bigugli

There is always my Gram's fish head soup. A great chowder that incorporates any kind of fish, but traditionally starts off with pike as the base. Matter of fact, that was last night's dinner. in summer a fillet of any white fleshed fish, wrapped in prosciutto, cooked on low in a BBQ for 10 minutes. Then you take a slice of Havarti, asiago, swiss, jack, etc..., melt it on top then serve on a lightly toasted bun, with a light spread of mayo or..., with a topping of sauteed onions and red peppers.

I can almost hear the dinner bell Not too shabby at all.

Completely ambidextrous with the bait caster.

That's because your Mrs has it firmly in hand on a very short lead.

Ah say boy, pay attention to me boy! A few logs short and a few bricks shy some days. I even set our sign in to different default screens so he would recognize the difference. Yes he do make a good net man, but.....

he forgot to mention the amazing gaff job i did on that pike hooked him right in the tip of the lower lip did it again This post is by Rob D

Hey Xeon. I haven't been up your way in over 20 years but your clues are still dead giveaways.

He had 4 good sized smelt in his belly.

With the Erie area ice firming up after last weeks thaw, it was time for some smelting. Been very busy the past 2 days. They are a bit smaller than last year's average, but there are still some good sized smelt around. Even the son's squeeze was getting into the act and having a blast despite the raw winds One of the piles to be cut and cleaned. The reward at the end of it all. Even when smelting I set out a minnow for the odd perch that might be around. What a surprise I got. Saw this little nibble action so I set the hook expecting a dink perch. Felt this solid weight at the other end and it started to take off. Now the rig is one of those hand made jobs; an 18" piece from a broken rod, a piece of wood, one Southbend disc reel ( on clearance for a buck) 4lb line and a teardrop and minnow. So here I'm frantically trying to get the keeper out before the line snaps, then I'm trying to work this beastie in and palming this pathetic reel every time it takes off. Every time he sees the hole he takes off again and I just let him. Finally, this time, I get him in. What a blast. must have spent a good 10 minutes laughing. There is nothing so satisfying as seeing one of your own gadgets or creations working successfully. The evidence: Anyhow, back to cleaning some more smelt.

It took me a mass coronary. When I came around I was told I could quit now or I would be back on the slab next month. That was 9 years and 8 months back. I do enjoy reading that others have found the means to quit without enduring severe consequences first.

Just be mindful that suckers are often holding in the same pools as the trout in the smaller tribs.

The only time I get near a razor is in the barber's chair to trim up the "nest" for summer.

Well done. You are squarely on your way. You should be noticing an increase of appetite by now

Now that was an enjoyable read. We've lost a few big fish at the hole because they were too big. That is part of the challenge.

First job was 13 working for a family friend. Went to Simcoe for the summer helping in the tobacco fields for board, spending money and great fishing weekends on Long Point. Quit school at 15 and did every scab job that came my way to make a buck. Some of those early jobs were fantastic even if they didn't pay well. Went back to school at 18 after my first round of back problems.

At least the night's opening ceremonies was kinda neat. Old Johnny being rappelled to the ice to deliver the puck. After that I changed channels and watched Pool over Bolton in the permier league.

I'll sit tight and bask in the warmth of the fire today. It was nippy enough on the ice yesterday. Might have another go tomorrow.

It's been done a few times in U.S. stores.

They already were publicly accessible. Any number exchange is just a block of 10,000 numbers in sequence. Once activated it is listed.

X rap caught lots of pike, but totally worthless after a day of fishing. Too cheaply made compared to my jointed suspending rapala or jointed rebel minnow. Both circa 1980 and still catching fish ( I'm on my 4th or 5th set of hooks, I think) As for totally stinker/ loser baits, it would be any Booyah spinner bait. I won a batch 2 years back, and they have caught squit. I spend a lot of time beating shoreline tossing spinnerbaits and I'll bet nothing on a Booyah, but put another make in similar pattern and it is fish on.

Leave it to the intellectually challenged

Well done fellas.

As ChrisK was saying, tmost of your pond plants are perennial, except for the floaters. Water lettuce and hyacinth need to be purchased each spring. Only need 2/3 of each. They spread like wildfire. A hanful of cabomba or parrot feather strands as well. Pond should have an insulated bubbler. I have seen much larger ponds freeze from top to bottom with the loss of some very expensive large Koi.

Have to admit I've always been partial to the Black Fury.

Aluminum any day. Less weight and less maintenance, especially if it an older boat.