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Arawak
Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 19th, 2008 07:52 pm |
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Just got back from Wildwood Conservation Area. My son and I where planning to go to Maitland Park today, but since he really wanted to catch a pike I thought we'd have better luck up at Wildwood. The place was teeming with them when we were camping there in August.
Turns out the UTRCA has lowered the lake significantly, and the fishing dock at the marina is now sitting on some rocks. There were quite a few guys with rods propped up in the sand along the beach area, but nothing was happening there at all so we walked past them up to the dam and tried our luck there.
It was a real challenge casting into the wind, and we weren't catching much except rocks. My son was struggling to get more than a few feet into the water and he got discoraged and gave up. After a while of this, we figured we'd pack up and try fishing in London after all, since nobody there was catching anything.
About halfway back, on a whim, I thought I'd try a cast into what looked like some deepish water just off the beach area. I managed to get my #2 Mepps Aglia about 35 feet out, let it settle to the bottom, then reeled it in. Sure enough, there was a bump. Encouraged by this, I cast again in the same area, and managed to get a hit and set the hook.
It wasn't much of a fighter, but it turned out to be a decent smallmouth... maybe about 3 to 3.5 lbs. It caused quite the commotion along the shoreline becuase like I said, nobody was catching anything as far as i could tell. A couple of guys packed up and came over to near where I was to see if they could catch anything.
A few more casts, and I realised that I was getting little taps about every other cast. I'm kind of new to freshwater fishing, just started late last year, so my lack of experience with a lure cost me a couple fish. However, a few minutes later I hooked up with another one, slightly bigger, which gave a bit more struggle but ended up on shore soon enough.
After another 10 minutes my son Alex, who has started casting again after the first fish, was getting frustrated by his lack of distance with his cast, and he said he was ready to go. I realised that my conservation licence only lets me keep two anyway, and the are chores waiting at home, so we packed up and left. No sooner had we vacated the spot than two fellows took it up.
We never managed to get Alex a pike, but I think if I get my father-in-law's boat up there we might have some luck upstream nearer to marshy end.
Oh yeah... I managed to filet them when I got home and as I type they are marinating in with some tequila, jalapeños, lime juice, and a bit of sea salt. We'll see how they taste tonight, when I'll bread them and bake.
Arawak
Attachment: wildwood_smallmouth.jpg (Downloaded 30 times) Last edited on Sun Oct 19th, 2008 07:56 pm by Arawak
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dokdok
Moderator
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Posted: Sun Oct 19th, 2008 09:18 pm |
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Hey Arawak, nice day for a fish fry that's for sure... great adventure you had there and nice size smallies too! Thanks for sharin' your recipe with us too. 
Glad ya had some family fish fun and Welcome to GoFishOnt!
Bass Fishin'!  droolin' ~dokdok
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horseshoe
VIP Member
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Posted: Sun Oct 19th, 2008 10:16 pm |
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oh oh now u got me and dok dok drooling..sounds like a tasty treat we may have to get mike to make up a recipy section for preparing any type of fish ...or smoking ...glad you got out with you son ...20 yrs from now u'll look back and say glad i went out and put the fun back in fishin
Horseshoe
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Arawak
Member
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Posted: Mon Oct 20th, 2008 12:15 am |
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Just finished dinner, and... DAMN they were good! I will have to revise my opinion of freshwater fish.
I put half an onion, a tablespoon of minced garlic, and 2 cored and seeded (my daughter can't tek de heat!) jalapeños into the food processor and turned them into a coarse paste. Put that into a big stainless steel mixing bowl and added a little canola oil, a couple shots of tequila, some lime juice, and some sea salt. Dropped the filets in (cut in half) and turned the whole thing around to get it all coated and went to do my chores.
3 1/2 hrs later was maybe a little too long as the lime juice had started to cook the meat, but it was ok.
Took each piece out and floured it in one bowl, then dipped in eggwash (actually it was egg beaters), then in breadcrumbs with a bit of thyme.
I have to watch my cholesterol, so instead of frying these were baked or 'oven fried'. I just put tin foil on a baking tray, sprayed it with PAM, and put the fish on it. Sprayed the top again, and baked at 450 until done... maybe 20 minutes.
Can't deny that fried would probably have been even better, but these were excellent.
Also, while I was on my errands I stopped at Canadian Tire and picked up a #5 Mepps Black Fury for the really big ones next time I get out on big water.
Arawak
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horseshoe
VIP Member
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Posted: Mon Oct 20th, 2008 12:23 am |
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Laffin ...wot a great recipy ...damm ur gonna have to team up with vanselena ...hes a hell of a cook tooooo ...you guys are a pair of gourmets ....and thanks for sharing !!
Horseshoe ....cant wait now... i bet dok dok needs his bibe...hahaha drooling
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Mike S
Administrator
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Posted: Mon Oct 20th, 2008 12:55 am |
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wow Arawak.. I was just going to comment on the great fishing report.. then I read your recipe and wow!!! cant wait for my next feed of fresh fish to try that!!!!
Of course if you want some nice pike you're going to have bring your son up to Cook's Bay (south end of lake simcoe) !!!
So on both counts.. great posts!! loved the fish story and how you cooked it up!!
Week before last I got out the plain aglia #4 silver and trolled around with it and the bass were loving it!!! sometimes we forget the simple things are the best!
regards, Mike.
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