MJL

It’s not that bad...Going down I can do it in about 5-7 minutes...Going back up in around 8-10 minutes...And that’s with 35lbs worth of carp gear strapped to my back on the way up

The walk is 10% physical but 90% mental...When you hit the last 1/3rd to 1/4 of the path on the way back up, go deep into your happy place and remember only 1 thing:

Pain is temporary, but quitting lasts forever

Sweet pieces of steel

Were these pics taken with the old Minolta? A few days ago I re-stumbled upon your blog and saw the post about having to take the camera apart. I can definitely relate...Last fall I had to take apart 1 lens that went for a swim in 1 G-bay trib known for mud . The pics in this thread are great!

Here's one thread I made a couple years ago with keeping minnows in a fish tank during ice season

Keeping minnows

If you can find them, dace are super hardy and keep very well in a fish tank - I actually don't think any of them died compared to the shiners. I did feed them bits of algea wafers that plecos normally eat. I'm sure they'd also take flakes too if you wanted to feed them.

If you're keeping minnows as an educational experience for kids, it can be pretty cool watching them. Not the most practical way to store minnows that you're going to use though...It was often a challenge trying to net them out of tank with decorations, filters, air hoses, rocks, etc

Aside from cork on my float and fly rods, I could care less...The rest of the time my hand is on a hard plastic/graphite reel seat anyway.

Not enough!!

Good cork costs way more than $10 to build a handle!!!

Really good cork is $3-$4 a ring.

I have seen factory rods that look like they have nice cork handles, but when you start to disassemble the handle it's a cheap plastic cylinder with 1/8" cork covering!!

Not to forget the wood filler used to fill in the pits and holes in the cheaper cork handles...A couple months later, you'll start to see it flaking out bit by bit.

It's neither...The D is silent

Best of luck Richard

...and apparently slept a LOT!! LOL.

 

Thanks once again for a great weekend guys!!

Do you mean you? Or all the other people? I find it hard to believe that anyone could sleep near a chain-saw going full throttle

Sweet pics Bill

Also been eyeing up the 24-70 too but just can't justify dishing out the funds for one yet...There's the version II of the lens coming out very soon for around $2500. I have the older 50mm f/1.8 and in terms of image quality, both Mark I and Mark II lenses take amazing pics at an amazing price.

Sweet Simon!

Now I need some pink gloves for mojo

Roy, 2 of the main guides on the St Lawrence (Jeff Vaughan & Paul Hunt) do a fair amount of their guiding from pontoon boats. Some advantages are: mobility - You can follow the schools of carp as they roam up and down the river. Also there's the 2 rod rule from the boat compared to the 1 on shore. You can also chum your bait a lot easier by dumping it in the water as opposed to having to sling shot or spod tiny amounts in many times.

Disadvantage: Boat control not the easiest in high current areas (pretty limited to anchoring up close to shore or in shallow bays. If you're fishing with female anglers, there's not really a washroom on board.LOL

About 10yrs ago, I taped a Fishn Canada episode where Pete Bowman was targeting carp from a Boat in the Trent river system. He did well.

It’s a fact that the more expensive the lure, the more fish it will catch regardless of the design, materials used or attractants added. By increasing the price, manufacturers are increasing the Mojo of your lure exponentially...5 out of 4 sponsored pro tournament bass fishermen agree

Awesome stuff Ben

The ling looks so nifty...Like a sausage.LOL

Incredible fish

Definitely a fish of a lifetime. Great pics and vid

Johnny, if you see those fish streaking off the bottom, keep reeling! I've had lakers smash 20ft below the hole in 100ft of water.

Yup! Eyes on the sonar, take a deep breath, crank the reel and wait for that spongy feeling at the end of the line

With that said, it's like a slap in the face when you see them chasing your lure from 120ft to 20ft only to reject it in the end.

Bird’s nest on spinning reels...It happens

Number of reasons but line twist usually is the case. Some things you can try.

1. Feather the spool on the cast with your index finger...Line can’t explode off the spool if you won’t let it

2. Don’t over fill your spool

3. Prevent line twist when you’re spooling up...Usually that means spooling up your reel with the line spool on the floor and label side up...If you’re noticing line twist when you’re spooling up, stop - Line twist will not magically go away on its own. Adding tension to the line and running it through your fingers when you're spooling up will remove most line twist

4. Prevent line twist while you’re fishing – Use decent swivels

5. Use a limp mono...Stiff mono generally has a tendency to jump off the spool of your reel when you’re casting...for lines 8lb test or higher, I like to soak my lines in warm water for a few minutes after spooling up. I dunk the reel spool into a tub of warm water and the line will bed up nicely. I usually do that after I’ve taken the drag washers out for re-lubing.

The sound of breaking ice and chunks of ice smashing agaist themselves definitely doesn't spook fish. Over the years I've caught tons of winter steelhead within minutes of breaking holes in the ice with bricks tied to ropes.

 

Please stay away from my sonar, my Showdown is extremely sensitive to rivals.

Sensitive wouldn't be the right word to use...More like "destructive to other people's sonars".LOL

My Humminbird only has 3 levels of noise control

Definitely itching to get out on the ice this weekend!

I have a 587ci but it is mounted to the boat

You can buy a portable case for that unit (There's one for sale in the classifieds right now for $150). You can also pick up the Humminbird ice transducer for around $80-$90. If you want to save some cash, you can use your existing transducer (if it isn't permanently glued to your boat) and mount it onto a hockey stick - I did something like that my first ice season.

Your unit is more than adequate for ice fishing...I'm using a Humminbird 343c at the moment.

Nicely done Brian

Ironically, I've become the opposite. Since I got into ice fishing, once the lake freezes over, I find myself reaching for the auger and 36" rods VS the 13'6". It's been about a month since I last took a drift though...Maybe this weekend I'll be in your neck of the woods

Do you already own a fish finder? If so, you can try modifying it into a portable unit and using it on the ice.

Just brilliant!

Hope is all I ever have when I'm on the ice...It's easier to explain to others (non ice-guys) who try to make sense of sitting on a bucket in -20C staring at a hole.LOL

I heard about this on the radio coming home from the lake last night

Deepest condolenses to the family & friends.

Or for the DSLR users, shooting at telephoto range or using a fast lens F/2.8 or faster will produce some very nice, creamy bokeh that will blur out the background for you

Imagine wading crotch deep across a fast flowing river carrying a Leica M9 & 50mm F/0.95 Leica Noctilux in hand

Sweet report Chad

Those ling look so nifty.LOL

Rooting for you Richard! Keep it up and never lose sight of the finish line

I was so tempted to hit the river on my way home this weekend with my 36" ice rod.LOL

Great fish Bill.