New friends, walleye and Ottawa!

After the fun weekend at the Spring Fishing and Boat Show, I made some new fishing friends! One of the great things about trade shows is that you finally get to meet anglers that you communicate with through Facebook and other social networking sites - and get to put a face to a name. One of the people I met at the show was Matt Heayn:

Myself, Matt and a Quinte walleye

Matt is also a kayak angler, and a pretty avid angler year round. We discovered that we are both in the Quinte area, and a few days after the show we hit the ice together to try for walleye. Matt told me that he hadn't yet caught a walleye this year, and I was really determined to try and help! My year had not been stellar with the warm temperatures and crazy weather, but it was worth a shot and always fun to get out fishing with someone new!

After our adventure, Matt wrote a about it in a National Pro Staff report:

"with Ashley by my side and coaching me through it, I finally convinced that red line on my flasher to take my Rapala Jigging Shad Rap. Within the blink of an eye, my first Walleye was in my hands (as I apparently fist pumped). Several pictures later, I thanked the fish and it returned to where it came from."

For me, it was such a fun day of fishing! Some of the best days of fishing are when someone else is catching. Really glad to have met Matt, and we will be doing lots of fishing from here on out!

A day of doing laundry and packing and I was on the road again, this time to Ottawa for the Ottawa Sportsmen Show! I was at the show last year and was very happy that Big Jim invited me back again this year to once again help kids cast at the Minto Jackpot Casting Pond.

The future of fishing

As always, it was a blast getting kids interested in fishing! I helped out at both ends of the casting pond - with kids 8 and under one end, and kids 8+ the other. There were actually some adults that tried casting for the first time too. There was literally a toy store of prizes behind the pond and everyone left with something, and best of all it was free! I will definitely be at the show again next year!

Yvonne, Big Jim and myself 

Yvonne Brown was also invited to work at the pond this year. I met her briefly at the Spring Fishing Show, but was excited when I found out she would also be at the Ottawa Show. She is a great addition to the fishing industry, and I am so happy that I got the chance to spend time with her that weekend! She has recently joined the tournament scene in the past couple of years, and has a strong involvement with kids fishing events. It's great to see other ladies getting involved in the sport!!

Thanks Big Jim for the opportunity and I look forward to next years show!

My first seminar(s)! Spring Fishing and Boat Show 2012

As a child, public speaking was my absolute worst fear. Each year in school, we'd have to do a 3-5 minute memorized speech on a topic of our choice, and there was nothing I dreaded more. I got sick over thinking about it, and even remember crying when I was really young as I was so nervous! I was actually a very shy girl in my early days. It wasn't until some point in high school where I broke out of my shell and became more outgoing and comfortable in my own skin. Most of you are probably reading this thinking 'impossible' because I am quite outgoing now.
When I received a phone call inquiring if I would like to do seminars at this years Spring Fishing and Boat Show, I felt a hint of shyness come back but didn't give myself time to think it over and instead said 'yes'. Moments later, I was signed up for 8 seminars when I had never before done one! The topic was kayak fishing and I even had a demonstration pool so I could get in the kayak during my seminar. Very cool! I got prepared and in less than a couple weeks I was on my way to the show in Mississauga, Ontario with a kayak strapped on the roof in February. I felt myself fall back into that nervousness from long ago, and got really stressed about the seminars. I kept telling myself 'I am just talking about what I love' and thought it should be so easy!

Yes, it's that stable! My kayak is the Hobie Mirage Outback.

In my seminar I talked about kayak safety/items needed, some extras I use to maximize my time on the water, the fishability, stability and the propulsion system (Mirage Drive) that allows me to be hands free while kayaking and fish at the same time! I talked about my personal experiences, the kayak features and the advantages to kayak fishing, etc.

After the first few seminars, it was better than I had imagined. I really enjoyed telling my story, the interaction with the crowd and most of all - passing on my love for kayak fishing! Once I overcame nervousness, I had fun up there! I did 8 seminars altogether, 2 on each day of the show. I met lots of people, and even had a surprise visit from my friend Hayley and her family who drove up to support me!

Thank you to everyone that stopped by my seminars! See you at the show next year!

Promo photo

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My first pike through the ice!

I spent the better part of today chasing walleye (naturally) with some friends on the Bay of Quinte. I marked lots, but didn't seem to impress them enough to entice a strike. In my blog yesterday, I wrote a list of things I would like to accomplish while ice fishing this year. (Here's the blog link: I'm back in the game... and with a challenge!)

One of my goals was to catch a pike through the ice, because I hadn't ever done it. Well, today I did it!

This fish was a mere flicker on my flasher, and seconds after seeing it below me it SLAMMED my spoon! It was pulling drag, and when I got it to the hole the first time it took one look at me and tried it's best to take off again. I got it up to the hole the second time, landed it, and got my friend to come over and snap this photo. This pike put up a good battle, and I would really like to target pike in the future and catch more! For me, regardless of the fact I didn't catch a walleye today - it was still a successful day crossing another fish off the ice list and spending time on the ice.

Another day on the ice tomorrow, hopefully I will have another photo to share :)

Have a great weekend!

Ashley

I’m back in the game... and with a challenge!

FINALLY, my first post of 2012 and it feels really good to be back at it. This year the ice fishing season is about 4 weeks behind what it was last year. With the drastic up and down temperatures, the ice formed late this year on the Bay of Quinte. With the steady cold temperatures in the past couple of weeks, I have now been out fishing! I am receiving lots of inquiries on Facebook, Twitter and NationalProStaff asking about how safe the ice on the Bay of Quinte is. I wanted to take the time to address this matter as ice safety is very important to me.  

Please check ice before heading out on any body of water!! As I stated above, the weather has been changing so drastically and ice must be checked thoroughly. Please use caution regardless of what you read in an ice report. Forums and social media are a great place to find out about ice conditions, but never rely on them. Please be safe!!

This year I decided to come up with an ice fishing challenge for myself. Here it is:
1) Catch a walleye that takes 2 hands to hold (come on, double digit!)
2) Catch lots of lake trout!
3) Catch my first whitefish (haven’t caught one at all!)
4) Catch a pike through the ice (haven't done that yet)
5) Target perch and crappie (and catch ‘em!)

Now for my first report of 2012:
Location: Bay of Quinte, secret spot  ;)
Ice conditions: 9 inches thick, no snow cover, slick
Wind: 57kms/hour
Target species: walleye
Water depth: 39 feet

I met my friend Jeff (Quinte Ice Fishing Team) prior to 7am so that we could be on the ice for first light. Jeff drilled holes to check ice thickness all the way out to our location. It was very windy, so using the slush (from drilling holes) on top of the skirt around the outside of the huts kept the huts locked down on the ice. After I got my flasher, heater and rods set up, it was go time!

I started with a size 7 Perch Jigging Rap tipped with a minnow. I dropped down and marked a fish on my flasher within minutes of jigging a few inches off bottom. This fish was tight to bottom and began to rise for my bait. I lightly twitched and raised the bait up and the fish followed. As the fish moved closer quite quickly, the image on my flasher grew and it was a big red mark! As I continued to pull the bait away, the fish pounced forward and struck! I set the hook and it felt a beast of a fish on the other end! As I started reeling, my drag was tinging! I KNEW it was a hawg, and seconds into the battle, it freed itself and took my minnow.... so the day started in heartbreak. I was however, optimistic that it would not be the last nice ‘red mark’ on my flasher.

I marked several fish, they were hesitant to bite but got this little ‘cigar’ sized walleye:

I caught 2 little eyes, and then saw a flicker in about 24-30 feet of water. As Jeff said, a lot of bigger fish will be suspended. I reeled up past it and was now using a Macho Minnow (spoon) without tipping a minnow this time. The green flicker grew and changed into a red mark. I really had to work slowly for this fish as it was not impressed by any aggressive movements. I lightly twitched the Macho Minnow to make sure I got some action from the tail, but not too much darting around. The fish came at the bait fast and I pulled away just a bit and got the fish to rise up. A second charge at the spoon and this time the fish took it:

 Finally, I'm back in the game! This fish really restored my confidence. It was the last one I caught for the morning. We left the ice for lunch and came back out, and I kept the Macho Minnow on. Here's my set up:

 

The Shimano Caenan reel has been great for ice fishing! I have it spooled with 20 pound test Power Pro. With the click of a button you can drop your bait down as much or as little as you need to put it right in front of the nose of a hungry walleye. 

The evening was really windy, and began to snow. It's amazing what you don't notice when you're so focused on those fish. I looked out and the ice had a blanket of snow, yet I was warm and cozy in my hut. This was the last fish of the day for me:

I worked this one up off bottom, and coaxed it into a bite. It took a little more convincing, but slow movements were key. The wind and snow would have made it difficult for a good photo outside, so here I am sitting in my hut.

More ice stories to come! Thank you for reading, sharing, and liking!

Ashley Rae

2011 - A Year In Review

I went through all of my fishing photos from the year and created this video, although I know the year isn't over yet. I am sure posting this now will jinx me to go fishing again before 2012 and I will have to add to this, but I am willing to risk it!

Thanks to all in the video, and all behind the scenes that have helped make this past year amazing!!

Quinte Ice Fishing Team (Jeff Chisholm, Paul McTaggart and Joe Pickstock), Ian Ferguson, Bob MacMillan, Lures & Tours (Rosa Sharpe and Charlie Ross), Big Jim and Tammy McLaughlin, Jamie Pistilli, Lenny Devos, Gord Pyzer, Olivier Bibeau, Mark Hamelin, Mikey Fitzgerald, Erik Luzak, Dave Chong, X Zone Tournament Baits, (Mark Kulik), Hobie Kayaks, Jenda Paddlesports, Jeffrey Fortuna, Keeton Eoff, Hayley, Nancy and Jeff Kennedy, Mustang Survival (Krystal Yee), Colin Friel, Walker Downriggers, Mike Snow, Andy Hansen, Bob Spicer, Greg Amiel, Arnaldo De Sousa, PB&J Charters, Napanee Chamber of Commerce (Kathy Medd), the Napanee Guide, Justin Hoffman, Scott Walcott, Bay of Quinte Country, Crowe Video Productions, Victor Cooper, CBC Radio, Outdoor Journal Radio, FishBum Outfitters, Jack Summers, Radioworld, and more..

Special thanks to; Shimano, G Loomis, PowerPro, Bob Mahoney, my family, friends, Chris Harding, my Facebook friends and 'fans', my Twitter followers and National Pro Staff followers, YouTube subscribers and friends on Google+. Thanks to all that send e-mails, comments and messages with words of kindness and encouragement. Thank you to each and every one of you that visit my website (now almost 50,000 hits). And big thanks to those that share my website through social networking!

Cheers to another year of fishing adventures, new friends, new fish and experiences!

Sincerely,

Ashley Rae