CrowMan

I have the MKA-32 quick release mount for my Terrova. It's solid aluminum and can be locked with a small padlock. The mount is so rock solid that there is virtually no play at all. The tolerances are so tight, that sometimes it's difficult to easily slide off the top plate when removing the motor. I have learned to periodically rub a beeswax candle on the grooves before sliding it back on. Make sure you mount the bottom plate securely. I have heard of some fails where the bracket has ripped right off the bow. Depending on the composition of your bow deck, you may want use a 1/4" aluminum backing plate under the deck, or at the very least oversize SS fender washers. T-nuts will also help keep it secure. As you can imagine, there's considerable stress from a heavy TM when trailering over rough roads or bouncing through rough seas. I have read reports from Lake Erie guys, that regularly fish big water, of the composite material QR mounts cracking...but could just be internet Bull.

Yes, Minn Kota parts are widely available and some excellent repair shops around...Prop Shop, Aikman's.. A foot control (not a necessity, but a must have for me) is $350, if you add it to that used one. Complete package on sale at Cabela's :

Yes, the depth the motor head/prop sits below the surface of the water is completely adjustable on a TM. Longer is always better than shorter. If too short, the prop may not get enough "bite" for maximum power/control. If the water is shallow or extremely weedy where you're fishing, you can bring the motor up higher, as needed. Not sure how high the top of that bow is off the water, but 45" is probably the bare minimum for that boat. A 60" should be fine, if not preferable.

The off brand ones are less expensive.

This is what I use. There are also non OEM ones like Blue Sea at a lower price point. https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/on-board-alternator

I agree with Akrisoner, an 80lb electric TM with a couple of lithiums might be a better investment than hanging a gas kicker on that boat. A lot more versatile...you can still troll with it, and if you wire it up so the big motor charges it when running, should always have enough juice to get you back.

Refers to "re-building" the motor. In layman's terms: Hone....re-surface the cylinder wall (where combustion takes place) by removing a slight amount of metal and "polishing" to create a new surface Re-ring....replace the piston rings to create a better seal to prevent combustion gasses "slipping through" The end result is to restore the compression so you're back to the original power and fuel economy Unless, you have a decent amount of mechanical experience, not something for DIY.

Great show. Met some long time friends, and had some enlightening conversations. Ended up buying a new St.Croix LT stick with the new full pistol grip...hopefully it extends my casting day...before I turn to my fishing partner and say "let's troll for a while". JB's had 25% off on all St. Croix rods. Musky guys are certainly another breed. I often hear the comment on here and elsewhere..."I would never spend more than $100 on a rod or a reel". Meanwhile, I see Musky lures selling for up to $175 a piece...just the lure...lol

https://muskiescanada.ca/en/odyssey/

I Do you have a sub 500fps air rifle or one of the high powered ones ?

Assuming you didn't need a permit to buy that gun, so it shoots at under 500fps. With low velocities, you probably want to get the heaviest pellet possible. I believe you can get .177's over 8g. At that velocity, a pointed or hollow point pellet really isn't going to make a difference, a domed pellet will probably actually have more knock down power. Even then I'm not sure how lethal a .177 at sub 500fps will be on larger blacks or greys...it will definitely have to be a head shot. As a kid, I once shot a rabbit with a .177 Crosman air rifle..didn't kill it but it was stunned enough where I could walk up to it. Fired another pellet between the eyes at point blank range, and it didn't even penetrate the skull. Ended up having to "manually" put it out of its misery. Not sure if you're in the city, but if not, I personally find a good ol' 22LR with 38g hollow points the most effective way of dispatching pests, without getting the neighbours excited...reliably deadly and reasonably quiet.

Beautiful photos. Wow ! That's a huge Bull Trout. I guess your record will always stand as I understand there is now a zero retention limit for that species in Alberta. I've caught them in BC, along with Dolly Varden Trout that look similar. As you know, they're both actually Char...very pretty fish. If you can find a photo of it, please share.

I saw this, and couldn't resist adding it to the thread...

Originally Chrysler, but then in the 90's they became a stripped down Mercury, usually sold with "value priced" boat packages like Bayliners. Common quote that you hear..."may the Force be with you, but not behind you".. I believe that Evinrude "Tracker" in the photos is the same...a value version made for Bass Pro Shops. IMO the brand's not as important as if it's been well maintained and parts are readily available. At the price point you're looking at, I don't think you're going to find Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki. If you're reasonably mechanically capable yourself or have a relationship with a trustworthy mechanic, then go for it. If not, you may want to save up and "cry once"..

Yeah, I've heard a liitle about this on the news...sounds like a pot that's ready to boil over. I guess when there's that much money involved it turns up the temperature. Doesn't sound like there are any easy answers. Who knew that baby Eels were fetching $5000 a kg ! Here's a quote that speaks to the situation: "It is the most wicked fisheries problem I have ever witnessed in my life, because literally you can go and buy a dollar store net and you can make thousands of dollars," Fuller said.

From your description, it seems you were up the Lower Moon River heading to Moon Falls. Yes, there can be a substantial current in that stretch, especially in spring. And yes, Walleye do come in there...that's why it's a sanctuary. There are more subtle currents throughout the archipelago, in neck down areas and channels between the islands. G Bay experiences a phenomena called a "seiche"...it's like a freshwater tide caused by the wind. A prolonged west blow can temporarily raise the water level by over a foot, a prolonged east blow can drop the level the same amount. All this water rushes in and out of the myriad of channels creating current areas...these spots attract predators feeding on the baitfish (in turn attracted by zooplankton) being swept by. If I can give you two pieces of advice....First, journey out and away from the Lower Moon and Woods Bay...it gets pounded. The further you get from the marinas and launches, the better the fishing. Those reefs out by the outer band of islands always have consistently good fishing..On a calm day, go out even further to those offshore reefs...few complaints about slow fishing out there.. Second, a lot of the reefs/structure is smooth featureless worn rock...ignore those. Look for structure that has broken rock, preferably boulders of between softball to basketball size...if there's cabbage weed nearby, even better... Enjoy....there's enough fishing and places to explore in that area to fill several lifetimes.

Barry, I think you need to get out fishing. It sounds like it's been a long winter in Alberta.

Lots of Cisco in G Bay...usually mark them right around the thermocline. How do you think the Muskies get that big in the Bay ? LOL

Definitely the high lip of a large crater. If it was a "landing craft", it would be much larger that any structure created on Earth. Considering the moon has a diameter of 3500km, by my estimation it would be at least 50km across. Timely, as I've recently been watching the new Netflix series "3 Body Problem"....maybe it's the alien invasion...

More often than not, it's the transducer cable (that runs along the shaft of the TM) that got pinched or damaged. Been there, done that. Easy fix.

Navionics certainly works. App on your phone. Newboro Lake is part of the Rideau system so the main navigation channel is well marked with buoys. There are 3 other lakes to the south that you can boat to from Newboro without passing through locks....all with good fishing.

Sent you a message.

I had an island cottage just off the north channel of the Moon for a number of years. The Bass and Pike fishing is as good as, if not better, than anywhere else in Southern Ontario. I had some submerged rockpiles waypointed out along the outer islands where I could catch 10 Smallies on 10 casts. In the early season, the entire archipelago is over-run with Pike...many of a good size. Musky took a lot of time and effort...but the record Ken O'Brien fish came from right there. Some say the next world record is swimming around those islands right now. Walleye were harder to come by...but they usually were big. Bowfin and Gar also kept me entertained. I would even down-rig for Chinooks in the deep trench off 12 Mile Bay. Yes sir...rocks are everywhere. The charts don't even show 1/4 of them. Woods Bay isn't too bad, but Iron City Bay can be a nightmare for the unexperienced. You don't want to stray off the marked navigation routes without being hyper vigilant. On the plus side, the water is very clear..so with one eye on the GPS and one eye on the water...I was down to maybe one new prop a year...LOL

Yep. That's too funny. The slip with the boat that has the red canvas top was where I kept my boat. Brian Beaumler...when he was building a G Bay cottage for his TV show...used to keep his boat right behind mine. Sarah Richardson had her place just up the bay from my cottage. On some days it seemed like all the HGTV personalities were hanging out there..lol. And even Chris, who owns the marina, had a career in film and TV production, before he switched gears and came back to settle down in his hometown. The place was like friggin' Hollywood North...hehe

Actually MinnKota is still mfg'd in Minnesota