lew

That's a low gear ratio Roger so it'll make it easier, I'm just a firm believer in the large reels for trolling. The big spools with a power handle just makes life so much easier for cranking in big deep divers without slowing the boat down. I like to have different dedicated reels for different jobs, but that's just me.

That's a good reel Roger, but if your gonna use it for trolling big baits, you may find it a bit difficult to crank them in while still moving fast.

We were fishing the Ottawa River and staying in a motel on the Ontario side. Went to the restaurant for supper and I ordered POOTEEN. The waitress was french and pretended she didn't understand what I wanted even though she spoke english also. My partner, who is from Quebec, told her I wanted pootsin and of course she understood that and was just being a jerk. She never got a tip.

Doesn't matter how you pronounce it Joe, poutine is good enough to be classed as nectar of the gods

Congrats to John on the win, that's excellent !!

Yeah, those lanyards are one of the best things a guy can add to the boat Wayne and I've also been using them for a few years. Much less spendy than replacing expensive gear when things go wrong....which sometimes happens

That'd be the one Wayne, we had a good day there.

I'm with you Roger, my trolling gear doesn't even get wet until at least late September. As for trolling reels, have you looked at the Shimano Tekota 600LC ?? It's an excellent reel and a good chance it'll be cheaper than the 700 series.

Great trip for you guys Mike, always enjoy your tales.

Yeah, I may have smiled just a bit after that one

Yeah, it was definitely impressive Bill.

Seems like lotsa posts about crummy service in the big box stores lately so I thought I'd just pass on a fantastic experience I had with one of them but I don't want to name them incase I get someone in trouble for being too nice. We've recentely re-done our back deck and wanted some new furniture including some whicker and a large stand alone umbrella. There was just what we wanted on display with a price tag of $500 for the chairs & love seat and $300 for the umbrella so we decided to buy it. The salesman did up some paperwork then we went to the service desk to arrange delivery. The lady punched it into the computer and realised the furniture we wanted was marked wrong and was actually $800 rather than $500. Turned out there was a similar set for sale for $500 previously but was no longer available and this one was a different model for much more money, but someone had forgotten to attach the new price sticker. The salesman got the store manager and when he told her what was happening she immediately said it was their fault and that I could have it for the advertised price. But to make things even nicer for me they included the tax and delivery in the price plus they threw in the $300 umbrella for free. Price should have been $800 + $300 + $60 delivery + tax but I got everything for $506 all in, delivered to my door. It's great to deal with a company that values their customers.

Heyyyy, what's this, pick on Lew week ???

Yup, that's the one Kev, thanks. Bugger to get old(er)

There's a cottage resort right at the north end of the bridge in Buckhorn but darned if I can think of the name, even though I've used his ramp dozens of times. Nice cabins with a great ramp and your right at the west end of the lake. Somebody will chime in with the name unless I can get my old brain working.

HAHAHAHAHA

You can add me to the list of satisfied CTC customers too. I've been dealing with them for decades and have never had an issue returning anything for either exchange or refund. A few years back I bought a tent from them for $250 and FOUR months later it went on sale for $200. I took my receipt back to them and without hesitation they handed me $50 plus tax. Last fall I purchased a tool from them for $100 and when it went on sale for $50 a month or so later I got a refund of $50 2 years ago I purchased a set of 4 wheel dollies that you put under your trailer wheels so it can be moved around the garage. Sposed to hold a couple thousand pounds each but when I put them under my boat they buckled as if they were made outta tissue paper. Took them back the same day and told them they were junk and without question gave me a full refund...plus apology. Like N.A.W. I purchase alot of stuff from them and if it's not right, it goes back and it's always been good.

Not true Norm, my Skeeters in the water late into the year.

^^^^ I agree with everything jimmer said above. Just because a guy has a 60 or 70 MPH bassboat doesn't make him a good boat driver anymore than having a 150 MPH Corvette make you safe on city streets.

When I'm fishing for muskies and am alone in the boat I have a set routine I follow to the letter that just makes life easier and safer for both myself & the fish. I cast from the front deck and leave all my tools in the back of the boat along with my opened net. When I hook a fish, I work my way to the back and net the fish. I leave the fish in the net, in the water, and remove the hooks, and while still holding onto the net handle , I lay the rod on the rear deck with the bait hanging over the opposite side of the boat to keep it outta my way. If I want a picture, I then turn on the auto on the camera, lift the fish from the net, get the picture and then release the fish. A few years back I was on the West Arm of Nippissing and hooked this pretty lady. Everything went as planned and worked well. After I released the fish I was putting the tools away and realized my rather spendy Calcutta/St. Croix combo along with my favorite $25 musky spinnerbait was nowhere to be see.....what the heck ?? I look about 20 feet back behind the boat and there's about 4 inches of cork sticking out from the water. Run to the front of the boat, fire up the troll motor and spin the boat around and get back to the rod before it disappears forever. She was definitely a nice fish and worthy of a picture but not sure she would have been worth the price of a new fish'n combo. I'm still not sure how the pole ended up in the drink, but I'm much more careful now when I'm laying it on the rear deck

Those little dink bass are more of a nuisance than snot rocket pike

I honestly don't know why guys weigh small fish unless it's some sort of PB for them or possibly their fishing a tourney. Never understood the reasoning of weighing a 3 pound pickerel, 2 pound bass or 10 pound musky. And I have NO idea why guys measure perch. But maybe that's just me

1st story I read this morning and what a great way to start my day. Sure does sound like a fantastic group of people and thanks for sharing that with us Simon. Also good to hear Sean is coming along better now too.

WOW, that's lousy luck, sure hope they get everything fixed up fast.

I always considered myself the worlds worst golfer and only went out for the laffs and never cared what my score was. Buddy was a member at a club and always bragged about how good he was and invited me out one day. Turned out this doofus was even worse than me and probably whacked the ball 10 times on every hole but put himself down for 3 or 4. I didn't care until we got back to the club house where he started yapping to his friends about his great game and how he beat me by 30 odd stokes. I told him on the way home that he was an idiot and we'd played our last game together and don't think I ever talked to him again. He fell down the basement stairs awhile later and was killed. Everyone including me suspected his wife pushed him and I said perhaps he'd taken her golfing too and bragged to his buds about how much he beat her by...