Episode 186: Full Moon Friday - If you dont eat your meat you can't have any pudding

Chris and Frank recap Frank's recept season opener trip to the Rideau River and how bucking trends and conventional wisdom paid off on the water.  The guys also look down the road at their upcoming adventure back to Tama Kwa Vacationland to see friend of the show Nikko Guido and fish the mighty Lake Nipissing!  

In part 2 of our discussion with muskie guide Orlando Zecca we focus on working baits, building baits, and reacting to variable weather conditions that are often seen in Ontario's Sunset Country! Topics include: 

-Tactics for targeting muskie early season on a lake like Lac Seul 

-Logic behind downsizing bait early season 

-Adapting to weather variability 

-Lure building 

-How to coordinate fishing prime spots at prime time 

We were fortunate to snag Lac Seul muskie guide Orlando Zecca while he was in Southern Ontario and convince him to meet us at the Ugly Pike brewery HQ for a good talk about hunting muskies on one of the greatest lakes for it in the world.  Orlando gives a sneak peak into what it is like to work as a guide in an epic lodge like Anderson's Lodge, on the storied Lac Seul before getting into a deep discussion on breaking down this legendary waterway. Tim Dawson from Campus Crew also sits in on the session to unbox the new Ugly Pike UV fishing sunshirts that are available now at www.uglypike.ca! Points include: 

-Guiding history
-What it's like working at one of Canada preeminent lodges 
-Training anglers to be guides
-What makes Lac seul the legendary fishery it is
-The West side of Lac Seul

In part 2 of our unique discussion with John Jarvis, we do a deep dive into identifying conditions for big fish.  Topics include:

-How to find a lake with 60 inch muskies

-Wanderlust fish 

-Matching forage patterns for lure selection 

-Barometer, air pressure and weather patterns 

John Jarvis has had over 12 years experience in the fishing services industry and his passion for learning has made him an adept muskie angler and guide.  We reached out to John so that we could get a perspective on the lesser known hidden gem muskie waters in Ontario's Sunset Country.  Currently John works out of the great Nordic Point Lodge on Lake Perrault, which is nestled between its big muskie brother lakes, Eagle and Seul.  We had such an enlightening talk with John and he really opened our eyes as to the abundance that this area has to offer for muskie anglers.  Points of discussion include: 

 John's career path that led him to guiding

Hidden gem muskie lakes in Sunset Country

Bait and special leader selection for early season targeting 

Perrault Lake characteristics and most successful bait colours

How to find a lake with 60 inch muskies

In this second part of our amazing interview with John Anderson, we pick up where we left off and John goes into even more detail on targeting and tactical strategies.  Part 2 will help you land more muskies, plain and simple.  In this conclusion of our chat we touch on the following subjects: 

-John's off-season/summer camps and the ramp-up to the season!

-How/why different bodies of water open earlier vs others

-Why the Ottawa region is so amazing for muskie/multi species fishing 

-Ottawa and MCI community clean up and restoration efforts

-How to prepare for season opener 

-Early season targeting strategies

-Why early season is the best time to fish for muskies 

-Leading a team of excellent guides at Ottawa River Musky Factory - the team's strengths and dynamic

-Fundamental changes has John made to his game recently 

-Seasonal bait selection strategies 

-Using a glide bait - rods, reels, and technique

John Anderson is a Canadian Muskie Institution.  Despite the fact that he is one of the pioneers of Canadian muskie fishing and one of the best guides out there, and despite that we are lucky enough to share a boat with him from time to time, we are most thrilled in those times we get to hang out and spend time together because John is one heck of a guy.  Whether it is shooting the breeze, or digging into muskie 101, chatting with John is a pleasure and in this episode we do both (but mostly talk muskies!).  Our discussion topics include:  

John's off season / summer camps and the ramp up to the season!

How/why different bodies of water open earlier vs others

Why the Ottawa region is so amazing for muskie/multi species fishing 

Ottawa and MCI community clean up and restoration efforts

How to prepare for season opener 

Early season targeting strategies

In this second part of our chat with Johnny Lubera of Lubowski Lures, we get into bait construction and how to up your odds of hooking and landing fish when using single hook baits.  This was a very unique discussion and one that will give listeners new options for spinnerbaits, especially fishing heavy cover, weeds, or deeper water.  Points of discussion include: 

• Bait selection approaches 
• Singlehooks vs trebles
• How to fish a single hook. Boat speed and rod type 
• Bait construction 
• Using hog collars with plastic baits 
  
  

It has been far too long since we sat with Johnny Lubera, maker of the famed Lubowski Spinnerbaits!  Johnny returns and we sat down over some cool, crisp Last Light Lagers at our Brewery in Beamsville to talk fishing and bait making.  Johnny runs a clinic on how to target these beasts and select the correct baits during the right times of year.  Makes us wonder why we waited so long to reconnect!  
Topics include: 

• Early season targeting strategies
• Understanding fish based on how they are hooked. How to extrapolate and up your odds 
• Fishing musky tournaments and the community

In this Full Moon Friday episode Chris and Frank recap the recent Muskie Odyssey including why the guys changed the recipe for the upcoming Last Light Lager launch in May.  Then John Vinen and Cole Bailey, co-owners of Angling Sports in London, ON call in to talk about some great deals that they are offering anglers looking to gear up for the season, as well as an EPIC giveaway that they are partnering with Ugly Pike and FIshn' Canada on!  It is not long before the discussion turns to fishing and John and Cole quickly illustrate why they are not only great businessmen, but also excellent muskie anglers.  A talk about how downsizing on Lake St Clair is a must during early and mid season fishing, as well as the unexpected muskie behaviour that they have observed on their livescopes, and how that has completely changed their approach to angling for the apex predator!  Visit www.anglingsports.ca  (or in person) and use promo code UGLY15 to receive 15% off of everything in store (offer ends June 30)!