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 With Ian Scott |
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| Resources | Not Quite Swan Diving Sat 11 Oct,2008 | |||||||||
 Last week, I wrote about one of my experiences while out fishing and coming face to face with a big buck. So often, some of my favorite moments while casting a rod have had nothing to do with catching fish at all. Last October, I enjoyed another very interesting and educational event during a fishing trip that was taken on the spur of the moment.
I really enjoy the autumn in Ontario. There are far fewer people out on the rivers and lakes, the temperatures are bearable, and the crimson colors of the leaves still on the trees against a big blue cloudless sky create a wonderful addition to the senses, especially while walking on top of crunching leaves that have fallen to the ground. Although by October, trout season is closed in my part of the world, there is still some good bass fishing to be had. Fall can be a great time to catch panfish as well. In the first week of October, 1999, I had a day off and decided to head up to the central part of Western Ontario in the area of a well known Conservation Area called Luther's Marsh. This is a popular destination for hunters in the fall with good numbers of geese and ducks present. As well, there are wildlife preservation areas within the conservation area where no hunting or fishing is allowed. A trip to this area often will provide the visitor with glimpses of all sorts of interesting wild animals and birds. As well, there are a number of ponds and small lakes in the area that hold some nice bass, perch and panfish, all within casting distance of shore.
I had not had a great deal of luck fishing the little lake I was on (Which will remain nameless! Anglers are very protective of their favorite spots!) and decided to drive into Luther Marsh and walk around. I enjoyed a pleasant few hours hiking along the trail and had the opportunity to converse with several hunters about their own success (or lack thereof) during the day. After awhile, I decided to leave, but, as I was driving along the dirt road towards the park gate, I saw several men standing waist deep in a creek that the road was about to cross. What got my immediate attention was that one of them was carrying around a huge landing net over his shoulder. My first thought was that these men were out poaching fish, but then I saw a huge splash as a swan dipped its wings into the water and began swimming away from the man with the net.
Thankfully, I had my camera with me (perhaps that's why the fishing wasn't great!). I grabbed it in time to start taking some shots of the original man with the net removing the swan and wrapping his arms around it to carry it to the shore. The others gathered around and assisted him while the swan's mother made a huge ruckuss in a failed attempt to protect its offspring.
I walked over and had an opportunity to converse with the swan catchers. I discovered that they were a part of a project that involved capturing swan signets from Luther Marsh so that they could later be re-located in the Arctic where there has been a decline in this particular breed of swan. After the signet was banded, it was placed in a large cage and then transported by the project team members to be prepared for its later journey north. It was another interesting and informative time as a result of going out fishing.
Last Week: Beyond Flyfishing There are often unexpected delights when flyfishing. Here is one of my favorites. Last Year: Catch & Release Task Force Biologists, fishing industry professionals and others are getting involved in a new task force recently formed.
Classic Rod Building Equipment
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The Muncher is a favorite of Ian James for carp, smallies, more. 
Thoughts of a Chicken Rancher. Doc tells it like it is.