Skud

Which ones can not be consumed ? The yellow grubs that are easily cut out or the small, hard black ones on the skin and in the meat?

Misfish's father just bought one new and he posted pics here a few weeks ago. I bought the 2004 1650 Rebel SS with a 60hp 4 stroke and I love it. I had to make the same decision that you are facing. The Explorer is much wider, deeper and stable but needs a lot more HP which makes it more of cost issue. You will probably spend 10k more for the Explorer. If you have the dough get the bigger boat because either way you will be happy.

I was out there also this morning. I had my butt kicked by the wind trying to get my boat on the trailer on the Gilford side. Had to take refuge in the marina and load my boat up there. Caught a 32" pike only today. Yesturday I landed 5 pike all around 28".

I was at Willow Beach on Sat and there were many trucks driving around. There is over 20" of good ice but there are pressure cracks too. A truck did get stuck in one on Sat. Lots of snow to make driving tricky and walking a hard chore. I got skunked out there. I blame it on the weather

A few people drive their trucks into that every winter.

If the snowbank between the street and my boat gets about a foot lower I will be fishing for perch in Kempenfelt Bay for sure this weekend. Friday's rain and 5C temps should seal the deal.

Those two shows are coming from different angles. Les Stroud(surviverman) is showing how an average joe or cityslicker can survive for a week in the wild if they end up there by accident and unprepared. He shows the bare essentials needed to live, not prosper when lost and waiting to be rescued. He purposely does very little to show how you can still survive as long as you keep your senses and not do stupid things. Les does starve himself because he is putting his time into shooting a show, not rounding up a four course meal. Bear is showing us tips and tricks of long term hiking, camping or a canoe trip that we choose to go on and are prepared for. He does touch on survial tips if things go wrong but one would still have a backpack full of gear to get by on. Either way, both shows will teach you how to save your butt when dancing with Mothernature.

Went out again this morning with my Bro-in-law out from Gilford. Walked a bit further out but also south bound. Tried three spots that were 17-20 fow with a weedy bottom. The action was good from 7:30am untill 11:30am. We left at noon with about 45 keepers between us out of over 120 caught. Lots of water on the surface as we left due to warm temps. It probably will be 2 weeks untill we can hit safe ice again.

Went out with two of the kids and started fishing at about 8:30am out from Gilford. The bite was good for an hour or so but then died completly. About 40 fish were landed but only 12 keepers(barely). Moved around but could not locate more schools. Fished 18-22 fow and just jigged small spoons.

Hey Joey, I only caught one more fish after we chatted and that was trying four different spots. I took home two dozen and just cooked them up for dinner. I will be out again on New years day.

Sweet fish Mike. It looks bigger than a 46". I think I will be out there again on Monday.

What's wrong Mike? Balsam getting to slow for you?

Yes, it would seem that 2 out of every 3 weekends we have a brutal cold front move in and write off the bite. I will be heading to Balsam next Sunday and hoping for some decent weather. I have yet to even hook into a musky this year. How is living in Barrie working for you? It has been over a year now right?

Hey Terry, that has to be a Tiger Muskie for sure. We will have to make a trip out there together again, maybe Cook's Bay too. My boat has spent too much time in the driveway this year.

Why didn't you Lads lip the Bowfin?

I seen some video footage of the dead carp in lake scugog and it showed a dead pike on shore too.

I fished from 11am till 5pm and only managed one small hammerhandle. Guess I missed the bite.

I will be in Cook's Bay piking from 11am till 7pm tomorrow. Walleye fishing Sunday morning else where.

Good info Skeeter. My main purpose for a new prop is to get my rpm's down and a little more speed. With two men and eguipment I will run at 5900rpm and about 32-33mph. (1 man=6000rpm and 35mph) I would like to get down to 5400-5500rpm(The optimuim for that motor is supposed to be 5330rpm for best gas mileage). Getting to 40mph would be nice but maybe not possible with 2 men.

Thanks Brian and Gary.

Correction... I have a 10 3/8 x 13 aluminum prop. The boat is not so clean anymore Brian, it's already 3 1/2 years old.

Looking to get a steel prop for my Yamaha F60. My aluminum one is a 10 3/4 by 15. It has my motor reving at 5900-6000rpm so I would need about the same specs for a steel one. Anyone have a line on someone with reasonable prices?

Spent morning on Cook's Bay, 16 inches of ice but honeycombed. Only a few days left of safe ice IF you can get on from shore. Caught about 150 perch to get 30 keepers.

Sicko!

20 inches of ice on Cook's Bay still.