JoshS

First time ever launching my boat. Super monumental exciting moment in my life. Busy day at the launch. Backed in, started it up, hit reverse but couldn't get the boat off the trailer for some reason? Backed the car back a tad more and still couldn't slide the boat off? Quickly realized I forgot to take off everything on the back... transom saver and straps. One of my brightest moments. Made for a good laugh.

I fish lake O so don't have that issue lol And some central ON lake. Gbay you may get some fresh ice out big fish still super shallow. Hopefully post spawn and ravenous!

Even comes with a power handle!

I like a late spring. Some of my best springs have been late years. But it's probably because I concentrate on spring pike and a bit of bows until musky. Late spring is bonus for big pike after opener. We always crack 40" more on late spring years. I like a late spring early on, then have it speed up mid may. On the other hand I don't like going to the river and seeing spawning bows all over the place after opener... and I do enjoy a good spring patio beer.

Get the si and learn how to use it and you will be happy you did. If you fish structure it's a valuable tool. Example: you can troll past a weedline and lay down waypoints along the entire edge marking all angulations accurately - then you have your spot well mapped to cast or troll next time. Much more effective mapping structure with side imaging opposed to regular sonar when you are on top of it.

Got a brand new one in box never used. Great starter musky reel. $100 seems like a good deal for someone. Located in the GTA.

Hey guys, hoping some of you have experience with the RPX and can shed some light for me... Has anyone fished with the RPX? Anyone fish both RV9 and RPX? I recently sent an Rv9 in for warranty and Raven needs to send a new rod so I now have the option to pay the difference and upgrade to the RPX. The Rv9 was a pretty good off the shelf rod IMO but looking for something better. Wondering if the RPX is worth it and that much lighter and more powerful. Or maybe I get the new Rv9 back, sell it and go for the custom I always wanted. Decisions!!!

I was in the same boat as you (lol) years back when I was looking. If you can afford it, 100% go for it man! If you;re anything like me, the reward was far greater than the financial impact. Worth every penny. It was a life changer for me. I wanted a rig forever, and the freedom of towing my own boat to where I want to fish was the greatest feeling. The times I've had in that boat and fish caught are priceless to me. I also thought long and hard about it. My finances were tight at the time albeit times were also a bit different back then being post recession and our dollar on par. I went down south and gotta deal. But it was still a bit of a stretch for me at the time and looking back, and I don't know what I was stressing over. Don't go over board (lol) on cost and get something comfortably in your range and you'll feel good about it. Go get a boat man and don't look back!

That's a beauty fish!! Back to basics... I like it. It's nice to just bring a few items and catch fish.

I got an 8" finbor but think I'm turning into a whitie guy myself... they are too tasty. Tybo says he burnt the Dewalt in his previous post? Anyone got any experience with other drills that work with an 8"?

Ok thanks for the advice. I found a used one, glad I asked first before I got it! It seems like only the milwaukee second gen fuel at 1200lbs works? Too bad it's almost the same price as an electric auger when all is said and done with the clam kit. Do you know any other drills that work?Although hand drilling is a good workout, it's getting tiring and the ice is just getting thicker lol.

Does anyone know if the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2603-20 will do the job with an 8" auger? Think it has 725 lbs of torque and is the older gen model. I tried my bosch drill with the clam conversion kit for fun and it doesn't even come close at 450lbs of torque.

Nice chunksters! You don't see a lot of skinny ones in winter. Like the blur job on the backgrounds too!! I haven't been out this year much. Just spring from boat. A bet it's pretty iced up now.

Give angling specialities a call before you go to see if the guy that does it is in that day and they can do it on the spot. They usually have a selection of guides.

My first time ever trying to launch a boat I couldn't back it off the trailer for some reason. I couldn't understand why it wouldn't budge off the trailer! Dropped the trailer further back into the water, gunned it in reverse but it still wouldn't budge! Took me a minute or two to realize we forgot to take everything off the back - straps and transom saver. It was busy that day at the balsam rosedale launch. Good times!

That's pretty innovative. I'd buy some for deadbait tip ups.

Unbox a brand new musky lure in the boat. Unclip the current lure off my rod. Stare at the new lure in my hands, check it looks tuned, admire it, get sidetracked, get back to the lure and then toss it into the drink to get ready to lob out the first cast. OOPS... forgot to clip the new lure onto my line. Watch the new lure sink. Last year I was in the market for a new trolling motor. Wanted a 24v 80lb. Someone posted on here that habitat for humanity had one for 1k brand new. I ended up buying it. Killer deal! Super excited, I spent a few hours uninstalling my current 12v motor and installing the new motor and wiring for 24v. Install everything and all looked to be hooked up well. I proceed to turn on the new motor and it won't work for some reason?? A few hours of troubleshooting everything and I still couldn't figure it out? All the while I'm talking to my buddy about how I am going to buy a hole saw attachment tomorrow to cut a hole for a new latch to create a new hatch up front to better fit my new 24v two battery configuration. I still could not get the new TM to work for some reason however? Lots of troubleshooting later, while on the phone with minnkota they ask me to just double check the sticker underneath the motor to ensure it was a 24v. "I'm sure it is the model you state, however let's just double check to be certain". Had a massive OH SH#$ moment when I read the sticker and kindly thanked them for their time and hung up. Turns out the new motor I installed was still a 55lber, not the 80lb 24V as advertised. 1K, two new batteries,new TM plug installed, 24V wiring and 6 hours later, I had basically installed the same power TM I had just uninstalled and almost cut holes in my floor. With the dream over, I sold the new TM and in haste reinstalled my old 55lber and rewired back to 12v. Good times!

Hi Cliff, I don't know you personally, I know you through your contributions to the forum and you seem like a good guy with a big heart and I'm sure Sue was the same. I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. My sincere condolences. Take care

I was kinda hoping for some more fall like weather by now. But the weather has been stable for awhile... wonder it will be out there this weekend.

I like it. Agree with Sinker... refreshing seeing plain old fishing and no buff's, logo's, and all the other stuff the cool kids are doing. I never do that kind of fishing. Gotta love our country! I'll be tuning in...

I also spent a lot of time on these lakes from 1990-2000 or so. Never did see a pike or muskie but I remember a year or two after I stopped going seeing a local newsletter article of a 20lb+ pike caught on little boshkung. Now apparently there's quite a few pike in the system.

I've heard of the odd fish caught there, including walleye. But I'd probably spend time elsewhere around the lakefront. Would be cool to catch a fish in there however. PM me if you do please, I'd like to know what it was...

You're over thinking it man! 65lb braid will do well, good for a heavier setup for larger lures. 50lb is all round for me if I'm fishing pike. You can always take the line off as garnet says above and save it.

Thanks for sharing. Those reports are always enjoyable and inspiring reads. So how big was Dman's brute?

liverelease... let's go get em! I'll get down there somehow.. one for me, one for you! The custom musky baits intrigue me. I have a few but find myself itching for more. Kinda like when i was 10 and collected baseball cards lol... It's probably very true that the good old believers, jakes, and other off the shelf standards catch the majority of big fish when compared to the $100+ customs... I'd think. There are some really nice custom lures out there though. Once you get over the hump of buying one or two, it gets easier. I understand why some hand made custom lures are priced the way they are, but the collectors buying the used stuff is a different story.