Well, suffice to say, the groundhog was wrong. As much as we were all hoping, it would appear that winter is far from done with us here in the Great White North. Things have been fairly quiet on the site as of late, but we are sure that the eventual spring thaw will see a surge in activity. In the meantime, should you need your fix of carpiness, just know that our community continued to grow over the winter and that many of us are longing for some fresh perspectives, tips and ideas to engage with. There are few silly questions, and we can assure you that this community is chalked full of supportive members. March break fast approaches, and for many of us family folk this means those ankle biters, and sassy teenagers are going to be home all week. Perhaps consider a nice walk to help clear your mind and reset, those days are indeed getting longer and soon enough those evening drives home from work will be brighter.
MENTAL HEALTH – SPRING FAST APPROACHES
From our mental health ambassador, Kevin Girolametto:
The first day of spring is just around the corner, March 20th! The days are getting longer, the air is warming up, and soon, it’ll be time to get back on the water. A new season brings a fresh start, not just for nature but for us, too. Carp fishing is a great way to clear our minds, reset, and shake off the weight of winter. But as we return to our favorite spring spots, we’ll likely find some garbage left behind. This spring, let’s take care of both our minds and the places we love. Bring an extra bag, clean up a little as you go, and enjoy the fresh air. A small effort can make a big difference for both the environment and for ourselves.
#mentalhealth #leavenotrace
LATEST CONTENT
Our latest content comes in the form of a video by Ops member Will Muschett who is no stranger to catching fish. He may not be a Terry Hearn, but in this video, Will recounts the story of capturing a respectable fish from a dammed stretch of river not once, not twice, but three separate times over the course of five years; testament to how effective safe catch and release practice is and how sustainable our sport is. That fish would go on to be caught by two of Will’s close friends as well which would become their personal bests for a short while. A little feel good story to warm your heart while the weather sucks.
RESTOCKING TIME
Have you made that list yet? If not, you’d better start… We have heard word that Louis-Philip Lortie is buying up all of Carp Kit’s Rigga hook stock. We are sure that you are already aware that your CCS membership also comes with perks, and one of those just so happens to give you access to exclusive discounts to Carp Kit! Those that hold a standard membership have access to 5% off and our Pro members have access to 8% off of their Carp Kit orders. Have a look at what’s new in stock for the 2025 season, and while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out the clearance section. Additionally, Monster Carp Tackle has some great deals on terminal tackle, and bait as well as their trustworthy alarms. Our members have access to a 10% discount on all Monster Carp Tackle products (as well as all other brands available through the site!) There are some incredible deals to be found on these sites so be sure to glance over your tackle boxes, and your kit to make sure that you have everything you need to be successful for that first spring assault!
CANCAST FISHING SHOW
We are well aware that a number of the anglers within our community are not solely carp anglers, and rather pursue a number of fish species throughout the year. CANCAST is the biggest fishing (exclusive) show in Ontario with vendors from all over setting up for an exciting day in Peterborough, Ontario at the Memorial Centre and adjacent Morrow Building. In addition to new products, there are also a ton of guides, corporate booths as well as a massive tackle swap section where you can find all kinds of fishing paraphernalia! As with last year, Peterborough Carping Guides will be in attendance, set up to promote their guiding and tutorial outfit as well as to sell their MORTAR weights. Check them out at CANCAST on March 30th alongside 2B Guiding Services for all of the other species the Kawarthas has to offer! For more details on the event, as well as to purchase your tickets be sure to check out the site: http://www.cancast.show/
MARCH GIVEAWAY
The Monthly giveaways are making a return! More details to follow, but a little birdie has mentioned a pair of alarms are up for grabs? So if you are looking for an upgrade, or possibly a nice back up pair of alarms to add to your kit then be sure to stay up to date on the site’s main feed and be sure to refresh that competitions page under the Members Area.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
To our members we extend our gratitude for all of those that have participated in the survey. We have collected a ton of feedback and suggestions and have put a great number of these into motion over the course of our organization’s four years. For those who have not yet completed this survey, we implore you to do so! Your voice matters, and no matter how small or subtle of a change or suggestion as you may have in mind, it could make a world of difference as to how streamlined or accessible our site can become! You can find the survey under the Members Area.
SPRING SSF REGISTRATION
Here’s a little something to get you excited… the Spring SSF registration opens next week! It’s time to start putting together your game plans, prepping your bait and scouting spots on Google Maps and Navionics at the very least! Hopefully in the coming weeks you will be able to start scouting spots in person as the thaw begins! If you have been following along on our social pages as well as on the SSF page, then you will already know that there are some changes that have been made for the 2025 season with regards to the SSF events. Please familiarize yourself with these changes ahead of registering so that there are no surprises. Best of luck to all of those that will be participating!
GETTING THE BALL ROLLING
As previously stated, the site has been awfully quiet as of late, but we encourage you to get involved, no matter how small that contribution might be! The CCS is only as engaging and informative as our members make it, so consider posting that small tip, or a good community discussion question. Promote content from outside of the CCS if you have videos or find an interesting article! If you come onto the site and see no new posts, or anything you would want to engage with, then make the difference you want to see! A recent example saw Galen Yerex promoting a magazine issue that both he and Will Muschett had contributed to. These articles were best suited for something other than the CCS as they were geared towards a more international audience. It’s great to see our members branching out to other organizations and audiences to help spread the word about who the CCS is, as well as the caliber of anglers who make up our constituency!
AND FINALLY
As always, we hope that this newsletter has found you well. Remember to check that those sump pumps are operational and make sure those roofs and eaves are clear for the upcoming melt. To those who are still braving the elements for some glory on the ice, enjoy whatever time you have remaining this ice fishing season, as it seems like it will be running significantly longer than the past few years for certain! From where this newsletter is coming to you, we are anticipating some seriously high water levels this year with insane amounts of snow at higher elevations at this time. If you are anywhere near a river or body of water, expect to see some ridiculous flow and swells as we approach April and May.
Be safe and be well.