Welcome to Week XLIX of 'Fishing Parkland Shorelines'. Like most of us I am a novice fisherman, loving to fish, but far from an expert. In the following weeks I'll attempt to give those anglers who love to fish but just don't have access to a boat, a look at some of the options in the Yorkton area where you can fish from shore, and hopefully catch some fish.
As I write this week's article the sun is shining outside, and the temperature is only a fraction below zero. It's April 17, and this year, it makes it about the nicest day we've had so far.
So walking out of a restaurant after dinner I fondly thought about going for a round of disc golf, although Patrick Park Disc Golf Course is still under a foot of the white stuff.
And, I made the comment I am growing increasingly antsy to get out fishing.
Of course the season is closed in April, but at this date we can at least see May on the horizon.
I have already downloaded the 2013 Saskatchewan Anglers' Guide (www.environment.gov.sk.ca). I always recommend having one in the tackle box so you can check local lakes regulations, in particular what level a Catch & Release water falls into , and just as a ready reminder if your mind fogs a bit on limits for particular species.
That said, downloading a copy for an early look is never a bad idea either.
In particular it's good to look at the changes made for the upcoming season.
I was intrigued by changes to waters at my old home town. It has Tisdale Trout Pond: stocked trout limit 2; open all year, and the Tisdale Borrow Pit: stocked trout limit 2; open all year. In my day there the waters were not stocked but at less than a three-hour drive, they are a Sunday option.
Another handy change for 2013, one noted here before, is the new online Hunting, Trapping and Angling Licence (HAL) ordering system
"Saskatchewan boasts some of North America's best hunting and fishing, enjoyed by residents and guests from around the world," said Ken Cheveldayoff, Saskatchewan Minister of Environment in a recent release as the system launched. "We're making it easier for people to access the necessary licences to enjoy these sports with the introduction of the online system. An online licensing system not only improves the experience for hunters and anglers who are contributing to our economy, but it allows the Ministry of Environment to better monitor and manage wildlife resources within the province and ensure excellent sport opportunities for generations to come."
"The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) recognizes that the new automated system transition will provide valuable opportunities in research and survey collection as well as increased enforcement and compliance measures which will be of great benefit to Saskatchewan's wildlife resources," said SWF Executive Director Darrell Crabbe in the same release.
As of April 1, those looking to purchase an angling licence can access the automated licensing system to establish an account and be assigned a unique HAL identification number. They will only ever have to register once and then they will be able to purchase all future licences as they become available.
Anglers can purchase their angling licences: online through their personal computer any time; through private issuers, Ministry of Environment and select Provincial Park offices; or by phone at 1-855-848-4773.
Detailed instructions for signing up for a HAL number and how to purchase a licence are available at www.gov.sk.ca/huntingandfishing.
Purchasing at a local outlet will still be the way most of us buy our licences, since we tend to migrate to such places to restock tackle boxes and buy new line for spring anyway, but the online option is a convenience which makes sense to provide in our increasingly wired world.
Speaking of getting ready for spring, that's on my list.
I need line for my reels. I bought a couple of spools last fall, but still need to buy a couple more to make sure each rod and reel outfit is fresh and ready to go.
As I have stated before, I never leave home with a single road and reel. There are simply too many things that can go wrong and ruin a day after you've put two or three hours in on the road to trust it to one unit. Tips break, line tangles beyond the ability to unknot, and yes you can even throw the rod into the water and watch it float away (I have seen it happen).
So I like two units decked out with 10 to 12 pound line. I might opt for a 14, just in case you hit heavy moving water like the Canora Dam early in the year, or are going after bigger fish, think Echo Lake carp.
Then I want a lighter unit. When you get into smaller fish, go lighter, and you can have just as much of a challenge landing them, and smaller prey can still mean a great day fishing.
As for lures, we all have two types in our tackle boxes.
The first are the go-to, tried-and-true, lures. The ones which consistently catch fish; a red and white Len Thompson at Theodore Dam, as an example. Make sure you have multiples of the two or three sizes you toss most regularly. Then when you snag a rock, or lose it to a big fish, you have a back-up.
So check the tackle box, make a list, and go shopping now.
And when you are shopping, as all anglers do, you will be drawn to shiny new hooks, and will buy them untried.
Those are the second type of hook in the tackle box, hooks we hope get ungraded to 'trusted', and if not, they are there to try in times of desperation when nothing else is working.
Which reminded me I need a new tackle box, something big, large even, potentially back straining, as the range of hooks seems to grow as I do these articles.
The tackle box search took place in Saskatoon, a few days after writing the early part of this article. It's a beauty, and I look forward to a night filling it 'to-the-gills' as they say.
I have a couple of weeks to do the tackle box swap, and reline my reels, and then it's a new season, provided the ice is gone from the water by then.
So mark these dates on the calendar and get ready for another season of fine fishing (we hope); Â鶹ÊÓƵern Zone: May 5, 2013 March 31, 2014 (includes Yorkton-area), Central Zone: May 15, 2013 March 31, 2014, Northern Zone: May 25, 2013 April 15, 2014.
