How to Removing Ticks and Leeches

It's the plight of most of those who fish to find ourselves in tick and leech country. Whether you're slogging through the bush to find that hidden lake or taking a dip to wash off a couple days of stink, you are likely to encounter ticks or leeches on your trip. Here are my simple suggestions.

How to Remove a Tick:
You'll need insect repellent, pointed-tip tweezers, and rubbing alcohol. All generally found in a well-stocked tackle box. Rubbing alcohol can often be purchased in individual wipe packets that are great for a tackle box.

1. I like to put a little insect repellent right on the tick before I start the removal process. Some use rubbing alcohol. But insect repellent seems to force them to loosen their grip a little better.
2. Grab the tick with the tweezers as close to  the tick's head as possible.
3. Slowly and steadily pull the tick away from the skin. 
4. Use rubbing alcohol to thoroughly clean the skin. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, check your first-aid kit for other sterilizing products.

Guess what does not work? Anything you've heard to put on the tick (nail polish, a hot match or cigarette, a lubricant, salt, soap, etc.) to make the tick drop loose from your skin. Well, they may work, but your goal is to get the tick off as soon as you see it, not take it for a tour of the bush country.

How to Remove a Leech:
Leeches attach quickly. Left alone, they will eventually let go. But who wants to live with that!? Did you know leeches inject a numbing agent into your skin when they attach? Did you know leeches have teeth and that's how they attach to you?
You'll need your finger nail or a small knife blade and rubbing alcohol. Again, easy items for your tackle box.

1. Get your fingernail (of knife if you have very short nails) up under the leech's mouth and lift it off. Grabbing the leech by the body and trying to pull it off generally does not work. You'll loose your grip on the leech or tear the leech in half. Use your nail or a blade to leverage the leech off. Be careful if you are using a knife blade. If you've got a pocket knife with a less sharp tool, use that. The thinner the better as you need to get up underneath the mouth. 
2. Use rubbing alcohol to thoroughly clean the skin. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, check your first-aid kit for other sterilizing products.

And what does not work? The same as for ticks. Anything that will make the leech let go of your skin may also cause it to regurgitate its stomach contents into your skin and cause an infection.

SKYCAL Events Calendar

One of my favorite parts of going fishing in the far north is the night sky.

NASA's SKYCAL is a handy site that gives you the opportunity to find out what is happening in the night sky during your next trip north. Simply select: 

1. Your time zone
2. The sky events you'd like to observe
3. The month you will be out watching the night sky

And generate your calendar to take with you when you head north.

Yes I know, they make apps for that. But I've discovered that even if I have connection in the far north, even the glow of a small phone or pad is too much when I'm out to enjoy the solitude of a quiet night at camp.

More Women and Children Fishing

A recent article at NetNewsLedger.com says numbers of women and children fishing are increasing significantly, according to a new 2013 report released by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and The Outdoor Foundation.

Two of the key findings of the article and good news for Northern Ontario is that "Americans made one billion fishing outings in 2012, averaging 21.3 fishing days per person." Also, "Forty-one percent of first-time fishing participants were female."

Read the entire article HERE.

source: NetNewsledger.com

Americans made one billion fishing outings in 2012, averaging 21.3 fishing days per person. - See more at: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2013/08/16/fishing-hooking-women-and-youth/#sthash.aGkZMiB4.dpuf

Americans made one billion fishing outings in 2012, averaging 21.3 fishing days per person. - See more at: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2013/08/16/fishing-hooking-women-and-youth/#sthash.aGkZMiB4.dpuf

Learn To Fish At Ontario Parks

Learn to Fish programs at included as part of the Learn to Camp programs at several Ontario Provincial Parks.

Get more information and register for the Learn to Camp program here. Not all Learn to Camp programs have the Learn to Fish option available so be sure to ask before registering.

A one-day fishing license and fishing equipment is included.

If you are ready to fish an Ontario Park without the Learn to Fish program, you can get more details about fishing Ontario Parks by downloads their brochure.


Gathering Lake Outfitters has been added to Fish North Ontario's Zone 6 recommendations.

The IFishOntario App

For those of you who love apps, here's an interesting one, The ifishOntario App.

This App features:

• Over 8,200 Ontario Lakes, with Google Maps integration.
• Solunar Calendars and Weather Forecasts
• Live Lake Reports from Other Anglers
• Species Reference
• Regulations
• Hot Spots
• Lake Proximity Search
• and other fishing tips and techniques

Keep in mind that you won't have access to this App while fishing some locations in Northern Ontario. But that's okay. Some fishing adventures should be just that, an adventure, unplanned and kept a secret!

Minnesota Writer Dave Orrick Finds Solitude and Fish in Northern Ontario

Dave Orrick, writer for Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minnesota found peace and fish in Northern Ontario's Woodland Caribou Provincial Park.

In his article, Orrick describes a week in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park to be envied for its solitude, peace and fishing.

You can learn more about Woodland Caribou Provincial Park at their website, where you can plan your own paddling trip.

Orrick also recommends coordinating with Red Lake Outfitters for route consultations, guided trips and/or outfitting your adventure.

The lakes and rivers of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park are teeming with never-before-caught fish.