by Exist To Fish | Mar 8, 2017 | Attractants, crankbaits, Featured, Ice Fishing, News, Perch, Pike, Tips, Walleye
The Search Continues: Walleye & Pike in Saskatchewan Locating fish on new and different types of lakes can be challenging. What works on your usual fishing holes, more times than not, won’t be as productive on unknown lakes. Not all lakes are created equal and this couldn’t be more true than in Saskatchewan. Boasting 68 different species of fish, inhabiting more than 100,000 lakes in Saskatchewan, the differences are as vast as the province itself. My “home” lake is a man made reservoir that was once a river system. It now holds an abundance of walleye, pike and perch. This flooded river channel provides exceptional habitat for these fish as well as their forage. The southern Saskatchewan lakes I frequent range in depth from 0-60ft with my typical target depths from 6-30ft. More often than not, the middle range of these depths is the sweet spot for the longest period of time through the winter, which is about 12-24ft. Locating fish with extreme differences in structure and depth can be challenging especially on a reservoir lake. Drilling a hole in one spot at 18 feet of water, then taking two steps and drilling another hole and being in 35ft can be a challenge, but also rewarding when these close proximities of depths are available. Typically, when you find yourself in this situation, you have hit the old river channel and this can be a productive spot at certain times of day and year. Timing is everything We all know that fish move around, but knowing when and where they will end up,... read more
by Exist To Fish | Oct 31, 2016 | Bass, Muskie, News, Perch, Pike, Tips, tricks and How To's, Walleye
Top 5 Fall Fishing Destinations The angling opportunities available year round are simply astounding. The fall is a special time of year, however, and the scenery is simply breathtaking. With so many fishing destinations with over 350 lakes and rivers to choose from, here are my Top 5 Fall MUST fish locations. Number 5–High Falls Photo Courtesy of Ontario Travel GPS Coordinates: 44.588126, -78.070699 Put your canoe or aluminum boat in Eels Creek off Northeys Bay Road and head north to the High Falls. The scenery is breathtaking and the fishing is top notch as well! Bring your Muskie tackle because this stretch is chalk full of fish! Inline bucktail spinners and 6-8” crank baits imitating the cyprinid forage throughout the river will provide great success for anglers of all levels. Number 4–Lovesick Lake GPS Coordinates: 44.555582, -78.203433 This little hideaway is tucked between Lower Buckhorn Lake and Stoney Lake. The beautiful rocky forested shorelines to please the victors eye. An often overlooked stretch of the Trent-Severn Waterway that is absolutely loaded with Bass, Muskie, Walleye, Crappie and several other panfish species. Bring your arsenal because this little beauty has trophy fish in all of the above mentioned species. Put your boat in at the launch directly across from the Burleigh Falls Inn and joy the beautiful scenery this lake has to offer while catching your next Kawartha Legend. Number 3–Burnt River GPS Coordinates: 44.776225,-78.6844606 Launch your boat in Kinmount and make your way up the river. If you have a small boat or canoe, walk it down below the dam in Kinmount and make your way down stream. Be prepared to portage a few narrow sections... read more
by Exist To Fish | May 27, 2016 | Featured, tricks and How To's, Walleye
The jig is up! Selecting the correct jig for walleye fishing. It’s no secret that jig fishing is an effective method of catching walleye, but there is more to it than just tying on a jig and throwing it into the water. The jig has become a staple in every walleye anglers toolbox, and for good reason, there are few lures with the versatility of a jig. Whether you are vertical jigging a minnow on top of a school of fish, or ripping jigs through the weeds, there are subtleties that can turn a good day on the water into a great one ! Size: The size of your jig is important to consider. You want to select a jig that is heavy enough to get your bait down to the fish, but no so heavy that it is cumbersome to fish with. For most vertical jigging applications a ¼ or 3/8 oz jig is ideal. However, if you are fishing in heavy wind or swift current you may want to choose a heavier head, ½ to 1oz, to keep it down and maintain good bottom contact and feel with your rod. Shape: the shape of your jig is not always the first factor considered by anglers, but a bit of thought into this can save you some frustration, and put more fish in the boat. Fishing deep rock piles can be deadly for walleye, and few baits work as good as a jig. The problem with jigging rocks for walleye is snags, it happens to everyone, whether they care to admit it or not. But... read more
by Exist To Fish | Dec 23, 2015 | Featured, Ice Fishing, tricks and How To's, Walleye
First ice walleyes: Let the Games Begin First ice has to be the most exciting time of the year for chasing walleye. On my home body of water, the legendary Bay of Quinte, large schools of migratory walleye stack up into the bay from Lake Ontario staging for the spring spawn. The same applies to all bodies of water. Safety When you venture out to fish early ice, your first priority should be safety. Ice reports for your local area can be found on weather networks, talking to local tackle shops, social and local media hubs and on fishing forums. Ice conditions can vary from day to day due to current or warming weather trends, so be aware of the conditions in the area and type of water system you are going to be fishing. Don’t take someone’s word for it, always be prepared with a spud to check for ice safety along with with proper ice safety gear such as a floater suit, ice picks and a charged cell phone in case you need to make an emergency call to local authorities. A GPS app is also important as you can send actual coordinates and other locational information. Dress for the weather. Layers, proper foot wear, ice safety gear, and ice fishing gear such as a propane heater and an ice shelter are all things you will need to be comfortable and successful on the ice. Because I walk to the majority of the spots I fish, I use a Frabill Commando thermal one man flip over ice shelter paired with a long rope looped around my waist.... read more
by Exist To Fish | Dec 8, 2015 | Attractants, Bass, crankbaits, Crappie, Featured, Ice Fishing, Muskie, News, Perch, Pike, Product Reviews, Tips, Topwater, tricks and How To's, Trout, Videos, Walleye, Whitefish
Well it’s that time of the year again. The boats are put away for the winter as the ice starts to form. With Christmas around the corner, many of us are starting to think about what we would like for Christmas or are looking for gift ideas for friends or family. If you are anything like the Exist To Fish Staff, you probably lost a few baits this year. We are all excited about new and existing fishing product’s that we have not had an opportunity to purchase or test out. They just were not in your budget at the time or perhaps you are thinking about trying a new lure this winter or in 2016!! I asked the Staff at Exist to Fish what they where going to ask Santa for this year. Here are the top picks on their wish list! Dean Schenk : “On my Xmas wish list would be a pair of Smith Backdrop sunglasses to protect my eyes when on the water and ice”. Product Features: A perfect medium-sized complement to the Touchstone, the Backdrop incorporates the same great features like stainless steel spring hinges and megol contact surfaces at the nose and temple tips. ChromaPop™ polarized lenses provide the highest level of enhanced color and clarity, or choose Techlite glass lenses for unparalleled optics and scratch resistance. “Also a tube of liquid mayhem walleye attractant in my stocking as I use it on the hard water all winter”. Product Features: Made with real minnows in a super concentrated form. Contains natural baitfish enzymes infused with powerful amino acids and other bite stimulants formulated to target a fishes olfactory glands and trigger big strikes. Fish hold on to artificial bait longer meaning more... read more
by Exist To Fish | Oct 9, 2015 | Featured, Tips, tricks and How To's, Walleye
Integrity: sincerity; completeness, wholeness; an unimpaired condition. What I want to share with my fellow anglers is an incident which happened by shear accident this weekend and how my fishing partner and I handled it. It is not an easy report to write but one that I feel I should share incase you ever find yourself in a situation like this. As an angler and Tournament Angler my reports and what I do or don’t do reflect on who I am to other anglers. So here goes. For the last past week my partner Lund Pro Staffer Craig Salmonson and myself headed to Geraldton Ontario to pre fish for the up an coming Walleye Tournament that was to be held on June 23 and 24 on beautiful Kenogamissis Lake. During the week of pre fishing we had covered a lot of water and figured out a pattern for the tournament. Saturday saw us starting off at our number one spot. With no wind at all and only one weighable fish after an hour we decided to head to a place were we knew we could catch our limit while we waited for the wind to blow. After arriving at the spot we had our limit in the boat within twenty minutes. They weren’t monsters by any means but a limit none the less. Craig snagged for the third time and had to retie jigs onto his rods. We notice a boat heading our way. No big deal right? As the boat drifted and I was still casting, suddenly wham, a better fish hit. It found it’s way into the landing... read more
by Exist To Fish | Jul 21, 2015 | Featured, News, Walleye
It’s all about the “Eyes” I was able to get out just after the spring and I achieved one of my main targets, to catch my first nice sized Walleye. Walleye typically are found in deep water and are easier to fish for very early in the morning or early dawn, dusk and into the nighttime hours. Their eyes are situated on the sides of their head and have a luminescent glow when light is shined upon them. Their eyes are very sensitive to light so anglers prefer dusk fishing for this particular reason. In the spring they make their way to the deeper waters after spawning in creeks and rivers, and subsequently I caught mine at the base of a river mouth. I had put on a Rapala lure and covered it with Liquid Mayhem attractant. I thought that I would try something unconventional with my attractant that I had done in the past and it paid off. When we started trolling, my rod instantly had a large hit on it. There was no consistent fight that I am used to having with bass so I was unsure of my catch until I reeled it in. I was thrilled when I saw the size of my first ever Walleye. The following weekend, with the excitement still running through me, I decided to set up the dipsy divers on the Shimano Telora rods and reel combos. The boat was set up with pickerel rigs and we set out for a day to find the Walleye. I ventured to an area known to seasoned anglers for... read more
by Exist To Fish | Feb 27, 2015 | Ice Fishing, Walleye
Bassassins are proud to introduce a new breed of ice fishermen. These custom builds are laid out for maximum performance and efficiency. Our first contender is: The Run & Gunner We have chosen this class as our intro because we believe it’s the most demanding but under the right conditions, the most exciting build. Lightweight and agility form the base for hit and run tactics, fast moving, quick striking, until he finds actively feeding fish. Only carrying minimum gear, bare to the bone, constantly on the go… It’s a challenging task but when well executed it can be tremendously rewarding, laying the foundation to future success for seasons to come. Drill, Flash, Slush, Catch, Move In a nutshell, these are our most important tools Auger Flasher Slusher Pliers \ Pocket knife The auger, 8” if we are targeting trophy pike and walleye but the bigger diameter will also slow you down significantly. In general a 6” drill will get the job done more efficiently. Don’t forget to plunge your hole when you are done drilling, this will eliminate pesty slushing and will save essential time. The R&G’s best friend is a flasher, instantly knowing your depth with comparison to charts and your gps will tell you if your in the right spot or not. We don’t spend more than a few minutes over one hole. In general when there is fish close by they will key in to your offerings and show up on your screen, if it stays empty move on. A good slusher comes in handy on those super cold days. We prefer the metal kind, since they can... read more
by Jamie Wilson | Feb 27, 2015 | Ice Fishing, Walleye
Well, here we go. The winter walleye season will soon be entering its final stages. Anglers across Canada and the northern U.S are chomping at the bit to experience the impending hot bite during the late ice period. Where will these fish end up? When will they end up there? How will they be tempted? Every lake is different, but there are key similarities that will make walleye predictable not only late into the season, but throughout their seasonal movements. I’ve heard some really experienced walleye specialists utter the words “there are two seasons, early ice and late ice”. I suppose they are highlighting the fact that there is a lull in the action around the mid-point of the winter. Why? One determining factor to keep in mind is that a walleye’s metabolism slows down during this period (consuming less than 1% of their body weight/day). Also, they are not relating to or staging around spawning grounds, thus, they are not driven to put the feed bag on in preparation for a long winter or a taxing spawn. At first ice, walleye can be found on typical fall haunts. Throughout the season walleye can be found on structural elements such as points, saddles, main lake reefs and of course, bars. As the winter pushes on they will be staging on spots closer to spawning grounds such as river mouths or wind swept shoals where they moved to in late fall. At late ice, you can bet transitioning flats closest to these structures will be your best option when locating actively feeding marble eyes. So how do you find these... read more
