Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Monster Lake Trout On Clear Ice


DEM Red Tape Frustrates Paddlers - Anglers- Government -

DEM Red Tape Frustrates Paddlers - Government -
 The State has too many regulations on our Business, now too many on" OUR "waterways and public access.

I just read the new 2015 Fishing Regulations and I think you should too !

Also I did not see any of the "Changes" or "New' legislation I fought for at last years public meetings about instituting a "Lead Law" ban for 1 ounce or smaller in all fresh waters. All the major tackle manufactures have replaced the lead with other safe materials. NH instituted  theirs in  2000,  Hint, only 25 years ago. I guess Rhode Island DEM still does not recognize the damage of Lead and will remain the only New England State that thinks it's safe to kill Ducks, Birds, Turtles and bottom feeding fish. ( Wallum Lake,Stafford Pond are a public water supply) with boat ramps.
 The derby permit process for any group 6 or more or three watercraft dos not address Ice Fishing Derbies, If you get a warmup or heavy rain and cancel you could banned another Year to hold your non-profit fundraiser and do not forget to tell them how many are going to fish, place a card on their windshield also to stay within the rules and three weeks in advance !

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Wallum Lake Pascoag,R.I. & East Douglas State Forest Launch Area Dec.27



When will the Ice come ? When this happens just switch gears back to early spring conditions and wet a line. 53 degrees outside after a 22 degree night and early morning skim ice. I had waited and targeted the Round Top fishing area's for a nice Brookie at Big Round Top and a skinny Rainbow at the man made Little Round Top and after watching a very healthy otter chowing down decided to take ride up to Wallum Lake for a bigger fresh water fish before first Ice. Wallum Lake is the last lake to freeze in Rhode Island and Rhode Island fishing rules apply. Two trout any size till Feb. 28th then it shuts down till the 2nd Saturday in April for the annual traditonal Trout Season opening day.
 Massachusetts is year round fishing for trout but not here.

All photos by W.Gauvin Barber    Do not use without permission of the origin.

A lot of Hikers use the pristine area


 



to weight ratio results in a slower falling rate more than most lures, meaning it stays in the strike zone longer. Additionally, O'Grady states that the glow eyes on all Flutter Fish help to increase catch rates, as does the unique fluttering action.

Lil Wayne's Suburban and trailer out of mothballs with the warm temperature.
Water temp was 37 degrees and both States stock this body of drinking water for the hospital. My oldest son Wayne K. Barber took his G-3 bass boat out of the heated garage with the sudden warm day to target some Small Mouth Bass in thirty to thirty five feet of water. Yes vertical jigging for bass and the sure fire drop-shot method.

All photos by W. Gauvin  Barber
I concentrated on fishing and long casting from the shoreline with a little bigger PK Lures and different colors. Tremendous results for two straight hours. Rainbows and Browns, some holdovers and some fresh. Most were smashing it on the drop or the first lift.
Two 80 foot holes in the huge pristine body of water totally spring fed.
The largest Brown Trout was 2 lbs.  and it attacked a Flutter Fish 1/2 oz. FF3FT Firetiger.
These hard chiseled freshwater fishermen were ready for anything that nature would present.
Steve Laplante, Auburn, Massachusetts with some real colorful fresh trout. And they eat what they catch !
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Pat O'Grady would be proud of the demonstration of his fish catching lures being put to the test in Rhode Island. I attracted a crowd and handed a few to the other fishers who were savvy enough to see a new field trial lure company that really works in there back yard.
Steve Laplante from Auburn Mass. and his partner have been fishing every weekend non-stop and will fish from the shoreline to first Ice.

The third member left at lunch time with his limit and one pole was set with a bell and another had a new style alarm that I witnessed and it worked to perfection, Fresh water or Salt water this will be added to my tackle box for sure.

Pat O'Grady started designing this lures in the early 90's and selling them in 1994 and some of his last year customers have increased this years orders by 30% as a testament to a lure that really catch's fish, not fishermen.

 Nice firepit and were dressed for the elements

Open Water on Dec.27th ! I took advantage of it !



New England Weather, 53 degrees on Dec.27, 2014 The Trout had been stocked and a few of us die-hards took advantage to wet a line with the spring like conditions with very light wind. I started my trip after lunch because of the skim ice @22 degrees last night at Big & Little Round Top in Harrisville, R.I
 Big Round Top had only one fisher on the other side of the river using the same tactics as myself. I had my Ugly Stik 7 ft. rod and a open face reel Shimano 2500 pre-spooled with 6 lb test Berkley Tri-Line and all I took was a small arsenal of hardware the new sponsor PK Lures had sent me to do a hands on field trial with. In New England in the late fall we use the same tactics as the spring at ice-out for the put and take Arcadia State hatchery raised trout.
 The PK Lures really preformed well, right out of the package. The north side of the crystal clear body of water appeared to be about 7 degrees warmer so I tied on a PK Lure Flutter Fish 1/4 oz. part # FF1PCH Pearl Chartreuse. The weight forward lure can be jigged, casted and trolled. Uniquely designed for ultimate vibration and accurately mimics a distressed baitfish. When jigging, let the lure drop to desired depth, lift rod tip 8-12 inches and let it fall. The erratic action on the drop will trigger the fish to strike. This PK Flutter Fish will catch a wide variety of fish such as; Bass, Walleye, Salmon Perch, Trout, Crappie, Pike.
 In my case fishing from the shoreline I casted and counted to 4 and started a slow retrieve and the way the bright blue bird sky was hitting the water I was getting a real good flash. Second cast I missed a trout by going to fast on my retrieve. The fourth cast I landed a nice bright Brookie in her fall colors. Not a trophy but a December open water trout on a new lure.
All photos by W.Gauvin Barber  Permission is required for your use.


The Flutter Fish is offered in nine impressive colors including some with glow paint, and nine sizes ranging from 1/8 oz. to 2 1/2 oz. The 1/8 oz and 3/8 oz lures are perfect for panfish and the smaller trout, while the 3/8 oz. to 1 ounce versions are work well for Brown, Lake and Rainbows, Bass, Walleye and other large predatory fish. Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs and the Salt Water anglers should love the 1  1/2 ounce to 2 1/2 ounce sizes and the larger lures are being outfitted with a real nice 4x stronger hook for the larger stripers and bluefish. So if you are looking for a quality lure to add to your arsenal that catches all sorts of fish species, can be used in fresh or salt water, and can be fished using different techniques, please give PK Lures a try and let us know on this post or calling the show or by e-mail waynewnri@yahoo.com with a report and hopefully some nice bragging pictures

These PK Lures are made to catch fish !

All photos by W.Gauvin Barber, No reuse without permission.

Wind started to pick up.







The wind started picking up and I did not bring my insulated waders to reach a little farther out to the honey hole so I packed up and went to Little Round Top a short stone throw away to counter punch the sudden wind change. I had talked with the owner and designer of PK Lures Pat O'Grady to find more about his company after doing a totally un biased e-mail and live question on my radio show the "Outdoor Scene" last winter to the listening audience on their choice of the top 5 Ice Fishing Lures in the Country. PK Lures came in second and fifth with the two different sizes and colors from the survey.O'Grady strives to keep it simple in his lures and concentrates on the aspect of vision, vibration and scent. O'Grady told me. 'if you can make a lure that produces a nice visual effect, that's good. If it produces vibration too, that's even better and the Flutter Fish does both," said O'Grady.

Friday, December 26, 2014