Peterborough Tackle Swap and Fishing Show Coming To the Memorial Centre
/The Peterborough Tackle Swap and Fishing Show returns with larger venue capacity on April 2.
Photo courtesy of CanCast
Peterborough Blogs
Local Angler Six Months Pregnant With Twins Catches Two 50-Plus-Inch Muskies
/Angler Megan Patterson met and surpassed her fishing goal this season, catching two muskies over 50 inches long while six months pregnant with twins.
Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Her two muskies measured 52 in. (4.33 ft.) and 54 in. (4.5 feet) and were caught on the St. Lawrence River.
Joining the 50-inch club is a feat that all muskie anglers pursue. Patterson has been muskie fishing for the past six years and has netted over five of her husband’s 50-inch catches. She made it her goal to catch her own.
“Every season I have come up short,” she laughs. “In my first season, I caught a 49-inch muskie. I was so close to that 50-inch mark.”
Her social media following has tagged along for fishing trips ever since she started in the sport. Muskie season runs from June to mid-December in the Kawarthas.
Her first catch of the season was an impressive 46-incher from Chemong Lake. Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.
“My goal was to be a big momma catching a big momma,” Patterson said. “I really wanted to go out with a bang by catching a big fish this year.”
Not only did she reach her goal of snagging a 50-plus-inch muskie but she also reeled a second, all while being pregnant with twins. Patterson recalls her surprise when her husband netted the catch and saw how big it was.
“It comes up onto the bump board and it lays so much past the 50-inch mark,” she said. “To this day that was still one of my best days on the water of my whole life.”
@meganpattterson Legal size musky for my last musky before doctors told me to rack up the rods. Pretty epic! #livebeyondland #muskyfishing #54 @Shimano Fishing @Mustang Survival ♬ Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS) - Doja Cat
Patterson thanks the ‘two little good luck charms’ in her belly.
“It’s such a fun story that we’ll be able to tell our babies,” she said. “That all four of us were on the boat when we caught this 54-inch muskie.”
Although the couple may have to retire the 12-hour fishing trips to take care of the babies, Patterson says she’s excited to take Charlotte and Carter out on Chemong Lake and share her passion for the sport of muskie fishing.
“I’m really excited to be raising my babies fishing, having the twins out on the boat with us and catching their first muskies,” she says. “We’re so lucky to live in the Kawarthas where we have such amazing class fish even right in our backyard.”
Carter and Charlotte, born Nov. 17, 2022. Photo courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson is a member/ambassador of various fishing organizations such as Shimano, Mustang Survival, Musky Maniacs, Muskies Canada and the Ontario Women's Anglers Association.
She operates under a catch-and-release method through her muskie fishing, ensuring the fish is out of the water for no more than two minutes before reviving and releasing the catch. Paterson urges anglers catching any species or class of fish to be prepared with the proper release tools in their boat.
“Conservation is such a big part of this sport. We use incredible releasing tools to make sure that we are putting these fish back into the water almost the same way they came into the boat,” Patterson said.
Those wishing to follow along with Patterson’s muskie fishing adventures can find her at @meganpattterson on all social media applications.
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33rd Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby Is Back After A Two Year Hiatus
/The 33rd Annual OFAH Under the Lock Fishing Derby is back and bigger than ever, after a two year hiatus.
Photo courtesy of OFAH.
Formerly known as the Peterborough Greenwing Fishing Derby, this year’s event will feature several new elements.
“We have listened to angler feedback from past years, and added two extra days of fishing, early bird registration prizes, goody bags for participants, and sponsored tagged fish with cash prizes for anglers of all ages to win,” said David Ryrie, OFAH Youth Education Manager.
The youth derby begins on April 30, for children 15 and under. It includes 500 tagged Trout for instant prizes, and a chance to win one of four grand prizes. The big fish prize is $1000 cash and will go to whoever catches Walter, a rainbow trout estimated to weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.
The all ages derby runs May 1-8 and for the first time ever will include tagged fish with cash prizes sponsored by local businesses.
“We still have fish in need of a local sponsor that will both challenge anglers and offset the cost of the stocked Trout for the youth derby,” said Ryrie.
Registration is required for all participants.$15 for one child, $10 for siblings, and $25 for adults.
Purchase tickets online at ofah.org/underthelock or in person at Peterborough Canadian Tire locations.
Free Fishing For Ontario From July 3 to 11
/Summer is here and to celebrate, the Ontario government is allowing families to fish for free from July 3 to July 11.
Bud Fisher (pictured), co-founder of Catchin’ Deers, a hunting brand, has almost 30,000 followers on Instagram. File Photo
“Fishing is a time-honoured tradition and terrific way for families to spend time together,” says Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry in a media release. “I hope everyone in Ontario is able to head down to a lake or river and take part in free fishing week this year.”
For the rest of the year, anyone between 18 and 65 has to have an outdoors card and a fishing license though veterans and active Canadian Armed Forces members residing in Ontario are exempt.
Those taking part in this initiative are reminded to respect the public health regulations of step two of its reopening plan including outdoor gathering restrictions.
While you will not require any license to fish at these times, anglers still must follow conservation licence catch limits, obey size limits and sanctuaries and follow all other fishing regulations and rules.
Children 12 and younger can download and colour the licence-free fishing colouring page to be entered to win one of five fishing prize packs. To download click here.
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Local Woman Reeling In the Muskie Fishing Life
/Some people use fishing as a way to relax but for Megan Patterson, she seeks the thrill of catching the biggest muskie possible.
Patterson was born in Kingston but moved to Peterborough at an early age. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson has fished for over five years and took up the sport after meeting her now-husband who also is an avid fisherman.
Every time she fishes, her goal is to always catch the biggest muskie possible and embrace the thrill that comes along with the catch.
“It’s feeling like the drop of a rollercoaster, there’s a drop in your stomach and so much adrenaline at the same time,” explains Patterson. “It’s an overwhelmingly exciting emotion.”
Patterson works at Trent University as a team member of the Careerspace and Office of the Registrars departments. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson fishes at Chemong or Katchewanooka Lake (near Lakefield) during the week but travel out to more faraway places for bigger muskies. Lake St. Clair near Windsor is where she began to fall in love with the sport after having her early fishing experiences there.
Despite Pattersons high angler skill, her goal of catching a 50-inch muskie still eludes her.
“My biggest fish is 49 (inches) and a bit,” she said. “I’ve had so many 48 and 47. I never try to have any expectations when I go to these lakes.”
Despite not meeting her goal, Patterson typically catches at least one muskie a weekend and can have days of catching over 10 in the same timeframe.
Patterson graduated from Trent University with a joint major in business administration and cultural studies in 2015. Photo Courtesy of Megan Patterson.
Patterson is a member of several fishing organizations Muskies Canadaeveral muskie organizations such as Muskies Canada, Canadian Fishing Network and the Ontario Women's Anglers Association.
She also is an ambassador for companies such as Shimano, Musky Maniacs and many more, appearing in trade shows to showcase new fishing products.
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Peterborough's Bud Fisher Has A Fun Social Media Fishing Show
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Bud Fisher
Bud Fisher
Born and raised in Peterborough, and now living in Ottawa, Bud has always had a love for fishing and has taken his passion and expertise and turned it into this social media series—bringing viewers hilarious yet practical advice.
Check out some of Fisher's fishing episodes below...
For more, check out the vids on his Instagram and YouTube pages, and follow him on Twitter.
—By Aaron Elliott
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