Fishn Technishn

I didn't have to "pull any strings" to get my new boat! How about you? Good luck with the new ride! FT

Good advice re: allowing to dry before storing! I also spray mine with (don't tell my wife!! ) HAIRSPRAY. It is a water soluble laquer that will keep them very shiny after you polish them up. You CAN use a permanent clear coat but it is a real pain if you need to touch them up. FT

I will second the "Believers" but add the word jointed!! FT

Wild, where can I get Royal Purple? I have never heard of it. Are some better than others?? Anyone have any side by side test results? Thanks FT

just getting ready to winterize the boat and was thinking maybe I should use synthetic oil in the kicker Honda 9.9 -both top end & bottom end. Anybody got any experience? Good or bad! Thanks FT

I will try to make it. I have been trying to make the last few but something always manages to get in the way!! I don't think you need to worry about running out of beer. London is Labatt's hometown. We can walk down to the brewery & show them how thirsty we are... I am sure they will believe us!! FT

BIGGEST WHITE SPINNERBAIT you can throw. the more blades the better. Start out slow and every 4-5 retrieves, speed it up a little....they will let you know what the correct speed is!! Hell's Gate is a VERY good spot. + Try the edges near the church! FT

I have several rods over 7 feet and I broke down & bought a Flambeau BAZUKA from BPS I think it was around $45 CAN I had the wife sew up some rod socks from scrap material and I can get 6 or more rods depending on whether they are casting(smaller guides) or spinning(bigger guides). Reels go in Crown Royal bags(lots around here!) and then into my reel bag(modified medical tool bag). I can lock Bazuka for travel and it collapses for storage( I store my rods in a custom made rod rack when not in use Don't know how I ever got along without it! FT

I have a St.Croix Avid series rod that is my go to rod. It's actually a Meduim heavy Flipping stick style with the telescopic part that slides into the handle. I have converted many of my Musky Buddies to it!! It's 7' 10" fully extended and less than 7' collapsed. Great for figure 8's. FT

Thanks for the tips. I know what primer etc to use just not sure what to fill the small (smaller than a dime)depressions with . Remember seeing somewhere about using epoxy to fill aluminum. Can't get at it from the inside the bow. Surely someone has done this!?! FT

Was up at Stoney last week with the "Boyz". Fishing was good until the remnants of Hurricane Ike came thru!! What a storm!! 4 foot waves and high winds. Anyways, long story short... mooring ring pulled out of the dock at 1:30 in the morning allowing my boat to bang into the breakwall resulting in some scratches and dings in the bow(centre rib), just under the bow eye. Question...anyone got any suggestions to fill the shallow dings -?epoxy/JB weld etc?? Have no experience with aluminum but have lots of experience with regular bodywork etc. I have the matching paint so whatever I use will have to accept paint over it. Thanks, FT

I second that motion whole heartedly. Oddly enough, I was in the middle of Stoney Lake (fishing) when my wife called on a cell phone and told me the news. It still gives me goosebumps to think about it! My heart goes out to all who have fought any kind of battle against this kind of terror and lost a loved one. FT

NOW THAT"S WHAT I CALL A REPLY!! Lew, you are correct in that Stoney will be very similar to other Kawartha lakes. Thank you also for the tips. GOOD LUCK in 8 days!! FT

Come on, this is like pulling teeth! Surely SOMEONE can tell me what the water levels/clarity is like or even what the weed growth is like on Stoney Lake. I'll even settle for Clear Lake!!. I am not asking for your honeyholes...got lot's of my own. Just some general idea of what the water is like this year. Where is Lew when I need him?? ...oh yeah that's right, he's "chasing the BIG ones in the West Arm". FT

Will be stayin' near McCrackens Landing, not far from Carveth's Marina FT

Heading up to Stoney for our 17th annual "Male Bonding" fishing trip on the 13th. Anyone have any comments on water levels/clarity/weed growth. If you want to thow in some areas to try, that would be fine but I have quite a few "favourites" that work for me. Will be targeting Musky but some of the boys will be after baitfish(bass, walleye etc , LOL). Had great success last fall but with all the rain this summer was wondering what the lake is like now? Also will anyone from the board be there at the same time-Sept 13th-20th? Thanks, FT

DON"T use the Swivl-eze 2-3/8 system- VERY hard to come by and EXPENSIVE!! Just my $0.02 FT

WOW!! THANKS to all for the suggestions. I think the removal of the gas line should do the trick....I hope. Thanks again, I might be able to sleep tonight now! LOL FT

ALL great suggestions & THANK YOU! My problem is NOT if they try to take the motor off the boat, as I have locks and a few surprises for them! It's if some dirtbag gets in the boat while at the dock and simply pull starts the kicker motor and takes off down the lake. HOW do I immobilize the kicker from starting when it is unattended??? I could pull the plugs but that is one big PAIN. Surely someone has seen a simple solution! FT

OK, I got the new Honda 9.9 kicker installed WITH a McGard Locking bolt plus an outboard lock on the transom screws. I figure it is more trouble than it's worth to get it off. My son comes over and flattens me with a question!! 'What's to stop some dirtbag from pull starting the Honda while it is docked and running down the lake with the WHOLE boat!!. That Honda is so quiet you wouldn't even hear it" DUH! I never even considered that one. Anybody got any suggestions/cures for this? What does everyone else do? Is a fuel lock a possible answer? FT

I also have the X 50 DS, it came on the new boat. It reads bottom perfect, grayline is good, temp works fine but also NO Fish ARCHES! I can bounce a jig and minnow off the back of the boat in 35 feet of water and watch the jig going up & down on the screen but have yet to see a single fish arch!! Go figure!! If any one can shed any light on this one it will be most appreciated!! FT

1968 Mustang Fastback 302 4 Barrel with 4 speed. After seeing the movie "Bullit" I had to have one. Second car was 1970 Boss 429 NASCAR Mustang!! 6 miles to the gallon was the BEST mileage I ever got. Man that one would pass anything .....except a gas staion!! FT

Thanks Mo!! FT

EUREKA!!! I think I may have found a possible solution! Went to my local marine Dealer( Hully Gully) they sell Tracker & Princecraft boats. The Princecraft is the Swivl-eze system like mine and the Tracker uses a Springfield system with a keyed slot in the base & post. You cannot use the Swivl-eze on the Springfield system BUT you CAN use the Springfield pedestal system on the Swivl-eze base. The Swivl-eze base has no inner keyed(with a groove) insert. I tried it ....ANDIT WORKS!! Better yet the Springfield 30" Power pedestal is $86 at BPS http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...__SearchResults Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions, FT

Blue Axela, just got back from a metal store here in London(Unlimited Metal). The have some 2 3/8 aluminum pipe, it is basically called 2" pipe but the OD is actually 2 3/8. Got a 42"pieceof Schedule40(thick wall) for $20 & I can cut it to length for now. Just need to turn or sand down 1 end about 5 thousandths of an inch to fit the hole in the base. It will work until I figure out the power pedestal part. FT