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Some days now I can't remember what fishing stories get passed along where, and that's weird cause I write about half what I used to. Early Old Timers starting, who knows? What I do know is that it was a miserable rainy day today and that being so I slipped away back into some Arctic sun my missus, friends and self all enjoyed this past July... Arctic Circle Lodge is a self-guided fishing experience on Great Bear Lake NWT and it is there where lake trout numbers are just absolutely staggering. Some years back I think it was about 285 fish Bren and I caught over the six days fishing with some good big greys in the mix. This year little had changed except that we were a group of six instead of two. BIG, BIG fish this summer too, Bren caught her first over 40 pounds while other's picked up PB's as well. With a drone along, my buddy captured some great videos and photos, including the photoshoot and release of Bren's giant. The extra shots make this report something special. Anyways, it's a cool read, loaded with pictures and for those whose fishing is slowing down, it's good and free entertainment to pass the time. Here's the link... Strokes & Putts Fish Plummer's Arctic Circle Lodge. Later doods! :)

Yeah it would be crazy talk to say a boat manufacturer would try to get out of honouring their warranty yeah

I am also going to chime in about the Smokercraft hull failures...My best friend had an 10 year old smokercraft that is "smoked" the rivets blew and she sank. Not to mention the thing felt like you were getting in a car crash with every bit of chop or boat wake you hit. Myself and the close people that I associate with fish out of/have fished out of Smokercraft, starcraft, Lund, Crestliner, Alumacraft, Glasstron, Skeeter, Triton, Basscat (understanding the last 4 are glass boats) Myself/my dad have run Yamaha, suzuki, johnson and mercury outboards. Ill lay it out simply, Hulls - The smokercraft sank. The starcraft is 12 years old, is fine, but kinda rides like crap, the Lund Crestliner and Alumacraft all look great, but the styling/finish of the lund and alumacraft is probably a bit nicer. The alumcrafts have Lund quality at a slightly lower price IMO. The hulls on em make them like tanks, stable, unshakable fishing beasts. Outboards? The Johnson is dead (electrical issues that left us stranded multiple times) the 2012 mercury causes us grief more electrical issues (my best friends mercury's lower end leaks like sieve its 6 years old) my 88 Suzuki on my starcraft runs just fine having never been properly winterized and treated like crap its entire life. We clean the carb occasionally with carb cleaner and run a can of seafoam through it and it runs first pull. My 98 Yamaha 130 is bone stock and runs like the day it was bought and gets tournament driven and takes me out on the lake for over 300 fishing hours a year, the lower end has 0 water in it every fall and the 2 stroke starts easily and runs clean with minimal smoke. the 2016 four stroke yamaha is like a car, it hasnt had a single issue yet Close family friend runs an evinrude G1 and has had electrical issues. Thats plainly put for your consideration. Its my raw experience with no real bias, its just reality. I will also say BUY USED! I bought my 98 skeeter for $9,000, came with a trolling motor and stainless prop and I put about $2000 of work into it, upgrading electronics, trolling motor, rewiring, new seats and the thing is a tournament fishing machine. Its not a hulking beast like a 20 foot bassboat, but has a couple storage compartments, a rod locker, two livewells and goes 55mph. Does pretty much everything you could ask of a boat. I get compliments regularly at the launch about how nice my boat is. Not bad if you ask me for $11,000.

https://www.swmarineservices.com/inventory/2009-starcraft-fishmaster-196-grand-bend-on-n0m-1t0-10292974i This is a heck of a boat for $20K. If I was in the market, I wouldnt waste any time.

I dunno if there is anything I like more then big greasers. The fact that this is self guided as well really sets it apart from being in a boat with a guide all day, lol. Awesome man, one day I'll be joining you on one of these adventures

STOP posting pictures like that the green drool of envy is running down from my lips onto my shirt.

I'd like to see a few of their asses dragged into court over these types of incidents. Per the CBC prog,many schools are not reporting it to the bd as they are req'd to do. e.g.some reported zero incidents!! yeah, right!!

Outstanding once again! I wonder how long the "Neutron Dance" will be echoing in my mind?😊 Already looking forward to you reporting on your next adventure.

WOW, great pics of huge fish !well done folks.

Wow, and I have only looked at all the photos I will need to find time to sit and read this book.

MY GOD!!

90 % of soldering problems is applying the solder before the work is hot enough, the other 10% is the surface isn't free of oxidation.

I did this already. Sad part in the plywood is going AGAIN only after 3 years.. used marine grade plywood. Cut to fit then primed. Then coated with resin. Then installed marine grade vinyl over top . The transom is starting to get soft and it looks like the flotation foam is in need of replacment. Id rather sell it to a handy person then go thru all that work again. Just heartbreaking to have a floor failure that fast..