Hooked

I'd still guess snapping turtle.

It's possible for sure, but I've never had one take one off the stringer. They've always left the head and parts of the body. In retrospect, I guess there would be more teeth marks if it was a Musky?

I came across some pics recently that I meant to post on here awhile ago. Well I am finally getting around to actually posting them. Anyways, these date back to last August. I was on my annual vacation on Rice Lake. I spent an evening of walleye fishing and came in around 9:00pm. I had 2 walleye\pickerel on a chain stringer with clips, both 15" in length. I threw them over in the water expecting to clean them later that night. Well 10:30pm rolls around so I bring my fillet knife down to clean them. To my surprise there is only 1 on the stringer! I'm like the what the.....I check the all the clips and they were closed. Then I thought perhaps my brother took one, but quickly realized that didn't make any sense. Then I get a good look at the one that is left.

I first noticed the fishes eye was collapsed, then I noticed the teeth marks on its belly, and finally the nice gashes on its back and head...at first I thought a snapping turtle, but quickly set that assumption aside. It had to of been a Musky, there are no Pike in the lake. It likely tried getting that one off and couldn't get it off the stringer, then tried for the other one and succeeded. Or was really hungry and ate the first one then was too full to pull the other one off. Man that would of been a site to watch, or even hear that stringer go nuts while it ripped it off.

Walleye have been jumping into boats since opening day.

 

Grubs / Bucktails along weed edges. Deeper into the weeds when the sun is high.

 

8-12 FOW.

 

 

I'd wish you luck, but you won't need it.

Now that's what I like to hear. Thx

Doing my annual trip to Rice Lake soon and was hoping for some walleye\pickeral updates. How about the water visibility? I know when I was there last year the water was pretty muddy the entire 2 weeks I was there and fishing wasn't the greatest. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

Can't say what Malcolm would charge now but in June a flat was $30.00. Did anyone call?

With this drought, could be more?

I stopped by there the other day and he was charging $35. Still a solid price for sure. I'm picking up 2 flats at end of the month.

I can't comment on the parts but I can say everytime I order from Rock Auto it is a great experience. The price is the price with no surprises at the door with extra brokerage fees.

 

It looks like the mevotech has the ball joint already installed I would go that way just for that alone. You can call the toll free number and varify that first. DIY uninstalling ball joints and pressing them in is usually a PAIN most of the time, so for only a 25.00 difference I avoid the headache of having to deal with that.

I was going to order the Mevo's, but they haven't had the left side part available for a week now. Plus I think they have a 5 year warranty? I think the BECK\ARNLEY have the ball-joint too? And yeah, they are great to deal with, I've ordered from them before and the part arrived noon the next day!

Where are you located?

Stoney Creek

what car you have?

2003 Toyota Highlander. Apparently it is supposed to be a big job on a Highlander to replace the front control arms.

I am looking into ordering some front lower control arms from Rockauto.com and was wondering if any of you have experience on certain after market brands? I looked into OEM parts, but they are crazy expensive! The following brands are what I can choose from:

MevoTech

Beck/Arnley

Deeza

So if any of one has a preference or any info on those brands, let me know.

Thanks

His name is Malcolm but I'll be darned if I can locate his phone number.

Thanks Chris, for the life of me I couldn't remember his name. Think I might stop by there this evening. I'll pm you his # if you can't find it.

Since you live in the Creek, check out a guy who sells bait from his house. I believe he supplies Grimsby Tackle....he's on Barton St just past Fruitland Rd on the left. He has a sign out front and it's perhaps 3 houses east of Fruitland Rd. Let me know how it goes, I'll need to pick up 2 flats soon.

Maui Jims for me.. I'll never buy anything else.

Same goes for me. I have a pair of Ray Bans as well and they don't even compare to the MJ's.

Well the only good thing is if he goes with the Targa, he won't have to deal with BPS or Tracker directly, but the place where he may buy it from. I think my brother just picked a bad time to buy a boat, pickings are slim.

I provided him with a lot of info, thanks in large parts to you folks, and he can make the decision himself. What ever he goes for I hope it works out for him. Thanks for info everybody.

Any recommendations for new boat in the 25-30k range? Would prefer something at least 17' long and a 90"+ beam. And any marina's that maybe better than others to deal with? Thanks.

im one of those people the hull is only covered for 5 years now because of all the problems they have had! our sentre seam gave so it had to be welded from front to back from the inside!!!!

 

If your a good brother you would inform him of all the issues to protect his $$$

Haha, that's what I have been doing. He has a bigger headache now, but he is steering clear of the trackers and onto more searching. Could of possibly saved him bigger headhaches though. Thanks everybody for your replies.

I don't consider people like that "fishermen", but people who happen to fish and happen to be ignorant as well.

My brother is looking into buying either a 2012 Tracker Targa V-18 or a Pro Guide V-175. Anyone here have any experience or advice I should pass on to him?

Yeah, I live less than 10 minutes away from there, so I've spent lots of time in there. Yeah, you probably were talking to Miller, who is a member on this board. The owner, Martin, is a good guy too. Great shop all around, selection, service.....

Excellent news! Looking forward to seeing some of your reports again. Btw how's the fishing been treating you on the east coast?

I stopped by there Sunday afternoon with my daughter. I have to say I was pretty impressed with their fishing section. Much bigger than I thought it would be. The regular prices were excellent as well. Over all I have to say I liked the store. Not far from me either, so that's a bonus.

It was packed when I got there but as I was about to leave I noticed the line-up to pay had lightened up immensely. Which then forced to go back and buy some stuff.

Not too much damage, a few lures and I picked up a pair of Merrel trail running shoes, $45 off regular price! Excellent deal for sure.

I am looking at buying a reconditioned\used deep cycle battery for my transom mount trolling motor. I only use it for a minimum of 2 weeks per year, so if I can get a good used one, that would be great.

I checked at the Interstate store here in Stoney Creek but the guy said he only got 3 all year. Of course they went stat. Does anybody know of another place that may sell them in the Hamilton area?

Instead of suggesting to you, I think it would be better if I showed you. You take me to your spot and go from there. Personally I would use super light line, but if you would be using a short rod, those brutes would likely break you off? Regardless, I would suggest butter worms, trout worms, or perhaps flys all rigged with small split shots. I imagine they'd be super spooked so you might have to go GI Joe on them.

Good luck

Great stuff. Better results than many of us on the opener that's for sure, congratulations! I have heard stories from my dad of his outings he had after the opener. Guessing the 2 or 3 weeks after the opener are amazing fishing.

This thread can go viral. Jokes are fine but there can, and will be, a goldmine of truly useful information in this one. Thanks to everyone who contributes.

Roy is bang on here, there is\will be a goldmine of useful information here. That is why I am copying and pasting into a Word document for future reference. Works much better than searching for threads when you need it. So far this is great stuff from experienced guys.

That looks flippin awesome Cliff, excellent job! Looking forward to seeing some pics of fish in the boat now. Great stuff!

Was hoping with that moon over the weekend the fishing would of been amazing, unfortunately not for us. I managed 3 the first night, biggest being 6.4lbs (24.5"). Second night only 2, biggest 22.5". But that one on the second night fought excellent, was impressed. Appears several other suffered a slow weekend as well.