Tim’s Tips - April
Tim’s Tips
Tim’s Tips are often stolen from others or taken from the woes of the unwary - so here we go….
Tip #1
Balsam Boats – ( i ain’t tried this but it sounds fun) take a balsam twig and cut the resin blister with your knife. Then put it in the water and watch it bubble and smoke and become your very own toy boat. Apparently there is a reaction between the water and the resin, but who cares about that. I’m keen to try it – please let me know if you have and if it works!!
(This came from a book I just read called the “Last Guide” by Ron Corbett. He’s writing about Frank Kuiack, one of the last old-time fishing guides in Algonquin. It is a fascinating read and highly recommended.)
Tip #2
When putting a Dory out on the ice with an anchor and rope so that when the ice melts the boat will bob merrily at anchor…..its a good idea not to rush mother nature and try to throw the anchor (really a big concrete block) down through the ice. You get really, really wet….the block stays smushed in the ice….and that’s about all she wrote. This gem comes from one of our new apprentice recruits…..like any of us senior guys would ever try that eh?
April 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
brings back fond memories of the Kenora, lake of the woods camp growing up… we used to spend hours bursting sap bubbles and throwing the sticks in the water - even racing them!!!
graham
April 17th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Sure fill your boots BUT you GOTTA try it. Keeps “kids” entertained for HOURS!! (we used to have races over the weekends with these things.) I ALSO remember how sticky the stuff is – makes picking your nose (as a kid) an “adventure!” Balsam sap smells “ok” too – for hours!!!
Doug.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Hi Tim: Wow! You brought back a forgotten childhood memory with your piece about the balsam twig. I now remember doing that for hours. I’d break off a dead twig and shove it into a sap blister on the tree trunk, smearing the end of the twig-then toss it in the water and away it would go, leaving a sheen in the water behind it. Great fun for a kid!!