JPD

Linker777, for flipping and or pitching you really want to go with a bait caster for a couple of reasons... firstly the reel power is far superior in a casting over a spinning since the line is a direct drive to the spool and is designed to handle the heavier lines associated with flipping heavy cover like 20-30 lb mono or fluoro or 50-65 lb braid... on a spinning reel that will drive you batty. Secondly the rod powers and actions in a 7'0-7'6" will make it easier to turn the fish's head in the cover than will be possible on the lighter spinning rod, especially a 2 piece. Flipping sticks are typically telescopic giving them a ton of backbone all the while maintaining a softer (not soft) tip section. Look for a medium heavy with fast or extra fast action that is rated 12-25 lb test. You can flip with a heavy spinning rod with 40 lb braid but you will be sacrificing a bunch of accuracy in the end. One more thing to look for is a reel with a 6.2:1 or 7:1 gear ratio.... flipping with a 5:1 will also drive you to drink since you can pick up the line fast enough. JP

Hey Raf, I've been using the Solar Bats for about 4 years now and the Mossback Green lens is probably the best all around color I have ever used and believe me I have used a bunch. They are very reasonably priced and are super light. Check them out before you spend a wad out there. They also now have a mossback gradient that starts yellow at the bottom and fades to the mossback on top. JP

I would stay away from the braid and run Fluorocarbon or at least mono. The Extra Fast tip might be a bit much for blades but if that's what you are looking to use then go mono because it has a bit more stretch. My spinnerbait rod is a 7'2" - 7'6" Medium Heavy moderate fast to get the bait a long way away from the boat and pick up a lot of line when setting the hook. For tighter confines and around vegetation your rod will do just fine. JP

That's a great choice Mr.EH. you won't regret it.

Congrats Lew.. beautiful boat and good choice with Skeeter... very well built product. Enjoy it. JP

Hoops12, If you are looking to throw crankbaits look at the Shimano Compre like Garry2rs said but try to find the TC4 crankbait models. They are a composite of E Glass and Graphite so they are very light weight and sensitive but have the proper parabolic bend and specifically designed for such presentations. The 7'0 medium heavy model number CPC-C70MHB that is rated 10-20 pound line spooled up with 12-15 pound fluorocarbon will be an awesome set up, especially for the Crankbaits and swimbaits. Lifetime warranty with Fuji Hardloy guides for around $100 is almost impossible to beat! Good luck JP

Fast "snaps" of the rod is mostly used. Think of ripping your lure free from a weed. That's the kind of force you want to put behind it. Vary your cadence as well and figure out how aggressively they want it that day... it changes all the time.

You can also try J&P Charters, Paul Powis is an amazing guide. www.jpfish.com

It was great meeting you guys last night and thank you very much for coming out to support the event. Sorry we had to go but I was absolutely whooped by the the end of it and had to get up this morning to head out to Gagnon's for a seminar. Rick, sorry to hear about your car trouble it would have been great to meet you and as for the rest of the bunch it was really nice to put some faces to the names, I enjoyed meeting you guys last night. JP

Happy Birthday Ryan! You're nuts... stay inside!

Happy Birthday Bly! Hope you get a new PB as a gift!

Boat registration is done at Services Canada, Trailer is done at MTO

I just recently switched to Taste of the Wild all natural food that is Salmon and Potato based on the recommendation of the vet and the dog is just loving it! The bags are not that cheap but the quality if great... I pay $65 for the big bag. I switched her because she had a couple of mild bouts of colitis and I thought the food was the reason... look for beet pulp as an ingredient in the food, if it has it, stay clear. Beet pulp is put into dog food to absorb water in the stomach and make their crap more solid....kind of makes up for poor quality ingredients... this was told to me by the owner of Beowulf kennels who raises world class Old English Mastiffs... she also started making her own food because of all the crap out there. She also said that Eukaneuba started going down the toilet when Effem foods bought them up... same company that makes Twix, Skittles, Mars and snickers to name a few... want a chocolate?

Thongs!!!

Hi Ted, Good choice there... go with the 200 E7 for flipping the 300's will be too much of a difference is weight for that application. For the rod, I would suggest going up one size and getting the CPCX70MH - 7'0"... that little bit of extra length will help with your hook sets. That will be a sweet combo for what you want to do. Good luck JP

MrEH, kids are most welcome and we hope there are a bunch of them in attendance... this event will be a great family night out for a couple of hours, show starts at 7 and will be done before 9, plenty of time to get the kiddies back to bed We are looking forward to meeting up with a bunch of OFC'ers at these events, including their families...and you'll love Powis' seminar on trolling.. he really has it down pat!

hometownhandyman, the absolute master when it comes to trolling Erie's Western basis is Paul Powis who will be covering a bunch on getting rainbows and walleyes out of the Erieau area. There's a good reason why he's one of the busiest guides going!! The alternative lure idea is one that will be stressed since it can be very valuable, especially fishing trout when everybody and their brother is drifting roe bags around...fish get conditioned and something different is all they need at times... Great feedback guys, I appreciate it and will work hard to get as well rounded on the whole topic as I can.... speaking of which, I'm supposed to meet Dave in 4 1/2 hours to fish the Niagara!!! Can't wait!

You're absolutely right Rick, the problem with current is the turbulence, much like how your transducer will be less accurate when your boat is moving with the big motor... there are some settings that can help that on most units but the most important factor is always the transducer mounting... definitely something I can touch upon... Doug, sorry you feel that way, this is however a completely free seminar series, there is nothing sold at these events it's just about information regarding techniques and tactics to increase your success. Our job is to promote this sport above all else since we all feel that it is without a doubt the greatest past time going...

Thanks guys, I am already working on it and have included "reading The water" as a major part of it... teaching people where to look for those fish and how to properly use current to your advantage when presenting the bait... keep the ideas coming guys... JP

Hey guys, just wanted to touch base with everyone on this seminar series.... This is going to be a really cool deal and unlike anything ever done.... Dave is really going all out to create not only a talk but a show out of the night... he has set up to have two big screens on either side of the stage and an awesome sound system with added videos... this will definitely be a show for the whole family... My question for this community is regarding the type of stuff that anglers want to hear... I will be doing a "River" fishing talk and focus on a bunch of species that are commonly caught in rivers like Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Trout / Salmon. What kind of information is everyone looking for... Are things like Specifics on lures, lines and rod Actions something needed, how about stuff like colors based on water clarities or detailed information on rigging options? I would love to hear what topics are of the most interest... I know this community has a bunch of great contributors and a great cross section of the angling community as a whole... Your thoughts on this would be very valuable... JP

The plastics that are in the kits are fine like that. They will not dry up over time. The only baits you really want to keep sealed up are Gulp! baits. I have even stored Powerbait plastics in Plano containers for years on end and that stink never went away!!! JP

Hey Milo, when did Stella start milking cows?

BTW Lew, Don't go through hull, your boat is aluminum so it won't work and secondly you want to know the depth under the front of your boat, not the back... weed lines are no use once you pass them...

Hi Lew, I have been running the US and US2 for about 4 years now and haven't really had any complaints about it. I have had both Lowrance and more recently Humminbird graphs on the bow and I depend on finding smallies tight to bottom in 25-45 feet of water and have had no issues. The first year they had to add a grounding wire but since then and up to the new US2 it has been great... the temp is a nice bonus as well. There is no wire around the motor shaft to worry about and not as much damage to the puck if you decide to beach it or bump a rock... Clean and easy is always nice, especially at the casting deck area... Just my two cents JP

Tie the sticks together with the string and open the hatch on the ceiling...