bigbuck

I'll see if I can make it to the brekkie meeting of the minds. There's also Perkins across the bridge at the Days Inn (formerly Howard Johnsons).

Wayne, how long is your contraption, I've got access to the steel and torch to do the welding. All I need are the measurements. Thanks, Bruce

For making a quick strike rig, you need 30lb test steel wire, and a couple of nice sized treble hooks, beads and the like are optional. You could also use 50lb or higher flurocarbon leader material. For early spring pike, nothing beats a nice sucker on a quick strike rig, depending on the weather, if it's been cold, they don't bite all that hard.

Think 'W'. We dropped like a stone and have recovered some but we'll drop again in the near future. It's still time to think defensive on your portfolio. I don't know if we'll test the bottom again but there is a drop coming, later this year we might see a sustainable recovery. If you are dollar cost averaging, don't worry about it, you'll be fine.

Just remember to vote next time around to get rid of this clown. Miller has been the worst thing for the City of Toronto ever!! Everybody dumped on Mayor Mel but guess what, he was a much better mayor who did not cave to the left or to the far right. This guy will keep on taxing away your hard earned money.

Rick, sorry to hear about the loss of your good friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Signing your organ donor card is one of the most selfless things you can do. You won't need them when YOU are dead but SOMEONE ELSE needs them to stay alive. Sign your organ donor card.

Check out BassPro, they had the new Curado's for 189.99 (not sure if they are still on special), as for the rods, I don't have a clue. Go down and keep the economy going.

Go with the guy that wants your business and is willing to go the extra mile. Imagine what the others who didn't jump through hoops will be like if you have a problem. I'm in sales, in this environment, you do what you gotta do to make the sale, if the margin isn't all that great, that's too bad, at least there is some margin and a bit of profit as opposed to nothing.

DO NOT GO OVER THE HP RATING ON YOUR BOAT!! You have to remember that anything over 10hp needs to be insured. If you are over powered, your insurance wouldn't cover you if something ever happened, also not to mention the grief you'll get from the OPP on the water. If it's rated for 20hp, go with that, she'll move plenty fast with a 20 on the back. You are not trying to race those bass boats are you??

GM has dropped the ball, they built inferior vehicles with problems that should have been corrected but they continued cranking out cars with stupid expensive problems (the intake manifold gaskets on the 3.4 and 3.8 that led to engine failure-inexcusable, this went on for years, head gasket failures on the Sunfire and Cavaliers- 2 of their most popular models, the list goes on and on....) I myself have been lucky, I'm a GM guy but my loyalty is coming to an end. A car is too big an expense initially to have a lot of ongoing expenses because of ticking timebombs in the car that should be corrected. I understand problems with a car the first model year to a certain extent but for those problems to persist for years without correction is INTOLERABLE!!! I'm venting and have a purple face right now, they should be allowed to go Chapter 11 and restructure and hopefully they will emerge a stronger and hopefully a SMARTER company. My heart goes out to the retirees but the company cannot go on the way it is and they will have to get their pensions and health benefits slashed for the company to be able to go on, otherwise, everyone will lose everything. The taxpayers should not be on the hook for corporate mismanagement and ineptitude. Can those that should be canned and don't give them golden parachutes, they can be like everyone else and have a chunk of lead strapped to their a......ss before they make them jump out of the plane.

Congratulations!!! You've got a new fishing partner!!! Exciting times ahead, it only gets better as he will grow and mature.

I'll be there in the afternoon for a couple of the seminars. See ya there!

Lew, sorry to hear about your mom. You have my most sincere condolences. Take care, Bruce

Welcome home! Don't mess around, Doctors tell you not to do things for a reason, pay attention next time, you don't need to spend any more time in hospitals.

NICE!! It's sure pretty up there. I've gotta hit those waters one day for ski's, pike, and walleye. My buddy's dad had a fishing camp up there back in the 60's and he told us of stories of monster pike and muskie that would definitely scare the bejeezus out of a little kid swimming in the lake.

NICE!!! The cold is not so bad as long as you are dressed for it. Seems like it was worth it. Nice boat!! The work that goes into one as well as the skill are unbelievable.

Nope, the BPS reels aren't made by Shimano. They are made in China by whomever makes them the cheapest. They are not bad for the money but you have to remember, if it breaks, who is going to fix it for you?? There are no parts commercially available for them from what I've heard. At least the Cabela's reels are made by Daiwa. Personally, I'd stick to the name brands. I'm very partial to the new Sahara, I have 2 of the older style reels and they are fantastic for the money.

I'll second the Man vs. Wild fraud. The guy has a crew with him that I'm sure share some of their food and water. Mind you, he eats things that 'would make a billy goat puke' a la Rambo. Les Stroud on the other hand does it completely solo. Snaring rabbits may be easy when you have commercially available snares, he's doing it with a stick and a rock like the cavemen did. It does not get more realistic than that. It's a good show that people who spend time in the outdoors should watch on occasion to learn a few things.

They DO WORK!! I tried them on LOTW this past summer on a very slow hot sunny day and caught 4 walleye in 25 minutes or so, my father in law was lindy rigging to no avail. They should not be called 'Slow Death', they should be called 'Killers'

Devastating news!! As a father of young children, my heart goes out to the family. You have my most sincere condolences. Young Chris has finally found peace.

Go with a multi-species boat, you'll have more flexiblility, you won't be able to get in nice and tight for the slop but you'll be dry in the waves if you're fishing bigger water. It all depends on how much you want to spend.

What about Nippissing?? Mind you, if you're willing to travel, keep going North, the further the better.

The Calcutta TE400 is a fantastic reel, I picked one up earlier this year and have fallen in love with it. That said, I know BassPro has them on for $429.99, I saw them on special there last week. See what Brian or Steve can do for you over at JB's, they should be able to beat that price. Now for a rod...................

There are less expensive alternatives out there, St Croix isn't the only muskie rod out there. That said I do love mine to pieces along with my Loomis jerkbait rod. Over at JB's, you can pick up an Okuma for under a hundred bucks and from what I've heard from a couple of people that have them, they are a VERY VERY NICE ROD FOR THE DOUGH RAY ME. Daiwa also has their Heartland Series of muskie rods that are not to bad. It all depends on a)how much money you have and b)how much money you are willing to part with.

Lucky Buggers!! I was hoping to get out yesterday but it just did not work out. I hope somebody is out there today since it's probably the last nice day to be out for the rest of the year, from here on in it's gonna be survival suit city.