Quick Quip...

Blue's the best color: It has been reported by Rapala (the most often used baits come from this manufacturer - for those who don't know) that the most successful color scheme of their baits must have the color BLUE involved. - Griss for the mill.

What's New...

TFN is continuing with a number of different new columns in this issue - that have been developed simply because you asked for them. If you want TFN to produce something else - please make sure you email me (preferably with a potential source) and I'll see what I can do.

This Issue...

In Volume 3, Number 8, we concentrate again on ice fishing and also on other activities so that even if the weather doesn't stay cold enough across the northern hemisphere for ice to solidify to safe levels, there'll be other things to do to help defeat cabin fever.

Comment...

Under normal circumstances, I am generally very wary about upsetting those of you who are responsible, after all, for the continuing existence and ongoing development of TFN. However, at this point I must put my foot down heavily.

In the last Issue, TFN published an article entitled "Pickering Outflow Closed - A Call to Arms", in which I outlined the fact that a long-time community fishing location was being closed by a government-owned multinational corporation (Ontario Hydro). Granted, Hydro owns the land, but my call was for support in starting a local club to promote local fishing concerns and family angling, with an initial project of getting access to this spot re-opened. I had even started discussions with Hydro on the matter.

The only response I received was from Don Forster - one of TFN's own staff of writers, who stated in his email to me that "Although I live in Port Hope, I do on occasion visit the Hydro Plant for some additional fishing. I would be interested in joining the club. You have done a great job in contacting Hydro and voicing the concerns of many anglers.".

Now since that time, I have received support from Tight Line Outfitters, the local bait and tackle shop, who will not only put up a poster on behalf of the future Pickering-Ajax Fishing Network, but will also solicit memberships on our behalf.

However, what really upset and disappointed me terribly - and I'm NOT going to mince words here - is that there was NO OTHER SUPPORT from any of the over 300 Durham Region anglers who visit this website on a somewhat regular basis. NONE! NOT ONE ANGLER bothered to raise his or her voice and say "Hey - I agree!".

So what am I to think? Either no-one cares or, as the rest of the world thinks, we Canadians are simply not prepared to take any sort of stand on anything - of course unless it comes to hockey - but then again, we have others to do our talking for us on the ice.

I'm saddened and embarrassed by this lack of response on behalf of my countrymen and women. Some of you have to come forward to help preserve the passtime in which you take so much pleasure. I'd like to know why so few of you seem to care. There have already been 5 offers to start clubs state-side, and 95% of all the email TFN receives, good and bad, eminates from the USA while canucks remain silent. And yet, 18% of all visitors to TFN come from Canada. You work out the numbers and tell me I'm wrong in assuming that Canadians either don't care as much, or simply won't do anything to help protect their favourite passtime.

So, once again, I leave it up to you. TFN will do everything it can to help and promote ANY associated local program - but only if you show an interest. If you would be interested in helping form, or simply become a member of the Pickering-Ajax Fishing Network, email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll get this thing rolling!

Until next issue...
(tight lines, get it wet, good fishin', see you in the slush, etc., etc.).

Scott M. Binnie, Managing Editor