Well. It has taken some time ...lots of time. I was finally able to get out fishing. As Xiaolu (James) mentioned in his post, we met up at a boat launch up on one of the lakes in Muskoka on Wednesday. I was with my family enjoying the sandy beach side of the launch and who comes back to the launch with some whitefish and laker? James! Thanks for the offer of a whitefish too...my wife thought that was very nice of you.
Anyway, I was finally able to figure out how to get some fishing in (esp. since I had finished off a bunch of work that usually takes up my nights...and later nights too so I can do early mornings for a couple of hours). Out I went the next morning (had the kayak and car all loaded up the night before). Up really early and launched before sunrise and started to fish just as the sun was coming up - a really beautiful sunrise to see.
Fished a tad over 2 hours and landed an 18.1" laker (a little bit bigger than I like for eating but I hadn't had fish from our lakes for a long time so...). Also missed another couple of chasers. No photos (still getting my act together and to get things running smoothly so no room/time for photos
Sunday, I decided to do it again since James said he was coming up. Same routine but this time I picked up a bag that was left on the dock (they had launched even earlier than I did and were out a couple of kms already and I could see some other boats out there fishing). James pulled up to the launch as I was leaving. I pedaled over to the first boat to see if it was theirs (but they did not launch from that dock). Next boat....same thing. I finally got to the two boats that I had thought likely left the bag....bingo (he knew the pin for the phone in the bag). So after a chat, I started fishing since they were in the area where I wanted to fish. Within 10 min., I hooked one and lost it within 2 sec....felt the weight and suspect it was a laker since it hit higher up. Went to explore the are a bit when I had no more marks on the sonar. Came back to the area and there was James with some other fishing buddies..as I approached, it looked like James had just hooked up but lost it too within seconds. A quick chat with James and back to fishing. I had a hard hit, set the hook and the reel breaks near the seat (I was holding it in the jigging pistol grip I often used ice fishing). Felt the weight of the fish as I was scrambling to get things under control...nope, lost the fish). Switched to another rod and 15 min. later, hooked up again. Lots it quickly as well (likely a whitefish but who really knows). Could have been a pretty good day...ended up with a skunk.
Anyone ever have this happen with the reel? It's a Shakespeare GX235 (came as a combo spinning rod/reel - GX2). Turns out the thing is made of some kind of plastic composite. Not the most expensive gear but also not cheap, cheap. I think it's regular priced at about $90 (now on sale for $70) at Cabela's. I don't really want a replacement....not fishing too often, I can't afford to lose fishing due to such malfunctions. I'll put one on of my Pflugger President reel.
Woo-hooo fishing....finally!, and a broken reel (fish lost)
