 0.080” 2 mm Weight 1,616 lbs 733 kg Max. Capacity 8/2,450 lbs 8/1,111 Fuel Capacity 45 gal. 170 L Livewell Aft 33 gal. 125 L Livewell Bow 22 gal. 83 L Instruments speedometer,tachometer,voltmeter,fuel gauge,horn ...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 28, 2016 | Attractants, Bass, crankbaits, Featured, Tips, Topwater, tricks and How To's
Cover All Depths: Breaking down water columns to locate Bass. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, patience is not the key to success during any outing on the water. Sitting and waiting for Bass to “turn on” will be a waste of your time and abilities. So, what do you do when you show up at the lake? Does it have to be so random? Should you be aimlessly searching, hoping to find active fish? Or should you essentially find the key depth that Bass are relating to and simply appeal to their instincts? The latter is the obvious answer, so let’s break it down. I believe your success is predicated on good preparation and clear, well thought out game planning that begins the night before you hit the water. Let’s say your plan at first light is to hit a shallow rocky point adjacent a steep break line that drops into a main lake channel or basin, and for arguments sake, your theory of the Bass being up on this shallower structure is correct. Then what? What happens when the Bass pull off this structure and begin the next phase of their day? Are you prepared to follow these predictable daily movements? Start by getting your arsenal in order. Hitting a good morning spot brings to mind one obvious presentation – topwaters such as poppers are high on my priority list. If poppers aren’t cutting the mustard, walk the dog style baits can be very effective. Storm Chug Bugs and the Lake Fork Magic Popper(1oz) can be strait retrieved in a pop and stop cadence...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 24, 2016 | Featured, Videos
by Exist To Fish | Jun 20, 2016 | Featured, News, Product Reviews
Date: 11/3/15 Product type: LFT “Magic Shad” Manufacturer: Lake Fork Trophy Lures Reviewer: Jamie Wilson I, for one, love fishing soft plastics. Tubes, stickworms, grubs and paddle tails all have their time and place and so do shad/minnow/baitfish bodied plastics known as fluke style baits. The subtle realistic action can turn heads during the toughest of bites in the colder months and cold fronts alike. They can also be used in the dog days of summer and in a variety of situations as well, which makes this style of bait a well-rounded choice. The LFT “Magic Shad” is salt and garlic impregnated with a unique spade shaped tail that creates a great fluttering, vibrating action even on the fall. Seven staple color choices, along with durability, will make for many good days on the water ahead. (Lake Fork Trophy Lures “Magic Shad”) Specifications Type Soft plastic shad/minnow body Length 5” Weight N/A Material Plastic (Garlic and salt impregnated) Hooks N/A Colors 7 colors in this line Origin Texas, United States MSRP $5.49 U.S funds (8/pack) The LFT “Magic Shad” stands eye to eye with the top fluke style baits on the market. The detail, craftsmanship and color choices are true selling features, along with quality plastic of course. These are top shelf, top flight all the way. Quality Ratings for (Lake Fork Trophy Lures “Magic Shad”) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) N/A 5 N/A 5 10 10 10 The LFT “Magic Shad” gets top performance marks from me. Being a salt impregnated plastic,...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 17, 2016 | News, Tips, tricks and How To's, Trout
Bottom Bouncing Lakers When talking to people about fishing I get excited and passionate like most of us do! But when I talk to people about lake trout, watch out, my excitement is thru the roof! I can’t help but to be fascinated by this specie, I become a totally different person when I get in the lake trout mode, almost like a hockey player gets during game 7 of the Stanley cup playoffs, determination. For those who know me, this isn’t new to them, but for those who are reading this and thinking, is this guy nuts, I have to say yes I am! I wrote an article on downrigging basics a while back and I had a hard time writing that article without talking about lake trout because it’s what I do so I am super pumped to share with you one of the biggest success I have had fishing for big Larry’s! For those of you who don’t know, Larry is what we call Lake Trout! If I told you to bounce bottom for lakers, you would probably say, sure no problem, but if I told you to bounce bottom for lakers using your downriggers, you would say, no way dude! Settle down, I am here to tell you that there is a safe and successful way to do it without breaking or losing expensive gear! Step 1, the set up. Whether you are using electric or manual downriggers, this method works with both. Make sure you have some good steel downrigger cable spooled on your downrigger, I use 250 pound steel cable. Next,...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 15, 2016 | Muskie, News, Product Reviews
Date: 6/15/2016 Product type: Beaver Imitation Manufacturer: Beaver’s Baits Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: Ok folks.. At first glance this may seem like a novelty bait. But we are here to tell you that these are absolute BIG MUSKIE MAGNETS! Each bait is hand crafted to absolute perfection. Not only are you getting a one of a kind bait but a product that will last and catch a lot of fish (Regular Baby Beaver) Specifications Type Baby Beaver Imitation (muskies) Length 12” Weight 6oz Material Rubber and Hair Hooks 8/0 Mustad Treble Colors 5 Standard (custom colors available) Origin USA MSRP $44.99 USD Quality/Construction: The Baby beaver comes in two sizes, The Baby Beaver is 12″ long and weighs 3.5 ounces (dry weight) and uses 6/0 hooks. The Baby Beaver XL is 14.5″ long and weighs 6 ounces (dry weight) and uses 8/0 hooks. Both sizes are available in 5 standard color patterns. The Baby Beaver is constructed of plastic with .051 wire molded into each body piece. Each body piece is hand tied with deer hair and connected together with split rings. The rubber tail is molded onto the hook and is attached to the bait with a split ring making it replaceable. The blade attachment (sold separately) clips onto the front eyelet of the bait, turning the Baby Beaver into a buck tail with a little attitude…it can be easily removed to go back to the natural swimming action of the Bait. Also available separately, are replacement rubber tails. At some point a little more detail in the head and...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 14, 2016 | Featured, Muskie, tricks and How To's
2016 Kawarthas Northumberland Muskie Opener: Originally Posted here by our friends at Kawartha’s Northumberland The second Saturday in June just can’t arrive soon enough for me! This is the kick off to the much anticipated Muskie season here in the Kawartha’s Northumberland region of Ontario. Each season starts off differently depending on the spring weather conditions leading in to the weekend. Our spring in 2016 has been a relatively cool one and as such the water temperate has remained in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (not quite 20° Celsius). Water levels started out quite high but tapered down considerably to the point where we are experiencing mid-summer levels by early June. The week leading in to the opener yielded stable warm weather which in turn dramatically increased water temperature in a short period of time. Not something I was hoping to have occur but at least the weather was stable. I knew going into the weekend that I would be facing some less than ideal conditions. Bluebird skies and little to no wind always equates to difficult Muskie fishing for me. I decided to mix things up this year and kick the season off on a Lake in the Havelock area. This is water that I have not fished in many years. I was confident, however, that it would be a good place to start, in an effort to gauge the mood of the fish this year. We arrived at the launch at 6:00 A.M. and were raring to go! Our first stop yielded a spirited follow from a 36-inch fish. Showing great interest in my bait but quickly changing direction...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 14, 2016 | News, tricks and How To's, Trout
Downrigging 101 When fishing a big body of water, you often feel intimidated and somewhat afraid, don’t feel bad, those were my emotions too! The mistake most people do is look at a map of the whole lake and start planning the spots you want to hit, there is nothing wrong with that at all, in fact that’s what we should all do, but in reality, most of us try to do too much at once. Instead of looking at the whole lake, cut it into pieces, just like a pie! Concentrate on a certain area, learn it, fish it and master it! Downrigging can be scary for some, and for others, they call it “the lazy man fishing” I call it “Strategic Fishing”! Why is downrigging so fun? I’m glad you asked! All thru the summer I spend time trolling Lake Simcoe in search of big lake trout, but what I am also doing is using this time to find unmarked shoals, humps and potential jigging areas for summer and winter. As much as we think the lakes are well mapped and we can see every shoal or hump from a smartphone sitting on the couch eating pie, you can always find unmarked areas, trust me, I have found a few in my days and they still produce fish to this day! As much as we like to think we know the lakes like the back of our hand, there will always be that one spot that you found that no one knows about, or at least no one else talks about, in that case, it’s still your...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 13, 2016 | Featured, Product Reviews
Date: 6/13/2016 Product type: Random Lure of The Month Manufacturer: Simple Fishing Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: Simple Fishing is Canada’s top monthly fishing lure subscription box. Simple Fishing is the only fishing subscription service to offer a choice based on your skill level. Perfect if you are just starting out or an advanced angler. They have something for you. Random Lure of the Month-Aggressive is a great way to discover new and exciting lures that help you become a better angler. With each monthly shipment you can expect top quality brand name lures like Berkley, Rapala, Luhr Thompson and so much more. (Aggressive Box) Specifications Type Aggressive Box Length NA Weight NA Material NA Hooks NA Colors NA Origin NA MSRP $25.00 CAN (cost for customer $13.33/month 1yr membership) Quality/Construction: We were pleasantly surprised by the quality products that were included in our June box! Hi end, name branded tackle that was half the retail cost. Quality Ratings for (Aggressive Box) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 19 20 9.5 Performance: Included in the box are several baits that can be used to target multiple species of fish at all levels of the water column. Topwater, live bait rigging, drop shot plastics, straight retrieve spinnerbait and a reaction type ripping jig. You will catch fish on these. Period. Performance Ratings (Aggressive Box) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 24 25 9.6 Features/Design: All of the products contained...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 9, 2016 | Featured, Product Reviews
Date: 6/9/2016 Product type: Inline Spinner Manufacturer: Upscale Lures Reviewer: Exist To Fish Introduction: Blending the lines between beauty and brawn Upscale Lures has put together something that any angler can appreciate. (Nifty Fifty Spinner) Specifications Type Inline Spinner Length 5.5 inches Weight 1.2 oz Material Silicone glitter skirt Hooks Gamakatsu 1/0 2X strong Colors Many Origin USA MSRP 9.99 USD Quality/Construction: To insure the appearance they have used a very durable paint on the body, clevis and beads that other lure makers often miss. Something to note when determining value! Quality Ratings for (Nifty Fifty Spinner) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 4 4 4 17 20 8.5 Performance: This little bait has been hand made from the bottom up to have the strength to withstand the crushing blows from Muskie and pike along with the finesse to entice monster bass.. Performance Ratings (Nifty Fifty Spinner) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 5 5 5 25 25 10 Features/Design: Equipped with a heavy set split ring and a Gamakatsu 1/0 2X strong, extremely sharp hook, you’ll be ready for anything! It will attract even the most finicky of fish with the silicone glitter skirt that is more lifelike than flashabou. We would really like to see this bait in a 9 or 10” model. Feature /Design Ratings (Nifty Fifty Spinner) Consistency(1-5) Weight(1-5) Realism (1-5) Range of sizes (1-3) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 4...
by Exist To Fish | Jun 7, 2016 | Featured, Product Reviews
Date: 6/8/2016 Product type: Inline spinner Manufacturer: Musky Frenzy Lures Reviewer: Exist To Fish Canada Introduction: There are a tone of Musky Bucktail manufactures out there. Musky Frenzy Lures has created a product that stands out amongst them! This bait flat out performs! (APACHE TRIPLE 8) Specifications Type In Line Spinner Length 10” Weight 2.8 oz Material Oversized textured flashabou for enhanced action in the water. Hooks 7/0 Mustad Treble Hooks Colors Many Origin USA MSRP 23.99 USD Quality/Construction: Exceptional quality and construction. The bait is very well made, very durable and the fish react to it differently than a double bladed bucktail. They haven’t seen or heard these before and it shows!! Quality Ratings for (APACHE TRIPLE 8) Finish(1-5) Level of Detail(1-5) Hardware(1-5) Craftsmanship(1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 4 5 5 19 20 Performance: Incredible fish catching power, even on the most pressured waters! Triple Blades create a unique vibration and profile the fish have never seen or heard before. Performance Ratings (APACHE TRIPLE 8) Castability(1-5) Ease of Use(1-5) Quality of Action (1-5) Position at Rest (1-5) Durability (1-5) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 5 5 4 24 25 Features/Design: The custom “3 in 1” Clevis ensures perfect synchronized blade spin, and immediate start up on retrieve. The bait pulls through the water with LESS effort than a double blade bucktail. Cast all day with less fatigue! Feature /Design Ratings (APACHE TRIPLE 8) Consistency(1-5) Weight(1-5) Realism (1-5) Range of sizes (1-3) Total Possible Rating (10 being highest ) 5 5 4 3 17...
