mattaw

It's all about what you like. If you love the knife, then that's the knife for you. I have and carry quite a few benchmade knives for a number of different scenarios. My favorite is my Nimravus fixed blade tanto knife (http://www.benchmade.com/products/141). A bit pricey but well made and worth every penny.

Nice fish! I got a nickle largie up in the area this weekend, only a matter of time until you get yours!

I use a lot of super slick, and some reglar PP too. For my the superslick is my mainline for a lot of what I'm throwing. I have never had an issue with breakage and just like how it casts and feels when I fish it. But hey, each to their own right?

I take the age, current price, hours on motor and age of what's on the boat into consideration. You never know until you look under the hood too. If you buy a used boat, my rule of thumb would be prepare to spend more than that, you'll want to add toys or customize things to the way YOU want it.

I almost never use a swivel and snap for my leaders. I find in most cases I like the action of my baits when tied direct to my leader material. It may be that a lot of the time I fish super heavy weeds and I find the different parts collect gunk though I find the direct tie just slices through the weeds. Besides when using a spoon or something with a high line twist, why do you like the snap and swivel for fishing? I've never noticed much line twist tying direct with a double uni or a improved albright knot. I guess it's personal preference?

I have used both. I like floro, but I started to use Malins Boa No Kink Titanimum leaders. They're a bit hard to tie at first, but once you get the hang of it they're great but a bit pricey. I have not had any major issues with line kink, even after larger pike. I like the peace of mind that I don't have to worry about getting bitten off. That being said I still carry floro and mono with me in the boat (in the 90-100 range), incase I need to make a switch. For topwaters I only use the mono as I find any line that sinks hurts the action of my baits.

This report is amazing. I'm so jealous of what you got to do. I may have to try to plan this out for next year! You may be getting a PM or email from me in the next little bit

I was out in a torrential rainstorm this weekend in my 100mph suit. Others on the boat had different brands. I was the ony one that was 100% dry when it was all said and done. Just my personal experience.

Practice, and practice some more. A casting plug of some kind and a park or backyard is your friend. Practice makes perfect, and at least if you backlash, you're on land and don't have to worry about getting your rig snagged. Good luck with the new rig!

Looks awesome! What a piece of heaven you have for yourself there.

What about this series: http://www.bbtseries.ca/ Seems perfect for you based on location.

Sounds good. I'd love to swap some intel, love the area, it's my happy place. As of now, no one has confirmed anything, if not, no big deal, just trying to be nice Max

Hey everyone, I have found myself with an open spot on the boat this weekend. I'll be up on Baptiste lake in the Bancroft area. If you'd like to join me, shoot me a pm, first come first serve. If you are in the GTA and want a ride, that may be possible depending on schedule. I'd love to take someone that maybe doesn't have access to a boat of their own and such. OFC is such an awesome community, I'd like to give back in some way. I promise I don't bite. Max

Great job. Thank you for posting that, the mod is really cool

This. A lock can be broken or cut, most of the marine electronic locks act as deterents. If someone really wants your stuff they'll probably find a way to get it. That being said, believe the best in people and do your best to protect your stuff, at the end of the day if you're really that worried, put it in your trailer.

In terms of a anchor, if you want to spring for it, the Power Pole Micro is interesting. I put this onto my aluminum boat, I like it so far, in shallow water, makes anchoring a breeze and doesn't spook fish, would be perfect for the yak due to very little weight (and it has a battery pack you can get): http://www.power-pole.com/jlmarine/power-pole/micro.aspx Interested to see how the project turns out as you come along. Looks cool!

Interesting. I fished a couple of lakes around the Kawarthas and Bancroft this weekend. Water ranged from 52 up to 61 (average in the main lakes I fished was about 55) on most of the lakes depending on how deep they were and where you were. I saw some bass on the beds in the warmer shallow bays, but very little growth on the weed front compared to other years, we'll have to see how everything ramps up. Just my few observations.

Curado in my opinion, I love my shimano reels, they take a beating and keep functioning well. I would echo everyone else a 6.X:1 ratio would be best for an all around reel, that way you can speed up or slow down to suit what you're doing.

I also have had Humminbirds for years without a single issue. Sounds like you got a lemon, just send it back assuming you have some kind of warranty.

This. Good product, as long as you have cell signal you have a mobile chartplotter.

I bought mine directly from RAM online, worked fine for me. I've also heard of gpscity.ca and apparently they're good and ship quickly.

I saw this a while ago, think this is what you're talking about: Full site: http://www.redneckfishingtournament.com/

There are musky around but they're far and few between these days. LOTS of hammerhandle pike in the lake these days, but lots of nice bass if you know where to find them as well. The walleye population has REALLY declined over the last little bit due to the pike taking over. If you're going up to the Baptiste/Elephant/Benoir lake area I'd look at Birchcliff Lodge, great place, great staff, and always fun. Can't say enough good things about them (disclosure: a family friend is invovled with the lodge). It's on Baptiste vs Elephant but they're connected and it's a big lake chain.

Braid for almost everything, different diameters from 20-50 pound test depending on what I'm fishing. I will match a floro leader in most cases for the visability factor. The only case where I use pure floro is ultra finesse and on my cranking reel as floro sinks a bit better than braid.

It wasn't my rod, so I don't know the exact model. It was an older Carrot Sticks. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful than that