grimsbylander

I' glad I'm not the only one itching to get out. I pulled my boat out of the backyard last weekend and put it in the driveway. My plan was to do it early spring while the ground was still frozen but with the plus temps and rain coming, who knows? Anyway, redoing the livewell valves and plumbing and I'm going back in the water! Mid-March most likely. Muhahahaha

It depends on the style of your boat and whether you have a suitable platform at the bow to mount a bow -mount motor. I suspect because you're thinking about using a transom mount motor that you do not. If that is the case it's really quite simple to make a bracket or block and mount it to the gunnel. Wiring is fairly easy also. For a safe hookup, place the battery at the back of the boat and run your proper gauge wire to the bow and install a trolling motor quick disconnect plug. MinnKota sells the male/female kit. Remember to install a fuse. I had this setup on my 14" tinny for years.

Hahaha Awesome! How did I know you'd be the first to reply?? What took ya so long???

The playoff stretch and the games are actually getting worse. Player's fault? Coach's fault? Doesn't matter who's fault? They're imploding at the worse possible time. Burke is loyal but to what extent?

The hoses in my boat are getting hard from age and no doubt leaking. I can replace the parts but I was just wondering if there are any "must haves" I should install while I'm at it. I've read about pump outs, aerators, etc. even dual bilge pumps maybe? Any opinions from the group would be appreciated. Thx!

Those valves you rebuilt, were they the cable operated FlowRite valves? I was not aware they can be rebuilt. I've looked at pumps as well and the ones made by Rule seem to be popular.

Yesterday off Virginia Beach there were lots of cars, pickups, full size SUV's all out running around. Not just near shore, right to Georgina Island. Sitting in the hut, we'd hear the ice cracking and popping as the vehicles went past. I'll walk, it's good exercise!!

I'm going to replace the pumps, hoses, valves, etc. on my livewells this spring because there are not working quite as well as they should. Plus I think one or more of the hoses may be leaking. Regardless I cannot risk livewell failure so an once of pervention...My boat is a Ranger 487vs and it has the dual, rear positioned livewells. I can simply reinstall the same system that is there with new parts but I'd thought I'd get some advise on potential upgrades. Oxygenators? Pumpouts? I have "Empty" and "Auto" controls. Is "Empty", "Fill" and "Recirc" a better setup? Thanks!

When buying in Canada I also use etackle. Phil's great to deal with. For US purchases, I always have my stuff shipped UPS. Here's why, because I live relatively close to the border I get things shipped UPS - hold for pickup. When it lands at the UPS depot in Niagara Falls, NY they call me and I have a week to go pick it up. So, Chili's for supper and a 2 minute stop at UPS I've got my stuff. I always declare the value and have yet to pay the taxes...plus no brokerage. Works great for me.

It won't work unless they remember to stock forage and cover....gobies, ruffe, lamprey, purple loosestrife.

I've used Skype for many years now. If fact, I do a conference call every Tuesday morning with colleagues in England and Poland for free. We also have Skype on all our company iPhones for free or cheap calls while traveling. Last week while in Taiwan I could talk to home for free. Can't beat it!!

Update! In TO and couldn't be happier! That fresh cool air is amazing. Yeah FRESH! Toronto is the garden of Eden in comparison!! Might just light the BBQ, crack a beer and enjoy the backyard Canadian style!!! Good to be home...

I'm sitting here in Hong Kong on a lay over waiting to fly back to Canada after 4 days in Taipei, Taiwan. It felt like 4 weeks. So next time I'm out on my boat, standing on a frozen lake or anywhere I can stand further than arms length away from another person and breath fresh air, I'm going to remember this week and sing a few lines of Oh Canada!!! We are so blessed.

That's one giant char...or a great paint job on a salmon! The colours on that fish are spectacular. Fish of a lifetime.

OK I think I've got it...cormorants are bad. They eat too many fish, poop on my boat and kill trees. Something has to be done. By time the governments figure it that it needs to be done it'll be too late. So tomorrow I'm going to... Leave my building inspected home early. Take my government registered gun. Remember my wallet with my driver's licence, hunter's licence, FAC, SIN, birth certificate, boater's licence and heath card. Jump in my safety inspected vehicle with updated licence plates, put on my seat belt and hook up my pleasure craft licenced boat and trailer Drive down the road being careful to obey the speed limits, stop signs, etc on my way to the government dock. Launch and head out slowly through the no wake zone to where those cormorants are!! and BOOM We're legistrated for a reason. We can't pick and choose which agencies are correct and which ones are not. If the MNR gives the go ahead for a cormorant hunt, fine. Until then focus on something you CAN do to improve fishing in your area. BTW, new idea for a show...Big Bang Theory meets Swamp People.

Phil is absolutely correct with reference to the challenges and road blocks. I don't see this as impossible, but with the vast amount of variables it would be full time work for one or more people to run. There has been a number of examples given regarding large margin markups and they do exist but certainly not across the board and sporting goods can be very tight. For example, my family owned a archery shop years ago and numerous times, the large sporting goods store in Mississauga was selling bows for less than we could buy them for. And not once in a while as a lost leader...consistantly. Simple volume based buying power. The big store in Vaughn gets 5000 people through by 9am Saturday morning and they negociate their purchase prices based on all their stores. I still think it could work if pursued, I'm just saying the work level, finances, risk, etc. would be the same as any other business start up and there are enough self employeed people on this site to tell you, it is an incredible amount of effort. My 2 cents... Dave

Roy that's freaking hilarious.

Before any re-alignment occurs, how about this...if you can send in a picture of snow in the parking lot of your home arena, you get a spot. If not, relocate. Travel problem solved. Let's not talk revenues!

Very well said. Congratulations to both those gentlemen for catching such an impressive fish and hats off for displaying true sportsmanship through it's live release. Most impressive!

Relax boys and enjoy the team. It takes little to no intelligence to take verbal shots at any team or it's fans simply for the enjoyment of being an @$$. We all appreciate good sportmanship on the water or on the ice. Too bad some people don't have the maturity to extend it to the forums.

Congratulations for sure. Two absolute trophies in the same season! That's inspiration for the rest of us to see that such fantastic fish are still alive and well so close to home! Thank you very much for sharing!

I fished it periodically about 10 years ago. There used to be some decent smallies holding tight to the pencil weed. Small lake but fun when they're on.

Henry Ford once said, “It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” It took a while but I guess the secrets out. History does repeat and the old issues become new. Only the scale changes.

Reimer is playing great again this year but that might not be a good thing! It seems that any time the Leafs get a great goalie they stop shopping for better guys to play in front of him. I hope Burke is the exception. Go leafs!

I bought my wife an ipad2 a couple weeks ago. Haven't seen her since. Can't wait for the ipad3 to come out.