craigdritchie

It has already happened here. Not on a regular basis, obviously, like in the US, but make no mistake, Canada has its own first-hand experience with mass shootings. You're right though, be thankful where we live and the fact we don't face this every week like our neighbours to the south. Unfortunately for American families, this will not stop until someone in Washington finally grows a set of balls and brings in some level of gun control. That's not a chop at hunters or target shooters (like me), our system works just fine. But simply being handed a free assault rifle when you buy a car, or some jewellery for your girl, or fix your roof is freaking insane, straight up. The US gun culture is completely out of control. No one needs an assault rifle, and no one needs a flame thrower. Sadly, nothing will change in the US because its politicians continue to hide their heads in the sand, and not one of them has the kind of backbone or true leadership to stand up to the NRA and say enough is enough. This latest event will just become one of a long list of shot-up schools, and these 17 young faces will simply become anonymous statistics to a growing list of dead kids. It's really sad.

The Miami Boat Show is coming up in a little over two weeks, which means it's time for the boat builders who will introduce new product there to start taking photos of it. This includes Hydra Sports, which has some interesting, custom-coloured Yamahas to go with their new boats. I especially like the way that last photo looks, shot at night under black light.

Looks to me like an old Dardevle. They made several series of spoons, some of which were long and thin like the one in the first pic. The originals were fairly thick and heavy ... there were many knock-offs made over the years, all of which were thinner and lighter. The originals usually fished better in deep water because they got down to the fish. In the shallows, the imitations often worked better because they wouldn't get stuck on bottom. I believe the Len Thompson company made some very similar spoons ... could be one of them. I have a number of retired lures and reels that now live on bookcase shelves in my office. Every time I look at them, I'm reminded of the great days on the water that they represent. It's nice ... especially in the dead of winter.

If you think pizza tastes good coming off a good pan, try one baked on a stone. It's easily 100x better!! Put the stone in the oven before you turn it on, then pre-heat to 425 degrees. Take the stone out, sprinkle on a pinch or two of cornmeal, and lay on the dough. Paint the dough with olive oil, and bake for 5 - 6 minutes. Haul it back out, put on your toppings, then bake for an additional 10 - 11 minutes. Easy. A proper pizza pan is a great investment. But once you try using a pizza stone, you'll never go back. They're about $20 at any kitchen supply store.

It doesn't really matter whether a boat is welded or riveted, what matters is the quality of the construction. Not slamming Monark boats, since they were okay for what they were. But let's just say they were designed and built with the first priority being ... to meet a certain price point. Any time you do that, there will be compromises. Guys say that welded boats crack. Not the good ones. The Coast Guard search and rescue boats are all welded, and have been for decades. They go out into really nasty stuff all the time, and never have a problem. Every jet in the sky is riveted. Flight at 40,000 feet puts them under unimaginable stress. But again, never even heard of a problem with rivets popping. Welded or riveted doesn't matter as long as you buy quality. No one ever regrets buying high-end product that's built to last. But plenty of people regret buying low-end stuff that was simply built to be inexpensive.

Lowrance has an online service called Genesis that lets you create your own charts. Record your data on an SD card then upload it to the website. You can share the data, or mark it private. Then put the card back in your graph and download your new map. There are lots of YouTube videos that walk you through the process. The maps are only as good as the data you feed into it. Make two or three passes through a bay and its pretty sketchy. After multiple passes over multiple trips it gets to be surprisingly detailed.

I know a guy who had that exact problem. He wound up accidentally crapping in his hood. There aren't even words for how gross that is.

PM sent.

Salmon fishing is interesting if you just want to get a feel for it and have the experience of having done it. But don't expect to go there and actually hook one. It's fly fishing only, and it's generally big water (a lot of fishing is from anchored boats). When it's really on, highly experienced guides on very good water (read $$$$) might see 2 or even 3 fish hooked in a week. Many people go and fish for a week without seeing a single fish,much less hooking one. Atlantic salmon fishing in the Maritimes is a lot of things, but it is not a numbers game. The Miramichi River is not really in the southwest part of the province, it's more to the northeast, so from Saint John you'll be a couple hours' drive to where most of the salmon fishing takes place. Many of the rivers in the southwest are closed to fishing altogether because of extremely low salmon populations. They're kind of like the Atlantic runs here in Ontario, in that they count the fish on one hand. Sad, but that's just the way it is. If you just want to stick a hook into something, then go fish for smallmouth. The Saint John River anywhere around Mactaquac is pretty much infested with them. Most will run 1 to 2 pounds, some will go 3 pounds or so, 4 is a really big fish. But you'll hook a ton of them, and early September is prime time. Fish them the same as you would here - topwaters, Husky Jerks, jigs. There are a few guys who guide in that area, so a Google search and you should find what you need. Early September is a bit late in the year for stripers, but it's been a warm dry summer in the east so you could still find a couple hanging around. The population is recovering after years of collapse, so most fish only run 5 to 8 pounds. Still, they fight like crazy. Live bait works best (worm on the bottom, same as you would fish for walleye), or try large white jigs. It's not really sophisticated fishing. They like to come into river mouths, so key on those spots and fish when the tide is moving. It doesn't matter if it's moving in or out, just so long as you have current. Tide tables will be available everywhere, or just Google search. You can catch a lot of other species in the salt, by the way, mainly flounder and other bottom fish. It can be a lot of fun. Feel free to PM if you want more info.

Why don't you take advantage of the opportunity and go fish salt water? Seriously - you can catch bass here. Salt water fishing is 100x more fun.

Many years ago I had a 100 gallon tank that I used to keep different fish in for a few months apiece. Had a largemouth for a while, which was pretty boring for the most part, it just kind of hung out in the weeds and never did much. Had a rock bass and then a yellow perch, both of which were much more animate and entertaining. The best was a smallmouth I kept for a while, it was completely psychotic. Minnows, goldfish, frogs, grasshoppers, you name it - anything that fell into that tank promptly got hammered. It even attacked the cat. Part of the tank was covered, and the cat would sometimes sit up there and paw at the duck weed that was matted all over the water surface. A week or so after I got the smallmouth, the cat hopped up there like it sometimes would, and started pawing at the weeds. The smallmouth (about 8 inches long) lit up like a Christmas tree as soon as it saw the movement, fins all fully extended and the stripes on its sides went really dark. Cat pawed at another weed, and the bass let him have it. Talk about an awesome topwater hit! Cat freaked out and fell into the tank, splashing water and duck weed all over the place. I rushed over to rescue him, and as soon as my arm went into the water he dug in the claws and basically used me as a springboard. Wife walked in to see this soaking wet cat flying through the house, gallons of water and pond weed all over the wall and the carpet, and my arm bleeding like it went through a wood chipper. Good times! I didn't keep the smallmouth for very long. Feeding it was a never-ending job. I'd toss a dozen full-size goldfish into the tank and five minutes later they would all be gone. Between the non-stop feeding and the endless maintenance to keep the tank clean and healthy, the whole business just consumed way too much time and I wound up getting rid of the tank a few months later. At the time I asked a contact at the Maple MNR office about the legality of keeping fish, and it seemed to be kind of a grey area with them ... I was told anything in the tank counts toward your daily limit, and when getting rid of fish to make sure they go back into the same waterway they came from. Someone else told me I'd have to kill the fish rather than release them. I never did get a straight, definitive answer to any of it, which was one more reason to just give it up. It was fun, but keeping the tank and fish healthy really took a LOT of time.

25 to a 30 won't be much of a difference. If you go with a new engine, max it out and get one with power trim and learn how to use it. Problem solved.

Rizzo - you may as well spend the extra few bucks and buy a new engine. You're right in that old, small outboards really hold their value, and you pay almost as much for a 30 year old 9.9 or 15 as you will for a new one. People ask that much money because they will get it - especially at this time of year. That being the case, you may as well spend the extra couple of bucks and get a new engine with a full warranty. Plus then you have no nauseating exhaust fumes ... no annoying fuel leaks ... no oil slicks every time you start it up ... no annoying rattling and vibration ... and way better fuel economy. Hit a rock or damage it somehow, and parts are readily available, the dealer will have it in stock. That's not always the case with old engines. If you want a new two-stroke, the only option is the Evinrude E-TEC 15, since they're the only two-stroke manufacturer in our market and they don't make anything smaller. This engine is actually a de-tuned 25, and it weights 181 pounds. As a result, they don't sell many of them, mostly as kickers for guys who have big E-TECs as their main power on big walleye boats. Among 15 horsepower four-strokes, the Merc is 115 pounds, the Yamaha is 111 pounds, the Suzuki is 97 pounds, and the Honda is 103 pounds. All of them are outstanding engines, and all of them will last a lifetime with reasonable care and maintenance. No, they don't make 'em like they used to. The new engines are so much better than the outboards from the 1980s it's not even funny - it's like comparing a new car to the one your parents drove when you were a little kid. Given the small price difference, buying new is a no-brainer. If you have a 12-foot boat, get the 9.9. If you go with a 14 footer, get the 15 hp. Cost for the 9.9 is a little less than for a 15, but remember - both hold their value like crazy, and 30 years from now you can probably sell it to some guy for more than you paid for it. You know, the way the guys on Kijiji flogging 30 year-old engines are doing right now.

My good bud Darrell Wood hand-paints some incredible looking baits. Check out his Facebook page.

I got to play with the HDS Carbon 16 back in January, when I attended a Navico press event in Florida. Biggest advantage of the 16 is its screen, which is properly called "SolarMax HD." It's insanely clear, and you can see everything in full detail from any angle, even from pretty much 180 degrees to the side. There's no need to constantly adjust the tilt so you can see the screen. And, best of all, it doesn't black out when you're wearing polarized sunglasses. They don't affect the picture at all. Because the screen is so big and high def, the processing power in this is huge. The way it renders the 3D sonar images is just mind blowing. It does multiple split screens if you want, and you control it all like a cell phone ... swipe this, pinch that, move stuff around, zoom in and out, it's pretty awesome. Grimsby ... when they introduced this at the BassMaster Classic last week, they had a bunch of boats on hand with 16s flush-mounted in the console. Most of the fishing boat builders can accommodate it ..... but whether people will pony up the cash for it or not is a whole other matter. I agree with you, I don't think we'll see too many 16s flush mounted in the dash here. But the guys in Florida with the big offshore boats? They're all over it.

I guess it depends on where you are and where you're going. If I drive south from Toronto for 24 hours on the 401/I-75, I pass through five states and wind up in Florida. If I drive northwest for 24 hours, I still haven't even left Ontario.

Sad news today ... Gander Mountain, along with its boating equipment subsidiary, Overton’s, files for Chapter 11 protection. Gander Mountain, a Minnesota-based retail company focusing on small boats, fishing equipment and other outdoor equipment, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company operates 162 stores in 26 states in the US. The company also filed for bankruptcy for Overton’s, a wholly owned subsidiary that sells boating and watersports equipment. Gander Mountain attempted to sell the company last year, but could not find a buyer. Gander Mountain said in a statement that it will close 32 “underperforming” stores as part of its restructuring plans. It said that it will remain open, but has put the business up for sale. "The court's protections will enable us to manage the sale process on an expedited basis while protecting the interests of our customers, employees and other stakeholders," Gander Mountain explained in the statement. The company said it is in active discussions with several potential buyers. It expects to hold an auction in late April. The outdoor retail sector has seen significant changes lately. Cabela’s, a direct competitor to Gander Mountain, is being acquired by Bass Pro Shops, sister company to Tracker Marine Group. Several analysts wondered whether Gander Mountain’s bankruptcy would impact the Cabela’s/Bass Pro deal since the US government is already exploring monopoly concerns over the acquisition. Gander Mountain said it expects to hold an auction in late April, with a closing by May 15.

The outfits are fine, and the braid will work perfectly. Having said that, you tend to go through a lot of line when you fish the ocean from shore. You might think about picking up a bulk spool of 20 pound or 30 pound mono for the muskie stick. Getting spooled isn't really unusual, and when that happens, you might be happier to lose a bunch of cheap mono than a bunch of pricey braid. You can use two lines at once in salt water. It's harder to do that under a bridge where you have current, but off a pier or a jetty, it's easy. Use the light rod to fish with shrimp, and have a blast catching those different kinds of bottom fish. When you get a smaller fish you can keep, like a pinfish, you slice it up with a fillet knife so it's bleeding a lot, then use it as bait on the muskie outfit. Hook it up on a big single hook (size of a Bic lighter is good), huck it out there, let it lay on bottom, and wait. Something will pick it up, and that something will usually be pretty good since it's eating a foot-long baitfish. Could be a big snook or sheepshead, or it could be a shark the size of your car. Whether you land it or not is a whole other matter. Just make sure you know what kinds of fish you can use for bait, and what kinds need to be released immediately. Check with a tackle shop. For what it's worth, guys who do this a lot NEVER tie the line to their reel when they spool up. They always attach it with a piece of masking tape. That way when you get spooled (not if), it's a lot less shock to your arms and your reel when you come to the end of the line. You do NOT need fluoro. These fish are a lot of things, but shy isn't one of them. What I would suggest is you also pick up a small spool of 60 pound mono for leaders. In some spots you get cut off a lot on the rocks and barnacles ... if that's happening, run about two feet of the 60 pound between the hook and your main line and you'll be good to go.

Your points are well taken, Chris. And believe me, I don't like this situation any more than you do. We all pay more than enough taxes in this province as it is, we shouldn't have to buy yet another license because some people are goons. Part of Port Hope's original proposal that got lost in all the fuss about another license was to simply ban fishing in town at night. I don't have a problem with this ..... IF that gives the cops something concrete they can charge poachers with. There's no arguing in court, you're either fishing in the dark or you're not. The snaggers can't wiggle out of those charges. Let's face it, the worst of the carnage is the stuff that goes on at 2 in the morning when guys are down there slicing fish like Jack the Ripper. They can't really do that in daylight, when there are people around. So if banning night fishing gives the cops a concrete way to nail those idiots once and for all, then I would be willing to accept that. I'd like it even better if the fine was substantial. The whole issue at Port Hope amounts to some idiots leaving trash all over and piles of sliced up fish to stink up the town. Get rid of those guys, and we're not even having this discussion. I would have preferred to see OFAH work with Port Hope to find a solution - even supporting a night fishing ban - than to just dig in their heels and become antagonistic. That was disappointing, and it does nothing to solve the problem.

Most of the fishing I've done down that way has been salt water. We have bass at home, so I've always thought why not take the opportunity to try something I can't do in Ontario? You'll see a lot of people fishing around bridges. Find a bait store and get yourself a bucket of live shrimp, and check when the tide is running. It doesn't matter if it's coming in or going out, as long as it's moving and you have current. When the tide isn't moving, fishing basically sucks. But when it's flowing, the fish all turn on at once. All you need is a standard bass or walleye rod, and a bunch of jig heads ... 1/8 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 3/8 ounce will work fine. Hook the shrimp either through the head or through the tail (doesn't seem to matter), cast it out, and drift it along bottom. You have no idea what you will catch this way, but it's mainly different types of jacks, blue runners, various snappers, pompano, smaller snook, and other saltwater panfish. Fish go from 1 to 5 pounds for the most part, and they fight 10x as hard as freshwater fish. Be careful unhooking them, because many types of saltwater fish have sharp spines, sharp gill covers, or teeth like a Doberman. Or all of the above. But they fight like stink, and when it's on, it's a fish on every cast. The causeways that connect Miami to Miami Beach are particularly good spots, since they all cross some deeper water. There are usually some small tarpon hanging around the marina behind the Doubletree hotel, and all along the shoreline between the marina and the MacArthur Causeway. Early in the morning and later in the evening when it's quiet, you can often see them just hanging out in the current, right under the surface. I've never fished that spot, but a couple of times when I've been there I've played with the fish, basically feeding them French Fries. Toss a fry in the water, let it drift down in the current, and more often than not, one of them eats it. They're just little guys for tarpon (2 to 4 feet long, 10 to maybe 30 pounds) but again, all kinds of fun. You can find baby tarpon like that around most of the bridges, as long as there's deep water close by. They're not easy to land on a bass rod. Every now and then you will hook much, much larger fish, and some of them will kick your butt. Sometimes they're sharks, sometimes they're bigger snook or sheepshead, most of the time you never find out. Always bring an extra spool of line. There are a few piers and beaches where people catch hammerhead and bull sharks at night. But you have to know where to go, because many areas around Miami can be really sketchy after dark - especially down along the water. If you want to try fishing at night, call a couple of local tackle stores and ask them for suggestions. Better to be safe than to get mugged. Last thing - always remember to hose off your rods and reels after using them in salt water. Otherwise the corrosion will just destroy them. 10 minutes in the shower usually does the trick. Have fun!

Nonsense. The graphic shows major purchases or investments attributed to angling - the same thing that the other tables you mention show, but this one broken down to purchases made specifically for fishing and not made for other purposes as well as fishing (like a truck or cottage, for example). Someone who comes to Port Hope for the day to snag salmon already bring their own tackle with them, so we can take out the fishing equipment category altogether. They aren't coming to Port Hope to buy a boat, camping equipment, a truck or a cottage, so those categories can come out too. What's left is the "Other" expenditures. For the entire province of Ontario, "Other Expenditures" total $27.8 million dollars in 2010, which is (amazingly) the most recent data available. That is not "manipulating statistics" as you suggest. It is simple reality. How much money do you think the average guy who comes to Port Hope for the day actually spends? They bring everything with them. Some (but not all) will buy lunch, and some (but not all) will buy some gas. That's it. I hate to burst your bubble, but a month of fishing in the spring and maybe three months of it in the fall isn't exactly keeping the whole town afloat. If the entire fishing world boycotted Port Hope, the only thing they would miss is the gong show of hooligans and stench of decaying fish.

Not sure where you get that $50 million figure from Dave, since the town's entire annual budget is barely $18 million. And according to the feds, the major economic impact of fishing is in the form of high-ticket purchases like lodge trips, major tackle items, trucks and boats. If you pull them out of the mix, the economic impact of fishing for all of Ontario is about $27.8 million. For the most part, guys who go to the Ganny bring all their equipment with them, and go home at the end of the day. They might go buy a burger on the way home, but that's about it. So with all due respect man, I very much doubt that the economic impact of snagging salmon in town is anywhere close to that kind of amount. It won't. But the money will help offset the cost of having to clean up the stinking mess a couple of times each week. If you've never smelled Port Hope in the fall then I envy you. Beyond that, the provision to ban fishing at night at least gives the police something to charge people with when they see them down there at 2:00 am and up to no good. It's almost impossible to get a conviction on a snagging charge these days, since you can't prove intent. Even gutting the fish for eggs and leaving the carcass to rot can be argued in court, since all they can charge you with there is allowing fish suitable for human consumption to go to waste, and it's up to the officer to prove the fish is fit to eat. But if you can't fish from sunset to sunrise, and you're caught down there in the middle of the night, it's cut and dry. You're nailed. Listen, I don't like the idea of this any more than anyone else does. But instead of griping at the town, people should be directing their anger at the hooligans who are responsible. Personally, I believe OFAH is way off base here. They should be working with the town to find a permanent solution - not siding with the poachers. And please - threaten to quit stocking Atlantics? Who cares? So returns of Atlantic salmon drop from zero to ..... what, then? OFAH really needs to rethink their position on this issue.

Plano has a very long history of fantastic customer service. The reason you seldom hear about it is because as Old Ironmaker says, most of the stuff they make lasts forever without any issues at all. They're a great company who stand behind their truly wonderful products.

If it makes any difference to the discussion, I just received a press release this morning announcing that Toyota won more Canadian Black Book Retained Value Awards and ALG Residual Value Awards this week than any other auto manufacturer. Canadian International Auto Show opens in Toronto this weekend, so it's award season for the car industry. Sorry the attached pdf of the press release is crappy quality, I had to cut it down in size to meet the 250 kb maximum size for attachments. Reduced-Toyota Awards.pdf

Highlander has a timing chain.