May 16 - 23

News From the Store

First off, let us take a look at the updates in the Great Gobbler Contest.

Week #3 winner was John Brown. Mr. Brown's gobbler scored 70.625 points.  This tom tipped the scales at 23.8lbs, had a 10-15/16th inch beard and sported spurs that measured 1-1/4 in and 1-13/16in.  This monster tom was brought into the scales at Lake Huron Rod and Gun.

Quinn Jones now holds the overall smallest bird division with a bearded hen that dropped the needle on the scale at Watson's to 10.12lbs.  This hen also sported a beard that measured 7-1/4 inches. 

Big seller in the store this past week has been the ThermaCell bug repellent system.  As noted in last weeks Blog, this little unit is the talk of the town when it comes to keeping biting insects at bay.  Check out the link for more info, or stop into the store to pick one up. http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/

For all you trap shooters out there, Watson's is pleased to announce that shipments of bulk loads have arrived.  Stop into the shop to pick up a flat of shells for the unbeatable price of $69.00/per flat.  While your at it, check out the selection of sporting shotguns on the rack at the shop!

If your still trying to bag a gobbler (store owner Drew Watson included), take time to check out the selection of turkey calls in the shop.  New additions such as GobbleStalker game calls have been a hot item this season, with both diaphragm and pot calls are on display at the store.  It is now mid-season in the turkey woods and gobblers will be fired up now that hens will be spending more time on the nest.

MOOSE HUNTERS....do not forget to stop into the shop to get your tags.  Deadline for moose tags is May 31st.  There have been eager moose hunters stopping in on a daily basis to pick up their tags.  Don't put it off, the deadline is near!

With the arrival of walleye and pike season, anglers need to look no further than Watson's to gear up with soft plastics and minnow baits such as; Yo-Zuri, Rapala, and Tiki-Stik.

Hunting and Fishing News

Spring has sprung into full bloom the past week.  The turkey woods have really begun to "green" up.  With this period in the Spring Turkey season, hens will begin to spend more time on the nest, leaving Toms gobbling for the majority of the day.  Expect Toms to be in the company of hens early in the morning, and then traveling in the hopes of finding more receptive hens.  This is THE TIME of bag a big strutter.  Recent entries into the Gobbler Contest indicate that more mature birds are finding themselves on the recieving end of a load of turkey shot.  Toms that have been "henned up" early in the season will now be looking to maintain large numbers of hens throughout the day, when fact is..most will be nesting.  This will cause the Toms to be more vocal in their attempts to gobble up hens.  Get out in the woods, pack a ThermaCell, and expect big things!  Keep an eye out for Fiddleheads and tasty Morel Mushrooms....tis the season!

For sport shooters we have good news.  The SSA ranges and the North Grey Club are now open.  Spring temps have been wonderful the past week and it never hurts to shoot often!

Walleye and Pike season is now upon us in our local management areas.  Nearly all of the inland lakes north of Owen Sound support healthy populations of pike, and some even have overlooked walleye fisheries.  Pay attention to the slot-sizes and regs for these species.  Early season walleyes are suckers for classic jig and twister combos, trolled minnow baits, and worm harnesses.  Pike fishing can be spectacular this time of year when consecutive warm days bring water temps up above 60F.  Top-water pike action can be hot on peninsula lakes north of Wiarton.  This is the time of year that the majority of both Largemouth and Smallmouth bass will begin spawing.  NOTE...these fish are protected by a closed season till late June and targeting these spawning fish is harmful to the fishery.  Avoid areas where you are connecting with bass, move on and let them nest.  It is against the law to target out of season species, even if you plan to release them!

Salmon fishing in Owen Sound Bay has begun to die off.  As normal, the chinook seem to fill the bay after ice-out then begin to taper off as water temps warm.  Many anglers believe the fish totally leave the bay.  Many do head out of the bay, but wise anglers who pay attention to trends in water temperature can still connect with fish.  As the bay warms, temps on the surface begin to stabilize and active salmon begin to stagger throughout the water column, often feeding in the warm surface water.  Pull out the planner boards and dipsy divers...these come into their prime in the later part of May and June.  Also, anglers pulling spoons (NK, Hotfish, Silver Fox) begin to take more fish as the water warms and trolling speed increases from the dead slow approach of early spring.

In local news...Watson's Tackle and the Community of Owen Sound would like to Congratulate the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League who captured the OHL title in overtime of game 7 in their series against the  Mississauga St. Mike's Majors yesterday.  This is the first for the OHL club, and they will be in action at the Memorial Cup this coming week as the OHL Champs!  Nice work!