The Trip Pt 2

[myersbg 1,385]

More on Fishing.

 

The lad with the fish is Geoff, great lad and lives for fishing, if he cant catch, no one can, he fishes mostly with a 15ft float rod and centre pin reel, if you have tried it you will know it takes some practice.

On the way to Niagra we stopped at a tackle shop for bait [Minnows], it was stuffed with tackle and a bought a load of Rappala's, they had a deal on, 4 lures $20, that works out at £2.50 each, i filled my boots. this shop opened 6 am weekdays and 5am weekends, i cant see many shops doing that over here.

 

The only fish i caught all trip was when we fished a small lake for bass with the fly, that was good sport but guess what i forgot my sodding camera. White mans creek, another lovely place to fish for Browns but we got skunked here as well,every body recond the unusual cold for the time of year had fckd the job .

 

North Bay Fur Harvesters convention.

 

This was what i had planned the whole trip around and was really looking forward to this,[i WAS NOT DISAPOINTED], we set off on thurs morn to pick up Jordan from Toronto airport with a couple of inches of snow lying, Jordan had flown in from Alberta and has probably lost his house in the fires, i cant get in touch with him but i only have his landline number, i hope him and his family are ok.

We traveled north for 5 hrs and the snow was getting deeper and heavier. forgot to mention we stopped at Bass pro on the way up, i recommend any one travel's over this place is definitely worth a visit, i said i was NOT going to buy anything in there, but came out with a couple of carrier bags and a couple of hundred dollars lighter.

We arrived at the Hotel in North Bay around teatime ish with a foot of snow and the temp down to -12, got some grub and went for a few beers, then got some more grub around midnight and had some more beers, then tried to get back to the hotel slipping, wobbling and picking ourselves up off the ice [ i blamed the ice, fck all to do with the beers]

Friday up and off to the convention 10 mins ride, more snow, struggled to get parked as the car park was stuffed with cars and snow, a little bit of snow.

 

When we got into the place it was awsome, all the trappers were bringing in there fur to go into store until the next sale, it was unbelievable how much fur was coming in, beaver hides Coyote, fox and coyote,

There was loads of trapping, fur handling, skinning and snaring demonstrations and talks, i think i learned one or two things , i met Dave Vander meer who does the trappers world you tube series, we had a good craic, he managed to sell me a copy of his book, [i dont know how he managed that, because i know have two copies].

 

The trap store was brilliant and i was like a kid in a sweet shop, full of big boys toys and anything you will ever need for trapping...

 

I am now going to get my dogs out, i will return with more

Brian

 

 

[WILF 51,859]

Great stuff mate, really good read

[devon flighter 421]

very interesting read ,please do more on the trip

[sussex 5,803]

Nice read mate ..more please ..

[myersbg 1,385]

I spent most of friday walking around talking to anybody that was willing to listen and probably asked some stupid questions, but if you don't ask you will never find out anything, i sat through a demo on snaring fox and lynx and picked up a few tips [ don't think the lynx tips will help but it was still interesting], then more walking around just in a daze, i was in my element, it was like it had all been put on for me.

i had a good talk with a trap collector, Barry Bowers was his name and he has a marvelous collection of old traps, he is a friend of OTC, Lee if you read this Barry said say hello. this collection makes mine look sh1te..

 

We left the convention around 4ish and went and had some grub and a few beers.

 

Saturday, up early trappers breakfast served at convention from 7am, more snow temp down to -17, , North Bay Lake Nippising.

watched a demo on skinning and handling fox, very interesting he skinned on a bench that he had made for doing the job,.

In the afternoon i saw a demo on relaxing cable restraints. all day more fur was coming in then i got to have a look in the cold rooms where they store the fur.. it makes you wonder how the wildlife can stand so much pressure but the laws are very strict on seasons etc.

I met with the chief executive officer of Fur Harvesters auction inc ,Mark Downey, he couldn't believe that i had come from England , he was a really nice bloke, and they gave me a new coat with there logo on it and a Beaver tail wallet, which i thought was great, me with my new cammo coat and Mark.

 

i will put some more up later, a bit of hunting

[Lenmcharristar 10,435]

I know what you mean about the bass pro shops, fecking heavenly when you walk in lol

[bell 3,612]

Great trip mate

[air gun ant 1,666]

I've been waiting for this! Lol looks like you had a cracking time mate. Shame about the fishing but at least you didn't lose the only fish lol that skinning bench looks interesting

[mackem 30,987]

I cant imagine fox skinning demo's at the CLA gamefair.That place looks fantastic,i might make it a to-do next year,its only three and a half hours from ottawa.

[mackem 30,987]

Did you seen any black bear skins at the furriers convention brian?Ottawa has a huge black bear population,second only to british columbia,they have just allowed a spring bear hunt this year for the first time in years.

[myersbg 1,385]

I do not remember seeing Black Bear, but that doesn't mean there was none, there was a few Polar Bear Hides, they were enormous

[mackem 30,987]

I checked the auction listings brian,they had 500 black bear skins at auction,and something ridiculous like 140,000 raccoon skins.Yup,those polar bear skins square out huge,and they aint cheap neither,be lucky.