Jer

Brrr cold it was yeasterday. Three of us were out with Mitchell's in Beaverton for perch. Thank God for a nice comfy hut. We had to wait awhile in the morning for them to get the Bombardier running, I think my cheeks froze off. Fishing was slow with only about 30 perch coming out to play, about 18 of them were worth taking home for dinner but none were terribly massive.

We're headed to Beaverton out with Mitchell's to their perch huts. Hope the cold snap doesn't shut the bite down.

...is there any explanation or reasoning from Canada Post as to why this is offensive? I can't think of any possible reason.

To be fair, we had no issues with the quality of the bungalow. Biggest problem with the place is he just plunks his bungalows just offshore (sounds like the same spot every year, very handy for him I guess) and then expects you to drive yourself out on the lake to his "adventure" huts (they're an adventure alright) for any possibility of catching a fish. The water was 12 of mud where our bungalow was last year. He made no excuses about why the bungalows were where they were, that's just the way he did things. Hard to say he couldn't get his huts out due to ice conditions and then send you out on your own in your car. He offered no alternative if someone wasn't comfortable driving their vehicle on the ice, nor did he mention anything about offering no transportation when we booked. It was about -20C when we were there and the one day we did follow him out to the "adventure" huts with my buddy begrudgingly behind the wheel of his minivan. These huts were tiny little 6' x 6' jobbys with no seats, awkward holes right in the corners crusted over with about 2" of ice that Ron neglected to bust out or leave us with anything to do so, strict orders from Ron not spill any snow on the floor??, a propane burner that Ron neglected to light for us or ask if we might have a lighter or any matches (which we did but it was too cold to get it to burn). By the time we figgered all this out, Ron was gone, also neglecting to leave us any minnows. We didn't bother with the hut (I think it was colder inside than out) and went and jigged a few holes that some other guys were just leaving. We stuck it out for a couple hours, managed one slot size pickerel and headed back to the bungalow once our beer started freezing faster than we could drink it. Great service Ron offers. (insert sarcasm) Wouldn't be so bad if you knew what to expect heading up and have all the gear for your own adventure (sleds, augers, portables, etc) and just use the bungalow as a HQ (and pay accordingly). This isn't what we expected having been to a lot of different operators over the years.

I don't think my boss would accept that as a very valid excuse...if he did, I'd probably go fishing...

We had the questionable pleasure of a trip to Snofari last year. I have to agree, the worst service we have ever encountered with an outfitter on Nipissing. The bungalows were set up where there were no fish (this was according to the outfitter himself) and we were expected to drive ourselves out a couple miles to what he called his 'day-huts'. He showed us the way the first time, never started the heater, didn't clear any holes for us or check on us for bait. He was fairly ignorant the few times we actually saw him, more concerned about getting his money than helping us out with any fish. Glad to hear it wasn't just us.

I don't pay for my Blackberry service (provided by work) so I can't comment on package prices/choices, but as far as hardware goes, you can't go wrong with a Blackberry. We recently upgraded to Blackberry (I got a Pearl 8220 flip-phone) from our previous 'boat anchor' smartphones called "Glofiish" (commonly referred to as "blow-fish" at work). You can't even compare the two. The Blackberry is the best phone I've ever had by far. It even makes the terrible Rogers coverage around here tolerable. Makes crystal clear calls even with a very weak signal.

ouch

I'm not sure...but I don't think so.

It's hard to compare the Dakota/Canyon/Colorado to either Fords or the imports. They truely are a "mid-size" truck, not a "compact" like the other manufacturers make. When I bought my 2001 Dakota, it was the only truck in its class (no Canyon or Colorado available yet). I test drove the Ranger, its Mazda twin and an S-10 (Tacoma was out of my price range, but I did sit in one and it was really small as well) and the cab space didn't even compare, they were tight. The Dakota almost seeemed like a full-size in comparison. My '01 Dakota is running strong with just over 140K and the only major repair was a new tranny at about 125K.

Doesn't stop everybody else from having fun on the ice...just the fishermen.

I had some bad leaking from my roof due to ice-damming almost 8 years ago. Extensive dry-wall and ceiling damage in almost every corner of the house. It was a freak February rain storm and I came home from work to find it raining inside as well (at least it seemed it). Anyways, when calling the insurance company, they insisted I get up on the roof as soon as possible to remove any ice & snow from the edges of the roof (a day & a half on the roof in February with ice-melt & a hatchet, oh what fun). Apparently I was responsible for mitigating my damages as much as reasonably possible (not allowing anymore leaks). All I was able to claim was for interior damage (some insulation, drywall work and paint). No contents or carpet were damaged, I had pots and bowls all over the place until the rain stopped. Insurance wasn't interested in even looking at my roof, that was my responsibility and a similiar claim in the future might be frowned upon if I didn't make some improvements to the roof. Needless to say, I had the roof re-shingled in the spring (with 'ice-guard' over the entire roof) and bought a snow rake which I now use religously.

...and Haliburton, Muskoka, Nipissing, Simcoe, etc. don't?

That doesn't make any sense. Nobody is stopping the thousands of snow machines/ATVs/trucks out there every winter. There's even an ice road most years running up Chemong from the causeway to Curve Lake. Much safer ice around here than in lotsa places open to fishing (Quinte & Simcoe come to mind).

Why is this not a concern anywhere else? Besides, I'm only talking about a 1 or 2 walleye limit. Why should the vast majority of responsible anglers suffer for what a few bad apples might do (poaching)? We do this way too much in this country...restrict the enjoyment of the many for the fear that a few will take advantage...but that's a whole other topic.

I would like to see a winter panfish season (crappie, perch) with maybe a limited pickerel harvest to keep it interesting. I have people ask me all the time why the season is closed around here. I have no idea.

Wow...are you honestly comparing yourself (auto workers) with handicapped persons? Have you no shame? A case in point to how the average "auto worker" has lost touch with reality.

A little bit of variety...but not compared to most on here... Upper Buckhorn Chemong Pigeon Little Bald Big Bald Limerick Coon Big Cedar Bass Crotch Simcoe Couchaching ...that's about it. Better then most years when I never leave the Tri-Lakes.

I don't know those lakes in particular, but I was up that way (Minden, Carnarvon) yesterday. They've got so much snow, I can't believe any ice would be any good.

I've got the same console in my Crestliner. In the two extra spaces I've got a volt meter for the cranking battery and also a "sure-start" gauge that came with my Johnson outboard. Basically a set of idiot lights for low oil, no oil, motor overheat, etc.

...well geez...it is just a TV show...nobody wants to see the guy die out there. Then everybody would be sayin "what an idiot, how could he go out there with no safeties in place?"

That's why they gave him a SIX year contract... ...patience...patience

why do you care so much? ...no one is asking you to "buy" anything. If the fish is that big, so be it, if not, oh well. The guy isn't asking for anything from you. Just showing off a big (huge, monstrous) fish. Just appreciate it for what it is...

Me and a buddy took a fishing trip down to Euphala, Alabama once, about 15 years ago, The whole trip he kept talking yankee this and yankee that. I had to keep telling him that no one here considers themselves a yank, shut the hell up. He never did get it through his head.

I love our Home Hardware store in Bridgenorth. Very rarely can I not find what I'm looking for...