Rattletrap2

Clamp-it, We do understand your very rational approach to all of this, but who said we were talking about rational people or processes? LOL I try to buy the majority of my gas from a small independent station on my way to and from work. I do this because he always charges a cent or two less than the others around him. Since i am in there on a regular basis, we always discuss the prices while my credit card purchase goes through. On many occasions, he has shown me the paperwork that he receives from his fuel supplier (Sunoco) that gives him what price he will pay for the gas sold each day. This price sheet is for a month in advance and details each day of the week or month. For instance, he showed me that his cost would go down 2.7 cents per liter plus GST at midnight tonight. So, he receives his regular fillings from the tanker to keep his underground tanks full, but the price he will pay for the actual liters sold on a given day will cost him a pre-determined amount per liter. It has nothing to do with the price of a barrel of crude or the hurricanes in the south. It is all a game that they are forced to play. He decides how many pennies per liter he wants to make. He always stays slightly lower than his neighbouring stations and his volume is always higher for a given day. The profit for the station is only a couple of cents per liter. Another station I go to for boat gas up north told me that their volume is very low for any given day. They are on a lesser travelled road and only have so much traffic to deal with. She told me that if even one customer drives off without paying for their gas, that their entire profit for the day is lost. I would think She is telling the truth. They have to operate a store as well to pay their bills. I also used to service Petro Canada stations for a few years. Their Management told me that the profit to the station from gasoline sales was peanuts. The real profits come from their car washes first, and then their convenience store sales second.

Nice Bass! I've driven past Bellwood and live fairly close. Do they allow outboards on that lake?

Thanks for all the info! I will report them if I come across this again. Is there not a summary guide to the regs like we have for fishing?

Thanks for the reply Bassman! So the distance off the water is ok, but I agree, who was to know what was just beyond the decoys? Actually hunting mid afternoon seemed odd in my opinion! I later saw these same guys (boat overloaded with the four of them and all) whooping and hollering as they headed up the lake. Probably heading to another spot where they had some decoys out.

I have never hunted, but am curious about the regs. I was out fishing a back swampy bay on Saturday afternoon. We saw some decoys floating in the swamp, but no hunters were visible in the area. All of a sudden a small aluminum boat comes motoring into the area from the main lake. As the boat approaches the decoys, a flock of geese that had been sitting with the decoys took flight. The four men immediately started shooting while the boat was still motoring towards them. The geese were barely 5 feet off the water at the time, and they dropped three out of four geese. I see in my search that they were supposed to be stopped with the motor off before shooting, but what are the regs regarding how far off the water the birds are supposed to be? In my opinion, their shooting was dangerous because someone could have been in the tall reeds fishing or hunting and could be shot. If any of you know the rules, I would like to be educated. Thanks

Beautiful Smallie Terry!

I can honestly say that I have never checked the U bolts on any of my trailers for tightness! I am thorough about tire pressure, and checking for heat in the wheel bearings. I assume the dealer had no problem charging a hefty sum for the PDI on this new package? After only 4 days, he should not have to be rolling around under his trailer tightening bolts. Give me a break! Hope things are all uphill from here in.

Great report tibbs! BC is a magnificent place! I was awestruck by the beauty we saw..

Looks great Garry! Those are some nice Bass. Looks like Andy K has a hand in this somehow? Hope he is doing well also. Good luck with the guide business.

I would agree with Slowpoke on this one! Michigan BPS is miles ahead of BPS Vaughn, and I also found the Cabelas store in Michigan seemed to be going downhill. I've been to both of them many times over the year, but was very disappointed with cabelas last month. The stock in the store was depleted and employees did not seem to care much. I really like the Gander Mountain stores too. Not as big as the others, but some good deals to be had and very friendly staff.

As far as depth goes, as long as the water does not freeze solid to the bottom in the deepest areas, you are good. Temperatures can vary quite a bit. They prefer warmer waters, but will do nicely in cool water as well. Size of fish will depend on number of Bass or other predators present, and available food quantities. It takes about 10 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of weight gain in Bass. The actual size of the water body in acres is pretty irrelevant. The factors above are more important. Oxygen levels also play an important roll. Good luck and let us know how you do!

It would be nice to see some photos of the algae. I don't suppose the soap factory (phosphates) would have anything to do with this? If it is filamentous algae, it actually blooms better in cooler waters. Other types do better in warm waters.

Very nice fishing machine Tony! I'm sure the wait will be worth it and you will enjoy her for many years! What size is the main engine?

I was at this place a couple of years ago in Sevierville, TN. Awesome place if you are into knives and a Bass Pro shops just down the street to boot! http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce/main_front.jsp

Bill, those are some sweet looking hawgs for sure! I would be very careful to articulate my words when telling this story...especially when your girlfriend is within earshot! The words "my girlfriends BIG BASS" sound awfully close to "my girlfriends BIG ASS"!! Say it slowly and clearly! LOL

....but I just found a great way to resize a bunch of photos for posting, using Vista. All I had to do was use the photo program viewer in Vista. Select the e-mail tab, and it gives you the choice to select and resize a whole folder of photos in one shot! Makes it way easier to e-mail and keeps the file size down from al these high megapixel cameras we have today. Just e-mail them to yourself, and you have them in a smaller file size version. Great for posting here! Is there an easier way? Like I said, I may be a little "slow on the uptake" when it comes to this computer geek stuff, but I was thrilled!

Very Nice Tinman! Those kids of yours are really going to be spoiled now. That is like fishing from your sofa! LOL If you had a place to leave it in the water, pontoon boats would be great. Nice shots of the family and your day on the water.

Troutandmuskiehunt, That is good customer service and product support. Nice to know some companies still provide this. As a side note, it does look like the sun has done a number on your box. The blue is all faded out and turned white.

Now dats a great report!!!!! Way to go Justin. Some real nice fish there and thanks for all the details!

I thoroughly enjoyed that! I think the camera work is getting to be really good! Nice and steady. You have a good blend of action and also information. It is as good as anything I've seen on the "big" shows in a long time! Keep up the good work, and thanks for posting!

Am I missing something here? They screw up the info on the chip, but YOU have to absorb the cost of getting it fixed up? Seems something is amiss here! On another note, I purchased a Trak Maps program for my Garmin that covers Balsam Lake and a few others. The detail was great, but the map data was over 20 years out of date! I wrote to them and told them that the software showed features , boat canals, and buildings that have not been there for 20 years. I knew this area very well (Lake Dalrymple) and all they said was, "is there anything else you noticed?" LOL Must be nice to do business in this manner and still survive!

Yes indeed! Have a great day today folks and enjoy all that living in the US of A has to offer!

My first car was a 1969 VW Beetle I got in 1976. My Uncle GAVE it to me when I paid him for the newer battery and muffler! I think i gave him $50. The brakes were totally shot, the body was like Swiss cheese, had no heat, and I couldn't drive standard at the time. I loved doing body work, so I spent the summer patching her up and had it professionally painted..bright orange! I replaced the carpet after I replaced the floor boards! LOL This kept the majority of the water on the outside of the car. The heater was a gasoline fired burner and worked well, but had very little control. I loved that car and it took me everywhere! Eventually, I passed it on to my girlfriend (now wife of 28 years!) and it went for a few more years. ahh...memories! Wish I had some photo's...well at least digital ones.

Nice healthy looking Pike! WTG!

Great report there TJ! Very nice to see the family all enjoying their time together!