tonyb

I have heard good things about them, and this post confirms it even more. Too bad they aren't a Lund dealer

It's a great program and remember you have to have the audit BEFORE you start your upgrades. The only problem with the great program is actually getting your Rebate! I did the Eco Energy Audit last year (A/C, Furnace, Attic insulation, doors, toilets) and while we should be getting close to $3K we have been waiting for the cheque since November 2008. When we called to find out what the hold up was, apparently due to the popularity of the programme, they ran out of money to pay the rebates! Funny how they demand immediate payment on things like income tax...yet are conveniently out of cash when it comes to paying out...it has to work both ways though right! I'm not impressed...here is the link - http://ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergi...0090226-eng.cfm Tony

I am using the Fortrex 101lb, 62" shaft and am extremely impressed. Running it on a Lund 1900 Pro-V IFS/SE It is by far the most solid trolling motor unit out there, it really feels indestructable. I would suggest anyone already looking at a Maxxum Pro to upgrade to this unit as it is the succesor to the Maxxum. I was trying to find a picture of it on my boat but realized I didn't have any real clear shots of it...oh well here is a bass to look at with the Fortrex peeking in the background... They are new for 2009, but so is my boat and I had them both operational last fall. I think it is like cars where the 2009 models come out in the fall of 2008 for example. As for the theft comment...you can use a padlock in place of the pin to secure the motor.

Another example of reduced access to fishing in ON...when will it stop? You know what, I'm betting that the guys who are actually out there drilling holes have the best assessment of the ice conditions, not the marina manager peering out the window with binoculars...

I have a feeling this is going to be a fish catcher

Sounds good Steve, it will be a good excuse to stay away from the card sharks at the poker table One more question, how deep was the water under your bungalow? 25-30feet?

Looks like a great time. I am looking forward to the upcoming weekend in South Bay myself! Just curious, you mentioned that you were catching Perch and Herring through the night? I am surprised as usually once the sun sets the action seems to shut right off...might be more confident to spend more time fishing than around the poker table Tony

For softwater, many manufacturers are now making 1 piece UL rods that are 7ft in length. I think the extra length will give you more flexibility with casting and also in the event you do hook something bigger on it you will have more leverage to land it on lighter line.

Don't forget to bring along the pinkies from your steelhead vest Wacky rig them and just jiggle it every once in a while...those little trout get hypnotized Light line, quietness and you should have some success.

Interesting mod....but yeah for $90...might as well put the money towards some winter boots

Depressing really...all I can say is invest in your own education, it's one of the few things that the economy can't affect, and is the key to remaining employed in the dog-eat-dog employment market.

The biggest difference I see with Snofari and all the other operations out there is that Snowfari On-Ice Bungalows are basically 'home base' with day trips to small huts required to catch fish. The other operators have their on-ice bungalows setup where there are fish! so you can basically catch fish from your bungalow day and night, which is the whole point of spending the weekend in a ice bungalow in the first place. The report below from one of my previous years details what you should be expecting from your weekend on the ice...if you choose a reputable operator. http://www.gettinghooked.net/forums/showthread.php?t=587

No need to tip williams (some use those pearl hooks)...medium sized shiners work well 3-4inches in size.

If you haven't bought it yet, check out the new Fortrex by Minnkota. The Fortrex is the successor to the Maxxum Pro and just came out for 2009. http://www.wired2fish.com/WhatsUp.aspx?ArticleID=337 http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0061188.shtml I have the Fortrex 36V 101lb 62" US2 shaft big momma on my boat and let me tell you the thing looks and feels indestructable. The problem with the Terrova is that it is not as robust a unit and there is latency with the elctronic steering system vs the direct and instant steering with a cable system. Just thought I would throw this out there for you or others who are in the market. Tony

My premium would double to go to year-round coverage. My layup is from Dec 31-Apr 15 but I had to negotiate that...normal layup was Nov15th-Apr 15th. I am with Marine Expert insurance.

Quest, Marathon...that is a long freaking day! Great to see you iced some fish and got to see the elusive OMNR officer

If you don't have a sonar or at least a flasher that would be a step in the right direction. On many occasions I have witnessed fish shown on sonar come in to look at your bait but they won't hit it. By using the sonar you can see what they are interested in...sometimes jigging will turn them away, other times a slow lift will trigger them, or sometimes they want it just hanging motionless...a sonar will clue you into what they want quickly...not to mention you will know if there are fish under you or not! If you have the mobility of a snomobile and you aren't marking or catching fish within 30 mins of trying a spot, then move! My problem is that I am always on foot and it's a loooong walk out to catch those fish on Simcoe and generally once you are setup you're not going to move too much...it's not exactly pleasant to keep moving around on foot! hehe Keep at it, you're fortunate to be able to have easy access and be able to get out as frequently as you can. Tony

Great to hear this as I am taking some friends for a weekend in February! We are trying a new operator this year as we received poor service with attitude from the last operator I had used for the previous 3 years. The problem was that we were left without minnows, and when we called 3 hours after he promised to show up, the guy freaked out on us saying to never call his cell phone unless it was an emergency (technically it was - no minnows! haha) The good thing about Nippissing operators is that there are lots of them and if they take your business for granted there is someone down the street who will be happy for your business. Thanks for sharing one operator to stay away from. Tony

When it affect$ bu$ine$$!

Graduate of the F & W program from Fleming myself. Top notch instructors, program, and learned a ton! After graduating, the harsh reality presented itself in the job world. Low income salary or contract work was the norm in ON. You need to ask yourself what range of salary you can realistically live with, and then work back from there. A $25-30K salary wasn't exactly the payoff I was hoping for after investing 2 years into something I am passionate about. I love it, but the cost of living the lifestyle I wanted was too rich for the meager earnings possible with that education. The following fall after graduating I went back to college in a completely unrelated field, IT, and it has afforded me the lifestyle I want. I still love fishing and outdoors, and now I can enjoy it on the weekend and afford all the toys that go along with it! If salary has no bearing on anything for you, don't waste another minute go do it! Tony

Hopefully the same! did you get an update on ice conditions?

Gov't bailouts are rediculous in my opinion, regardless of industry...but hey, it's just my opinion. Ran across this picture and it's a perfect fit for this thread... Too funny! (and I own a Ford! haha)

Correct, and for only run it for about a second is all that is required

Not sure why I thought that older fish had limited reproductive success...anyway check this out! We've known for a long time that bigger fish produce more eggs, that we might need to have numerous smaller females to produce as many eggs as one larger fish," said Mark Hixon, an OSU professor of zoology. "Modern fish management is based on this assumption. But we've also assumed that one fish egg is just as good as another, and the newest studies are showing that's just not the case." New studies by OSU researcher Steven Berkeley, who is now at the University of California – Santa Cruz, have shown that eggs from very old fish have much larger oil globules in their yolk, giving the larvae that develop from these eggs a chance to grow faster and survive starvation longer. Older fish also spawn earlier, which sometimes better coordinates larval birth with peak food availability. A marine ecosystem routinely has more than 99 percent mortality of fish larvae due to predation, starvation and fluctuating ocean conditions. So anything that helps young larvae pass through their most vulnerable lifestyle stages can significantly increase their chance of survival, scientists say. "In some cases, it appears that almost all of the surviving larvae have come from large, old, fat fish," Hixon said. I stand corrected

Good post Dave, check into it, but I do believe the the reproductive success of fishes at the end of their life span is very limited if not non-existant. That big girl has done her part in spreading her genes over a couple of decades though Personally, I think the value of releasing record catches of any species is worth more than holding an official record as it ultimately promotes the sport by the thought that in a year or 2 that fish will be theoretically even bigger! I don't know that you would become rich off of catching a record musky, or any other fish for that matter, produce a replica, maintain bragging rights and let 'em swim