Muskoka Outdoors Network

In case you are a last minute Christmas gift shopper, like myself, here is a list of fishing Christmas gifts ideas that could keep you focused in the fishing product aisle.

1. Koppers Live Target Frog – $10 to $15

Koppers Frog

This newly released soft-bodied, top-water lure should be shattering a glassy, calm lake near you this summer. This frog bait made some headlines at this year’s 2010 iCast Event and won their soft-bodied award. Koppers try very had to create ‘the world’s most anatomically accurate line of fishing lures‘ and this frog SHOULD catch some bass for you. Feel free to put one under my tree Santa! Visit your local tackle store to purchase or buy online from Bass Pro Shops.

2. A new tackle bag - $30 to $80

Plano Soft Sider Guide Bag

This year I ‘purged’ the junk from my old tackle box and exported them to smaller, fabric-shelled guide bag. It has 4 plastic trays that pull-out with multiple slot size configurations.  I was able to find a place for everything my older tackle box contained.  My gear stays better organized in a more streamlined container.  The molded-hard bottom lining is a must have feature. You can place it in the bottom of a wet boat or dock without water being ‘sponged’ into your tackle.

You don’t need to get the exact one I as I did. I bought a Plano Soft-Sider Guide Bag.  The point is, any new tackle box will cause any angler to re-organize their old one and feel better about themselves…

3. A new handcrafted fishing rod – $150 to $300

This my take a creative note in a stocking (or gift wrap), but consider getting your special fishing jedi a custom rod from from Fetha Styx. They fish the rods they build and the production versions of their rods all come from the DNA of a custom, hand-crafted version. I have been able to interact with some of the crew behind the ‘Styx’ and they are the real deal.

Afraid to get the wrong fishing rod? It may be obvious, but visit the Fetha Styx website with your favorite angler and get some guidance from them. You could also note the printed details, of an old rod, located close to where the reel is attached to the rod handle. Still not sure? Send me an email and I would be happy to help you determine a good fit.

Fetha Styx Fishing Rods

4. A new fishing float tube – $100 to $300+

Fishing Float Tube

Experience your favourite fishing lake from the view of float fishing tube. They are stealthy and easy on fuel. You will be able to access areas that boats can not spook less fish. So far, I have not hooked into a fish my flippers could handle. Prove me wrong.

Higher priced tubes are more stable, easier to enter and support the angler higher out of the water. Cabela’s has some nice examples here.

5. An Ultimate Fishing Trip to Queen Charlotte Lodge – $3800 to $5900

Every time I watched an episode from WFN’s reality fishing show called, The Lodge, I am reminded why this fishing resort is at the top of my own ‘bucket’ list. Catch big fish and relax in style. Meet the stars of the show. Book early through the QCL website – they fill up fast!

Catch The Fish of a Lifetime at QCL!

* for those interested – I make NO money from the links I have direct you to in this post.

I have crossed Spiers' creek many times as a hunter. Each time across, I would look at the cold, clear water flowing beneath my feet and wonder if drinking it would cause havoc in my intestinal tract. An unfortunate event that could bring a highly anticipated hunting trip to an abrupt end.

This time however, things were different.  I was armed with a LifeStraw.

I sprawled out as best I could on the creek's uneven banks and place the LifeStraw to my mouth. A nearby beaver damn triggered my mind to silently warn that this may not be a great idea. After taking a deep breath, I put the straw in the water and began to 'suck' the water from the icy creek to my mouth. Initially, it seemed that the water was not going to move up through the straw, but with some mild extra effort (as the packaging suggests), the cold liquid filled my mouth.

The taste was wild, icy, and natural. The way a creek should taste.

More importantly, the Lifestraw removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 7 reduction) and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan cysts (>LOG 3 reduction). The hollow fibre membrane filters (without iodine) particles as small as 0.2 microns. Take that Giardia and typical muddy streams! I had no intestinal 'issues' after my creek drinking experience with LifeStraw.

This is the kind of vital outdoor tool that will make finding safe water on remote hunting, fishing or hiking trips much easier.  The LifeStraw fits in my hunting and fly fishing packs and is durable enough to stand pack travel between extra ammunition and my GPS.  It will be invaluable to me on my favourite trout stream or Algonquin Park lake trout lake. No more 'dip-and-pray' or 'chemical-spray' water bottle fillings.

The filter will safely clean up to 1000 litres (264 gallons) of creek, lake and puddle type water reservoirs. For only $20 per straw, you get great value for water safety. Assuming you drinking 3 - 4 liters (3 - 4 quarts) of water per day while hiking, the LifeStraw will last between 250-330 days - worth of drinking before it reaches its expiry of 264 gallons (1,000 litres).

In freezing temperatures (which I did not get to try the filter in yet), I recommend that you take extra care to blow out the excess water that can 'sit' or remain inside the straw after use. Ice formation in the straw will break the filter's effectiveness. Lying down to get water from whatever source you are considering taking water from, may not be the best idea. Fill your favourite (wide mouthed) water bottle and use the straw from there.

Go ahead - taste a creek today with LifeStraw.