bigbuck

Good replies, I'd say several of you are probably right. My advice to clients is to have 10% of their portfolios in precious metals. The remaining 90% in conservative balanced funds. This is no time for amateur day trading, most people don't even know what the heck the stocks they buy even do. It's a dangerous time in the markets, there are going to be a few more spectacular failures in U.S. banks and the volatility is here to stay for the next little while. Buy on the brutal days and average yourself down. Remember this little ditty: For every seller there is a buyer.

Sure it takes 3-4 hours, 1 hour to do the job and 2-3 to go out to Timmies and then go for lunch after. Lew, go for it, you should be able to to it yourself, a thermos of coffee (a little something to go in it if you get frustrated) and your toolbox is all it's going to take.

Stay away from Fig Rig rods, everyone I know who has had one hates them, they tend to break and trying to get warranty work done is next to impossible. Stick to St Croix or Shimano and you can't go wrong. As for reels, you've got $170 to spend so that rules out the Calcutta TE, it's great but it's over $400. The Calcutta 400B is nice but is still out of your price range. The Abu Record 60 with the power handle is a nice reel, I have one and I use it as much as my TE. Abus are like Chevys, they may not be the prettiest or have the latest and greatest options but they get the job done.

Whatever length section of PVC tubing (sewage/central vac pipe), capped on one end with a screwtop on the other, both ends padded with old t-shirts (you can wipe everything down with them when you are done fishing for the day).

Try the Mustad 'Slow Death' hook rig setup. I T F R E A K I N' W O R K S!!! where all else fail. I tried it up on LOTW this summer and caught 4 walleye in 20 minutes with my father in law catching 1 jumbo perch with a Lindy rigged worm. It's cheap to boot, the hooks are only a couple of bucks for 10, some 6lb test for the leader, swivels (good ones are key), and your worms (you only use less than half a worm). Just do a very very slow troll and you should be able to slay them 'eyes.

For the Kawartha's it would be great. For Lake Ontario, it's a small boat. The big lakes can get REALLY ROUGH REALLY FAST. It's only a 40 hp so you should not go out too far. I've been out on 2 footers in a 17 footer and it was getting scary on a smaller lake. That said, you can have a lot of fun with that boat for a very very good price.

Looks decent, if the price is right then go for it, those older outboards last forever, give it some TLC (carb cleaning, plugs, impeller, lower end gear oil change) and it should be good to go. If you are fishing small water then it's a good choice, she looks like she's got plenty of room. My 3 1/2 year old and 2 year old had a blast helping daddy pull up a whack of walleye up on LOTW last month, they even touched the fish and the worms and if that's not enough, they kept playing with the carcasses because they wanted to see the fishies. Only thing, your little one won't be able to be out on the boat for hours and hours, you'll get 2-3 hours tops before she loses it.

Only problem with St.Clair is it's 3-4 hours from the GTA, it's not a day trip to musky fish there. At least with the Kawartha's, you'll have a good chance at a few musky and it's within 2 hours, less if you're in the East End.

Gary, Rest In Peace. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Congrats!! Enjoy your retirement!!! Now get out on the water and catch some fish!

Nice 'ski to de-virginize yah!!! You got slimed!!

Lew nice to hear from ya!! It's good to hear that the 2 ladies in your life are doing well and are on the mend. That sure is a nice looking 'ski!!!

ONE MORE SLEEP!!! I'm in the office tying up a few loose ends and I'm heading back home to finish packing. Take care all!!!

Well, after a couple weeks of discussion/negotiation with the wife, we're heading off to visit the out-laws on LOTW on Thursday. It's a 20 hour drive that with two toddlers, it'll be more like 25-26 over 2 days each way. I can live with that, I'm hitting the walleye, muskie, smallies, largies and the crappie. To think, to actually be able to fish every day for 2 weeks............ahhhhhhhhh heaven!! It's been 2 years since I've had a proper vacation and I need it, I've been burning the candle at both ends for too long and I'm burned out. I spent 2 hours last night organizing the 14 rods, 15 reels, tackle box, muskie box, my new Stowmaster Musky net that I picked up from JB's, and assorted odds and ends (I think I'll be needing that tractor trailer about now). Oh yeah, I forgot the 'hot' sticks, the Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob rods that belong to my little girls who can't wait to go fishing to catch a 'baby' fish. After looking at some charts of LOTW, I won't have to travel very far for prime musky water, it's only a couple of hundred yards off the front of the dock, should be interesting. Anyways, have fun all, I'm outta here!!!

You guys had a blast!! That's what I call a fishing trip!!! Gotta get up that way one day.

WOW!! I'm glad to hear your Missus is doing fine Lew. Whenever they crack open the skull it is very very scary. I hope she has a speedy recovery and is back to normal. Take care of her.

Don't go too cheap on the reel, with baitcasters, you get what you pay for, pretty much anything over $150 would be a fine reel, you can get a NICE St Croix Premier 2 pc for under $150, get a Medium Heavy action as a general purpose rod. Check out JB's Fishing Depot by the 401/427 in Toronto, they've got the best prices on St Croix and the best selection.

Matt, I got my tickets last week. Come on OFC'rs, lets help out the big guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You battle big guy!! You fight like you've never fought before!!!!!!!!!!! You can beat this thing, do what you are told to do and take care of yourself and your family. We're all praying for you.

The Eagel FishMark 320 is a good unit for the price but, for $180, I don't think that there is a unit with the speed sensor. Pay extra for a good unit and save a few bux to buy the speed sensor later.

If you do birdsnest it bad the when you are learning, cutting off cheap mono is no big deal @ a few bucks a spool, PowerPro and the like are $20/spool, hence, practice a bit with the cheap stuff and then put the good stuff on once you get the hang of it but for God's sake, make sure you practice a bit otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy once you hit the water.

Use cheap mono to get the hang of your new baitcaster practicing in the backyard. Once you get the hang of it and plan on going fishing, then spool up with some braid.

NICE!!! I've heard there are some biggun's up there, and now I've seen the evidence. Congrats!!

NICE 'ski!! I guess the 'lil missus is gettin' the muskie bug!! Good for you!! At least when you grow old, the two of you will have something to do together.

Yup, go to Canadian Tire, they test them for FREE (in the hopes that if you need a new one, you'll buy it from them). If one is bad, replace BOTH, otherwise you will run into the same problem. New Deep Cycles if maintained properly (always kept fully charged and topped off with DISTILLED water) should last anywhere from 5-10 years. I think it was Lew that just replaced his after 9 years and he replaced them not because they were bad but because of their age.