Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
River Otter
(Lontra canadensis) My canoe was gliding slowly and quietly along the shoreline when I heard a “ccchhh” sound slightly behind me.
3 min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Panama's Wild Coast
Having had my kayak launched from the mother boat I began to pedal it toward one of the many rock outcroppings that lined the shore. Almost within casting range I stop pedaling and let the kayak slowly glide forward. Stealth is everything; experience has taught me well.Loading my rod tip, I begin to assault the rocky outcropping with the longest casts that I can muster. My six-inch popper lands on the ocean surface with a loud splash. Immediately I begin popping the bait as hard as I can. It is crucial that a popper creates as much splash and sound as possible to draw up the monsters from below.
8 min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Muskellunge
The mere mention of the name, Muskellunge, is enough toget most anglers’ blood racing.
3 min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
5 Simple Rules For Summer Crappies
It is hard to say anything negative about the black crappie. Here’s a fish that has a good attitude about hitting live or artificial baits; that presents a bit of a challenge to land thanks to a papery mouth; that schools strongly so good numbers can be taken; that provides a lot of meat for its length and that rivals or beats yellow perch, walleye and anything else you care to suggest as the best-tasting freshwater fish. Probably the only thing any of us will complain about is that they become elusive after the spring spawn.
9 min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Why Do Fish Do What They Do?
Why do fish do certain things at certain times? Why? I’m asking because I’ve got a two-year-old granddaughter who’s always asking me, “Why?” When I take her out to my pond fishing, or for a walk to show her nature, she’s always asking, “Why”?All through my life I’ve wondered why you catch fish sometimes and sometimes you don’t. Why is that? As I get older I’m finding out more of the reasons but I know I’ll never find out all of them.
10+ min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
The Magic Never Dies
I opened the old metal tackle box and took a long look at its contents. After some thoughtful deliberations I removed a handful of ancient lures that had been relegated there for the last 60 or so years, give or take a decade.
3 min |
Summer 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
The Wallflower River
Originally called “Askunesippi”, (Ojibwa for “the antlered river”), Ontario’s Thames River received its present name in1792. The Thames was officially designated as a Canadian heritage river in 2000. It flows westward from the town of Tavistock through Woodstock, past London, into Chatham and on to Lighthouse Cove where it joins Lake St. Clair, a distance of some 270-kilometers. There are 94 species of fish that call this nutrient-rich water home, everything from brook trout to longnose gar.
8 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Fly Fishing - Travel Time
Fly fishing is a perfect opportunity to get out and see someincredible places in this world. It is amazing how manydifferent fish and fisheries are out there that can be targetedwith a fly rod. I have really enjoyed seeing the sightsunder the guise of a fishing trip or sneaking the gear intomy bag on a family tour. Either way, there are ways to getmore out of your travelling fishing experience.
2 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Lucky Strike Chub Baits
Lucky Strike, one of Canada’s largest and oldest fishing tackle manufacturers, will be celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2019. It is still is a family run business and still successfully manufacturing fishing tackle from their Peterborough facility.
2 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
The Common Loon
What would a fishing trip be up north be without the hearing the echoing call the loon? It is at times a lonely, haunted call and at other times a maniacal laugh. It is the sound of the north. It is a familiar species that we all feel we know. However, as more and more research is done we are learning that the Common loon is a more complicated bird than we thought and some of the long-held beliefs about it are changing.
8 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Sharpening 101
John Ward is the Vice President and General Manager of Acme United Canada
4 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Lake Trout
A member of the char family, the lake trout is a uniquelyCanadian fish. They are easily recognized by their long,somewhat rounded shape, deeply forked tail and bodywhich is covered with light spots on a darker background.
3 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Catching The Largest Pike In Any Waterbody
Northern pike are one of the most aggressive freshwater fish species throughout Canada and the northern US. They are very adaptable and can make themselves right at home in a wide variety of lakes, reservoirs, and river systems. They can grow well into the 40-inch range and some can even stretch the tape past the 50-inch mark.
8 min |
Spring 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Wall Eye Through The Winter
There’s no question that walleye are one of the most popular gamefish in Canada, regardless of the season. However, winter presents a number of unique challenges and in order to be successful you need to know where to look for fish at various times during the winter.
8 min |
Winter 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
The Suick
It is interesting to note that one of the most renowned muskie lures of our time was created partly by observation and partly by accidental luck. Frank Suick owned a fish hatchery and he noticed that injured or sick trout would dive down to the bottom of the tank and then slowly rise up to the surface when he tried to dip net them. Being a muskie angler, this gave birth to an idea.
2 min |
Winter 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Tales From The Road
One of the rewarding aspects of my fishing career has been being able to meet so many people who love the sport of fishing.
10+ min |
Winter 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
The Heddon Punkinseed
Joseph McArthur, a resident of Dowagiac, Michigan, was granted U.S. Design Patent No. 113,611 for the “ornamental design”, i.e. body shape, of the Punkinseed lure for a term of 14-years.
2 min |
Winter 2019
Bob Izumi's Real Fishing
Ice Fishing Made Easy
Each year around November or December, Canadian anglers are faced with the task of storing their boats and tackle as winter moves in and ice locks down the lakes and rivers. For some, the next five-months are spent tinkering with gear, shopping for new fishing supplies, watching fishing shows and generally doing anything remotely fishing related as a means to stay sane until the spring. For others, the arrival of winter signals the beginning of a whole new fishing season. Snowmobiles and ATVs take the place of boats; long rods give way to short jigging sticks and chopping or drilling holes through the ice replaces casting as the method of offering baits to fish.
10 min |
Winter 2019
Down To Earth
Should India Cap Tiger Population
In April 2023, India announced that its wild tiger population has increased to a healthy 3,167 from just 1,400 in 2006. However, almost 30 per cent of the tigers roam outside the protected areas and regularly enter human habitations. There is also concern over shrinking tiger corridors-patches that connect two large areas of forest-due to the construction of linear infrastructure such as railway lines, highways and canals. Moreover, tigers are believed to be leaving forests in pursuit of herbivores that are increasingly foraying into human-dominated landscapes since the natural flora on which they survive is overtaken by invasive species such as lantana, a plant introduced to India by the British. Does this mean that India's forests are nearing their carrying capacity to support tigers, who are apex predators? Should the country consider capping its tiger population or look at other solutions?
4 min |
July 01, 2023
India Today
Return Of The Cheetah
Hunted to extinction in India by 1952, the big cat is now being reintroduced in the country. Will the world’s first intercontinental trans location of a carnivore in the wild work?
10+ min |
September 26, 2022
The Complete Fly Fisherman
Ascending caddis pupa
The ascending stage of a caddis makes easy prey for both trout and yellowfish – the reason why Arno Laubscher propagates tying a pattern that imitates it.
4 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
Rhodes AN ICONIC TOWN AND HOME TO fly fishing legend: Fred Steynberg
Like the prodigal son, we return to Rhodes to meet up with old friends and revisit rivers filled with memories and wild rainbows.
10+ min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
The TCFF Charity Initiative: FLY FISHERS GIVING BACK
After two and a half decades of publishing TCFF, we are honoured and blessed not only by the support of our readers, but also our industry in the main.
2 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
IN MEMORIAM: Gunga Donn
It’s always tough to lose a friend, but when that friend is a fishing buddy with whom you have shared boats, banks and lodgings, it is particularly distressing.
7 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
In pursuit of Weza
Sean I'Ons relates how it took 40 years for a story of a fishery and the people he got to know along the way to come full circle.
5 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
Six Of The Best Largemouth Flies
FlyTying Field Editor Murray Pedder lists the top six largemouth yellowfish flies for the Orange, Vaal, Vanderkloof and Gariep dams.
10 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
A Rod Maker's Thoughts: Why Bamboo?
Stephen Boshoff elaborates on his passion for bamboo.
10+ min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
In Search Of Natal Yellowfish Top Scaly Rivers Of Kwazulu-Natal
Carl Freese shares his favourite home rivers for hunting KZN scaly.
8 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
It's Called Evolution
Our quarry constantly has to adapt to the everchanging conditions of their environment. It goes without saying then, that we, too, need to revise our fishing strategy to remain successful on any given day. Anton Hartman explains.
4 min |
Jan/Feb/Mar 2021
The Complete Fly Fisherman
Fishing Through The Crisis
Fishing our way out of a depression
6 min |