Barry Willis

Heck of an idea Misfish, I've used coffee grinders for a lot of things but I never would have thought of that.

I like it so much I had to come back on the computer and look at it again. I'm the same way when it comes to cork handles. Looks like something I'd own, lol.

It looks beautiful Misfish, I love everything about it, especially the cork handle. He obviously knows what he's doing when it comes to building custom rods. Very nice reel by the way. It looks as though they were indeed made for each other.

Speaking of 10lbs. I'm kicking myself in the butt for not taking up my Dad's hunting and fishing buddy's offer. He had his hunting and fishing camp, he called it, but it looked more like a lodge on Manitoulin Island. He told me, and this was just steps from the door in his harbor, for every walleye I caught over 10lbs. he would give me 25 cents, for everyone I caught under 10lbs. he would give me ten dollars. Sure wish I'd went. My Dad was actually born (in 1919) and raised in Little Current. He said back then you could walk down main street with a 30lb. northern or 6lb smallmouth and no one would pay any attention to it as most everyone caught them that size.

Hey Kickingfrog, I want to see at least a 7.2 walleye to equal that photo of your bass. Haha. Tight lines to all.

I can relate, I'm chomping at the bit myself. I'm going to concentrate on lake trout as they move to shallower water once the ice is off and with that extra boost of oxygen they put the feed bag on big time.

Thanks for that Snidley; my biggest steelhead was 18.5 lbs. 1969.

You're right about that. A lot people don't realize is that the little debit machine that you enter your card on, the business where you are making your purchase pays a rental fee to the bank for these and sometimes depending on their contract they are charged for each transaction. So in other words some vendors are unlikely to have one.

Howdy Kickingfrog; First and foremost congratulations to your son and team. As far as the vendors. It's kinda hard to say. Personally, I wouldn't take a chance on it.

In the past I have found very detailed topographical maps showing depths of course of lakes and rivers at local libraries.

This has been bugging me for years and years. Back in I believe it was 1983 or 84 Bob Izumi and I were fishing off the mouth of Colpoy creek and he told me there was a hatchery that took some chinook salmon eggs and raised the water temperature to a certain degree for a certain length of time thus rendering the fish infertile, so in other words all they did was eat and grow They were released into lake Huron. I'm wondering if any of you anglers ever caught one of these big guys or know of anyone who has? and if so how big? I never pursued them as where would you start on such a large body of water. If one was caught I'm sure it would have been purely a lucky accident if that makes sense. They would have grown to mammoth size. Years ago I saw one caught just under 90lbs at the mouth of the Kenai river in Alaska. Thank You.

Haha; good for you. I like that. As the old saying goes - all fishermen are liars except for you and I. but to tell you the truth, I'm not to sure about you. Another one I posted a few months back (you may have seen it) what's the difference between hunters and fishermen? Hunters lie and wait, fishermen wait and lie.

Holy smokes, that's a big smallie. Good for you Man. There's not doubt it would be over 6lbs. I remember when I was a kid I saw a 6 pounder hanging on a wall in a lodge. It's been my dream since to catch one that big but it isn't looking very promising. It must have give you quite a scrap. Pound for pound it's hard to beat the fight of a smallie. On that same trip I caught a 3lb. the way that thing fought I thought I had my 6 pounder.

Are you saying the photo weighed 7.2lbs or the fish LOL?

If I was to go back to the lake I caught that small mouth bass. I guarantee I could set a Canadian record. I've seen them far more than twice the size. Cruising in pairs. It's just a small natural lake in a deep valley. Never any chop on the water, always calm. Due to soil erosion along the bank trees have fallen into the water making a perfect habitat for them to hide but it's a bear to get over them without sending warning signs. And they see me sooner than I see them. The only way I caught this one was to go when it was raining (I knew where it was, I had seen it several times before, always in the same place under a fallen cedar tree) So with the rain pelting down I knew it couldn't see above the surface and see me. So after much slipping and sliding and sending vibrations into the water I waited for forty minutes and tossed out a jitter bug and he grabbed it right away. Unfortunately, for me any way someone bought the surrounding land lake included. With in minutes of going there to fish they are in their boat to get you off their property. And no permission is granted.

I hope I'm not boring the dickens out of you fellas; Yeah I know I need to get out and get a life, A fishing life. Unfortunately in my neck of the woods the ice is too thin and no open water. I thought about taking the Argo out but if it breaks through and won't climb back up on it I'd really be in trouble. I noticed a couple posts in regards to the 300 Mitchell. I'm curious if any one had a 300 Dam Quick. I used to go through at least one closed face reel a month. They looked nice but just didn't last. The guy at the hard ware store in Wiarton kept asking why don't you buy a 330 Quick. This was in the mid to late sixties. I finally told him I couldn't afford one as my only income in my pre teens was selling dew worms at 25 cents a dozen. He talked me into putting $5:00 bucks down and continue paying for it when I could. It was $35:00. I finally got it and what an awesome reel. I used it pretty much every day for years and only had to replace the bail spring twice and I still have it. The only thing I didn't like was the loud clicking as I cranked it. I started keeping it in that position though as there were a couple times when I got a hit and went to set the hook my fingers slipped off the handle and it would wind backwards thus letting the line become slack. I then bought a 300 Mitchell off a friend for $5:00 brand new in the box. How could I not? I'd heard so much about them and seen a lot of other anglers using them. It may sound stupid but at the time I could not get use to it after using the Quick for so long as the bail spun the opposite direction than the Quick. But I still have it and I did eventually get use to it. I wouldn't be afraid to tie into any size fish with the 300 Quick. The Mitchell is no where near as robust or heavy duty. Happy Days.

Thanks for that misfish, I was just going to message you. I didn't even know I could click on them dots. From one old fart to another I am not very computer literate or good with todays electronic gadgets. I recently purchased a Helix 7 g3 and will likely need someone younger to show me how to use it. Can't wait. Like yourself I have always been partial to Lowrance/ Eagle. Hummingbird has come a long way over the years I done my homework and it is an awesome unit. Some law enforcement departments south of the border use them to locate as sad as it is, the bodies of drowning victims. Any way, keep tying them Old Yella's. nice work.

I can relate with my arthritic hands and being far sighted. And yikes is right. What I now use is now for them little screws and bail springs I drop on the floor is one of those telescopic magnets available at most automotive stores. It's saved my butt quite a few times.

On my last long winded post I mentioned I had caught a 7.2lb small mouth bass, It should have read 5.2lb. That's what happens when I'm typing without wearing my binoculars.

Even though it was meant as a joke you brought up a very good point there Akrisoner. I have lost count. I collect antique rods and reels which I seldom use. I display them in my man cave. I have six (modern ones of course) I use depending where I'm fishing and what I'm fishing for. Whether it be a small stream, river or off the east or west coast, it's all I need. I spare no expense on rods and reels, so why wouldn't I know how many I have. So counting them and not my wife's I have sixty eight in total. I can assure you I am much more than an apparent fisherman. I've been doing it almost daily since 1961. Not to brag but I still hold to this day a few records. I Have fish on my wall that few will see as big. !8 1/2 lb. rainbow - Colpoy, Bay, 42 lb. Chinook, Colpoy Bay, 14 a 9 and a 7lb. Koho, Colpoy Bay. The first known to exist and caught. 7.2 lb. small mouth bass Georgian Bay, 8 1/2 lb. x 2 largemouth, Stokes bay. 1981, one oz. shy of 18 lbs. Bull Trout, Lower Kananaskis Lake Alberta. And still is the record Bull Trout caught. The Provincial fish of Alberta. The list goes on. So yeah, myself and my family take our fishing very seriously. Any way enough about that. I hope I haven't bored you and my fellow anglers too awfully much. Thanks for reading.

I'm just two fishing poles shy of being hosted on the tv show hoarders. - LOL.

Thank you very much for that Lew. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Also getting forgetful, it should have read (holy smokes I'm getting a LITTLE long in the tooth Haha)

This was introduced to me over sixty years ago (holy smokes I'm getting a little in the tooth Haha) any way just plain old vaseline. It's all I've ever used since. Preventive medicine. On the other hand I have reels I've used for decades and used a lot in all kinds of weather and never had them apart and still work as smooth as new. Most reels are sealed very well and keep the dust out that cuts into the bearings and gears. Depending what they were lubricated with at the factory it could break down and lose it's viscosity over time. It certainly won't hurt as Akrisoner mentioned a good cleaning and then lubricate. Any way I swear by vaseline, you don't need to apply a lot, it's water proof and doesn't stiffen up in the winter.

I totally agree Shag, What's the point if you are going to leave the bones in. I can fillet a perch a lot quicker the old traditional way. Not in ten seconds as he claims which as you mentioned is Bull but still quicker and easier and no bones. Who wants them?