Fishing Rhino

Carbonlite 6' 6" medium, fast. Shimano Saros 2500 spooled with six pound test Seaguar InvisX. For the very light baits, Browning Hi Power 6', light, fast. Shimano Saros 1000 spooled with four pound InvisX. The Browning has the same handle and hook keeper as the Carbonlite. BPS currently has the Browning on sale. Reg 110, sale 70. I may have to take a ride.

Money, it's all relative. The individual paid four times the appraised value. So what? I am bemused when some decry others' frivilous spending with the argument that it could have helped others. Ooops, it could have helped others here in the U.S. of A. What about the poor and needy in the rest of the world? Do boundaries really matter when it comes to need? What boundaries? City/town, state, country, contintent? That eight million didn't vanish into thin air. It merely changed hands. Who knows what that "profit" will be used for? It's oh too, too easy to be compassionate and charitable with other people's money. I must confess that complaining about what others do with their legitimately earned resources is irritating to me, and I am by no means wealthy in dollars and cents, though I consider myself to be very wealthy because I have my health, and enjoy my life with wife, family and friends. It is also true as some have stated that the same criticism could be leveled at several on here who have fancy boats, very expensive fishing gear and very nice rides. They certainly could have done with the basics, no frills and have donated the savings to charity. I was fortunate that my parents taught me not to look down at those with less nor to be jealous of those with more. I seem to recall a story about an event that took place a couple of millenia ago. It involved an evil man, a caring woman, and another man. The woman was washing the third man's feet, wiping them with her hair. Then she annointed his feet with a very precious, expensive oil. The evil man complained that using the oil like that was a waste of money. It could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. The man who was eventually betrayed by the evil man chastised the evil man for his statement about the oil and the poor, and commended the woman for her demonstration of devotion. Things are not always what they seem.

For those still interested in trying to catch a fish or two in this area, here's what is working for me. First, a wacky rigged senko on an eighth ounce wacky jig head and a Zoom Fat Albert on an eighth ounce jig head. Had been catching them right up against the vegetation in a foot and a half to two feet of water 'til late November when we went to visit our daughter in GA. The water temps were around 47 degrees when we left. I had been casting right up to the emergent vegetation around the shore, catching them in the shallows. Couldn't get bit in anything over three feet deep. Got out Wednesday and found they had moved to "deeper" water, three to five feet deep, not a bite in the shallows. They were still found on rocky bottom. Water temps now around 41 degrees. Same baits, fished the same way. Cast, let it settle a few seconds, then retrieve very slow, almost painfully slow by raising the rod tip in tiny increments, from 45 degrees to vertical, to feel the baits ticking along the rocks. Lower the rod tip, reel in the slack and repeat. Color of baits, watermelon with black/red flake. 3" or 4" senkos worked equally well. Didn't try the five inch. On Wednesday I caught my largest bass of the year. Don't know the weight, but its mouth was large enough that I could put my fist in its mouth with a half inch or more of clearance all the way around. They were biting more aggresively on Wednesday than they were in November, but were definitely more sluggish. Took less than a minute to land the big one on six pound test line. That reminds me, I'm using six pound test fluoro on two of the rods I'm using and four pound test fluoro on the other.

Can't tell you about the wood, but it sounds like a major project to remove the gas motor to fish an electric only lake. I'd check with the powers that be to see if you could use the boat as is by removing the propeller, and leaving the motor tilted up. You are going to need some type of lift to remove the motor. Then, you'd have to disconnect the controls, the steering, and the electrical connections. Even if all the electrical connections are plugs, you'll have several wires to contend with, not to mention the stuff that goes to your gauges. Oh, don't forget to unbolt the motor. My best, and maybe worst suggestion would be to get a square stern canoe, jon boat or whatever and a trolling motor to use on that lake. I paid 500 dollars for my Old Town canoe, new, on sale at Dicks. You should be able to find a "bargain" on Craigs List that would serve your purpose on the electric only lake. I could be wrong, but I envision spending the better part of a day to remove and reinstall the gas outboard. That will get old in a hurry.

I'm in the process of finding out what I've been missing since 2008. I'm still fishing my favorite pond in SE Mass. Been away for almost two weeks, but the fish are still biting. When we left for GA, I had been catching them right up against the vegetation along the shore, very slowly working a wacky worm. The water temp has dropped several degrees since we left. Water temp today was 41.3 - 41.9. The fish had moved out to the three to four or five foot depths, but they were still biting. Caught several nice bass today, including my biggest of the year. Don't know exactly what it weighed but I could put my fist in its mouth and still have a good half inch clearance or more all the way around. While the bite seemed more aggressive than when I left, the fish were noticably more sluggish except for one good size pickerel that parted my line. The next couple of days are supposed to be in the mid fifties with showers. Back to the pond tomorrow and the next day if all goes well.

I'm in Westport. You cannot get anymore southeast in Mass than that. Since I plan on making them all, you're welcome to ride along. The furthest we've fished has been just over an hour from here, Webster Lake and Quinsigamond. Mashpee/Wakeby where we fished this past year is just about an hour.

I guy that used to work for me was constantly saying, "All the prevent defense does is prevent you from winning games that you had won until you played the prevent defense."

I have an odd glitch that pops up now and then. For some reason, when I start typing a reply, it will occasionally be in italics. Have to click on the italic Icon to switch back to the vertical font.

What Grampa, Tate, and I would like to see happen is to get input from everyone who is interested in participating in the "get togethers". This would involve a meeting or two ahead of next year's season for all interested parties. All decisions would be by consensus of those attending the meeting(s).

Another thing to consider. On a day when the water is like glass, you might prefer it higher than when you're fishing on a sloppy day and you want to spread your legs a bit more and lower your center of gravity for stability. There is no one size fits all, or all conditions.

No way to tell you what height is best. You could be 5' 2" tall or 7' 2" tall. Even if two folks are the same height, they might prefer different pedestal heights. Why not get an adjustable as was suggested? It may cost a few more bucks, but you can adjust it to what is the perfect height for you.

I'm going back to the 50s and 60s, when if you dribbled and your hand was in contact with the ball above your waist it was palming the ball. You couldn't even "hand check" an opposing player, let alone get into a shoving contest with them. The three second rule seems to have become the three minute rule for an offensive player loitering in the bucket. On foul shots, you couldn't cross the side lines until the ball contacted the backboard or the rim, now you can get into the bucket as soon as the ball leaves the shooters hand. You could not lean on another player to improve your rebounding position, nor could the player with the ball back into the defender to force him out of position. The Pistons with Bill Lambier (sp?) were notorious for being a dirty team. I think they'd be pansies in today's league. It's a good thing for Bill that Shack wasn't around then. He'd have thought he was run over by a three hundred pound linebacker. I don't know if you were around when Johnny Most announced the Celtics radio games, but he was an atrociously biased announcer. He'd whine incessantly about the Pistons saying such things as the refs won't call a foul on the Pistons unless the Celtic is bleeding. It was during that era that it began to take muscle as well as skill to survive and excel. Before that it was far less physical and more finesse.

If the only issue is the initial start, I would think it needs more fuel in the starting cycle. The question is why is it not getting enough? Years ago vehicles had manual chokes. You'd pull a knob on the dash and it would close the choke butterfly at the top of the carburetor. Once the engine warmed up, it would not need to be choked. Then came automatic chokes, then fuel injection with electronic control. The control would have the injectors put out extra fuel for starting. Sensors measure air temp, engine temp, etc., and "prescribe" the correct amount of fuel for varying conditions such as loads on the engine, temps, etc. My lawnmowers have carburetors and need to be choked to start when cold. My lawn edger has a flexible diaphragm you depress three times to squirt gas into the carburetor bore for cold starting. Methinks your engine is not getting a rich enough mixture for good starting when the engine is cold, if that's your only problem with the outboard. I wish I could have an answer as to why that would happen, but I don't. I'd take it to a tech for diagnosis.

The Patriots are winning ugly. The Broncos are winning ugly. Could be an ugly game. It will have better tv ratings because of the "interest" in Tebow. Maybe Tebow does not have the stuff to be a great NFL quarterback. But he is sure helping the ratings on the Broncos games, and isn't that what it's really all about for the owners, ratings? If a player can put fannies in the seats in the stands or in front of a television, he/she is a valuable commodity. Michael Jordan wasn't paid for his skills. He was paid because his skills put fans in the seats. You don't think it's about putting people in the seats? Then why does the top paid hockey player make less than half of what the top basketball and football player gets paid and less than a third of what the top baseball player gets paid? One other consideration. Football is a 16 game season, basketball 60 or so, baseball 160 approx, hockey 82.

In my case, you are correct. But, then again, why would I want to be flattened by a 250 pound linebacker?

First he wouldn't make it. Now he's a flash in the pan. No quarterback wins games on his own, though some manage to lose them. The argument could be made that Peyton Manning carried the Colts, and based on their record this year it has some merit. Tebow did not kick the 59 yard tying field goal, nor did he kick the winning field goal. However, the team is playing better than it had prior to him taking over the quarterback position. For sure, the Broncos are winning ugly, but, they are winning ugly on a consistent basis. Remember when Jim Kelley was the fabulous quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. They scored touchdowns with impunity. They were unstoppable with their hurry up offense. For several years, they were supposed to win it all, but they never did. Tebow came into the league with a lot of negative press. So far, the press and the naysayers have crow feathers sticking out of their mouths. I'll say one thing for Tebow, at the very least he appears to be a man of real character and conviction. Were he to be out carousing and cajoling like the what's his name Jets' quarterback, I doubt he'd be getting the negative press that greeted him and continues to this day. Methinks he is resented for his professions of faith, not for his football ability, or any lack thereof.

With the advent of lead free, and ethanol blends, many engine problems are fuel related. Do you use your boat on a regular basis, or do you only need to fuel up every few weeks? Do you add some type of fuel stabilizer when you fuel up? I have a gas powered lawn edger that will not start in the spring unless I have treated the fuel with StaBil. Drain the fuel from the tank and the carb, refill with fresh gasoline, and it starts up first pull. Back in the day, forty or fifty years ago, electrical/ignition problems were to blame for ninety percent of hard starting, rough running problems. Today's gasoline goes "stale" much faster than yesteryear's gas. Not only that, but it destroys fuel lines, and because of the ethanol can mix with water, which causes all sorts of problems. Way back when, ignitions consisted of a distributor with points and a condenser, and a coil to boost voltage so the electricity could jump the gap in a spark plug. If you had no spark at the plug it was either the condenser, coil, or a bad wire. All you needed was a little mechanical aptitude to take care of your own vehicle. I loved working on my jalopies back then. You could visually see if the points were pitted and needed replacement. Usually the condenser, which stored the electrical charge was replaced along with the points. If there was still no spark, the coil got changed. Sometimes a pigtail wire would get its insulation worn away inside the distributor and short the ignition. This too could be diagnosed visually. You can try the basics, change the spark plugs, and replace the fuel in your tanks with fresh fuel. Beyond that, it becomes a guessing game unless you are equipped to test and read engine codes. The problem could be in a part that only costs a few bucks to replace or an engine control module (read computer) that can cost several hundred dollars. The problem could be one or more sensors that feed info to the control module, or it could be the module itself. The days of the shade tree mechanic are history. Some member may be able to provide you a definitive answer and solution to your problem, but were I in your situation and no one could provide that answer, it would go to the shop. Hard starting at the ramp/dock is an annoyance. Hard starting in the middle of the lake with a storm approaching is a dangerous situation.

What are you trying to clean? Is it a mildew, slime, or old fashioned dirt? Salt is a good suggestion, but keep in mind, it's an abrasive, much like using sandpaper or steel wool. Salt is often used to clean seasoned cast iron frying pans when food begins to stick, followed by another vegetable oil seasoning. Simple Green is a pretty effective cleaner and is non-toxic and biodegradeable.

Being sick is better than being dead, except for sea sickness. It has been described thusly. When you first start to get seasick, you're afraid your going to die. As it gets worse, you're afraid you're not going to die.

It's interesting that over the years basketball has gotten much more physical. Used to be if you leaned on someone, or even touched them, it was a foul. Now, they push and shove each other around much like linemen in football. Football on the other hand is on its way to becoming a dainty game.

"Tough Guy Challenge 2009 Billed as "the safest most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world", the Tough Guy Challenge took place yesterday, February 1st, on South Perton Farm, near Wolverhampton, England. Thousands of challengers (men and women) started the endurance race, with hundreds dropping out along the way due to exhaustion or injury - broken bones, dislocations, and over 600 cases of hypothermia. Even the overall winner, James Appleton, was treated briefly for hypothermia. The course takes racers through 21 obstacles - through mud, freezing water, across ropes and burning terrain. " My dad had a saying for me when I subjected myself to far less than the "tough guy challenge". He said I was like the guy who kept hitting himself in the head with a hammer because it felt so good when he stopped.

Sounds like a tent camping deal to me. I'm thinking it would be more suitable for canoes, jon boats, kayaks, etc. They can be hauled out of the water onto the beach. Larger boats would require a sheltered cove, or a protected sandy beach. There may be some with a dock that are accessible only by water. Sounds interesting for sure. I have a new tent and sleeping bags.edit: I know a guy who has a nice, portable, stainless steel grille that is perfectly suited to this scenario. Don't forget the horseradish cheddar.

Ok guys. The holidays are upon us, and 2012 is just around the corner. Last year was a good start for our get togethers, but now is a good time to start thinking about next year's schedule. What should we change? What would you like to see? While we are not a formal club, we do need some type of structure and input. Gramps, Tate and I have some ideas, but it's not our show, and we want input from all. We can do some of it via the messenger feature on the forum, or email. Participation in the messaging feature is limited to seven members. You designate a recipient and can add up to five others, making a total of six, plus yourself making a group of seven. Email has unlimited participation. Let's hear from all those interested in the get togethers for 2012. p.s. It's not limited to Mass fishermen, nor is the group limited to Mass waters. It's what you want it to be. March is only three months away for the hardy souls, April four months away.

What kind of camping, tent, pop-up camper, trailer, RV? You can check out a variety of parks and campgrounds here. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/forparks.htm

Regarding the "coming loose". The complaints I've read about that are from the do it yourselfers. Some will say it's a piece of cake to install. No doubt, for some it is, but for others, it's best left to the pros. If it falls off, it should be on them. If you install it and it falls off, it's on you. Regardless of which product you choose, they are not meant to be routinely grounded on concrete ramps. Concrete ramps are very abrasive, so be gentle when you place your boat on them. Never "land" your boat on a ramp unless the water is calm. The waves will lift the boat and set it on the concrete repeatedly, destroying the keel shield/guard protection in short order. The forward vee of the keel is one of the most vulnerable parts to damage on any boat, particularly fiberglass. A good keel protector will run about three hundred dollars, plus two to three hundred to get it installed. Prices may vary, with the cheapest install on any given boat usually be when you order it on a new boat. So, when an amateur has his keel guard end up on the bottom of the lake, he'll need to buy an other, and most likely decide to have it professionally installed. The total cost for the final job in that case will be close to nine hundred dollars. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to the installation of any products on your boat.