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Good morning, folks. I’m here, the day’s here, and we’ll just take it from there.

Starting things off, it’s a bit hazy here in the north this morning, just that soft summer haze hanging in the air.

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Weather for today!

Today (Saturday):

High around 85 °F (29 °C)

Current temps are near 69 °F (21 °C

Tonight – Saturday night:

Low about 62 °F (17 °C) – still feels a bit warm.

Tomorrow (Sunday):

Expect the heat to climb to 88 °F (31 °C)

Overnight low of 64 °F (18 °C), muggy conditions likely stick around

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Highway 522… well, truth be told, for us here in cottage country, things have been pretty quiet so far this year compared to others.
And I think I know why. Folks are hurting, as the way things are going here in Canada, a lot of people are just getting by—and some aren’t even doing that. More and more, I hear about folks packing up and heading to other countries where their dollar stretches further.

Then there’s the working man’s paycheck. You put in your time, work your week, and before it even hits your hand, the fancy suits sitting in their air-conditioned offices have already taken a big chunk. They spend their days coming up with new ways to take more from the people doing the real work—then tell us it’s needed. Well, I say leave the paycheck alone. Let folks keep what they earn, and you’d be amazed at how fast this country would turn itself around. Why so many put up with it is beyond me. Well I do…fear!!!

The same goes for the grocery stores. More than half the stuff on the shelves isn’t even fit to eat—loaded with junk that’s no good for you. And yet, people just keep on buying it like it’s normal.

Then there’s the taxes—on gas, roads, schools—you name it. Every time you turn around, they’ve figured out another way to squeeze more out of the average family.

And don’t get me going on health care. Near as I can tell, half the folks in this country can’t even get in to see a doctor anymore. That’s not just frustrating—it’s flat-out wrong.

So no, I don’t blame the ones who are leaving what some still call the “great” country of Canada. I say that as an old feller who was born and raised right here—same as my father and grandfather before me. We built this country with our hands and our backs, and now we’re watching it slip away in the name of so-called progress. But I’ll tell you, it sure doesn’t look like progress to me.

Not sure how I got rolling on all this… but I guess it was supposed to be said.

Bug Report: Well, with all this damp weather and humidity, those pesky mosquitoes are out in full force along with the no-see-UMS and a few deer flies thrown in for good measure. But that’s just how it is living up here in the north. You get used to it and learn to expect it when you live where we do.

Fishing Times: Well, if you’re heading out on the water today here in Port Loring, your best fishing times are coming up later this morning around 9 to 11 and then again this afternoon between 4 and 6. Those are the windows when the fish tend to be most active.

There’s also a minor bite just before dark, so don’t give up too early. As when the weather’s steady like this, fish like to move around a bit more during those times, so it’s worth sticking it out.

For pickerel, try jigging with a small jig and a minnow near deeper spots like river mouths or drop-offs. Slow trolling with orange crank baits can work too. For bass, head for weed beds or submerged structures and use top water lures like poppers or buzz baits early or late in the day. Dragging a soft plastic worm through the weeds is always a solid choice.

And most importantly, you need to be quiet when you get to your spot so you don’t scare the fish off. Use medium test line, around 12 to 17 pounds for pickerel and a bit lighter for bass. And don’t forget your life jacket and plenty of water as she is going to be hot.

Good Luck!

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. And after that, well, we’ll just see what the day has in store. I do need to thin my tomato plants a bit. With all this hot, wet weather, they’ve been growing tall and leafy instead of putting on tomatoes. They sure look nice, but that won’t fill anyone’s belly or make for much on the dinner plate.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

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Good morning, folks. Not sure what kind of day it’ll be, but I figure we’ll find out soon enough.

Looking outside this morning, we’re having some clouds, and the temperature did drop through the night, which made sleeping mighty nice. I sure do enjoy it when we can have the windows open, letting in that fresh air.

Today: It’s shaping up to be a warm one, with the temperature climbing to around 82°F (28°C). We might see a shower pass through early on, but after that, it’ll be a mix of sun and cloud. Later in the day, it’ll turn mostly cloudy, but nothing too worrisome.

Tonight: It’ll settle down to a comfortable 64°F (18°C). A mild, peaceful night ahead, just right for sleeping with the window open a crack and letting the night air drift in.

Tomorrow: Now tomorrow’s the real summer deal, expect it to hit around 86°F (30°C). It’ll be humid, with a mix of sunshine and clouds, and by the afternoon there’s a good chance of a gusty thunderstorm rolling through. It will be one of those days when you’ll be glad for a bit of breeze and maybe a shady spot to sit a spell.

Bug Report: All is well in that department other than a few mosquitoes irritating ya now and then and… the occasional deer fly.

Fishing Times:

If you’re thinkin’ about wetting a line today here in Port Loring, I’d say you’re in luck. The weather’s sittin’ just right, with a mix of cloud and sun, and a bit of warmth creeping in as the day goes on. We had some cooler air roll in overnight, which made for good sleeping, and it’s the kind of morning that makes a fella want to load the boat and drift out before breakfast’s even had time to settle.

Best fishing times today look to be around 11:30 this morning right on through till about 1:30 this afternoon. That’s when the fish will be movin’, and if you’re in the right spot with the right bait, you might just pull in something worth bragging about.

Then, as the day starts to cool and the sun dips down, there’s another good window around 8:00 till just after 9:00 tonight. That evening bite can be mighty good if the wind settles and the mosquitoes don’t carry you off first.

A bit of cloud cover never hurts either, as it keeps the sun off your neck and gives the fish a little more nerve to come up from the deeper water. Might be a good day to try just off the weeds, or along the edges where it drops off. Bass and pickerel like to sit there, waiting for supper to come to them.

So, if you’re itchin’ to get out there, I’d say grab your gear, throw together a sandwich, and head for the lake. You don’t get too many days like this, and the fish won’t wait forever.

On another note, my wife and I, along with our one son, took a trip to Niagara over the weekend to visit our other son. We hadn’t seen him in quite a while, so we figured it was time.

We had ourselves a great visit. Picked up a few things, went out for supper every night, and enjoyed a couple of good milkshakes along the way. The trip down and back was smooth as can be, and the weather held up just fine. All in all, it was one of those getaways that leaves you feeling thankful. We sure had a good time.

With that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman has ready for me, and then I’ll be opening up our gift shop for the day.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW