crappieperchhunter

First off happy belated 50th Birthday Meely. They did a nice job on the mount particularly if that was from the picture you showed our little group in the fall. Never realized Tony was your net man for that fish. Lucky you got it in the boat. I also think you owe Zen a nice evening out for such a meaningful and thoughtful birthday gift. I'm assuming it will be on the wall in the "Manor" somewhere.

Welcome back Roy. It hasn't been the same in here without you. I hope all is well.

Cliff if you do the Grand Canyon I highly recommend a fly over package. Been to "Lost Wages " twice. First visit we did the fly over in a Cesna I believe....3 of us plus the pilot and our second trip it was the only thing I insisted that I do again. And if I ever go again I will be flying through the Canyon again. Another thing I have always wanted to do in Vegas. They use to have a barber shop called "A little off the top" All the girls who cut your hair where topless. That ones still on my bucket list

Can't swing it this winter Cliff....but next winter when I'm retired and the boss is still working....I'd be all over this offer. Somebody take this man up on his offer. You WILL have a great road trip. Safe travels and good luck fishing Cliff.

Glad to hear you got out again Cliff. Over the last few years I have found several perch spots that are now over run with herring. Most times I don't mind as I prefer any action to no action...but damn it's frustrating sometimes when the herring are so thick that you can't even get your bait through them to the bottom to try and get a perch

Thanks for sharing this Chris. Great to hear someone with a passion... working up the nerve...rolling up there sleeves and jumping in with both feet to give it a go. Best of luck to Jason and his lady on this journey.

I had hernia surgery many years ago in the fall. My exit wound when they where done was a cut about 2 inch across. A week was all I could wait before I had to do something other then sitting on my butt at home. Packed my gear and walked a local creek for some steel. Some muddy banks and steep climbing along the way. Just took it slow ...and I mean slow.... no problems. Couple days go by and I loaded up the boat to hit a fall perch spot solo on Simcoe which involves launching the boat into a creek and rowing out to deeper water before I can use the motor. Survived that as well. The next week I'm going to climb a ladder and clean rain gutters on the roof at the cottage. Two steps up the ladder was all I made. Got a stabbing pain that told me climbing a ladder was a very bad idea so I stopped and waited a month or so before I tried again. No problems my second stab at climbing a ladder. Take it slow and listen to what your body tells you worked for me.

I still have my 14ft tinny with a 15HP....but I use it less and less every year. At the cottage I have found so many good shore fishing spots that I never even took it up there this past summer. Have really gotten to enjoy jumping in the car in the morning or after supper in the evening and driving less then 10 minutes...fishing for 2-4 hours and then heading back home. Tomkat maybe you have shore opportunities close by for yourself as well. Give it a try if you do...you might end up enjoying it as much as I do.

Yes, Happy New Year. Good health and good times to all.

Check your Pm's Dutch. I'm going somewhere tomorrow as the boss is working. Can't stay home on a free fishing day.

I enjoy both....but one of my favourites is walking out on the ice solo after an overnight snowfall and being the first set of tracks out on the new snow.

Interesting Bruce. But to my understanding a steam pan should only be used during the first 10 minutes or so of baking...so do you remove the pan after that time or only add enough ice cubes or water so they evaporate in 10 minutes? Also my understanding is that when I'm baking in my cast iron pot with the lid left on during most of the baking time the lid serves the same purpose as a steam tray....trapping in the moisture to help make an awesome crust.

I never noticed this the first time through or I would have commented then. When I do my no knead bread in the cast iron pot in the oven the bottom of the loaf would get over done a little. If you have totally corrected this with changing your oven temps then you have no need to read further. However if your still playing with it I would suggest putting an empty baking sheet on the rack under the rack your loaf is on. This has worked really well for me to solve the overcooked bottom of the loaf.

Awesome the next morning for french toast to Brian!!!!

Yep....been making no knead bread for a numbers of years now. Our favourite is a loaf with sliced kalamati olives baked into it. Betcha can't have just one slice.

Like I said to Lew...Debbe is way more attached to the wood stove then I am. She absolutely loves the smell and earning her girl scouts badge starting a fire. I do ALL the labor....hauling the wood in.... chopping the kindling...but man she rocks the fire starting part I think she was a pyro in her last life. Plus she has always loved the heat. Your right about the 90F because I betcha it's at least that warm in my family room right now which is why I'm up here in the kitchen in shorts and a T shirt and she's downstairs with a glass of wine enjoying one of her shows on Fibe TV or whatever you call it. It all comes back to Happy wife Happy life.

I know exactly what your talking about Lew. We have 3 family birthday parties during the winter and the whole gang for Christmas as well. A big group of people... the stove and oven going all afternoon up in the kitchen...woodstove downstairs.....it gets a little too warm sometimes. Have it figured out pretty good now....but in the beginning it was quite the sweat shop more then a few times.

Looks good Lew. We still have wood. Debbe especially loves the wood stove. You just can't get the same heat from gas or propane IMHO. But you are 100% correct about the extra work and the mess. We will probably travel the same road some day but for now wood is still winning.

On 97.3 radio today they said he died at 87 and was survived by his husband. Never saw that coming and don't care for what it's worth. However if that's the case it only illustrates his talents and how much he got into our souls. Gay way back then and still did what he did. Must have been someone we would have all been happy to sit around a campfire and shared a beer and a story with.

Thx for sharing this info Chuck. Looks good. Do you have one? The pricing is cheaper so I'm concerned about the quality/durability.

I agree. If you can find a Fish trap Pro...grab it. It appears they no longer make them. If you can't find one second hand somewhere, search other hut makers for ones with similar size specs. It will be a sad day for me if/when my trap pro is no longer usable.

Sounds like a plan

X2. Was shown a new to me spot towards the end of the ice season on Simcoe last winter. Just killed perch and mostly all good sized ones...very few throwbacks. Can't wait to see what it's like during the first half of the season. Always have enjoyed and looked forward to the ice season. This coming season even more.

6 of us on a Fly In trip for walleye. I had 6 or so hand tied chartreuse bucktail jigs that where outfishing everything else any of us had. So of course I was rubbing it in ALL week long. As the week wore on to everyones delight I started to lose jigs being bitten off by pike. Soon I only had one left. One morning all three boats of us are fishing a small current area where we had done well all week. But it was slow this morning so I announced that it was time to use my last secret weapon to show the boys how real fishermen do it. I cut my line and dig out my last magic jig and tie it on...then throw it over the side of the boat to get going and realize I had just retied the jig I took off and threw my magical jig untied into the lake Never got any sympathy from my buddies either....actually quite the opposite.

Cliff I have tried to send you a message but your OFC mailbox is full. Please clear it so I can get through to you.