Maverick

I bought the Nikon D7100 with the 18-55 kit lens on boxing day of last year. I also added a Tamron 70-300 Di VC lens and a Nikon that other site-S 35mm f1.8G lens. I purchased the camera kit from Henrys and the lenses at Future Shop and Amazon. The main thing is to do your research. I researched my decision for over a month and by the time I decided my wife was so happy that getting the extra lenses wasn't too big of a deal lol. Read reviews. There are a ton of great review sites that review based on the specs and not on the brand. There are also a lot of Cannon and Nikon fans out there and they'll steer you towards one or the other. When you choose your camera you need to realise that you are choosing the lens line, both Cannon and Nikon have similar lenses at similar price points. For me it was between the Cannon 70D and the Nikon D7100. Both had excellet reviews, the Cannon had touchscreen, the Nikon had buttons. I have fat fingers, went with the buttons. It was a tough decision but I don't think I would have been disappointed either way. http://www.dpreview.com/ is an excellent review site, you can compare cameras side by side. I would start there. http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm is another review site I found useful. I wouldn't stay away from box stores, I wouldn't expect them to know much either. Narrow your choices down and go in and hold them to see how they feel in your hand. Then find the place that has the best price and purchase it there. It's not necessary to purchase a camera at a camera store. In my case, Henry's was $150 cheaper than the next place. Also, don't discount the kit lenses, they provide excellent bang for their buck. They are great to start with and then you can pick up lenses as you learn what you need. Good luck!

Nice fish, I hope to get out here tomorrow!

Ya but you live in NT.

Man, I can't wait. Opens Saturday up here!!!

My great grandfather lost his leg in WWI and my grandfather enlisted into the Navy at the age 16 in WWII. He never did say much about his time in the Navy but that was not uncommon. Watching the ceremonies in Normandy makes you realize how lucky we are to have the freedom we have. My thanks to all the Veterans and those still serving, you will never be forgotten.

Looks like an awesome trip.

The skitters here will drive you out of your mind. During the day they are manageable but come 8pm you better be wearing full head to toe clothing with a ski mask. They are thick but I have yet to see a blackfly yet though. I use Watkins cream and it works ok, after 8 you are screwed. The only place I've seen them worse is up in the middle of the arctic. Does anybody know if those propane jobbies work? I'm borderline desperate. I am being pestered by a skitter right freakin' now

The Independent is a large grocery store on the corner of 11/17 and Trout Lake Rd. You can't miss it. It has a butcher shop in the store, you can ask for different cuts than what is out. I picked up a brisket there and the guy brought it out from the back and I was able to ask for exactly the portion I wanted. If you are looking for an actual butcher shop Don's in Sturgeon Falls, 30 mins west of North Bay, is very good as others have said.

Nice pike, love the beard!

Still a few weeks away up here but I am pumped!

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2, 4-D is what you want. It's what was in all the herbicides that kill broadleaf plants. Not for use in Ontario or Quebec for lawn and garden applications. You either need to know a farmer or go state side. I have a personal vendetta against dandelions but now live on the water and have a baby in the house so 2, 4-D is out of the question. Heavily seed is my only option.

Awesome pics. What camera did you use for the half in and half out of the water shots?

Actually they are, they let smaller fish swim through and like Nipfisher said, target the larger, 18"+, fish. A buddy of mine in Quebec was telling me that next winter they are closing the ice fishing season in one of the lakes that he fishes. Won't be long before we are doing that here. In my opinion, two things need to happen. They need to decrease the amount of ice huts and operators on the lake and they need to decrease the quota that the commercial fishers have.

Yeah if I had to pick I would go with a Stihl for the trimmer, straight shaft as Fisherman said. For a push mower, anything with a Honda motor.

Thanks for all the replies. I found a guy on kijiji selling musky lures so I went over to see what he had. The guy had a hundreds of baits, they were all labelled and he gave me great a price. Here is what I picked up, some of the colour schemes might not work but that can be changed. Starting from the left going down the rows there's 9" Grandma 10" Slammer Big Fork Lures Jointed 8" River Rat Jointed 8" Believer 9" Suick 9" Sledge 7" Sledge Stidham Z180 ? Not sure what the one top right is....anyone? Gries Tackle Topkick Super Spin Windels Musky Chugger Hellraiser Tackle Rattlin' Woodtick Along with the 2 spinnerbaits and one bucktail. He wasn't selling many of his bucktails so I will have to pick up a couple. I had wanted to get some of Handlebarz anyways. I think this assortment of different types should get me started and I didn't break the bank. I tried to pick what people suggested, then I thought some looked cool as well. It'll be fun to see if that pink Woodtick works, I am doubting it but it looks cool. He didn't have any Jakes but the Grandma and Slammer looked similar and he didn't have a Topraider to sell be the Topkick looked along the same lines. He had a jailbird Believer but he wouldn't part with it. Does anyone know the name of the top right corner lure and what it's action is? Any comments on that assortment? Thanks for all the info so far, would be totally lost without it.