fishnsled

Thanks for the info so far. I'm leaning towards a 14 foot tinny that has a max rating of 30HP. I was wondering if I should go for the 30 or get a 25.

Ditto what Terry and Wayne have said. I've always been told to get the max HP or very close to it. I was in a boat a few years ago and it was rated for a 100 and it had a 60 on it. It took 3 of us to get up to the front of the boat and the throttle wide open to get the thing on plane, which took a very long time. Luckily it was calm, would hate to do that in rough water. Burned more gas in that boat that weekend then I do in mine with a 115 on it in a 3 weekends. One of the worst things to do (imo) is to under power a boat. In your case either the 30 or 25 will do the job but if it was me I'd get the 30, you won't be disappointed with the performance.

Here's some pics for the pros. I think that they are nice and I'd just leave them, there problem solved

Take a case of Steamwhistle and a 5 lb sledge Will... and you guys will be fine !

Joe said he was good with a crowbar as well, I think we've got it covered. I'll bring the reciprocating saw for cutting the pipes and whatever else might get in the way.

Great report! Open water and from a boat too! Sweet!

Hey HH, I can stop by tomorrow and take a look it you like on my way home. Don't know if I'll be much help or not but we'll find out. Or at least help you get the pics up.

Congrats on a great day you 2. Excellent way to spend your birthday, away from Cliff too!! That first fish needed some colour I thought so I decided to help you out.

Thanks for posting the report HH, a great one as well. It certainly was an awesome day to be out but some very tough fishing to start with. I think we did prove something that day with the florocarbon vs mono, mono won hands down. I also had a count of 58 because Tom gave me his 10 count for drilling the holes. This also allows me to fish with them again as the house rule is 50. If you don't get 50 then your no longer welcome.

As Joe said,

My opinion:

Given that the temps on Saturday night did not drop before zero, I can't imagine that the conditions are very good right now! Getting on the ice was fine and so was getting off, but with the temps being what they are, I'd be concerned and very cautious before considering venturing out. Slush and weak spots would hold me back!

Won't be long now before we can start chasin them outta a boat!

I'll just add to this. Solid ice in the morning, walking through 2-4 inches of slush on the way back. Mild temperatures and rain this week should take care of most of the ice at this rate. I won't be and nor would I want to see anyone thinking of going out there this coming weekend. We figure that 2 to 3 weekends from now you'll be able to get out with the boat no problem. The perch will be waiting for you so be safe and I'll see you on the WATER!!!

Here's a couple of the jumbos from the day.

Welcome aboard! Great pics.

Awesome fish!! Congrats on the PB!

Happy Birthday Carole!!! Have a fantastic day!

L-M-A-O!!! Is he blonde?? Nope but maybe should be. lol! Bernie, that's a great blender.

One more pic.

I was going through some pics and came across these. My buddy and his winterizing job from a few years ago.

Although it didn't blend the ice, it did run fine in the spring. LUCKY guy.

Ok... you don't need a line counter... but all the reels mentioned are line counters?!

For the price, you can't beat the Diawa Sealine... I'll keep my opinions on the Okuma to myself.

HH

Hey HH, I forgot to mention on our ice fishing day last weekend that I spoke to the Okuma rep at the sportsman show about the problem with the reels. He said that they were aware of the problem and that it had been fixed in the newer reels. Considering the complaints that were going around he said there were very few reels were ever returned. They had given the tackle stores a shipment of newer reels and were told to just swap them for any returned units. This is what I was told and I'm just the messenger. I've yet to have any problems with mine but I certainly don't use them very much at all.

Hey Rickster,

Some good news there, great to hear. Have they come up with a diagnosis yet? I've known a couple of people that have been diagnosis with Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia Sounds similar to what your brother is going through. Thoughts and prayers sent your way.

Oh and thanks Glen... this is the way it should be done.

 

If someone's got a great "solution" to a perceived problem start your own thread... don't going ruining someone's perfectly good post.

I'll second that.

Wait a minute.....TV isn't real life?

 

Uh Oh....that explains a lot.....

If it's not real then why do they call it REALITY TV?????

It seems that a few here could learn a thing or two by reading this but I'm afraid it's too late for most.

Congrats on a great day!!

Great to get out with you and Tom as always HH. I don't know what I was doing different but that stretch of getting nothing for about an hour and a half killed my numbers. Oh well, next time.

Awesome laker Will!!! Cant believe the ice season is over? I wish it ended a month ago....LOL.

You are acting like someone who has a new boat in the garage waiting for it's first bath of the season. The soft water won't be long. Only another 6 six weeks of winter according to David Phillips. Winter not over, forecast warns

Thanks for the replies. Even though the fish looks big in the pictures it was only around the 4-5 pound range. Big belly though, the fish that is.

Now that is a happy hour!!! Congrats!

I was wondering about the Stren line as well Gerritt, didn't seem to make much sense but skeeter99 has cleared that up. I knew that line and knots would break down and that is why I try to re-tie a few times through out the day if I'm using one bait a lot. Never knew about the knot cutting itself though.

Roy - thanks for the heads up.

As for new lines - the Stren Superknot is not listed on the Stren web site as a new product although I haven't heard of it until this year. Here's a link to their site Stren New Products The Power Pro Red Specra I did see last fall in my local tackle store but haven't tried it. Berkley and Stren have both introduced a red mono and a new fluorocarbon line. Berkley I'd be willing to try the fluorocarbon lines but not sure about the red mono.

A buddy of mine swears by Berkley Fireline but I've had problems in the past, Might give them another go this year but will be mainly sticking with Power Pro for my superline and Trilene XL or XT for my mono's. Seagar has been my choice for a fluorocarbon line for the last couple of years.