JTorra

I have a number of brackets that would fit your transducer. Just unbolt it from the mount and put it on your rigged-up ice mount (if you don,t want to spring for and ice-ducer.) PM me for more info as I am the guy with the portable kit for sale. I have my 798si HD on the ice in the same bag/mount and it's awesome.

Would not hit the ice without sonar/flasher! This will get your 587 on the ice. http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sporting-goods-exercise-fishing-camping-outdoors-Humminbird-Ice-fishing-portable-Sonar-Carry-Case-and-Battery-W0QQAdIdZ351790883

Team Daiwa Advantage 1500A spinning on a 6'8" Shimano Compre IM9 1 piece. Technically a drop shot rod but was built a my "walleye weapon" for vertical presentations.

I have the Lexus 400H. Very similar. Share drivetrains and some other parts. Give me a call and I'll give you the skinny. Billy, mileage is good. He will not trying be to spin the tires on a Duramax at 80 km/Hr!

Huge topic. Even the few questions asked could elicit paragraphs... There is a certain site that will help you in your quest to become an educated "spoonpuller" It's where I got most of my answers when going through the process that you are now. Good place to buy used equipment too, to help keep the crazy costs down when setting up a boat for the first time. Good luck!

You almost had company...

Ice in bays is fine. Main channel, mouth of Oxtounge and Dorset ice is dicey.

There are no fish in that lake! Especially not right in front of my cottage....

Ahhh...steelhead and sidewalks. The epitome of natural beauty...

I went through the same thing a year ago. Went with Big Jon for a few reasons: -Mine were used but they still look great. No (well, little) plastic to crack, fade and "grey-out". Machined aluminum is durable. -Highly modular. Anything breaks (hasn't happened yet) and they are super easy to fix on the water. I always have a few spare parts on board like counter springs and a spare pulley. -Canadian service and parts distributor in North Bay is excellent -If you buy them used, you can usually sell them a few years later for the same price you buy them for. Sold my manuals to upgrade to electrics and had this scenario work in my favor. -Great integrated base, mount,rod holder and cannon ball if you are looking for a compact set-up. http://www.fortune3.com/BigJonSports2011/product.cgi?group=583&product=596 Cons are: -Fixed boom length (non-telescopic) -Not the most attractive compared to others when they are new. (white Cannon Digi-Troll Mag 10's are sexy!) This is the cole's notes version. I did a ton of research and wanted something that would last forever. These should fit the bill...

The Hummminbird/Cannonlink is the only system I am aware of that will do this. http://www.cannondownriggers.com/Technology/CannonLink/

I rolled mine with fiberglass resin. Pay extra attention to the edges.

Step by step instructions: 1)Buy one of these cool thingies.... http://www.basspro.com/HT-Enterprises-Ice-Anchor-Power-Drill-Installation-Tool/product/10228949/60921 (while you are at it convert your manual auger to 18v cordless too!) 2)Screw down a corner, open the zippered door, walk in and erect it from the inside out by pushing on opposing hubs. Done! Super easy. I also shovel some slush from the holes I drill onto the flaps to seal it up tight and keep the draft out if I know I am going to be parked on a spot for a while. Note: I have a 6'6" arm span so if you are are eligible for your own show on TLC, this technique may not work for you.

This is not a new idea.... I'm sure you've all heard of the "deal a day" websites. Groupon, Living Social, TeamBuy (were on Dragon's Den) This concept went crazy about a year ago. http://groupbuyingcanada.com/canada-goes-crazy-for-group-buying-daily-deals/ What is being proposed is a bit different, but still involves the "group buying" concept. Some retailers love it as advertising (as mentioned, the "loss-leader" concept) and others will hate the idea of giving away margin. It is definitely doable if thought out properly. It would have to be a "daily deal" site geared specifically to outdoor gear and successfully attract retailers to offer up deals as a way of getting their products used by more people. There are already man-specific http://www.groupdudes.com/ and women specific versions of these. If someone wants to start one up I'm in as member! I already helped start this one... http//:www.teamsave.com and it was no fun. But the guy who started Groupn was offer 5.6 Billion by google 24 months after he started it. He turned it down

Depends if you're drunk or not...

And it's a heck of a lot longer up there!! Those pics may have me coming around though...

Hate to disagree but the 4Runner will have a TON more room that the style of Blazer you are coming from Krawler.Not a Tahoe, but the S-10 based Blazer, much more space for sure. And the new Runner's are even larger than my 2007. If you go for the 4runner you will not be disappointed.

I am fine with extended soft-water opportunities. Be careful what you wish for... Winter is loooong once it sets in!

Alright, true gearhead sounding off here....38 cars since 16. I'm only 37, Do the math. I have a sickness. I had a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland with the H.O. V8 and LOVED it...when it wasn't being fixed. 2 front hub assemblies per side, 2 rear carrier bearings, broken window regulators (oddly, they always went went in the dead of winter, for extra P.I.T.A factor),$1600 climate control fix...and on and on. If I wasn't a bit of a wrench myself I would have gotten rid of it in the first 3 years instead of driving it for 5. It got 12.8L/100K on the highway to the cottage and 17.8 around town, consistently. Won't buy a Jeep again...after owning 3. I just recently bought an 07 4Runner with 171K. Yes, 171K. It drives better than any Jeep I ever had when new. I did my research and unless Toyota is including lifetime "massage spa" memberships with their 4runners, there is a reason they seem to have a cult following based on reliability. I tow a 16' full windshield boat around and get 14-15L/100km. Set the cruise at 110km/hr on a long trip and I see 11.5L/100km in the summer, unloaded. It swallows up big bins of camping gear with ease, has a true 4wd system with 2wd mode and does VERY well offroad stock. I just did BFG AT's with a small lift so I can get Bill M and Wallacio back into some nice brookie lakes without them ruiningmy stuff in an ATV and trailer... That said, I got sucked into the Ford Ecoboost marketing on their website and was very intrigued but I too have heard that 29 MPG is very optimistic, but the power is there for sure. I would say drive a 4Runner. Maybe even save a whack of cash and looked used. They hold their resale value like nothing else, which will hurt you now but help you later. My .02

I'm sending my Humminbird 798si back to see if they can upgrade it to the imaging quality on the Hydrographic Survey boats!

I was joking about buying two...I only need one, and the "new one" would be no better than the 4 month "old one". I would have to sell at least one of them at a profit to come out ahead in any way. And that's before we even factor in taxes (and shipping and duty, on the US order) Not slighting Roy, just having some fun and trying to ease the pain of feeling like I paid too much.

Shoot me some pics.

Roy, you seem like a stand-up guy and I always like your posts, but dear sir, I am going to have to question your math on this one.... I like your creative thinking though. Can you do my 2011 taxes?

I run Convectors and was a little worried at first because I wasn't spending a zillion dollars on shiny machined-from-barstock bling reels. They have been fine and have dealt with numerous 300ft rips from hot kings... Apparently the newer models have some improvements over the older ones, starting with 2010 MY product. That's what I was "told" anyways. And salesmen never lie! I would think they will do fine.

Ughhhh....I just gagged a bit. I paid $1049 for the 798si in June... $549 is nuts. I should buy another one just to get a better "average price"