Old Ironmaker

I just watched the presser with Brady and Belicheat introduced by the Commish, that was embarrassing, and Brady said he was always battling pain when he was in his 20's, now he has no pain. He will play until injury won't let him. Belichick can coach for 10 more years. Marv Levy was in his 70's when Buffalo went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls, Belichick is 62 I think. He has his 2 sons on staff coaching, mentoring them is number 1 for him now. I begrudgingly have to say those 2 guys are the greatest player and coach of all time. Brady is arguably the greatest athlete of all time, you are right M2B2. Ali at 34 looses 3 of his last 4 fights. Jordon is a mere image of his former self playing for the Wizards. Jetter is a middle infielder batting .257. Tiger Woods is walking around with wobbly knees and a bad back no longer making cuts. And Brady isn't done yet, he is an ALIEN.

All Atlanta needed to do was kick a field goal and the Pats don't come back 11 points down. 3rd down and 1 and idiot OC Kyle Shanahan goes with an empty backfield and Ryan gets sacked putting them out of FG range. Run he ball, kick the field goal and the Falcons win. What an idiot. He has signed on as Head Coach for San Fran next year. His name will never be uttered in Georgia again along with the name Sherman.

He is the best ever, no debate.

My definition of fun is not laying writhing in pain. I will not be back. Fish or no fish.

Down 25 freeking points.

I loose 100. Oh my! What a game, worth a 100 to watch it. No doubt who is the best ever team.

The 1st OT in 51 Super Bowls. Oh my!

I might loose another 100 bucks, What a game.

I bought the Chevy because of the price and price alone. But I knew there will never be another Chrysler product in my driveway, even visitors are not allowed. My next door neighbour had just bought a new 2011 F-150 when I was shopping and the only feature he had that mine doesn't is an onboard mileage calculator and a small GPS screen. Those things cost him $12000.00 more than I paid. Plus his is a God awful iron ore, clay mud coloured thing. No matter how much he scrubs it won't come clean. I yell to him "Keep scrubbing Jimbo buddy, it won't change colour." Silver Grey never gets dirty. When I bought my truck my buddy Big Kevin (RIP) wanted to buy a single cab 5' box because he thought he would be saving money and didn't need a back seat. It was available but it wasn't any less $$ than a cab and a half because he had to order it and the 1.5 cabs were in stock. Mine is a 4 door but with that extra room in the back you loose box space. No big deal to me, I bought it to tow not transport plywood, happily those days are over. My back seat doubles for an extra shed in the winter. I love my Chevy and I know that Albert will love his as well. Smart choice Albert.

When the rod with 10 colours out fires the conversation is usually, "It's your turn,,,,, nope your turn,,,,, I don't think so it's his turn."

I as well had no idea those things have floatation bags. Do they all? I am glad to hear no one died. I have ridden on a few on Nipissing and it always amazed me that they didn't break through. But it was always 8" of ice at least not less. I as well have no idea why it would be such a secret not to name the operator. Did this incident ever become public? This doesn't happen everyday, does it? I personally would like to know who the operator was especially if I was someone that ventures out with these operators or intend to. Why the hush, hush?

Congrats on the new boat. She sounds like a beauty. I've never had a Yammy but everyone I know that does have one loves them. That boat should fly.

Can I borrow your 1st mate, or hire him? The kid knows his stuff. It won't be long now.

Oh great, another place to spend money on stuff I don't need. I can't wait! I haven't been in a few years but always enjoyed it. Far better then the Sportsman Show. See you there, wear your OFC I.D. lanyard tag. Actually that's not a bad idea, where can I get one? Funny I posted this while TJames posted his. The complete opposite revue of the shows. I don't luxury camp or want to build a new McMansion, that's what I saw at the Sportsman Show the last time I went, a long time ago I admit.

Doug, Funny you mention he tennis elbow, I got my tennis elbow from trolling in fast water on the Ottawa. The Dr. wouldn't write out a script for a rod holder. It flairs up if I swing a hammer, so I put my hammer away and drive screws instead. Bondar, I was remiss in not answering you. So you were one of those nuts braving the ice flows. Today actually looks and feels like winter here on Erie. About 150 yards of the same stuff in your pics here today. Must have been cold last night, nothing on the shoreline yesterday except for the pair of Eagles hunting. So wonderful to see considering when I grew up in Hamilton we had 2 species of birds, brown ones and black ones. I remember asking a buddy who is an outdoorsman once while golfing. " Mario, what is the name of that bird? The black one with the red wings". I really did so help me.

My back brace is in a bag somewhere around here along with my wrist, elbow, neck, knee and ankle braces. I kid you not. I need a brain brace.

Thanks for the well wishes guys, feeling better, Get older but don't get old. Sterling, there was a guy named Mike, he's my brother. Unless my niece is secretly married he's not the same Mike. I know opener at Nip is always best, the trip was booked when it was because of scheduling 10 guys together at the same time. I knew it wouldn't be great. When you have 5 pairs of boots banging around inside a hut fish tend to not bite. This wasn't about serious ice fishing. Eating, serious, Texas Hold Em', serious, very serious, drinking without someone saying you had enough, deadly serious. It wasn't about the fishing this trip, it was the journey, the destination and a 35 year reunion for 6 of us. 3 guys didn't have anything ice fishing related to bring. Plenty of tackle to go around. Who knows maybe I'll go in 35 years from now. I'll only be 97, my Dad will be 90 in a few months. Nona lived to be 96 and was working in the garden the day she died.

I really don't want to talk about my trip from Hell. We went out for the dusk bite the first afternoon we arrived. On the way back I felt my back tighten up from the people mover trailer smacking the ice. Woke in the middle of the night writhing in pain. My back was twisted like a pretzel and pain down the front of my thighs ending a 2 swollen knees. I knew it, I knew it, I knew my body wouldn't take the ride on the ice. I laid on the floor for 2 days while the guys fished. I couldn't even cook for them. I didn't think I would be good to travel yesterday AM. But I made out OK. I rode back in a mini van laying on my back. I loaded up on meds and a few sleeping pills. 8 hour ride that took 5 1/2 up. I'm not using a cane today. The boys took good care of my old ass. The kid from Atlanta could not believe a lake that big could freeze. He also never felt cold like that and we told him it wasn't cold at all. The nutbar stripped down to his gotchees and went outside to time himself until he couldn't take the cold anymore. Of course they locked all the doors. The boys caught a few small Pics the first afternoon and only a few Monday and Tuesday. I lost a nice Pike at the hole the first afternoon. The fishing was terrible, no more Nipissing for me unless it's the West Arm and that saddens me, it's where I caught my first real fish and learned how to tie a knot. The "cottage" we stayed in was a luxury vacation home we got through a friend of a friend, granite counter tops, stainless appliances, jet tub, 4 bedrooms 3 baths, it was a surprise as we were told it was a shack before we got there. We told the southern boy all our camps are like that. They all had a good time though and that's what it was all about. That's it for me ever going out on the ice again unless I can walk out. I'm so happy you asked TJames and now I'm having a anxiety attack.

Oh surface temps, I was thinking it doubled as a rectal thermometer. Ouch. My phone is only used to CALL people. I won't pay for data usage. That's what my laptop's for. If I was out in the world earning a living I'm sure it would be different. Just the other day I said if we still had a VCR it would be blinking 12:00/12:00/12:00/12:00. I don't know exactly when it happened that I turned into my parents.

Very nice work Sir. Great photos too. A fishing video I can actually enjoy because no one is flogging tires or line every other minute. It would be nice if you would briefly describe what tackle, technique you are using. I see you were using a float but couldn't tell if it was a slip float until you said you had 14' feet of line under the water. A question, how long will you spend in one location before moving on to another? Another is how long will you stick with 1 presentation or lure before changing up? I'm often second guessing myself. It is wonderful to have an entire lake to yourself, including a ramp. Thanks for sharing.

That is one mighty beast. Kudo's to you. I was told years ago if you buy scallops in a restaurant in North Bay you are probably being served Burbot loin.

The thud that was heard when he hit the dock backing in was edited out. Why the hoops on that boat, the woman was holding one?

We got at least 3/4" of snow last night. The Mayor is declaring a disaster area.

A telephone that takes a kids temperature. What will they come up with next?

I invested in a battery booster pac after the second time I had a battery issue. Remember Wormdunker? Especially now since my kicker doesn't recharge the main battery and my accessories are all on my booster battery and I run my kicker for long periods. No need for cables and a good battery to boost from. People with dead car batteries and other boaters have needed it, luckily not me. It will charge a cell phone too as well as being a bright emergency light. Now they make them so small you can fit it one hand. If you have a boat you should have 1 onboard. It's the cost of a 24, and a 40 pounder.