Fishnwire

First of all, the only TV stations I have are the local ones I get for free through an antenna. GCD's attitude is a little surprising. I'm curious what the chip on his shoulder is all about. I really don't like country music, for example, but I don't have a lot of bad feelings toward Willie Nelson. I just don't listen listen to his music...it's almost like GCD thinks TV anglers owe him money. One guy's particularly venomous rant aside, I also find it a little surprising that a fair amount of posters seem to think that those paying to watch a television network don't have the right to complain about it's content. I can see that some people associated with producing these shows are members of the OFC so it would appear as though an effort is being made to silence critical voices to spare the feelings of those involved. Doing so does them no favors. Those in charge of programming know they will never please everyone, but they also know they need to listen to honest criticism if they want to improve their product.

Were you just having some fun, or had you honestly never heard of a gar-pike?

I wouldn't have any problem using my real name, (I'm Kyle Dewar, please to meet you) but I wouldn't support that policy either. If people want to maintain their anonymity, so be it. So called internet tough-guys don't ruffle my feathers...let 'em blow as hard as they want to, I say. Sometimes its kind of fun to have a few harmless idiots around. They're usually good for a few laughs. I occasionally think the OFC moderators are a little too quick to lock up threads. Just when things are getting good...BANG...locked tight! Also, being able to ensure that people are who they say they are would be nearly impossible. I'm not interested in sending in a copy of my ID and I'm sure nobody at the OFC is interested in checking several thousand of them. Real names is not a good idea.

Hillarious. That show is so awesome. I love those guys, I really do.

I've had Sirius satellite radio for about a year now. I really like it. I hate to admit this, but I'm kind of addicted to Stern. The music is quite good as well. Here's the problem though: The thing has never really ran right. I can pretty much count on a period (of anywhere between 1 and 12 hours) every day in which the radio attempts "acquiring signal" and fails to do so, regardless of how or where I orientate the receiver. I have one for the Jeep and two portable "boom box" set-ups (for camp and home) and experience this problem on all three. Factors such as weather or where I'm driving seem to have no effect. My portable at camp for example will be working fine one minute and then can't seem to find the signal the next...only later to come in fine again, even though the receiver on the roof never moves the whole time. I think it's probably the actual radio itself. (Sportster 5) There's a signal strength meter on it, and although the manual depicts the meter having up to three bars, I have NEVER seen more than two. It's been about a year or more since I bought it so there's probably no warranty at this point. Does anyone else experience similar problems and/or does anyone know of anything I can do to rectify it?

It's beginning to get fairly obvious that Bill Dance is all about the staged bloober. Nobody is that much of a bonehead that often...and always when there happens to be a camera around? I don't think so.

I caught a clam once. Sorry, no pic. I prefer when I think I'm snagged for a sec and then feel a big head shake.

I haven't used PP, but I'm all about the Fireline on my spinning reels. I honestly think the posters who tried Fireline and thought it was "crap" either got a bad batch or were somehow doing something wrong. The stuff is amazing and has changed the way I fish. It is the closest thing to an unfair advantage that I have seen since the gaff.

When I read the first line of your the initial post I thought this was about an illegal drug transaction. Then I realized you wanted your weed-wacker, not your weed.

He wasn't really my cup of tea...but apparently he was and is considered one of the true innovators and a real genius by other professional comedians.

It's nice to see you appreciate everything he does for you. Some kids seem to think that their parents are obligated to give them everything they ask for.

Jocko brings up a good point. Live bait properly presented is a consisted producer. Why don't they get conditioned to the sight of the line, lead, leader, hooks, etc. ? I guess maybe they do. I can tell you though that after I catch two or three bass in a row off my dock I have a hard time catching another on that same bait unless I put it away for a couple of weeks or more. Also, there's been a few times when fishing for smallies that I was only getting little ones. I noticed as my chum was fighting some of these little bass that as they puked up crayfish or whatever, that much bigger (possibly "conditioned") bass would shoot up and inhale the upchuck. I threw the same jig that the big ones previously refused in the wake of the puking little guy, and I would often hook one of the biggins before they could figure out my jig was something they didn't want. I guess you can always find a way to trick 'em.

330000km is more than repectable. Especially if a fair amount of that was towing. You got your money out of that thing, for sure. It's a good feeling to know you're getting rid of something that was never lemon, just past it's prime. Before you pick up the Kia, go check out the "Vehicle Loyalty" thread. Maybe we'll convert you to a Jeeper.

I used to think so until I owned a Jeep. It's not the vehicle for everyone...there's lots about them that some people find off-putting...but it's the perfect fit for me. I guess it's all about identifying with others who also find them so appealing. I tend to imagine (rightly or wrongly) that all Jeepers have similar lifestyles and interests to myself. I've driven over beaver dams in my YJ to get where I want to go. I've taken it into places some people wouldn't take their quads. It's literally changed the way I think about bush access. When I see another guy whose got that figured out too, I feel just fine about flashing him a wave.

The YJ is a direct descendant of the original and still the greatest off-road vehicle ever made...hands down. All others are mere pretenders. All bragging and kidding aside...when it comes to off-roading, tires are probably more important than what spins 'em. Driver know-how is right up there too.

When I was younger I felt the need to spend a lot of money on high-end gear...I've gotten away from that. I still own a couple of Loomis rods and a really nice Fenwick and I like using them, but I'm just as happy using one of my $50 Abu Garcia combos from Canadian Tire. Also I think about it this way...most of the gear I paid top dollar for 10 or 15 years back is not really of any higher quality than the reasonably priced stuff available today. Technology is constantly improving. Today's revolutionary breakthrough is tomorrow's standard feature. Where I am prepared to spend top dollar is on things like line, hooks, swivels, snaps, leaders, jigs and plastic, etc. I also wouldn't waste too much time on cheap knock-off crank baits or spinners. Just my 2 cents.

Roy, that's a one finger wave...most Jeepers use at least two.

I've been driving a Jeep YJ for a couple years now. I noticed shortly after I bought it that other Jeep Wrangler drivers would comonly wave (or give the two-finger peace sign) as we pass each other on the street. My Jeep is obviously modified...lift kit, big mudders, winch, bush lights, etc...so I notice that while most Jeep drivers will wave at me, guys with units that have been worked on will almost always wave. It's like we're in a club. My question is this: Has anyone else driven a vehicle that they waved to other owners of? I have heard Toyota Prius drivers wave to each other. Also, I'm pretty sure guys on motorbikes wave, unless one guy's on a crotch-rocket and the other is on a Harely. There are usually little "rules" that come along with being in the "club." Boaters often wave, as do guys on quads if they meet up on a backroad in the middle of no where. Can anyone add to that?

How does a Canadain kid getting blown up by a road side IED in some village in Afghanistan grant me the right and freedom to speak my mind?

Let it bite you. You might get spidey-powers.

I can't support this idea that young people should be subjected to mandatory military service. The military is certainly not for everyone. While it has certainly helped to shape the lives of some excellent men and women, people like Jeffrey Dalmer also served, so we know that not everyone with service is someone whom others should aspire to be like. I have worked alongside about a hundred electricians in my carrer. Three of those guys had done their apprenticeship in the military, and they just happen to be the three worst electricians I've ever met. I'm sure there are many excellent tradesmen trained in and/or working for the military, I'm just saying that in at least some cases, the army does not turn out "the best of the best." Lots of people have found self-betterment through their service in the military. For them it was a good fit and they benefitted from the experience. The same would not necessarily be true for all individuals. EI and welfare are not the same thing, but this guy has hit the nail on the head. Some people don't deserve to have a job. They get a few hundred bucks a month to stay home, and they stay home. Seems like a good deal to me. I'm OK with it.

I've paid the maximum amount into EI for at least the last ten years, and have never seen a dime come back to me. I'm laid off right now, and after my vacation weeks are exhausted, and I am eligible to collect benefits, I plan on doing so. Anyone who would try to tell me I should be "ashamed" of that is way off base. I'll leave it at that. Secondly, people shouldn't feel obligated to work for companies who they know to be poor employers any more than companies should be obligated to hire people who they know to be poor employees. Maybe if the apprentice told the potential employer, "Look, I need the work but your reputation as far as how you treat your employees is poor." then maybe the employer would take some time to think about how he does business. Maybe he would decide he lacks some of the inter-personal skills required to successfully manage employees.

All that is required is a regular fishing licence.

Unless we smarten up and elect ourselves a government that doesn't accept political contributions from the oil and gas companies, we certainly never will see a change. However, considering most major elections are won by the candidate who spends the most money, it's unlikely we'll ever see a government that isn't a lapdog of big business. How could it be more obvious that the gas companies are guilty of collusion? We're taught that the beauty of a free-market system is that sellers providing the same goods or services will be forced to compete, price being one area in which they attempt to out-do each other. Why do we not see any evidence of this dynamic? They claim the frequent increases in the cost at the pump is "driven by market forces," or that they exist on "a razor-thin profit margin." Nonsense. Their profits often increase by several hundred percent from year to year. The really scary thing is the realization that these people will never be happy with how enormous their profits are. They'll always want more, and making less will simply not be an option. A lot of people will be eager to suggest that what the government needs to do is lower taxes on gas. Lower taxes are great, but there's a couple of problems there. First of all if the government lowers the tax on gas by a penny a litre today, the gas companies would increase price by a penny and a half tomorrow. Let's be realistic. We would never see that break in the form of lower prices at the pump. Secondly, most of the tax on gas is levied at a per litre basis. At one time it was 14.7 cents per litre federally and 10 cents per litre provincially. I'm not sure if that's what it is now. There's also either GST or PST, I forget which one...but my point is that when the price of gas doubles (for example), the overall taxes collected by the government does not double, not even close. For every penny the price of gas goes up, the percentage of tax you pay on a litre of gas goes down. Why should the public coffers be deprived of monies just so profitable corporations can go on making bigger profits? Lower taxes on gas is sadly, not the answer...IMO.

Are these bass you're targeting near your house in season? Sorry, I couldn't resist.