REEL PASSION: ICE FISHING ON GAIRLOCH LAKE
A rare warm January day interrupting a streak of frigid temperatures made for some fine fishing Saturday, Jan. 5, on Gairloch Lake in Pictou County.
Gordie Allen drove to the lake from Greenfield along with Keith Maxwell of Truro. Together they were successful in catching their limit of two fish each. They were able to catch some nice-sized rainbow trout.
But for both of them, it’s about more than the food.
“I just like getting out in the fresh air and spending time outside,” Allen said.
He said it doesn’t take much to get started in the sport.
“Basically, it’s pretty simple,” he said. “All you need is a good ice auger and a small fishing rod.”
His bait of choice this time of year is powerbait, which is a dough like bait that can be shaped and put on the end of the hook.
“It makes winter a lot shorter when you get out and enjoy it,” he said.
Maxwell admits his preference is for fly fishing but he doesn’t mind getting out to spend some time fishing any time of the year with friends. It doesn’t hurt bringing home a meal or two either.
“They’re very good at the table,” he said.
Bill Dawson of Central Caribou and Sheryl MacDonald also took some time Saturday to try catching a couple trout.
This was Dawson’s first time of the season getting out.
“I wanted to make sure the ice was thick enough before we decided to come out here,” he said.
The milder temperature on Saturday made sitting out on the lake not so bad, but he knows from past experience how frigid it can be if the wind is blowing.