JohnF

Being a creek wader I'm limited to what goes with me on a given day. Excluding plastics cuz they'll be anuther thread, what lures do y'all favour for smallmouths in shallow water. My limit on an excursion is about 10 tops provided they're not too long. If I'm also targeting pike that lowers the number cuzza the extra size. Remember, this is for smallmouths only. JF

I'm right-handed but being a Canuckian raised on the rink I have to crank with my left hand. The boat will come soon. I just have to get the okay from SWMBO. I'm thinking I'll slide into it with a Kayak, then a transom canoe, then a motor for it, then a boat. Too bad she gave up water skiing. I thought that would be my in. JF

Hunph! One of those about equals my total catch weight for a season's wading for bass. JF

Looks like they're back up to $189. I like mine but not enuf to pay that for a light duty reel. JF

I'd be very happy to get another one of those for that price. I'll check it. JF

You really don't want an old fart like me saying yer cute, do ya? That would be several degrees past total weirdness. I draw the line at saying yer a helluva fisherman, and I'd really like to get to spend some time on the water with you, but cute you ain't. Your wife may see it differently, hopefully. My mom thinks I'm cute. My wife says "eeeehhhh" as she waggles her fingers, but deep down I think she really does. Of course I've had 40 odd years (and some of them were really kinda odd) to sell her on the concept. Now she just seems to tolerate me. JF

That's why us divers spend so much time under the water. We do less damage that way. JF

Check the relief valve in the gas cap or conversely the pressure retainer (dunno what yer tank uses). Tighten the adjuster needles in and back out to the same spot (count the turns). Check screen or filter from tank to carb for blockage. I don't have an outboard but those are the first things I'd check on my lawnmower or blower. Fuel shortage is usually pretty easy to isolate. But wait for Cliff. He's the small engine guy here. JF

I'm looking at that one at the local FishingStore but he has it for a lot less money. I've checked the reviews and the twitching bar feature seems to be prone to failure. I like the concept of it for taking up slack line & for working surface and suspending lures but I don't like the idea of a failed component, even if it doesn't affect the rest of the functions. I like my stuff to be working 100%, even if I'm not using the feature. One failure suggests other possible failures. Anyone else had any experience with twitching bars and this particular reel? JF

Is there such a thang? I'd like something for light duty, hunting creek bass with a medium weight 6' Quantum that I already have. Then I'd have it for a backup when boat fishing etc. JF

Tell her at first I thought it was just Solo - and he'd gotten about 40000 degrees cuter. JF

I remember there were always a few hanging under the swimrafts at any of the cottages we used. JF

Mebbe that's why the bridges tend to be covered in Mennonite country. JF

Then the Thames above St.Marys might trick ya. JF

I'll happily defer to yer expertise. Heck. What else could I do with a handle like yours? JF

Only one, but us Canuckians have always led the way in leftiness. Apparently it's cuz we all grew up playing hockey. Most of us are naturally right handed but hockey, baseball and fishing seem to bring out lefty genes. JF

You had tongue in cheek when you typed that, right? JF

Dude's already got the Rapala hat and the pro shades. Gotta get him a new rod sponsor before he hits the tour though. JF

Game will probably look different when Detroit has the change. Be interesting to see if the Pens newfound confidence will survive another round of 3-on-Sid. JF

You can easily walk down to the park from the Timmies. In fact that river runs right on past the back of the Timmies. I've not heard of any great fishing at Lakeside. But if you can get there you're really close to the Harrington end of Wildwood which has some good pike and bass. There's a pond right in Harrington that used to have fish in it. Don't know if it still does though. There are also some creeks out in that area that will give up some nice little trout but I can't help you with exact locations. Don't see crappie around here often, at least I haven't. They have 'em down London way I believe. The closest we have to those big bluegills you guys get south of the great lakes are rather puny sunfish, more like a colourful rock bass. Someone else may know where to find bigger ones but I've not seen 'em. There are rock bass pretty much everywhere for the kids. I'd bet they're in that area by the park for sure. Just dangle a piece of worm or even a small curlytail grub. Gold colour works for me. JF

Probably cutting my lawn, dammit. JF

Can you put me on more fish than Garry did? I mean can you position me to catch more fish than Garry did while pretending to drive the boat and counsel us in proper fishing techniques? Or something like that. And I apologize for jumping on the thread. I really only meant to tell Bushart that there were other fishing artists who shared his affection for nice miniatures. I think I owe Bushart a drink, huh? JF

You've gotta meet my fishing buddy Rob. He loves nature stuff (fish) and he particularly loves miniatures, or at least little bits of miniature detail in a big piece. And he's a fisherman. You might have seen his work under the name Robert John that he used during his celebrity phase. John is his middle name. Once the fame and the glory of the movie (El Topo for you cognoscenti) and the big galleries slowed down he went back to reg'lar old name, the one I know him by. I call it his fishing nom de plume. He's a good guy who thinks rock bass and bluegill is food for the gods, and a helluva painter by all accounts. What do I know? My wife bought a bunch of his stuff. He was appalled cuz she picked it out for the colours to complement her new furniture and decor. Here's the first page that google found with him on it. Without checking I think that apple shadow box might be in our livingroom. http://www.martenarts.com/Artists/artist.a...95&workID=0 Here's his own page http://robertskipper.ca/ He's the guy who says Walmart sells the best rod/reel comboes and grey Rapala minnows and worms are all that a guy needs to feed hisself. JF

Anyone else ever find it interesting how much closer we feel to those folks we've watched in movies and tv? Once in a while I try to sort out why it is I relate to a story like this but am less than unaware when I hear about the same thing happening to someone I've never heard of. It's not like I knew the guy. I kinda got a kick out of his "Grasshopper" schtick, but didn't particularly enjoy anything else he did, including the later series with his son the detective. It's always sad when anyone gets so beaten down (however that happens) that they take their own life. It seems to be even harder for celebs to cope with a waning career, or getting old, or falling from the public eye, whatever. He gave some of us many hours of good entertainment. Life can never take that away from him. JF

Sad that they haven't realized there are left handed crankers out here too. JF