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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

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Good morning, folks. I stepped outside, and the air felt like it remembered something I’d forgotten.

Meaning we’re getting some much-needed rain, which the trees, plants, and just about everything else—including the animals and birds—were all in need of. And it’s a good soaking rain too, not coming down so hard that it runs off the soil before it can sink in.

That said, depending on where you’re standing, it might just be a gentle, steady drizzle, or it could turn into a real soaker. There is a Rainfall Warning in effect for our area, which means some spots might see upwards of 2 inches or 50 millimetres of rain, possibly even more if the heavier showers or a thunderstorm drifts through. So far, though, it has been coming down just right for us here in Port Loring.

Today, except a few light showers this morning, sticking around off and on through the day. It will be mostly cloudy and cooler, but nothing wild, just a good day to let nature do her thing. The high will reach 67 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 19 degrees Celsius.

Tonight will stay mostly cloudy with a few breaks here and there. It will be cool overnight, so if you have a window cracked open, you might want to pull that extra blanket up. The low will hover around 48 degrees Fahrenheit or 9 degrees Celsius. From one extreme to another.

Tomorrow, well tomorrow looks to be a real gem, with lots of sunshine and a light breeze. It will be just the right kind of summer day to dry things out a bit, and a good one for doing some outdoor work. The high will reach 76 degrees Fahrenheit, or 24 degrees Celsius, with a low tomorrow night near 53 degrees Fahrenheit or 12 degrees Celsius.

All in all, this is the kind of weather that reminds you the land still knows what it is doing if we just give it a little room and patience.

Bug Report: Well, other than a few deer flies buzzing around, things are pretty good these days. The mosquitoes have eased off some too, thanks to the sun turning up the heat. That’s fine with me because for a while there, it felt like we were living in the tropics instead of here in the north. I half expected to see a palm tree or two start growing in the backyard.

On another note, yesterday, my wife and I managed to get all the mowing done. It wasn’t the nicest day for it, being so hot, and I have to tell you, by the time we finished, we were both more than ready for a shower and to flop into our lazy boy chairs. At any rate, it’s all taken care of for another week, and the place is looking mighty fine.

So, what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with today being a wet one and still feeling a bit tired from yesterday’s workout, I’m thinking I’ll take it easy and maybe write up a story or two here at my desk. No heavy lifting today, just words for now.

But first, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my little woman’s made for me. Then I’ll settle in with a cup of Barry’s Tea, a touch of cream, no sugar—just the way I like it. After that, I’ll take a look at that story that’s been bugging me for a few days and see if it comes together as well on paper as it does in my mind.

Oh, almost forgot:

Port Loring Fishing Times – Thursday, July 17, 2025

Morning: 5:37 AM to 7:37 AM
Midday: 1:07 PM to 2:07 PM
Evening: 7:13 PM to 9:13 PM

And if you’re heading out, you might want to grab a raincoat or something waterproof—those clouds aren’t playing around today. If it were me, I’d be staying home and letting the rain do its thing.

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

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Good Morning Folks. Some might ask why I like to write here on my blog. Well, the truth is, it’s easier to keep track of my thoughts here on my computer than in my head.

Weather for Port Loring, Ontario

Well, I don’t have to tell you it’s been a stretch of hot ones around here lately. The kind of heat that clings to your shirt and makes the air feel heavy before breakfast. Today’s shaping up to be no different, with temperatures pushing up around 88°F (31°C) and not much of a breeze to speak of. If you’re planning on being outside, best get your work done early or wait till the sun starts its slow dip behind the trees.

Tonight, it’ll cool some, dropping to around 66°F (19°C), which will help a bit. You might even be able to sleep with the windows open if you’re lucky enough to catch a bit of a breeze coming off the lake.

Now, tomorrow’s looking better. The forecast says we’ll finally be getting some much-needed rain, and not just a spit or two either. The kind of rain that soaks in deep and gives the trees, critters, and everything below our feet a bit of relief. Highs will settle around 75°F (24°C), which’ll feel downright pleasant after what we’ve been through.

And just a thought...when that rain starts falling, take a minute to listen. Not just to the drops on the roof, but to the way the ground soaks it up. There’s a whole world down there most folks don’t give a second thought to. But it matters, just as much as the birds and bees above.

Highway 522 has quieted down a lot these days, yesterday there was hardly a car moving around other than locals taking in what the rest of the town is up to. A normal thing for small towns.

Fishing Times for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

If you’re thinkin’ about headin’ out to the lake today with rod in hand, here’s what you might want to know.

The best times to be out there fishin’ today was early this morning from around 4:50 AM till 6:50 AM, and then again this evening between 5:15 PM and 7:15 PM. Those are what they call the “major feeding times,” and from my own experience, they’re usually right about that.

There’s also a couple of minor windows—around noon from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM, and late tonight from about 11:25 PM to 12:25 AM—but I wouldn’t go changin’ your plans over those unless you’re already out on the water or can’t sleep.

The weather’s lookin’ decent enough this morning, but we’ve got some rain on the way tomorrow, so today might be your best shot at gettin’ out there before things get soggy. Sometimes before a rain can help the bite, so if it was me today later on is the time I would be out there as if you’re lucky, you might catch yourself a nice pickerel or bass as the sun starts to set. That’s usually when they come out of hiding lookin’ for supper.

On another note, yesterday I took things a little easier, what with the heat and all. Other than lookin’ after the folks who dropped by our gift shop, I didn’t push myself too hard. I did manage to spend some time in the woodworking shop, though. It usually stays a fair bit cooler in there, which makes it a good place to get a few things done without feelin’ like you’re bakin’ in the sun. Got a couple small projects moving along, and it felt good to be puttering away in the quiet, with just the sound of the tools and the smell of sawdust for company.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, bein’ that we’re supposed to get some rain tomorrow, the wife and I figured we’d best get the mowing out of the way while we can. We’re hopin’ to get at it early, before the heat really settles in. Truth be told, this kind of weather isn’t something you want to be workin’ in too long—especially not at our age. But we’ll give it a go, and if it gets too hot, we’ll pack it in and finish up later. No sense pushin’ it.

So with that, I’m off to enjoy the breakfast my lovely wife is cookin’ up for me, then I’ll be headin’ on outdoors to see what the day brings.

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