Big Cliff

Lew, as you know, I work on small engines everyday. Here is the simple answer: EVERY can of gas that comes to my house wether it is going in my boat, quad, lawn mower, whatever, has stabilizer put in it the minitue I take it out of my trunk. There will be others that will tell you it isn't necessary, I consider it cheep insurance!

I have never ice fished smelts, what is the typical setup/bait/ is it like perch fishing, they come in schools, lots of action then nothing, do you usually have to move around? So many questions?

I think JohnF said it very well! I am sorry to hear this Jacques. My deepest condolences to you and your family!

Just wondering if water levels have returned to normal and is ice forming up solid at all. I am thinking of heading down there next Wed. to see if I can hook some smelts.

I hear ya Beans, I tried the Driftwood skin, too hard on these old eyes. I'd rather double click than go any blinder than I already am. As for this board; well TJ and the mods have done and do a wonderful job but it is a team effort! Without all the fantastic members who take the time to put together such wonderful posts, without all the people who give so much of themselves to help others there wouldn't be an OFC Community. Kudos to one and all!

Sure doesn't look anything like MY fishing room Beautiful job

The cost of clean up can be really high! Our neighbour had a fuel oil leak: The bill to date for the clean up (because he has waterfront property) is in excess of $1.2 Million and still climbing, it has been 2 years and the clean up is still going on. It was only a 250 gal tank and leaked into the ground about 150' away from the water! The marina a couple of doors down was going to put in a new gas tank: Cost $50 K for a containment system in case there was ever a leak + all new tanks and equipment + only people that could serve fuel had to take a course @$1000.00 ea. They couldn't afford to put it in. The rules and laws are getting stricter all the time and the fines? I don't know what they are now but I'll bet they are high!

LOL, Terry understood me

First, glad the guys are OK! Second, I asked my insurance agent that very question and was told "There is no stupidity clause in your policy, you are insured for ALL perils"! Now, I have never personally tested that out......

Glad to hear your place is OK Steve, I feel sorry for the others that weren't so lucky. I think maybe I'll hold off heading down there for some smelts for another week.

Can't help you with your question but welcome to the site!

I hope Paul is feeling some relief by now. I spent a year wearing a back brace so I have some idea what he is going through. I tend to agree with HH & Lew. Be careful about adding heat, it could actually cause inflamation to be worse, cold packs might actually be better, it will help to reduce swelling, try both, see which one helps. Get medical help! I am not a fan of chiro. Had a very bad experience with it when I buggered up my back (part of the reason I was in a brace for so long). Whatever he decides, hope he is feeling better really soon!

If you were selling it, probably about $21.00 to $25.00 ($25.00 if you are lucky) US. If you were buying it you would probably pay about $30.00 US (plus freight). To get top dollar for stuff like this you have to be in the right place, at the right time. Dealers want to give you about half of what it is worth on the open market but if you try to sell it on EBay by the time you get done with the time involved and fees and hassle you are probably further ahead to just go to the dealer.

Some of the new technology we are starting to see on the two strokes is quite exciting. The new "stratified charged engines" are very fuel efficient and easily meet emmission standards. I am not sure if any of the marine manufacturers are incorporating the technology yet but they will be soon! I just had an introduction to a stratified engine on an ECHO chain saw and was VERY impressed with it! Banning two strokes isn't a solution, they do have many advantages over a 4 stroke in many applications.

My money is with ecmilley on this one, there is a wireing problem. Did this just start out of the blue or have you added anything into the circuit? Could be a broken wire or short but I'll bet you have no spark when trying to start it with the starter!

Sinker and I were going to head down to Dunnville on Wed. Guess we might have to re-think that plan. Thanks for the updates Steve, much appreciated!

Well, I'm not a trophy fisherman and I probably never will put a stuffed or replica fish up on my wall but I do have to say that really is beautiful! Well done!

There are going to be some very unhappy people when they return to their trucks! Where were these pictures taken? PS. There is so much water on top of the ice that I have waves on the lake in front of my place right now!

This is the first time I have been told that "it will be opening" and coming from a CO and another employee of MNR on two seperate occasions makes me think there must be something to the story.

Apparently the flu shot doesn't work for this bug. When it does hit, it hits so hard and so fast, there is no warning from feeling fine to sick in a matter of minutes. It is a good thing that I did have Sue here because to be honest by the time I realized I was in trouble I'm not sure I could have called for help. Rattletrap2; you have to see our driveway 25° + slope down hill from the road about 70' long and covered in ice with rain on top of that, just standing up on it would have been a chalange. The fire dept. had to sand it just so they could get enough traction to come down it without falling.

Well, from Peterborough, there is Oak Lake but Beans is right, I have now heard it directly from a CO and a fellow doing a creel sensus for the MNR that they plan to open the Kawarthas for ice fishing 'pan fish" and that it is in the works right now and should be in place by next winter but by 2011 at the latest. If it does happen, it is 521' from my dock to where my ice hut will be Anyone got plans for building a 10' X 12' Ice hut? Oh and what size extension cord do I need to run 220, 20 amp 500'?

Monday Beans and I headed out to lake X for a little R&R, couldn't have been a better day, mild, light winds, a few fish and wonderful company. I felt fantastic! Monday night about 10, it started, and lasted all night; anything and everything that was in my stomach wasn't any longer, I couldn't even keep water down. By Tuesday at noon I could hardly stand up to get to the bathroom, and then came the trotts. By 1:00 Sue had called Health Canada (I am on meds for blood pressure and a few other things and hadn't been able to take them; well, I had tried) they told her to get me into the hospital. There was no way I could even walk to the car and our driveway was solid ice so Sue called an ambulance. They took one look at me and the driveway and called the fire dept. to help with the extraction. Anyway, fast forward to the hospital. They didn't waste any time getting me into a room. Started me on IV, getting gravol into the IV (and god knows what else LOL) I was out of it most of the time. It turnes out I was severly dehydrated and running a high feaver. Well, whatever they put in that IV, it worked by 8:00 last night they had me stabilized enough that Sue was able to bring me home, still very shakey, and restricted to clear fluids for the next 24 hours but on the mend. It turns out that this "bug" is making the rounds and it is a really bad one, the flu shot doesn't work for this one and it is particullarly hard on seniors so if you have aging parents or family or friends, check in on them and make sure that if they get this bug, they get help because it is far more agressive than your average run of the mill stomach flu. Last but not least, a special thanks to the Ambulance crew, fire fighters, hospital staff and my belovid Sue for getting me back on my feet and ready to fish again (well maybe tomorrow LOL).

There is a huge hole left when we bury a loved one; best thing I have found to fill that hole is memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of the family! Cliff & Sue

Nice report, sounds and looks like a super day!

Next time you need tech support from bell, when they ask you English or French, select French, your call gets routed to a Quebec call center where all the people are not only French but speek English very well too. A friend of mine that works for Bell told me this little trick!