CrowMan

+2...Dave only says what needs to be said that's for sure. I'd like to spend a couple of hours sniffing around that basement...it's like a "closet of curiousities".... ..and the Philipino food next door is pretty good too..

Hence my wish...

If you're primarily a Walleye angler, you may want to consider the new MEGA Live Imaging Target Lock feature from MinnKota/HumminBird. This allows you to spot lock the TM, but still independently aim the MEGA Live scanning...and even keep it locked on a target (fish or structure) even the though the boat is swinging around maintaining its fixed position. Nice option, as it negates the decision whether to install your scanning transducer on your TM or on a seperate pole mount. I may be wrong, but I believe it's currently only available on the Ultrex....however, Ultrex also offers cable steer if you want to "hunt" Bass. Wish Garmin would offer this on their imaging transducers and TM's.... as I've been kicking around what to do...

If your battery runs out of juice while the Ulterra is deployed, it can turn into a bit of a nightmare. That was case with the first generation, not sure if they have rectified this issue.

I'm not sure about the figurehead, but a set of these hanging from the transom of the boat might be fitting...😆 Reminds me of a guy that I sometimes see fishing out of Bronte for Chinooks. Nice Wellcraft with four sets of riggers on it...the name of the boat written across the transom...BALLS DEEP

So true...it's just like Canadian Tire..does anyone actually but their tires there..

BPS must be doing something right, because they continue to open new stores. However, I think fishing gear has now just become a sideline for them...they don't make much effort into stock selection or marketing of tackle. It's become a 'lifestyle" brand...the greater profit margins are in clothing, bedspreads, BBQ's, deer antler chandeliers, etc, etc. I often see suburban soccer moms in the check out line with a shopping cart full of stuff...and not single item has anything to do with catching a fish. The same ladies that wear LuLuLemon pants but have never seen the inside of a yoga studio.

Not uncommon for fish in captivity...usually the result of poor water quality. https://www.acaquarium.com/tips/popeye-fish/#:~:text=What is Popeye Fish Disease%3F&text=Popeye disease (otherwise known as,as well in certain circumstances.

IMO, the OMNR and NYSDEC should close that fishery completely (at least for a few years) to give the fish at least somewhat of a chance of recovering. It would be a real shame to forever lose the genetics of that magnificent strain that once regularly produced 60" + fish.. Trolling especially really takes a toll even with the best of c&r practices...

Unfortunately the Musky fishery on the Larry has been in serious decline for a couple of decades, and now is pretty well on its death bed... https://bluefishcanada.ca/the-death-of-the-st-lawrence-musky-fishery/ If you're looking to target them in Eastern Ontario you'll have much better odds on the Ottawa River. Invest in spending a day with guide John Anderson...it'll dramatically shorten the learning curve.. https://ottawarivermuskyfactory.com/

Dakota...11 year warranty...$999 Flypower...5 year warranty...$399 So... after 5 years, you buy a brand new one and if it lasts longer it's a bonus. Also, I would imagine that in 5 years the price will be lower....or perhaps some newer technology will be the shiny object that catches your eye...just sayin' That being said, at this point I'm leaning towards the AOLithium. When considering the feature-set (I like the BlueTooth monitoring) and construction, it seems to offer the best overall value..but haven't pulled the trigger yet..

Yeah...it's crazy, just in the past month or so that I've been looking, the prices have dropped almost week by week. I think I've got it narrowed down to a few brands, but welcome more input. Many thanks to those who have shared their experiences.

I retired in October, and when in town have been doing deliveries for Meals on Wheels twice a week. One of my buddies turned me on to the organization. I get to meet a lot of really interesting people that often are isolated but have a lot of fascinating life experiences to share. It's something that I've really come to enjoy. It says something about our society that so many elderly people are "alone", and just need someone to chat with for a few minutes. Even though a lot of seniors have families, they're often somewhat abandoned by the children they spent their lives raising.

Shopping around for a lithium battery for a 55 lb MinnKota. I usually use this motor on a little 12ft jon boat that I pack into back lakes for trout...hence the weight and capacity of a lithium are very appealing. The EcoWorthy 100ah are selling for $479 cdn directly from them or Amazon. This compares to almost double the money for the comparable Dakota product...which seems to be the leading brand. Spec's seem the same. I'm always skeptical when I see such a price disparity. I understand that "price" and "value" are two different things...usually going by Benjamin Franklin's old adage of "the bitterness of poor quality remains much longer than the sweet taste of a low price". I have a 10ah Dakota lithium that I have used for 4 seasons of ice fishing with a Helix, and no complaints. Anyone have experience with EcoWorthy ? Or other lithium batteries in general ?

https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/10857139--hiding-them-in-the-grass-illegal-bass-fishing-near-burritts-rapids-nets-2-people-big-fines/ IMO, the penalty was pretty light considering they knew exactly what they were doing...intent to break the law.

We did the trip a few years back. We went mid-summer so most of the fish had left the river and were back out in the ocean. That being said the fishing was incredible ! Quantity and quality. We stayed in Shippagan and fished the waters around the Lemeque and Miscou Islands. This area is just to the north of the mouth of the Miramichi, and mostly protected from the open ocean. We would cruise along the shoreline looking for gulls diving on bait balls (herring) on the surface, and cast into them. Brought all kinds of lures, but the best bait was the local favorite...1oz white bucktail jig tipped with a chunk of mackerel (which you can easily catch by the bucketful). Best top water lures were 9" RoostaPops in silver/blue. In the ocean, using currents and tides to their advantage, these fish pull hard. You will not be over- gunned bringing Musky tackle. It was like catching 20lb Smallmouth. My arms hurt for weeks after this trip..lol We also surf fished from shore. The beaches of Miscou Island are absolutely beautiful and loaded with Stripers. We wet waded using 9ft rods that we would use for pier fishing salmon in Ontario. Stripers are great eating...firm mild white meat that holds up on the BBQ without falling apart. Between that and the local lobster, oysters, mussels and clams...we had a seafood smorgasbord every night. I know you're thinking of going in the spring...but the east coast during summer is beautiful....no rain or storms in the entire week we were there.

I must say purely from the perspective of entertainment as a viewer or fan, I do like the MLF format. It makes it more like watching a sporting event similar to a NFL or NHL game. You get to see the personalities and emotions as the participants struggle to try outwit and strategize against their competitors. Each competitor being able to see in real time exactly what the others are doing certainly adds a big element of drama...rather than just the focus on the end results as in traditional tournaments. I mean you don't watch (or play) a hockey game and wait for the very end to find out the score. Just my opinion as a viewer...and the fact that the fish are instantly released where they were caught is a good thing too. I think this format is also more presentable to the " anti's " who get all over tournaments with their attitude "of torturing living things strictly for sport"... I'm not a tournament guy...I fish for other reasons, so I can't comment about what it's like as a participant, but as viewer I do like MLF...before it came along I would rarely tune in to watch a tournament. I realize that in amateur tournaments this format is a challenge...but with certified sealed scales or tape measures, cell phones with a camera, and i-pads (and some ethical behavior on the part of the participants) I think it could be done.

Looks very cool...is the material carbon fiber ? Or a metal mesh in epoxy ? I've always been partial to the warmth and feel of organic materials...but paired with some of the bougie looking centrepins out now, that could definitely bring the bling.

"Gord is a tournament and TV fisherman. Does he have any scientific studies to back his opinion." Gord has a Masters Degree in Resource Management and spent over 30 years working for the OMNR as a Senior Fisheries Biologist. I think he may not only have read but also participated first hand in more than a few scientific studies. I'm not sure how "they would be outlawing most tournaments" ? The thought is that tournaments run on a catch-record-release basis are less detrimental to the resource.

I think the trend is definitely towards "catch-record-release" tournaments like Major League Fishing. With smaller amateur tourneys finding volunteers is a challenge, but with the advent of tech now available they're not necessarily needed either. https://thefishingwire.com/dispersal-patterns-of-post-tournament-bass/ On the other hand, the proposed reg changes should now allow for tournaments during c&r only seasons...like the newly opened early Bass season in Zone 20 (Lake O). When organizers initially approached the OMNR last year, they were quickly shot down as the current reg's don't allow for measuring and photos.

Here's an example of what I deal with... I blotted out his name and face...not sure why, it's not like I'm protecting the innocent. I'm in Zone 18, we have a slot for Walleye...only fish between 40 and 50cm can be retained..

You wouldn't believe what goes on at the FB group page for my cottage lake.. One yahoo regularly posts photos of himself holding up a Bass in May or early June...with the caption "oh don't worry it was released". Another clown posts photos of out of slot size Walleye...on a stringer, standing on his dock...with the caption "let go to swim another day". The worst of it is the little old ladies that mostly frequent the page...then post comments like.."nice catch" or "great fish". When I post letting them know they're actually breaking the law...they call me out for being a "Karen" ...and then the same little old ladies complain "the fishing isn't like it used to be" Jeez...

The Crappies in my lake luv the pink..

. These are really exciting times for new tech... There's a new battery technology in the pipeline...graphene. Some of the major automakers are already heavily investing in it as the next wave after lithium. 3 X the capacity and 70 X the charging speed compared to lithium. You will be able to achieve a full charge quicker than filling your tank with gas... Canada is one of the leading producers of graphite (graphene is a derivative). There is a publicly traded company called Northern Graphite that may be worth looking at, if you have some play money in your portfolio.