Fishing with Piotr

So, you have your rod and reel, but little do you know this isn’t all you need. Sure these are the most important things you need to have, but here is a little article about the extras you should have on hand just to make your day go a little smoother and so you spend less time being frustrated.

Obviously make sure that you have your reel spooled with line before you head out or you won’t be fishing at all. The first thing you will need is a little tackle box with some extras in it. If you are a newbie to fishing then you don’t need anything fancy. You can just use a plastic container with a few items in it. Make sure you pack a few extra hooks, weights, and bobbers in there because you never know when you might get a snag and rip off all of your rigging. I can’t name the number of times I’ve been ill prepared and have had to borough stuff off my friends or vice versa in order to get back in the action. If you think you’ve pack everything but forget one thing your day can be ruined.

Always always always have your fishing license on you when fishing! This should actually be at the top of the list because if you’re caught without your license the fines are insanely high and you will probably be turned off fishing forever. More info about this is covered in the article Fishing License, A Must Have For All Anglers. In all my years of fishing I’ve only been checked 3 or 4 times but thank goodness I had it on me or I would of paid through the nose.

One piece of gear that is often over-looked by beginning anglers is a pair of needle-nose pliers. Pliers are very handy if a fish swallows your hook or if the hook is difficult to get out. I have a pair of pliers that are old and rusty but I’ve had them as long as I can remember. They have even come in handy for me when I got a hook stuck in my hand.

The final piece of gear you should have on you is a little knife. Something like a Swiss Army knife or any little pocket knife. You will need this to cut your line and trim off tag ends off of knots. You will quickly learn that a knife like this has many purposes and comes in handy a lot more then you think. I always have one in my tackle box and I use it all the time.

These are the very basic items all anglers should have on them when they head out to go fishing. Whether it is your first time heading out or you are a seasoned angler you will be lost without these. I hope this little article has helped you out so that next time you won’t be stuck without an extra hook or without a pair of pliers to help get your hook out of a fish’s mouth.

If you plan to go fishing at any time be sure to get your fishing license!!! In Ontario fishing licenses come in two varieties, there is the Sport Fishing License and the Conservation Fishing Licence and both are simply tags/stickers that you attach to an Outdoors Card. Whether you plan on fishing just for a day, a week, or the whole year you need to have a license at all times even if you are visiting from another country.

FOR PRICING 2011 CLICK HERE (Look on page 2 of the pdf)

Sport Fishing License: The basic difference between the sport and the conservation license is in the amount of fish you can keep. As I mentioned in previous articles I am more of a catch and release angler, but will keep the occasional fish for a shore lunch. If you plan on eating a lot of the fish you catch then the sport license is for you. The amount of fish you can keep on this license differs based on what region of Ontario you are fishing. Be sure to check the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website to see what you can keep, how many you can keep, and at what times during the year you can fish for a specific species. The Sport Fishing License is available in three basic ways:

1. You can purchase the Outdoors Cars with a three year Sport Fishing License tag

2. You can purchase the Outdoors Cars with a one year Sport Fishing License tag

3. If you have an Outdoors Card, that is not expired, you can simply get a Sport Fishing License tag for that year

The Outdoors Card is just a general card that is used for both fishing and hunting licenses, hence its generic name. This way the MNR saves on costs for producing the cards. On the back of the card are divided rows where upon purchase of your tag (the license for the year) the salesman/woman will put a sticker in one of these rows, or if you purchase a brand new outdoors card you will be mailed it and will have an imprinted tag on the back. If you purchase a brand new Outdoors Card it is usually valid for three years and all you have to do is get a new tag each year. You can get these renewal stickers at most Canadian Tires, Bass Pro Shops, online at the MNR site, and at many of the smaller bait and tackle shops.

The prices for the three basic Sport Fishing Licences differ and change from year to year so check the MNR site for details. License are not too expensive and are a small price to pay just in case an officer from the MNR checks to see if you have one. If you are caught without a license the fines can be quite large, they can even keep your car or boat until you pay the fine which can go as high as $5000. So be sure to get a license and play it smart.

The Outdoors Card is issued provincially so be sure to get the proper license for where you plan on doing most of your fishing.

Conservation License: As I mentioned the only real difference between the Conservation and the Sport Licenses is in the amount of fish you can keep. Again, check the MNR site for regulations on this. Just like the Sport License, the Conservation license is available in the exact same way but is a little cheaper. The three ways are:

1. You can purchase the Outdoors Cars with a three year Conservation Fishing License tag

2. You can purchase the Outdoors Cars with a one year Conservation Fishing License tag

3. If you have an Outdoors Card, that is not expired, you can simply get a Conservation Fishing License tag for that year

If you are not an avid angler then you can even purchase a license just for one day. The price also varies from year to year but it may be a good idea if you are thinking about getting into fishing or can only get out one day a year.

If you have guests from out of the country and plan on taking them around Ontario to see the beautiful sites here and to show them some of the best fishing in the world, then they too need a licence. These are temporary licences and can be good for up to a week. You can purchase these from anywhere where you can get your license tags or Outdoors Card.

The Outdoors Card does not require any special id and can be easily purchased. All you have to do is give your name, address (so they can send it to you), your height in centimetres, and your eye colour.

BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR LICENSE ON YOU AT ALL TIMES WHILE YOU ARE FISHING!!!!!!!

Even if you are fishing at the end of your dock at your own cottage and have the license inside the cottage then an officer from the MNR can give you fine for not having the license on your person. If you just purchased your license and have not been mailed you official card, then you must make sure that you have the piece of paper proving that you have purchased your card. This must be on you at all times as well.

If you’re heading out for a day of fishing be smart and get your license. The officers may check your license only once in your lifetime, but this will save you a ton of hassles and a ton of money in fines.

Outdoor Card