Fishing Rhino

I believe it was Shakespeare who said, "All the world's a stage.........." Were he alive today he'd more likely say, "All the world's a soap opera."

Murphy's law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Or something to that effect. If the boat is hooked up, it eliminates one thing that can go wrong.

Of course they wouldn't care if we lost our job, much like football players get cut (lose their job) all the time and no one notices unless its a big name player or you follow the sport closely. That's not the point, and it's more than just one guy losing his job. I don't know what you do for a living, but if your entire industry shut down abruptly for a year I bet people would notice, maybe even some football players. I'm not interested in taking sides in the labor dispute between the players and owners, I just enjoy watching NFL football and would like to do so next fall. Maybe your life wouldn't change in any significant way if there was never another football game, but that's not true for everyone. If fishing was outlawed it wouldn't change anything for millions of people, but I'm assuming you would be upset or you wouldn't be posting on this site. As much as I like fishing, and as much of a part of my life it is, if it were taken away from me, I'd find something to take its place. For me it would probably be playing more golf. Fishing or following any sport should not be like a drug which makes you absolutely dependent upon it for your joy of living. Nothing in life is certain, or forever. A vital part of enjoying life is to accept adversity, deal with it, and move on. In other words, you should be in control of your own life, not depending upon others to make life fulfilling and rewarding. I was a die-hard football fan for years, until the last players' strike, and a season of substitute players. I realized that I had allowed football to dominate my life, and was disgusted with the players and owners, all of whom were far better off than I. Both sides were acting like spoiled brats, and I kissed them off. Strange think was, I suddenly felt free, like a weight had been lifted from me. I no longer needed them, or even cared about them. Being freed from such bondage is exhilarating. That may sound quite dramatic, and it is. But it is also reality.

The players have no more right, and no more business to know what the owners make than any other employee working for any other business. If they are not satisfied with what they make, then they can find something more to their liking, period. For those who own businesses of any size, do you, or would you open your books and tax returns to any employee(s)? It's none of their business, and an unreasonable demand regardless of any governmental edict. For all the die hard fans, remember this. Whatever the owners pay the players in wages and bennies ultimately comes out of your pockets. If the fans boycotted events by not buying tickets, and not watching them on tv, ticket prices would come down. One needs to look no further than NASCAR. Until five or six years ago, they thought they had the world by the short hairs. The sky was the limit. They kept raising ticket prices, reduced the size and types of coolers fans could bring into the tracks. Then the fans started getting fed up with being fleeced. Combine that with the economy going south, and suddenly tracks that had waiting lists for tickets, like Bristol, weren't filling. To make matters worse, tv ratings went down, and more seats were empty or available at the premier events like the Daytona 500 and the Bristol races. At the height of their arrogance, NASCAR wouldn't allow networks, such as ESPN, who brought them to the dance, admission to cover the events. Oooops. It wasn't long before NASCAR was eating humble pie, and doing some extraordinary things. The most telling was that Daytona Speedway dismantled a large section of the backstretch grandstands to reduce the number of empty seats that would be seen on television coverage. Perception is often more important than reality. This year, Daytona allowed fans to bring in coolers large enough to hold 24 cans of beer, soda, or whatever, vs the coolers that could only hold six cans and very little ice. They found that forcing fans to buy their overpriced refreshments backfired. As long as fans continue to support the NFL regardless, they will keep socking it to you. As for me, they can take the league and shove it. The last players' strike and substitute season turned me off. Never have looked back and don't miss it in the least.

Shall we mention the bicycle couriers in the big cities. Personally, I've never seen them, but many of the things I've read aren't very complimentary. A person on a bike is extremely vulnerable. Many bikers seem to forget, or disregard this simple truth. Many drivers don't give it a thought. Common courtesy on both parties would go a long way. What about pedestrians that do not walk facing traffic, or walk abreast rather than single file?

Wouldn't it be cheaper, and easier, and less weight to get a good pair of shoes with adequate padding in the soles? Your feet, legs, and back won't know if the padding is a part of the boat, or a part of your footgear.

In the water, before I move the truck. Some places you can power load, some places you can't. Either way, the boat is snubbed down tight before the rig is moved.

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same. Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150. It's a meaningless boast by Ford. If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world. Check your info the two GM brands together didn't out sell the F series 2009 & 2010. Tight Lines Pa Angler LOL. There goes the 33 years down to two. But, since your counting numbers, which I consider meaningless, GM sells more units worldwide than Ford, and has for as long as I can remember, and that goes back to the late 1940s. By your logic, that has to mean that GM has produced better vehicles than Ford for over 70 successive years. I quit arguing about cars when I was in my 20s. To each his own. I'm secure in what I like. I feel no need to run down what someone else may choose.

You are correct, and I didn't support any bailouts. In fact, I doubt I'll buy another GM product for that reason alone.

Pyramid power, copper bracelets, ion bracelets, Kevin Trudeau, they all fall into the same category to a cynic like me. If they really worked everyone would have them. Now if you're talking mood rings, those do work, but they have nothing to do with mood. They are temperature sensitive at the range of normal body temps. What they really reveal has everything to do with blood circulation to the fingers.

Congrats. Now, go make some memories with her.

I used to like you. But you've made me envious, and I don't like that. But I'll put that aside and be polite at the Road Trip. Looks like the same bait you and the soldiers were using at Pickwick.

That is true, but somewhat meaningless since GM sells two brands of trucks which are basically the same. Combine Silverado and Sierra, and they sell more units than the F150. It's a meaningless boast by Ford. If numbers prove anything, then the Camry is the best car in the world.

I've got a Humminbird 728 on the bow, but, other than being able to interface with your 898, it's not that much of an upgrade. At some point, I plan to put a 798 on the bow. The 728 is 300 bucks list price vs the 1100 bucks for the 798. If the cost of the 798 doesn't turn you off, I'd make do with the Lowrance unit, until I was ready to spring for the 798, or another 898. Do some "window shopping" on the internet. Check out which units have the features that best suit your wants/needs, and go from there. One suggestion. Don't settle for less than what you really want. You'll have spent a few hundred on something that you won't like. Better to wait until you can get what you really want, even if you have to save your pennies and nickels until you can pay for it.

And, it will leave you with about twenty thou to spend on electronics and other goodies. My 2009 Z7 with an EFI 150 will do close to 60 mph fully loaded with gear and fuel. The newer versions with an Optimax should do 60 mph. It's big enough for three to fish from it. Has two rod lockers that will handle rods up to eight feet. While it's no Ranger, Bass Cat or whatever, it's a good value, and size for size, it will handle what they will. No bass boats are designed for rough weather. Though some may be better than others, none have adequate freeboard when the waves kick up. If you do end up with a fiberglass boat, or even aluminum, get a keel guard.

Find someone with experience to go with you. There are many things you'll need to learn. If there are others at the ramp, don't be embarassed to ask for help. As for a list, here goes, and I'll probably forget something. This will vary from ramp to ramp depending on the type of facility. Some ramps will have a float, or pier alongside the ramp. Others are just a ramp with a beach on one or both sides. If possible, pick a ramp with the float or pier. The second url is a video, and I'd suggest one change. Put a clip on the line, and connect it to the safety strap. When the boat floats off, pull the trailer up a bit, get out, unclip the line and either pull the boat to a float/dock, or pull the boat onto the beach at the side of the ramp. In addition to the tie downs, remove the "transom saver" but leave the motor tilted up in case you need to pull the boat to the shore alongside the ramp. http://www.ehow.com/how_2125145_launch-boat.html http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-to-launch-a-boat-by-yourself/63fa42740c74ab05b1ce63fa42740c74ab05b1ce-502948496404?q=how+to+launch+a+boat&FORM=VIRE2

If you've got a "fish finder" it should show you when they have begun to grow. I'd check the pad beds to see what type of return I get on the display. When it changes, the bottom has changed. Barring any geologic event, the most likely cause of that change is vegetation growth. The most vital information you can have pertains to the bottom, be it structure, composition, or vegetation. Study the display carefully. It will tell you what is happening beneath your boat, once you learn to read it.

There's a reason you'd pay more at a dealer than buying from someone as a private sale. Understand, I'm speaking about reputable new car dealers. First, if a vehicle has any type of serious problems, they'll dump it at auction. Second, they do quite a bit of prep work, such as oil change, lube, system tests, etc., since they are going to sell it with a warranty. If the truck you looked at was a trade in, and good enough not to be sent to auction, the dealer would put in considerable time maximizing its potential for sale. Scrubbed, cleaned, as well as the above mentioned things. This is a guess but if you had that prep work done on your car, the dealer would charge you a few hundred bucks. Unless I know the vehicle and the owner, I'd stick with a dealer, even though it would cost more. If you have a problem, other than safety related, from a private sale, the law considers it to an as is sale, unless you can prove to a judge that the seller lied about the condition of the car, or fraud was involved.

I dunno, but it seems high to me for a seven year old Dakota that's had the frame straightened. You can do a google search and find out what its blue book value is.

Huh? The Hyper-Lift® Hull is un-matched by any other hull design Fingers in the wrong place on the key board. "How long of a rod can be stored........" was the question being asked,..........I think.

Take your time, sort through all the data, then make your decision. You're going to enjoy being right down at the fish's level. I really enjoy fishing in my canoes. It's nice being able to do it all from one seat. While I like my bass boat, and prefer it in some cases, when I hook a nice fish, I eventually end up sitting in the cockpit to land it. The small ones I can hoist aboard from the bow. The perspective from both is quite different.

Once upon a time four would not have been enough. Now, it's too many.

Give it a try, then try working a bait along the bottom (very slowly, at least to start), and see which works best. I never thought about trying a frog, but I will in a few weeks when the beds begin to sprout. To my way of thinking, frogs are great when the pads are thick, and it's tough to work a bait along the bottom since the line sits across the tops of the pads. The way I describe fishing the beds can only be done when they are starting to grow toward the surface. It has been more productive for me than any method after the pads are fully grown.

I just voted yes on the everything else poll. I also had voted yes on the regular poll that appears elsewhere. Does this mean I'll have to eat four burgers?

Power or no, the kid is impressive.