EdB

The nice thing about UDS's is the ability to control the temps. They work best with lump charcoal which you can get at Gordons and some other places. Lump charcoal burns hotter then briquettes when given lots of air but will burn low and slow and long when you reduce the air. You can really cut the air back with a UDS and have a bucket of lump coal burn a long time. Most people will fill the bucket with coal and then put in 2-3 soaked chunks of wood on top to get the smoke going. You can smoke low and slow this way and keep temps in the low 200's based on the air vent controls. Note some people use gas valves on theirs but some just use magnets over the air holes to control air flow. If you open up all the vents and get the air flowing, you can raise temps high as needed to grill with it. If you put in a water pan or even just a pizza a pan above the charcoal basket, you never have to worry about drippings from your meat flaring up. Makes grilling easier when you don't have to worry about fire buring up your food. Lot of good info on this at the QJoint forums. You can also goggle the smoked meats forum for more good smoked foods info

Have you considered building a UDS -Ugly Drum Smoker. They work great and you can save a few bucks. Here is some info: http://www.theqjoint.com/forum/showthread.php?3941-Building-a-basic-drum-smoker-(UDS) They don't have to be ugly as some of these pics show: http://www.theqjoint.com/forum/showthread.php?8998-Drum-Smoker-Photo-Gallery!!!

This is a video of a racing wreck, what an awesome rescue: http://www.rightthisminute.com/story/race-car-crash-catches-fire

Very nice, got to love the back deck on her.

Tom, congratulations to your son and you, it's great to see the kids have a great hunt, nice buck!

Congratulations! What a special memory for both of you.

Hi Erik, Glad you got a new spot to hunt, what part of the county are you in, just wondered if it was in the Springbrook co-op where I hunt?

Meijer has a coupon in last Sunday's paper for a free youth hunting license good today and tomorrow 9-16,17. They had it at the service counter at my local Meijers and scanned that coupon, you didn't need to bring one in but I can't say that is the case at all stores. You might be able to get a flyer at the store if you don't have last Sundays Meijer add from the newspaper, this ends tomorrow.

Sounds like you had an awesome summer Matt. Best summer school you can get and you can't beat the ride on a bigger boat. We had a great season too and I can't wait till next year either. The August bite and great weather and those big kings will be memorable. Bet we are going to see some real hogs next year. I still want the pins and that bag of walleyes is still in the freezer in Ludington. I might fish Onekama on a buddies boat in Oct so maybe we can hook up then in Manistee. If not, I'm eating em and have to get you some fresh ones next year.

Thanks for sharing, sure wish my dad was still here to fish with me.

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard of a steelie eating a bird.

Any baseball fans here? The Tigers have been on a roll lately. What a game today with a late comeback. Here's the numbers right now. 1. NY Yankees 90 57 .612 2. Detroit 87 62 .584 3. Boston 86 62 .581 4. Texas 84 64 .568 Boston lost today. Did anyone think this would happen a month ago? Can they pass the Yanks if they stay on this roll? It's been fun watching!

We were headed out to yesterday's water and we crossed a 6 degree temp break in the 02's and 34-1/2 line, set it down and set up. It had a surface temp of 43 degrees on the inside and 49 degrees on the outside. The break ran north and south. We fished it north to the 04's. We got 3 fish real quick in the dark and had a good bite for a couple hours and then it slowed down. We hit 14 and got 10. Quit at 10:45, had a slow ride in cause it got foggy. Had more action on spin doctors today, mt dew chrome, white blade mt dew, blue bubble flys, white and crushed ice tape, seaweed fly. Yeck verdict on a 3 color core, monkey puke on a 300 copper. Double orange crush DW on a half core. We hit on riggers from 70 down to 105 down. The 105 rigger hit 3 fish with a spin doctor. It was 43 degrees on the probe down at 90 ft. Some real nice 3 yr old kings, bright and shiny. Bringing the boat home, it's been a great season! Lot's of great fishing left but time to go hunting for me. Good Luck!

We ran offshore to the 04's north and 42's out. Got a nice 3rd old setting up and it was a slow pick till noon. Hit 15, landed 9. Never had a double but fish bit all morning. Half core and a dw fireball, chrome mt dew and mt dew/white blade spin doctors and blue bubble flys on hi divers out 150 and 110, riggers down 50-80 ft, 300 copper and a DW monkey puke, yeck verdict on a 1/2 core were best. Nice sunny calm day, looks good for tomorrow, good luck!

Nice job on the fish. http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news/60261-2-severely-injured-thursday-night-as-boat-hits-ludington-north-breakwater 2 severely injured Thursday night as boat hits Ludington north breakwater LDN Staff - Friday, September 2, 2011 70-year-old Richard Smith of Ludington and his 15-year-old boat passenger, Scottville, are being treated for severe injuries at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids after the boat Smith was driving hit the Ludington North Breakwater Thursday night. Smith was transported by AeroMed helicopter and was listed in serious condition this morning. His passenger, Jeremiah McClellan, a student of Pentwater schools, was transported by ambulance and was listed in fair condition this morning. The boat, a 1979 SlickCraft, was removed from the wall late this morning. It was west of the bend on the wall's north side. The incident was called in to emergency personnel at 9:52 p.m.

I've been lucky to never have had a boss like that. Your story left a smile on my face, bet it felt good cruising on by him.

Sounds like a great night on the lake.

She has a big hole under the bow.

I'm up now, weather doesn't look good. Lot's of wind for the weekend. A storm with lightning has been coming in. A boat crashed on the north pier tonight, ambulances there, hope they're ok.

Send us the link, I missed it.

Nice box!

Not sure this theory is valid. They have the same weirs on Lk Mich but no problems there. Just about all the ports get planted fish that originated from egg take at the weirs. It is a known fact from tag returns that Lk Huron fish went to Lk Mich to feed and grow and then returned to the Lk Huron streams to spawn. That might explain the fat healthy ones being caught. I caught a couple tagged fish from Oscoda off Ludington back in 2003 and 04. Another theory kicked around the last few years was genetic issues. Some people were saying we have smaller fish each year because the DNR was taking eggs from small fish and hatching and planting them. That theory has been shot down the tubes this season. I still believe it all has to do with balancing forage and predator fish. That is the DNR's theory and they seem to be right based on the results of the stocking cuts. Hopefully, the forage base in Huron will recover and the king fishery can be re-established there.

I know it kind of sucks when you need/want something but the replies hit the nail on the head. I always spend most of my tackle money early in the year so I can use the stuff all season. Now that it's down the stretch and my bank account is low from fishing every weekend, I'll make a list and hold off buying until next winter/spring. I rarely spend any money on tackle at the end of August. Nows the time to buy bullets;)

The crash on Huron was preceeded by smaller fish and the last 2 years had kings with big heads and very skinny bodies with bellies that curved in rather than bulged out. The fish in Lk Mich are very healthy with broad shoulders and football bellies. I'm not worried at all for the short term. I think the DNR was right on to cut the plants to save the fishery. The results this year are amazing given that king sizes were trending downward from 2004 to 2009. They have increased the last 2 years with a big jump this year. Some of the immature 3 yr old kings we've been catching are very large. They are going to be real brutes next year.