Radnine

Lots of pictures guys! Have a good trip and we will look forward to your reports. Jim

Hey Newf, There is a barber in Hamilton named Frank. He has a cottage (or trailer) in camp Ashtibula and hands out their flyer if you talk about fishing while in the chair. He is a fantastic guy and knows the spots. He has been up there for ever so I am sure you'll find him by asking around. I am considering renting a cottage from them in fall. I will look forward to your fishing reports. Jim

Welcome!! I too, used my son as an excuse for spending a fortune and getting into the sport in a bigger way. It has been a great bonder for us and I am hoping that it will pay dividends in the future. Best wishes and again, welcome. Jim

I have used a small Bissell Greeny (i think that is what it is called) that I borrowed off fo a friend. It is essentially a small wet vac with a little soap dispenser put in. It does a reasonable job but tough stains (blood, coffee stains) need to be pre-treated. Good luck! Jim

I am soliciting opinions on air conditioning for older vehicles. I have a 2002 Montana van that I plan to keep. Two summers ago (when it was 5 years old) I put $800 into a new condenser. The air lasted that summer then I could smell something and hear the gurgling over the winter to know that something else had gone for a crap and sure enough, no air this summer. I guess I am debating about getting it fixed again this year. The diagnostic cost itself seems high (filling the system at a cost then seeing where it leaks) then the actual cost of whatever component it is is always stupid expensive. I would happily drop a bunch of money if I thought it would last for another 5 years, but don't want to get into bleeding $800 per year just to be cool. I guess I am asking for input as to: Do people generally bother getting the air fixed? Does anyone know an air conditioning guru? Are there better after-market solutions? How long did your air conditioning last? Thanks in advance, Jim

I think that you got a fantastic deal Cliff, congratulations! You are going to love that boat; It is the perfect size to be fish-able yet economically and ergonomically sound (that means one guy can handle it and it won't cost you a fortune to run ). Nice job. Enjoy. Jim

...plus it will float Jim

I don't have any pictures to prove it but I have snagged just about every thing at one point or another. Last week at Doe I caught the marker string a couple of times. What kills me is that it feels like a fish every time, as does a clam or a piece of bark. I think it is in the fact that those types of snags move a bit What getting snagged so many times has taught me is to not make a big fuss when I get a fish or a snag. Play it cool and you will look like much less of a tool when it turns out to be an old boot. Jim P.S. Good morning and happy fathers day to all!

Yah, your right. It was a crappy response on my part. Sometimes I should just stay away from the computer. Jim

Your post raises a couple of questions. That is quite a dichotomy that you have set up there. You have gone from the cheapest boat you can buy to the most expensive without so much as acknowledging that there are other manufacturers (or more than four marinas). What company do you work for by the way that buys so many boats? And is the boat you are looking at for you or your multi-boat company? Jim

Thanks for posting those beauties. Jim

Oh, that Dave. I was talking to Charlie Wray at the boat show and he was telling me about killing them with the craws as well. I have never used them, but if a tube jig works, why not a plastic that actually looks like prey? I will probably get some for this year. Jim

I fully admit to not knowing an awful lot when it comes to fishing, but I tend to pick my rods for the fish they will handle rather than the lures they throw. Is this not right? (he asked rhetorically because he's not about to change) Jim

Ya, but have you thrown a ton - 80 at darts, huh, HUH??? (I have, once) I worked my way down to a 13.7 before giving the game up for the sake of my mental health (golf not darts). I have to golf well to enjoy it and that wasn't happening enough. Fishing on the other hand, is enjoyable whether I catch fish or not (plus the people on the golf chat forums are complete dicks) Jim (congratulations on quite an accomplishment)

So, there are hookers in Texas? Jim

Doe Lake, near Katrine. Sorry, I forget that there are a bunch of them. Jim

Dave who?

I found it to have a poor wiggle at slow speed and the paint looked cheap and tawdry. And it couldn't catch fish worth a darn. The only reason it has any success at all is because it was cheap and readily available. Sorry, I've lost track of which one I was talking about.

Sorry that these are a bit late. This stringer full is from a night on Rice Lake (Thursday June 11th). They were caught mostly from drifting with yellow buck tail jigs near the tip of an island. We (seven of us) got three more the next night then lost the next two days to weather (God's way of saying "You've had enough") This lonely fellow was taken from Doe lake Last weekend. The bite was super slow (full of Mayflies?) but we all managed to get one or two like this so we were able to enjoy a feed. He was caught on a minnow tipped gold eye jig while trolling very slowly. We found them on sonar and worked them with everything but they were being pretty tight lipped. It is a funny thing you know and goes back to JohnF's post about equipment; I've got boxes full of lures, as did everyone there, yet we didn't use anything other than jigs and worm harnesses. And so did all of the locals that we talked to (who, like us by the way, kept going back to the same spot every night and day, only to be rejected). Jim

Hi JohnF and all, I have two identical set-ups for Walleye. They are 6'6" Med-light/fast St Croix Triumphs with 1500 Daiwa Excelers. They are new this year and have worked very well thus far. For smallies I use a 7' Cabelas Tourney Trail, med/fast, with a 2500 Exceler. For trolling I have a 7' Bionic Blade from Bass Pro. It is advertised as Med/fast but is stiffer than the tourney (thus the use as a troller). It also is paired with a 2500 Exceler (when I find something that I am comfortable with I tend to stick with it). The rods are all between $55 and $70 and the reels are all around the $75 mark. Jim

This is good advice. What is the placement rate after grad? Not to pee in your cornflakes, but every Kid that doesn't want to take math in grade 12 is signing up for police foundations or firefighting. Is the govy paying for this (EI re-training) by chance? Jim

Welcome aboard!! Good luck this weekend, we are off to Doe Lake. Jim

I just bought my first minnow trap. I know that you throw a piece of bread in it and put it in the water but I am wondering what water? Do I put it in the lake that I am fishing or do I have to go off site and throw it in a stream or creek? Thanks in advance for the help! Jim

I just did a google search to find out what a jig and pig even is My question now is how many people actually use pork rinds (as opposed to plastic tips). Jim (the thread jacker)

Love Hula Poppers and Jitterbugs. I have a bunch of both. I have found that the hooks get tangled on both lures and have taken to removing the belly hook on both or putting a substantially smaller one on. Still my favourite type of fishing though. Jim