Tips Learned

By:Steve Cegielski, All-Canada Show, Operations Manager

Everytime I travel to Canada I'm always on the look out for new tips / tricks to add to my arsenal to create a better trip for myself and the Canada crew. Even after dozens of trips north of the border, I almost always come home with a few new ideas. Our latest trip to Sportsmans Lodge, Sask. provide multiple tips that will definitely make the next trip even more enjoyable.

Guided adventures allow access into dedicated guides way of life...tricks they've been using for years, so I pay close attention. I watched and learned cooking techniques, boat manuvering, fish cleaning secrets, and maybe the most important bird's nest removal.

Anyone who has ever casted a bait casting type reel knows how demoralizing a good birds nest can be....watching your buddy hit some amazing water while your out of the game with twisted line. I've mastered the bait caster, but still 3-4 times per week I forget to change the tension after switching lures and the next cast isn't pretty.

We'll last week after one of those so called bad casts I found myself alone holding one of the best bird nest's I've ever created. After a few minutes I located the problem loop and all I needed was to pull the loop free and get back fishing. But the problem was the loop was buried in the spool and my fingers were to big to reach....Here comes the best tip of the trip....The guide tapped my on the shoulder and handed over a special line clippers with attachements including a small hook and pointer. Wow, I've got to have one of those....I think I saved 10 minutes of fishing. One quick hook of the loop and I was back in business.

I'm happy to report I've found just the tool this weekend at the local sport shop, now I'm ready to battle the birds nests.