cheaptackle

One thing the walmart guy did tell me that the money went to the MNR electronically from Walmart's account to the MNR at the same time the new tag was printing, as in BEFORE I had actually paid for it. The MNR database was updated at the same time to reflect that I had purchased the tag. Without a doubt this is better for the MNR than any previous delays due to mailing or even lost mail. Like anything new, though, it's off to a rocky start and smoothing out. Compare it to any new release (with associated crashes) of the Windows operating system over the years, and it doesn't seem so bad. Michael

Renewed mine (2012 fishing tag only) in Walmart Orillia this week. Guy warned me from the gitgo it was not a smooth system but really had no problems other than I was paying with a Walmart gift card - that took a bit of doing as they had to run it thru the Tire & Lube cash & gal didn't know how. It did take longer than the paper & sticker method used to - noticed the guy had to input my address info twice for some reason. Still, it wasn't 15 minutes from start to finish and now I'm legal for this year according to what I'm carrying. Think for next year I'll just do the 3 year thing (oops - lost my card!) and be done with carrying 2 pieces again, for now I'll just hit up my insurance company for another of those cheap vinyl pink slip wallets to carry in my tackle satchel Michael

Hmmm....The story I read said 9 million bucks. Wonder if Nip & RC are actually reporting live if not somewhat weighted down..... Michael

Miss one day on OFC and look what happens! Chad - who's the guy posing with your GF now Fiancee'? You know - the clean shaven & well dressed one. Seems to me I had suggested a few months ago that this was imminent! I wish you all the very best with many years of happiness. Just one thing - when the little ones are old enough how about letting me teach them how to cast? Michael

Before you do (if you want) just jack it up, pull the wheel and hub/bearing assemblies off and check the axle for trueness with a straight edge or string. IF the axle is straight then bearings are the most likely culprit. The only other choice (assuming springs & mounts are good) is wear on the spindle itself, not likely but a remote chance. Have you tried the basic "wiggle" test? Just jack it up and see if there's movement top to bottom or side to side indicating loose or worn bearings. I had a failure on the highway once that I noticed when turning off - in my mirror I could see the tire/rim was on an acute angle and the dust cap was missing. Lucky for me I was turning into my driveway at the time so I could immediately jack it up to see what happened. Bearing had disintegrated inside the hub so much the spindle actually contacted the outer hub and wore it open, causing the dust cap to pop off. It was my Dad's trailer so for once he caught hell from me (gotta love payback for all the lectures!) for not maintaining it! New hub & bearings and it was down the road again, no damage to the spindle at all! Good Luck! Michael (ps - that reminds me - he still owes me for the hub & bearings, dang it he won after all! That was 20 years ago!)

Make sure the spool matches the box - there was a post (last year?) about getting it home to find the box was marked 10# test but contained something different. Otherwise I haven't heard anything terrible about it for a mono line. Michael

I also heard from an employee an unusual item - apparently the Vaughn store was having a bit of cash flow trouble in this first quarter caused by the amount of gift card redemption due to high sales of same before Christmas - isn't that a bad place to be in! He was really worried about it too, my pointing out that they already had the money in hand didn't seem to calm him down one little bit. I didn't have the heart to ask him what he did there, too many variables in that answer for me! Oh to have millions in hand months before delivery....what a predicament! And the big spring sale hasn't started yet to boot! Wonder how many are holding their gift cards to use on that event! That'll drive the poor guy over the edge for sure. Personally I think they're here for the long haul - too much corporate backing to pack it in yet. Michael

Tried google & google news - only items there are about new stores opening in the states along with the usual pro-fishing & nascar sponsorships (and a bit about the store in Airdrie AB) Michael

Sinker - Rodcaster may not know how to cast a rod ( hee hee ) properly BUT if he says something about anything to do with spills etc. he's da man! It's what he does for a living all over the province and he deals with the MOE almost daily. As for the insurance aspects, again he has to interface with the insurance companies regarding spill cleanups & containments so he has both good knowledge and contacts. I'm only telling you this because HE's much to shy to brag about all his good college learning and prack-tick-cal experience about this stuff Leastwise that's what he done told me Michael

That's the one Joey. Not meaning to sound ghoulish but I wonder if we'll see the vehicle recovery and hear more about what happens with charges etc. against the driver? I shudder to think of how this COULD have ended up if they didn't have the time to get out? Michael

Just east of willow beach, truck with family of four went thru. All out & safe thankfully. Tailgate pointing skywards the only sign of it on the news video. Michael

I did mine in May 2010 at Bass Pro in the classroom. Couple of hours start to finish, got one wrong. Figured for the extra money (think it was 75.00 total) it was worth it as I was pretty confident they would be teaching you to pass it. I did learn more than what I already knew without a doubt. Now if I ever do see a "bifurcation buoy" I hope I remember what the hell I'm supposed to do about it Don't want to overly upset the apple cart but maybe the time HAS come for a graduated system like with driver's licenses. Face it, they are trying to make the waters safer, but it's going to take time before a formula is found to cover all the bases, and the journey is going to be a little rough along the way. Michael

I use either power pro or spiderwire braid, 8 or 10 lb (that's the light line, 1 to 2 lb mono equivalent diameter) mostly. I have them on a number of rods (too many!) and find that I have no problem at all with either. Started using the yellow last year with fluoro leaders and really like the visiblilty the yellow offers. The dye does cause a minor memory when lying slack on the water but this disappears immediately under the least amount of tension on the line. I find the casting distance greater along with much better feel when fishing the bottom. I change it end for end on the reels every year & get several years use as a result (cheaptackle - that's me!) making it less expensive than mono in the long run. Great knot strength (uni of course) and no tangle issues at all as long as a bit of tension is kept on the line before reeling. Any problems I've ever had or seen are directly related to letting the line be slack when reeling or poor knot tying, never any defect in the line itself. I've only experienced fraying when fishing heavy cover/obstacles extensively, chop off a foot or two and continue - but not as often as mono for sure, the fluoro leader takes most of the beating as it should. Maybe I've been lucky but I have to give them both a 10/10 based on my experience. Michael

If it is in 17 you won't be targeting eyes, only Scugog & crowe are open for them as far as I know. Haven't got my reg book here to verify but I think it's north of zone 17 (zone 15?). Check the regs before you go either in the free book you can get at license issuers or on the MNR website and be sure. Michael

Keep 'em in the fridge. Just don't raid it in the middle of the night! Michael

Lew I'd have it inspected. Not gonna say anymore about it than that. Michael

Watch out for the pressure ridge - quite visible from the north shore - seems to run from the big island to the west shore near the quarry. Michael

Was a catalytic converter available or does it run on leaded? Michael

It's about 30 feet thataway Reports on another board showing about 11" in the south shore, few huts out on the north. Haven't been out myself (no time) but I've seen quads & sleds out pretty far. Caution - seems to be a pressure ridge runinng east west from the big island towards the quarry. Have fun but be safe! Michael

400 Market to Lake St. John via Washago just now. 400 OK when I came up, moving up to the limit, 11 slower. Took me just over an hour vs 45 minutes normally. Between the sun going down & the blowing snow visibility was an issue, caused some brake lights but nothing more serious. Glad to be in out of it now. Michael

Based on what I've been hearing about Scugog, wouldn't it need an ability to suddenly work underwater?

I saw that posted once before & did a bit of research on it. The capacities it had were outrageous. Why we never saw it move into production is beyond me - musta been something like the old beta vs vhs argument with the bombardiers we still see today being the vhs. It would be very cool to see how today's technologies might re-present this concept. Michael

Might be an option to check Kijiji or ??? for one 24" length of insulated pipe and collar to suit. Use it to pentetrate the roof, put a cap on it and interface black pipe from stove to insulated. Not sure what clearance you need between insulated pipe and your insulation but it would be a hell of a lot less than plain black pipe. This would also help with reducing any creosote build up in the pipes. Edit to finish (sloppy fingers!) The collar flange can be attched to your roof deck (caulk it well) and will cover the opening you'll need for the pipe nicely. When done it should look similar to the plumbing vent on your house only shinier & bigger! Michael

PM sent Michael

I've known him forever - look at his post count, most of them were today. He's quite the guy along with being one of my suppliers - the rest he should tell you himself. Michael