porkpie

For me that's a no brainer, I'd troll for salmon any day over catching musky. Different strokes, do what moves you!

Not many fish can pass up a fat roe bag. Fished off bottom on a sliding egg sinker rig is about as simple as you can get and has caught me many fish!

Bummer! I hope Terry's suggestion works for you, that's an expensive transducer!

I used a piece of oak on the cottage tinner. That was 4 years ago now and good as new. Several coats of tremclad and plenty of 3m 5200 everywhere I put a bolt hole or screw and it will last another 30 years I'm sure.

Next time you get some skeins, get you some 1/4 inch hardware mesh. Put it over a plastic basin and drop the skein egg side down on the mesh, commence rubbing the back of the skein and you'll have them scraped in minutes. I use borax for all skein. Salt cured skein doesn't freeze as well, and tends to turn to mush over time. Loose eggs and salt go well together.

If you can get the hook into its mouth, then it's legally caught. Trouble is, most guys that employ this approach can't get it into the mouth, it catches on the outside of the mouth on the side of the fish opposite the angler so it's not "in the mouth" but on the outside of the mouth. From a distance it looks pretty legit, and in my youth I could line chinooks with the best of them! Lots of folks who fish regularily consider it a shady practice but then there are guys float fishing with long leaders in pools full of salmon that are doing the exact same thing. In reality the fish that make it to what I'll call "lining water" are usually so focused on spawning that they really aren't interested in that piece of delicious pink sponge you just presented to them, so folks need to face facts that they aren't really biting the hook. They do hit pretty well in the lower sections of River though and big spawn bags or chunks of skein takes fish fair and square. Anyway, shallow water chinooks just aren't near as fun as estuary fish or staging fish, but it's the most accessible location for people without boats, so have atter I guess. God knows I did a ton of it as a kid!

Depends on circumstance. Me and a couple buddies did at least 80 in 3 hours this spring on lower buck. That was a huge anomaly, but it happened. I agree though, most often guys talk those numbers and it's an exaggeration.

It happens, I've had to hold more than one of my kids over the side for a dump. My July trip to Nippising, the oldest boy had to use the bucket. Of course I took a picture to show his eventual bride one day!

Princess auto sells male and female, should get both for around $20 or so. Easier to just replace both.

Maybe next season, I'm north east of you. I have spent many years waterfowling but I'm taking a season off due to time constraints and wanting to get as much use out of my new boat as I can.

Starcraft Superfisherman 17 would meet your requirements. I have the 18, and it's near perfect for a trolling boat in my opinion.

It's far easier to deal with trespass than littering. You need to witness someone actually littering to write the ticket. With trespass, if you are there contrary to posted signage well....

No prob!

Check PM

People are their own worst enemies. Always! The day will come when without a boat you aren't going fishing, and it will cost a big buck to launch. In southern Ontario anyway.

Your son is growing up! It's been a fantastic year of Erie for sure. The drive kills me though!

Well, you have to be on the hunt, and your have to have money to spend. A short while ago there was a Stradic ci4 and a st croix wild River steelhead rod advertised here in excellent used condition for $200. Not uncommon at all. But I don't need to prove anything to you. All of my gear is higher end. All of it has been bought either used or on extreme clearance when a new model has been brought out. Watch the classifieds, have cash in hand and don't dicker when the price is right just jump on it. If it weren't for that, I'd still be fishing with ugly sticks! As for where the clearance deals come up, well some guys already know but I don't want more competition! Fact is he can easily find a Stradic in excellent used condition for well under $200 if he doesn't have to have it tomorrow!

Bought a NIB Stradic FJ on clearance for $120, and got a couple of 2500 Ci4's for under $200 each for a buddy. Anything is possible when they are clearing out the last years model, but no that's not an everyday price. They regularily come up used in excellent condition for $140-160.

A used Stradic, or if your not concerned with instant anti reverse and all the latest features then a diawa whisker 700SS makes an excellent pickerel reel and has a stellar drag! Either one are great reels.

I have a striker Guardian, mainly because I couldn't find the arctic armour in 2xl or at the time I probably would've gone with that. I spend a fair bit of time on the ice, or in the boat in the shoulder seasons so it made sense to spend on a decent and comfortable suit. I spent the previous 20 years in a one piece float suit, and the difference is night and day. I wouldn't go back to a float suit unless I was planning a trip in the north atlantic lol. I've been really happy with the suit, mind you I only have one season on it. It's very adjustable and super comfortable when sitting, moving or kneeling. They have heavier suits than the guardian, but I found mine very warm when layered and wouldn't go heavier personally. They sell them at fishing world. None of the new generation suits like arctic armour of striker are cheap though, so it depends how much you want to spend.

You've got brass ones pal! If I so much as looked at fishing pole on my anniversary my head would be on a pike. Mind you, it's a small price to pay for all the other fishing nonsense she puts up with, and my anniversary is in the winter.

It's why I keep going back. Sure keepers can be tough to find, but we've never failed to come up with enough for a fry, and if you move around enough you can stay on top of fish and put some crazy numbers in the boat! Nice fish!

If you enjoy solitude, oak or Burt aren't for you. Archers hole during peak of the run has more fly fishermen per yard of river than nearly anywhere I've ever seen, then you add in the float guys. Interesting, but numbers aren't what they were when we where going in the 90's and the only float fishermen you'd see then where occasional Canadians that knew about the fishing. Same as the Catt, just not what it used to be, and piles of guys who've actually clued in somewhat on how to fish.

It's tough to find used customs that don't have checkerboard patterns of burl on them, that's true, but they come up often enough if you keep your eyes open!

thats a lot of cake for an off the rack rod, i'd be looking for a nice used custom!