Blind Fishing Boat

2010 Tournament Results to Date

I’ve fished three tournaments so far and the Bass season hasn’t even begun.  Started with the annual Blind Anglers International Tournament which I fished on my own using my 12-foot Blind Fishing Porta-Bote.  Warmer water temps than usual meant most of the big Pike had already moved out of the bays into the main channel of the Ottawa River.  Given that I was running on electric power, it meant settling for smaller “hammer handles” as I didn’t have the time to venture out much further than a couple miles.  Most of the Pike were caught on Rapala Husky jerks in the Fire Tiger and Silver Blue colours.  A big thanks to Doug Catton for shadowing me in his Bass boat for the day. 

Photo of Lawrence piloting the Blind Fishing Porta-Bote

My next stop was the Ottawa Valley South Bass Masters Multi Species event on Mississippi Lake.  I teamed up with Pierre La France in his Prince Craft, and in spite of it raining and blowing hard all day, we managed to boat six out of seven species (darn Walleye).  Turns out we weren’t the only boat having trouble with the “Eyes”; only two teams caught Walleye that day.  I had a chance to try out the new Rapala DT Thug – what a productive little lure!  Our six fish, one each of Northern Pike, Crappie, Rock Bass, Perch, Pumpkin Seed, and Bluegill, put us in a tie for 3rd. 

Photo of Lawrence holding a 36” Northern Pike

I participated in the Ottawa Region Walleye League tournament on Calabogie Lake with David Mingie joining me on the Blind Fishing Power Cat.  We boated four Walleye giving us 4th place on the day, and a bunch of other species including a 36” Northern.  The Pike gave a spectacular leap behind the boat – the sound and feel of which will stay with me for a while I’m sure.  I caught two of the Walleyes and the Pike were caught on a Blue Steel Flash 2.5” Rapala Tail Dancer running at 15’ about 100’ back from the boat. 

Photo of Lawrence holding his first Carp of the year

A couple other catches worth noting include my first Carp for 2010; a 21lb Common Carp captured on the St. Lawrence near Long Sault using two pieces of Pineapple-flavored jumbo corn on a bolt rig.  Normally the rods are placed on holders fitted up with bite alarms, but on this particular swim there were substantial weeds in near shore so I fished “surf” style with my finger on the line and the rod in the vertical position.  It was cool to feel the fish pick up the bait, spit it, come back a minute later and pick it up again, get stung by the hook and bolt. 

Photo of Lawrence Holding an 18” Rainbow Trout

For the opening day of Trout my son and I managed five good sized Rainbows measuring from 16” to 19” caught on both tiny Panther Martin spinners and earth worms using ultra-light spinning gear.  Good fighting fish for sure, and the light tackle made it even more exciting. 

And now for some Bass…!
Anchors up,

Lawrence Euteneier
Captain, Blind Fishing Boat .Com
And now also,
www.ontariocarpfishing.com