Rizzo

ah yes, this would make sense. That was the problem, that the biscuit or puck or whatever you want to call it sits too tightly to the boat. raise it up and voila. bassboy, my 'puter is taking too long to see your full-size photo but I think its the one. the bracket is just a black rectangle basically

magnetewan river at Britt (see #4 above). Not that I've ever caught a 50 there, but they do exist.

uh oh, the secret is out. Although I haven't checked personally, a relative kept a few pike from our cottage lake and they told me the same thing...crayfish in the stomach and nothing else.

I'm not the most mechanical guy, but I was quite excited to install a mounting bracket and trolling motor on my new boat. I got the same minn kotta I had on the last boat (powerdrive) and the matching bracket. I see they have changed the bracket style in the last few years. I was sweating buckets mounting that bracket getting it nice and tight so that the screws won't have any room to wiggle around and eventually make the bracket loose. When it came time to place the motor on the bracket, it was next to impossible. There is a handle that passes horizontally through the motor bracket and then through the mounted bracket. This is what holds the two together. Well I had mounted that bracket so tight to the boat I couldn't push the handles through the holes as they no longer lined up! What to do? Loosen the bracket I had worked so hard to make "flush" with the boat? No way, ended up applying enough downward pressure on the motor so that the holes lined up again. Do you think standing on your motor voids a warranty??? I'm hoping by keeping the motor in this position for some time it will flatten the carpet out and next time won't be such the ordeal! Either way, I prefer the old style bracket where the motor slid in rather than this one where it fits over top.

no advice for you but that sounds like a pretty good day in my books!

good point...I was thinking where would I go...forgot the "family" part...change my vote to St. John as well

I've always found L St. John very predictable and have always done well there. Pretty much a big bowl with weeds around the perimeter of the whole Lake. Pike up to 10 lbs a possibility. Having said that, I would choose Head Lake. Likely less company due to lousy boat launch, great variety of structure to fish and a pretty good shot at a musky, and lots of smallmouth.

Right on! And a good looking kid too (must get that from the other side of the family ) Congratulations Brian

thats what I was thinking and why I asked the question...but most of the responses have said keep it tilted. I guess either way can be right depending on what your priorioties are (save transom/hydraulics or keep fluids where they belong0

good price (looks too good to me) but I'd avoid much use on the big water

Zoinks, pretty scary stuff there. If any more get caught in rice this year you won't find me swimming there anytime soon

they may be finicky, but lets not forget ugly too. To me, it sounds like you're doing everything right. I do whatever I can to keep them off my hook, you should do the same.

so what will come first, the influenza pandemic I keep hearing about that we are "due" for or the new ice age we are "due" for

First off, thanks to all those who eased my mind a few weeks ago when I thought I had trashed my new boat within 20 minutes of getting it on the water. Turns out it was just a spun hub and all is now well. Never had a motor heavy enough to warrant a transom saver, but this one (50hp 4 stroke) came with one. Should I be keeping the motor tilted on the transom saver when the boat is in storage, or should I return the motor to a vertical position once the drive home is over?

OOOOOO son, I hadn't even noticed there was another trip planned. I'm going to try and aim for the Friday and then Saturday until mid afternoon, after that its adios. I know my wife feels bad that I've missed the last 2 June G2G's, so as long as work cooperates I should be good to go. NUTTS, just called home before posting this and found my wife's family has booked a family portrait for the Saturday. GGGRRRRRR

I've fished it once. We did well for bass and caught decent pike too (5-8 lbs)

new personal bests almost every day, wish I could do that. Congrats

nice looking pike, especially for your second pike ever...looks like you guys had a bit of a wrestling match to boot (everyone is a little sandy). Congrats on a nice fishing and learning how to post it

very nice! Although I don't use flukes, I do love that hot pink colour. The pike in our lake just love em. You see your bait disappear before you feel the strike!

dang. for some reason I can't see it...curse you dial-up

what a coincidence. not an hour ago I was lamenting to my wife that both our vehicles will need snowtires/rims this winter. i figured around $2000 total to be ready for winter...ouch

funny, that's exactly what I did today. Went to Royal Distributing and bought a new prop and hub that can be dropped into it. Then took the old one to Brentwood marine where they will send it away and get it re-hubbed. Funny thing is the remade one will probably cost just as much as the new prop/hub from Royal. Only reason I'm not just buying 2 new ones is I think my damaged prop is of a higher quality

Good summary Brian, both are excellent advice!

hahaha til i get that hub fixed it goes about as fast as the wind will blow it

Not sure how fast it goes, but when I was looking for advice on this boat, somebody posted they had the same boat with a 40 on it and it went 31 mph. This one has a 50, so I guess more than 31 mph!