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JD is great I have an older model and still running fine. Stay away from the HD ones they are the low end units and some guys are having trouble getting there local JD dealers to do service and warranty work after the sale and HD won't do it. Still seems odd to me you sell a product but don't sell any parts or will not service it.

I forgot to add that in my opinion the Lowrance/ Eagle products are the easiest on the market to start to use. They will take a lifetime to master but easy to learn the basics.

Any Eagle/Lowrance product. They really back there products well. I would go colour if you can afford it.As Ted & the Gadget stated some people like seperate units but I found when I went to the larger screen there was no room for 2 so a combo unit it was, and I love it. I bought the Eagle Fishstrike 2000 it is fantastic and retails around $800.

Great report.

I agree with staying away from the self propelled units. Although my father in law has a self propelled Honda that engages by a small switch on the handle best set-up I have seen but still wouldn't buy one.

Honda 's are great and they are always rated low for their power. They are pricey but it will last if you take care of it.

I would recommend 2 if you can swing it, it gives you much better side drift. Also with 2 you can use 1 and slow down a bit or 2 and come to a crawl. They also work great when fan casting an area for pike to give you more time to thoroughly cover the area.

I have a friend that sells both and he said the quality of the XM recievers is far superior to Sirius.

I bought my first colour unit last year and will not go back. As far as brands I recommend Eagle and Lowrance.

Large bucktails and an original red devil as well as an assortment of spoons in different shapes and colours.

I am running an electric tank style right now and I would like to free up some physical space as well as some hydro space in my panel for my hot tub. T he electric unit that I have now is getting pretty old and I would like to replace it before it leaks, thats why I am considering the on demand system.

To all the plumbers on the board (or any one else with info) have you used the natural gas on demand water heaters and how have they worked out? Has the life expectancy been good, has there been many break downs and what manufacturers are good and stand behind there products? I have a detached house (older) runs on a well and pump system. Myself, wife and son. I bathroom, 1 kitchen and 1 laundry facility, I was told I needed something that would do 4 gpm and a temperature rise of 100 degrees does this sound about right? Thanks for any info you have.

If you made that cake yourself, I'm impressed. Happy birthday fishergirl72.

From the little that I know about this the navionics Gold is an complete coverage of a given area (example Southwestern Ontario) also has markings such as marinas hospitals etc. The hot maps on the other hand is Canada wide and covers the most popular lakes across Canada. Check out the link below and see what lakes are coverd under the hot maps. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/.../navionics.html I also noticed the gold+ cards have the panoramic view something the original gold cards did not have. Gold cards also feature contact information such as phone numbers and addresses for businesses I don't think the hot maps have this.

Welcome.

I had a Minnkota AT (cable drive) and it is still going strong(sold to a relative). I opted for a new powerdrive on my new boat and after 1 year I am very pleased. I like being able to steer it from any where in my boat with the 20 foot cable on the unit and the universal sonar option for a second fish finder was another selling feature, all you need is the proper adapter plug and it will fit most brands on the market.I also fish the French as well as other ares and opted for the 74 pound thrust, 60 inch shaft 24 volt it pushes my 18 foot bow rider very nicely.

Roy, I can visualize Doug singing them.

I have 2 Jack Russels and neither one can swim more than a few feet.

Happy birthday and nice report. By the way if you can figure out the spot from those pictures than you already know where it is.

Thanks for the link photoz. Mr Bonoski I just finished reading your article on the garbage left behind at Eagle lake and wonder why you would take to ridicule the MNR. They are only doing there job. I believe some of your article should have focused on the other so called adults that didn't have the good sense to clean up as they left. Mr Maude himself admitted that he was the organizer of the event and in taking that role should never leave tasks such as final camp inspection to some one else, especially considering the fact that he seems to have a love of the wilderness and a knowledge of what it takes to protect it. I do believe it is not Mr. Maude that deserved the entire fine and if the others who were supposed to clean up are truly adults they would step forward and split the fine between them. I for one the MNR officers are out there doing there job. Without them there would be no place like Eagle Lake for Mr Maude or any one else to take a trip and see what mother nature truly has to offer.

I've heard of lot lizards Dan but how come know one warned me about boat launch lizards. PS.- where is the absolute worst launch, just to make sure I avoid them.

God Terry we have got to fish together sometime.

Check your bearings every spring to ensure no wear and repack with grease. Replace if any wear is noticed. After that just take a visual for signs of grease being thrown past the seals every time you go to pull away. Under normal circumstances and a bit of your attention you should have no troubles at all.

I don't take a lot of pictures but this is one of my favorites. Three generations enjoying a beautiful day on the water. I am finally in a position where I can afford to make these kind of days happen and I plan on their being a lot more of these to come.

That is an absolutely gorgeous boat, is it yours.