Garry2Rs

That sounds like fun!

A Wet Fly, or a small Streamer could be a blast.

I have caught early season Perch on a fly, but the average Crappie could be far more interesting...

She-it Roy and I have tackle that is older than most of your fathers...

And it still catches fish!

Congratulations and Happy Birthday.

Unless it has damage from water freezing in the lower unit etc. I don't see why it won't work fine. Those old units where simple machines that could last almost forever.

The problem with really old outboards is the floats are often toast, and seals on the needle valves are usually pooched. There might have been gas left in it, that has turned to varnish in the fuel system etc. If it starts, at all, most often it won't run smoothly.

Carburetor work on outboards is not rocket science, but it's not changing the spark plugs either.

There will be parts available, if you can do the work, or if you have a friend that's one thing...On the other hand, if you have to pay someone "Shop Rate" your better off buying a more powerful, newer motor.

If you get the motor as a throw-in, and you're anywhere near Peterborough, I have a friend...PM me.

Bass Masters magazine did an article this month on cheap reels...that work!

They mention the Daiwa Exceler as being a best buy at $69.99 US.

BPS doesn't show this reel in their catalog, but it's available from Cabelas.

Cabelas also offers it as part of a combo at $129.98.

If you're interested PM me, I have to pass a Cabelas store on my way home in a few weeks...

Garry2rs

I can't speak about other areas but in the North Kawarthas and the Kawarthas the lakes are drawn down all summer.

This water feeds the St. Lawrence Sea Way and creates space for run-off the following Spring.

Therefore the depths shown on my maps are more relative than accurate.

Weed lines and weed beds move and change from year to year as well.

But, a map will give you a general idea about shoals, points, fast drop-offs, flats, deep holes etc.

If you stop at the local MNR office they will often give you photo copies of their depth sounding maps.

This works best when your staying in the area and can find out which office has jurisdiction over the lake or lakes you're interested in.

Be aware that photo copies don't like water!

In the past we have bought maps from Adventure Fishing Maps. www.adventurefishingmaps.on.ca

I phoned them and picked the maps up at one guy's house outside Bridgenorth, so I don't know what the turn around on mail orders is like...

The small piece of the Rice Lake map shown on their website is a good representation of what their maps look like.

Some of the maps of smaller lakes don't have as much information on them.

The maps I bought were laminated, I don't recall if that was extra.

Garry2rs

I believe that the Terra Nova is electric steer and my current Minn-Kota 80 is cables, but the power head is probably the same. It's a good strong motor for an 18+ foot fiberglass boat. I had an auto-pilot model 5 or 6 years ago and there were problems with the compass...I understand that this has been corrected. Muskystriker ( AKA AndyK ) has the remote feature and really likes it. As far as I know, he has had no problems.

Garry2rs

I got the April issue of Bass Master Magazine today. In it is an article about lower priced reels that are of good quality. Under baitcaster's they list the 2007 Daiwa Exceler @ $69.99US, model EXC100H, as a best buy. The Exceler reel is available through Cabelas at that price or as part of a Combo with a Fish Eagle II rod for $129.98US. I don't know who makes the Fish Eagle rods, but they look good

If you want one of these reels or the combo, PM me and I will pick it up at Cabelas in Phoenix when I am heading home in two or three weeks.

I also checked the new Bass Pro catalog and I don't find the Exceler model listed. I did find another reel they mentioned in the article, it comes with many of the same features, at $59.99US called a Team Daiwa "Megaforce" with Twitchin'Bar...model MF100TSH. The Megaforce is available in a Combo from BPS with a Bionic Blade rod for $109.94US. You should be able to get the combo in Canada for around the same price...If not PM me.

12 volts and 55fp also sounds a little light to me...

I have a spare 65fp, 24 volt Minn-Kota cable steer, if you're interested PM me.

I happen to know a guy who used to post here back around 2001 - 2002. He was one of their Pro's back then.

I have been to the home of Dan Sturges, the company President, in Wasaga Beach a couple of times.

I have sold my hand tied Musky Bucktail spinners to the company.

I have used their rods for the past 3 or 4 years.

The company principals have been to my place for drinks and snacks on at least one occasion.

I am not connected to them in any way other than using their products and being happy with them.

If there are delivery issues, I am not aware. My rods arrived in a reasonable amount of time...

If I wanted instant gratification I could have gone to CTC and fetched another Shimano off the shelf...

I understood that My rod was being custom made...

Personally, I was more than happy with the service I received, but Let The Buyer Beware.

I know nothing of their recent history, my last contact was at least 24 months ago...

I think it was Terry who once said that JEEP stood for

Just

Extremely

Expensive

Parts

Call Shimano in Peterborough, ask for "Bud." Explain your problem and he might be able to help you.

Unless your buying G.Loomis' top of the line rods, you are essentially getting the same thing.

The Loomis rods are hand made by lovely young Asian girls who sit a big work stations and wind on the guides.

The Backwoods rods are a cottage industry. The company supplies parts and orders to a group of home builders who produce the rods.

You ordered from a catalog, but there is little or no inventory, the rod is custom made for you.

I have owned several of their rods, one spinning rod, a flipping stick, a M-Heavy Bait Casting rod and a custom made Musky rod.

I liked them all.

The baitcaster and the Musky rod were my absolute favourites over both G.Loomis and St.Croix rods

I haven't talked to Dan Sturges, the guy who ran the company in the past, for a couple of years.

Therefore I don't know what's going on with them now.

The problem with Backwoods, on OFC, was never the rods...

It was a member who spammed every thread until his cliches became a running gag.

For me, it's getting harder to justify new G.Loomis and St.Croix rods.

In the past, Shimano's best rod, the Compre, was nice, but a bit clunky looking hardware wise.

Sort of like a girl in an evening dress and Dr. Marten's

In the last couple of years they have introduced the Crucial and Cumara rods and upgraded the Compre.

This Fall I was in the market for a new 7 foot baitcaster.

I looked at the Mag.Bass line of G.Loomis, but bought a Crucial for half the price.

Me Too, but one of the TV fishing shows has been doing "Knot Wars"

The uni-uni is the best so far. Next weeks challenger is the venerable blood knot.

The most interesting thing so far is that several knots were better than the uni when it came to tying on a hook etc.

The over all champ was the Palomar. With the Palomar they test machine was returning over 100% line strength!

15 pound line was breaking at up to 19 pounds, between the knots!

With the Uni-uni, 15 pound Fireline tied to 15 pound Floro or mono, the knots are failing at about 8 pounds.

I can't help feeling that a small swivel and two Palomar's might be the way to go...

Garry2rs

Hi there Mr. Pike;

You might want to start a new topic for the Steez Spinning reel, just so that more people see your question.

I have only read reviews, but the consensus is that it's a wonderful reel.

Personally I think the point of diminishing returns on spinning reels is around $150 - $175.00.

In other words around the Shimano Stradic...

Unlike casting reels, where additional dollars pay for closer tolerances etc, spinning reels are not complicated machines.

Also personally, I wouldn't invest in a high-end Daiwa reel...

In Canada, Shimano has their head office and repair depot in Peterborough.

Daiwa closed their Canadian facilities a number of years ago.

That's not to say that there are no parts or service, but you're dealing with a third party.

I doubt that Rocky's Reel Repair is going to have parts in stock for such a rara aves.

One more point.

It has been mentioned that red line is invisible under water...I have seen this in some advertising as well.

The fact is THIS IS NOT TRUE!

Red is the first colour to disappear is true, but once the RED colour is gone, the line appears BLACK.

Crowe is also a good spot for early season Pike. The fish aren't big, but the action is usually fast.

The Shimano has a lifetime warrenty, BPS is a year...

I have three Woo Daves 60 million modulus BPS rods and I like them.

One reason is if you get them on sale they cost half of what you pay for a Compre

The Crestfire is a cheap plastic reel that lacks most of the standard features found on other Shimano reels.

It has magnetic backlash control, that works okay, but not great.

There are many plastic parts inside.

The Abu is a 55 year old design, but it is a solid reel. Abu's need the worm gear and the pall that drive their level wind oiled regularly.

There is no thumb bar, the spool release is a metal tab on the frame, so casting is a two handed operation.

The Abu's frame is made up of several pieces held together by small screws and threaded rods, so the frame isn't as stiff as one piece designs.

Being such an old design, the reel feels too tall on the rod to people who are used to more modern designs.

The 6500 is the wide spool model and feels awkward on top of bass rods, in my opinion.

On a musky or trolling rod they feel fine...There also hold about a mile of line, because of the small arbor on the spool.

I once made the mistake of having a 6500C3 filled with Fireline from a bulk spool...The line cost me as much as the reel...HAHAHA

There is minimal backlash adjustment.

Having said this it is still a very good reel for the money.

Even though I am a big Shimano fan, I would choose the 6500C3 over the Crestfire anytime.

I use Power pro, and Tuff Line interchangeably. They are both great lines. In the past both lines were the same price in the USA, but Tuff Line was cheaper in Canada.

I think your wrong about them coming out of the same factory though...Tuff Line is made by Western Filament. That company makes everything from sewing thread to tow ropes for Tug boats!

There are several different Tuff Lines made of Spectra fiber. The one that is the smallest diameter for a given pound test is Tuff Line XP. It is the same diameter per pound test as Powerpro. The others aren't wound under tension and have diameters more like Fire Line.

I have used the new Crystal Fireline, but I'm not impressed...I still have 30 pound gray Fireline on a couple of casting reels. I put that line on in 2005!

I have also used Spider Stealth. I had no bad experiences with it. Recently I bought some Spider Ultra-Cast Invisi-Braid. I don't like it at all! It is very loosely braided so it is quite bulky compared to PP or TL. It has also broken in the middle when I was attempting to pull it off a snag. If it broke at the knot, I could except that, but to break in the middle indicates weak spots in the line...that's poor quality control to me.

Dacron is okay, but why wouldn't you use Power Pro or some other Spectra fiber braid?

The modern line is stronger, for a given diameter, just as limp and doesn't rot.

I own both G.Loomis and St.Croix rods. G.Loomis is in Mount Hope, just south of Hamilton. St Croix is in Wisconsin.

If you loose a ceramic line guide insert the rod has to go back for repair...for me it's easier to get service in Mt. Hope.