bigugli

Back on Mar 1st invited Icefisherman and Crappieperchhunter down to hit on some smelts. I figured it would be no problem, I hadn't heard of a tough day's bite this year. They were waiting for me. That cold cell shut things down harder than I expected. Tried a few different tactics and moved but the smelts were hugging bottom and few were rising to the bait. It wasn't til the last 1/2 hour out that we found the right presentation and started to get hits. Only a few handfuls were going to have a date with the skillet. It was great to meet some OFNer's to fish together. Sorry I couldn't put the pattern together. Now Emil brought his young son with him and, let me tell you, He is an absolute charmer. He was in his own world having a gay old time and keeping us cheerily amused. That boy is a gem, Emil. You are a lucky father. Sorry for the late report. The "Crash of OFC" and the onset of the flu shortly after left me a bit preoccupied

On many forums, hits on the ads or sponsor links result in a payback to the board.

Thank you. Don't know if the shakes and sweats were from the DT's or the flu. Just glad you are up and running again.

Nothing juvenile about it at all. A good part of my growing up was the Muskokas. I still love the small towns, although most are slowly dying. Coldwater, Mactier, Waubushene and Honey Harbour were bustling towns in their day. I miss the pier at Jackson's Point. I have had great times in Haliburton and Minden. Have a soft spot for the Soo. It's all about the fun and the memories we attach to these places. I still haven't seen 10% of this province or fished 1% of it's lakes, but I'm working on it.

Why should we have all the fun? Better go our and git yerself a snowshovel, parka an mukluks

Just let me know so I bring more gear

On #2. I'm also a realist. The Leafs are hopeless, and NHL hockey isn't much better. Watch the juniors instead. #3 I love winters cold and snowy. Far better than the mushy an dull grey winters we have seen much of the past few years. There is something very wrong in being able to work my garden the first week of March

WTG on a successful outing. Some nice looking fish.

Spent my day at the Bradley Perzul Memorial Derby in Port Dalhousie. Bradley was a very avid young angler who succumbed to heart disease a few years back. Sadly I was not one of the winners. My spot was where all the dink perch were feeding. Regardless, it was a great day. I got a great kick watching 3 young boys in our group, 2 who have never been ice fishing. Those young lads had a blast on the ice. I was glad to help them out and bring a couple of rods for them to use. This young lad had his very first ice caught fish. One of a few today. This teen got this one as it was dragging the rod down the hole. I was too busy yacking These will be guests for breakfast being gut hooked or damaged

Nova Scotia's South shore has a rich history of privateering from the 1790's to the War of 1812. It's a part of the 'blue water heritage'.

That won't work. The girls find all sorts of ways of smuggling the boys past the good sisters at night. Loretto girls school wasn't called "The Loretto Bordello" for nothing Bernie, you forgot to print the applicant's instructions that go with it. They are better than the app itself.

A steel, or carbides, are great tools for keeping your edges trued and sharp. Over time a blade does flatten out and lose the bevel. At that point you need to resort to a stone to bring back the bevel and a good edge. Not too difficult on a Rapala blade. A bit more work on blades with a higher RC count like a Mora filet knife or a cutter's sloyd knife.

Neat video. Nice ice cats.

Take him to a lodge or fly-in for some together time.

That was in retaliation for burning down York (Toronto) As for who won? It was a draw. The United States failed in its objective of invading and conquering Canada. The British failed in its efforts to impose its mastery of the seas, and its rules, on American seafaring and commerce. The Battle of New Orleans was an accident that occurred after the war was over.

Congratulations YOU have entered into a whole new world. Strap on that seat belt cause you're in for one wild and wonderful ride for the next 20 years. Enjoy every minute of it.

That'll cost ya a beer. Good thing I keep the roll of paper towels right beside the puter

There is always some form of environmental consequence from industry. Us older types should remember when everything in Sudbury was a shade of grey or when everything in the soo had a thick layer of dust on it every day. Solution was the super stack which in turn caused acid rain problems. Numerous lakes were wiped out because of a radical shift in ph levels. Contaminated waste, slag tailings, etc... will eventually leech into soil and the water table. Malvern subdivision had a radioactive waste problem. Luminous paint (radioactive) was used in the manufacture of aircraft instrumentation, gunsights, etc.. that were made there back in WWII. The waste was just dumped in the field and accidentally discoverd after the subdivision had been built some 30 years later. Surprise!! There are hundreds of nasty forgotten places like that across Canada. You can't make the stuff disappear any more than you can roll back time. All we, as a society, can do is try and manage the problems. Just be thankful you don't live or work near a chemical weapons dumping ground.

Photoz, the water was almost gin clear to bottom. Smelts were stacked top to bottom at different times. When deeper it didn't take much to coax them up. The key is to hit them as they swallow the bait. They have teeth, so they often get dragged up without being hooked. Bigger smelts attack like a miniature pike. If your're not quick, they shake off back down the hole. If you are sitting out in the open you will not see the bite. If you don't have a hut, throw a blanket or tarp over you and the hole. It will allow you to see the smelts biting.

It is amazing just how many 'normal' or 'innocent' businesses and institutions have fronted for drug ops. Coffee shops, restaurants, a church in Toronto (back in the late 80's), etc... You just never know.

Now that was a report Great pics. Obviously some great fishing as well. That was a prime laker there.

I am so glad you enjoyed yourself, Cliff. A beautiful day, good company and non- stop action at the hole. I couldn't have wanted for better. That's certain. Obviously you've finally got through cleaning the little buggers. We would've had more but we kept dropping every third or fourth one down the hole We just aren't fast enough. Like I said, nothing like being a kid for a day I'll be only too happy to hook up with you any time. By the way, the venison pepperettes are awesome. Had to get out the big stick to keep the son from eating them all.

The DNC list was a nice idea, in theory, but there will always be a loophole or ways around the rules. Anyone with an unlisted number can blank their number from display. Third party discount phone services also give generic call display. No different than all the failed attempts to keep spam off most networks.

Yup. ANd a whole forest of glow in the dark palm trees up Hwy 11 at gasoline alley!

The look on that wee one's face says " gimme a bottle quick" Another child to cherish and spoil.