Treat yourself with a Canadian fishing vacation

When deciding on a long vacation to escape the evils of work-related stress or just to abandon the bustling city life for some time, a fishing vacation to Canada might just do wonders.

Tranquility and relaxation are some of the focus of taking a fishing vacation, with a little adventure and challenge. Enjoying fishing in a boat or from the shore with your family would be a wonderful and memorable experience. Here are some tips to enjoy your Canadian fishing vacation.

Determine how much you're willing to spend

First of all, you have to know how much you can spend. A family can take a low-budget vacation where they take the train or take a driving expedition by driving to the site itself. A low-cost lodge could be rented and fishing supplies limited. The alternative could be erecting tents, which could be adventurous and exciting as you're really close to wildlife.

Those who have money to spend can take a plane to fly to an exclusive resort which has all the amenities. They could also rent a boat or buy a boat to further enjoy their fishing vacation.

Taking the necessary supplies

Know what type of lake you're going to and what hooks and baits they allow on the lake to be ready for your fishing vacation. Some lakes require you to have barbless hooks. Some lakes such as catch and release lakes only allow artificial baits and conservation limit lakes allow live fish baits. It's better to know the necessary information for you to further enjoy your fishing vacation.

Plan the activities

A good vacation has a good plan of activities. Canada's lakes are vast and wide to be explored bit by bit. Trekking, hiking, and walking from one place to another while fishing would be enjoyable. Or taking the boat to explore other parts of the lake and erecting tents for a night.

In terms of fishing, you should consider how much experience and level of adventure you are willing to take. There are parts of the lake where catching fish is easy and there are also other parts where fishing is challenging where there are more aggressive fish such as northern pike and muskie.

Maximize the experience!

It's also good to maximize the experience in your fishing vacation. There's no time to slack! Get that fishing rod and hit the lakes to land some trophy fish or just good quality fish to be eaten. There's nothing like grilled fresh water fish in outdoor Canada.

Walleye Fishing Nets Buying Guide

Walleye fishing is one of the most common tasks known to most anglers. With many modern-day techniques, you must carefully consider in choosing nets to use.

Modern nets available on the market nowadays have come a long way since the early days of walleye fishing. They have improved now into coated and knotless ones. Having no knots, it becomes more advantageous to the walleye itself and to the angler because snagging of hooks is less likely to happen during fishing. There will also be a less occurrence for abrasion on the skin of the walleye.

When choosing a net, you must consider avoiding wide mesh nets as they can also pose certain problems especially when you want to split the fish's tail or its fins. It is important to think about the size of the mesh to protect small fish that get caught up in the process.

In considering the type of net, you may also need to take into account the target species you often pursue and such as in this case, the walleye. It is best to buy a net based upon your desired catch. If you want walleye, concentrate on that when buying a net. The best nets are the ones with hoops (approximately 21-23 inches). It has to be wide enough to make netting as easy as possible to handle the job carefully thus avoiding unexpected problems. Of course, we don't want the fish to tangle around and waste our time.

Consider models that are handheld. This design is made to simplify the job. Select a comfortable handle because handle selection is also another thing to consider. Long handles are practical when you experience heavy wind blowing or maybe while you are using long snells. On the other hand, trollers also prefer nets that have long handles because this enables to be unbuttoned as they get close to the boat. Reaching out for these fish and bagging them very quickly can also be done with long handled nets.

If you have a smaller boat, consider an innovative design of nets. Some have a collapsing hoop with the entire assembly sliding down on its handle. This will allow better storage.

Invest in good quality walleye fishing nets that will last a long time. If possible, avoid those that have thin aluminum material, light mesh netting, and uncoated ones. You don't want to lose a nice walleye just because of breaking hoops.

Enjoy the Best of Walleye Fishing in Canada

Planning a fishing trip to Canada is indeed an adventure. You can't afford to miss out on this extraordinary land of various lakes and wide green forests and wilderness with eagles soaring high. It is a humble country to fish various types of species including the sought-after walleye. They say you will feel up close to the heavens as you step into the home of walleye fish.

There are numerous stay-in camps to choose from as well as lodges, resorts, hotels, and motels. The best outfitters can help you with your fishing stint. Fishing hotspots include Armstrong, Gogama, Kirkland Lake, La Ronge, Manitoba, Ontario, Swastika, Winnipeg, and a lot of other places.

Popular techniques used in walleye fishing depend on the seasons that Canada has. Seasons include spring, summer, and fall. During the summer, you can find walleye in most river currents. They can also be close to the shoreline, about five to ten inches. Most of them seek for sandy areas to spawn and spawning finishes when the fishing season starts. Fortunately, they don't leave instantly. They hang around to safeguard their spawning beds. Finding the best spot along the shore may be tough but it can be very rewarding as these walleye group in congregation. Therefore, a hard find can mean much reward.

In the summertime, most walleye go a bit deeper. They usually hang out in the river mouths. You can find them in rocky spots that are laid back. They get too lazy in this type of season more specifically in an extremely hot sunny daytime. However, it is still possible to catch walleye by trolling off those rocky spots.

When fall comes, most anglers become frustrated. Because it is cold, most bodies of water cool down naturally and weeds begin to die. This may not be very attractive to walleye. Instead, they will choose to swim up various streams and prefer to hang out in deeper places. They also go out in the open bodies of water and stay there suspended at about ten to 30 feet. Even though you can still fish using jigs, expect that you will get snagged most of the time. However, hopes don't end because of the season. You can still catch large female walleye that tend to get closer to the shore at night time and that is between 10AM to 3AM. After all, walleye fishing in Canada will always be worth the wait.

Planning a fishing trip to Canada’s best lakes

Canada is probably the best for fishing as it has almost 200,000 lakes with breathtaking scenery anyone could enjoy. The additional bonus of having a scenic mountain range, deep lakes, rivers, and huge rocks makes a trip to one of the Canadian destinations worthwhile.

Taking a trip to one of these Canadian destinations will be truly fulfilling with enough planning prior to the trip. Here are some helpful guidelines for your Canadian trip.

Determine what lake you want to fish

There are two major kinds of lakes: the conservation limit and catch and release lakes. Conservation limit lakes allow live fish baits such as worms or leeches. Furthermore, you can take home the fish you've caught with you. Meanwhile, catch and release lakes require you to use artificial baits such as twister tails. You also can't take home fish.

Determine the fishing season at conservation lakes

Itching for specific fish to catch in conservation lakes? You have to determine the season of these fish first before you pick the time to go on a fishing trip. Northern Pike isn't seasonal so you can find them all year round. The same with Bass. Trout are available from the first of January until the 30th of September. Walleye, on the other hand, are available on the third Saturday of May until April 15. Lastly, Muskies can be found on the third Saturday of June until November 30.

Booking a cabin

There are thousands of resort cabins waiting for you! You have to consider first the distance you're willing to travel from your home to the destination. The best way to search for the best cabin is to research them and canvass prices if necessary by calling them. It would also be helpful to ask a friend to refer you to a good cabin.

Get your supplies ready

When you have booked a cabin, you just need your clothes, fishing gear, fishing license, and other personal items. Most cabins provide you with kitchen utensils and other necessary supplies found at home. You can also bring your own food and drinks.

Challenge yourself and enjoy!

Fishing for big fish such as northern pike or bass will be a challenge as these fish are fierce and aggressive. Practice and get your strategies going while you can as your fishing trip will be fulfilling if you get these prized fish!

And of course, who wouldn't forget to enjoy? Canada, after all, is the best for fishermen. The bonus of the scenery will leave you gasping all throughout the trip. So don't forget to enjoy while fishing!

Tips for Hiring Your Walleye Fishing Guide

Whether you're a beginner or experienced angler, you'll need a fishing guide to help you locate walleye, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the location. Here are some tips to help you in the hiring process:

Know where to look.
If you have walleye fishing buddies who've worked with a guide before, ask them for recommendations. They can give you references based on their own experience, so you'll know what to expect.

You can also try to locate a guide locally, that is, hire him from the area where he's based. This is a lot cheaper than hiring an American to take across the Canadian border to fish for walleye, or vice versa.

Go online, join fishing forums or talk to local fishing gear and bait shops for any referrals. If you're hiring a boat charter, you might want to inquire with them as well.

Ask the guide for his experience.
Your fishing guide should be knowledgeable about the area where you will be fishing for walleye. He should have a few years experience in the business. If you fish for walleye, your guide has to understand its behavior and habitat. Otherwise, you could sit on the boat all day with your bait dangling from your hook.

If you're bringing your family along, ask if the guide has experience working with kids. The expertise level of your guide matters if you want to have a successful and safe fishing trip.

Ask if your guide has a license.
Fishing for walleye is regulated and protected by state rules. A licensed guide can help you fish within the limits provided. A guide who works without a license will put you in danger of violating legal and ethical limits. You should also inquire if he has the proper permit to operate in the location where you will be fishing.

How much?
The bottom line is, the more anglers in the group, the cheaper price you'll pay. Typically, a walleye fishing guide will charge at least $150 for a group of 3 people. If you prefer a cheaper alternative, go for group fishing packages, where a boat plus a guide for about 20 or more anglers will cost you only $30. Rates vary, though, so be sure to ask.

As for the tip, since you'll be hiring the guide, there's really no need to tip him. However, it's a sign of generosity and good will on your part if you do. A 10% to 20% tip of the fee is a good thing.

Things You Should Look for When Buying Gear for Walleye

Things You Should Look for When Buying Gear for Walleye Fishing

Successful walleye fishing is a combination of strategy, location and gear. Without the right fishing gear, you could have all the best intentions in the world but never catch this elusive fish. Want to increase your chances of catching the walleye? Here are the most important fishing gear you'll need to complete your arsenal:

Fishing rod
Look for the three essentials: strength, length and flex. The walleye is not a passive fish and you'll have to do a little bit of battle so you'll need a sturdy and reliable rod.

Length also matters. If you tend to fish in an area surrounded by trees and shrubs, a shorter line will prevent any tangles. Pick a rod that is about 6 to 7 feet long, which should work well whether you're fishing from a boat or from the shore.

If you're wondering why flex is a factor, consider how lightly the walleye can sometimes strike at your bait. Many anglers have lost a good catch because their rods were too stiff to give them a 'feel'. A light, flexible, medium- to fast-action rod will give you more information than your heavy and stiff old faithful.

Fishing reel
Your next fishing gear consideration is the reel. A good bet is the spinning reel, which many anglers swear will work great with a well-chosen rod. A spinning reel and rod combo will let you work with light cranks and jigs, two of the best and most reliable elements of your walleye fishing arsenal.

When looking at the fishing reel at the store, make sure to check for drag. Choose the one that offers the smoothest so in case you play tug of war with the walleye, you won't waste too much energy in the fight. You'll also need a clean drag to help you manipulate your line better, allowing you to pull and discharge it with minimal effort. Too much resistance and your line could break.

Fishing line
Look for a strong and reliable line. Don't be afraid to pay for quality. When you're already out there in the water, you'll thank yourself for not scrimping.

Lures and baits
Lures and bait are the components of your fishing gear that attract the walleye. For your first picks, choose the following:

Jigs - these are meant to be used on a lake, stream or river bottom, in close contact with the sand. Choose the appropriate size, weight and style.

Crank baits - mimicry is the strong suit of crank baits and you'll need them to lure the walleye into believing that what you are presenting is their real prey.

Bottom bouncer - this will sink your live bait and make it easy for the walleye to take a bite.