JWheeler

I am a very lucky person!!! This last Friday my wife was involved in a terrible accident on her way to work. So many thoughts have entered my head, like, if this, or if that, and the answer seems to be the same. She could have died. Someone was looking out for her!! Her and a policeman were struck by another vehicle and sent flying from southbound lanes to northbound lanes. She went to the hospital to the trauma ward and was treated immediately. 20 stitches in her head and a small bruise on her brain, and we are damn lucky that is all that happened. I never thought something like this could happen to us, that is nieve way of thinking, there are no guarrentees in life. So I feel lucky today to have her home, I feel lucky that I am not a single parent, and that my daughter will continue to have her mother. If I have learned anything out of this accident, it is that I will never leave the house without letting her know I love her. Give those close to you and extra squeeze and let them know you love them, because you just never know what can happen.

I'm with you, not only hoping for the warm spring, but also hoping that it gets here in a hurry.

Welcome to the site Joe. I have a hardtop thompson 210 fisherman, just a size smaller, sweet boat....

I think that this is a great idea. I think it will draw more competitors no doubt. The draw for me is the cheaper buy in. Obviously, with a cheaper buy in there isn't as much in winnings, but it would also give someone with less expendable income more opportunity to fish tournaments.

Mike, the first one looks like the one to me....

No, that weight should be fine. I run some 12#er's and so does my BIL. We haven't had problems with them.

It's like any other project, take your time, be patient, and try and do it to the best of your ability. Good Luck...

Early day at work left enough time to make it to the river for the night bite. Made our way right by the Dow. Wasn't there for 5 minutes and my buddy iced a nice 20"er'. About an hour went by and he iced another one, 18 3/4". Both on some buckshot spoon with a rattle on it. I missed 2 of my own. Then my buddy hooked up with a pig. Never saw it, but it was peeling line and had the rod bent in 2. Ice was OK, white ice on top maybe 3-4", with 3" of the clear stuff under that. Current was going pretty good, hard to find the bottom with some of the smaller lures. All in all, beauty of a day to find time to fish with a friend.

Good Luck...

15-20#, I have heard of some captains running 12# line off downriggers when they are running them clean. ie., no spin doctors, flashers or dodgers. So that is something else to think about what you are going to run and how off of your leadcore.

I couldn't say that it is better, however I like to have a 50' leader off my leadcore. I have heard that some guys like to use the fluorocarbon. They say it is less visible therefore triggering more strikes.

good luck...

P1,

Thank you very much for the invite. Didn't catch this til today. I am planning on fishing out of my rig. Trying to get a few others with boats to join us too. We're excited about this tourny, should be a lot of fun regardless of the fishing. I will just follow you out to your spot:lol:. Just kidding. Going to be me and 2 others out of the Husky Jerk, and like said have sent the info to a few other captains. Hopefully when it is all over with we can have some sort of fish fry or something. Going to try to talk the Mrs. into coming up for the afternoon with the little one for some festivities. Now I must put the boat in a slip at the city launch er' something, cause I sure don't want to trailer it over to the launch one time. Probably sleep on the boat so I don't have to stowe all my gear away for the night, just turn the key and put lines down.

None the less, this is a great opportunity to come over and check out the fabulous walleye fishing on the Bay. Not too mention that the Au Gres area is absolutely beautiful, especially from a boat. I think I've got one on already:lol:

Well it isn't looking any better out there. Have seen the satellite photo and the central part of the bay has broken up. Not too mention that there are several pockets of open water scattered around the bay. If it were dark and you were traveling the bay these open pockets of water could be catastrophic, they are hard to see. This past weekends winds did a real # on the ice. Now for the worse part, with these cold temps things will refreeze, and with any snow on top these newly frozen areas will blend in with the rest of the landscape. So this is a warning to be safe out there. Take a buddy, use your spud, and don't be stupid, no fish is worth that kind of risk.

I am going to stick to the river for the time being. I know that the river isn't in great shape at this point either. But the water level has dropped a foot in the last 24 hours, which hopefully is slowing the current, which would help to form more good ice on the river safe for fishing. Will not be out til the weekend. With the last 2 days of near 0* and cold temps the rest of the week the river should shape up for the weekend.

Good Luck & Be Safe....

Cell phone reception I have found to be spotty at best. Some ports are ok, but the farther you go sometimes the less the signal. A cell phone would not be the best choice in my opinion for emergencies. Flares are a must on a boat, not sure, but I think it is the law to carry flares. While I have never used a flare out of the boat, I have shot a few off in the field behind my house. Just wanted to make sure how to properly fire it, and make sure it worked. A radio you can buy for a little over $100, and would be a very wise investment.

The flares I have are the 12 ga version that are shot out of a pistol specifically designed to shoot flares.

Sounds like someone is in for a good fish fry!!! Nice Job

I think I know, are you letting them know that they are #1:D

Thank You...

Can't wait to meet everybody that will be there. I am in. Can't wait. Now I didn't see it clearly stated in the rules, is the tourny open to all fish, or is it for walleye????

I am in!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some people are dumb as the day is long!!!

Morons....

Thanks Fellas, I have found the upcoming events tabs....sweet!

Does anyone have any idea when the birch run fishing expo is?

I have a flasher. It takes 2 AA batteries and it is specifically made to flash like a camera. I think I paid about 15 bucks for it a few years ago. Batteries last a long time, and I believe that it works well on charging up the glow lures.

http://www.franksgreatoutdoors.com/item.asp?id=19118

It is a power flash.

Hands down I would choose the lowrance, or a vexlar over a camera any day of the week. The benefit being, that you can pop a million holes real quick to see if anything is down there or not. You can cover a lot more ground with the lowrance. The camera is also nice to have once you are on the fish. Helps to see the fish's reaction to your presentation.

But if I had to have one or the other it would be the vex/lowrance.

W.E., that is what the info I put on here is for. To give people an idea of conditions. If it helps 1 person, that is good. The bay has really been tough fishing for me all winter. I just can't wait for ice out, then I will be covering a lot more water with the boat.

Super sweet game. I knew it was going to be a race to the finish. I didn't think the giants were going to pull it off, hats of to the team!!!

no I am not in the shiver on the river. As far as I can tell, I think ice fishing may receive a fatal blow here across the next 15 days. Warm temps, rain, it isn't going to be pretty out there. I think the ice out there will hold up, I just think that these slushy areas near shore are going to get worse as time goes on. I will be surprised if I can make it out fishing one more weekend. Hopefully it holds up for this upcoming weekend, as I know a few from the NW are coming over to fish it all weekend. If it does hold up I will make it out one last time in search of some pigs.

Be Safe...