craigdritchie

Not defending it Mike, just pointing out that's very much the situation.

They are the Leafs. As always, they will be unbeatable in November, when it doesn't really matter, then fold up like a cheap tent in the new year, when every point counts. Then right at the end they will come alive, and do everything possible to avoid even getting a good draft pick. Coaches, forwards, defense, goalies, management - none of it matters. They are the Leafs. They will find a way to blow it. Again. Take it to the bank. Under 500, and watching the playoffs on TV like everyone else.

Just remember that if you buy an outboard overseas, you buy it without warranty. Don't think for one second that Yamaha Canada or Mercury Canada or Honda Canada or anyone else will perform warranty repairs on an engine that they did not sell. They won't do it. They won't even repair an engine you buy from a dealer in the US. Call and ask for yourself if you have any doubts.

If your hunting will be restricted to firing lead shot at grouse and rabbits, then a 20-gauge will work just fine. If that's the case, then you might want to think about buying a used double gun instead of a new pump. After a couple of hours out in the field (as opposed to 10 minutes standing in a store) the difference in weight and handling between 12-gauge and 20-gauge pumps is minimal. If you think you will ever want to shoot at anything else (ducks, geese, woodcock, deer or bear) then you'll find a 12-gauge just works better. Steel shot (required for migratory birds) is definitely 12-gauge territory, for a whole bunch of reasons including vastly superior shot ballistics. While others have stated that you can use a 20-gauge for deer, I think some of these guys might be too modest to note that this normally requires a certain amount of skill and experience. A new shooter will generally have more success with a 12. Beyond that, you can find 12-gauge ammo everywhere - even the most remote gas stations way out in the boonies usually have a few boxes. Not so for 20-gauge. Specific loads can be tough to find, even here in southern Ontario where you can buy just about anything. If I was restricted to owning one gun, it would be a Remington 870 pump in 12-gauge, with a 26-inch barrel and screw-in choke tubes. It's tough to beat.

Moot point anyway, as not one company even makes a two-stroke 9.9 any more. In that power range, Yamaha, Merc, Suzuki, Honda, Nissan, Tohatsu and APS only deal in four-strokes now. Even Evinrude doesn't build one - closest they have is a 15hp E-Tec, which I'm told is tough to obtain since it's essentially a de-tuned 25.

Completely agree - unless you plan to load it in and out of float planes on a daily basis, I would not even consider a two-stroke now. There's just no good reason to cling to 1950s technology any more.

Sadly the 3.5-inch model hasn't been made in many, many years. Too bad because as you note, it was a good smallmouth and walleye bait. You could try hunting around on craigslist or eBay, but I don't think LeBlanc made many of the 3.5 inch ones .... I don't believe they sold particularly well.

For the best eating quality, kill the fish right away by braining it with a piece of wood, then clean it immediately and put it on ice in a good quality cooler. Cutting the gills only bleeds out the gill filaments. When you clean the fish, remove the gills entirely, and use the tip of the knife to also scrape out the kidney, which is that black gooey strip up against the spine. That mass of congealed blood will spoil the fish much faster than any blood in the gills. Put the fish on ice and do what you can to keep it out of the meltwater. Plastic bags are a bad idea because they don't breathe. Best is to pour ice in the bottom of the cooler, then put a metal cooling rack from a kitchen supply store on top, and lay the fish on that. Taking a few minutes to deal with them properly will make a MUCH better meal.

Environment Canada just issued its latest marine weather warning for southern Nova Scotia, where Hurricane Earl is expected to make landfall early tomorrow morning. They're forecasting waves to 12 metres off the south coast. That's big enough to swallow a four-storey apartment building. If anyone wants to see how seaworthy their boat is ........

Couldn't agree more on the Muskie Killer. Lots of excellent baits mentioned in this thread, but none are as versatile as the big spinner, and for a lot of reasons: 1. Excellent hooking percentage 2. Comparatively lightweight, so more difficult for fish to throw 3. Casts fairly well even in stiff winds 4. More weedless than jerkbaits or big body baits 5. Can be fished really fast to cover water, or really slow when fish are lethargic, or in-between 6. Can be fished shallow or deep 7. Great stealth bait when muskie are fished hard or otherwise spooky 8. Easier on the arms and back than big jerkbaits 9. Cheap! 10. Also catches the occasional bonus monster bass or walleye If I could only have one muskie lure, then the Muskie Killer would be it - hands down. But isn't collecting tackle part of the fun? From An Angler's Dictionary, by Roy Beard and Henry McKie: Unsporting: Any fishing technique developed around the actual catching of fish, rather than the collection of fishing equipment.

This is truly scary stuff..... http://www.nationalpost.com/life/genetically+altered+fish+decide/3465388/story.html

It's important to understand there is a world of difference between SNOW tires and WINTER tires. Traditional snow tires are made from the same type of rubber material as regular all-season radials, but have a more aggressive tread to give better traction on snow. All-Terrain tires are basically the same thing, but are engineered to last longer (maybe 80k before wearing out, versus 50k). The problem is that all of these tires will stiffen up in the cold, which reduces handling and traction regardless of what the tread looks like. Proper winter tires are made of an entirely different type of rubber/silica compound, so they are not affected by cold temperatures. So, they provide better traction and handling even on dry roads. On snow or ice, it's like day and night. This is why winter tires and now required by law in Quebec, and other provinces are also looking into making their use mandatory. The best winter tires in the world now come out of Korea. In terms of value for the money, it's hard to beat Hankook Icebears - they are spectacular. Hankook also makes a winter tire called an iPike. Never used them, but I love the name.

Problem with just whacking 'em is, if you get rid of the rats you see, others will simply move in and take their place. You need to make your place less attractive so they don't have a reason to visit in the first place. Bigugli hit it on the head - get a dog and your problem is over. Barring that, you need to keep the rats in the field and out of your yard. Rodents will only venture into a yard for one of two things - food, and shelter. Keep the area around the BBQ absolutely spotless at all times, and be sure to burn it for a few minutes after you take the food off, to incinerate any scraps remaining on the grill. Then close up any spots around the yard that could provide rodents with a place to hole up over the winter (like under the deck, under sheds, pool houses, hot tubs, etc). And get rid of any thick ground plants (ivy or shrubs) they can hide under. Keep the lawn mowed short, especially near the field, so they feel exposed traveling back and forth. Basically, make it as uninviting as possible. Doesn't matter what kind of area you live in - rats and mice are everywhere. If you back on to a field or a ravine, then you'll run into them now and then.

Love the tubing pics :-)

Fished Bark a few times, and agree with previous comments about it being nothing spectacular. If you're coming in mid-September, plan on dragging tubes on bottom in 25 feet of water, which would be about the most consistent smallmouth pattern for that time of year. You may also get a couple of walleye as incidental catches. Don't expect anything (bass or walleye) over three pounds. Having said that ... Bob and Wayne are both class guys, so you'll have a blast regardless.

The real fun is when there are a lot of bugs out. That's when you wear a motorcycle helmet with full visor. Taking a horsefly in the forehead at 70 mph is not as much fun as it sounds.

Rain makes no difference to the fish. They're already wet.

Even after a torrential rain Bronte is still a super-shallow ditch that's loaded with silt. Before the subdivisions went in up in Waterdown it was a decent place to fish. Now, it's so shallow and so completely over-run with idiots that its just a snagfest. Not saying you can't catch fish legally there any more, but there are just so many other places that are sooooo much better. Why anyone would want to waste a day there is beyond me.

And yet ...... many will continue to do so.

There are a handful of chinnies sniffing around on bottom in the 50 -60 foot range off the lift bridge .... they're starting to turn green, unlike the fish that are farther offshore. Lymans, J-Plugs, J-13s in bright colours have worked best but they're not exactly hitting like crazy.

Should work like a charm, Mike. First bass boat I ever fished from was an 18 foot Glastron, which had a 28-pound thrust bow mount up front. It moved the boat and two of us around no problem. Nice walleye too - on the high side of my own favourite eating range, but I'm sure it would have tasted spectacular. Just as well - it's a prime breeder and we need them too. Cheers Craig

Um .... Flat Raps have been around for at least 15 years.

Qualifications are in the info posted - read it.

The OFAH is hiring three people to help with its Atlantic salmon population assessments this fall. For the full info package click here. Text copied and pasted here for your info: Atlantic Salmon Adult Assessment Technicians (3 positions) The O.F.A.H., as a lead partner in the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Program, is hiring 3 technicians to assess returning adults in the fall of 2010. * 1 position - Cobourg Brook Crew (based in Peterborough, Ontario) * 2 positions - Credit River Crew (based in Mississauga, Ontario) Job Overview: Working with the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program’s Research and Assessment Team, the successful candidates for these positions will be part of a three person field crew tasked with regularly assessing one of the program’s target tributaries for returning adult Atlantic salmon. Sampling methods will include seine netting, weir and fishway operation, and angling. Responsibilities: * Daily sampling for returning adult Atlantic salmon using approved protocols * Processing Atlantic salmon for length, weight, sex, age structures, and genetic material * Bulk processing of other captured species * Working with approved anglers operating under Scientific Collector’s Permits to capture Atlantic salmon * Transporting Atlantic salmon into spawning habitat upstream of barriers * Promoting the program to any members of the public encountered * Conducting data entry * Other duties as assigned Required Skills and Experience: * Experience with fish sampling and biological processing methods, including seine netting and weir/fishway operation * Fish identification skills, with emphasis on salmon and trout of the Great Lakes * Working with and speaking to the public * Data-collection and record-keeping skills * Map reading from a variety of sources * Ability to work within a team/partnership * Ability to travel and work outside office hours * Ability to work in bad weather * Driver’s Licence and clean driving record * First Aid/CPR certification * Electrofishing certification preferred but not required Minimum Education Level: * College diploma in a relevant field These positions are 12 week contracts, beginning September 7th, 2010. Please submit a cover letter and resume describing your qualifications in regard to the required skills and experience by August 26th at 5 p.m. to [email protected] or Attention Chris Robinson at the O.F.A.H. Conservation Centre P.O. Box 2800, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 8L5. Only candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will be held August 30th and 31st 2010, in Peterborough, Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is an equal opportunity employer.

That's the approach I would go. Apart from the increased comfort and safety of a 14 footer over a 12, you may have a tough time finding any dealer who will let you make payments on a small outboard the way you described. There's very little markup on those - most dealers will want you to just put it on a credit card or pay cash. Keeping track of some guy's payments is more of an inconvenience than it's worth on a smaller purchase like that.