Landing fish from land is plenty of fun

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/04/2015 (4168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

How did you start fishing? Was it from a boat? Chances are pretty good it was from shore.

Did you know the majority of anglers who fish in North America do so from shore?

In a recent interview with James Lindner from the Angling Edge television show, he told me 52 per cent of the fishing here is done along shoreline.

Lindner is developing a pilot series that will highlight this huge part of the industry. He says the majority of fishers don’t own a boat and are constantly on the lookout for equipment and information that will help them be successful without having to go out on the water.

As a youngster, one of my most memorable experiences came fishing for perch from a dock in the Turtle Mountains. I was mesmerized by the huge schools of small, striped creatures that swam in the crystal-clear water below. But it wasn’t until 18 years later that I got the chance to feel that excitement again.

My next start in fishing came from shore near the Diefenbaker Bridge in Prince Albert, Sask. My apartment was situated on the south shore of the North Saskatchewan river, but the best fishing, with the least snags, was on the sandbar on the north side of the river, just east of the bridge. Every morning before I went to work, I would grab my pail and fishing rod and head across the bridge to try my luck.

It was in the second year of my stay in Prince Albert that things changed forever. On the third cast, my pickerel rig stopped dead in the water as I tried to bring it back to shore. Suddenly, the snag moved, and I knew I had something very large on the end of the line. As I waded into the water up to the top of my rubber boots, I suddenly saw the fish. It was a huge walleye.

From that day forward, my goal in life was to make fishing a profession. So if you don’t own a boat, do not despair. There are a number of great angling opportunities out there for you.

Brent Jakobson, who manages the Fishin’ Hole, has rods in all lengths and price ranges. One of his best sellers is the Berkley Glow Stick, which comes in lengths ranging from seven to 12 feet. He says they are especially popular among shore anglers who fish at night. There are two lights inside the blank that can be turned on to illuminate when there’s little light. They are composite, which means they can handle heavy loads from big fish or heavy weights.

Jakobson also recommends monofilament line for the shore angler. Mono is more abrasion-resistant than braid, has more stretch to cushion the shock of big fish and is easier to get off of snags. He recommends Berkley Big Game in high-visibility green. He also sells a number of combination rigs that already come spooled with line.

Of course, if you fish from shore, you need rod holders. His store carries five different ones. The most expensive is the Berkley Shore Angler holder, which retails for $21.

Jakobson also tries to get his customers to try slip-bobber fishing. He says this is an extremely effective way to catch fish without getting snagged on the bottom. His top recommendation is the Bobber with a Brain float. This unique setup allows the line to stop going out when the sinker hits the bottom. Baits that are above the weight will be suspended just off the bottom. Even better, you can work your bait up and down the water column by reeling in, then letting line back out. It also will not drift much in current.

 

FLY-IN FISHING: Have you decided this is the year you and your buddies finally do something you have always dreamed about: a fly-in fishing trip? Unless you are going the five-star route, there are some things you should consider, especially if you are going to an outpost camp.

Check the size of the motors on the boat and if they have electronics on them. At an outpost camp, the chances are not good.

When you are on a new body of water, it pays to cover water by trolling. Unfortunately, it can be pretty tough running a motor and trying to hold onto your rod, never mind tiring. So before the trip, I bought a really good clamp-on holder by Eagle Claw. This is the best portable rod holder I have seen.

A couple of years ago, I flew into Harrop Lake Outpost. It was funny, but when I showed up at the float plane base, my clients did not have most of their rods in a case. On longer trips, this is a recipe for disaster, since there is no guarantee they will get there in one piece. Luckily, there was no damage to any of them. I have seven rod cases of different sizes, including one that will hold a seven-foot, one-piece rod. I also have a reel case to protect this valuable equipment.

Bring along a good, dry bag equipped with rain gear, rubber boots, warm clothes, a lighter and other stuff to keep you safe in case you get stranded or an unexpected storm blows up.

 

TACKLE PACKING: I spend about four hours choosing which tackle I will bring along and fine-tune it into one small, stackable, soft-sided pack. This pack will hold five medium-sized trays, and on this particular trip, I had jigs, spoons and various pike tackle, along with some crankbaits. In the top of the pack, I had various power baits and other plastics, including some nice swim baits for pike.

Don’t forget your tools: pliers, scissors, jaw spreaders. They will make your life a lot easier. I sometimes bring a net, too.

dlamont@mymts.net