fish_fishburn

What year is the boat and motor? If its more then 5 yrs the cables could be seizing up and making it more difficult to steer. Just get new cables installed and you will be fine. And save yourself about a grand doing it. I run a 175 and just put new cables on and it is so much better now.

Ive been told this before and I plan on doing it but always forget... reels still work fine though.

Don't forget your jigs and minnows for the evening snack

My favorite way to fish pads is with a 5" flippin tube weightless rigged with a 5/0 offset Gammy hook rigged weedless. If this doesn't work a black or white Sluggo rigged the same way. Cast to the outside edge of the pads first if this doesn't draw them out drop it in the openings of the pads and just let it sit there for about a minute give a little shake and wait 15 seconds or so then retrieve and pick another spot. Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 casts into the same clump of pads to entice a strike, other times its the first cast and there on. And make sure your drag is cranked tight.

I have both and I prefer the Compre. A bit cheaper and just as good. IM9, IM10, is more about marketing then anything else. Just saying.

When my group gets together on quinte every year we have a $5.00 ante and biggest fish of the trip takes all. We also have a daily game we call DRINK BOY. The smallest fish of the day caught, the dude has to get beer and make drinks for the rest of the gang when they need one. Hey DRINK BOY I'll have another Wisers and Pepsi, lots of ice when you get a minute. haha. Lots of ribbin going on there towards the DRINK BOY but everyone has their day.

I don't eat Smallies there gross. But if I deep hook a largie I have no problem eating them. I cut it in bite size chunks then beer batter and deep fry, good eats right there.

BOWSER

Run your oil down to about 1/8 tank and fill up with Amsoil. Might as well get rid of as much of the dino oil as you can before adding the good stuff.

While your at it grab a tiny Rapala minnow. The model escapes me at the moment but it is about only 2 inches long and comes in most standard colours. Use it with no more than 6 lb test and on a ultra lite rod. I have run into your situation many times and this tiny lure makes em commit. I just twitch and pause and keep your movement in the boat to a minimum.

I have been running the Amsoil in my 200 Merc for 15 yrs and she still runs like new.

Keep practicing and you will get the hang of it. Just remember if you want to cast 1/8 oz jigs it is alot easier if you use the proper gear. Try a 6.6 medium lite with a extra fast tip for a jigging rod and set your reel up. First your spool. Aim rod tip at 11 and release the spool. Adjust your spool tensioner so the jig drops slowly and stops when it hits the water. Then open your reel to where the brakes are and make sure all are engaged except maybe one. Start casting short casts, sidearm if your just starting. Remember to keep your thumb lightly on the spool as you cast and to press down on the spool with your thumb when the jig hits the water, to stop the spool from spinning (birdsnest action here if you don't). As you get better you can adjust your spool tensioner back abit in very small increments till your cast distance increases and your reel feels comfortable for you. When you feel your ready, start turning the breaks off one by one and learn how your reel works. Remember to adjust your spool tensioner when you change lure weight, the same way as mentioned earlier. Lite line is important, I wouldn't go any heavier than 8 lb mono. This should get you started and by this time next year you will be casting them lite jigs 200 ft no problem. Casting into the wind. Just don't do it for now if you don't have too. Hope this helps.

Thanks alot Kickingfrog, now I want one. It's been close to 10 yrs since I bought my Chronarch and it is sooooooooooo nice. Spooky nice.

Thats so cool.

All these problems seem really strange to me. I have been using this line on a baitcaster and a spinning reel and haven't encountered any of these problems. I have used it for about a month now and it still looks the same as the day I put it on, even the colour is the same, no bleeding. Try letting all your line out behind the boat for ten minutes or so with nothing tied to it as your trolling, it sucks for bites but when you reel it in and give it a go all your misfortunes will probably be gone. I love this line and will be buying more. The line I am currently using is 20lb. As for PP I have only used it once about 5 yrs ago in a bass tourney. Broke off 50lb test slaying largies about three times that day and that was the end of my experiment with that stuff.

X2 as ohio said.

Don't mind them guys,,, it is more of a personal preference. I like to use baitcasters most of the time because I like the low profile and like to palm the reel. Also most of my fishing is river fishing, so lots of casting with plastics and crankbaits. For finese fishing, drop shotting I like a spinning reel. Skipping tubes under docks calls for the spinning reel as well. I do skip tubes with my baitcasters but your reel has to be really dialed in or you will have a mess in no time. My buddies look at me weird when they see me doing it. For trolling I will use both but will move up to larger reels, like curado 300 or stradic 4000, cause I am usually using larger lures and fishing deeper and using 7' H action rods. A Medium action is as light as I go for trolling. For shore fishing in strong current I prefer my baitcaster because I have more control free spooling the line. For creeks and small water a 5' lite to ulra light with a small spinning reel, great for casting light gear. Like Mercman said it more preference, and to what type of fishing you do most. This is my opinion and there are lots more out there, but this is comfortable for me for the type of fishing I do. Hope this helps ya out.

K, i'm heading out to the track to bet on the pony's this evening. The boat is ready to go and I will check in to see if there are any takers for tomorrow when I get home around 11:00. Still haven't got a hold of my buddy I have been trying to call but he might be up at his camp and there is no cell reception there. Later.

Great report T.J. Looks like Mike is living the dream. So Mike what do you do up there when your not working? Say no more the butchers dog grin on you says it all.

I got a call from my chum last night and he was entered to fish a local tournament tomorrow with his son and they have now decided they are going to Mont Tremblant for the weekend. The tourney is in Chapeau Que on the Ottawa River just across from Pembroke. The entry fee is paid and because of the short notice I am looking for a partner for the day. I am going to call a friend first but am not sure what his plans are for the weekend. If anyone here who is into bass fishing can get away let me know. We will be fishing out of my bass boat and I know the area well. Chip in on the gas for the truck and boat and your in. Blast off is at 7 am saturday and the weigh in is at 3 or 4 in Chapeau. Its a fundraiser for the volunteer fire dept and has been going for about 20 yrs now. Its a great little tourney and supports a good cause and is well organized. We will be targeting mostly largies and going after some big smallies later on in the day to try and bump up our weight. Sorry for the short notice but thats the way it is. Thanks Mike

10 an hour? I fish the Ottawa River mostly and 10 Quality Bass in 8 hrs would be a great day. I guess thats what keeps me going back. For me its all about the hunt.

If your going to use it for flipping and pitching you will be a bit light with a MH in my opinion. I have both Avids and Crucials and the Avid is by far a nicer rod. I just prefer the feel of the Avid over the Crucial. And just because the Crucial is a IM9 doesn't mean squat, it has to feel good in your hands and everyone is different.

I have used Rapala knives for 40 yrs and the only thing that I don't like about them is after a few seasons I notice small chips in the blade and it basically makes them useless. Good thing there cheap and easy to replace. The other thing is they take up so much room in my tackle bag. I was in a tackle shop a few weeks ago and noticed a nice fillet knife in the display case. It had a 8" blade and was made by Buck. The nice part, it was a folding blade(lock blade). I checked it out and had to have it. Finally a nice knife that folds up to half the size. It has a nice non slip rubber handle and a lifetime warranty. I tried it out on some nice Springs last week and I have to say it is a treat to work with. Well worth the $40.00

And why is it here on the Ottawa River it seems like whenever I see the marine unit with someone pulled over for a check it is always the guy in the tinny fishing boat getting the gears? I have yet to see a cruiser over 25 feet pulled over and checked out. And there the boats with the full bars on board. Thats one of the reasons I love my bassboat. If you want to check me out meet me 30 miles up the river in the rock infested bay I will be fishing in.

It's quite simple. Doing real police work to catch criminals on our streets before and during crimes they commit cost alot of money and is hard on the police resources. Picking on and harassing joe taxpayer (not a criminal) is very cost efficient and brings a windfall of money to the coffers.