Hookset

My first choice would be to spend a couple days with my Pop. Lost him this January to Cancer. I would give almost anything to have a couple days with him and to see him healthy and happy, the way he was before he got sick. My second choice I would give up to Gerrit. My Pop would understand (he loved kids), as would most. Hookset.

O.K how bout this ? Have the record companies put songs on the net that you can buy for about 5 cents or a dime each song. They don't have to worry about production and distribution costs, they can stop whining about the money they lost and they would probably make millions. Make the terms of payment open to "paypal" etc. and make a good website that is easy to use. For a dime a song I'd be happy and would never "steal" again and they'd make a bundle. So why don't they ??? Because they are making so much dough that they don't give a damn. It's easier to sic their lawyers on the subject. I know stores selling music would be out of business but hey, the milkman doesn't deliver to my door anymore either. He sold the horse and got another job. Rock On

Thats's very cool CCMT. It brings back a ton of memories. One of the earliest things I can remember is my Dad teaching me to skate at the same age, using the old chair method too. I will never forget the proud look on his face and the laughs we had while I learned. Unfortunately I lost my Pop to cancer just about a month ago. Seeing your video put a smile on my face. Your kids may be young but I bet they will remember the special times like that. It's all worth it.............. Thanks again. Hookset

Think I got it... Question #1 - General Fishing Lines Ltd Question #2 - All of them.... I knew it was a trick question.

Used quite a few of the different braids too, and always with a leader of floro. I guess its kind of a confidence thing, but now every rod I have is spooled with straight florocarbon or a floro / mono copolymer (namely P-Line). I seem to get more bites (confidence thing again) and the newer "super-mono's" really seem to have improved in the last few years, no doubt in response to the popularity of braids. The low stretch and low memory can be good on them as well. I like the P-Line with the mono core and floro outer wrap, it is next to invisible which sometimes allows you to step up in lb. test without increasing visibility. Good luck either way. Hookset.

I gotta wonder really if a total ban would be such a bad thing. Face it, if there is a valid possibility that our fisheries can be harmed by diseases introduced by baitfish then maybe a ban (on baitfish) is the best way to go. Plastics now days are very close to the real thing and some would argue they are better. There is a lure or plastic out there to match every type of fishing possible. I'll admit I wouldn't have as much faith in a still line set up for ice fishing without live bait but other that that I don't think i would have a problem with a ban. Pretty easy for me to say though since I don't make my living selling bait. Hookset

Hi All, The similarities amongst us all are just too damn scary....lol I have a male German Shepherd - 9 yrs. old named "Muskie". Also a male Blue and Gold Macaw - about 6 yrs. old named "Dino" (could be a female tho) A 4 yr. old cat named "Spinnerbait" (see name of dog - explains cats name) And a bunch of assorted fish, mainly an Oscar named "Bucketmouth" Not quite sure of Parrots sex for a reason - If you have ever tried to grab a parrot and find that answer you will know what I mean. Hookset.

Hey Cammilj I'll tell you what I can about Lake Muskoka and Little Joe in the hopes that Rosseau would be the same or close. There are huts on parts of Muskoka with 5" of ice, but that is not out in the main lake. The back bays and areas around islands which didn't break up in the wind a week or so ago have good black ice with about 3" of snow cover. Rosseau should be the same but personally I wouldn't be out in the middle of the main lake quite yet. Just keep checkin thickness as you go, probably lots of ice by this weekend. Hope this helps some, and good luck.

Favorite Genre - Classic Rock and Good Country (no songs about sick kids or religion) Favorite Band(s) Big & Rich, Travis Tritt, Blues Bros. Most Underrated - Corb Lund Band (Time to switch to whiskey - great tune) Hookset

Hi All, Checked several lakes this weekend looking for safe ice. The big lakes like Muskoka, Lake of bays etc. are still wide open, including the back bays. Even with the cold weather this week i doubt if there will be any safe ice by this coming weekend. The small lakes were a different story. We were able to fish 2 small lakes that we have been watching for a while. These small ones never did lose their ice during the last warm spell. With the cool weekend weather helping out we found a solid 4" of good ice. By this weekend I expect the smaller lakes to have about 6" of ice. You have got to be careful, and know the lake you are fishing. This is not the time of year to try a lake you have never fished before. We wear floater suits and check the ice with spuds every 10 feet or so. We also carry ice picks and if we find ice anywhere less that 4" we retreat and head home. I know this sounds crazy to some but we are definitely not dare devils. I just wanted to pass on that the big lakes are a definite NO-GO, but the smaller lakes for the Crappie, Splake, or Speckle fishermen are a possibility. Just use common sense and take the risk out by wearing the right gear, go where you know, and check, check, check. I guess those rules apply no matter what time of winter it is. Be Safe, Hookset.

Howdy, Been working as a Receiving Manager / Purchaser at a large resort on Lake Muskoka, close to Gravenhurst. I work here but could never afford to stay or golf here. Looking at the lake right now and it appears that the damn thing will never freeze. Oh well, COME ON BASS SEASON !!! Happy New Year All, Hookset.

Born in Bowmanville Lived a while in Oshawa, then jumped at the chance to move to Baysville then Bracebridge. Been there for 12 years now. Only 5 - 15 minutes from my secret little Bass lakes. The world ends south of Highway #7 for me. Hookset.

"Shakey" old 2 stroke was just a humerous response to an earlier post. The Optimax has been at the top of my list since I started looking at new boats. All your points on the Opti were bang on. The 4 stroke would have needed to be far superior for me to choose it. As for the difference in price of 3 grand that I stated, it is accurate due to the "power up" savings that were offered on the Optimax. Basically it works out to the same price as a 90 Opti. I'm choosing the 115 hp because it allows me to fish in certain circuits that are limited to 115 hp. And at around 50 mph I would be happy and not too far outclassed on the bigger circuits. Thanks again. Hookset.

Hey Guys thanks very much for all the input. As usual the members on here blew me away. As for what I want for power it's gotta be a Merc. For one it's a package so I have to pick a Merc, but it was a Merc that I want to run anyway. I know that E-Tecs are reportedly good motors but I still have issues with O.M.C. from previous motors I have owned and I just don't have faith in them even though they are Bombardier now. On the package that I want to buy I get a "power back saving" if I run an Optimax. To run a 4 stroke is close to $3 grand more. If the price was closer it would be 4 stroke but it looks like a shakey old 2 stroke is what I'm gonna run. But as I type this I gotta admit A 4 stroke sure would be sweet. In other words I don't have a clue. Yet.... Thanks again for all the help, Hookset.

I just bought the Hi Tech at BPS for $249.00 Compared to my previous portable which was an Eskimo Quick Flip 2 man ($350.00), the Hi Tech is way better in quality of construction and the fabric seems waaaaay better. My 2 cents says to buy the Hi Tech before they are sold out. Oh ya - the Hi Tech comes with a solid tow bar as well as the rope, plus 2 seats and a cover. Good Luck, Hookset

Thanks for moving my post to the correct location Spiel. Fang - the boat is a Nitro 482 - 18 foot bass boat. I guess that will explain my main fishing style. Brochures for these motors show only a difference of 1 - 2 m.p.h. so I guess the most relevant info. for me would be reliability. Thanks for all the replies. Hookset

Hi All, Proud to be a new member of the best fishin' site on the web. I've been a lurker for quite a while now due mostly to computer issues but I am 100 % confident I will never have a computer issue again (sigh) . My question is, I am looking to buy a new boat and my choices for a motor have been narrowed down to either an '06, or '07 - 115 Merc Optimax or to pay a little more for the 4 stroke. I have heard nothing but good reviews on the Opti but I can find very little info on the 4 stroke. Wondering if anyone has an opinion or has heard anything related to these motors. Thanks in advance. Hookset. sorry, please forgive the noob for posting in wrong location Hookset