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?