JoePa

Yes - there is a lot of violence in the U.S. but let me tell you something - most of the shootings goes on in the big cities where gang bangers are fighting over turf and shooting each other - if you didn't count those shootings the statistics would be a lot different - you got to remember that we have a lot of different cultures here and some are prone to crime more so than others - Why is this so - because of the breakup of the family and the resulting poverty that occurs - over 70 percent of black children are born to single mothers - the kids grow up without proper guidance and end up in trouble - will it ever change - I don't know but in the mean time you have to realize that crime does exist and you need to take precautionary measures - When I was growing up we didn't lock our house doors, you could let your keys in the ignition of your car parked along the street - never even heard of dope - you could go anywhere and feel safe - people generally worked hard and were honest and moral citizens - today it is just the opposite -

From many of your comments I can see why Canada has so many laws, rules and regulations - requires so many permits and generally has the government controlling your lives - your willing to give up your freedom so easily - Let me just say a few things - when the government requires you to register your guns they basically have control over them - all it takes is whoever is in power to declare certain or all guns illegal and you have to give them up because they know who has the guns and what kind - if ever the wrong people take control of the government - such as happened in Nazi Germany, Russia, or any other dictatorships the citizens are helpless - and don't think it can't happen to your country Years ago I attended a talk given by a holocaust survivor - after finishing his talk he took questions from the audience - one person stood up and said that he couldn't understand why the Jewish people went to their deaths without putting up a fight - the answer was - "with what - they took all our guns" - You can't always depend on the police to protect you - when things really get tough and law and order break down you will be on your own - you better have a way of taking care of yourself - Thousands of men and women have fought and died so that you can be free - yet people continue to give up this freedom to their governments not realizing how precious it is -

Meanwhile all is quiet on the southern front -

Well - let me tell you something - I have had two occasions in my life that I pulled out a handgun I was carrying - on both occasions I believe just showing the gun saved me from being beat up or maybe even killed - both times this happened in Newark New Jersey were I was attending college at night back in the 60's - I'm a NRA member now and have a permit to carry - I have a 38 special in my van all the time and put this gun in my waist band depending where I'm going I often fish at night and at times I'm the only one in the parking lot when leaving the water - I have my gun with me - it makes me feel safer - I fully believe that we have the God given right to be able to defend ourselves and our family - and no state has the right to take this right away - I thank our founding fathers for having the wisdom to give us the 2nd amendment - There are a lot of people who don't like guns - some are afraid of them because they are not familiar with them and don't want to own one - but remember our country was formed with guns, it has been defended with guns and it stays free because of guns - liberty and freedom have a price -

After reading all the talk about tires, bearings etc, I thought I'd check the extra bearings and seals I had stored in the boat - glad I did - the bearings were rusty and useless - then I figured that I'll get a whole hub assembly for the trailer and have that along just in case - to do I needed to measure the bolt circle so the tires fit - thought the easiest way would be to drop the spare that was bolted under the boat - well I couldn't get the 1/2 inch bolts holding the spare on to the trailer loose - tried and tired - just couldn't budge the nuts - ended up having to heat the nuts with a torch - finally got the spare off - So here I'm towing the boat all over the place thinking I'm ok - if I had a flat and needed the spare there was no way that I could have gotten it off the trailer - boy you can't be careful enough -

This happened to me last year - was fishing for a couple days just north of Kingston - then it started to rain very heavy - the forecast was for rain the next couple days so we decided to call it quits and head home - it was cold and really raining as we were taking the boat out of the water - as I was hooking it up some kids in a canoe came along and asked if they could stand in my truck camper and get out of the rain for a few minutes and get dried off - I said sure and gave them some towels to wipe themselves - after they left we started on our journey home We arrive at the border and waiting in line when some guy knocks on my truck window - he tells me my latch on the boat trailer receiver is sticking up - I thanked him and go back to check - holy mackerel - when I got distracted back at the boat launch I forgot to put the latch down - didn't hook up the safety chains or the lights - I drove around 50 miles with the trailer just sitting on the receiver ball - man was I lucky - all it would have taken was a good bump and the boat would have come loose and only God knows what could have happened - I get uptight whenever I think about it - So my advice is - take you time and don't be in a hurry when hooking up your boat - take the time to double check everything before driving away - you can be sure that's what I do anymore -

Wooden row boat - with oars - about 1 mph - with me and the dog - fast enough for me -

If the water is that narrow then ask the MNR to put - no wake - signs up at the spot - then if they continue to fly through that area they can be charged - you may even offer to pay for the signs - if the MNR won't do it then put your own signs up and see what happens

I have a '91 deep V 17 ft bass tracker and was getting ready to buy a Lund (not the bass boat ) - the Tracker looks pretty worn but is still sea worthy and still gets me where I want to go with reasonable comfort - but then the more I thought about it I decided to stay with the old boat - one thing when you have a older boat you don't worry about getting it scratched or banged up - I fish in places where a boat can take a beating on the rocky shore or stumps out in the water - and launch it at places where there is no nice dock - so for the time being I'll just stick with the old boat until it sinks some day -

Boy things are a lot different down here - we have what they call the castle doctrine - if someone breaks into your home you can assume that the person means harm and you can shoot him - the point is that you don't know what the crook has in mind when he breaks in - if his intent is to harm you then you may find out after it is too late if you don't act first - especially at night when it is dark in the house - I'll tell you one thing - the instances of break-ins have gone down considerably because of this doctrine - we also have what they call - stand your ground - if someone attacks you - you don't have to run away - you can defend yourself with a gun if needed - One other point - you never pull out a gun unless you are willing to use it - I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon and do carry when I go fishing and certain places - I often go fishing at night and to places where I may be the only one in the parking area - but I'll tell you something - I feel safe -

It's a shame but you have to do things with the idea that someone will try to steal from you - I use campgrounds whenever I can because the people owning them keep an eye out as to who is hanging around - when I leave my boat at a dock or shore I always chain it to something - put a cover on it and make sure nothing of value can be seen - put a motion detector under the cover that will sound off if the cover is removed - I don't fish remote lakes and leave a vehicle parked at such locations - if I did I would disable the truck so that it can't be started - easy enough to do - don't have anything of value in the truck - you could even leave the doors unlocked - Finally - if I caught someone trying to steal something from me - we both would have to go to the hospital - to get my boot out of his butt - I would clobber the guy and claim that he attacked me and I have to defend myself -

Just google - "Is it ok to mix natural oil with synthetic oils" - you'll find out that it is ok - synthetic oils have better qualities that normal oils - so if you mix these oils you will be reducing the qualities of the synthetic oil -

Thanks for posting - kids are really precious - too bad that they have to grow up - enjoy them while you can because I'll tell you something - they'll be grown up before you know it -

If some of you guys are old enough and were Boy Scouts at one time you might remember this - A Flint Arrow Head O'ver fields of new turned sod, communing with my God, I tramped along And in a furrow bed I found an Arrow-head, chiseled from stone Then fancy fled on wings, back to primeval things, Seeking the light What warrior drew the bow, sighted, and let it go, on its last flight How oft this flinten head on deadly errand sped, I may not know Nor will the silent flint reveal the slightest hint, How long ago Were its grim story told, what tales would it unfold, Tales that would chill I know but this one thing, it was made to kill Ages have worn away, warriors gone their way, Their bones are dust Proof of a craftsman's skill survives the ages still, Left in my trust

I guess I can wait to see why you put those notches in the end rafters but maybe you can tell us why - I noticed them from the beginning - when I retired 20 years ago I built a 38' by 40' stand alone garage by myself - always thought that was quite an achievement but when I see what your doing it doesn't seem that great - thanks for posting this building project for us to watch - boy your going to be proud when it is all finished - and the location is something else - best wishes - Joe

Hey Moosebunk - thanks - good to be aboard - for an old guy I still get around pretty much - especially on the net where it doesn't cost much - yes from your pictures and stories about Nipigon I still have that spark in my heart to get to that lake one of these years - just got to talk one of my grandsons on going along - I wouldn't even be that all worked up on catching fish - its just the beauty of the place that draws me - take care - Joe

Well I'll tell you something - I'm 81 now and have gone to Canada fishing by myself on a number of occasions - the kids always holler at me for going so far by myself - I'm a widower so I haven't any spouse to worry about and I tell them if anything happens to me at least it happens when I'm doing something I like - I ain't gonna stop fishing because maybe I'll cash in on one of those trips - gonna go sometime and when your number is up - its up - in the meantime I'll spent as much time as I can on the water - They tell me that somewhere in the bible it says something about - God does not deduce from one's life span - the time spent fishing - I believe that - so - see you on the water - Joe

For years I went fishing with my grandson but now he's off to college and works in the summer so he's not available anymore - then I got another of my grandsons to go fishing with me but he isn't available all the time either - so lately I've been going by myself - always enjoyed some company while fishing - have someone to talk to and help launch the boat - but I'm getting used to going myself and in certain respect I like it better - I'm able to do what I want to without worrying about someone else - kinda just take my time and go when I'm ready - I see other guys fishing by themselves and once in awhile I see a guy with a dog - I'm sure a dog makes a good fishing partner - they are real easy to please -

When someone gives me a hard time I always end it with this - I asked the guy if I could borrow his hat - he usually stops yelling and looks at me kinda funny - then I tell him I want to take a dump in it - then I walk away - leaving him standing there looking kinda silly -

Speaking of campers - I have a Lance slide-in camper - I bought it back in 2005 - I'll tell you something - I just love the thing - it has everything a fisherman would need - including a refrigerator and freezer - of all the things I own this camper is my pride and joy - It's got a stove, a skink, a bathroom, a water heater, generator, microwave, space heater, - when I bought it I got everything except an air conditioner - didn't think I need one of those - I load it on a F350 and pull my boat - f

Just got done reading this post for the first time - all I can say is - WOW -

Thanks Fisherman - was worried there for awhile -

Boy - this discussion brings up a question - does a nonresident have to have this stuff aboard - I've been fishing in Ontario since the late 50s and don't have a floatable rope or a floatable flashlight - I have a bucket for bailing but have a bilge pump so the bucket is really only used when I have to take a leak - I have a rope but I use it when loading and off loading the boat - it ain't no where 50 ft. - I don't have a whistle on my life jacket either - I don't always wear a life jacket usually only when it windy or I'm going somewhere - I do have a fire extinguisher and a floatable seat to throw if someone is in the water - anyone know if I need the things mentioned - thanks

What's the purpose of the rope and whistle - I can see the need for the flashlight incase you end up coming in when its dark and the bailing bucket to bail and take a leak when needed but the rope and whistle I can't figure out - thanks

Kicker motor - by all means - reasons include having a backup motor in case you have trouble with the main motor - uses less gas - a lot quieter - slower trolling speed - I have a 5 hp Merc 4 stroke and really like it - I have a 12 gal gas container just for the kicker and the extra gas often comes in handy - I have the extra hoses so I can use the gas container for my main motor if needed - I would never feel safe going out onto a big lake without a backup motor - I have a '91 Bass Tracker 17 ft deep V with a 40 hp main motor -