Moosebunk

Can't escape karma doods! Can't run, hide or turn and fight it. It's a total go-with-the-flow cosmic crapshoot that keeps your world spinning 'round ya either in an forward pos or back neg. And some days she blows! Trucking through town at 8:30am. As usual all kiddies are rushing off to school, drive-thru is jammed, traffic is moving geriatric and there's no way to get parking within a half mile of the downtown Timmies. So I pull up to a spot that gets out of everyone's way and rush in for a coffee, I have to get the boat and truck up on half of the sidewalk. Problem solved... have done this countless times before, and the world can continue to turn. But yup... A Doink is waiting... Only zippin' my slip into the Timmies when the next lady through the door says, "I tried flaggin' ya down but youuuuu're fast. You're getting a parking ticket." "Expletive!!!" I says... And rush out the door. "Dooooood!!! C'mon! W.T.H!!? Five minutes in the Tim's!!! I pull out of everyone's way here with the boat!!!" "You're on the sidewalk." Doink Traffic Cop Extra-ordinaire says. "You're not out of the way of the kids using the sidewalk to go to school." "THEY CAN GO AROUND! They've got half the sidewalk! I'm like five minutes getting a coffee." "You're parked on the sidewalk" and Doink hands me a ticket... "YOU'RE ___ expletive ___ RIDICULOUS!!!" yells I into Doink's face. So I leave my rig there anyways and go get my coffee, now $25 in debt. Hoping the next time I see him is at triage in the ER!!! Cruising away I take a sip of my Joe. BLAHHH!!! Why Gawd??? Double Double with milk, how hard is that??? How does two cream no sugar register in someone's head when you ask for a double double with milk. Arrrrrrrghhhh!!! Basically the drive to the launch I'm half fuming. Steam coming out my ears, Devil horns growing out of me noggin'. Just about there I pull off for my turn and find the access gated.......... ( do I need to put an expletive here? ) Plan B there is. No probs. I got a good back-up. Arriving at the lake the launch was a wee bit shallow so I pushed The Bomber off the bunks and got adrift a little. Rocking the boat in some weird way it just shimmied towards shore and when I thought it was about close enough I leapt off the bow. I suck. Getting old or something... because I suck. And I missed the shore and got a big right foot soaker. Parking ticket. Gated launch. Crap coffee. Soaker. Only been awake about two hours and hating life this day. So while parking the truck I get to trying to calm myself down. Thinking that what will come next is, I'll be cruising down the lake and hit something that rips my skeg off, or... karma will have mercy, it will switch, and I will slay fish. It did switch. Took a couple hours... but it did. It was a slay. Quiet inland lake, search mode first, as I have probably never fished bass nor for certain this lake quite this late in fall. Found them grazing in 44C in a couple of areas. The smallie fishing was "Off da Hook!" Boat likely away for the winter and long rods waiting for their turn this week. The ice cometh man!!! End.

When they changed the chassies on the Renegade and most Skidoo's for 2004 there were some notable differences from my 2003 old style Renegade to the new Renegade. Fortunately I did get the chance to ride a 2004 (or maybe 2005) and compare a little. The newer Renegades really felt a little more like trick bikes. To me, they'd respond more to any leaning, in both hardpack or powder. Even though a smaller feel, shorter seating and more compact look, they'd dig into powder a little more too I found. The new Chassies really had jump on the giddy-up. The old chassie shaped much like the front end of a Seadoo kinda rode up higher though, had room for a passenger and felt a little more stable overall. Both are cool, and IMO if buying that kind of sled ever again, I'd go back to Skidoo. Never reached top end on the newer Renegade but with a 145 track and 1 3/4 inch lugs on the old it did top out for me at 187km/hr on the ice road. May have got a km or two more out of it, but it was spooky going that fast on ice. In powder, my buddy Stevie Z was impressed when his 1000 Apex with 2 1/2 inch lugs topped out at 117km because it is so big it digs a trench, while the Renegade did float up higher and cruise by him at 136km/hr. By about 5000km I think with most Skidoo's on average, you begin to worry about engine issues starting up. Mine around 4500 started running too rich because of a hose issue leaking extra fuel back into a carb. What should have been an easy fix I thought, seemed to involve a few trips back to the shop. Other than that, with regular maintenance the Renegade did me well. It was excellent overall on fuel mileage, surprising friends of mine that would ride with me. It had big Bomby balls and for a 600 gave my friend Jer's 700 Polaris Classic and Howie's 800 Summit a good test. Be sure to test drive, and even let idle for a good long time to make sure it holds an even RPM. Make sure you get to start it from a cold start to see how difficult or not it may be, and if there's any little specific tricks that the sled prefers you do. If satisfied, go for it. Renegade's are stylin' bikes.

Wicked stuff Dana. Enjoy seeing the old pics... and congrats on the new one.

Fantastic account of a great time spent with an old friend. Enjoyed that Chris. Thanks.

Wee bit of a PIA eh Joey? But momma nature took care of the most dangerous part for ya.

Holy get to work Jen!!! That's a load of meat to slice and dice. Good fishin' darlin'!!! Some real jumbos caught too.

Long rods first.. then the short. Am looking forward to the ice in a small way.

I feel for the boy and his living family... Grandpa at 64 should have known better I would think. Tragic it is.

Solid fishing FF... 14lb'er is certainly a beauty for the boat dood, and good on ya for even finding a few. As Dave says, it's been a tough bite for many.

Good lookin' bow dood!

PVR'd a crudload of 'em shows past couple days. Will have to see what all the fuss is aboot!

Some solid fish lad!!! Great 2012. That smallie is the gem of 'em all man! Good luck in the 2013.

Great show dood! Love bows, and now is the time for them.

The pic makes the joke better Dan.

Any mice in this house eventually get to the attic just above the garage. Up there is a trap that only needs emptying twice a year. They drown in anti-freeze and don't decompose/smell. Since putting it up there, there hasn't been any need for any other traps in the house. Paul... you've always got something weird to post.

Cliff that was a great report of what was one interesting and awkward weekend of knock-offs, tangle ups, twisted ankles and dead batteries... and a few missed fish. AWESOME SHEEPSHEAD JOE!!! And some good eyes too fellas! The 23lb'er made the net. It's a caught fish. Live release record in the books.

Would gladly get you out next fall for a day Shane. And yes, I'd really like that second chance on the ice with ya. Go man!!! That is the place for the giants. Got a good plan for an ice trip coming. Summer's gar pics, Leah's walleye pics. Favorites of the YEAR!!! Thanks again all.

Four fingers is 56 inches Wayne. You're awesome BIG man. Solid muskie regardless the yardage of the thing.

The Tundra's are great Simon. They're great work horses, not too heavy and with good speed for your intended need. If buying a sled myself I'd likely go that route too. Bravo with no suspension is starting to kill the back... that Tundra is the next step up with some more engine and creature comforts. About $3500 more though... Don't like the Tundra seating as much and wish they'd either extend it or make some sort of cargo feature to the back but hey, you'll be riding smooth on a good engine. Rotax has been decent for me in the past. And if towing your gear that'll do just fine. You'll be loving the snow this year.

Awesome!!! Cool thing is, he's little and getting the chance to do the Disney things suited to little. He'll get a little bigger Aaron and you can go back and shell out more cash to do bigger rides and things. Then in his teens you'll be back there again, you'll be on Okeechobee and the ocean together beating up on bass and redfish, but still going to Disney and riding Space Mountain and the Tower of Terror together. Boy can catch bass like daddy!

Great eyes Luke. They're just pure chunk.

Mikey your pics are incredible bud. Picturing you sneaking into one of your honey holes, soaking in the surroundings, then getting all stealth mode on them specks. There's no one I know who stalks more backwoods troots than you man. And it shows everytime in your reports. We'll be hitting ice soon.

That's a slick looking combo Aaron. Solid fishing dood! Hoping to catch at least one bow this year too.

Thanks Brian. Wondering... how'd the hunt go over the weekend? The cold get them moving more? Pound for pound the wimpiest fish ever. Although, half the rods running my boards now Mike are good and light, you'd be surprised how many more fish are coming boatside on those sticks still down 20-30 feet and shaking their heads. Thanks Mark. Are ya gearing up for some trips yourself soon? Great having you yahoos aboard. Thanks gang as always.

Doesn't it though Doug! Always kind Jen. But this time... Well... You're right. Order my pants by phone still, Costco for socks and undies, and still wearing my Pearl Jam concert shirt I bought 20 years ago. Girls are much better at co-ordinating and style. Nice to see ya Aaron. Thanks bud! Terry, I tried my darndest to leave ya nothing. Yeah... it was funny on one hand, but I've known people that would wish you dead over fishing. Thank God she's family. Lots of smiles all week, and she took her pics in for some show & tell at school next day. Man, we never grow up eh!?! Kept the phone on (a very rare thing) and an eye out for yas on the water Will. Too bad about the truck. You'll enjoy it. Fish or not it a great way to spend a day with others this time of year.