Fun with Fishing!

**This is a guest post by avid fishing guru, Ken Eastmen. Thanks Ken for your words of wisdom!**

Now I don’t profess to know a whole lot about anything but I do know that if you get your kid out fishing, I can guarantee they’ll want to do it again.

Their idea of fishing might be different from yours, but remember that even if your child spends the time chasing minnows and tadpoles at the water’s edge while you fish, that’s still awesome.

Some kids just want to reel the fish in when you hook one on. As I’ve jokingly taught my boy to say: “a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at school or work.”

Ben and I have been enjoying many days this summer on lakes, streams and brooks around home. While we are lucky to have a boat and kayak to get out on the water, our most memorable moments seem to be when we follow streams and brooks through the woods looking for the perfect “honey hole” to catch a lunker with our name on it! I must admit that the exploration of what’s around the next bend is half the fun of going.

I must admit that the exploration of what’s around the next bend is half the fun.

Don’t over think where to go. Just go.

You can stand in the fishing section of your local sport goods department listening intently to the stories of where people have had good luck but any spot can be hot and then go cold. If you see water there’s probably fish in there somewhere.

I stopped the other day along the 101 between Mount Uniacke and Ellershouse in effectively a small pond fed by a brook. I made my way down the rocky shoulder of the highway and saw a small trout swimming at water’s edge. YEEHA! THAT’S ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN!

In eight casts I had caught six, albeit small, trout and bass which were still absolutely exhilarating on my ultra light gear. I proceeded to catch and release about 20-30 fish over about an hour and a half. Just goes to show that you can’t rule out any water hole.

If you want just about a sure thing though, Gaspereau Lake is chockful of bass and chain pickerel. Any of the lakes in that system are also wonderful. You can fish from shore but the best spots are always near the weeds.

We have a few lures that work faithfully for us. The “Five of Diamonds” “Red Devil” spoons as well as almost any colour of Rapala lures. They’re easy to control when casting and seem to drive the fish nuts. I know that the die-hards love trout fishing but bass love to jump out of the water and they are always a thrill, especially for a kid.

My favorite colour combination! Mimics a wounded trout.

If you want to experience big fish, nothing beats striped bass for size! Hot spots for these are along the Minas Basin and into the rivers coming off it.

While some people use large Rapala Magnums and other similar lures we, like the majority of people we meet, like to use squid, herring, mackerel or any other fish. We cut them into chunks and use on a striper rig which is available at most fishing stores. Place a heavy weight at the bottom and cast it out, real it till the line is tight and wait till you get a nibble. This fishery has taken off in the last ten years as more and more people have discovered it. You’ll need heavier gear for this since they can get pretty big.

A fish has to be at least 27” or more or it has to be released. A great trick is to mark your rod with tape 27” up from the butt. Then when you catch one you can set it beside your rod to make sure you’re keeping a legal one.