Rice Laker

A family member is looking at a cottage on Deer Bay, Lower Buckhorn in the Kawarthas. Can a locals or frequent visitors advise how are the weeds during the spring and summer seasons? Thanks!

My wife and I purchased a seasonal fishing camp 18 years ago. With the right decisions/planning being made it can be a very satisfying semi-retirement. You don't work 18 hour days 24/7 as has been posted and in recent years we spent 2-3 months in Florida as our vacation. The busiest times are before opening (mid-May) and after closing (Thanksgiving). We got to know other couples who bought for similar reasons to us: large house in the GTA, kids had left home, mid 50's, job frustrations and just wanting a "mid-life change". From our experiences I would list the following as the most important points in evaluating camps: 1) A substantial repeat business; look at the reservations for this year, next year and the last 3 years. 2) See accountant prepared P & L statements. 3) A camp that has both cottages and daily boat rentals so you are not dependent on just one income stream. 4) 12-15 cottages can be easily run by a couple with weekend help for cleaning etc. Any more than that would probably require help during the week, meaning additional expenses. 5) If you have lived in a city for many years, evaluate carefully moving to a place in the "boonies". Being 2 hours from Canadian Tire, Walmart, Home Depot, Timmies, doctors and a hospital could be a real shock, especially for the wife!

It is very easy now, just go on-line to: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/OC/2ColumnSubPage/STDU_137924.html Make sure you have her Outdoors Card number, her postal code, DOB and a credit card

I rent boats and go through the 15 point check list with those who do not have a Boat Operator’s Card. From my experiences, I would much rather be in a boat with someone who went through the checklist that morning than someone who got the Card 5 years ago on the Internet and has never been in a boat in their life...... Also in response to earlier postings, I don't know anyone who rents boats that "go 50mph".

Silly question: If and when the hybrid battery dies can you just run the car like a regular gas powered Highlander?

I live on Rice and rent boats, so have seen many anglers the last 3 months. The fishing has been EXCELLENT, especially bass since opening end of June. Walleye have also been good but frustrating as many are caught out of the slot size (35-50cm) and have to be returned. The weeds are terrible this year, the worst I have seen in 15 years. Had several calls out due to overheating motors, so am asking renters to go in reverse sooner than they might have done in other years.

I have rented boats to guys who took the test on line 5 years ago and have never once actually been in a boat. Couldn't even steer a tiller boat (thought the boat knew how to steer itself) but they had a licence.... Personally I would much rather be with someone who went through the checklist that morning, been told about any local hazards and had a good instruction in the safe operation of that boat and motor.

Newbie wrote: Make sure you have your boating license, you are required to have one now even if you are renting This is incorrect, you only need a Boat Operator's Card if you OWN a boat, it is NOT needed for renting. To rent a boat you go through a 15 point checklist, sign it and have a copy with. You are then just as legal as someone with a BOC. The card companies don't want you to know this, they want your $50-. Check out: http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/education/pdf/rental.pdf

My wife had a successful partial (Oxford) knee replacement last December in Peterborough. If you can get to Peterborough easily, the excellent surgeon was Dr Dobson and follow up physiotherapy at the new Trent Health in Motion facility at Trent U (705-741-4758. Good Luck!

A common misconception is that the RLTA did not support year round/ice fishing on Rice Lake. This is NOT true, the RLTA representative on the FMZ 17 Council voted FOR ice fishing, not against it. Concerns were raised about walleye being caught and safety issues as there are numerous cracks in the ice due to the constant water flow into the lake, but several other participants raised the same concerns.............. The RLTA always supported ice fishing.

I know this won't help you today but the "Electronic Records" project the Ministry of Health has been working on will eventually negate all the "paper" in your medical records. Your total medical history, reports, x-rays, scans etc will be digital and transferred electonically. Hopefully it won't cost another billion dollars...........

My boat rentals have not suffered this year. Lots of people call asking "must I have the Operator's Card?" As was said above, the Rental Checklist is all that is needed. Some question whether this should be allowed, but I would rather be on the lake with someone who went through the checklist and the proper operation of the boat this morning than with someone who took the test 5 years ago and has not been in a boat since.

I rent boats and take renters through a 15 point checklist that takes about 10 minutes. I photocopy the checklist and the renter takes the copy out with them. The nationality of the renter does not matter, the rules are the same for everyone. You did not mention if you have your own boat. If you do, you can use it for upto 45 days. You must have the required safety equipment (PFD, flashlight, whistle, paddle/oars, 50' rope and a bailing bucket).

I am musically challenged, can't even play a tambourine, but if I were buying a guitar, I would buy a Taylor. I learned about them after seeing the following video on YouTube: Great true story about Dave Carroll's problem with United Airlines. Dave (from Halifax NS)has become famous worldwide because of this video. Google him as well for more info.

This Pet Fish question reminded me of the following true story: A man was stopped by a Conservation Officer in Northern Algonquin Park recently with two buckets of fish leaving a lake well known for its fishing The C.O. asked the man, "Do you have a license to catch those fish?" The man replied to the C.O., "No, sir. These are my pet fish." "Pet fish?!" the C.O. replied. "Yes, sir, every night I take these here fish down to the lake and let them swim around for a while. I whistle and they jump back into their buckets, and I take em home." "That's a bunch of hooey! Fish can't do that!" The man looked at the C.O. for a moment, and then said, "Here, I'll show you. It really works." "O.K. I've GOT to see this!" The C.O. was curious. The man poured the fish in to the river and stood and waited. After several minutes, the C.O. turned to the man and said, "Well?" "Well, what?" the man responded. "When are you going to call them back?" the C.O. prompted. "Call who back?" the man asked. "The FISH" "What fish?" the man asked...........