Old Ironmaker

You know what they say, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything. Well now I'm going to comment on your logo Mike P, now that I see it in color that is a great logo. That is a Musky for sure. You picked the right artist, he or she caught the caricature of a fish which isn't easy. You now have to start the process of having that image protected by a copyright. I don't think it will cost you huge however regardless of price you want to get the image protected. Wouldn't it be a shame if you turned on the fishing Chanel and see that image stolen by another retailer. Hopefully your artist doesn't have the rights to it.

I received a pretty hefty ticket on the Mass. Pike for around $150.00 back in 1975, that was a lot of money then, even now. I was surprised he didn't drag me back to Boston. I never paid it, and I looked over my shoulder for years when in the states. Still do. Pay the ticket, I wish I had even though it was almost what I paid for the car. PAY THE TICKET, PLEASE

I've never fished Hamilton Harbor but walked across it once in the summer of 72'. Actually born, bred in Hamilton and worked on the shore of that harbor for many years. We can all complain about the various governments we have but somebody did something right for once. It sickens me to remember what we dumped in there, it sickened me then as well. I could write a book.

Good for you man. I've had 14 retirement dinners in the last 13 years. Anyone need a new coffee cup with my name on it? Now you need to get rid of the semi-retired and get retired full time. Retirement is just a word that means don't bother me I'm busy.

Good point Irishfield re the use of a card at gas stations. As well it is recommended not to use your card at any retailer that employees minimum wage employees or the card reader is in reach of the customer. There are many, many honest folks out there working for minimum wage so please this isn't about the majority. Organized criminals pay big for credit card info and for someone getting minimum wage is hard to resist for some. Keeping your card in your sight is a false sence of security, criminals will use electronic readers to get the info from all bank cards without the knowledge of the retailer. This is a highly organized and tech savvy new breed of criminals at work here beyond the misguided individual that are penny anti crooks. There are cards being developed or have been that when inserted into the reader actually retrieve info from the reader loading that info onto the users card. One reason credit cards now require PIN numbers. Where does it end?

Follow this link.... http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/198481.html

I use a dedicated credit card/ bank card that I limit the amount of the purchase only, then keep the balance of zero until I need to make an online buy. See your bank branch and they will set you up... Never use your regular card for online purchases.

Let it go? When we let all the small things go is how corruption metastasizes.

Davey buoy, That waiver was available through the MOL before we had to close shop in 08' I believe, there is also a waiver available for your employees if you employ them as your subs, somewhat complicated but doable. Many of us have been there done that. As far as the premium for your guys premiums of $4.17 per $100.00 is not bad for an Industrial Millwright today. My last business venture had us paying more for workers comp per hour then I was paying a receptionist/girl Friday because she would have to into the warehouse at the shop to check on inventory for the guys on a job. More than $10.00/hr comp premium for a glacier building Sunrooms. As far as liability of 2 million, when I left the plant in 2000 you didn't get your crew past the gate if you didn't have a minimum of 25 million in liability. At a loss of revenue of $1500.00per minute 2 million wouldn't cover being down for 24 hours if a good decision went badly. The biggest problem I see today vs. 20 years ago is that you have to compete with the Aacons and Kaverners of this world, on the same playing field and it just can not be done. We always hired the 20 man or less local companies to keep the local economy thriving as well as could always depend on them coming in within minutes of a call 24 hours a day. That all stopped in 90'. If you wanted to go back on the tools yourself where exactly are going to go to earn a fair rate with benefits, The Bruce or the North West Territories. I hear you man. PM me if you think I can help somehow.

Good to hear there are a few CO's out doing there jobs. Need a few more to be sure. We certainly could use as many as possible. I have only been inspected twice out here in Haldimand Norfolk in 30 years. It's a lot of water to cover but 1 boat could check as many anglers they wanted to on any weekend at the mouth of the Grand or at Nanticoke, from late spring to labour day. I used to remind some un educated homegrown or otherwise, then I realized 90% knew where they were and what they were doing. I've gotten everything from how do you know I'm not native to mind your own business, you can tell who needs a copy of the regs which I used to carry a few with me, there free. I don't bother any longer, no need, speed dial the local office. Or star OPP when I don't get a real person on the phone at the ministry . Everyone today is a tough guy and I don't want to get shot or stabbed over a fish. That sounds nuts but who knows today. Selling fresh for a few bucks a pound for a 15 buck a pound fish to get whatever they need is not nuts today, unfortunately.

Thanks for sharing, much of what you do like volunteering your time and experience sure sounds admirable but certainly doesn't fall under any definition of mental instability. I have heard there was some type of angling for something called a trout this time of year, am going to give it a shot. Haven't fished for trout for over 25 years and decided after todays breath of something called spring am going to give it a shot this week after I check the regs. Haven't seen anyone out on the Grand River where the usual suspects are or at any of the dams so checking the regs tonight will be a good start. Thanks all you Trout hunters for getting me off my Arse, can't even find a driving range open so a fishing I will go. Johnny D Off topic but thought I would share, Dear wife asked this past Sunday it she could borrow 8 lures to mount in a shadow box and display, great Idea so I picked out 8, I never use, guess what a few were? You got it trout spoons and a Flatfish........the lures framed and under glass looks really cool. Is the word " cool " still used today?

Congrats on the new boat, hurry up and get it before your better half decides to put in something else. Some good points for carpet vs. vinyl. I've had both. When looking to buy new in 2010 I noticed some of the carpeting if not most was very plush and very light in color. I'm sure it would be nice to walk on but a pain to keep clean. And I would be very upset the first time it got slimed and bloodied. I've had both and bought a very meticulously maintained Starcraft from an avid fisherman who had it docked in Long Point. It is carpeted however the carpet is a multi toned very tight pile carpeting that is water resistant, I've hosed it off and it drys real quickly. Very easy to maintain and keep clean, feels a bit hard with bare feet but better than vinyl for comfort. It would depend on what type of carpeting we are talking about here, as I said some of the newer stuff looks to belong in the foyer of a 5 star hotel. As well how much time you are willing to spend on keeping it clean and looking new or whether you really don't care about maintaining it which some people don't. After burying 3 razor sharp treble hooks, yes all 9, into my foot up in LongLac fishing without footwear I have never fished barefoot again. Almost ruined my trip and lost a days fishing and still feel terrible one of the guys lost a day waiting in emergency for me. He still reminds me 32 years latter. You can't go wrong with that Lund, was very sad when I gave up my 17.5 Sportsman but caught 2 footitis and just love my Starcraft for bigger water. Shrinkwrap comes off tomorrow. Whoha. Should have also mentioned adding some custom carpeting on the casting platforms or wherever you wish is an easily doable job and might save you some big dealer $$$$'s. With some of this super Velcro heck you could do the entire boat and remove it anytime you want.

i agree. actually, i'd go five pin bowling before ice fishing. but casting from a boat in december/january/february/march or a pier in the same months - something special to be said for that. work is just as crazy in january as it is in july. therefore a release from work though fishing is just as enjoyable in january as it is in july. Except I can fish in July without 10 pounds of jackets and tukes on.

Man you certainly are fortunate to have such a beauty spot there lew. What type of Owl is that?, please excuse the ignorance of a displaced citiot. Have only seen one in my life. Heard many at night though.

I don't get it, where's the propaganda? I love snow coffee with a crispy bird.

I have been known to do some nut job obsessive compulsive disorder type of things waiting for opening of walleye and Bass. Polished, paint touch up, clean eyes, painted on eyes, added eyelashes, sharpen hooks, tune eyes, put in order or colour spectrum, weight, size, trimmed hair, added hair, colored hair, added flake, trimmed tails, tied and dropped into bathtub to gauge fall rate and action, added stingers, painted on stripes and polka dots. That's just my tube jigs. Craziest and most productive was to tie a line to my Terriers collar throw a ball and test line and drag,,,, in the living room! What about you folks? How do you pass the time without losing it?

Grey Wolf, thanks for the pic, that's a big piece of plastic.

One of the pipefitters at the plant found 2 live pike while cleaning a baywater strainer. One was about 8" the other 18", he put them in a 40 gallon drum. The smaller pike chased the larger around taking nips from head to tail. I think smaller fish hitting a larger fish is all about territory not feeding. And I have seen Bass 1/4 the size of a Carp hammer the thing when it came to close to it's spawning bed. I don't believe it's a matter of intelligence or lack thereof. Yes I had him release it and wrote him up for fishing out of season.

Man I've lost 5 lbs reading all 7 pages of this thread .In all seriousness thank you all for the inspirational stories here, especially yours squid. Every one here that is trying to lose weight seem to be all doing very well. I started to try and lose all that pizza and ice cream I've added since the last round of golf in November just this past Sunday. Every year the weight started to come of by it's own as soon as the spring thaw started, every year now I'm in my 50's it just doesn't happen naturally, takes hard work now. If you haven't read the blog written by Shane on this thread that he posted the link to is below, it's a must read. http://instablogg.com/OR3kV4T Again way to go all.

It is tough to prove what species your fishing for based on tackle alone unless blatantly obvious like casting a spinner bait into the weeds and telling a CO you are fishing for perch. Don't forget the old rule of match the hatch. Yes big bait big fish but I have had best success bagging trophy Northerns using large live shinners deep into the weeds Florida style. I'd say nothing more than 6" spoon or plug. I am going to try large swim baits this year, heard good things about them. I'd probably pull a muscle throwing big plugs and tubes that are 3oz. As well working deep water drops for the big guys if not sunning in the shallows. I don't think I have seen a Bulldog, post a picture if you can, love to learn something new everyday.

Man that's the strangest looking Bass I have ever seen. Is that one of those Northern Long Tail Spotted Bass I have heard of ?

Thank you very much for the great story. A very good read. You hit all the bullet points for developing a short story, and you didn't use one acronym. Congrats on the beauty laker by the way.

You folks don't know the meaning of suffering. how about going 0 for 4 in the big game, since then I threw in the towel. I had not recovered from the first Super Bowl loss and was trying to recover for 4 years in a row, Now that's suffering.

I must say they are few and far between out here on eastern basin of Erie, I agree there. Saw 3 youngsters on a brand spankin new vessel sporting twin 200 Mercs 2 years ago at the Hydro station at Nanticoke. prior to that was exactly the same spot in 1990. That's it around here. Some of the things you quote them as saying I find hard to believe, have always found them to be professional, respectful and have had occasion to speak to them on the phone reporting ridiculous actions of a few nimnods and have always been taken seriously without attitude. As I said if what you report is accurate those statements by a Ministry of Natural Resources employee would be considered to be worthy of disciplinary action. I don't know what a DFO rep is. Another reason I'm not a fan of acronyms.

I have been using someone else's email address for this site and I must change the email address asap. I had problems registering using mine when signing up. The first time I registered all was fine, my user named appeared at the right side on top but it wouldn,t allow me to post. I know you have to wait some time for administration purposes but after a week I knew something was wrong. I tried to re-register using a different name but wouldn't accept new registration as it said email was already in use, used a different email and it worked. I searched the computer section here for a solution with no success. I tried contacting administration but the email appears to go outbound only Please if someone could help it would be great.