raptorfan

I still have to get my first hook up......I think I have had a couple of hits but I missed them. Thanks for the info man, I guess it is just hard to take as I listen to some talk about getting 4, 6, 12 fish in a day. Hopefully one day I can be in that league.....

Sorry guys, I need to rant and rave, and a fishing forum seems perfect for this rant. In the fall, after joining this forum, I decided to try my luck at steelheading. My first 5 or 6 times out, I used my spinning reel on a 10'6" Quantum IM8 rod. I didn't like the feel of drifting with this reel, so I went to see Jos and bought my first centerpin (some of you may remember my post and excitement about that). I have watched a tonne of videos, how-to's, read the posts from the guys who actually know what they are doing on here, and even fished with a couple of people who actually know what they are doing. The problem is.....after 18 outings and probably 100+ hours of pinning.....I still haven't caught a bloody fish!!!!!!! I don't stay in the same spot too long, I stay long enough to drift the different currents in each spot 5 or 6 times at a different depth each time. I think I am learning to read the waters I fish pretty well. I do try and limit my fishing to only 3 or 4 different water bodies so that I can increase my knowledge and comfort level with that body of water each time I go out. The problem I am finding, because I know I must be doing something wrong, is how am I supposed to learn from my mistakes if I never get it right and get a fish? Know what I mean? The thing that baffles me though is that even the people I go with don't get fish, and they know what they are doing somewhat! Am I just the unluckiest guy on this forum? I for one am not afraid of knowledge. There are some who pretend they know everything because they are afraid to learn something new, or something at all, because it would point to them that they were wrong in the first place. That is definately not me, I will be the first to admit when I am wrong most of the time. Maybe it is just my timing that is off when I choose to hit up these spots, but I am sure there is more to it than that. I know for sure there will be some of you post on here that I just need to suck it up, and you went through all this when you started and I just need to put in my time. I know that I need to put in my time, so I don't really need to hear that. Like I said earlier, I am always very willing to learn, but when I come home and see other posting great results from the same day I fished and I didn't even get a sniff it really gets dejecting. I love this sport, and I do thoroughly enjoy centerpinning. The scenery you see on these inland rivers and streams is absolutely breathtaking. It is the one thing that keeps me going back out.....well that and the hope of finally landing my first trout on a pin. Hopefully one day soon there will be a post from me containing nothing but a photo and sheer exuberance. Thanks for listening. Shawn

I got a nice big backyard for that, spent a few hours out there this weekend practicing up for bass and eyes. I did spool it up with some cheap 15 lb mono for practice, and boy am I sure glad I did!

Nice! Hoping to get out myself tomorrow afternoon. Taking the kids for crappies in the morning.

Bought my first baitcasting outfit today at the sportsman show. Wasn't a much better deal than I would have got somewhere else, but it was a little bit. I bought a Quantum PT Energy rod and a Quantum PT Catalyst reel with burner gears for around $240. The good part about it, besides finally having my first set up, was that by buying a Quantum PT combo, I took my receipt to the Quantum booth and they gave me a free PT hat and 6 free sexy shads! I figure that was worth an extra $35 in itself. All in all, it was a good day at the show. The worst part was the walk between buildings, which the kids were not too happy about. I also hooked my wife up with her first rod and reel, and my boy also bought a new rod and reel. He is stepping up just like I did at his age, he bought himself a nice M/L 6' Ugly Stick and a Quantum snapshot 10 series reel. Should be perfect for him for our crappie and bass outings. Ended up spending way too much on the day, almost $700 by the time I bought all the gear, paid to get in and took the family to Tuckers Marketplace for dinner on the way home, but it was all worth it to see the smiles on my kids faces when the day was done. Can't wait to get out tomorrow morning and try our luck! Shawn

I assume it is $470 per person? Does that include meals and fuel for the boat as well? Is the $470 based on 4 people?

I have wanted to fish in the open lake for a long time. With a young family though, it is tough to afford a boat that will allow me to get out there, so for now I stick to the tribs. Hopefully one year soon . Love seeing all the pictures you guys post of the big kings and bows you pull out though. When I was a teenager, we used to fish Lake Erie for pickeral, and I always had a great time there.

This is great news, thanks for the report. Booked tomorrow off work, gonna take the wife and kids down and maybe hit medieval times for dinner after. Didn't get lucky enough to score some free tickets but ah well.

Flappn, There is no issue with the controls, they would not need to be changed. What you need to do is order a propane conversion kit for the BBQ. It will consist of a set of orfices, probably in the #54 - #56 range for propane. It should also come with a hose/regulator attachment that threads into your control body (the knobs). The orfices would also be located on the valve body, down near the mixing chamber where the valve meets your burner. Would take no more than a half hour to convert it, and would probably cost you $60 to $80 for the parts. I am a gasfitter as well as a plumber, we do this all the time when people relocate to new homes. Also, usually when you order a natural gas BBQ, it will come with the propane orfices. Did you get a bag with some little brass parts that look like hex nuts when you ordered the BBQ? If you did, all you need to do is go buy a propane regulator and hose. I would never recommend hammering an orfice closed to drill a new hole, or drilling out a new orfice. If you go to big, it could cause a very dangerous situation, and for the price of an orfice, it is not worth it in my opinion. Good Luck! Shawn

Nice, where did ya score them? I know FM96 out of London is giving them away all this week, trying to score myself some of them.

Yup, as caribou said, I think the ice will be completely gone by thursday, barely an inch left where I was fishing, and the one pond was already clear. No hits tonight, about 8 people fishing blueline bridge and no one was getting into anything. Lots of swells though, and geese too

I am hitting up waterford tonight for some crappie and panfish with the kids.....will post a report later

for spinning gear, I am partial to Berkeley rods and always buy Quantum reels to go with them. I find the Quantum reels are very easy to disassemble and lube up every year and they feel fantastic in my hand......I assume most are the same though. Everyone is going to have their favorites for one reason or another, I think I enjoy these combos because that is what I was introduced to as a teenager, and have stuck with them ever since. I actually still have a Berkeley Finesse series and Berkeley Cherrywood that I bought almost 20 years ago, and they still have fantastic feel

I watch alot of them. The sound is phenomenal on most, and the picture is nice too. It usually feels about as close to being there as you can get

Haven't been to the show in 19 years, so am gonna make a trip down this year. Kids are excited to go as well.

still ice, but it is getting soft. usually takes a while for the ice to get off those ponds

kick its ass Nanook. Best of luck, thoughts will be with you

Why is that solo? I am gonna register on the weekend.

Very sorry to hear about your friend Randy, my condolences. As for that dirtbag on the street.....awesome job man, there should be more people like you in this world, it would definately be a safer place.

I agree Roy, to a point. It is better if you are part of the "in" crowd, or have been here for 4 years and made thousands of posts, and gone to the get togethers.. For people who are still relatively new though, getting info or advice can be like having a root canal sometimes, and others it is just not worth the embarassment some people give you for asking a question they think is obvious but to someone new to the game is valuable.

I really don't think those prices are very unreasonable if the content of the course is good. It is about the same price as a good book, but here you have people to answer your questions on the curriculum.

those were phenomenal to look at, definately a dream trip. Thanks for taking us down memory lane, hopefully you find the picture of the belugas, would love to see that.

thanks for the info guys, much appreciated. If perch is all that is available, I might as well just stay here and fish the inner bay at st williams if there is still ice. Nights look like they are staying cold enough, so there is hope.

Hey guys and gals, A friend and I are looking at getting out one last time before the thaw. We are thinking of a day on Scugog, Simcoe, or Quinte. I wouldn't mind targeting lakers and whitefish which from my research seem accessible in simcoe, but just perch and pickerel are fine by me as well. If anyone can offer up any good experiences with outfitters in these areas they have found, or outfitters to stay away from, it would be greatly appreciated. We are hoping to go next thursday, weather permitting......... thanks in advance shawn

THIS ISN'T A CABBIE BEATING CONTEST!!!