Sinker

Yup, prepare for a ton of water out your way bud!!! Its on its way....... Thanks for the update tinbanger. Do you think maybe the fish are there, but your not seeing them due to the near record high water levels? Rice lake is approaching record levels, and still rising 5cm per day!!!! Sinker

But will you learn anything by having it? I'm not looking for a break in my insurance......mine is dirt cheap anyways. Sinker

Sweet! I called April 20th for ice out on simcoe way back in December.....its gonna be real close!! Sinker

How much will it set me back to take this? Is it really worth it? Am I going to learn anything I don't already know, or is it just a joke course like the boat cards? I'd like to take some sort of boating course, but I don't want to waste my $ on another cash grab....... Not trying to hijack your thread here B&B.......just thought I"d ask while we were on about the topic.... Sinker

Its going to be late for sure. Pickeral opener will be a hot crappie bite, and musky opener will be a hot pickeral bite. I took a tour around rice lake today, and most of the docks on the lake are under water. We're quickly approaching record water levels in all the kawartha's.......most of them are over full right now. Flood warnings were issued for rice lake yesterday. Its crazy.......I've never seen anything like it.......and neither have a lot of the oldtimers I've been talking to. Still a bit of ice on rice as of today. Mainly just caught up between islands where the wind had blown it, but its still out there. Its gonna be a different year that's for sure, but once it gets going, it should be great! I'll be out for crappie opener.......its gonna be different for sure.......they'll be right on the banks.....literally on peoples lawns.....LOL. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. The pickeral will do thier thing, like always. Should be just fine. The only problem is they might be tied up in sactuaries for opener. They'll be lazy anyways......gettting some rest after spawning. Sinker

I have one interstate that I've had for what seems like forever....prolly 8-9 years...........no problems. Still as good as new. I also have a nautilus gold from CTC. Its also been great....no issues either.....this will be the 5th season on that one. I usually run the interstate, and keep the nautilus as a back up. But if I"m fishing for the weekend somewhere I can't charge the batts. I use the nautilus.....its just as good as the interstate power wise..... Its all about maintaining them. Keep them charged all the time and they'll last a long, long time. Sinker

You forgot to add the poll....

I don't take the motor on/off, unless I absolutley have to. I have done it myself though..... a few times. Its heavy.....but not "that" heavy. Its a 2 stroke too......so its that much lighter. Not sure what it weighs, but I can take it off, put it in my van, take it out and carry it into the mechanics shop for a tune up by myself.......pick it up, then put it back on the boat. There is some grunting, a couple pit stops, and a little cursing, but its doable. I'm no weightlifter either..........but I'm not afraid to lift heavy stuff..... And it isn't bolted on the transom......so, I'm calling it portable. By no means am I saying a 40 hp is a portable motor......far from it. There isn't much to installing it though....just tighten it on there, add gas, and away you go. Sinker

Crap......same for me......that sucks. I use that site almost daily!!! Here's the link, maybe they're just having problems.....I hope! http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/mod...io.143.250m.jpg This one kinda works, but its from way back......you can flip the pages and get to today though. http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets...ua.721.250m.jpg Sinker

I've caught them using a treble hook, with a floating corky right above it. Put a nice sized minnow on the treble, and sight fish them. The corky will keep the minnow on the surface, and the gar will pounce on them. Wait a bit before you set the hook......and when you do, nail them hard. I used to use a floating jighead with a minnow and a stinger hook, but I find a bare treble with a minnow is more effective. Pretty awesome when they attack the minnow off the surface, but tough to get a hook into them. Percy Reach and moira river were the waters I fished for them. I should go back there again and try for them......lots of fun. Sinker

My 40hp tiller is portable, but I have the option of bolting it thru the transom. I can take it off/on by myself, and I like it that way better. Sinker

IMO, your pushing your luck. Should anything happen on the road, your screwed. Not to mention, your going to drive that jimmy into the ground. If your gonna be towing around a rig like that, the first thing you should think about is your tow vehicle!! Get a real truck!! Sinker

Great shots!!! Did you get any waterfowl pics? Sinker

Thank you sir!! I guess I didn't go far enough. Sinker

Great tip, and very true!! The slower the better...... Sinker

I have a 13' Loomis IM-6. Its about 12 years old, but its also the only rod I've never broken........gotta mean something? I never use it anymore, I should sell or trade it. Sinker

I fully agree!! I do lots of jigging for eyes, and I swear the fish feel you when your using braid. Sure, you can feel the hits better, but, they can also feel you that much better too!! On a tough bite, you hardly know your getting bit.......there is a reason those fish bite so light......they're feeling the bait out. If they feel you, they let go before you can set the hook. Pickeral fishing is all about feel.....they bite light. My go to pickeral rod is a 7ft med light, fast action. Lots of feel, and very sensitive at the tip. I run 4-8lb P-line fluoro on it. If its a really tough bite, I'll go down to the 4lb, but 90% of the time I run the 8lb. I only use braid for big toothy fish, and burning thru thick weeds. Any other time its mono or fluoro. I honestly don't think braid is good for normal pickeral fishing. Its OK if its deep, but where I fish its usually 12-15ft. I'd be willing to bet that mono would outfish braid anyday fishing eyes...... Sinker

I was at the dam today. There are good numbers of fish below the dam, but I don't think any have been lifted yet. There is too much flow. Quite a few trying to get up though. I was there on friday, and there was hardly any...... Sinker

This is Bud. He's pretty old in this shot, but he was a very active dog. He'd drive ya nuts sometimes......too smart for his own good. A great pal though.....miss him all the time. He's jumped out of the boat many times to chase ducks and fish.......didn't matter to him. This picture was his last duck hunt, he didn't retrieve on this trip, but he sure wanted to.......wouldn't say so from the pic though....lol. The only dog I've had that could sing and play the drums at the same time......he was a freak of nature!! He had a list of tricks he could do about a page long..........we're about ready for another one now......had to train the kids first...... Sinker

Yup, I like the magnathin too. Berkley XL is good for casting too. The lighter the better. Sinker

Could someone PM me some directions to get to the dam in Gamebridge? I drove thru there yesterday and had a look around, but didn't see this dam....... Much appreciated! Sinker

My favourite ul is a 7' shimano clarus. I take it everywhere...... Sinker

Ha....I was thinking the same thing. Expected to be reading the story of a huge one that got away.......... Sinker

Tip....grease the reciever......no more rust. Sinker

This is how I feel as well. I've had the same rig for almost 12 years.....no transom saver, and I trailer with the engine (40hp on 16ft aluminum) tilted up all the way, all the time. No issues at all........transom is just as solid now as it ever was.........never heard of any issues either..... I could see it being wise if you had an older boat with a weak transom maybe.....? Or an oversized engine on a boat.... I have better things to spend my limited $ on, but hey, if your into spending the cash......have atter! Sinker