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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-04-20, Page 47•u1 rtin, A few reminders from the Goderich,, Recreation Department: Ibe 5th Annual Fellowsbi Tournament ...,. be held onr urday, May 1414Vthe e gads, The :entry fee is :and ation should be completed by Friday, w►6. To register contact the Recreation Department; office; A ro1l-a-thon is being planned for Satur- day, May 1 from 10 a.rn. 4 8 p.m at the Goderich Arena. Sponsored by the Goderich Recreation Department the event is taking place in order to raise money for acustical treatment of the Arena,' Entry forms and pledge sheets can be picked up at the Recreation Department office or the Arena. 135 YEAR -16 GODERICH.SIGNAL-STAR, WEI)NESDAY, APRIL 20, 1983 v Retirement dreams c'i.r1r.;e.,t.rue Thanks to ingenuity of Ted Gozzard of Bayfield By T.Marr Have you ever dreamed of spending your retirement years in Florida? Maybe buying a trailer or a small condominium and just sitting around soaking up the sun. It definitely would be a peaceful life but if you were used to working you might become bored. Well an answer to your boredom might be to buy a floating condominium. Just think, any time you wanted you could hoist the anchor and move to another port or another country. And if you wanted to return to Goderich in the summer you could simply motor your condominium up the coast, along the Seaway, through the Great Lakes and you would be here. For most people life like this will always be a dream, but for others it can now become reality due to the ingenuity of Ted Gozzard of Bayfield. Owner of the Goderich based, North Castle Marine Ltd. Gozzard has designed what he calls, "an economical alternative to big power boats." Gozzard explains, '"Taking the positive design features from the timeless and ef- ficient golden era of power yachts - before Detroit swamped us in horsepower for planing hulls,- and combining: them withr today's modern technology We have come up with the perfect motor vessel." Gozzard adds, "Whether living aboard, lying peacefully at anchor, or cruising the Mississippi, the Saun Juan Islands or the Intercoastal . Waterway to Florida, the Pilgrim 40. can make those dreams come true." Basically to the layman the Pilgrim 40 is a 40- foot luxury houseboat. The exterior of the vessel is constructed with hand -laid fiberglass with the color molded right in so the boat never needs painting. The exterior trim consists of mahogany and stainless steel. This portion of the boat is built in Exeter at Scorpio Yachts which is run by Gozzard's brothers, Mike and Haydn. Gozzard's 25 year-old son Mike also works there. The interior of the boat which is also constructed of mahogany consists of a forward cabin (lower deck), wheelhouse, dining area; kitchen, washroom with shower, a living area which can be built to specifications and a nine -foot by ten -foot deck. • The forward cabin or stateroom contains a seven -foot double berth, optional washroom, laundry room or freezer, plenty of shelf nd cupboard space and room enough to contain a love -seat. The weelhouse contains a flip -up helm- sman's seat, chart area, bar and sliding doors on both the port and starboard sides. The area also has room for optional equipment such as a stereo and automatic - pilot. The living area which measures nine -foot by ten -foot can be closed off from 'both the dining area and the deck area by sliding doors. It can be used as a stateroom or as a living room and the owner can furnish the room himself or have Gozzard build in anything the owner desires. One special feature of the Pilgrim 40 is the height of the side decks. Unlike most boats where the oilier has to jump up or down from the deck to the dock Gozzard has designed the decks to the height of most docks. The boat is also equipped with a BMW 75 h.p. turbo -charged diesel engine. Special features including a large prop and rudder allow the boat to manoveur sideways. When designing the boat Gozzard says, "We looked at how most power boats are actually used, not how they are advertised. We saw people trying to enjoy themselves, taking every opportunity to escape from the rat race, to relax in the serenity of a protected harbor, with their favorite tall cool one, enjoying Mother Nature's bounty and beauty." Gozzard continues, "What we tried to capture in the Pilgrim 40 is a balance of comfort, simplicity, efficiency, elegance aritteconomy." Although the first Pilgrim 40 is still in production Gozzard says the boat will be completed in two weeks. The second one will be finished in late June and then the com- pany will produce one boat every eight weeks. "We should be making $3 million a year when things get rolling," Gozzard explains. When production on the Pilgrim 40 in- creases so will the number of staff. Currently the company employs five men in Goderich but Gozzard says he will need a staff of 20. As well as increasing his staff Gozzard is also increasing his production space. Since he has received 5,000 enquiries about the boat as well as 10 tentative orders (one of them from as far away as San Francisco) he has started a $250,000 expansion to his factory. The 120 by 70 by 24 foot-higti ad- dition is being built, "so we can handle about six boats at a time," Gozzard says. Presently Gozzard and his staff are only working on the Pilgrim 40 but he says, "We will have a line of six different boats when we're finished. A new line will be offered every year and the boats will range in the 30- 60 foot size." Although the Pilgrim 40 is the first boat which is being produced at North Castle Marine it is not the first boat that Gozzard has designed. Prior to this venture Gozzard had interests in the Bayfield Boat Yard and he designed all of their boats. Fbr a mere '100,000 you can pure i . » this 40 -foot floating condominuim Registration for hardball, soceer, Seftbet .and T -ball takes place tonight from 4 ..,5, p m. at the Recreation a ?;eat eV, Soccer playe are a picture and. a birthcertificate.. ++ If you are interested in becoming a voltUnteer coach. for a hardball, soccer,, softball or T - ball team u are requested to contact the Goderich creation Depart: mentat5242125. • hot` +++ Goderich Township minor ball registration will be taking place on Satur- day., April. 23 from 11 a.rn. - 2 p.m. at the Goderich Township Community Centre in Hohnesville. The cost is $3 for players eight years and under and $8 for all others. Goderich and area offers some of the best fishing By Steve Cooke ' Some of the best fishing in Ontario can be found within a 20 minute drive of Goderich, and when it comes to trout and salmon, this area is one of the best. Other areas are well known for the quantity of fish that are available, but our own backyard holds some of the sleekest and cleanest in the world. Smelt, that tasty little fish that draws crowds to the beaches every spring; are available at the mouths of all the little creeks and streams which flow into the lake. The run is short, but the rewards can be great if the timing is correct. Seine nets are the most effective, especially when they're just trickling in, but when the run is on, any sort of dip net will do. People have even been known to literally pick up a feed with their bare hands on rare occasions. Port Albert is one of the favorite spots in this region for collecting a freezer full of smelt. Early spring is also the time for Rainbow and Salmon, and the mouth of the Bayfield and the Maitland are the prime hot spots.' Opening day usually finds the banks of both these rivers lined with eager anglers, each one hoping to hook onto a fresh, firm -fleshed lake run trout. Mepps spinners, little cleo's, krokodiles and alligators are favorites for the lure fisherman, while roe bags and dew worms are generally the choice for the bait worker. Flyfishing is also gaining popularity, but spinning definitely -takes more fish even if it's just a result of larger numbers. Wayne Draper of Goderich recommends ..,.sturdy 'Weide for .ihe.:Maitland„beca is _:ac he puts it, "It's a big river, and the force of the current alone working on a big fish is often enough 'to part the line.” The same holds true for the Bayfield River, as anyone who has hooked on to a big fish there knows. Just as important as good strong tackle is well maintained and properly functioning equipment. Rods should be checked for cracks and the guides examined for rough spots or wear. Reefs should be cleaned and oiled, and the drag must adjust properly and operate smoothly. Fresh line should be wound on the reel, and filled to the proper depth for optimum casting. An improperly tied knot can also be the cause of a good deal of disappointment, so practising one of the specially developed knots for monofilament when you are checking over the rest of your equipment is also a good idea. Brook trout are also available in many of the cold water streams in the area, but the access is limited since most of ' these streams are on private property. Brookies are very wary, and stealth and patience are very important when seeking this quarry. uvernangmg banks, sunken logs and fast flowing riffles are the favorite hangouts for these little trout, and blackflies usually go hand in hand with good Brook trout fishing. It's all worth it, however, when the end result is a good feed sizzling in the frying pan accompanied by a few rashers of bacon. One good tip for fishing brookies — always fish upstream against the current. It avoids roiling the water and disturbing the area that has still not been worked over. When the perch start to move inshore, the docks at Bayfield and Goderich become popular meeting places for fishermen of all ages. Everyone, from the retiree who brings his lawn chair for comfort down to the tod- dler who can barely hold a rod in his hands, can catch perch and that's what makes them such a special fish. Perch fishing is in- expensive family entertainment at its best, and the rewards when those crisp fried golden filets are served up on the dinner table are hard to beat. Any simple, rod and reel outfit baited up with a minnow or worm will work just fine. The advanced perch fisherman will use a spreader and double hook set up, but the beginner will be just as far ahead with a single hook and a bobber rig. If you've ever wanted to take a youngster, fishing, but weren't sure where to go, keep your ears open and when the perch are in, head for the pier. The Maitland River has some of the best bass fishing in Southwestern Ontario, and it's a great way to spend a summer evening., Whether you fish from the shore, a boat, or put on a pair of shorts and sneakers and start wading, you can always look forward to some fast action:. • . Live baits, such as minnows, helgram- mites or crayfish, always take bass, but the fisherman must know how to present them properly to be consistently successful. Sur- face lures are great fun m the evening on calm nights, and keep the action up on top where you can see what is going on. Plugs and spinners work well during the daylight hours and "bass bugging" with a fly rod is rapidly becoming a favorite sport. The big advantage for the Bass fisherman is, of course, the absence of crowds. Old bronzeback is the glamour fish of theU.S., but here he takes a back seat to sahnon and trout. However, the avid bass fisherman• knows the excitement;' and thrills that go along with hooking up to a lunker, and he's not about to add to his. competition by adver- tising the fact, But,. the fact does, remain, that' when other. flailing, dales,:' old bucket; mouth i ; stall there waiting for action and e , readyto;provide anebterteu eevening1or anyone who wants it. The Ministry of Natural Resources has been at work for the last few years trying to re-establish the Walleye. run. in the Maitland, and with any luck anglers will see the return of these fish in,catchable numbers in the near future. Spawneirs are being caputred in other parts of the Pro- vince to be released in the Maitland, and if the spawning beds are in good shape, a natural population could • be quickly established. This fish will add considerably to the catchable species in the river and lake area, making Goderich even more of a fisherman's Mecca. One of the handiest items any fisherman, pro or beginner, can have is a little book called the "Tackle Box Fishing Guide". This book, designed to be carried in the tackle box, is chocked full of information and tips for the fisherman. It covers everything from a description of the game fish in Ontario through basic techniques; lures, baits, equipment etc.; the scientific aspect of a fishing right up to the care and preparation of your catch for the table. Special techniques, fishing aids and much, much more information is packed into its 304 pages. With this book, even a rank beginner can quickly learn a few tricks which will help him catch fish the first time out, and even the seasoned old veteran is bound to pick up a tip or two. The "Tackle Box Fishing Guide" is available from Ontario Outdoor Publications, P.O. Box 1414, Kitchener, On- tario, N2G 4H6 for $9.95 plus $1.00 postage and handling. So, if you want to be a fisherman, or already are one, thank your lucky stars that you live m the Goderich area. Other areas will always look greener, but if you explore your own territory closely, you will find every species bf gamefish present you could hope for and enough of a challenge to catch them to keep things interesting. Maybe that's why Indians made their homes on the banks of the Maitland for untold genera- tions. Children should experience catching their first fish An appalling number of youngsters dash through childhood and adolescence without ever encountering a bluegill or bullhead. And, too many parents miss the ex- perience of a lifetime by not witnessing a boy or girl on a fishing adventure. A youngster's "first fish" is might impor- tant. Long after a ball game is forgotten, a bicycle discarded, this exploit in the out- doors will have significance. And the adult involved earns eternal respect and worship. But introducing kids to the sport may not be easy. Teaching boys and girls to fish re- quires personal discipline by the instructor. When you strike off for the pond with youngsters in tow, leave your own gear at home. Their equipment should be simple — cane poles or closed -faced spin -casting rigs. Help. Instruct. Encourage. But don't be too insistent. Let them make their own mistakes, then patiently explain the correct approach. Start out with a bucket of minnows or can of worms. They'll produce fish for the novice quicker and easier than artifical lures. And, at this stage of the game, it's results you want. Because you can never count on fish to cooperate, don't build up a youngster's hopes too much before time. Explain that some days you just don't catch fish. When they just aren't biting, go home early so the new angler doesn't get discouraged by one unproductive trip. Within a short tune your teaching efforts will pay off, and with that first fish an im- portant milestone in life has just been pass - Be forewarned, however. A youngster just - hooked on fishing will beat you out of bed every time.