OntarioFishingGuy

Nice fresh salmon from the weekend.

Nice carp! The second fish is a brown trout, and a nice one too.

I would be hesitant to throw a 3/8 oz jig on a light rod. I use a 7' ML Avid and it handles 1/8 to 3/8 oz well. If you are going to be ripping your hair jigs through weeds, I would step up to a M, maybe slightly shorter and stiffer. If you are fishing open water, a ML will work well.

You can get any size bootie installed on any of their GoreTex waders. I agree that their products are a bit overpriced, but I don't mind paying for quality.

You are entitled to your opinion, but the G3 and G4 waders are probably the most used guide wader up here. The Freestones are one of the the most popular overall. Another thing about Simms is the sizing. More sizes equals better fit, which equals a longer lasting, more comfortable wader. All waders will leak, but some will last longer than others. Also, I never knew made in China = poor quality... ?

Simms are made to last a while. Cheaper breathables might last a season or two, but they will leak more. You can get Simms Freestones for 250$. Be sure to buy good wading boots as well, slipping in the river sucks.

Always. I don't find that I lose any more fish, plus it's better for the fish and yourself. Some hooks have wicked barbs.

If I had one pike lure, it would be a spoon. They love them.

Battenkills are really solid reels. Both rods look nice. I say keep them.

Cold, cold steelhead from late January. Probably one of the coldest days I have caught fish on.

For your first attempt at tying , they are very good. Keep them and look back at them in a year, and see how far you have come. They're much better than my first ties.

That was one downside I found, but I still use it for larger jigs. I used to use uni 3/0, but it broke a lot when cinching down the hair. Danville is next on the list.

I've been trying out Veevus threads. The 6/0 is the largest size they make, but is extremely strong. The 10/0 is great for smaller panfish type jigs where you don't want much bulk at the collar.

Here is a streamer fly I have been playing with. It is tied with two #4 Mustad hooks, joined with wire. This articulation gives the fly a fluid action in the water. The tail is brown marabou, the body is UV polar chenille, and the head is brown Hareline trilobal.

From earlier this winter in Cuba. I used a 1/3 oz Cleo, casting of the beach. It fought hard on ML walleye gear / 10lb Power Pro.