Gear Up For Early Season Northern Pike

As the ice moves out and water temperatures creep up in Canadian lakes, early season anglers can expect to see ravenous northern pike lurking in the shallows, spoiling to smash anything resembling prey.

As a Marketing Director for Eppinger Lures, All-Canada Show sponsor and maker of the iconic “Dardevle,” John Cleveland has been successfully stalking monster Northerns on Canadian water for the last twelve years and recently offered some advice to anglers seeking to boat a few of the bruisers.

Following the opener, Cleveland suggests zeroing in on fairly shallow southern bays where the earliest warming takes place. Dark, muddy bottom structure is more likely to hold active fish than light colored sandy bottoms since the water warms more quickly there. 

Cleveland is a huge fan of Eppinger Lures’ “Five of Diamonds” spoon all season long, and he‘s found, in general, dark colored lures will out fish lighter ones, though the classic red and white Dardevle should be a staple in any pike fisherman’s tackle box.  Downsizing to ½ to ¾ oz. spoons is a good tactic in the spring, according to Cleveland, and a sporadic retrieve—letting the lure flutter down after every few turns of the crank can be a deadly technique. John’s terminal tackle usually includes a seven foot medium action rod paired with a spinning or casting reel and 20 pound test fluorocarbon line with a wire leader. “Pike are not leader-shy,” he contends.

Though fishing with spoons can produce plenty of exciting action, Cleveland also enjoys fly fishing for the bruisers. He has caught Northern Pike topping 45 inches using dark, leech-like flies which can be stripped in more slowly, teasing less active early season fish to strike. His fly fishing gear includes a 9 or 10 weight rod shooting an 80 pound fluorocarbon tippet. A catch and release angler, Cleveland mentioned fly fishermen can get by with equipment that is less stout, but he prefers to stress the fish as little as possible. During the spring, huge Northerns can often be sight-fished, sort of a Canadian version of salt flats fly fishing. 

John also mentioned he was looking forward to trying Eppinger’s new “Spinnin’ Rex” on pike this year. The ½ oz. lure features a spinner blade and rubber skirt. Again, favoring darker colors, Cleveland recommends a root beer colored brass blade with a black skirt. 

For more inside information, product information, and tips on using Eppinger Lures, visit www.eppinger.net or call toll free: 888-771-8277.

Whitefish Bay Camp Photos as Featured in David Carr Post

On Friday, July 20th, we featured a letter on our blog from David Carr, who was selected as the fishing adventure winner at the Minneapolis All-Canada Show. David shared several of the photographs from the family's trip to Lake-of-the-Woods, sponsored by Peg & Bob Hunger, owners of Whitefish Bay Camp.


We've had a couple requests for photographs; Bob & Peg have shared photographs of Cottage 1, what the Carr family called home during their Canadian vacation.

Whitefish Bay Camp is located in the heart of Lake-Of-The-Woods in Ontario, a short 75 mile drive from the USA/Canadian border. In addition to fishing for Musky, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye, Whitefish and Crappie, the Hunger's offer hunting for Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose and Duck in semi-remote (access by boat) wilderness setting.


The Hunger's maintain a blog and web site and also publish a newsletter, which you can subscribe to on their website. If you like what you see,  contact the Hunger's by telephone at 877-226-1211 or via email.

All-Canada Show and the Chicago Bears

Joel Prunty, the media manager for the All-Canada Show, said he thought it has been almost 30 years since a Bears playoff game affected the show in a major way. He said he expects many to plan visits on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

‘‘And for those Bear fans willing to attend the All-Canada Show on Sunday, we have three 42-inch plasma TVs and our 100-inch mainstage video — all of which will be tuned to the game,’’ he said. ‘‘Pheasant Run also has a great sports bar if fans want to come to the show early and then gather at Pheasant Run’s Club House to watch the Bears win.’’

As a point of reference, a Bears home playoff game in 2006 was the last to affect the same three shows. But that game was played late on a Sunday afternoon, when the shows were packing up. Before that, 1986 was the last time the Bears had a major impact on outdoors shows.

With all due respect to Prunty, who is a Green Bay Packers fan, the Packers might be the wild card in this. The Muskie Show, in particular, draws many Wisconsin attendees. There is a chance the Packers also will be playing on that weekend.

Because I gave Prunty the business, I’ll let him have the last word.

‘‘As far as the show being from Green Bay, let all Chicagoans know that show owner Jennifer Young is married to Jeff Young from Cary,’’ he e-mailed. ‘‘He and their son Brian are huge Bears fans. With a little luck, maybe it will be Bears/Packers III to get in the Super Bowl!’’

All-Canada Show

NOTO Convention is coming in October

By: Jennifer Young, All-Canada Show Owner

The All-Canada Show has been a strong supporter of many provincial and regional associations over the years. I believe that we have been a member of NOTO since the beginning of the shows almost 30 years ago. Now I am serving as the Allied Board President, and I am looking forward to the upcoming NOTO Convention. We have made it shorter than in the past, and it will be held in Dryden close to lots of lodges and camp. To all the Ontario Exhibitors, I hope that you are able to make it this year.

NOTO's 83rd Nature & Outdoor Tourism Conference
October 27th & 28th, 2010
Dryden, ON
Hosted by the Best Western Dryden Motor Inn
You will find below numerous links to help you register and learn more about our 2010 event!

Tentative Agenda
Registration Form

Host Hotel Information
To book your room at the host hotel please contact the Best Western Dryden Motor Inn at 807-223-3201 or 1-888-394-2378 before September 25th to get the following NOTO rates.

$100.95 - Single or $106.95 Double(rates do not include applicable taxes)

When making your reservation tell the operator that you are booking for the NOTO Conference.

NOTO Convention Page

Allied Member Exhibits
As part of the each NOTO Conference, we invite our Allied members to participate in our Allied Trade Show. This opportunity is available EXCLUSIVELY to our Allied Members.

The 2010 conference will take place at two separate facilities over the two day event. The daytime agenda on October 27th will take place at The Centre. At this facility, Allied displays will be set up in the back of the auditorium and out in the atrium.

On October 28th, the conference will remain at the host hotel, the Best Western Dryden Motor Inn for the rest of the agenda. Exhibitors will have the option to set up their displays at the host hotel for no additional charge. Be sure to indicate your interest in this additional opportunity on the reservation form at the link below.

Please complete the form and return it to the NOTO office by October 15th, 2010. We encourage you to reserve your booth in advance of the deadline to ensure you get a spot. If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Marcil at 705-472-5552 x24.

Allied Display Reservation Form

We want our Allied members to participate in conference. Join us at meals and take the opportunity to mingle and get to know the camp operators better. Allied Members are provided with a special "meal deal". Use the form listed below to register for meals during the conference.

Allied Meal Deal Form

Sponsorship Opportunities
Take the opportunity to help your industry organization and gain valuable exposure by sponsoring a coffee break, meal, or a number of other events and/or donating items for our fundraising efforts. To review the available opportunities click the links below:

Sponsorship Levels
Sponsorship Form

We hope you will join us in Dryden in October. If you have any questions about our conference, please do not hesitate to contact us at (705)472-5552 or by email at info@noto.net