Burtess

So I dropped my oldest daughter off at the boyfriends yesterday morning, conveniently he lives across the street from a local fishing hole so I figured I would fish solo for a couple of hours. Started out by an island and gradually worked my way out to the main basin, not even a fish marked so didn't set the hut up. Settled in an area of about 9-10 foot of water where I marked a couple fish. Next couple of hours was a bunch of these: And quite a few of these: A small pike too... Then there was a lull in the action...... thats when I caught this lady, a good size for this location: All fish were released to fight another day (and as are the rules here). Beat going to the movies like the rest of the family lol..... Burt

On Wednesday I will make my first trip to Simcoe for lakers. We will be walking out so close to deep water is good. Looks like we will either go out from Line 2 in Oro or from Tyndale Park on the other side closer to the base of the bay. How is parking at these locations and which would you go for the best chance of action? Or any other suggestions for location? Thanks!! Burt

I just use the frozen Portuguese sardines for pike, you can get them at most grocery stores (except Metro it seems). Burt

Thanks for all the experiences and info. I think I will go the dehydrator route so I can do this all year. I am looking at the Excalibur dehydrators, they seem to have a good review online. Anyone use one of these? Burt

Use them all the time for ice fishing pike. They are pretty soft when dethawed so it is helpful to use a quick strike rig to make sure they don't rip a piece off. Pike will hit amazingly large baits. Routinely catch 20-24" pike on 7 to 8" sardines. I want to try a big mackerel and see what happens..... Burt

I want to start making jerky. Are you making your jerky with a food dehydrator or a low temperature smoker (like a Little Chief)? As I understand I would probably not be able to use a Little Chief in the winter due to the temp control problems (not enough power). Of the available dehydrators, which do you use or what is the best? Read of Excaliber or Nesco's etc... Thanks! Burt

Just relaying what the garage door dude told me (he put WD40 on it!)

Don't know how cold it is where you are but the gent that installed my garage door told me to only use a very light spray lube (like WD40 or light penetrating oil) on the rollers and shaft. He said anything heavier will get really thick in the cold and make the door stick or cause extra work for the opener. Good luck. Burt

Sadly, this is the truth.... all those crash tests are against a stationary object so the force of impact is 2X the crash force of the tested vehicle. If you hit another vehicle head on, usually the heavier one wins no matter how many air bags blow up around you. Even if I hit a Smart Car head on with my Cruze, I am going to push that thing back in the opposite direction. Of course if I head on with a pick-up, I am getting the worst of it. The strangest thing I think I have seen was up in the Elmira area when I had to stop for a line of turkeys crossing the road, this went of for a couple of minutes as I counted over 40 of them leisurely walking right in front of my car. Burt

I would say a bad connection as well, there are only like 3 pins on that connector. I just started using a 160 on the ice as well, works great so far, I can see 4 or 5 maggots drop from the surface to the bottom, that really surprised me. Burt

I price matched the 160 portable at CT (with LeBaron price) for $119 + tax. I bought it with the thought that since the portable pack with battery is around $140 by itself so if the actual unit didn't work well I would just sell it cheap, keep the portable pack, and upgrade to a better sonar. I tried it out this past weekend. Works great and can clearly see a 1/64oz tear drop with 2 maggots on it in 20ft of water. It even marks a half dozen maggots slowly sinking to the bottom after chumming the hole! How much better are the more expensive units? Burt

Thats freaking crazy! Resisting arrest?? Doesn't a Police Officer normally tell you he is going to arrest you and then ask you to comply before jumping on you and giving you a beating? There was no time for this kid to resist. I hope the other two get charged too..... Burt

Nice! Back in the summer I spotted one flying over York Rd. in Dundas and almost crashed the van... all I could say was "bald eagle" over and over again... the kids and wife were not as impressed as I I had never seen one in the "wild" before so it was quite exciting for me (and in Dundas as well!!). Burt

Just read that Shades Mills will be open tomorrow, I think I will take her there. Burt

How is the parking situation at Gilford? Or parking at any other recommended area right now on Simcoe? Never fished it.... and we would have to walk out... Burt

My 11yo daughter has been bugging me to get her out but I was hoping Valens or Pinehurst. Neither of those will be open this weekend. How is Belwood for fish volumes? I really need a spot that can give consistent action (like Pinehurst for bluegill). One pike for the day will not do it for her lol.... Burt

Bought a pack of Red Hots as well tonight, but mine have 12 ???? Burt

If I was close to you I would come over with the metal detector but you are quite a trek for me! If you are pretty sure you lost it in the yard, post an ad on Kijiji and see if someone local will help you out with a metal detector. Burt

I am looking for a light weight hunting style boot, little or no insulation for spring / summer / fall bushwacking. When I was in my late teens (late '80's) I had a pair of Kodiak Wilderness Boots. They were super light weight and had just a small amount of insulation, they had very flexible soles and were very comfortable. This is what I am looking for. I have looked at the Danner Jackal II (not much tread on these) and the Irish Setter Upland DSS, both are around 40oz. Also I have seen some Redhead boots that are very light weight but I don't know if the quality is up there with the other Brand names? I am sure Cabelas has some self branded boots that would fit the bill but being no where near a store makes it difficult to evaluate from just a description. Any other suggestions? Thanks, Burt

I don't know if you would call this dangerous game or not but... When I was a kid up in Lions Head with my Opa and father we went a friends farm. Roger took me out in the field and I was having fun hand pumping water from the well into buckets. He started calling his Belgian stallion, Rowdy. You could hear this thing coming up and over the hill. Its mane and tail full of burrs and stuff and from what I remember it was freaking huge and had a lot of hair on it. He stopped right in front of me and Roger threw a pail of water on him. Reared up on his hind legs and scared the bejesus out of me. To this day I will go nowhere near a horse and the wife teases the crap out of me for it.... Burt

Same.... and there is no 1-888 number on the back to call to check the balance, you have to go into the store to check it (I guess we will find out if they work when we shop....) This is the reason I include the receipt with any gift cards that I give, just in case.... Burt

I see the Titans are on sale at TSC for $89.99 right now.... GBW did you get them that cheap recently? I have Titans and they are the best. Although this is her first boyfriend and they have been together for a few months now, you never know how long these things last , so two years out of the boots may be plenty Burt

The daughters 16 year old boyfriend will be going ice fishing with me this season, IMO he has no appropriate footwear. All he wears is work boots (seriously, I don't think he wears anything but those and flip flops lol) and he tells me he wears them snowmobiling etc. and never gets cold feet. I think, wait till he gets them wet.... Kamik Icecrushers are on sale at Sears for $65. They are rated to -50C. I would get him the Titan's but they are over $100 and these may do. Anyone have these boots to give a quick review? Not much useful on line. Kamik Icecrusher Thanks!! Burt

So if I'm fishing late season in really cold temps do I have to warm up the rod more often, should I tape hand warmers to it to keep it warm, or put a wool sock over the handle? What about ice fishing rods? I hope I don't look like a tool whipping them around on the ice to keep them warmed up..... Burt

The Grand at the dam in Paris is only a sanctuary from Oct. 1st to Nov. 30, this is to protect the smallmouth bass that stack up there in the late fall. It is not a sanctuary now, but don't think it would be worth looking for pike there anyway. I have ony caught one at that dam and that was years ago. Burt