Rizzo

I have a Minn Kota powerdrive bow mount trolling motor with foot controls. There is a sliding mechanism, that lets you select a speed from 1-10. For some reason mine seems to be running at full speed, ignoring the setting that is on the foot control. Nearly launched me into the lake today when I first turned it on. Any thoughts on what may be causing this and how to fix it?

I can't believe that worked ...you do know I'm kidding, right?

that's a pig! I never fish for the bugle-nosed trout so I couldn't help you on the weight

first sign of addiction are posts that don't show up...you are in need of help my friend

Great report, especially enjoyed the launch story. When I get too old to fish, somebody please park my sorry arse at a launch (preferably a shallow, gravel launch) so I can watch the fun one last time. ...oh ya nearly forgot...mmmmmm twinkies

can't help you on the salmon but nice looking musky! Looks like something took a chunk out of its tail at some point in its past. One helpful recommendation though: Take the hooks out before posing for the photo - if that fish thrashes around you've got trebles coming at you with a lot of speed, and if the unhooking job takes longer than expected, you can always opt to not take a photo to get the fish back in the water as soon as possible. Either way, nice fish and good luck with the salmon

that's the point...everyone wants a deal, but nobody is going to pay top dollar for a motor that's over 30 years old (unless its a collectors item). $100 is low risk potentially high reward - no brainer. Now find the guy a buyer who would pay significantly more, not so easy.

bingo...just keep it, may come in handy some day. I wouldn't think anyone would give more than 100-200 bucks for a motor that's older than half the members of this board.

he ain't kidding. Landing and releasing a musky is not as easy as lipping a bass or grabbing a pike "by the shoulders" to get them in the boat...then once they are in the boat that's another problem all on its own! Get yourself some good equipment for catching (heavy line/leaders) landing (cradle? big net? fearless friend?) and then some tools to properly unhook the fish (ie to cut BIG hooks out)

Thanks for the options guys, will try and check some of these places out.

haha..low man on totem pole is the way to great fishing I guess! Unfortunately my wife's shopping habits prohibit me from taking this approach. That's why I'm an OFC'er...to live vicariously through others' fishing adventures. Thanks for all your reports everyone!

nice looking fish! How in the world do you find time to go fishing that often though? I clearly need a different job (oh ya and a family that enjoys fishing)

sadly they are all a bunch of liars, and no, I do not feel I am overgeneralizing...its pretty much a proven fact. Nonetheless I will give them my vote (lesser of the 2 evils in my opinion)

isn't a gater a pike? I see 15 trout and what look to be 3 pickerel (no stinky slimy pike to be found). Sounds like a great day!

When I went fishing last Saturday my engine died when we were trying to leave to head back to the launch. Its a 1999 25hp Johnson 2 stroke. Took 20 minutes of cranking with the battery (can't believe the battery didn't die) before it fired up again. It has never acted up before. I called Sandy Cove marine but they don't work on Johnson's, although they did refer me to someone in Stroud. Unfortunately he can't look at it until next week. Anyone know someone around Barrie who works on these type of engines?

bring your wallet. I always just drove down to the end of the road, there are a few launches down there. Pretty much all of them were $20 last time I was there and that was a few years ago.

good point Lew. I really thought at best we'd find a hammerhandle pike or largemouth bass in there. Fortunately we were using heavy equipment and were able to land her reasonably quickly. It was morning (10 am) and the shallows were just starting to heat up again after cooling down overnight. Fish was lightly hooked which didn't hurt either. Luckily, a lot of factors were on our side to help with a (hopefully) succesful release. Fish swam away after about 10 seconds of reviving...and watching it swim away was one of the best parts!

I'm with you JB. Saw a group of people at the docks in barrie last winter before ice-over keeping every single perch they caught. I thought they were leaving when they had clearly caught their limit...instead just dumped them into garbage bags in their car and kept fishing. You couldn't say anything because they didn't (wouldn't) speak English, and disgusted looks when a 4 inch perch was kept were ignored.

wow, great stuff! You guys certainly get out there regularly. Those big carp had better watch out

a whole worm does work great for bass in my opinion...but losing whole worm after whole worm to pesky sunfish can get as expensive as the trip to Bass Pro. I find bass will readily take a 6-7 inch plastic worm, just make sure you fish it properly, not dangling under a bobber.

That is the last line of the link that was posted. If seeing one is good luck, just imagine what owning one as a pet might be good for! go buy some lottery tickets and share the winnings with your friends at OFC (or at least me since I recommended it :thumbsup_anim:)

both my set-ups are 80lb powerpro with 150lb fluorocarbon leaders...snaps and swivels strong enough to lift a small car

I roughed up a grouse before. More "hands-on" than shooting them I figure. Are they still ok to eat after you've slapped them silly?

Nice report..always fish making it into the boat! I know what you mean about the powerpro...its gotta be hopeless before I'm cutting my way out of a birdsnest (too much $$$ to respool)

pretty sure the cottagers were as shocked as me that a fish like that was lurking in the shallows