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The article "KILLING IT SOFTLY" from Ontario Out of Doors discusses the author's transition from using live bait to soft plastics for fishing various species like bass, trout, pike, muskie, and panfish. The author highlights the effectiveness of soft plastics when properly rigged, focusing on specific rigs like drop-shot, tube jigs, Ned rig, basic minnow, wacky rig, Texas rig, and flipping rigs. The article provides detailed instructions on rigging, bait selection, and fishing techniques for each soft plastic rig, emphasizing the importance of proper rigging for natural presentation and successful fishing. [Extracted from the article]

Rainy Lake, located in Ontario and Minnesota, offers a multitude of fishing opportunities. The lake is known for its excellent multispecies fishing, including pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie, and more. It has three unique basins - the north and south arms, and Redgut Bay - each with its own fishing hotspots. Rainy Lake is less crowded than other lakes in the area and is well-charted, making it easy to navigate. Visitors can choose from a variety of resorts and accommodations, and there are also options for ice fishing during the winter months. [Extracted from the article]

I tell the hunters that the cardinal sin in deer hunting is getting out of the stand for any reason, especially to go for a walk. He encouraged me to start taking my hunters out on the water to hunt deer. We drive mainland points and peninsulas as well, trying to push deer past hunters waiting at a stand. [Extracted from the article]

Calvert wanted to create fishing camps to share the beauty and excellent fishing. The Whitefish Bay area of Lake of the Woods where Ernie had two camps still has an excellent lake trout population today that attracts anglers from far and wide. Ernie was the pioneer of operating a fishing camp and his vision to share the excellent fishing in northern Ontario with the rest of the world is still being realized today. Ernie was a pharmacist and opened Calvert's Drug Store in Rainy River on the south end of the lake. [Extracted from the article]

Features PRO bass fishing looks glamourous from the outside. That means upgrading the hooks on my baits, using the proper rod and line for the technique that I'm employing, and making sure my hook-set matches my bait. While it's fun to set the hook on slack line, dropping your rod and really giving the hook-set all you have will tear a big hole in the fish's mouth or rip the bait right out. You will fish the baits you have confidence in better than the baits you haven't experienced previously. [Extracted from the article]

Fish according to weather conditions Before I made my first visit to the St. Lawrence River in 2019, fellow pro angler Cory Johnston told me a general rule to follow. Take care of the fish Anglers are often disappointed when new fishing regulations are implemented, especially when they are not allowed to keep as many fish as they could in the past. Pay attention to the small details because there are days when they do make a difference - the colour of your bait, the cadence of the retrieve, even the patience to fish your bait just a little bit slower that some anglers have more than others. Anglers could spot fish and put a bait in front of them before fish even knew they were there. [Extracted from the article]

Getting bigger Growing up, most of my perch catches were incidental while walleye fishing, but in the past decade, perch in my home water have become bigger and more abundant. Easing walleye pressure One of the positive aspects of more anglers targeting perch is that it takes some pressure off walleye on waters where their population might be stressed from fishing pressure. Perch fishing in northwest Ontario My long-time fishing buddy Dave Bennett also grew up on the shores of Lake of the Woods and was probably the first of my friends I saw keeping perch while walleye fishing. [Extracted from the article]

Features Noise can attract We're always told to be quiet, don't make noise, and not move around in the boat, but fish are simple creatures and super curious. -Scott Walcott Go big, fast for scattered walleye When fish are on the move, or they are scattered into mid-summer patterns, I often go searching for groups of walleye by trolling big, fast-moving crankbaits. -JP Bushey Customize your lures In highly pressured water, fish see a lot of the same baits over and over. -Dave Bennett Micro-adjustments are key I was fishing in a walleye tournament one time and knew there were a bunch of fish in the area, but the big waves were affecting our trolling game. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Ontario Out of Doors features an expert Q&A with Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson, a fishing and hunting guide, tournament angler, and outdoor writer. In response to a reader's question about cleaning water marks on sonar screens, Gussy recommends using a screen cleaner designed for marine electronics to prevent dust, fingerprints, and grime buildup. He also suggests using a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar to remove tough water marks. Gussy advises against using cleaners with detergents, alcohol, or ammonia-based solutions, as they can damage the protective surface or scratch the screens. [Extracted from the article]

Features About the only time an angler is disappointed when fighting a 6-pound walleye is while competing in a bass tournament. SOFT-PLASTIC MINNOW To be clear, I'm not going to say artificial baits will help catch more walleye than live bait, because on most days live bait wins. Jigs tipped with artificialsoft- plastic minnows will catch plenty of walleye throughout the season in all depths and are often the best alternatives to live bait. [Extracted from the article]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experiences of working as a fishing guide.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of taking a trapping course in Ontario.

The article talks about fisher Jeff Gustafson, his passion for fishing and his participation at the Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) Tour professional bass tournament circuit and doing fishing for living.

The article discusses how to hunt for wolves on thin ice.

The article offers tips for catching big fishes such as lake trout, walleye, and pike including finding of right locations; best presentations and requirements for catching the same; and looking management of fishing pressure and forage availability.

In the article, the author discusses safety issues when walleye fishing during the winter season in the Ontario area, and cites some examples including his own experience of hitting wet slush and the experience of the journal's Gord Ellis who went astray because snow covered his track.

The article discusses the dangers of outdoor winter activities especially ice fishing and points out the importance of being aware of the surroundings and responding to changing conditions. Topics include personal stories of near-disasters on thin ice, why it is important to keep away from deep slush, a graph showing how much weight solid ice can bear, and an ice fishing safety checklist including bringing ice picks, a flotation suit and a throw rope. It recommends against going out alone.

Maximize electronics use If you enjoy video game fishing - watching your lure as you jig - the boat control you have with a tiller boat is exceptional. Growing up fishing in a small boat and guiding for resorts across northwest Ontario, I have probably spent more hours hanging on to a tiller drive handle than a steering wheel and I have learned a lot from those boats. Five advantages to running a tiller Control in windy weather To stay on a point in rough water, you can park the stern of a tiller boat into the wind and pop the motor in and out of gear. [Extracted from the article]

Columns I was fortunate that my dad started taking me fishing when I was young. The rear starboard box has an Aqua-Vu underwater camera, a box of tools, boat safety kit (required by law), socket set and a prop. I caught the bug and fishing has turned into a lifestyle where I make my living as a professional bass tournament angler, fishing guide, fishing promoter, and writer. [Extracted from the article]

Lakes stretch in every direction with some of the best walleye, pike, and lake trout fishing in the world. We catch our own bait throughout the winter (in line with the new bait-management regulations), usually when we run into schools of cisco while targeting lake trout or crappie, but you can find good bait at just about any tackle shop. Features Growing up in northwestern Ontario's Sunset Country, I've been spoiled with great fishing all my life, both on open water and ice. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers tips for late-season moose hunting in Ontario. Topics include the need to moose hunt in a group to cover more ground and do small drives one a group of moose is located, the imperative of using snowmobiles to cover ground on old logging roads and cut areas, and the importance of organizing drives due to the abundance of water and areas of cleared trees in northern Ontario.

Pike: snake, sizzler, gar, shark, jack Burbot: lawyer, eel pout, eel, mariah (Manitoba), ling cod Jeff Gustafson, Bassmaster Elite Series angler and OOD contributor, Kenora Chipmunks, Nowhere, and the Usual I've been with OOD for 37 years as an advertiser and probably 15 or 20 years before that as a reader then a subscriber. These are some of the best names I've heard for pike and burbot. Northern names We're lucky to have a wide variety of species in northwestern Ontario, but two stand out as having the most variety of names. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents suggestions on hot bass fishing in Ontario. It is noted that great fishing opportunities exist in some water though largemouth bass are not as widespread across the northern part of Ontario. It is recommended to try to duplicate the type of vegetation for finding fish. It is mentioned that due to the explosion of invasive species, bass fisheries on the Great Lakes and Lake Simcoe have undergone significant change in recent decades.

The article offers suggestions to hunters for wolf hunting in winter in Ontario. It mentions the challenges of wolf hunting because of the unpredictable nature of wolves to come to a bait pile, and their tendency not to travel alone. It offers suggestions on the use calling and baiting as hunting methods, the use of ground blinds while watching the bait, and for preventing gun misfires.

The article offers tips for successful white-tailed deer hunting in Ontario. According to the article, trail cameras are useful because they offer information on the habits of deer in a given area. The article recommends spending time in stands and blinds in order to hunt deer. It notes that hunter should be prepared to hunt in cold weather as it promotes deer movement.

The article discusses the ways to improve the catch rate at the best fisheries in North America. It focuses on bass tournaments in Ontario that promote new products and techniques for fishing. It states that forage base is one of the first factors to be considered for finding and catching fish, even in southern Ontario.

The article presents the author's views on whitefish fishing. The author says that fishers who regularly hunt lake whitefish which are widely available across Ontario do not need to be sold on the excitement of catching them through the ice. He tells that whitefish have access to more forage options in 40- to 60-foot basins. He also reflects on his experience of whitefish fishing in Ontario.

The article discusses the late-fall fishing of Jeff Gustafson and friend Tom Vaeth, the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team coach, at the Lake of the Woods in northwestern Ontario to catch some late-season freshwater fish mouthbass.

The article offers information on deer shed hunting. As stated, shed hunting is a relatively low cost for equipment and gas for travel, as compared to other outdoor activities. It is believed that shed hunting in spring season offers valuable information that can be useful during the fall hunting season. Once a hunter finds one antler, the other antler can be found within feet of each other. Carrying a global positioning system (GPS) is also suggested.

The article offers tips to locating lake trout and presenting the right pick-up lines. Sunset Country fishing legend Duane Peterson advises anglers to keep moving and identify locations and get the fish. Do not overlook the mouth of a shallow, weedy bay near deep water. Lake trout generally feed on perch in these locations. Some maintain success by running and gunning. Peterson says run and gun, too, but don't run so much that one won't recognize a hot spot.

Features Imagine a bait so good that all professional bass tournament circuits banned it after anglers complained they would "ruin our lakes." When Hall of Fame angler Paul Elias won a Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) Tour event on Lake Guntersville in October 2011, the effectiveness of the umbrella rig, or Alabama rig as it came to be known, was shown to the world. If you fish in a snaggy area, you may be able to save rigs by using heavy braid that can straighten out hooks so you don't lose the entire rig. [Extracted from the article]

If I am fishing for lake trout which often travel as individuals I'll give a hole a little bit of time before moving on but if I am fishing for panfish I usually won't even drop a bait until I actually see fish. I love sharing the effectiveness of a flasher with an angler who has not used one by showing them their lure, then showing them a fish moving in on their bait. Reason 3: see how fish react to bait A flasher will help you catch more fish as you watch how they interact with your presentation. [Extracted from the article]

While we're all frozen in Ontario, the Sunshine State offers pleasant weather and great bass fishing. I've used Google Earth to find small lakes that have boat launches, figuring if they have good launches, they probably offer good fishing, too. The main difference between bass fishing in Florida and Ontario is that the majority of lakes in Florida are shallow (under 10 feet) and the fish relate to weeds. [Extracted from the article]

It involves hanging a soft plastic, minnow-imitating jerk-shad bait on a jig head slightly above bottom, causing the fish to swim up for it. The bait I like to use a four or five-inch soft plastic jerk shad rigged on a jig. There are plenty of good jerk shad style baits, including those made by Berkley, Zoom, and a bunch of smaller manufacturers. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the lessons learnt by various hunters through their hunting experiences. One hunter describes her experience of wolf hunting in Kenora. Senior editor of the journal "Ontario Out of Doors" Gord Ellis explains her fishing for lake trout on Lake Superior's Bay End in early March 2013.

The article presents suggestions on deer hunting. The author says that for consistently hunting big whitetails, hunters should be constantly on the lookout for new areas. According to the author, they should use an online mapping program to find potential hotspots, talk to other hunters in the area, and consult the local taxidermist.

The article offers travel tips for Birch Island, Ontario and includes recommendations for fishing, the Reid's Birch Island Resort, and Big Sand Lake.

The article offers tips on bass fishing using the Damiki Armor Shad bait and heavy metal blade baits.

A personal narrative for the author's experience of chasing moose with Five Lakes Lodge is presented along with tips for things to be taken such as warm clothing and rope.

The article discusses day trips for grouse hunting in the Separation Lake camp at Kenora, Ontario and includes information about rental cabins, accommodations and weather.

The article offers travel tips for Ontario and includes recommendations for Ontario fishing resorts with Full American Plan, Outpost Cabins and Housekeeping Plan.

The article presents reasons for using longer fishing rods.

The article offers travel tips for Lake of the Woods, Ontario and includes recommendations for different areas suitable for fishing and the differen types of fishes like Walleye, Muskie, and Pike.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of moose hunting in the south of Red Lake, Ontario.

The article presents tips for bass fishing. It notes that a glue can be added to lures with hook eyes which are screwed directly to the rod. It states that heavy wire with thick cover must be applied in fishing at deeper water. It mentions that fishing lines for dragging can be straightened by fluorocarbon.

The article offers information on the possibility of great walleye fishing in Northwestern Ontario's Sunset County Region. It mentions the Rainy River in Sunset County in which hundreds of walleye pile into the river from Lake of the Woods to spawn when the ice melts. It notes that the river's depth is 8-12 feet during the spring season and has sandy banks and bottom in which rock outcroppings can help anglers to hold their toes.

The article discusses the use of tackle tying for regular fishing, in which topics explored include benefits it offer and different types of jigs.

The article offers information on Mike Richards, a Canadian ice hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings team of the National Hockey League (NHL) including his interest in fishing, Ontario-based Lake of the Woods as his favourite place for fishing, and his participation in fishing tournaments.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "The Big-Bang Theory" in the May 2012 issue, "Shooting Ambassadors Vindicated" in the 2012 issue, and "A Blue Mystery."